TALLAHASSEE, Fl. (WTXL) - It's been one heck of a season for the Tallahassee Juniors 17 Nike Pro squad. They won their first tournament of the season in Kansas City a few months back - a tournament that also qualified them for Nationals.
"Whew! It was a lot of crying," laughed Jada Rhodes.
"We all worked really hard for this and we all had one goal and one dream and we succeeded," added Makyala Washington.
"I got to the point where I was like okay guys, you have to do whatever it takes," said head coach Angie Strickland. "For some of you, this is it. You're not playing in college. This is your last club season. This team is never going to be the same, so now, it's whatever it takes."
Whatever it takes. It's a theme adopted by this group, and it's forever etched on t-shirts, and the motivation behind their trip to Detroit.
"Whatever it takes, Detroit state of mind," said Washington, reading the saying on the shirts that everyone on the team wears. "That's kind of been our motto all season. Whatever it takes, whatever we're willing to go the extra mile and succeed."
"We have to give our all regardless," said Rhodes. "If it takes us coming in here in this hot weather to get better, that's what we're going to do!"
Their goal? To make history. For coach Strickland, she's never had a team finish above 15th. This group is aiming to change that.
"They're playing at a really high level right now," said Strickland. "The thing is, the chemistry is there. This team has been together since 14's I think, but haven't qualified since 14's and now they're 17's. They've been waiting three years. We have a goal to meet and trying to get to the goal is the top 16."
"We just all have to put in because it's our last time," said Shania Cromartie. "Giving it whatever it takes, doing whatever takes so we can just do well and leave our mark."
Whatever it takes, to get those tears of joy flowing once again.
