I really couldn't keep up with the conversations on the message boards, but I thought it was really funny when one poster called me a "wolf in sheep's clothing!" Hey, I'm not a wolf, I'M A GATOR!!! So I asked Karla to make this picture for me!

I really appreciate all the people who have taken time to email me. Even though I've been pretty busy with midterms lately, you WILL get a response from me. I am REALLY grateful for all the support. Obviously, I'm taking out any identifying info....and there are some girls who really have had worse experiences than mine, and I can't even begin to print their notes. BUT YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT!

Karen, I last e-mailed you about meeting my daughter at the Penn Relays. [We didn’t get a chance to make it out to the throwing fields]. As a practicing attorney I found the threat of legal action interesting. I highly doubt you will be sued over the e-mails. If his attorney is any good he will let him know that his work record, medical records, and counseling records would be fair game for your attorney. Did he go after the other girl that filed a complaint? I doubt it. Good luck. If your not invited to the half time show, write the AD to find out why?

Answer:  No, I wasn't invited to the halftime show at the Kentucky game, where the SEC champion teams were introduced. According to other athletes who did attend, the announcer just said "Karen Freberg was unavailable." It would have been classy if they had asked me to attend, but oh well.

Hi Karen,
>
> I was always an avid reader of your interesting web site. I've just read
> everything you posted on your site regarding your dismissal from the
team.
> I want to say that I am very saddened with the way things turned out for
> you. I had no inkling that there were any problems as you always seemed so
> upbeat and happy with your updates.
>
> I really hope you bounce back and become successful with everything you
have
> goals for! You seem to be a very thoughtful person and deserve the very
> best! You're also very attractive...don't lose too much weight :)
 

Hmmmm, I don't think you need to worry about my losing TOO much weight. I don't have a specific number in mind...I'm just going to take it gradually and see how I feel (and look!)

Karen,
>
>One more thing...I saw on your site that someone asked for an autographed
>picture...I'm being selfish now, but if you could send me an autographed
>picture...it would be soooooo cool. My mailing address is below in case you
>are able to grant my wish :)
 

Sure, it's on its way!

Karen
>I am a young distance coach that occasionally frequents trackshark.com.  It
>is here that I first heard about what happened to you at Florida.  I am
>disgusted at the way you were treated at Florida.  Your site seemed to me
>to be a great promotional vehicle for Florida, as well as track and field
>in general.  I am a coach at DII school with a small budget and therefore
>wear many hats.  I found your site extremely informative as well as
>entertaining.  From what I can see, you are an acceptionally fun and
>intelligent young woman and I am sure you will land on your feet.  I hope
>you don't let small people like your coaches at Florida hold you down!
>You are also an amazing athlete!  Good luck with the weight loss.  A
>question: how has losing weight affected your strength levels?

Answer:  Surprisingly, I haven't found that my weight loss has affected my
strength levels too much. I feel quicker, which I think will compensate for any
muscle I'm losing. So far, my weight workouts have been going great!

Hi Karen,
>
>My name is ............ I live in ............, CA, and I have been a Karen
>Freberg fan for about 3 years. We found a link to your site on DyeStat
>while checking the results of one of my son's track meets and have been
>following you ever since. My ex-wife was a thrower in high school and went
>to the state finals in 1988, and we thought it was very cool to watch a
>California girl have so much success! I think it's amazing that you are
>able to compete in D-1 athletics, go to school AND maintain your awesome
>website!
>
>Sorry to hear about your "dismissal". I know you'll find success and
>happiness in whatever path your life takes :) And the picture of the
>leaner, meaner Karen is incredible! You look GREAT!
>
>Ok, that's it...just a letter of support for you (and I know you get a ton
>of them) to wish you continued success in life. Thanks for the wonderful
>job you've done on your site and with the "K-mail"! Please don't stop!
>
>
>
>ps I'm sure you get more email than you can handle, but it would be soooo
>cool if you replied to my email. I would love to tell my kids, "Hey, I got
>an email from the famous Karen Freberg!" :)
 

Hey, thanks, and like I said, I always answer my email!

>Glad to see an upbeat thrower website! A fellow Track alum gator forwarded
>me
>your website today and I must say 'I'm soooo sorry!' but other than that?
>Thanks for posting I'm an avid journaler myself and a thrower. I took a few
>year
>reprieve and coach right now, but not sure if I'll throw again 'for real'
>or
>not.
 

This next one is from an Olympic medalist:

Anyway I just spent 30 min going over your site and
>reading your story.  I just happen to be on dyestat and saw this and linked
>to your page. Honey, you stay right where you are and be a warrior. Don't
>let anyone make you feel like you are a problem.  When you are doing what
>is in your heart and what is right, know one gives a rats booty what else
>happens.  Gods going to take good care of you, but the righteous is never
>forsaken.  I can tell some many tales about my experience with collegiate
>coaches and one being old Mr. ........  Anyway I commend you for being strong
>and taking a stand unlike many of us athletes we are afraid to be black
>balled in the sport so we keep our mouth shut about what we know, but not
>for long. You have really paved the way for collegiates to quit taking
>trash from their coaches and I only
>  wish I had your strength when I was in school.  However, now I am a
>pretty tough cookie when it comes to this track business and I dare a coach
>to step out of line or be a butthole toward any of the young ladies Iknow
>who are still in school and it is all over for them, because the stuff I
>know could be best sellers.  Anyway keep the faith and finish your year
>strong. Please don't give up the sport you have  come to far and worked to
>hard to let those coaches ruin this for you.  Be blessed.
 

Wow! Thanks, and congrats on a great performance in Athens!

Hi Karen,

 I am sorry to read about the nonsense that you had to go through at Florida. But I want to wish you the best of luck in whatever you end up doing. I hope that you are able to continue to throw somewhere. I never met you but I did have the chance to see you throw at the Penn Relays the past few years.

I also enjoy reading your web site and wish you and your family all the best. I also want to say thanks again to your father for the CD's that he was kind enough to send to me  and to others.

My dad really enjoyed making those CDs....glad we could help!

Hi Karen,
>
>Wow! I got an email from Karen Freberg! You made my day! And my kids
>thought it was VERY cool, too...so, thank you :)
>
>On your site you said you wanted to hear how former athletes lives have
>been after competition - so here's a quick story for you - after going to
>the state finals and throwing for a year in college, my ex-wife, ............,
>went on to graduate from ................., get her teaching credential and very
>much enjoys her career as a first grade teacher at a Catholic school (where
>both of our kids attended) here in ............her mother still has her
>"Most Outstanding Athlete" plaque from high school hanging in the hall and
>.............. still proudly wears her HS letterman sweater - I saw her wearing it
>as recently as last week! She has a ton a wonderful memories. Both of our
>kids are athletic - we would be very proud if either of them have half the
>success that you have enjoyed.
>You have a some great accomplishments to look back on and be proud of for a
>lifetime, and many more to come! Your ........... City fan club will be behind you
>all the way :)
>
>Thanks again Karen - you ROCK! Have a GREAT day!

That's really cool. I still wear Florida shirts, but not those that say anything about track. That would feel a bit strange right now.
 

>Karen I have been an athlete for a long time, I was one of the top weight
>throwers of all time with a PR of ...... and in the hammer a PR .........
>Your situation is very interesting to me, because it is not the first time
>I
>have heard these type of story.  Back in the early to mid 90's several of
>my
>friends had problems at ....... with ........... (sorry about the spelling), you
>may know them.  In fact I
>believe ........... and ......... both sued ....... and won.  Unfortunately,
>......... quit because of the whole incident, please don't allow that to
>happen.  If I can be any help at all please do not hesitate to let me know.
>All my best and I hope to see you at some meets this year.

Thanks, and congrats on your great marks! I don't plan to compete this year (I'm going to focus on conditioning and losing weight), but I'll be in grad school next year, so who knows? (And at last count, I have three full scholarship offers.....and yes, I have a waiver, too.)
 

There have been so many athletes, like the Olympic medalist, who have either had similar experiences or know of people who have been through the same thing! This has really made me curious! I thought I had just been unlucky or something.....Stay tuned for the official k-mail survey of "how are you treated by your coach?"

Thanks again, Everybody!

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