I received this fantastic note from our former Assistant Coach, Neile Golding. Coach Golding (aka “Goldie”) is now teaching and coaching at Albuquerque Academy. On the occasion of our first game today… here it is, a note of encouragement from Goldie!

“Williston Volleyballers,

This being my first season out of the program and away from Williston, I have been feeling quite nostalgic, especially after reading the comments of some of my dear old volleyball players.  They have expressed themselves so well and the mere fact that they took the time out of their ever-so-cool college lives to share some advice and well wishes to present and future volleyball players, says such positive things about them and their experiences on and off the court.

Two years ago, I came in as the assistant coach under Dyno(mite) with no real background in volleyball and very little background in coaching.  The two of us developed a great friendship with the basis of that friendship being our interest and devotion to our players and our desire to be the best coaches and mentors to them as we could be.  Through working with Coach Dyno, I became very familiar and 100 percent in support of her coaching philosophy.  This is important to note because, as an insider, I know that what she says to you is real and comes from her general interest in you as a person, not just an athlete.

Like I said, I came in as a “rookie” to the sport and yet I was respected and embraced whole-heartedly by some of the coolest, and….later to be discovered, funniest girls around.  In my two years as assistant coach, tears were shed, (through both laughter and sadness), and bonds were made that will continue to last in years to come.  The Williston girls’ volleyball team became my family at Williston and I hope that you can find that same family-feeling with this new version of the team.  If not, maybe you can at least see your teammates as those crazy yet adorable neighbors who sometimes roast a pig on a stick in their backyard.  Oh, you just gotta love ‘em!

To all of my former vball players; I miss you all and think about you on daily….or, at least with greater frequency than you might expect.

And to both the new and old (as in wise…not elderly) players: work hard, laugh even harder, have FUN, (that’s why you play….right?), embrace the love of your teammates and coaches and allow yourself to play through the stresses of life off the courts.  Let volleyball be a break from it all.

It is now time for a poem….

Volleyball season is always the best,
A time to be free from all of life’s stress.
A time to work for something that’s greater than you,
Just don’t forget and leave, in your locker, that one shoe.

For the games are exciting and always upbeat,
When your friends are in the stands, saying you’re neat.
But just remember, that the most important thing isn’t you,
It’s your teammates, your posse, your family, your crew.

Because, in the end, that’s all you’ve got,
Win or lose, bench or court, on this team, you have a spot.

~Goldie <3