Indiana University Athletics
Farewell to a Senior: Courtney O'Bryan
4/10/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
April 5, 2006
Graduating Senior, Courtney O'Bryan (Defender)
So if it is any indication of how hard it is to sum up my soccer career here at IU, it took me about month to even sit down and try to write this.
It has been a few months since I have been on the field with my favorite Hoosiers, and it would be an understatement to say that I miss it. I have been keeping my soccer skills fine-tuned by playing in an indoor league and some intramural games with my sorority. I must add, despite the efforts of assistant coach Erika Flanders, Jen Brand and assistant coach Ian Rickerby's wife Kari, my team won the league by a landslide!
Though playing soccer will always be something I enjoyed, nothing will ever compare to the competitive battles that happened out at Yeagley Field at Armstrong Stadium. I will forever remember my first time in an IU jersey, running out of the tunnel for a night game with the band playing the fight song and our fans cheering. I cannot even explain how IU Women's Soccer has affected my life. I have had so much fun traveling across the country by plane, bus, van and car with the amazing people involved in the program. I have competed in some of the coolest venues against such a variety of schools.
After the many road trips, I can say that I now know every single word to Anchorman, I have been to at least one Panera in every state, still cannot play Euchre, truly know Ian's karaoke abilities and have some of the greatest memories just goofing around with some great people!
IU athletics has been great to me, but the academic environment here at IU has also pushed me to achieve my goals as a student. I guess I am lucky (or is it unlucky) to be graduating in four years, but still have a fair amount of schooling left ahead of me. I say unlucky because it marks the end of an era of my life that I will definitely miss.
I will be finishing up some classes at IUPUI next fall in order to take the MCAT in April. I have always wanted to be a pediatrician, so that is what I am working towards in the classroom right now.
However, I am not leaving that easily, as I will be sticking around Bloomington this summer working various soccer camps.
It would be ridiculous to attempt to express my gratitude towards everyone that has made my years here at Indiana as wonderful as they were in a paragraph. However, I will give some shout outs.
First and foremost, I have to thank my family for being the world's best supporters and fans. I am so lucky and proud to have a younger sister, Natalie, coming to play at IU next year. It gives me an excuse to stay involved in IU soccer. Our trainers also are nothing short of amazing. I also have to give a special thank you to Wendy Poppy for getting my hand back up and running.
Coach, Ian and Erika, you let me do what I loved to do day-in and day-out, and I am forever grateful to you for giving me such an opportunity.
To my teammates, you all have made my college career what it has been the last four years. I have more respect for you all than you ever could know, and what we have accomplished together is huge, no matter what any record or score reflects. Be proud of what you do as IU women's soccer players, because, "You are kind of a big deal."
Thanks for letting me be a part of it all. And Jersey, I will definitely never forget you. I have the scar to prove that.
