The Rookie of the Month award is an award given monthly to a player voted on by their teammates to recognize all the hard work they have put into the team throughout the month. March’s winner is Alison Draxler! She is a currently pursing a Mechanical Engineering degree and expects to graduate in 2028. Here are her responses to some brief interview questions.
What aspect of the game do you think you’ve improved most on since the beginning of the season?
I have significantly improved on providing pressure for the rest of the team. I’ve learned that playing the center of the court and staying ahead of the rest of the team is a necessary part of our strategy. My biggest issue from my first tournament was my lack of confidence. I stayed back most of the time and was unable to pump fake at the opposing team. Now, my confidence has improved greatly, I am able to help the rest of the team, and I feel like I belong on the court.
What is your proudest accomplishment of the season thus far?
My proudest moment this far is getting on the starting 12 for Pinch nationals. I still can’t believe how far I have come and how much I have learned in one season.
What is one goal you have for Pinch nationals? No-sting nationals?
A goal I have for Pinch nationals is to get at least one catch per game, even though I would be happy with any catches. And a goal I have for No-sting nationals is to increase my number of thrown outs per game.
How do you hope to impact women interested in the no-sting team next year?
I hope to inspire the women interested in our no-sting team next year and show them how much fun dodgeball can be.
We are immensely proud of the growth Alison has displayed both in technique and confidence. We can’t wait to see what she does next year after both national tournaments and as an RA!
