“It was automatic. Sports became my automatic outlet.”
Azure was a natural athlete right from the start with soccer and baseball. Being good at it and the all the praise she received made her “gravitate” towards sports. “It just made sense”.
Azure started playing sports when she was around five years of age. Easily understood Azure’s family members were also active in sports. Her brother participated in sports all through his life, focusing on lacrosse. Her mother grew up in a time where there were not a lot of sports for females however; she was active in horse barrel racing. Finally, her father was big in swimming. It is no surprise that Azure excelled in sports, when she comes from a family of natural athletes.
Azure recalls that most of her key relationships comes from her interest in sports. People that share the same passion seem to connect very well with each other.
Family support has always been critical to her success. For instance, when she injured both her knees (ACL and MCL) in high school the type of support varied because she was never sure if she would be able to perform from season to season. The steadfast support from her family remained constant throughout.
Azure is reminded of a special bond that she shared with her cousin. He recently was killed in Iraq and she is touched by the effect that she unknowingly had on him. Speaking with her aunt, she was told that a scholarship was being set up at the high school she was from. The money was going to be put into making a women’s lacrosse team. The Aunt said, “You inspired him so much, I know this is where he would want the money to go to”.
Azure has always held a passion for sports, always knowing this is what she wanted to do. Once she went to college the feelings stayed the same, “My place in the world just became more solidified.” These four years of college play would become her most enjoyable years due to her teammates. “You eat, sleep, and breathe with these people, you become a family.” Relationships would always be Azure’s most prized possession that she received from sports.
Azure’s purpose was not because of exercise; instead, it was because of the comradity, people, and feelings. “I loved that I could take charge of something, be able to be passionate about something, put myself out there, outside of my box”. Too many people just stay in their little boxes instead of letting go”.
Babe Didrikson: “She created opportunities for herself when she did not have any.” She was just an all around outstanding athlete in everything she did.
Amelia Earhart: Basically Azure admired anybody that stood for something, not always people she would know but things she heard about people would make her admire them.
Azure is most proud of the relationships that she has made throughout the years. “For example, it has been two years since I’ve coached you and knowing that you would still, two years later, come and ask me to do this means a lot to me. It means that I have succeeded in making close relationships.”
"I think that the most important message is to really stick with something, don’t ever give up on something until you fully experience everything. Everything is difficult at first. You never want to not turn over a rock because you got too tired because there were so many rocks, turn them all over and see what’s underneath, it’s worth it, that’s the exploration. You might find the nickel, where you had worms underneath all the other ones. So why isn’t every single one important? You might find that shiny piece, it’s really important to try everything."
