In 2018-19, the Mountain East Conference began its "Dear Sport" initiative where student-athletes in the conference were encouraged to write a letter to their sport. The initiative provides the opportunity for student-athletes to express in their own words the impact that sports has played in shaping them throughout their lives. 

Click here to view all letters posted throughout the year. 

Below is a letter from Sarah Bodnar, a soccer player from West Liberty University.

Dear Soccer,
 
You are not just a pastime, an after school extracurricular, you are one of the core components of my life. I have known you longer than most of my friends. You are my worst and best friend. You have been with me more than not. I do not know life without you. Throughout these long 16 years, we have had our many ups and downs. I have hated you and have been exhausted by you. Words could not possibly describe you. Yet, I am so grateful for everything you have brought me. Even though our time is coming to an end soon, your impact on me will shape my life forever.

One of the most important things you taught me was to love being on a team and form lifelong bonds with my teammates. The closest friends I have were made through you. You have molded me into a person who is constantly craving to work as a team to accomplish near impossible feats. Through all of the pain and heartbreak that you have caused me, I still run towards you, never wanting to waste a second while I still have time with you. This is because you have given me feelings of accomplishment and happiness at the same time. You have been my one constant phenomenon in life, always there for me to fall back into. I graciously thank you for all of the joys, challenges, traits, and amazing memories to build my life on. You have given me one of the best work ethics and have given me the willingness to compete in life. Each time I put on that jersey and step onto the field, the rush of spending time perfecting you and working with you gives me supernatural feelings that are impossible to recreate without you. There is nowhere else I would rather be than on the field with the smell of freshly cut grass in the air. 

I have welcomed the title of athlete with open arms and am proud to boast that I am one. I will forever thank you for blessing me with gifts that I will be able to use throughout my entire life. Without you, I would be lost, having no structure towards my goals. Thank you for not only building me into the athlete that I have always wanted to be, but a person I am proud to be. As I get to know life without you, I will never stop thanking you for teaching me grit, drive, ambition, and most importantly passion.
 
Love,
Sarah Bodnar #23
West Liberty University