Happy Sunday everyone! First, I would like to thank everyone who has read my posts throughout this season. This blog has provided me with a capsule that I can always look back on. As you all know, volleyball season has come to an end for the Pilot Point Ladycats. In other words, my heart is destroyed. I have always taken practice, team dinners, games, and tournaments for granted until this year. Savoring every moment I had on the court, I created such close bonds with my teammates. If you have graduated high school already, you know the feeling of being a has been. On the other hand, if you are a current high school athlete and your last game hasn’t come yet, you’re probably not even thinking about how every point, practice, or game that occurs is leading you to your last game. Here’s how my last game as a Pilot Point Ladycat went.
The night began with the Senior Night Ceremony. As I was walking to the center of the court, I could NOT stop crying. Brooke and Reese brought the traditional senior gift to me, and I stood looking at the crowd with my family. This moment was so special and I am appreciative to everyone who showed their support at the ceremony. After tears were shed, we were all determined to leave this gym with a victory and nothing less. After a nail-biting game, we were able to WIN the final game of the season, resulting in our team placing 5th overall in district! I do not care what anyone else says, this is a HUGE accomplishment compared to being last place the previous year. This win was even more special to me because I scored the last point of the last set of my last game with a KILL!!!!! I immediately began to jump up and down, and ran across the court. As our team went to go shake Pottsboro’s hands, I realized this would be my last time shaking opponents’ hands and I couldn’t hold in my tears. Yes, I understand that I cried every spare moment throughout the game, and no I don’t regret it one bit. Playing with this team has brought me closer to Shelby, Maiah, Paige, Rendy, Hope, Kayli, Reese, Brooke, Kassy, and Tori, and I couldn’t stand to see us finish our last season all together. Looking back, there is nothing I would change about this team as I adore every person and loved playing volleyball with them. The sleepovers, the long talks, the multiple games of hide and seek, the singing competitions on the bus, the alphabet game at away games, and every moment I had with this group will always be with me. These girls and these coaches made my senior year the best season, and I will forever be grateful to end my high school volleyball career with this group.
Even though I’m done playing competitively with this team, I know there are more chapters in the book for us. We have already future planned birthday celebrations, dinners, and reunions. I cannot think of any other group that I have been involved in that is already planning their reunions. Although it hasn’t sunk in that my time as a Pilot Point Ladycat has expired, I know that my time as a Ladycat will forever be the best time of my life.
I would like to thank Chance Kirby for inspiring me to write this blog, and am grateful that I will always have this capsule to go back down memory lane. This journey had unfortunately come to an end, but now I believe I am ready for the next chapter in my life.
Signing off,
Kimberly Burns (Forever #8)
