My Lumberjack Life: Megan Eaglehouse
4/16/2020 7:00:00 PM | Women's Bowling
SFA Athletics is unveiling a new series called My Lumberjack Life. With the 2019-20 season of competition cut short, this series is an opportunity for our athletes to share how they've been dealing with the recent global events, and how they are spending their time away from campus and the sport they play.
It was the Thursday before sectionals, and a few teammates and I went to grab coffee before practice. Coach called me to tell me that practice was cancelled along with USBC Sectionals for that weekend. It felt like the world was at a standstill. I didn't know how to react, but I tried to stay optimistic. Most of the team ended up going to coach's house to figure out what the next steps were. Then more started to unfold, schools were closing and continuing online, and college sports were cancelling their seasons.Once the news came out, I was heartbroken not only for the seniors like me, but for everyone who worked so hard to get where they were, just to have it taken from them. As a team we were all heartbroken to hear the news. All our long practices, hard fought matches, and so many more memories to be made were gone in the blink of an eye. On the other hand, we also understood that all these precautions being made were to keep us safe and healthy.
I always knew bowling was a big part of my life, but I never realized how much I would miss college bowling. The amazing opportunities that college bowling has given me the past four years has been unbelievable. As a team we were able to go to Disney World (many times), visit the White House to meet the president, go ziplining across Fremont Street, and become NCAA National Champions (twice). I wouldn't trade my time at SFA for the world. Not only did I join an amazing team, but I gained a family for life. I will truly miss all the time that I had spent at SFA. I think being a part of a college team is something so rare that you can't compare it to anything else.
Now that I have been home for a month, I decided to make myself more at home since I haven't truly lived here in four years. I ended up cleaning and rearranging my room the second I got home. I made room for my new desk and put together with my mom. Coach Lemke organizes Zoom calls every week just so we can see each other and keep in touch with what is going on at school and home. I spend a lot of my days doing homework, binging television shows, working out, and drawing/coloring. Most of my nights I spend with my family and we end up playing lots of games.
I miss my team a lot and it's still crazy to think a month ago we were practicing and still going to classes like normal. It has been a crazy transition, but it has definitely put things in perspective for a lot of us. One thing I have learned in all of this is that tomorrow isn't promised. We have always preached as a team to be "in the moment" and now looking back I truly cherish those moments that we had.
For those whose senior year ended short, I hope you made some amazing memories in your time as a college athlete. I know that this isn't what any of us had planned, but I have a feeling that there is going to be more great things waiting for us down the road. No matter what life throws at us, always remember to enjoy the time we have and be great at what ever we do.
For those who still have a year or more left, I truly recommend to always be present in everything you do as an athlete. You never know what can happen and in the blink of an eye this could all be gone. All the memories you make in your four years will last a lifetime and will be something you cherish forever. I wish everyone the best and I hope y'all realize how great the opportunities you get to enjoy are.
Thank you to Coach and Steve (Lemke) for the amazing opportunity to not only be a part of SFA, but your family as well. I am so grateful to have y'all in my life as not only coaches but family.
Lastly, I will miss wearing SFA on my back. I never thought that my senior year would end this way. But I will cherish the memories that I have made, and I will always be proud to be a Lumberjack. I can't wait to see what life after being a college athlete holds.
#MakeItCount #AxeEm
- M
9.29.23 | Axe 'Em Insider Ep. 16 x Bowling
Friday, September 29
