On Saturday, February 4, I will be coaching barefoot to raise awareness for and raise money for the 300 million people in the world that go without shoes each day.
My goal is to raise $1000.00 (100 pairs of shoes).
Read my testimonial and donate any amount you are able:
http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/wittenberg/barefoot
At the beginning of every basketball season I find myself being incredibly thankful for a new year full of possibilities. In addition I am grateful to have the time to be on the court working with the players to make them, and myself, better each day. Around Thanksgiving I find myself repeating these same sentiments and this year is no different. I love that basketball season falls during this time of year.
The sports world can be challenging not only because most people solely measure success on wins and losses but also because people and expect constant top-level performances day in and day out from athletes - no matter what the age. To me success is measured on so many levels and while we work hard and consistently in practice every day with the goal to win basketball games, the real success comes in the form of opportunity: opportunity to be healthy and able-bodied enough to play a game we love, opportunity to have opponents to compete against; opportunity to test our limits and learn more about ourselves than what a sedentary lifestyle would teach us.
Although this gratitude-focused holiday causes me to contemplate more specifically all the blessings which surround us, I am most thankful that the attitude of gratitude that I have is something that never truly escapes me. I believe the team has a similar attitude of graciousness and of all things, I am incredibly thankful that they have that capacity within their own heart.
CONGRATULATIONS to our friends and fellow student-athletes,
THE WITTENBERG VOLLEYBALL TEAM on their NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!!
History has been made as the volleyball championship represents the first women’s national title in Wittenberg athletics. We enjoyed watching the final match among 100+ students last night in Founder’s Pub here on campus. We are amazed at the steely determination of this volleyball team who only lost one set in the entire NCAA tournament. A special congratulations to senior Kimmie Dyer (sister of former basketball Tiger, Carrie Dyer, ‘10) who was named tournament MVP, one week after being named third team All-America and second team Academic All-America. Senior outside hitter Christine Simpson and junior libero Christina Gilene were also named to the All-tournament team.
It is a phenomenal way to end the career of the incredible senior class who have worked tirelessly and stayed dedicated to the mission of brining home the walnut and bronze. Their achievement has inspired many and has ignited an energy in Tiger Nation that has fun to be a part of!
Way to TIGER UP, WITT!
In our first three games of the season, the total point spread has been 12 points. We have been on the losing side twice, once by 3 and the other by 6 points; we’ve been on the winning side once, by 3. All three games have been exciting and all three games we were losing going into the last 10 minutes of the game and stormed back to have it go down to the wire.
There has been a lot of learning going on in these first three games with trying different personnel down the stretch and working different match-ups on the defensive end of the floor. It is awesome to see a lot of different players stepping up to the challenge and showing us some great prospects in how we can and will finish out close games this season.
One thing has been clear in these first three games … this team has a lot of guts and a lot of fight in them and I like that. Those intangible qualities are what are going to carry this team far when the going gets tough - when you need to dig deep and find a few extra points and seal another victory.
The basketball team would like to give a HUGE CONGRATS to the volleyball team for winning the REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP this past weekend at Calvin College. GOOD LUCK in the National Quarterfinals - we will be pulling for you, TIGERS on your quest for a National Championship!
Eager Jr. Tiger participants meet the Women's Basketball Team members before starting their clinic on Sunday.
On Sunday we had the first of our Jr. Tiger sessions. Jr. Tiger is a series of five, one-hour long clinics available to youth in kindergarden to eighth grade. Every year we split the five sessions with the men’s team, alternating which program has three and which has two sessions with the group. This year we are on our three clinic rotation and got to kick-off the clinic season with 110 energized youth ready to learn about basketball! From ball handling to dribbling, passing and catching to shooting, we had all 16 baskets in the gym lined up with kids from our community taking note from our basketball team members on how to improve their fundamentals. The hour zooms by quickly and it always brings lots of joy and fun into the lives of so many basketball lovers - young and old alike - both the Jr. Tigers and our Wittenberg Tigers!
Teaching the sport to youth and running clinics like these are one of the most fun parts of my “job” because not only do I get to see the enthusiasm for the sport by young kids, but also, I get to see our own players teach the game that they love to play. Watching the players pass along their knowledge and passion for the game to younger kids is rewarding. Although the clinic only lasts an hour, the energy it infuses into our players and the Jr. Tiger members lasts so much longer. For all these reasons, and more, simply put - Jr. Tigers rock!
As the end of October nears and November begins, basketball games are soon approaching while fall sports teams wrap-up their championships. Here at Wittenberg we are incredibly fortunate to have many exciting teams to watch and support. As a team we are very close with our national powerhouse volleyball program who won their 17th NCAC championship and begin conference tournament play at the end of this week. We also are happy to see the success of our men’s and women’s soccer teams, field hockey teams and the winningest DIII football team in the nation. The other athletic team that we whole-heartedly support is the cross country team, especially since we have a close attachment to one of the runners on the team, our own hoops’ teammate, senior Lindley Bell! Yesterday we were able to watch her run a PR in the NCAC conference championship meet as she finished 47th! It was a beautiful fall afternoon and a great way to start our weekend. We are proud of Lindley for all she achieved this fall season in cross country - it was her best ever in a Tiger uniform! Congratulations, Lindley!
Excited for BASKETBALL in 2011-12!
After the first five days of basketball practice, I feel energized by the work ethic of the team. This time of the year is SO EXCITING to be back on the court with the dedicated and passionate returners as well as the enthusiastic and optimistic incoming new players.
While on a morning walk today I was marveling at the beautiful fall colors and was reminded of our team trek out to John Bryan State Park in Yellow Springs. As a team we went on a 20-minute run around the mosaic-spotted park, the coaching staff discussed the world of possibilities that await this team this upcoming season. Much like the brisk and crisp feeling of the air on a fall afternoon, it is refreshing to have basketball back into my everyday afternoon routine. The sound of balls bouncing on the hardwood and the sight of a shot waxing through the net are such sweet sounds and visions for me and the joy of sharing the experience with 21 other people daily is immense.
Don’t get me wrong, we have a lot of work ahead of us but the buzz in the gym each day makes the adventure that lies before us so much more thrilling to pursue. I am ready for week number two - to build up the skill and team excitement in the gym all while the the leaves continue to fall down to the ground outside.
Although I try to keep my office uplifting with past pictures of Wittenberg Tigers in action and original artwork that I have created, it is still an office space. The walls do have many images hanging on them that can distract me from the daily grind of desk work and make for interesting objects for passers-by to investigate, however, there are still white walls that surround me for many hours of the day.
The mundane activities that go on in the office outside of season are yet another reason I am always EXTREMELY EXCITED for the start of another season. To be on the hardwood floor of the basketball arena makes my heart sing with dedication and inspiration for all the possibilities that lie ahead in a new basketball year! Tomorrow we kick off another momentous season and I can’t wait to spend more time in the gym with eager-to-improve players than among the quiet walls of my office space!
On our last night in Italy, we had a wonderful dinner at Ristorante Zeus followed by our favorite dessert of gelato!
The last three days in Italy we spent in Rome. On the first day we were able to settle into our last hotel accommodations for the trip and learn the Metro Subway system that would be our mode of transportation during our time in the capital city. Once we made our first trek out into the busy city-scape of Roma, we walked our way from Piazza de Poppolo down the shopping district of Via del Corso to the Trevi Fountain. The Trevi Fountain has been used on many movie sets and has a magical quality to it. The myth is if you throw a coin over your shoulder while sitting backwards on the fountain’s edge, your wish will come true. The Baroque styled fountain was teeming from edge to edge with lots of visitors but we all made our way down at one point to toss our lucky coins into the light blue water.
On our second day in Rome we visited the impressive Coliseum and Roman Forum. The history and complexity of the Coliseum was awesome to hear from our tour guide. There is so much to comprehend about how the Coliseum was built and how it was used for Gladiator bouts. It was fantastic to view the most well-preserved triumphal arch in Rome, The Arch of Constantine from the second floor level of the Coliseum. After two hours in the Coliseum, the team spent another two hours touring the remains of the Roman Forum. Every component of a Roman village has a bit of ruins here from a Basilica to the court house and public baths. Once we rejuvenated on some lunch the players took time to explore more of the city on their own. Some hoofed it over to the Pantheon and were amazed at the reverse sundial effect of the occulus in the impeccably preserved temple. Others were able to visit the Spanish Steps and people watch while shopping while others yet were able to hop on an open air bus and see the entire city lit up at night.
The last day in Italy was bitter-sweet. We began the day by visiting the unparalleled Sistine Chapel and Michelangelo’s masterwork of fresco paintings. The labrynth of gallery spaces leading to the chapel allowed us to view a myriad of Roman and Greek sculptures (some original, some copies of originals) as well as tapestries from the 14th and 15h centuries not to mention the hundreds of pontiff relics from the Vatican’s history. Following the Vatican Museum tour we got to see St. Peter’s Cathedral in Vatican Square. Although we did not go inside the Cathedral we were able to feel the enormity of this sturcture’s presence in this most holy city in all of Christendom. The rest of the afternoon was spent doing some last minute sight-seeing and shopping for gifts to take home to loved ones (and for ourselves!) We culminated our tour of Italy with a grand team dinner at a fantastic restaurant where the team indulged in cheese trays, bread and oil, pesto linguine, lasagna and risotto. During the dinner we presented our magnificent guide, and new friend Jolanta Merkete, with Wittenberg memorabilia and hugs from everyone! Jolanta was a God-send as we needed to navigate through city after city and speak with one hotel host after another. She was one reason the trip was such a delight. And, most importantly, we ended the day with our final (sniff, sniff) serving of gelato. It is a tight contest for who ate not only the MOST gelato, but also, who tried the most FLAVORS of gelato while in Italy. Collectively, we couldn’t get enough gelato!
We had no difficulties on our flight back from Rome to Dayton via Detroit. The team was beat from the whirlwind of a tour we just endured so many of the players slept and just relaxed peacefully en route to the USA. The tour was exciting and memorable and many of the players have described it as a trip of a lifetime, one they won’t soon forget because of how special it was to share this with their teammates. For me, it was more than a trip with the team, it was a cross-cultural experience that reminds us that basketball can be a way to bring people together and celebrate our hard work with unique and everlasting memorable experiences. Thank you, Italy for welcoming us and giving us a phenomenal team trip!