Junior Year is Hard!

Junior year has been a whirlwind so far for Austen that I've barely had time to write about it let alone see him. Since August 7th it's been soccer and football practice as well as studying for the ACT, and then two weeks later school started. 

Classes are hard and I'm beginning to second guess if he even has time for three honors/AP classes in addition to his sports. I did make him exempt out of PE (since he's an upperclassmen in a Varsity sport) and take a study hall which he did but very reluctantly. 

Regional Champs

The struggle is real! Keeping up the grades and being exhausted from practices and games has been hard. Football is a whole new element this year since he has to go to practice at least two times a week now for Varsity and then after a bit of soccer practice on Fridays runs right to football pre-game/game and isn't home til 10pm or 11pm. Then has to wake up early on Saturday for soccer practice. 

Thankfully, football was over two weeks ago since our football team did not make the playoffs (again). Austen was a back up kicker this year and since we were so terrible, he didn't get to kick much behind our starting kicker (also a senior soccer player). But when he did get to kick, he did well and has his eye on kicking again next year. 

As for the soccer season, well, it should have been a good one. On paper they had a lot of talent but as the season progressed, you saw a lot of individual player out there instead of a true team. There's something to be said for a team with less talent but a lot of chemistry and this team just didn't have the chemistry. They were regional champions and ranked in the Top 25 in the state for the better part of the season but ended up losing a full two games before where they ended up last year. I attribute that to more heart and better leadership a year ago. 

It's hard when one of your captains is a genuine asshole who taunts the other team when we beat them in penalty kicks, grabs and kicks players, gets a red card and multiple yellows, and demands the ball at every turn. Truthfully, it was hard to watch and I am glad the season is over. It wasn't Austen's best season as he rarely got the ball and when he did, certain players demanded he turn it over. But it was a season that I hope he learned a lot from. I hope he learned how he should bring a team together instead of tearing it apart. I hope he learned how to show that every teammate on the team is important whether they sit the bench or get a lot of time on the field. I hope he leads by example with his actions on the field when he fails at making a significant shot or gets frustrated by a bad call from the ref. I hope he helps a teammate who is struggling whether on or off the field and makes a difference in that player's day. I hope he brings together all the players from freshman to seniors next year so they see that they are one community and it doesn't matter if you're a senior on JV2 or a freshman on the B team. You're still a part of our program and you matter. Every. Single. Player. 

So, I'm sorry if I wasn't upset about his junior year season being over but I can look forward to a better senior season for Austen and the rest of his teammates next year. They were tight as freshmen and I think they have their eye on at least a hard fought conference title. 

For now, it's on to focusing on school and the ACT more and then in less than two weeks starting practice with his club team - a team that not only has a lot of talent but chemistry, camaraderie and class.   

In action

#37 

A battle against the #1 team in the state that ended in us losing in OT