Getting Ready for 2012-13

Hello Dartmouth women’s basketball fans! It’s been awhile since we posted something on this blog and I thought we would give you a little insight as to what’s going on in the program these days!

I’m a big fan of spring and summer and despite what the weather has been doing here in New Hampshire, spring and summer are on the way, I promise! Spring and summer symbolize rebirth and growth to me and I think that’s what’s happening with the Dartmouth women’s basketball team.

I have the pleasure of having an office that most of the players have to pass by on their way to the locker room or the gym and I have seen every single one of the players getting after it this spring. Between lifts, individuals and pick up, this group has showed me that they are serious about putting the 2011-12 season behind them and I’m very excited for the 2012-13 season.

Anyone who is associated with sports knows that losing is NEVER fun. I don’t care what people say about moral victories, growth, etc., etc., losing is something that competitors hate to do and this group from the support staff, to the coaches, to the players, HATE TO LOSE, so you can imagine that last season was tough for all of us that are associated with Dartmouth women’s basketball.

For those that don’t know, I’m from Michigan and I am proud to say that I am a Detroit Lions fan and have been one since birth, meaning that I’ve been with them through the, shall we say … lean years and trust me the lean years have been more than any fan should have to endure. Now that the Lions have started to turn things around, I have to say it is so much sweeter to cheer for them and see them do well because I know exactly how far they have come.

This is the same sentiment I feel with our basketball team. I joined this team that had one senior, one junior, a BUNCH of underclassmen including five freshman and I saw them struggle mightily at the start of the season, but as the season progressed so did they and despite being hit by the injury bug late in the season. I think the last month of the season, was some of the best basketball from this group. I saw some chemistry on the court that was lacking in the beginning, I saw smiles out there on the court and I saw a group of players and coaches having fun playing and coaching basketball. 

I know the players and staff are not interested in repeating the 2011-12 season and I see the players putting in the time and effort on their own to make sure that 2012-13 is the start of a new, better chapter in the story of Dartmouth women’s basketball and I can’t wait to be apart of it.

Make sure to check in with our blog throughout the summer. We’ll have some posts throughout the summer as we head toward the 2012-13 season!

Jess Poole

And Just Like That … The 2011-12 Season Is Over

Well here it is … March Madness and while I will say this is my favorite time of year, I also can’t believe that our season is over, I really feel like it just started yesterday.

With that being said, the season really is over. Rookies are no longer rookies (this means you guys: Kamala, Nicole, Abby, Tia, and Milica) and our senior Sasha Dosenko is moving on to the “real world.”

My first season as a member of the Dartmouth women’s basketball family was one that surprised me, in a good way. I’ve been doing this a few years and first seasons can be challenging and full of change, but this first season was different, I felt like I was automatically apart of the family and that made things so much easier. So I want to thank the players, who welcomed me with open arms, and coach Wielgus and her staff who made me feel at home from day one and who I wouldn’t trade for the world.  This group of coaches has become more than just colleagues, but friends and when you get to work with friends, what could be better??

I’m sure when I first met the players back in September, they were like “Who is this, chick?” but now that we’ve been through a season together I think we’ve got a much better understanding of each other. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed spending time with this group.  The laughter, jokes and good-natured ribbing that happen with this bunch provides constant laughter and makes me really happy to be where I am!

I’m going to miss the bus trips (although we can delay the Columbia-Cornell trip as long as possible, that is one of those trips that is just not recommended more than once a season).  I love giving Nicola Zimmer a hard time about having (or not having) the essentials, namely her shoes! I also love giving both Faziah and Nicola a hard time about their “travel buddies” Carl and Tamsun (sorry if I spelled this wrong, Ziggy!) aka Pillow Pets. We’ll be adding another to the mix next season – his name is DC and he’s a Moose!

Although the season that had some lows, we did end on a high note sending Sasha out with two wins at home and then playing Harvard tough as nails in the finale. I’ve seen this group grow and it was fun seeing it all come together over the course of the last month of the season and I know big things are in store for next season. Honestly, I can’t wait for next season to start! Only 195 days until the first practice for the 2012-13 season!

Jess Poole

Front Row Seat

“Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential.”

-Winston Churchill

This season has been anything but storybook for the Dartmouth women’s basketball team. We’ve endured a 13-game losing streak, injuries and just quite a few “growing pains,” but though all of this the idea of effort hasn’t been lost.

Effort is something that one can give no matter what the circumstances and this past weekend against Yale and Brown, I saw so much effort out of our team. In both games we only dressed seven players for those of you reading this … yes, we only dressed seven players, meaning our bench went two players deep but despite that I saw some of the best effort of the season and I really think the effort made all the difference against Brown.

In the first game against Yale, the team had a transformation in the locker room at halftime. They came out with an intensity that I hadn’t seen this season. The best example of this was sophomore forward Arianne Hunter, who despite struggling with sore knees, threw her body around chasing after loose balls, so much so that she went flying into the bench, but she was out there giving 110 percent. Classmate Eve Zelinger was also a perfect example of this. Zelinger, who was battling strep throat all week, pulled it together and got out on the court and gave it her all. She took a shot in the nose, not just a shot, a HARD shot but she didn’t stop, she kept going (after being checked out by the athletic trainer, of course!)  That effort from Hunter and Zelinger was infectious and in the second half, the Big Green just got after it and even though the game was decided they didn’t give up, which was good to see.

The win at Brown, who had just defeated Harvard the night before, was so fun to watch. The effort from the Big Green was there from start to finish. There were bodies flying around, folks going after rebounds and most of all I saw smiles and body language that told me; not only were they working hard, but they were having fun. In a season like ours that has been filled with ups and downs it was really neat to look on the faces of the players and coaches and see fun.  It’s those moments that really make me feel blessed to be apart of this team.

I can’t wait to see what the future holds for this group and I’m glad I’ve got a front row seat for the growth.

Until next time,

Jess Poole

SUPER FAN

Our fans are the envy of the Ivy League!!  They are loyal, positive and fun.  We are beyond grateful for their support, but there is one fan has led the charge for us for years. 

Jamie Lowery is our super fan and luck y charm.  By day, Jamie works on the recruiting databases for the athletic department and by night he is at our games cheering us on.  He has been there when we cut down the net and has stuck with us through this season of growth.  This year his messages of encouragement to the coaches and players have been greatly appreciated.

Jamie is not only hard working employee and super fan, he also an athlete himself! Recently, Jamie won the silver medal in bowling at the Special Olympics!!!  We are so proud of Jamie and his accomplishments.  He is an inspiration to all of us and we are delighted that he is part of our Dartmouth family!!!  We rely on his lucky charms but I know this weekend all his positive energy will be going toward getting the Patriots a Super Bowl Championship!!  We just hope he is not too busy on Friday and Saturday night. We will need his good wishes as we travel to Columbia and Cornell for some important Ivy League games. 

Until next time,

Chris

It Is What It Is…

It is January.  It is cold and dreary and we are 2-11.  BLEAK would be an understatement. As you all know, I am fiercely competitive and there is discouragement in losing.  Basically, I am very passionate and I passionately hate losing or I would not be me.

Yet I am still smiling, and can’t wait for today’s practice.  No pity party exists for players and coaches.  We are who we are…young and inexperienced.  Over half of this team had never played in college before this November and their collegiate debut was at Kansas State.  They skipped the proverbial frying pan and dove straight into the fire and the heat never let up.

The crazy thing about this year is how the youngsters are beginning to grab their role in the program. We have shooters and stoppers and rebounders.  A month ago none of us knew who we were.  They had NEVER played together.  They are working harder than they thought possible and care more than is probably wise.  They are coming together.  It did not happen overnight and we still have a ways to go, but I am smiling because so many players are moving forward. 

Our future is bright and our reality is that we will have to continue to work hard to get where we want to be, but we will get there, just watch!

Until next time,

Chris

Time For a Little Segway Tour

Today is our last full day in California! We've got a big game against Cal-Berkeley tonight, but first I have to fill you in on yesterday's activities...

In my last post I hinted that many of us would be able to cross something off our bucket lists after this trip, which is why yesterday morning we were so excited to board the bus to San Francisco for a segway (!!) tour of the city.

We walked into City Segway Tours a little nervous, but after completing training we almost felt prepared to cruise the sidewalks on our new machines ...until we learned we'd be riding in the bike lane ...which turned into us segwaying right alongside drivers in the traffic lanes. But no worries! It was all completely safe (we had on helmets of course, and rode on calm streets) and pretty much no one got hurt (Morgynn suffered a minor injury but I'm pretty sure it was due to personal error). 

We segwayed single-file behind our instructor, wearing our identical Dartmouth travel suits, and looking something like a group of baby ducks. More than a few strangers took our picture as we rode through the streets. What someone would do with such a photo, I don't know, but I believe Janelle posed every time a pedestrian took out his or her camera.

The tour took us through through Fisherman's Wharf, which is right on the water, and we got to see the famous cable cars, an In-n-Out Burger, and countless seafood restaurants. We eventually made it out to Municipal Pier, the oldest pier in San Francisco, which has a great view of Alcatraz in one direction and a stunning view of the city in the other. By the time we got to the pier, we had been segwaying for about 45 minutes and were feeling extremely confident. There was a big open space perfect for segway tag, segway dancing, and segway racing. It was all super fun, and at this point some of us (me) were completely set on dropping out of Dartmouth to lead our own tours. But the pier was our big destination for the afternoon, and before long it was time to take our segways back to home base, grab lunch, and get ready to practice at Cal.

I would love to share more, but it's time to get focused for shoot around and the big game tonight.

Thanks again for reading!

*Be sure to check out more pictures of the fun on the Dartmouth Women's Basketball facebook page*

Nicola

From LA to Berkeley ...

I'm baaack!

We've traveled up the coast since my first post, and are staying at a hotel overlooking the water in the Berkeley Marina. It's a beautiful place, and as we judge hotels on the quality of their continental breakfasts, this one is certainly up there with the best (made-to-order omelets ensure a positive review).

 

Yesterday was mainly dedicated to travel, although we did fit in some time, and naps, by the water, and later indulged in a seafood dinner at Spenger's Restaurant. Sasha and Faziah went particularly hard and each ordered "The Big Pot," which is literally a big pot full of everything on the menu, one probably being enough to feed a family of five.

Today we made the trip to practice at Eve's high school in Palo Alto. The school and basketball court are beautiful, and we got to see Eve's 2007-2008 league MVP banner hanging up in the gym. After practice, we went to the nearby Stanford mall, where most of the shopping was done for our annual Secret Santa exchange...gag gifts (the more inappropriate, the better) are given anonymously throughout the week, and one night toward the end of the trip we trade the real gifts and reveal who has who. It's always a lot of fun and another excuse to get--and give--more presents.

The Zelingers hosted us for a huge barbecue dinner after shopping (we really do eat well on these trips). It's always wonderful to meet the families and get hilarious details on each other's lives before Dartmouth. After the meal, we all gathered in the living room to watch No. 1 Baylor take on No. 2 UConn (some inspiration for our game on Tuesday, perhaps) amid conversations about Eve's early years. Apparently she locked a babysitter out of the house once...classic. The night ended with homemade apple crisp and lots of hugs as we boarded the bus back to the hotel.

Tomorrow we'll take our first shots in the Cal-Berkeley gym, and many of us will also get to cross something big off our bucket lists...I'll update with a post soon.

*7 days til Christmas, and only 2 til the first night of Channuka! Happy holidays!*

Nicola