Late into the evening on Monday, December 16, I lay in bed while my three kids were asleep, watching the Men’s National Collegiate Soccer Championship Game featuring our local UVM Men’s Soccer team. My kids fought a hard fight to stay awake but ultimately passed out.
The game dwindled, and my excitement rose. Would the University of Vermont’s Men’s Soccer team clinch the school’s first national championship? It was incredibly thrilling (and stressful) to watch and a million things were running through my mind.
As I watched the game, I recalled my family’s decision to move to Vermont. At the time, ten years ago, we lived in the Washington DC area where Division I sports are the norm and where there are several national championships. My husband and I love sports, even before kids. We knew that going to Vermont would mean that our kids would have a more similar athletic upbringing to our own (think small-town vibe and a ton of opportunity, access, and heart) than what we were leaving (think massive schools, intense tryouts, and fewer opportunities).
The UVM Men’s Soccer game went into overtime and concluded with the most memorable soccer goal in Vermont sports history. Maximilian Kissel scored after 95 minutes of playing and history was made. It was impossible not to get emotional. Our little university did it! And I knew that from that moment on, watching Vermont sports would resonate differently with my kids.
I woke the kids in the morning and we immediately watched the replay of the magnificent goal. The kids were thrilled and couldn’t wait to go to school to share their excitement with their friends. The same excitement bled through Vermont that day. The kids’ glow was contagious and I knew it was a pivotal moment for our journey here in Vermont.
UVM sporting events are accessible to all of us
We live in a rural area. And like many other rural areas in the country, we have to venture out a few miles for entertainment. It could be as simple as driving to Williston to the closest theatre, taking the kids to Burlington for a concert on the waterfront, or shooting up Dorset Street to get to a UVM game.
I imagine we aren’t the only small town that has to drive on long farm-filled roads through snowstorms to get to a local basketball game, but these little details are what make it so special to my family.
Last year, we brought our kids to the America East Men’s Basketball Championship game at Patrick Gymnasium in South Burlington. We not only brought our two boys, but we also brought their basketball teammates. I’ll admit, getting the tickets wasn’t easy, as it was going to be a great (and televised!) game. But we were able to afford a handful of seats, watch them win the championship, and then scoot home to see the replays on ESPN. My kids thought that was the coolest thing ever!
I speak to families all of the time who venture up to the University of Vermont to see soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, basketball, and hockey games. It’s affordable, easy to get to, and thrilling and clean entertainment for our little ones. I imagine it can only get better with a national championship to their name.
UVM athletes are integrated into the community
One of the best parts about watching the UVM Men’s Soccer team win the National Championship was watching my kids go “Hey, I know that guy!” when they were interviewing Head Coach Rob Dow.
Would Coach Dow remember my kids? Probably not. But I assume that hundreds of Vermont kids had the same thought when they saw him on ESPN.
For the past few years, my kids have attended the VFA Soccer Camp at UVM. The camp is run by Coach Dow and UVM Men’s Soccer team members are the counselors. This is not a new concept. But I see a deeper significance when my kids, who are being raised in an extremely small town, see familiar faces on national television. It excites my kids and makes them so happy, which is such a delight in our challenging world.
The UVM Men’s Soccer National Championship lights a fire in all of us
Will my kids grow to win a national championship? Who knows. But right now, they think they can and that’s what matters to me.
The confidence that was instilled in my kids after watching The UVM Men’s soccer team win a national championship is unmatched. Their smiles and their drive to get off the couch and practice are what sports should be about. It doesn’t matter if my kids want to excel in sports or something else. They learned that day that anything is possible.
As a Vermont family, we can reflect on that day with big smiles and gain excitement to support all UVM sports teams. Our family loves UVM sports because we are Vermonters! This championship and victory wave is contagious and it’s not only bringing my family together, but also it joins us together as Vermonters. We may not have a professional sports team close by, but this is good enough for us.
The future is bright for Vermont sports
Not only did we get to experience a national title at the collegiate level, but we happen to live in the CVSD school district which also won a lot of state championships this year. We got to experience firsthand the boys’ and girls’ soccer teams and the boys’ football team paving their way to the state championship, taking home lots of titles. We’re especially in awe of the girl’s team that ranked #16 in the entire country. That is a huge accomplishment and I’d consider it the largest for girls sports in Vermont.
We’ve watched our high school teams win big and lose big and with each game comes another life lesson. While I have seen my kids cry in excitement because of a big win, I’ve also seen them cry from big losses.
Regardless of the outcome, they’re witnessing an admirable level of commitment, sportsmanship, and skill as they grow up in our little Vermont town, where everyone pitches in to make sure they have the best experience.
In conclusion, I offer a huge congratulations to the UVM Men’s Soccer Team and all of our outstanding Vermont athletes. Watching your success really amped up the energy in my house, and for that, I am extremely grateful. It’s an honor to be a fan of such honorable and hardworking players and coaches. I only hope that if any of you come across this post you know that there are many families who cannot wait to see what happens next. Go Cats!
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