Tiger’s only Senior David Simmer was given his jersey framed in recognition of his
Tiger's Senior Captain David Simmer
dedication and contribution to GBC as a student athlete. “David came to Grace during my second year which may have been the toughest win/loss wise but one of the most special to me. Each of us knew what that time was like and came together at that time and we were laying a foundation of things to come and David was a vital part of that. I believe any team I’ve been involved with it is important to have a true family like atmosphere and David was right on board and a fantastic leader from day one. David is the player all coaches would love to have. He’s one I could always count on and he should be proud of the things he has accomplished here”, said Coach Buchanan. Assistant Coach Eric Laurie had this to say, “David is a fantastic leader on and off the field. He’s the captain you always want to have and I enjoyed coaching him even for one year. I know he will always be a special part of GBC.” David was able to talk on a few things about his time at GBC.
“My three years of soccer at Grace hold some of the fondest memories for me. From struggling through two a days my first season, to national tournaments in Oklahoma City, my experience is filled with unforgettable and life changing moments. I’ve heard it said by many different people that college athletics can create some of the most impacting moments in a person’s life, and I would agree 100 percent. The physical demands, busy schedule, and tough losses only aided in making the good moments that much sweeter. At no point do I regret my experience playing soccer at Grace, and know that I will cherish the memories for the rest of my life. Some of my closest friendships developed through the soccer team. Struggling alongside of each of these guys, the long road trips together, the tough losses, and the incredible wins drew us together in ways that I never expected. There is such value in being a teammate alongside the awesome guys that make up the men’s soccer team at GBC, and I consider myself incredibly blessed to have had this opportunity. Coach Buchanan has become a good friend and made my soccer experience that much better. He was an awesome coach and I can’t wait to continue my friendship with him as well after graduation. Some of my fondest moments during game play would be my game winning overtime goal against Great Lakes, my half bike goal against Kuyper, and scoring the first goal of the 2011 season against Maranatha. In essence, I was able to experience “every kind” of scoring experience that I could ask for. The rush of scoring a goal is always special, especially in all three of these very meaningful situations. I relive these goals in my mind frequently. The atmosphere at Grace is something very special. Because we’re such a small school, there is an intimacy with the crowd. I know all of the fans personally, and am always aware of each and every one of them. I really can’t describe the feeling of looking out over our perfectly mowed pitch with the stands full of my friends and fellow students. It’s something special that I know I’ll never quite experience again.
