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Payson Cary accepted the
opportunity to train with the
MCU U12 girls team and is making
the most of the advanced
training. |
ORDER COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE
My
favorite part of doing Windham Sports
Pages is the athlete of the week. It
doesn't matter what kind of day I am
having, it instantly turns into a great
day when I get to tell a student athlete
that they were chosen for the award.
This week
is even more special for me as I get to
recognize my niece Payson for her
efforts over the past few months.
Before the
chants of nepotism get too organized I
think it is important to know that I
play a very small role in the selection
of the athlete of the week.
Anyone can
nominate one of Windham's Student
Athletes for the award EXCEPT for me. I
put the nominations into an email which
goes out to about seven people involved
in Windham Sports and they vote on the
nominations.
I set it
up this way because I didn't want to
have to decide who was or wasn't going
to receive the award. I know myself, I
would want to recognize all of the
athletes.
None of
that changes the amount of pride I had
in Payson when I opened the email from
Coach Mike explaining how he was
nominating a player who may not be an
obvious choice for the award.
Payson
will be the first to tell you that she
is not the star player on her soccer
team. In fact she is not even considered
a regular player on the team. She is a
training player, which means she gets to
go to practice and work just as hard as
everyone else, but she doesn't get to
play in the games.
Why would
anyone want to endure the punishment of
practicing each week without the payoff
of playing in the games too? It is very
simple, she has a dream to play soccer
in high school and she is willing to do
whatever she has to make that dream come
true.
A few
months ago when Payson was preparing for
the tryouts for the MCU team she told me
that she hoped she would make the team,
but if she didn't she was going to find
a way to play somewhere. Even if it
meant she was a training player
somewhere.
The rest
of this article is going to be the
nomination sent in by Coach Mike.
Hopefully he doesn't mind but he says it
much better than I can.
"Hello Chris, I have a person that I
would like to nominate. This person is
not a super star in the sports that she
plays in but she wants to be so badly.
This person could have given up when she
was cut from the Travel basketball team,
Windham's Travel soccer team but she
didn’t. She could have given up when she
tried out for a premier soccer club this
past fall and didn't make the final cut
there either. I know you’re probably
thinking what kind of athlete of the
week this would be..... Well I will tell
you; this girl even after being cut from
multiple teams keeps coming back and
keeps trying so hard to just make it.
This past fall when I had to cut her
from my premier team I offered her the
chance to train with the team and work
out with the team to improve her skills
and to stay in touch with the game I was
really afraid she would just give up on
sports in general after being cut... I
was wrong she was very excited to train
with the girls and work out..... Of
course she was disappointed not making
the team but when most people would have
just given up she stayed and I must say
she works her but off and if my memory
serves me right she hasn't missed a
night yet. Sports are so competitive
after a certain age and to me this
person shows a tremendous amount of
courage and heart at the risk of
rejection and for these reasons I would
like to nominate Payson Carry for
Athlete of the week. She may not have
the typical qualification as other
A.O.T.W but if other athletes in the
same situation did as she has they would
not only improve their game but would
learn a life long lesson in the
process.... I admire Payson for her
courage and hard work to do what most
people wouldn’t do in her situation...."
Well said
Coach Mike!
Another
great piece of this is story is that
Coach Mike has rewarded her for her hard
work and overall effort in another way
too. Payson got a surprise a few weeks
ago when Coach Mike told her she would
be playing in the game that week, and I
believe she has played in one or two
others as well.
We are all
proud of you Payson for taking risks and
pursuing your dream. You set goals for
yourself when we were playing soccer in
my front yard this past fall and you are
following through with them. You should
be very proud of yourself for that. Good
things will continue coming your way if
you continue approaching all of life's
obstacles the same way.
Q&A
WSP: Where do you see yourself in five
years?
Payson:
Playing High School soccer and getting
ready for college at Penn State
WSP: Who is your role model in sports?
Payson:
Coach Mike for believing in me and
giving me the chance to improve.
WSP: Who is your role model in life?
Payson: My
Mom and Dad
WSP: How do you prepare for sports?
Payson:
By going to bed early the night before a
game.
WSP: Favorite sports memory?
Payson:
Playing my
first season of travel soccer and
improving every week.
COMMENTS:
WSP:
Good
Choice for AOTW. The true lesson of
sports, for those who participate, is
character. Payson has given us all a
fine example.
- Robert
Mognet
Payson
also continues to work hard and improve
in basketball. Never missing a practice
or an extra opportunity to shoot around
in the gym... Great job Payson..Keep up
the hard work... Now we need to get you
on the softball field!!!!!!
- Coach
Tucker
I have had
the pleasure of having Payson on several
teams over the last few years in
basketball and softball. She is always
trying her hardest, never complains, and
is a pleasure to coach.
-
Steve Johnston
