Team Stahle

    It was a big night for the Stahle Household on Feb. 22, 2014! We were lucky enough to have the Hosking family in town for the weekend to watch a few games, including the regular season home games in the Penn Gymnasium! Thank you again to Mom, Dad and Grandma Hosking for coming out to celebrate with us! We both had a great game and loved having family to come out to. Not to mention it was especially special for me to have those who have supported me for so many years at my long awaited "Senior Night!" Thanks for the sacrifices you all have made to come to Osky and throughout all the years of following me around!
      The Gym was packed and both games were worth the wait. Unfortunately the girls team wasn't able to pull out the victory. That's not to say we didn't have a shot at it! After a long hard fought game we found ourselves down 1 with only a few seconds left. As the time ticked away I passed to our freshman Alyssa Phillips who was fouled with 1.8 seconds left in the game. The Grand View coaches tried to freeze her by using all their timeouts and unfortunately it seemed to work as she couldn't get one of the two to fall and we lost 81-82. But what a game! Our team really played well together that game and, as embarrassing as it is to me to say, I had a career-high 35 points. Although I am not one to worry about points, it was fun to do well on my last game in that gym and more importantly it has been a privilege to be on a team that likes to see each other do well. I love these girls. The 8 seniors have come from all different backgrounds, all different states practically, and have played for differing times here at William Penn but I can honestly say it has been some of the most fun I have had on a team in my career. I admire these girls for the way they play the game 

with such passion and the way they have accepted me. I can't say that any other team hasn't been accepting; I have been blessed with amazing teammates all of my years. However, some teams have been more supportive of my efforts and accomplishments and it has been such a relief to be on a team that wants each individual to succeed so that the team succeeds as a whole. I never felt like there was a bitter competition among teammates to be the best... I always felt like we genuinely enjoyed seeing each other succeed. That doesn't mean they didn't give me crap the rest of the season about being a ball-hog and needing to pass the ball :) I would have felt neglected if they didn't keep after me for something! I love that no matter how many different things I have experienced... people always surprise me in a good way. 

 The men's game was even more exciting than ours! Grand View is our rival team and at the beginning of every home game against them, after the first basket is made, the fans all throw a roll of toilet paper onto the court! Of course, WPU is then given a technical; but it is a tradition that has been going on for over 30 years! It makes for an even more exciting atmosphere filled with anticipation and high expectations! The Statesmen didn't disappoint as the game was close the whole 40 minutes. Tyler played an amazing game and finished with 20 points and BIG TIME rebounds down the stretch to keep the game out of reach for Grand View. It was so fun to be in the stands with my parents and grandma. I am a proud wife! And I love watching Tyler play the game he loves. He is a great player and so passionate about playing. I am so glad we came to William Penn and that he is able to keep living a dream he has always had, there is no one more deserving of it! I think it is more nerve-wracking being in the stands and watching your husband than playing in a close game yourself! I just wanted him to do so well and I am glad he had such a great game!! Luckily for them, being the #2 seed, this wasn't their last home game and there is more excitement to come to Penn Gymnasium!!

This may be the longest post ever, but we both just feel blessed to be living a dream together. We realize how rare it is to have a husband and wife play on the mens/women's basketball teams at the same college together (how could we forget?! Coach Henry mentions it every time he sees us!), to travel together, to sit in the stands for the other cheering our hardest! I truly believe it has made our marriage even stronger. What a fun adventure and a memory for a lifetime. Truly our story is one for the ages :)