To Coach-To Elyce

My college swim coach retired this spring, and I was asked (along with all the other swimmers) to write a letter for her. So I did. And this is what I wrote.

To Coach-To Elyce

You led two lives

You had two selves

One to train us, push us to our limits

The other to pick us up when we fell.

The first came with the territory—

A good Coach is nothing without moxie.

The second was instinctive—

To have our backs when things went wrong.

To challenge, exact, and motivate:

The demands of a Coach.

To inspire, encourage, and invigorate:

The attributes of a great one.

Coach, you helped me do things I never thought possible.

I was proud of myself—I was strong.

Elyce, you helped me focus and step back from life's obstacles,

And I always felt like I belonged.

Swimming has made me stronger:

A stronger person in so many ways.

But Coach, you've made me better,

And that has made all the difference.

And Coach, Elyce:

You wore two different hats with pride,

You took two jobs and made them one.

You took it all in stride.

And here, now that your time is done,

I want to thank you for everything,

Every push, every practice, every pull-up,

every race, every hug, every talk, every tear, and every lending ear.

Because you have made all the difference.

With all my love,

Lindsey Wilson