Thank you staff, Mallorie Brown

Dear Coach Day,

I wanted to say thank you for making such a positive impact on my life although words could never really show my appreciation for everything you and Mrs. Day have done in my life. You taught me so many life lessons that at the time I don’t think you even realized you were. You always stressing how important form and technique were while lifting to improve your overall strength taught me a lot. It made me realize that even the smallest thing can make a huge impact. Not hitting depth while at a meet can really set you back for the entire meet. The same is in life not being cautious and aware of what you are doing can lead to backlash. 

Just like the time at the State meet my junior year when I wasn’t paying attention and was nowhere to be found when I was up to lift. It impacted my overall total that day. You were disappointed and maybe a little mad, but it was because you knew I set myself back, and you only wanted me to do the best I could. That day made me come to the conclusion all your harping on the small stuff was so much more important than I thought. Not doing all the little things lead to a snowball effect. If I had started warming up sooner and got to my platform when I needed to that would have never happened. 

The biggest thing I think you taught me though was “TPW”, “push through”, and “easy money!” and not just because you screamed it every day in the weight room after school. All your little sayings, I still say them or think about them every day.  I’m not sure if it’s because they each have their own meaning to me or because I heard them every day for four years. To me, they remind me to always give 100% in everything I do. 

You never let anyone not give their all because you took the time to know each one of us and knew what we were capable of and that’s all you ever asked of us. Now when something gets hard for me and I want to quit I think of one of your trademark sayings or still hear you in my ear just like you were every time I was lifting and remember to give it my all. In life, if you want to succeed you have to remember only the tough people win! 

There are so many things I want to thank you for but I know the letter would get “brutally” long so I’ll try to finish soon. Thank you for making all our road trips interesting from always being down for Taco Bell or Whataburger to keeping a conversation going so the never-ending drive seems shorter. You became someone I respected and knew I could always turn to if I ever needed help or wanted to talk. 

Lastly thank you for introducing me to powerlifting. I know I wasn’t the best lifter and definitely got on your nerves occasionally, but we all know I was your favorite on the girls’ team– it’s ok I won’t tell Yulissa. Powerlifting became a therapy for me, it was something I could do and forget about everything because the only thing I was thinking about was not falling with a couple of hundred pounds on my back. Putting on that super tight suit and waddling around wasn’t what I had expected at first but now I wouldn’t trade it for the world. The feeling of getting a good lift and then getting first in a meet is indescribable. It gave me something to be proud of and showed me hard work pays off, and if it wasn’t for your constant reassurance and drive to make your athletes the best they can be I would have never known that feeling. So, thank you for being the coach you are. I don’t think I can ever thank you enough for all the memories and life lessons because they are priceless to me.

Sincerely,

Ms. Brown