Randolph College – the University of Lynchburg – one a sophomore – the other a senior.
Both colleges are in Lynchburg, Va. Ella is a sophomore, Randolph – and Maddy is a senior.- Lynchburg.
Both start on their teams – Maddy a wing and Ella midfielder.
Sad this most likely will be the last game they play against each other – but as a family – MEMORIES!
Captains meeting midfield – Ella middle on left in white – Maddy on the right – middle in black.
Shaking hands
And then THE HANDSHAKE AMONG SISTERS! MEMORY!
And then the procession out onto the pitch – Number 10 white – Ella and number 13 black – Maddy.
For us as grandparents and as mother and father – there is no winner and no loser !
For the granddaughters – bittersweet as for the second time – Maddy’s team has won.
Ella never came out of the game – and she has now started and played every game as a freshman
and now as a sophomore – the only freshman to accomplish that.
She will be a very good player when it is all said and done.
Maddy is ending her career for a third straight year as a starter.
Lynchburg has gone to the NCAA tournament for 16 straight and won a national title in 2016.
Wearing the same numbers all the way through – youth – travel and HS teams.
Since they both could walk with their father working with them on ball handling and passing – shooting and footwork – they both take the corner kicks for their teams.
Today Ella has grown so tall – almost 5’10”
Maddy will graduate in Engineering Science with now a 3.85 GPA!
No one lost here – proud parents Debby and Mike – the tradition of the family – love of soccer and life.
Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD and WHEN SISTERS MEET ON THE SOCCER PITCH!
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.
Today – I post some pictures – just random pictures – but ones I have close to my heart!
Taylor holding MorMor’s hand – in turn MorMor also holding Bode’s hand.
They adore Sherry – whom they call MorMor – Swede for Mothers Mother!
When we walk with all three – it usually is Taylor who loses out to the other two in holding her hands.
This time it was Cassidy – who with each passing day – is becoming more and more independent.
These two are coming closer and closer together as they grow up.
They are twins – but had to come early as Taylor was taking all the nutrients.
Taylor is going to be really tall – close to six foot while Cassidy will be like her mother 5’6″.
Taylor loves to ride horses – Cassidy has a variety of interests –
but will sit for hours drawing off her computer and is really good!
I thought this to be funny – it brought a smile to my face!
We moved south to find more time to golf – warmer weather and being close to our friends!
Sherry and Cindy – we have been friends with the McBrides for almost 35 years.
They moved about 25 or 26 years to the Wilmington N.C. area – and we would spend time with them once or twice a year.
Then we moved to NVA and they would do the same.
Now – we are building a new home about 40 miles away from them –
and if the weather is nice – we golf once a week with them –
always on a new course – could be on the weekend or a week day.
They can and do stay with us and we do the same with them.
If our new home is not done on time and we have to give up the condo – they have offered us a place to stay.
FRIENDS! GOOD TIMES! LAUGHS!
This is what we have wanted to do for a very long time – it was too expensive in NVA and down here so many courses to choose from.
We both have a love to golf – one of Sherry’s highlights in golfing came with the day she broke 50 –
and it was a day she was golfing with her father!
A memory she shall always carry with her on the course. Now – she beats me! LOL
The view we have almost every morning when we wake up – the master bedroom has a big glass sliding door on her side of the bed – where all she has to do each morning is open her eyes and see this.
I see it each morning also – but I always am up before the dawn – have been that way all my life.
My favorite time of the day – writing my blog – sipping my coffee and watching the sun rise –
listening to the sounds of nature and just enjoying morning time.
Now the sun shines – causing a rainbow in the mist of the water fountain!
A peaceful setting we shall miss when we leave – but we have had by the end – nine months.
A memory we shall carry forward into the new home.
You can hear the pounding surf a half mile away –
We walk there almost every day –
the water fowl – geese – ducks – mallards – swans – otter – turtles – snakes
and really huge fish we can see when we look down onto the water.
Storms blowing in and out – rain and wind – nature at its best.
It would of been nice to have lived to the left of the picture – single family homes!
But – they were way too expensive – and the condos here – not enough space and no garage.
We have a storage unit – not a lot – but enough so that it would not fit.
The town houses here besides the condo’s – were out of our price range –
plus the one we looked at – needed a lot of work.
This is a beautiful area – one I shall remember –
We were blessed to have spent time here – but it also was expensive!
Thank you for reading Papa’s World
WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY
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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!
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