D3 Lives Matter: The Florida Feels

 

When most people think about spring break, they picture beaches, sleeping in, and relaxing with friends. For college athletes, however, spring break often looks different. This year, my spring break was less of a spring break and more of a business trip. I traveled to Florida with my college softball team with one clear goal in mind: win games. While the week was full of long days, early mornings, tough practices, and competitive games, it also provided valuable experiences both on and off the field. By the end of the trip, we finished with a 5-5 record, but the lessons and memories from the week meant much more than the number in the standings.

Our trip began in a way that already hinted at how exhausting the week would be. Our flight was delayed for two hours, which meant we did not arrive at our house in Florida until 3:50 a.m. on Saturday morning. As soon as we got there, everyone went straight to bed because we still had a full day ahead of us. Despite getting very little sleep, we had to be ready for practice at 1 p.m. Since our team always arrives early and the field was about an hour away, we had to leave the house by 11 a.m. Unfortunately, practice did not go very well. Our coach was not happy with the energy and focus we showed, so we spent much of the practice running laps around the field. We ran two laps together as a team and then an additional lap every time someone made an individual mistake. It was not the start to the trip we had hoped for.

The next day started even earlier. We woke up at 5:30 a.m. for a 9:30 a.m. game because we needed to begin warmups at 7:30 and arrive at the field by 7. I felt hopeful and ready for the opportunity to play. Unfortunately, that opportunity never came. During this trip, I learned that our coach already had a lineup she planned to stick with, even if things were not working well for the team. At first, this was difficult to accept, but I reminded myself that the season is long and opportunities can appear when you

least expect them.

Midweek, we finally had a day off on Wednesday. After several early mornings and intense games, it was nice to slow down for a day. I spent most of the afternoon by the pool with my family, enjoying the warm Florida weather. That night, we went out for hibachi, which felt like a well-deserved break from the busy schedule. When we returned to the house, we also received some exciting news: one of our teammates had gotten engaged during the trip. Everyone celebrated with her, and we hoped that positive energy would carry into our games the next day.

The following days were a mix of ups and downs. While we competed hard, our offense struggled to produce runs consistently. The toughest moment came on Thursday when we lost both games of the day. As a result, we had to run 11 poles for each mistake we made during those games. Running in 95-degree weather was not the most enjoyable experience, but it reminded us how much discipline and accountability are expected at the college level.

Fortunately, the trip ended on a much better note. The next day, we bounced back with a sweep and even run-ruled the first team we played. Finishing the trip with strong performances helped boost our confidence heading into the rest of the season. After our final game ended around 3 p.m., we celebrated with a stop at 7Brew for coffee and drinks. Later that night, many of us decided to stay awake instead of sleeping because we had to leave for the airport at 2:30 a.m.

Our travel day was almost as hectic as the games themselves. When we arrived at the airport, we only had about 40 minutes before boarding began. TSA alone took nearly 30 minutes, and the airport train only ran every ten minutes, leaving almost no room for mistakes. At one point, one of our teammates discovered an error on her boarding pass and had to run all the way back to baggage claim to fix it. We honestly thought she would miss the flight, but just as the doors were about to close, she walked onto the plane. The entire team cheered when she made it. A few hours later, we landed in Columbus at 7:30 a.m., officially ending our spring break adventure.

Although this spring break was far from relaxing, it reminded me why being a college athlete is such a unique experience. The long days, difficult practices, and competitive pressure are all part of the journey. Even though the week had its challenges, it also included moments of teamwork, resilience, and celebration that made it worthwhile. Trips like this show that success in sports is not just about the wins and losses, but about learning how to grow, support your teammates, and stay ready for the opportunity.