Marcella Toriki Says Goodbye

[bex]

Marcella Toriki announces her retirement at the conclusion of Season 26. 

I don't want to drag out goodbyes, and I won't be tagging anyone, but I want to take the chance to give thanks. 
I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to all the many people who have made my first chapter in the league a memorable one. There are too many to name you all, but here are but a few: 

To Woelker for introducing me to this weird and wonderful place to begin with 
To the entire class of S18, our riots will always be a part of me 
To Isa and Lamp and the rest of my early Seawolves family, Norfolk was my first league home and I will never forget that 
To CK and Rrad, my first NSFL GMs, I hope you get your threepeat 
To Tomhanks and Juosu, my second NSFL GMs, I consider you both dear friends and I want the best for you always. 
To all the GMs from S17-S18 for giving me both a hell of a scouting experience and the most amazingly stressful free agent period that a young player can dream of 
To all of my NOLA family, who have supported me through everything, good and bad 
To my new Seawolves family that's sprouted up since we  last returned from being a bot team. It warms my heart to see people love that team as much as I did when I started in this league 
To my podcast cohosts, to my media collab partners, to the many who have made sigs for my dear Marce 
To everyone that weaves stories here in word, in image, in all the little ways you do to make this league feel alive 

I love you all. I love this league. I love Marcella Toriki.

And while saying goodbye is hard, I love that I get to continue to be a part of this league and to write new stories here with the help of this outstanding community.

[ValorX77]

Toriki had a heck of a career.

Best of luck on the recreate!

[Raven]

Congrats on your career with Toriki! You will always look back at your first one with so much sentiment.

[OrbitingDeath]

Goodluck with your next player

[PMoney]

Gump drains more life force
Looking forward to your next player!

[scorycory]

Applied

[woelkers]

Pour one out for the homie.

I look forward to your next chapter.

[CLG Rampage]

fellow S18 RB, I salute you

[IsaStarcrossed]

Man of all the players that have come and gone in my time in this league, seeing Toriki go hits me harder than any other. Toriki was the first RB I ever paid attention to in the league as she was *my* RB. Going all the way back to Flint Sun Tropics where we played together in the prospect bowl. We weren't very good and we even had memes made about the team, but there was synergy there and we had a ton of fun despite our floundering with Gimmy at quarterback.

Then I got to join her in Norfolk as well where the only thing we really had to look forward to that season was potentially getting Toriki stats. She was who we cheered for, she was our only focus for that whole season. We didn't win much, but we could always get excited about Toriki making plays and it was a large part of what kept me active in an otherwise miserable season.

Finally she made the trip to New Orleans and once she joined there, it was a turning point for the team. For the first time in the league, I was able to feel success in this league and it was done with my first real teammate. We were able to enjoy that success together. New Orleans turned into a power house and it was in large part due to Toriki. She was the shining star that led us to consistently making playoffs. She was the push we needed to make our way to an Ultimus.

Of all the players in this league, none have impacted me the way Toriki has. She was a huge part of my entire journey here and seeing her leave the league actually has had more impact on me than the departure of my own player, Bjorn Ironside. I never paid much attention to him because I created at a position that I knew wouldn't wow anyone statistically. As such, it was always Toriki. Her stories, her progress in this league. I for one am going to miss her on the field.

That said, good luck on your next player Bex. I hope it brings you as many incredible stories and even more success than Toriki did.

[Lowlycrib]

RIP to one of the San Jose greats