It all started many years ago – youth travel teams – Maddy two years older –
They played together until Maddy left the travel team in Winchester –
to compete in the Ludoun soccer program 65 miles away!
She made this choice on her own as soon as she could drive.
It was soccer hot bed right outside Washington DC.
Ella remained as she was too young to travel that far.
She also suffered a broken bone in each foot different years that had her not playing.
Maddy secured a spot in the try outs and maintained a above 4.0 GPA all through HS.
Maddy selected University of Lynchburg to continue her soccer playing.
Today they are ranked nationally in the top 25 in Division III and at this date – 11 – 1.
Ella number 10 – was recruited by two colleges and selected Randolph College
She now plays for the Wildcats which are situated across town in Lynchburg Va.
Ten minutes from Maddy and the campus of the University of Lynchburg.
As a Freshman – she has started every game and played all the minutes except two per game!
Maddy number 13 – played 13 games as a Freshman and has started as a Sophomore and a Junior.
Here – Ella is about to get the ball and Maddy number 13 is guarding her.
In all these years this game is the first time they have ever competed against one another.
Here they are in the middle at the top – it was a very good game – tough – no one scored in the first half.
Each half is 45 minutes – and ended up 0 to 0 at the half.
Ella – number 10 – tallest in the starting line up – the difference was the bench – Lynchburg kept throwing fresh players into the game.
Because of the Pandemic and covid –
the coach could not travel to recruit – Ella was recruited before the pandemic!
She plays midfield defense – the coach wants her to shoot – five times a game instead of always passing.
She is young and it will come – she plays so effortlessly.
As soon as he can he puts her back in after she rests for two minutes.
So proud of Maddy number 13 who drove herslf 65 miles each way to practice – so she would get noticed – and now plays on a team that is ranked in the top 25 in the nation at Division III.
She is fast – quick and plays attacker both left and right and midfielder in the front.
You can just tell she has the skills – the coach tells the team –
with Maddy do the 1 – 2 – do not worry – she is fast enough she can break for the goal – just get her the ball – this is where she passes back to the middle and breaks for the front!
SISTERS – Ella – number 10 Maddy – number 13
Proud parents – Mike and Debby
Ella made the shirts representing both schools and their mascots and colors – she is such a artist!
Ella and Maddy – Randolph and Lynchburg – sisters going head to head.
Lynchburg gutted out a 2 to 0 win –
scoring both goals late in the second half –
they just had a stronger bench.
Sarah – sister – freshmen in H.S.
Sarah – will turn 15 later this month – she could of played soccer – but had no interest and will run track.
She already is just above six and one half minute miler.
She played soccer when younger and also was fast and good.
Maddy – our oldest granddaughter – entering her third year at the UNIVERSITY of LYNCHBURG!
She has like it seems played soccer all her life – since she was old enough to put on a uniform.
Always the smallest on the field – at first the ball was almost bigger than her!
But – in her Junior HS year she had a grwoth spurt – and ended up being 5′ 6″ tall and a star soccer player.
She went to Lynchburg and as a Freshman played in 13 games and starting last year as a starter.
This past weekend – in their first game – lost a hard fought game to a team from Florida – a very good non division team – 2 to 1 – but the write up was about how she played and the skill set she brings – almost several times bringing them back for a tie.
She has excelled and is one of the best players on a very young team – starting 7 Freshman.
The Freshman are all big – 5′ 11″ to 6.0 ‘ tall and all really good.
They won their second game 6 to 0 over a team from NY city.
Ella Myers – # 10 – a 5′ 9″ freshman at Randolph College in Lynchburg Va. just ten minutes away from her sister Maddy.
She was recruited by two schools and in a preseason interview – her now coach said –
“Ella Myers – will play and get a lot of minutes at midfielder”!
She has started all the preseason games – and both regular season games – and played almost the entire games!
They have won both games and in the second game – a 0 to 0 tie going into minute 64 of the second half –
she scored her first college goal in what would be the winning goal – ( one was added later) as a Freshmen.
She had a very hard journey to get here –
breaking a bone in each foot at different years –
losing a couple years of playing plus not having a couch that believed in her playing!
Yet – TWO COLLEGE coaches saw the potential and recruited her.
Her HS team came within one goal of a state championship!
She just missed by inches of scoring that goal!
HER MOTTO I have given her –
” I AM A SKILLED PLAYER – and NOW HERE I AM”!
Both of them overcame the odds – from being the smallest with huge skills – from overcoming broken bones and a coach who did not believe in her – to both of them starting on their respective COLLEGE SOCCER TEAMS!
And YES – they will play against each other come Ocrober 6th.
and we plan on being there to see it!
Cheering both of them on – a win for us no matter the outcome.
Sarah who is fifthteen – could of been just as good had she continued – Maddy – oldest and still the smallest of the three girls and Ella – proud of all three – you go Sarah and reach for the stars in your own dreams!
It will be a grand time watching this match and who knows – if the teams continue winning meeting in a playoff.
SISTERS
So proud of you Ella for showing them what they had and how they overlooked you!
” I AM A SKILLED PLAYER – AND NOW HERE I AM”
Thank you for reading Papa’s World – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog email: fitztdf@fitztdf
OH MY! Here Sarah is first day of H.S. and Ella first day of college and soccer!
Now – Maddy is also in college – her third year of classes and also playing soccer!
Life is changing – Deb and Mike – from three girls at home – to now just Sarah.
The twin girls – soon to be 11 years old and Bode – soon to be 8 years old.
Are also growing up so fast – and so we live on through them!
Sarah growing up – almost as tall as Ella who is taller than Sherry at 5′ 9″ !
She is now in her first year of H.S. following in the footsteps of the other two. She also could of been a really good soccer player – but has chosen the arts as her focus – dance – acting – and writing!
She looks to me just like her mother Debby!
Full of life – independent – caring – and gives her dad a run for his money! LOL
Fashion – make up – leader in trends – this is Sarah!
Full of life – she wanted grandma to take her to NYC – now I think it is Paris!
She will walk her own path in life – always looking forward.
All three of these girls – are like this – never asking just giving – helping and caring for others.
Ella from her dorm room on campus of Randolph College in Lynchburg Va.
Her picture is her first day of classes and her first day of soccer practice.
She will compete against her sister Maddy in the same cofference – and Maddy is at
The University of Lynchburg – right across town from Ella!
Maddy played in 15 games as a Freshman and was a starter her Sophomore year.
Our calender is marked for when they play each other.
We hope to plan a long weekend to see them both.
Ella is so excited – on her own – no pressures from peers – just being Ella and playing soccer and taking classes.
As you can see in the picture – smiling – gentle – caring – “TINY” as we called her – all grown up!
And then there is Papa – Thomas David Fitzsimmons – graduating in May – 1967 – all those years ago.
My best H.S. friend – bottom right hand corner – Bobby – who we have reconnected the last ten years –
who in October will come for a visit – with his wife Pam – and we will play golf – beach it –
and just be talking of old times past!
Thank you for reading Papa’s World
WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY – FAMILY MEETS FRIENDS!
Our sweet little Ella – “TINY” as her father calls her.
And now today all grown up – nearly as tall as her grandma Sherry – off to college in the fall and part of the soccer team – in Lynchburg Va. for Randolph College.
349 students in her senior class
The procession about to begin – and they came and came – a never ending line.
The honor guard – James Wood – H.S. founded Winchester in the 1700’s named after a officer in the Continental Army.
Honor roll – athlete – recognition – artist – will become a Phys Ed teacher just like her father.
Ella – about to hug her grandma Sherry!
Sisters – Maddy to the left – Sarah to the right.
Parents – Debby and Mike
Family – MYERS
Thank you for reading Papa’s World
WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY – FAMILY MEETS FRIENDS! livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
Sherry – grandma – grand daughters – daughter – mother – CERTIFIED HEALTH COACH as is Debby – Health – lifestyle
We made the trip back to NVA to see Ella play soccer for her senior recognition night and picked up the three little ones so they could cheer her on! Taylor – Cassidy and Bode.
Ella will continue on in college playing soccer for Randolph College in Lynchburg Va.
She lost two years with injuries to her feet breaking a bone in each one.
But – she was determined and it paid off.
Her team is now 8 – 0 – 2 and headed to states.
They have five players continuing onto the college level!
Ella number nine – entering the field to play final game of regular season at James Wood H.S. Winchester Va.
Olivia holding the picture of Ella as a little one – have gown up together as neighbors and best friends.
Proud parents – Mike and Debby
Being escorted by her parents and honored on the field.
All family – friends and neighbors who came out to support Ella and her being honored pregame.The only boy in the grandchildren with Ella’s Sister Maddy – they will compete against each other in college soccer!
They ended up in a double overtime tie for the game – 0 to 0!
They moved onto the districts –
But we were able to come home and watch four games.
Papa – Ella – Sherry proud grandparents – TINY as we called her – has grown up!
Thank you for reading Papa’s World – MY BLOG: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog EMAIL: fitztdf@aol.com
Ella – our second oldest granddaughter – enrolling in Randolph College in Lynchburg Va.
We called her “TINY” as she was growing up –
Her father came up with that nickname –
Today she stands 5′ 8 1/2 ” –
Our little girl is all grown up!
Along with her entrance into the four year program – she will also play college soccer – being recruited – she had two schools to select from – and it just so happens to be cross town from the University of Lynchburg – where her sister starts on the soccer team there – and yes they will compete against one another!
Ella with her mother Debby – all three granddaughters are as tall or taller than their mother. Debby’s mother – Sherry – is 5′ 9″ – so they are most likely inheriting the Swedish genes from her.
It is a beautiful campus – nestled in the foothills surrounding Lynchburg.
The soccer field a easy walk from the dorms.
Ella with her father Mike.
She endured two injuries during her Middle school and H.S.
Both were broken bones in her feet.
One she was stepped on with a cleat
and the other she just landed wrong on it.
She lost two seasons of playing soccer
but when she did – was recruited by two different colleges.
Today she walks the path to her future!
Due to the Pandemic – her H.S. soccer season was moved from the fall to the spring.
She is about to begin playing –
Her travel soccer was played although the number of games reduced.
She competed and will move onto the next level in the Fall.
Ella – back when I called her ‘TINY” – a nickname her father to this day still calls her!
When she was small – she would follow me around –
when there was company she was not sure about –
she would hold my pant leg or climb up into my lap.
OH – TO HAVE THOSE DAYS ONCE AGAIN!
She has the kindest heart – always doing things you ask of her with no complaint.
Our only grand son – Bode – adores her – hanging onto her as she did to me.
She has had a trying past four or five years –
Twice braking a bone in her feet
so that she was in casts and crutches so she could not play soccer.
Missing valuable time – but when she did
she proved she belonged out there!
She caught the coaches eyes when she played – and when healthy – she was voted MVP of her JV team – alongside of her sister – who was voted MVP of her varsity team!
Today – she has sprouted up – four inches taller than her big sister
who is in her second year of college soccer at University of Lynchburg.
Ella and Maddy – loved these two little ones.
With all the adversity of her broken bones in her feet
and this past year – her senior year – because of the Pandemic
her soccer season was postponed to be played in the Spring
if they can!
The whole World has changed – but for Ella – she had choices.
Two of them – where to go to college and which coach to play for!
Not a easy choice for a 17 year old!
Taking classes on line – working her job and not playing H.S. soccer
although she did play travel team this past fall.
Ella – when she is able to play – shows great speed and control
Those two teams and coaches recruited her
attending her games when she played
It would be a hard choice to make!
Sisters – Ella will be attending Randolph College – playing against Maddy at the University of Lynchburg with youngest sister Sarah – only 14 years old!
The years went by so quickly – fourteen to be exact. When she was four – she started playing soccer. It was at that time – the ball seemed to be almost as big as she was !
Our Grand daughter – Madison ( Maddy ) last week signed her letter of intent to play college soccer at the University Of Lynchburg in central Va.
We took the 60 mile journey to Winchester Va. to James Wood H.S. where she is in her last year – for a celebration by the school – and the other part of this story is that her friend and playmate for the last fourteen years – ” Katie P ” also signed her letter of intent to play at the University DeSales in Pa. !
They both had played as four year old’s all the way through H.S. including travel teams in Winchester and the last three years traveling 65 miles one way – three times a week for practice with the Loudoun County Red team.
Maddy has had this goal in mind for a very long time and with all this she still has maintained a 4 . 10 GPA ! Katie also has done the same.
Her college team is going to be a three hour drive for us – which in my mind is ” ROAD TRIP ” something we both enjoy.
Very proud of the young lady she has become – from being the smallest on the field to a strong midfielder who has become defined by her coaches as the ” FULL PACKAGE ” , everything comes through her on the field.
And as you can see – she has grown into the part – taking after my wife who with Swedish heritage – is 5 ‘ 9″-
Maddy certainly has those genes. Another day in PAPA’S WORLD – living healthy and life to the plus !
I 