Monique van Rheenen

Well, it got to the point where that wasn't enough, and I got benched anyway.

And I was really frustrated.

So I was especially excited when word came out that our coach was transferring to another school because she thought our team, quote, wasn't going anywhere.

Caused a lot of drama.

So it was especially exciting when we made it to the semifinals of the state tournament and we were playing her team.

It was a really scrappy game, because she taught all of her girls to play mean.

They're sitting there.

They're kicking at shins.

They're pulling shirts.

There are girls that are getting kicked out of the game left and right, and from my team too, because we'd also been trained to be mean.

And so it's down to the final moments of the game.

We've got probably 15 minutes left.

And it's tight.

It's tied.

Tensions are high.

Nerves are high.

And I get the ball.

And I know that this girl that is at least twice my size and has been knocking me around all game, that if I get one touch past her, I'm gone.

And so I get the ball, do a little fancy footwork, and I lose her.

And I'm booking it down the field.