Soccer Star

Bryan began playing soccer back when he was six, and has played his whole life, even in Germany for a few years as a teen. The one thing he has always wanted was a girl (or boy, for that matter) who would be good at soccer. Kali never seemed to have the interest, Aidan was hit by a ball in the face within a few seconds of entering her first game and was never the same after that...and then it was Gentry's turn. Gentry has always been the rambunctious type...always on the go, and fairly spunky around other kids. We thought these attributes would be beneficial in soccer, but come to find out, she is more interested in the social aspects of the sport. At times, we have watched her holding hands with other girls and running around the circle at the middle of the field, while at other times, we've just watched her ignoring where the ball was as she looked for her coach to give him a high five...for no particular reason. Well, her first season is now over, but here are pictures of that last game. There is a moment in this game that will remain with Bryan forever. Toward the end of the game a boy from the opposing team fell down and Gentry was right there in the crowd of kids when it happened. The ball must have left the area because the swarm also left...except for Gentry and this kid on the ground. She leaned over and asked him if he was okay. He said something back to her and then she held out her hand and helped this boy up onto his feet. The game continued on some other part of the field, but most of the crowd was watching this little girl having just helped her opponent up off the grass. To top off this tremendous display of sportsmanship, they both gave each other a big hug (accompanied by a few "ahhh"s from the spectators), then trotted back to the swarm of other, less-sportsmanlike, players. I guess, after all is said and done, we could have an aggressive, intense soccer player...but we'll take Gentry and her loving, selfless ways...and Bryan will be even prouder of his little girl. She deserves her long-awaited first trophy for this simple act, alone. That deserves a big high-five, Gigi!