2008 Woodie Awards
Letter: URI gymnast responds to, criticizes 'heartbroken Rhody fan' letter
Issue date: 3/4/08 Section: Editorial/Opinion
03/04/08 - To the Cigar,
To the heartbroken Rhody Fan Matthew Potter: After reading your [Feb. 28] letter: "A Heartbroken Rhody Fan," I am not only embarrassed for you because of your lack of knowledge on my [gymnastics] team's situation, but I am also angry that you would pronounce your unjustified opinions in the school's newspaper.
I am a proud member of the URI gymnastics team and I am actually the student-athlete that was honored at the men's basketball game for my academic excellence.
Let's clear a few things up here, Matthew. If you knew anything about my team's situation, you would understand that we had traveled to New Jersey to compete at Rutgers University that same weekend. Mind you, at this intense competition composed of five of the East Coast's most competitive gymnastics teams, we finished in second place as a team and had numerous individuals finishing in the top three on every event.
After competing successfully on Saturday night, we left New Jersey at 6 a.m. on Sunday so that we could drive back to Rhode Island in order to make the men's basketball game on time.
Here's another detail you left out, Matthew. Half of our team had been battling the flu and strep throat that same weekend and although we whole-heartedly support our fellow student-athletes, an intense basketball game is the last place we would want to relax and recuperate from illness.
I understand that maybe you do not know what it is like to be a student-athlete, but unlike you Matthew, we were unable to relax all weekend to heal ourselves of illnesses. Instead we traveled down the East Coast all weekend, proudly representing our school with our athletic abilities. We hoped that even if we were not respected by the administration trying to cut our team, at least we would be respected by our fellow peers.
The URI gymnastics team enthusiastically supports the men's basketball team and has attended every home game this season. We understand what it is like to work hard day-in and day-out to follow a dream and we share the indescribable bond of being student-athletes.
I am sorry that our team broke your heart as a Rhody fan by leaving the basketball game five minutes early, but it was certainly not out of a lack of respect or support for the athletes. I will be at the next men's basketball game in the Ryan Center and don't worry, Matthew, I will make sure that you hear me this time.
Lauren Wasilewski
To the heartbroken Rhody Fan Matthew Potter: After reading your [Feb. 28] letter: "A Heartbroken Rhody Fan," I am not only embarrassed for you because of your lack of knowledge on my [gymnastics] team's situation, but I am also angry that you would pronounce your unjustified opinions in the school's newspaper.
I am a proud member of the URI gymnastics team and I am actually the student-athlete that was honored at the men's basketball game for my academic excellence.
Let's clear a few things up here, Matthew. If you knew anything about my team's situation, you would understand that we had traveled to New Jersey to compete at Rutgers University that same weekend. Mind you, at this intense competition composed of five of the East Coast's most competitive gymnastics teams, we finished in second place as a team and had numerous individuals finishing in the top three on every event.
After competing successfully on Saturday night, we left New Jersey at 6 a.m. on Sunday so that we could drive back to Rhode Island in order to make the men's basketball game on time.
Here's another detail you left out, Matthew. Half of our team had been battling the flu and strep throat that same weekend and although we whole-heartedly support our fellow student-athletes, an intense basketball game is the last place we would want to relax and recuperate from illness.
I understand that maybe you do not know what it is like to be a student-athlete, but unlike you Matthew, we were unable to relax all weekend to heal ourselves of illnesses. Instead we traveled down the East Coast all weekend, proudly representing our school with our athletic abilities. We hoped that even if we were not respected by the administration trying to cut our team, at least we would be respected by our fellow peers.
The URI gymnastics team enthusiastically supports the men's basketball team and has attended every home game this season. We understand what it is like to work hard day-in and day-out to follow a dream and we share the indescribable bond of being student-athletes.
I am sorry that our team broke your heart as a Rhody fan by leaving the basketball game five minutes early, but it was certainly not out of a lack of respect or support for the athletes. I will be at the next men's basketball game in the Ryan Center and don't worry, Matthew, I will make sure that you hear me this time.
Lauren Wasilewski