A View from the Bench

#Emmastrong

If you spend any time around the Greencastle girls basketball program you will quickly come to the realization that we consider ourselves more than just a random group of players and coaches. Instead we are a family that was formed by a game but held together by love, support, and faith in each other.   This feeling of family applies not just to the Varsity and JV team but also into our 8th and 7th grade team.  Once you put on the uniform for the Lady Blue Devils you are part of that family and we will support you in all circumstances and at any time. 

For the rest of this season, and in seasons to come, we want to invite anyone who reads this to join our family in support of Emma Strait.  Emma is part of our 7th grade team.  Her sisters Kristen and Ashley play on our current varsity team and Ellie played for us her 9th grade year.  Last week Emma was diagnosed with Leukemia.   As the news sunk in I thought of my first real memory of Emma.  She was in 5th grade.  She played on our 6th grade team and they would always come to watch the varsity play.  It was Emma’s job to get there early and save the team seats behind our bench.  She did it every game with a smile.  She loves basketball, her sisters, and her teammates. I smile now just thinking about it.

While the road ahead will not always be easy (a 7th grader should be playing ball with her friends and not going for cancer treatments) it will be a journey supported by family, friends and each one of us.  We hope you will join us in that support by keeping Emma and her family in your heart and mind.   We fully believe that someday you will walk into this gym and watch Emma bury a 3 for the Lady Blue Devils and smile.