Many believe they understand what being a good teammate entails, but may be missing the most important component. I always thought I possessed the attributes of a good teammate: supporting others, staying positive, working hard, pushing others, and communicating clearly/respectfully. In my eyes, these are things that contribute to being a good teammate. Good teammates are vital to the success of not just the team, but also to you individually. While these are extremely important parts of being a good teammate, one attribute is missing. That attribute is showing up for your team. Matt demonstrated what being a good teammate was, and I got to experience it first-hand. In middle school, Matt was my coach, and every single day he showed up for his team, not only that, but he also showed up with a smile on his face despite the battle he was facing. This opened my eyes to a whole new light and showed me what many are missing. We often let our own battles get us down and in turn, spread that to those around us. Matt showed me that no matter what I may be going through, it’s still my responsibility to show up for my teammates. I have been on many teams throughout my basketball journey, and the one that was most important to me was the Spring Valley Girls Basketball team. I was grateful to have played with amazing players for the past 4 years and to be a part of something so special. In my junior year, my teammates and I were able to do something never done in school history by winning the first girls' basketball state title for Spring Valley. I know if Matt were there that day, he would have been the best teammate once again. Being around people striving to achieve the same goal and pushing each other to be better was truly an experience I will forever be grateful for. I created countless memories, friendships, and personal growth that I wouldn’t have been able to get without this team. Another team I want to give credit to is my community and family. Without them, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve one ounce of what I was able to. On days I felt defeated or that I was not good enough, I always had someone lifting me up. God has always been my number one teammate and biggest supporter. I leaned on him more times than I can count throughout my basketball career. Knowing that after a bad game, he would still be there to support me, just the same as after I played well. A significant struggle I had was deciding if I wanted to play basketball in college. I did not truly start to think about this major decision until High School. When coaches started reaching out, the anxiety and uncertainty were scary. Everyone was asking me about college basketball, and I didn’t have an answer. I felt like I had to play college because it was what people expected. I was in a battle with myself about what to do, but I was able to come to a decision, not on my own, but with the help of God. After talking with Him, I realized I knew exactly what I wanted; the conflict came from what I thought was expected. God never cared whether I played in college or not. He cared about me doing what makes me happy. As Matt always said, “Play Hard, Don’t Suck”, which is now something I will be carrying with me off the court and onto my next journey.