May 7, 2014

By Kevin Cunningham

Ultimately, I’m not sure how to write this. I know there are a few things I want to touch on and there are others that I would like to get through as quickly as possible. The main thing that comes to mind are the names I want to thank for making my college experience what it was.
Over the past five years – yes, I’m a super senior, so you can make fun of me now – I’ve met a lot of cool, down-to-earth, interesting people in and outside of the Royal Purple. As I said before, this is the part I want to get through as swiftly as possible.
Now I’m not going to name the friends I’ve made these last few years. Because everyone knows that would take up the entire length of this page. Yes, there was a tad of sarcasm thrown in there.
Anyway, my friends know they’re my friends. They don’t need mentioning. If I care about you, you should already know it.
The people that I want to thank in this letter are the athletes, coaches and everyone involved in the athletic department who has helped me over the past three years working for the Royal Purple. I’m going to leave a few names out, not on purpose of course, but just know I appreciate every person who has helped me along the way.
Through my first year and a half as a staff writer, to the semester as the assistant sports editor, to this past school year as the sports editor, I would like to start in the athletic department. Angela Kelm, Tom Fick, Amy Zellinger and Paul Plinske are just some of the people I would like to thank.
There are reasons why I’ve covered the sports that I have. Some of it has to deal with my interest in the sport, of course. But a big part of why I choose to write about what I write about on a week-to-week basis are the people involved with that given sport.
I’ve covered a lot of women’s basketball, women’s golf, football, bowling and gymnastics over the past couple years.
For me to write about those sports has been anything but a problem. Women’s head basketball coach, Keri Carollo, and a couple of her players, Mary Merg and Amy Mandrell, have helped me a lot throughout the last couple of years.
It’s been a pleasure covering the last two runs you guys have made to back-to-back final fours. Before I forget, Merg, men’s head basketball coach Pat Miller, volleyball player Kim Frei, and men’s track and field athlete Marcus Smith, thanks for letting me write feature stories about each of you. They were a blast to write.
Other coaches and athletes I’d like to thank, in no particular order, are Brett Weber, Nicole Westcott, Sammie Leibham, Lance Leipold, Brady Grayvold, Leann Eimermann, Jennifer Regan, Katie Fiorilli, Quardell Young, Ryan Quamme and Frank Barnes.
I know I said I wouldn’t get into naming friends, so I won’t. But I do want to thank them and the people I’ve met through the Royal Purple for making these last five years a time in my life I will never forget.
I’d also like to thank the people who have written for me during my time as assistant and head sports editor. You guys have been great. There has never been a story pushed back because of your laziness or lack of work ethic.
You all have written articles that I have been proud to put in the sports section week after week. Again to my writers, thank you. Also, one name I want to make sure I don’t forget, is my assistant over this past year, Andrea Sidlauskas.
I know you think the sports section is more so mine than it is yours. But like I’ve told you and our writers a dozen times already, it is our section as a group.
You’ve been as good an assistant as I could have asked for. Any time I’ve needed help with anything, you’ve been there for me. So again, thank you.
Last but not least, I’d like to thank the professors and advisers I’ve had at the Royal Purple during these last five years. The professors I’m closer with know who they are and each of the advisers at the Royal Purple have helped me in some way, shape or form.