Ohio Soccer Moms and Dads Scholarship

Dear Mom and Dad, You both are my rock. You have done everything possible to ensure that I have all the resources available to better myself as an athlete, and more importantly, as a person. From tot-soccer, all the way to NCAA soccer, you have been there for me without a doubt and through thick and thin. Starting when I was two years old, you both were out on the field kicking a ball around with me. Then came travel and high school soccer with weekday games after long days at work and school. When one season finished, another was beginning. You both did not miss a beat when transitioning from high school to club, when the drive to practice went from 5 minutes to 45 minutes, you made it possible. The out-of-state weekend trips, out-of-state day trips, and everything in between, you gave up countless opportunities for yourselves, and me, and there is not much else I could ask for. Mom, I watch you work so hard, there is no one more ambitious and determined than you. I understand missing some games and tournaments because it was all for me. You were my first coach. You might have had to bribe me with Skittles to stay on the field, but it wasn't for nothing, and I owe it all to you. Dad, you have been to every game and tournament I have ever played. It wouldn't be the same if you weren't on the sideline watching and cheering me on. There might have been times I was angry with you or didn't want to listen to you, but now I understand. You have had a different perspective of the game this whole time and were trying to help me excel. From riding your bike while I run around the neighborhood, kicking balls in the backyard, or sending me training videos on Instagram reels, you just wanted to be a part of my story and success. Now, as a college athlete, I can see the whole picture. When nothing seemed perfect and you both, I assume, were on my nerves, none of that mattered, that is not what will stick with me for the rest of my life. The invaluable life lessons I have learned just from watching you - resilience, accountability, and leadership are something I can take with me and apply to the rest of my life. The wins and losses will never matter compared to the sacrifices made to get me to where I am today. I am a better human being for having you as my parents. Thank you for all that you have done, and all that you continue to do for me, it does not go unnoticed. I love you more, Rachel Gatten

Dear Mom and Dad, I am a college athlete because of the lessons you taught me, the support you’ve given, and your unwavering love. When I first started soccer playing for Our Lady’s Kindergarten-4 league you both were always there. The year I played on the same team as Lyla (my little sister) you both coached us. I love looking at that year’s team picture because I can see the immense support you have for me and my siblings. Thank you for letting me play travel soccer for Our Lady when I got into 4th grade, after being asked to play up with the 5th graders. I know growing up we financially struggled but you never let us kids know the battle you two were fighting. I appreciate all you must have sacrificed to let me play travel soccer. You both worked while going back to school juggling three little girls and a teenager; I don’t know how you guys did it all. Dad, you continued to coach me when I started travel soccer and you gave all your energy to my team. You would send out BeastMode YouTube videos on foot skills to the team; I would go to the basement on days we didn’t have practice and work through the list of foot skills over and over. I still to this day, a sophomore in college, will revert to those basic fundamental foot skill drills to do on my own. Thank you for instilling in me the knowledge that your dreams take hard work and that every day is a day to get better whether you spend 15 minutes doing toe touches in the basement or go to a field and spend hours working on your long balls. Mama, I didn't realize the hardships that dad being my coach could have put on you until I got into college. You are so strong, and an amazing mom. I understand more every day how much you truly love and wanted your babies to have the best at any cost. So, thank you mom for letting dad be my coach, and thanks dad for being my coach. You both have helped me grow as a soccer player throughout the years by spending hours in the backyard with me and a ball or measuring out sprints in the front of the house. Thank you for coming to all my games. My favorite memory I have of us 3 and soccer is my senior year of high school when I would start, and they’d announce my name we would find each other and hold up the “I love you” sign. Thank you both for being so supportive when I got into college. When I tore my ACL a month into freshman year during a game. You both did nothing but help me. You guys would stand behind me and help move my leg when I wasn’t strong enough. I was so scared during this time that I was never going to be the athlete that I was before but you both pushed me to be greater than I was before and cheered me on throughout the whole process. Thank you for having faith in and supporting me this past season. I appreciate you guys coming to games knowing I might not get in. I love all the support and strength you guys give me to not quit on my dreams and to just work as hard as I can to get those minutes, I want next season. Thank you for being my biggest supporters and my heros. I love you, Ava Quinn