A Blogger's Farewell

All,

It is a bittersweet moment as I type up this post, my final entry into the Going Green Dartmouth Women's Hoops Blog. After five years as the assistant sports information director and women's basketball contact  at Dartmouth, I will be leaving the Big Green to pursue other professional options.

For the past two years I have been the behind the scenes eyes and ears, often updating you on the intricacies, ups and downs of the team and its seasons. Overall I've spent five years as the SID, reporter, blogger, and number one fan of Dartmouth women's basketball. Though this past season, my last, was the toughest one we've endured together on the court, I think everyone involved learned a lot about loyalty and finishing what we started together, despite the great adversity. And of course in my five years there have been many, many more great moments - winning two Ivy Championships, two WNIT's and of course the NCAA Tournament in 2009. And so many more moments when it has been just the team, on the road, laughing and enjoying the shared experience together. Those are some of the best memories for me.

First I will thank you readers and fans for engaging us in this blog but also for your unyielding support of the program. Knowing you are reading and watching here and on DartmouthSports.com has given my job an extra purpose and meaning. And your support means the world to the program.

I am incredibly grateful to Coach Wielgus and her assistants throughout the years for giving me the opportunity to be an integral part of their staff. They always made me feel like I had a job and insight that truly mattered to the team's success and that was very special to me. Chris has a way of making people feel welcome and once she knows she can trust you and that you are in it to see the team succeed, you become part of her family. I was fortunate to build that relationship quickly and have enjoyed experiencing it flourish and evolve.

Lastly, and perhaps most of all, I am grateful to the student-athletes — 26 women — that I have worked with at Dartmouth, who have allowed me to be a part of their college basketball experience. You are an incredibly diverse group and I learned more from each of you than you could ever imagine. Again, thank you for sharing the better part of your college years with me. Be it one, two, three or four years together at Dartmouth, I have enjoyed maintaining friendships with you beyond Hanover and for those who are still wearing the Green and White, I look forward to cheering you on from afar. And actually being able to cheer without being unprofessional! :)

So again, thank you to everyone who makes Dartmouth women's basketball so special and Go Big Green. I will miss you all!

- Dara

Dara Ely
Assistant SID, 2006-2011

Professional Development

A bright light shone through my office window. Upon further investigation I saw blue sky and yes the sun was shining!! GONE were the clouds and the downpours. Mother Nature was cutting us a break. It was going to be a nice day.

I immediately convened a staff meeting and told everyone to quickly prepare for a professional develop seminar at the Ledges. The Ledges is simply a beautiful natural wonder formed by True Brook cutting into the rocks. This favorite swimming hole is about 10 minutes from campus.

The seminar was an interactive event involving an investigative study on the art of skipping rocks into rapids, the challenge of balancing and wading through the stream to get to a sunny rock and the drama that ensued when my sandal raced toward the waterfall by itself.

It was an informative seminar with all participants understanding how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful place!

- Coach Wielgus