Senior Day thank-you notes

They've enjoyed championships -- plural! -- and they've endured pandemic shutdowns. It's a class like no other, these 2021 seniors.

On Sunday afternoon they'll play their final home match at South Campus Stadium. Before they do, they have some things they'd like to say.

Emme Fernandez:

First I think it's important to recognize that I owe everything to The Man upstairs. In no way, shape or form do I believe the paths I have gone down are by chance. It is God's plan and I am so grateful that being a Griz has been a part of that plan. With that I would like to say thank you to my mom, dad and three sisters for always believing in me no matter the challenge. Over the last few years I've spent as a Griz, I have always understood that you are a product of your environment. This team has seen me at my highs and my lows, and has given me so much support. This team has been my home away from home. I firmly believe being a part of such a loving culture is one of God's greatest gifts to me. I've never been one for crying, but thinking about how lucky I am to have ended up in Montana, surrounded and embraced by the people who are a part of the Griz community, gives me tears. I couldn't have asked for better. Thank you Griz.

Kendall Furrow:

Being a Griz these past four years has been a wild ride. It's surreal that my time at Montana is coming to an end because it feels like yesterday when I was moving into Craig Hall 225 (best dorm room of all time). I have shared so many laughs, tears and adventures alongside my amazing friends/teammates who I will cherish forever. I would like to thank my family for always being my rock by giving me unconditional love and support along with continually pushing me to be better every single day. Thank you to Brooke, Emmè, Sami, Kenz and Kelsey for being my constants in the chaos and becoming sisters to me. I wouldn't be where I am today without you guys. I am honored and humbled to have accomplished incredible achievements while playing the sport I love. THANK YOU, Griz Nation, for giving me everything I didn't know I needed and a place to call home these past four years! Forever and always, GO GRIZ!

Taylor Hansen:

Thank you to everyone who has been involved in my life and helped me become who I am today. Thank you to my friends, family, trainers, mentors, coaches and teammates. I will always be grateful for the support you have given me, the ways you have challenged me and the times you have believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. Thank you to Griz Nation for all of the support and being the piece that makes being a Griz so special. This experience is one I will reflect on for the rest of my life. Thank you!

Caitlin Rogers:

Being a part of the Griz community/family is a very special thing and it has gone by incredibly fast. It is hard to believe it is time to say goodbye when I feel like just yesterday I was moving into Craig Hall. I would first like to give a thanks to the University for allowing me to pursue my childhood dream of playing soccer in college and pushing me to be a better student. Thank you to Jen who is my Student/Athletic advisor, I would not have been able to create class schedules that fit my soccer schedule perfectly on my own. Thank you, UM dining, for giving me employment and working around my injury by setting me up with a different job on campus. Thank you coaches and weight coaches for always helping me and pushing me to be the best athlete and soccer player I can be. Thank you, Sam, for helping me with my rehab for my broken leg! Thank you, Sara Bigelow, for always supporting me whether it was in school, my internship and/or with soccer, and of course for being the best dog-aunt Jasmine could ever ask for. Lastly, I would like to thank my family for always motivating me to push myself to be a better person each day. I will forever be a Grizzly at heart. Go Griz!

Sami Siems:

I am so thankful for Griz Soccer and everything it has brought into my life. Over the past four years, I have traveled to some cool places and won a handful of titles, but most importantly met some of the most amazing people. I want to give special thanks to my teammates, roommates and lifelong friends, Kenzie and Kendall. I wouldn't have wanted to spend every waking hour of the past four years with anyone else. But most importantly, I have to thank my parents, Chris and Denise. I am so thankful for the support they have provided me through the high highs and the low lows of my soccer career. They constantly push me to be the best I can be on the field, in the classroom and as a person. Their actions alone set extremely high standards that I hope I can reach someday. Thank you Griz Nation for being some of the best fans in the country. As student-athletes, we see your undying support which makes us all want to perform better and most importantly do better.

Taylor Stoeger:

First and foremost, I want to thank my family for being the greatest support system that I could ask for. You guys have always pushed me to be my best self in everything that I do, and I wouldn't be who I am today without you. Thank you to my mom and dad for being there every step of the way while I chase my dreams, even when that means following me around the country to watch my games. To my brother, thank you for always being honest with me and giving me advice on how to be better, even when it is not always easy to hear. I would also like to thank my past and current coaches for believing in my potential not only as a soccer player, but as a person. I have accomplished things that I never thought I would with your help. Finally, I would like to thank the University of Montana as well as all of my fellow Grizzlies. My time here has been nothing short of amazing and a lot of my happiness can be credited to the amazing people who I have met. I have made lifelong friendships and will cherish my experience as a Griz forever.

Zoe Transtrum:

I am so grateful for my time as a Griz . There are so many people who supported me, and I couldn't have done it without them. Thank you to my teammates for constantly pushing me to be a better player and person. You guys were the best support system. I've learned so much from each of you. Thank you to my coaches, both present and past, for challenging me and continually supporting me in my career. Thank you to my dad who introduced me to the game and has been there every step of the way, for the highs and lows. I'm also so grateful for my family for their constant support and making it out to so many games the last 15 years. Thank you to my past self, for not giving up when things got hard. And lastly a huge thank you to the Griz community. You welcomed me with open arms and gave me a bigger reason to play.

University of Montana Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Emme Fernandez

Kendall Furrow

Taylor Hansen

Caitlin Rogers

Sami Siems

Taylor Stoeger

Zoe Transtrum

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