Hi my name is Mckenzi Schultz-Apps. This forum all started because a naïve mother decided to do the unthinkable to a young female athlete. Here’s what I have to say to her.
First off don’t be a liar. You did not reach out to my father let alone me in the course of 72 hours after it happened. You did immediately after my father called you out on your actions. In your recent text you sent me you said “I was never trying to body shame you,” Heather then what were you trying to do? using a derogatory term to classify me instead of approaching me as a normal human being, just to make a joke. It stung at first I haven’t been the butt end of a joke in a while, but once it settled in I become immensely angry. I am just a kid and I’m just playing a sport I love. And I shouldn't fear about how someone might be taking a picture of me while playing the sport that makes me feel complete. I know many people who aren’t as strong as me and if they found out about this it would tear them down so much as a person. But I’ve dealt with this my whole life and I’m a strong woman who knows that words are only words. That’s why I’m not emotionally affected by this. I know that if my father would have never found out about this it would’ve continued happening. Not only to me but to dozens of other girl’s who don’t deserve it. I’m more angry than sad. Justice is being served as we speak, not only for me but for all young athletes who go through biased treatment. So I ask you Heather was it truly worth it? Was it worth your energy to crush a young female just to make yourself feel better?
McKenzi, as a mom of a young 16 year old athlete who absolutely loves the game and has the heart for softball such as yourself, YOU my dear, are so much better than these claimed adults. YOU are and have learned so much more than the sport. You have every right to stand up for yourself and you have done it well. You are already on the high road less taken over the adults in question and that makes your self-worth way more valuable than what their actions have displayed. My heart hurts for the daughter, in what she is learning from her own mother, along with your prior coach whose wife has now displayed major disrespect as a coaches wife from what I see as a very respectful organization.
We all know, the travel world (and sports in general) can be vicious, cut throat and down right ugly beyond the athletic ability and skill set to which you all are there to learn and grow on. My daughter has experienced something a bit similar on an emotional level. We have a great parent who majority of the girls on the team love and respect. He started to help out our main head coach. He is upbeat, a second voice and the girls enjoy hearing his voice out there. He is opposite of head coach, who is somewhat reserved. A great coach, but that one 'loud' and upbeat voice just adds that much more of a difference that drives them even more. It really is a great coaching pair. However, the actual parent coach who has been assisting from day 1, decided one day to make reference that this other dad/coach 'touched' my daughter inappropriately. That 'inappropriate touch' was him putting his hands on her shoulders giving her a pep talk as he totally knows she needs it. I see every single coach give some sort of emotional connection by way of a hug, an arm around the shoulder for a personal pep talk, a congratulations or what ever. Never viewed a single gesture from any single coach out of 100's of teams as inappropriate. If anything, I always saw respectful and emotional coaching. Of course, I've never been around parents who would think it's appropriate to take a picture of a girl on the field only to make derogatory comments either, and those whom they shared it with, to be so shallow to pass it on.
Softball is an emotional sport and most coaches take this on for the love of the game and girls they coach become like family. We all become family and that is the way it should be. Parents, owe respect to each girl whether it's from prior teams or current, and like wise the girls to parents and coaches. I have never seen a coach in the 5 years we have been in travel, ever display inappropriate gestures or 'touching' to any girl. Since it has never been personally addressed to my daughter or us as the parents, I can only conclude it was agenda based to get him off the field and out of the dugout.
My whole point to this story..... you and my daughter, are learning life truths, life lessons beyond the game. You are learning to be better adults than what is being displayed by those adults around you. Does it make it easier? No. Make the mental or emotional pain less? No. But DO NOT hang your head nor feel less than. Don't let their small mindedness crush your spirit. You clearly have a higher road ahead of you. These lessons will take you and my daughter farther than any of these adults who have chosen to throw stones for what appears to be personal satisfaction. God Bless you, your family and your team! Go play with your head held high young lady!
Your kiddos got this. Be strong and be proud and kick ass!!!!!!!! Sorry about the foul language.... Oh, and Ps years ago when my daughter played 12u I forget what team we were playing against at this tournament in Kettering, but I just so happened to be sitting behind the apposing teams parents and coaches and the main coach made a comment to his player saying that my daughter was going to be an easy out because she was slow etc. Well, funny he said that bc she blasted a home run and didn't have to move fast to get around those bases. Then wouldn't you know he kept his eye on her the rest of the tournament and wanted to know who her parents were bc he wanted to talk to us. Well, he wanted my slow child to sub for them. I reminded him according to him she was slow and that he probably would not want a player like that on his team.....But, thanks for the offer buddy!!!! (should have seen his face when I brought that up)
