As I walk through the thick glass doors, I can already feel the tension. Everyone has been waiting for this moment for the past year. The question is always “Who is going to make it?” It was finally tryout day. Probably one of the most important days of my career for the next year. My heart beats at the speed of light as I listen to my mom babble in my ear. I look at my dad and ask him to tell my mom to stop talking so much.

I walk down the dark hallway, slowly and nervously. As I finally turn the corner, into the big bright gym, the lights blind me and I can see that barely any girls have arrived yet. I slowly creep up to the check-in table, my hands sweating more than I will probably drink throughout the entire day. As I wait for my mom to catch up to me, I awkwardly stare at the lady sitting at the check-in table. I laugh a little in my head, thinking about how terrible my social skills are. Lol, I think to myself. My mom finally catches up to me after what seems like five years. She gets me checked in because obviously, I’m not capable of doing it myself. The coaches working the table ask for my shirt size, my name, and tell me to go stand by the Hive to take my picture. Oh dear, PICTURES?? I mean, I guess it’s a smart idea, but… this early in the morning I think I would barf at the sight of my own face. I inch behind the big iPad, hold up my shirt with my name on it, and smile, looking as dead as possible. Lol, once again I laugh in my head. This was the funniest thing that had happened all day.

As I move out of the picture area, I try not to trip over the cords they have connected to the wall. That would be embarrassing.  Placing my bag on the floor, I excitedly jolt up and run to the bathroom to change my shirt. At this point, I was more excited than nervous. I can’t wait to see all my friends.

I rushed into the bathroom so quickly I thought I might get knocked off my feet. Thankfully there was no one else in the bathroom. I slip into a stall and someone manages to struggle to get my shirt on. How the heck could I manage to struggle to get a shirt off and then another one on. Goodness, I need to go back to sleep. I get my shirt on after what feels like twenty minutes. Finally. I rush out of the door, hoping I don’t knock anyone over with it. Looking left cautiously, I sprint back into the gym.  My eyes are immediately drawn to the big group of Sting players sitting in the side of the bleachers. Extremely excited to see everyone, I move my stuff over to the edge of the bleachers and say hi to everyone I possibly can. Gosh, there are way too many people here to greet all of them before warm-ups start.

TWEET!! The loudest whistle I have ever heard goes off right next to my ear. It’s warm-up time. We are instructed that we should start warming up if we wish until it’s time to start the actual tryout. I grab Riley as quickly as possible so no one else can take her from me.  She sprints to the ball cart in order to get a good ball. It was finally time. The thing I had been waiting for all year. I couldn’t keep my excitement in. I started to jump up and down as I waited for Riley to return. Everyone started to laugh with me and I felt the tension lift as the nerves were calmed.

TWEET TWEET! This time there were two whistles, thankfully not in my ear this time. They call us into the middle of the court. Over 130 girls in this gym and only 30 of them will make a team. Gosh, I hope that I can make it again this year. Last year was such a surprise making the team, but this year it will be different. This year I expect to make the team and will be disappointed if I am not able to perform at my top level.

They split us up into different positions. I head over to the far court with Carys and Tatum by my side. I am so thankful that I know someone at tryouts this year to help calm me down. We start with some basic setting warm-ups and set back and forth with each other. We move into some more complex drills and I continue to try my hardest at everything and work as hard as I can. After setting, we move into some more hitting as they evaluate our skills on a little sheet of paper. This little sheet of paper could determine how the next year of my life.

Outside hitting, oh god. The one thing I can’t do. Being left handed it so hard. Just focus Katie, come on. I go up for one hit, pretty good okay, now let’s try to do a little better on the next. As my feet leave the ground for the next hit, I can already feel that it’s going to be a good one. I go up, watch the ball into my hands, and smash it down on the ground. Then, my feet hit the ground. I feel a sharp, shooting pain in my back. It feels almost as if someone was trying to rip my bones out with a knife. This is not good. It was still the beginning. I still had so much more to go. I clench my teeth and try not to show any pain.

Moving on to drill after drill after drill, I push through the pain in my back. This is probably one of the most painful things I have ever done in my entire life. As I continue to play, I forget about the pain and focus more on the thing at hand. I’ll deal with my back later.

Finally, the drills are over. The scrimmages are over. It was time. I stand in the huddle, anxiously waiting for my name to be called. After about 15 girls are called I finally hear it. “98, get a wristband and come to get your sheet,” I push through the crowd, take my wristband from the bucket and grasp onto the sheet of paper with shaky hands. This paper was taking over my feelings.  I couldn’t look at it. I was too nervous. I waited until I got to my mom to turn over the paper.

My hands are shaking too much, I felt as if they were just going to shake away from my body. I turn the paper over and see the green line. Thank god. I had made at least one team. I read the top and it says “14 Black” oh my goodness. I did it, I achieved my goal. I made it. Relief floods my entire body. I was so excited I could barely keep it in.  Today, I had learned the most important lesson. Don’t ever give on anything. No matter what obstacles are thrown in your way, keep pushing through. Today had taught me that I never give on anything. It showed me that if you work hard, it WILL pay off in the long run and you won’t regret it.