Page 198 of Made Better Together

When I wake up, the phone is by my side, and there’s already a message waiting.

EDEN: You fell asleep. I’m here if you want to talk in the morning!

I put a heart on the message and write back after I’m cleaned up.

CONNOR: I’m off to breakfast. More after the game :)

It feels like I’m out of my body all morning. I get food, then gather my stuff for the team bus trip to the New Jersey stadium. It’s surreal.

I attempt to tamp down my anxiousness during the bus ride.

You got this, Connor. Same old ball going in the same old uprights as you’ve done a million times.

But I can’t shake my nerves. When we step out onto the field for warm-ups, it doesn’t help that the stadium is foreign to me.

The consistency of the grass is different from in Orlando. The backdrop view behind the uprights is unfamiliar, distracting. 80,000 seats around me, about to be filled with hostile fans.

Del puts his hand on my shoulder. “Feeling overwhelmed?” He must catch that I’m thrown off.

“More out of rhythm, and uncomfortable.”

He nods. “Just kick the ball, over and over. Kick until you settle.”

“Good idea.”

He claps my back. “Let’s do the standard warm-up.”

I head out to my starting position while he acts as my holder.

“HUT!” he yells to get the mock play going.

I take my steps—one, two, three—and kick the ball. It flies through the uprights, a little to the left but still good by a strong margin.

“Again,” he says. It transports me back to the first days he was teaching me at the Tolliver field.

Look at how far you’ve come.

Once I’m in the right yard line, he shouts, “HUT.” I make contact, and the ball sails through the center of the uprights.

“Again.” Another make. “This time, go back ten yards.” Make. “Again.” Make.

My muscle memory kicks in, and the worries fade.

Just you, the ball, and uprights, once again.

“Thank you,” I say to him as we run back to the locker room.

“That’s what warm-ups are for, right? You got this.”

ORLANDO DAILY NEWS

Connor Battle Debuts in Otherwise Meaningless Game for the Waves

By Adrian Miller

(January 12) The Waves won 17–10 yesterday, among a displeased New Jersey crowd, but that wasn’t the big headline.

Connor Battle, brother to Orlando stars Landon and Rawley Battle, had his first start—and delivered. He made a field goal and two extra points without any sign of jitters.