With finals completed, we can finally wind down for the summer. No more battling with long car rides, missed alarms, or sudden injuries. Now we can look back on all the ups, downs, and sideways this season threw at us.
The year started off with a large recruiting class and a lot of potential. Several had the dedication we needed to build a strong team. Our first tournament was a meet up with UNL in Iowa City, IA, and it provided a clear example of what we would be up against later in the season. While we didn’t win, it was a great introduction for the rookies to apply what they learned during practice and test their skills against a new opponent.
We participated in eight tournaments this season including nationals, but we wish that number was larger. Our team would have benefited greatly if we had more experience in a tournament environment and it would have increased the number of different teams and games we could have played. Hopefully this coming season grants us the opportunity to play more tournaments and play the different techniques those teams play by.
We are proud to say that we have eight rookies sticking around for next season, two of which are the start of the UW-Platteville Women’s club. We hope to gain enough women members to establish a proper women’s team with the confidence and ability to compete at the national level.
It’s true that this year threw some harsh challenges at us, but we were able construct a proactive game-plan to attack the upcoming season head on. We appreciate all the support our fans have thrown our way (wink wink), and we look forward to their continued support for next season.
Elections
Daniel Breitenstein- President
Q. As club president, what are your goals for this coming season?
A. I want to have better recruitment and retention among the players, specifically the new ones. I also want to get players to attend more practices and team events–not only to improve their skills but to bond more as a team. Lastly, I want to recruit more women so we can form a women’s team.
Eric Sullivan – Vice-president
Q. How do you want our team to improve most for this coming season?
A. I want our team to concentrate on improving on-court collaboration and communication. We have a strong group returning, and we can become a more cohesive team by improving communication and teamwork. We can cover each others’ weaknesses and make the most of each players’ abilities. We can improve our performance and bring our team to the next level for the upcoming season.
Nicholas Stocks – Captain
Q. What do you hope to bring to your last season as a Pioneer?
A. In my final season, I will always bring my A Game because many former UWP players have poured their hearts into this game while the team fell short. I hope to match the dedication of these former members who left their marks on the team. While I may not have the strongest arm or be the quickest on the court, I am committed to exemplifying the qualities of a supportive teammate and an effective leader for current and future members of the club.
Dylan Fabry – Co-Captain
Q. What areas do you want to see our team improve in the most?
A. Throwing because we lost a lot of our good arms to graduation. Another is countering as soon as the ball leaves our opponents hands so we can get outs without needing powerful throws.
Griffin Johnson – Treasurer
Q. What are you looking forward to most for this upcoming season?
A. I am looking forward to our growth as a team. This year was a strong year for recruiting. The rookies, myself included, have all improved drastically leading me to be extremely enthused for the progress they will make next year.
Hollie Wheeler – Secretary
Q. How do you want to impact the rookies that show interest in the club?
A. I think the biggest impact I want to make is helping the rookies feel welcomed and valued regardless of their skill set. I want them to attend practices, team events, and tournaments not because they feel obligated to but because they want to be there. I think that the key to a successful team is players that get along well and can naturally be on the same wavelength. I want the rookies to have fun and be involved so in the future they will be ready to welcome new teammates and eagerly show them the ropes.
Kate Douglas – Content Writer
Q. What is one goal you hope to achieve next season?
A. As we all know, Platteville does not have a very large female student population; and those who do attend are more likely to participate in other sports like volleyball and rugby. I want to gain enough women to have a no-sting team to compete against other no-sting teams. I was the only girl who stuck around from this year’s initial recruitment, and I am graduating next spring, so I want to make any incoming rookies (male or female) feel comfortable and confident to play against strong opponents.
Awards
See our posts on Facebook and Instagram or click on their names below for their full interview and responses!
Baller of the Year: Tomas Zander
Rookie of the Year: Eric Sullivan
Team Impact: Eli Huntley
Most Improved: Zach Brand
