Senior Speech "Thanks"

For those of you who missed the Bethel basketball banquet and wanted to hear my senior speech, I am going to be posting bits and pieces of it on this sight over the next couple weeks.  I would post the entire speech but it was too big.  I am posting my notes so obviously it will not be exactly the same speech as I tend to "add-lib" throughout most of it.  This is for you KK, wish you could have been there!

I normally don’t prepare any thing for speeches like this, but I didn’t want to forget anything so I put some stuff together.  I don’t know if I’m going to read this stuff or just paraphrase, but I’m not here to give some fantastic speech but to just get my feelings across.  I hope I am organized enough to do that.  But before I say anything else I would like to say thanks to a few people.  There have been so many times throughout the season where I have really wanted to say thanks to people.  I thought about writing tons of thank you notes (that is something my mom would try to do), but I realized I just didn’t have the time for it.  Just saying thank you doesn’t do justice for the appreciation I feel.  However, this is the best place for me to begin showing my appreciation.  

Special Thanks:

Parents on the team – We have the best parents of any team I have ever played on!  I’ve never been part of a team where the parents treat each player as their own.  I really feel like I could call you all family. 

Gingerichs – I want to single you guys out because you guys have been awesome.  It’s easy to be supportive and encouraging when your son is playing, but you guys exemplify the ultimate supporters.  You came to nearly every game (including Florida and Branson) and cheered without bitterness as your son Robbie didn’t see much time.  You are the kind of supporters I want to be towards my kids someday.  (Because if my kids get their athleticism from me they will be riding pine and I will need to be able to cheer with my son on the bench.  I pray that they get it from Ali.) 

Linda Man – Thanks for putting up with me.  We have spent a lot of time together the past few months.    Thanks for inventing a tape job for my foot that worked.  Thanks for serving all of us so much.  Sorry I got a concussion and I didn’t tell you, but I really don’t remember that.  I may have to fake some injuries to come see you again. 

Brent and Brenda Vanderswag – Thanks for all your support.  Not only did you come to so many games, but you also brought a gift for me as well.  You guys made up for me not having a sponsor the last couple of years. 

 My Parents –

We all know that basketball brings about many ups and downs… valleys and mountains… and thinking clear back to highschool and throughout college, I don’t think I could have gotten through them without my family.

Mom- Thanks for being my prayer warrior.  Thanks for always being there to cheer me on and always there to give me a hug afterwards, no matter how I played.  Thanks for taking so many pictures over the years that will allow me keep these memories even more fresh in my mind.

Dad- I couldn’t have made a better decision to be at a place with you for four years.  These last four years will always be so special to me because of you.  All the rebounding, pre-game frappuccinos, notes of encouragement, and solid support over the years has meant the world to me.   The thing that makes you so special is that you played with me and you prayed with me.  Most kids have a dad that will play with them and rebound for them and watch games with them.  But, not many guys have a dad who will pray with them.  I will never forget all the times you have prayed for me in your office.  You have taught me a lot through these years of playing basketball… more than you will probably ever know.  I can’t wait for the many more memories we create together.I can only hope and pray that I will be able to sacrificially love my kids the way my parents have loved me.  Thanks for everything.

I guess after hearing that you could call me a momma’s boy or a daddy’s boy.  To be honest, I really don’t care.  They are two of my best friends and I would never be able to thank them enough.

Grandparents – I can’t believe all the 2 hour drives you have made from Wabash to come see me play.  Thanks for being there for so many basketball games.  Grandpa, thanks for taking all the stats over the years even though you missed half the game because you were writing so much stuff down.  It doesn’t help that we play so fast either.  Grandma, thanks for yelling for me and at the refs.  I can always hear your voice in the stands.  You guys are sweet!  I always enjoy being with you guys!Then, you got my other grandparents who fly home from FL just to see me play.  That's an expensive ticket for a Bethel game.  I will never forget my grandpa's "coaching tips" over the years.  Neither will I forget always seeing Grandma Shirley's face in the crowd.  Thanks for taking so much interest in me.

Ali – You have been such a strong support over the past 2 years of basketball.  For never playing basketball, it amazes me to see how you understand the emotions of basketball.  Thanks for being so patient with me when I basketball seemed to take up so much of my time and energy.  I was a little nervous to ask you to marry me during the season because of what others might think, but it became obvious to me that I had to do it when I realized how much more important you were to me than the game of basketball.  I was definitely not going to let that hold me back.  Now, we can start talking about wedding stuff.  Thanks for understanding when I asked you to marry me and then said that we couldn’t talk about anything until after the season though.

Wow, now all the sappy stuff is done.