Moments earlier than the opening draw in opposition to Maryland, Florida lacrosse gamers Brianna Harris, Shannon Kavanagh and Kaitlyn Dabkowski embraced each other. The three took a number of sleek steps earlier than they concurrently hopped into the circle, able to journey the wave.
Not lengthy after, Harris, Kavanagh and Dabkowski made a everlasting mark on one another — actually. The trio knew they wished to get matching tattoos, and after the Gators defeated the second-ranked Terrapins in a thrilling 15-14 battle in Faculty Park, Maryland, in Feb. 2020, it felt like the correct time.
The three roommates every have a small finger tattoo of a wave meant to represent their catchphrase, “journey the wave.” The teammates endured a whirlwind of experiences collectively: from accidents to successful convention championships to a canceled season to bittersweet goodbyes.
“I’ve a bodily reminder, one thing seen I can see, however I’m additionally at all times gonna have a connection underneath our pores and skin,” Harris stated. “One thing that you may’t actually see.”
Kavanagh additionally shares tattoos along with her relations and Harris plans to get one along with her twin sister Kayla, a Navy lacrosse alumna.
“Journey the wave” carries a legacy each on and off the sphere. Kavanagh stated the ladies introduced it to lacrosse, nevertheless it began outdoors of Donald R. Dizney Stadium.
Harris launched the saying to her teammates. It reminds her of summer season days on a ship in her hometown of Annapolis, Maryland.
“A number of of my girlfriends type of stated ‘journey the wave,’” Harris stated. “So it was type of one thing from my hometown as properly.”
Dabkowski stated Harris actually embodies the phrase.
“Bri is only a tremendous enthusiastic individual total,” Dabkowski stated. “When she began saying that so much, the three of us type of made it our factor.”
“Journey the wave” retains the teammates humble and places actions in perspective, Dabkowski stated. Getting tattoos was initially her thought. The Cockeysville, Maryland, native stated although the saying is small, you will need to dwell by.
“Understanding that simply no matter occurs is supposed to be and you’ll’t actually management so much in life, so may as properly simply float,” Dabkowski stated.
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The then-No. 6 Gators’ 2020 marketing campaign was abruptly cut short in March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We went into final 12 months simply saying, you already know, ‘we’re gonna float of issues, we’re not gonna let issues hassle us,’” Kavanagh stated.
After Harris underwent surgical procedure for her second torn ACL and sat out Florida’s entire 2018 season, the attacker appeared destined to return to the sphere for a fifth 12 months of eligibility. That’s when the redshirt senior fashioned her distinctive relationship with coach Amanda O’Leary. The 2 had their ups and downs, Harris stated, however when she acquired harm, their bond grew stronger.
“We’d have particular person conferences, we might actually discuss my life and discuss her life,” she stated.
Harris stated she opened as much as O’Leary within the final 12 months, and their relationship turned particularly significant to her, so after all O’Leary needed to journey the wave along with her, too. When UF beat UM, Harris eagerly purchased a T-shirt for O’Leary that featured a surfer and the phrase “journey the wave.” She paired the tee with a handwritten be aware.
“That is one thing that we’ve been saying right here, we are saying in my hometown and I feel it’d be essential so that you can have a ‘journey the wave’ T-shirt,” Harris stated the be aware typically learn.
O’Leary sported her new gear the very subsequent day.
Harris, Kavanagh and Dabkowski’s collegiate careers got here to an in depth with a national quarterfinal loss to the Syracuse Orange on May 22. The trio missed their shot at a nationwide championship, however their belief sooner or later by no means wavered.
“Journey the wave, it’s going to take us someplace higher,” Harris stated.
Contact Karina Wilson at [email protected] and comply with her on Twitter @kk_rinaa
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Karina Wilson is a second-year scholar on the College of Florida throughout the Faculty of Journalism and Communications with a specialization in sports activities and media. She goals to provide participating, correct and present content material for all sorts of sports activities followers. At the moment, Karina is The Alligator’s lacrosse beat author.
