Together We Soar. Hawks Up. Let's Go Hawks. These are all phrases that I have heard many times as I stepped on the court to compete. They are simple sayings that motivated me to be my best, to fight and to succeed.
I never imagined that we would not be chanting those words all season long. What was slated to be a great season was just beginning. As schools and businesses in Seattle began to announce closures, our team was still preparing for competition during spring break. We were looking forward to playing our first set of conference teams in Las Cruces, N.M., and then heading to Southern California to play some non-conference matches. It was going to be a big week with five tough matches and we were excited and ready. We had been working so hard at practice and were ready to show what we could do.
Looking back on the matches we were able to complete, I am so proud of our success. We came to play this year and had some unexpected wins during the fall season. We also had some tough losses, but most importantly we came together as a family more than ever.
As Spring Quarter was scheduled to begin, we would have been at the peak of our season finishing conference play and preparing for the WAC Championships at the end of April. When we found out that our season was being canceled, everything that we were working for just came crashing down. All of the early morning workouts, tough practices, sacrifices, and even the 3:00 a.m. wakeup calls to get to the airport seemed to be for nothing. Most of us left campus pretty quickly before we even had the chance to say goodbye. The disappointment that I felt took me some time to get over. My team had been through so much this year working so hard to get better, supporting each other both on and off the court. We did not get the chance to thank or congratulate each other on what we had accomplished. That was hard.
So now as I wake up in Las Vegas each morning instead of Seattle, things look a bit different but I have the same goals. All I can do is be my best self each day. I can't wait to be back on the tennis courts and hitting the ball again. Due to parks and tennis courts being locked up in my area, I have not been able to play any tennis. Luckily, I have found other ways to play without a court. I have gone to our local grocery store to hit balls against one of its giant walls. Although it is not the same as playing against someone on the other side of the court, it has been a fun way to stay active.
Our small team of 10 is an extension of my family and I know I can always count on them to get through anything. COVID-19 is a challenge that we are getting through together. Zoom calls and group texts keep us connected although we are spread across the world. With teammates from Germany to Washington, it makes things challenging at times, but it is always great to see their faces.
I cannot wait to be back in Seattle again, moving into my apartment with my friends and hearing Together We Soar, Hawks Up and Let's Go Hawks as I step onto the court. But for now, I hope my teammates and classmates hear these phrases with a new meaning. Together We Soar – as a student body studying from home and as student-athletes getting stronger in the backyard. Hawks Up – we raise our hands as we cheer on our professors as they strive to teach us all they know differently and as we salute the healthcare professionals, first responders, grocery store workers and so many more that are fighting to get us through this. Let's Go Hawks – a reminder that we will get through this together, we will be back on campus again safely soon and a rallying cry that motivates all of us to do our best to win this fight against COVID-19.
See you soon,