Girls in skirts love to have fun

***While writing my blog about Wacky Friday and my own team-bonding fun, I began talking to other Bellarmine athletes about the fun they enjoyed off the field. You can expect my blogs from this point forward to spotlight different teams and their off-the-field fun and experiences.***

Never mind the fact the Bellarmine field hockey team wears skirts, when they are carrying large sticks and wearing mouth guards, they look pretty intimidating. However, a girl in a skirt is always out to a have a good time. Sometimes that good time includes dominating the playing field, but other times it just includes crashing weddings or playing in the mud—and these times have bonded the girls on a whole new level.

First off, the team has a history of celebrating their season by finding Halloween fun.

“Every year we try to go to as many haunted houses as we possibly can afford,” said senior Michelle Esterle. “One year, we were traveling as a team on Halloween and were so excited about a particular haunted house that we actually stopped there on the way (back to Bellarmine).”

Last fall the team did not hit up the haunted houses as much as in the past, but after missing Bellarmine’s Ball on the Belle event due to a game, the ladies still pulled together their most creative costumes for their own Halloween party.

Haunted houses are not the only thing the team has made time for while out of town on the weekends. The ladies found wedding crashing to be a fun event as well.

After playing on a Friday, the ladies spent Saturday in their hotel resting up before their Sunday game. “A bunch of us were in the study room studying, others were watching TV or just in their rooms,” said sophomore Malory Brake. According to Brake, a wedding reception was set up in the center of the hotel, which was nearby the study room.

“(The reception) was really dead and no one was really dancing,” Brake continued. “All of a sudden, someone, Kim (Roberts), I believe, started talking to the D.J. He said ‘This party sucks. You should bring the field hockey team.’ Kim told him he should play a song for the team.”

Next thing the ladies from the study room knew, they were hearing an announcement from the D.J. about a song for the Bellarmine field hockey team. Brake said the girls could not help but hit the dance floor after that.
“Then the best man—he was the only college-aged person there—asked us to stay,” Brake stated. “It was completely a wedding crash. We didn’t know a single person there.”

A new tradition began this year by the team pretending to already have a tradition.

The freshmen were told that every year the freshmen had to make a music video for the team. While the girls did not share the video, their laughs and comments made it obvious that this too brought for a lot of team bonding.

“They did great. It wasn’t really a tradition before, but it is a tradition from now on,” Brake said.

Practice has brought for goofy memories as well—particularly for this year’s seniors who walked off the practice field for the last time, covered in mud, wearing the most ridiculous attire one could imagine.

“When our coach told us we didn’t have to wear our practice uniforms to our last practice we kind of took it to an extreme,” said Esterle.

“You can wear anything you want,” was the statement made by Coach Don Hubbuch. While the girls knew he was probably referring to whatever t-shirt they preferred as opposed to their typical team practice shirts, they decided to sport their brightest colors and goofiest accessories.

“We were a little nervous about actually going to practice but our coach thought it was funny,” Brake said.

“I’m not sure why, but in our heads it’s kind of like we thought we wouldn’t have real practice, but we did,” said Esterle. “We must have looked crazy to anyone driving by, wearing what we were, while holding a serious practice.”

The practice turned into a mud mess due to the rain that fell throughout the day. “After practice we slid in the mud and were pulling each other down in it. I think everyone was wet and covered (in mud),” said Brake.

It is pretty safe to say that the ladies of the field hockey team have a way of being the life of any party—whether it is their own or a complete stranger’s!

**Photos: first two by Kelli Weddington, third by Rita Dixon**

Bellarmine Track and Cross Country Star Prevailing Despite Setbacks (pt. 1)

This is a three part story on Bellarmine junior runner Katie Hickey, each part will be posted a few days apart...read and enjoy!

Last season Sophomore Katie Hickey came to the forefront of Bellarmine women’s cross country and track teams. She helped lead the cross country team to a rank of sixth out of 22 teams total in the NCAA regional cross country meet. As well as finishing as the number 19 placed runner out of 150.
(To see all the results to the regional meet you should check out this website:
http://www.siue.edu/ATHLETIC/CCW/2005/wreg.html )

Hickey also was a stellar performer in outdoor track as well as she qualified for outdoor nationals.
(This is also seen on the BU athletic site here: http://www.bellarmine.edu/athletics/news.asp?id=366 )

Hickey did not know immediately, however if she was to be attending the national meet. Instead she had to wait for the qualifying times to be posted and the call from the NCAA to let her, and her coaches know she had made it in. (http://www.bellarmine.edu/athletics/news.asp?id=147 )

“I was waiting on the qualifying call with the coaches,” Hickey said, “it was on the final day and I was on the bubble, (the coaches and I) weren’t sure if I was going to get in.”

To find out more about this article stay tuned for my next post!!!

New Sports and Media Class

The Sports and Media class that is being offered by Mr.Popp brings many new opportunities to students. It is by far the most interesting course that I have taken throughout my college career. The class is based around how to deal with the media and how to be the media. That is the least interesting part of the class, we get to the good stuff when we have guest speakers and take field trips. So far in the class we have got "backstage" at Papa John Stadium, the Louisville Slugger Field, watched a live news broadcast, and got to listen to Bobby Valvano speak. Mr.Popp's networking skills have given us many experiences that most people do not get to have. Connie Ferch stated, "Because of the class, I realized what I really want to do with my career. It enlightened me on what goes on behind the scenes at places. Because of this class, I got an internship with the tv station." Along with the places and the people that we have got to see and meet, we are also doing lots of hands-on stuff that many of us in the class will have to take with us eventually in our careers. We have to do media releases, which SID's have to write basically everyday. It is nice to hear how to write a successful one by an actual SID himself. We also are currently working on Media Guides. It is a long, tedius task, but there is a nice rewarding feeling to know that it is complete, and it will be a good selling point on my resume. I definitely would recommend this class to anyone that is trying to get into the sports world. Regardless of what the emphasis of what you want to do is, this class touches on a little bit of everything. It also opens the door to many networking opportunites that could become useful for a long time career.

McDonald's All-Americans to Visit BU

The Annual McDonald's High School All-American game is making it's stop in the city of Louisville this year. The game itself will be held at Freedom Hall, however other events will be held here on the campus of BU. The POWERade JamFest will be at Knights Hall on Monday, March 26. The JamFest consists of a Slam Dunk contest, men's and women's 3-point competition, and then a 3-point shootout between the men's winner, and the women's winner.

Some of the high profile names in this years contest include high school teammates O.J. Mayo, and Patrick Patterson. Also perticipating on the men's side is Eric Gordon, an Indiana native from North Central High School in Indianapolis. On the women's side you have Maya Moore (Suwannee, Ga.), Angie Bjorkland (Spokane Valley, Wash.), and Jantel Lavender, (Cleveland, Ohio)

The All-American game was first held in 1977. Since then there have been more than 800 high school seniors to compete in these festivities. This game has showcased talents of the likes of Micheal Jordan, Magic Johnson, Vince Carter, Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Carmelo Anthony on the mens side. As well as Shanna Zoleman, Ann Strother, Seimone Augustus, and the 2005 Slam Dunk contest winner Candice Parker.

Both the All-American game and the POWERade JamFest will be airing on ESPN. The JamFest will start at 7 p.m. (ET) on March 26, while tip-off for the men's game will be on March 28 at 8 p.m. (ET) and the Girls game will be March 28, at 5:30 (ET). The men's game, and the JamFest will be on ESPN, and the women's game is on ESPNU.

video link

For more information visit the offical website at:
http://www.mcdonaldsallamerican.com./

Lady Knights compete in NCAA tournament

Team bows out to Lewis in GLVC and NCAA tournaments

The Lady Knights traveled to Romeoville, Illinois to finish out their 2006-07 season. After falling out of the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) tournament in the semifinal, Bellarmine qualified for the NCAA Division II tournament, extending their season. BU was defeated by host team No. 9 Lewis University, in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Bellarmine began with a running chance in the first half but after Lewis went on a strong run, the game was over for the Lady Knights. Lewis finished the first half by making eight of 10 3-pointers that ended the first half. The score at the end half was 49-28, Lewis.

BU knew what it would take to regain the lead, and they fought until the end. The Lady Knights opened the second half by scoring six straight points to cut the lead to 49-34. Lewis' Darcee Schmidt buried a 3-pointer to end the run for BU.

Bellarmine continued to battle, but the Lady Knights had no answer for Schmidt, who finished with a game-high 26 points and nine rebounds. Schmidt, the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Player of the Year, scored 43 and 33 points against Bellarmine in the regular season.

Final score of the game was 82-62 victory for Lewis.

This was the fourth meeting between Bellarmine and Lewis this season. The Flyers were victorious in all four games.

Outside of their regular season meetings, Bellarmine's third match-up against Lewis came in the GLVC semifinal.

The Lady Knights built up their second half lead when they scored 10 straight points, starting with Dana Beaven's 3-pointer. A pair of free throws by Denasha Mondy and the score was 50-41 in favor of Bellarmine with just under 12 minutes left.

BU held an eight-point lead with nine minutes left in the game, but Lewis pulled away and triumphed once again verse the Lady Knights.

Lewis proceeded to go on a game changing run of their own, however, outscoring Bellarmine by 12 points between the 9-minute mark and 4:38, to take over the lead.

Final score was 66-60 victory for Lewis.

Bellarmine defeated Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (SIUE) in the first round of the GLVC tournament. Both teams started out a little anxious, but after a few minutes the game was underway.

Beaven and Mondy sparked a run for the Lady Knights late in the first half. Beaven hit a pair of free throws, and then Mondy glided through a left-handed lay-up. Beaven gave the Bellarmine their biggest lead of the half by drilling a 3-pointer from the top of the key with about two minutes left to put them up 34-24.

After falling behind at the end of the first half, Bellarmine returned to the second half and Angela Smith immediately hit a 3-pointer to put the Lady Knights up 41-39 and swing the momentum back in her team's favor. A few moments later, Smith hit another three from the same spot on the left wing. The Lady Cougars were done; they would not be able to cut the margin to fewer than seven points the rest of the game.


The Lady Knights concluded their season with a 19-11 (11-8) record. Coach David Smith, finished the season with 499 wins. Smith will have to wait until next year to become the 13th Division II coach to record 500 career victories.

Goodbye Seniors

When the end of the season wore down, the seniors on the womens basketball team began to feel the end coming near. It is an end that neither Becca Kopple or Ashley Elmore had ever experienced. In high school; they both knew it wasn't really the end. They had each committed to continuing their careers for four more years. On March 9th, 2007 they both played their last form of organized basketball. These girls were in the thier last basketball game for the rest of their lives. Whether this is depressing or a relief, it is up to the athlete to decide. College athletes don't just play basketball as a past time; it is a main part of an athletes life. When an althletes sport ends, it is up to them to find a different peice to fill the empty space with. Although, the thought of this can make any athlete slightly unstable, it is the beginning of a new chapter in their life. Even if an athlete goes on to play in the NBA or WNBA, eventually it will be over. Every person must face it, and knowing Elmore and Becca, they will look at the end as an opportunity. They will take what they have learned on the basketball court and apply it to every aspect of their lives.

Playing as a team requires bonding as a team

(Wacky Friday Practice)

I decided it was time to give an explanation to anyone who has ever seen my teammates at or headed to our Friday practices. We’re those girls dressed in ridiculous clothing that you want to take a closer look at, but do not necessarily want to stare. And, yes, there is a reason behind it.

Being a team consists of so much more than practicing and playing together, it’s enjoying one another and laughing together. With so much pressure in today’s sports world, finding time for these things within your team is more important than ever. Bellarmine teams, all around, know the importance of having experiences that extend beyond the courts and fields. Every team seems to have their own ways of laughing together.

My large track and field team of over 60 athletes has to find ways to bond as a team. We all practice different events at different times and come together as a team once a week for three and a half months of the year. Fortunately, the team has developed a number of traditions that make our team unity extend beyond the track. One of my personal favorites, which my short distance group of girls has developed, is our traditional in-season “Wacky Friday” practices.

Wacky Fridays were started last year. Since Saturdays tend to be meet days, the most we ever do on a Friday is an easy jog from Knights Hall to Eastern Parkway and back. Because this run is not meant to be strenuous, we like sticking together as a team. We used to tease certain members who tried to pick up the pace on these runs and on one of these occasions myself and a fellow teammate joked about the idea of dressing silly. Then, we thought, no one will ever want to run faster than the pack, because if you are dressed weird with the group at least it looks like there is a purpose. If you are dressed weird running by yourself, well, it just looks weird.

That’s when it began. From that point forward, the practice before a meet we would dress in clothes we would never wear in public, let alone wear to practice. We have started counting the number of honks and yells we get during our leisurely jog towards Eastern Parkway.

Walking to and from practice has to be one of the most entertaining parts as we have multiple students trying to figure us out. Someone in the group always gives a smile and says, “It’s Wacky Friday,” as if it’s the most logical explanation in the world. Our coaches have even started looking forward to our Friday practice attire. You should have seen the look we got from Athletic Director Scott Weigandt the first time he saw us.

Getting an inside look at an athletic team, to know what goes on beyond the tiring conditioning, practicing and playing, is something we do not always get. It is often times these other forms of fun that a team finds time for that truly create a team spirit. I look forward to investigating Bellarmine athletics further to report how other teams are furthering their camaraderie