By Ryan Carlson (@RyanCarlson88):
Being on a collegiate sports team, it’s not often an athlete gets the family support like these two San Jose State Spartans do. Women’s soccer players Carlie James and Sabrina Miller have parents who travel to every one of their games home and away.
The James will fly up from Los Angeles as will the Millers who sometimes make the drive, too.
Andy James, father of Carlie, looks forward to spending weekends with his daughter who is now out of the house.
“We have some meals, laughs, interactions with our daughter every weekend.” Andy said.
Andy and his wife Heather James love traveling every weekend from Calabasas, Calif. to see their daughter play. It’s satisfying for them to witness Carlie’s growth at the Division 1 level after watching her play throughout her childhood.
Heather had some high praise for Carlie’s team and described the comfort she gets from getting to know her daughter’s teammates and coaches better.
“This team is something really special,” Heather said. “The coaches create a family atmosphere and the girls just adore each other.”
Sabrina’s parents, who travel from Bakersfield, are also very proud of their daughter for playing at such a high level. Her dad Ray loves going to home and away games to cheer Sabrina on and also finds comfort in knowing the positive impact the team has on his daughter.
“The thing I like best about it is it keeps Sabrina focused outside of the parties and all the other distractions,” Ray said. “The sports program at San Jose State has been a blessing and I’m really proud of everything she has done with this team.”
Most sports team create an unbreakable bond among the players, and Carlie and Sabrina love the family-like relationship of their team, but enjoy having their parents at games even more.
“It means so much to me to have them travel up here, how I can I not love parents that do so much for me,” Carlie said. “When everything’s a mess, it’s fine again when my parents are here.”
Sabrina also has a good with the team and traveling with them, but like Carlie, she enjoys how much her family supports her.
“I love having my parents up here,” Sabrina said. “I like having them close…I miss my mom a lot and text her everyday. When everything is in a jumble she comes in and fixes it.”
Not all college athletes get to have the support of their parents at every game, and it means an awful lot to Carlie and Sabrina.