Middle School a Year Early

Have I mentioned that my daughter Karson is an overachiever?  Just the other day, she was telling me that she couldn't wait to get back to school so she could see her KPREP scores.  GASP!  I am on the Isaac track as far as school is concerned - the later, the better.  I am not ready for the craziness to begin but need to get ready 'cause it's tomorrow.

Karson's drive and determination never ceases to amaze me.  She has been attending South Warren Middle's volleyball team open gyms the last couple of months.  She wanted to go to the basketball open gyms as well - however, since they started at 2:30 and were over by 4:30, that wasn't going to work with our schedule (this was during the end of school).  Many days the kids don't get off the bus until close to 3:30. By the time she got home, ate a quick snack, changed clothes and got to the gym, it would almost be over.  Volleyball was also hosting weekly open gyms at 5:30 p.m.  Since Karson loves volleyball (I have the damaged gutters and roofing shingles to prove it), I figured, she could participate in those.  Sports conditioning and training are all fairly similar, and it keeps her active which she loves.  For about two months, she has attended one open gym each week.  Along with the open gym schedule was the listed time(s) for team try-outs which landed last Tuesday.  Karson told me a while back that the coach had told the girls about the try-outs and how hard it is to make the team.  She was certainly convinced that her game needed enough improvement and that making the team probably wasn't going to happen.  She told me her serve wasn't where it needed to be and how many girls were better than her.  I told her that many of the girls were also older and stronger than her too - very few girls attending the open gyms were in 5th grade last year.  In fact, I only knew three of them.  The day of try-outs arrived.  We were told to come and pick the girls up at 8 p.m.  If they made the first round of cuts, they would be invited back on Wednesday night for a second and final round.  I was nervous for Karson (probably more nervous than her).  Girls started trickling out around 8:15.  The coaches pull each of them aside individually and talk to them about their decision.  This takes a while when you have over 30+ girls trying out for 10 positions on each team. Karson finally emerged with a big grin on her face.  Whew.  She and one other 6th grader made the first round of cuts.  We were tickled for her and headed over to Chaney's for some ice cream.  The second night was even more nerve-racking than the first.  Karson told me she was more nervous about trying out for a second time than being on stage (she recently performed  at SKyPAC in the lead role of Jim Hawkins  - our largest crowd was 221 people).  I skipped church on Wednesday night so I could be prompt picking her up at South.  My heart and mind were in knots waiting for the news Wednesday night.  All the parents were congregating in the parking lot waiting for their girls to come out.  One by one they started coming around 8:15 - no Karson but lots of sad girls and tears (and even sadder parents - ugh).  Waiting is agony.  I saw a group of her friends (going into 7th grade) come out - they were super excited and one asked me "where is Karson, did she make it?"  I said, "I have no idea, she hasn't come out yet."  A few minutes later she was coming out the door with a big grin on her face.  She'd made the team.  Her friends scooped her up and said "Dimples made the team."  It warmed my heart that they embraced her so warmly.  She is the youngest one of the team but is honored to have been selected. And, 321 text messages after the first night made me realize my daughter isn't young anymore =/.

     There was a parent meeting immediately following the first night of practice where we received the practice and game schedule.

I'm not sure what Karson was more excited about taking the team or her new uniforms which arrived TONIGHT.  Look out opponents, number 7 is ready for action.  She's thinking she may be a middle hitter but hasn't received her position just yet.

Karson cannot wait to get her hitting shirt because her name will be on the back of it.  She is in her third full week of practices - every single night for two hours.  She's handled it all like a champ which makes me happy because she has about two more solid months of it.  First tournament, Summer SlamFest, is this weekend.  Wish her luck!