Senior Day thank-you notes

They came from all over. From Minnesota, Colorado, California, Oregon, Washington.

They discovered a hidden gem, a big-time soccer program tucked into a stunning mountain valley, with fans as rabid as those at a Power 5.

They couldn't believe their good fortune, the opportunity they'd been offered. They all committed. They all became Grizzlies. Some were here for five years, one for just a single season.

But the depth of their experiences was the same: their time here changed their lives. They leave the program as better, more complete people. Sacrificing for a team, for a cause, a shared goal will do that.

There were injuries. There were records broken. There were tears of happiness, tears of heartbreak. Highs and lows that connect a person to another for life. That's what they'll take with them.

What else they share: They'll depart with degrees in hand and championship rings on their fingers, the former setting them up for success in life, the latter revealing they've already learned what it takes.

They have things they want to say. These are their thank-you notes.

Avery Adams (who will graduate next month with a degree in environmental studies and a Peace Corps Prep Certificate):

Thank you to the University of Montana for giving me the opportunity to play soccer for the past four years. Thank you to my siblings for inspiring me to play soccer and showing me how resilient you have to be in order to be a successful player. Thank you to my parents for their constant support and for never getting in the way of me and my love for soccer. Thank you to my coaches who have believed in me even when I may not have believed in myself. Thank you to my teammates who are my biggest support system on and off the field. Thank you to Emily, Claire, Mikee and Morgan for being there for me since freshman year even if we weren't on the field together. Thank you to my fellow seniors who have become my best friends and have made me laugh more than I could have ever imagined. Thank you Griz Nation and the University of Montana for giving me the opportunity to play the sport I love in the most beautiful and accepting community. Forever and always, go Griz!

Catie Buck (who will graduate next month with a degree in marketing):

These past four years as a Griz have been such a special and memorable experience where I have been surrounded by such amazing people. Thank you to my parents for their constant love and support through the ups and downs. Thank you to my teammates for always being there for me and for pushing me to be the best person I can be. Thank you to all of the coaches I have had throughout my career for encouraging me and helping shape me into the person I am today. While I am sad this chapter of my life is ending, I am excited for what the future has in store.

Raye Burton (who will graduate next month with a degree in business marketing):

I wish I could express how thankful I am for my team in just a short paragraph but that wouldn't do them justice. My heart is so full of gratitude and respect for each and every single one of them. I would go to war for any of you, and maybe even run the beep test again for you too. I want to shout out my senior class. Doing life with you these past four years has been some of the best years of my life. I will cherish this journey indefinitely. I want to thank Griz Nation for being one of a kind! Missoula has helped me grow so much as a person, on and off the field, and for that I will be forever grateful. But most of all and most importantly, THANK YOU to my family for being my No. 1 fans through the good, the bad and the ugly. No matter what season of life I am conquering, they have always been there to support me. I am honored and humbled to have repped maroon and silver. Once a Griz, always a Griz!

Mimi Eiden (who will graduate next month with a degree in journalism):

Time flies when you're having fun. I would like to thank my parents for the countless support throughout my soccer career. One thing that will stick with me forever is watching you both take time out of your days to take all 10 of us to our own practices and games and still be home to make dinner with smiles on your faces. That was one of many countless sacrifices you both made to ensure my siblings and I were happy. That didn't go unnoticed. I would also like to thank my coaches and teammates for pushing me to be the best player I can be and for making memories on the way. For the short time I have been here, I can honestly say I have made lifelong friends.

Claire Howard (who finished her undergraduate degree in communications in December 2019 and will earn a master's in public administration next month):

I would first like to say thank you to my dad, my mom and my younger sister Brynn. They have supported me from Day 1 and allowed me to live out a dream of being a goalkeeper at a high level! Thank you to the entire coaching staff at UM for teaching me how to be successful both on and off the field! To my teammates, thank you for being there with me during the bad and celebrating with me during the good! Thank you Griz Soccer for giving me everything I never knew I needed. To everyone who has been with me on this journey, thank you for being along for the ride! As always, go Griz!

Brooke Johnston (who will graduate next month with a degree in business management):

I've been blessed with the opportunity to be surrounded by such amazing people and soccer players for my three years as a Griz. I want to say thank you to my teammates for pushing me to be the best person I can be day in and day out and always being there for me when I need them. Thank you to my parents for supporting me through the ups and downs. Thank you to Claire for being my constant in the chaos. Thank you to the bench squad for cheering with me even when my voice is gone and helping make the best of every moment. And the biggest thank you I have to give is to our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Thank you for placing me here and allowing me to give you glory through the sport I love. Although I will miss being a Griz soccer player, I am excited for the next season of my life no longer as an athlete.

Rita Lang (who will graduate next month with a degree in psychology):

I want to give a huge thank you to every single person I've met along the way throughout my time as a Griz. I have learned so much from each person and have grown into a better human because of it. I also wanted to say thank you to Chris and all the coaches who invested in me. Thank you to Jen and all of my professors who helped me gain more knowledge along the way. And lastly, a huge thank you to my #1 supporters, my parents. You guys have been there for me even when I wasn't there for myself and never neglected to support me through every challenge. I've made so many great memories along the way and I'm so grateful for my time spent here as a Griz. I wouldn't trade it for the world. Thank you Griz Nation for all the unbelievable support throughout my career. This is such a special place that I'll forever be rooting for.

University of Montana Athletics

Players Mentioned

Avery Adams

Catie Buck

Raye Burton

Mimi Eiden

Claire Howard

Brooke Johnston

Rita Lang

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