Book Olympics Story Board -- Sports Stories to Share!
As part of NOVA RIF's 2024 fund-raising initiative -- Book Olympics -- we have a "contest" of our own. Share your story about sports! It can be a personal story focusing on your own or a family member's athletic experience or a tribute to a real-life athlete you admire. Maybe you read a book about an athlete who inspired you. Or maybe you watched sports as a family and have some fond or funny memories! Anything relevant to sports can be included. In December, five winners will be chosen to receive a book store gift certificate!
You don't have to donate to RIF of NOVA to submit your story. Conversely, you don't have submit a story to donate! But we hope you will do both!!!
A few people have already submitted stories about sports that are important to them. Think broadly about anything that is sports relevant as we will feature a wide range of submissions. Note: Sending a story and photo indicates permission to use the story and photo on the RIF of NOVA website, in our newsletter (the RIF RAP), on social media, and for other promotional purposes.
Submitting your story is as easy as 1, 2, (or) 3! Thank you!
1. Send your story and a photo to us by email at this address: [email protected].
2. Or fill out the form below by scrolling down on this page.
3. Or mail your story to our address: Reading is Fundamental of Northern Virginia, Inc.; P.O. Box 7012; Arlington, VA 22207-0012.
And now ... Let the sports story games begin! And let the donations begin, too! Please click here to donate!
You don't have to donate to RIF of NOVA to submit your story. Conversely, you don't have submit a story to donate! But we hope you will do both!!!
A few people have already submitted stories about sports that are important to them. Think broadly about anything that is sports relevant as we will feature a wide range of submissions. Note: Sending a story and photo indicates permission to use the story and photo on the RIF of NOVA website, in our newsletter (the RIF RAP), on social media, and for other promotional purposes.
Submitting your story is as easy as 1, 2, (or) 3! Thank you!
1. Send your story and a photo to us by email at this address: [email protected].
2. Or fill out the form below by scrolling down on this page.
3. Or mail your story to our address: Reading is Fundamental of Northern Virginia, Inc.; P.O. Box 7012; Arlington, VA 22207-0012.
And now ... Let the sports story games begin! And let the donations begin, too! Please click here to donate!
Sixteen years. The number of years my youngest son, Matthew, committed himself to competitive diving -- first as a summer diver, then as a casual year-round diver, and gradually as a serious competitor...six days a week with three or more hours of training per day throughout high school. This led to becoming a Division 1 college diver at Cornell University.
The level of commitment was hard to fathom! Hundreds of hours of practice to prepare for meets -- then just one chance to do six dives on each board. Meets could be so gratifying at times but heartbreaking other times. So many things have to align to execute a flawless dive. The discipline, training regimen, and grit needed is hard to imagine. This year, 2024, was bittersweet for both of us as it was his last season. It was such a big part of our lives for so long. As a parent, I have been amazed to watch him grow as an athlete, and I am grateful for the wonderful experiences we had because of his passion! -- Sari Warren |
I was not a runner for most of my life. And a marathon runner? No way! I decided to give it a shot. I ran some 5K and 10K races followed by a couple of half-marathons. Finally, I felt I was ready! I ran the Marine Corps Marathon -- with my husband and children holding posters to cheer me on. I finished with a time of 5:50 in extreme heat -- not bad for a first-timer!
This marathon success led me to sign up for the 2024 Boston Marathon as nonprofit supporter. My nonprofit was 261 Fearless, a charity that empowers and unites women through the transformative power of running. The funds I raised will help provide women with access to running programs, coaching, and a supportive community. Together, we can break down barriers and inspire women around the world to discover their inner strength and fearlessness. I plan to do more marathons in the future. I learned from this experience that you never know what you can do -- until you try! -- Catie Martin |
My daughter was born with Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) -- a congenital eye disorder present from birth that affects the retina. Though she has been unable to see her whole life, this has not stopped her! At 21, she is fully immersed in singing and song-writing at the Berklee College of Music, and she has produced her own EP with five original songs and more on the way. Last year, she completed a semester abroad in Valencia, Spain knowing almost no Spanish when she started but learning how to get around in a matter of weeks.
And sports? Fully immersed! She loves to waterski and did one run on the Housatonic River (Connecticut) for over 22 miles straight! She snow skis, rock climbs, ice climbs, and has jumped out of an airplane and wants to go again! Not only that, she has performed the National Anthem at countless sports events in New England. I could not be more proud of this intrepid young woman, my daughter Paige! -- Heather Drury |
My dad attended LSU. And was he ever a fan! He got a degree in political science, which led to his career at the State Department. However, his passion for the school and its football team never left him even though he spent most of his life elsewhere. He loved to return to football games when he could, wearing the school's purple and gold colors. When he couldn't go in person, he watched LSU games on television or listened on the radio every Saturday.
My love for football comes from my dad, and I root for LSU every season. To honor his life and passion, it was one of my goals to go to an LSU football game at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge. My husband and two sons were with me when I fulfilled that goal last fall, and LSU won the game! It was truly a magical experience! -- Justina Johnson |
My passion is lacrosse, and I have poured my free time into becoming the best player I can be in order to reach the division one level. Once my family realized that I am going to do anything it takes to be a top player, they supported me, especially when I decided to try out for the #1 club in the country. With their help, I travel to Baltimore multiple times every week, while managing to do my homework and studying in the car.
Participating in the new team has led to some social sacrifices, like missing out on sleepovers and birthday parties with my friends because of my crazy practice and tournament schedule. The upside is the personal growth I have experienced, particularly in managing my time and handling the pressure that comes with being a serious athlete. -- Marley Clift |
I am a proud alum and passionate fan of Virginia Tech. My two boys are, too, and we love to cheer on the Hokies as a family! Sports were always an important part of my growing up, particularly tennis and football. I am now a professional tennis coach. My boys play tennis, too, but they are really crazy about football and have been since they went to their first Tech game.
Wesley, age 9, plays for an elite flag football team within the Aim High organization. His older brother Brayden starts on the reigning national champion tackle football team, the Ferrari Boyz, out of Maryland. As cornerbacks, they are tasked with knowing multiple formations, making one-on-one flag pulls/tackles, and taking away the other team's best receivers. This also means they practice a lot during the week, study film, and participate in private workouts, all while prioritizing school. Both of them have hopes of playing in high school and maybe beyond. Their mom and I are thrilled to help them pursue their dreams. -- Branden Beets |
From boldly jumping into the pool at nine months to watching the Paris Olympics, swimming has been a constant and positive presence in my daughter Kelly’s life. The youngest of three sisters, she wanted to do everything they did, especially swimming. Before she was old enough to join the local swim team, Kelly attended all her sisters’ meets, always watching and learning. So it was no surprise that in her first meet at age five, Kelly swam with perfect strokes. She was hooked!
As she grew, Kelly worked hard and was fiercely dedicated to her sport and her teams. She trained before and after school and on weekends in the gym and in the pool. Her hard work paid off as she qualified for many top meets, swam at college, and even swam with an Olympian! Kelly’s love of swimming started with tears on the pool deck as she demanded to be allowed to jump into the pool as a wee one. It continued with tears as she shed happy ones when local swimmer Torri Huske (who swims for Kelly’s former team, the Arlington Aquatic Club) won an Olympic gold medal. Swimming is still Kelly’s favorite sport, even as a fan! -- Christie Palmer |
Transitioning from high level youth soccer in NOVA to beach volleyball as an adult in San Diego has been an exciting and rewarding experience. Soccer taught me critical skills like positioning, anticipating movement, and rapidly switching between offense and defense, which have translated seamlessly into beach volleyball. However, volleyball brings its own unique challenges. For such a seemingly straightforward game—where you’re limited to bumping, hand setting, swinging, or poking the ball with your knuckles—it’s surprisingly difficult to master. The precision and timing required for each move make every game a learning experience, and the constant adjustments on the sand require agility and focus.
Playing by the water, feeling the breeze, and hearing the waves adds a therapeutic dimension to the game. Additionally, beach volleyball is an incredibly social sport. Whether I’m playing with a partner or a full team, communication is crucial, and the camaraderie built on the sand creates strong bonds. The balance between the mental and physical demands, along with the social and scenic perks, makes beach volleyball a perfect fit after my years of soccer. -- Alex C. |
When I started college 2,000 miles from home, I knew I wanted to join a team sport to meet new friends, but I had no idea the one I picked would give me so much more than a new hobby. At a first-week-of-school club sports fair featuring over 50 club sports opportunities, I saw three women tossing a frisbee back and forth. They were the ultimate frisbee team. They invited me to an open practice, where they would teach me how to throw the frisbee and how to play the game.
After attending that practice, I instantly knew ultimate frisbee was the sport for me. Over four years, the team gave me life-long friendships, opportunities for leadership, and a home. I lived with members of my team for the rest of my college experience and leaned on them for everything. Once I graduated from college and moved back across the country, ultimate frisbee did not leave me. There is a strong community of players who love the game everywhere, and there are always opportunities to stay involved. Ultimate frisbee may be just a sport, but it has given me a community and a lifelong passion. -- Mia Anzilotti |
Ice hockey is a very fun sport!
Being a goalie: Being a goalie is fun and exciting, and watching your teammates work together -- it's quite the show! Offense: Offense is always fun! You get to try to score points, and you get to victory dance! Defense: In my opinion, defense is the best position in ice hockey. All you need to do is knock the puck away from the stick, and you're done! You just blocked a shot from your opponent. Ice hockey is a very fun sport! Katie Isaacson, age 9 |
I have played nine years of soccer out of my eleven-year life. I like a fast-paced sport because I don’t like to sit around! It is really fun because of the speed of the game and because I can play with my friends. I like to play goalie, and goalie, and goalie! I like to play goalie because I get to dive around to save the ball from going into the goal.
The most exciting game was when we went into penalty kicks because we were tied. I saved four out of five penalty kicks for our team, and that is when we won the championship. I was overjoyed! -- Adam Promen, age 11 |
I started playing tennis when I was four years old. At the time, I did not like to be left at the tennis court. But that changed over time as I started to take lessons at tennis camp every summer. My favorite part was learning to hit hard enough to compete with the counselors. I played travel soccer and basketball, too, but when I got to high school, I chose tennis. One of my proudest moments was being chosen as the team's MVP as a freshman. I still have that trophy as a reminder of my fun days of tennis competition.
One of the things that has stayed with me about tennis is the hopper. It's full of balls...but you cannot hit them all at once. You have to hit them one at a time. It's a good metaphor for handling life! -- Jenna B. |
My husband Luis started running in 2012. He runs 10-milers and lots of half marathons. The 2024 Marine Corp Marathon was his 11th marathon -- 9 Marine Corps and two in Chicago. I started doing the races -- walking and jogging -- because I was getting up at the crack of dawn to watch Luis at the start and finish of his races anyway. So why not do races and get medals for me, too!
I finally started doing 5, 8, and 10K's at his races about six years ago. 2024 was my fifth Marine Corps 10K. While we both play tennis and love doing that together, sharing the racing experience has been extra fun for both of us. I now have a collection of medals of my own to match with his! -- Brooke Diaz |
My husband and I met playing tennis, and we both still love that sport. Over the years, we added bicycling to our activities when we tried a weekend cycling tour in Vermont and got hooked!
Since then, we have taken part in several charity rides to fight MS and cancer and been lucky enough to ride bikes for fun all over the world -- from Bali, Indonesia to South Africa to Chile to various parts of Europe and the U.S. Biking gives an up-close view and allows you to stop and meet people, learn about other cultures, and get a real feel for wherever you are. The hills are getting hillier -- so an e-bike may be next. But we both hope to ride on as long as we can! -- Lisa Keathley |
With seconds to go, my young son Michael’s basketball team (think that age when the basket seems twice the height of the players) was one point behind. With seconds before the final bell, the ref called a foul and awarded Michael a free throw. As the ball left his hands, I shot a prayer off to St. Anthony of Padua, “Please help him make that basket,” and then, feeling guilty for pestering the heavens for youth sports, continued “I mean for the boy not for the team!” The ball sailed through the basket, and our side of the gym roared. Then silence, followed by a roar from the other side of the gym as the ref called back the basket because one of Mike’s teammates had stepped on the line. So the boy got the basket but the team didn’t get the point!
Over the following years, I didn’t abandon prayers during our children’s and grandchildren’s games, but I never again offered up any justifications, just asked for a hit, a safe landing, an on base, or a swish through the basketball hoop, and for all to have fun in the effort. -- Liz Promen |
Field hockey was not necessarily the obvious choice for me growing up. In fact, it was probably the sport that I was least equipped to participate in as an athlete. You see, I have always been tall. Very tall. Growing up, I was encouraged to pursue sports like basketball and volleyball where being tall was an advantage. Because I was so tall, field hockey was never a sport that seemed to be a perfect fit. At 5'10 I must maneuver my body way more than my peers to make sure my field hockey stick makes clear contact with the ball. Bending so very low to the ground did not come naturally to me initially. Despite these physical challenges, I love the game! I have played field hockey for the past five years. First recreationally, through a county program. But, eventually progressing to play for my school for the past three years -- this year as a captain!
I have found my home in a defensive position which allows my height, once thought of as a detriment, to be an advantage specifically when helping block shots from goal during corners. While I am not a goalie, the Coach often selects me during critical moments to stand in the box and defend against the goal. I really enjoy the camaraderie and teamwork that sits at the heart of field hockey. No single player can win a game on their own. It is a heavily team reliant sport, which means you have to have chemistry with your teammates both on and off the field. And, the variation of the sport means that I never get bored. There is always a new play to consider, or a new strategy to uncover. It requires a lot of physicality. You have to have endurance to run up and down the field, hand-eye coordination to hit the ball, strength to win 1:1 battles, and a bit of IQ to know where exactly to hit the ball to avoid the opposing team. I enjoyed following the women's field hockey team at the Olympics. They are incredible athletes! And while I may never qualify for the Olympic field hockey team, the moral of my story is never let a disadvantage stop you from pursuing something you have passion around. You never know when that disadvantage might actually turn into an advantage on the field. -- McKenzie Watt |
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