The Baller 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. November’s winner is Eric Sullivan! Here are his responses to some brief interview questions.
How does it make you feel to be recognized for this award?
I feel honored that the team recognizes me for the baller of the month.
How do you think this season has been going so far? What do you hope for the second half?
I think this season has been going great for the whole team. Lots of great stuff coming from the rookies and tons of growth from or veteran players. I hope to see even more of that as we move into the second half of the season.
What role on the court do you hope to play more confidently?
On the court I hope to play the center more confidently. I like getting outs and throwing the ball, but sometimes being in the center and applying pressure is more important and effective.
What advice do you have for any new or incoming dodgeball players?
Advice for incoming players: A tree doesn’t compete with the trees around it; it just grows.
We are very excited to see Eric continue to grow as a player and as a leader. His skill and dedication is an asset for our growing team.
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. This month’s winner was David Laux! He is a currently pursing a mechanical engineering degree and expects to graduate in 2028. Here are his responses from a brief interview.
1. How do you feel about your teammates nominating you for this award?
I feel thankful to my teammates that they chose me, and I hope to live up to their expectations now and in the future.
2. What skills have you improved on since joining the team just a few months ago?
The skill I have developed most this year has been my positioning on the court, as well as my ability to move with the team.
3. What on-court role do you hope to most confidently play by the end of the season?
I hope to be a player that is able to be as versatile on the court as possible so I can fill any gap left by anyone on the team.
4. What skills do you hope to sharpen before nationals this spring?
I need to work on my accuracy when throwing. Throwing low but still getting to my target.
We look forward to helping David accomplish his goals and watch him grow throughout the season!
The Baller 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. This month’s recipient is Senior Jalen Sims. Here’s what he had to say:
What are your thoughts on winning this award? How does it feel to know your teammates recognized you for this award?
I appreciated everyone who voted for me.
How have you seen the team change in these last few months? How does that compare to previous years?
I’ve seen improvement from everyone, just like previous years our team continues to grow.
What do you hope the team will achieve before or at nationals this year?
I hope are team wins a tournament before nationals.
What do you hope to accomplish by the end of this season?
I want us to earn 3 wins at nationals.
We are extremely lucky to have a player such as Jalen so dedicated to our team’s success. His dedication and sheer competitiveness is something we can all strive to replicate. We are very excited to see his progression throughout the season, and we hope to help him achieve his goals!
On October 26th, UW-Platteville played in a double-header against UNL on a pleasantly not-so-cold morning (if you know, you know). The day didn’t start off completely hitch-free, but the tournament started off with a bang!
UWP hit the road with twelve players, four of which were rookies. UNL won in the rookie department with almost an additional team of rookies. This allowed them to constantly cycle fresh players each point while UWP didn’t have any subs to spare.
Photo credit to Erik Zander
Game One
The first game opened with an almost immediate balls over on UW-Platteville. The intense back and forth lasted for 8 minutes until only three were left on both teams and UNL received a shot clock violation. After two successful team throws from UWP, another shot clock violation was called on the Pioneers. UNL achieved no outs from this balls over, but UWP’s Dylan Fabry missed a catch soon after. Fortunately, rookie Keaton Bahr and vet Andrew Jones were able to clutch up the point with an extremely lucky long distance throw. In total, the first point lasted nearly ten minutes.
UWP was able to hold out for another ten minutes before the second point in the first half went to UNL. In point three, UNL called for a timeout. After which, they caught in a player on head captain Nicholas Stocks’ throw. The point ended as time ran out; at the half, the score was UWP 1-1 UNL.
The second half started with a powerful and successful UNL team throw, but a sharp counter by UWP also connected. Shortly after, a sneaky catch was made by vet Kate Douglas from a close range throw. After several catches were thrown by UWP and a balls over, vet Griffin Johnson was unable to secure a catch on UNL’s team throw resulting in the end of the point.
For point two of the second half, both sides had strong counters and the occasional whiffed throw (speaking from experience). The latter half of the point had vet Jalen Sims up against the majority of UNL’s team. He got one out before a shot clock violation was called. UNL set up a team throw of at least five players, yet all balls missed! Jalen managed to survive another two team throws as well as two solo, close range throws before missing a catch from UNL’s number 26. Shout out to Jalen for lasting an excruciating three minutes alone against eight UNL players!
UNL ended up taking another timeout in the next point, and unfortunately UWP began to crumble. Yet again, Jalen Sims was the last man standing for Platteville, and he stood against six UNL players. Another balls over on Platteville followed shortly after. Luckily, or unluckily, a connection was made with the first team throw, ending the point.
The last point in game one looked the most confident out of all the points played. Platteville was moving as a unit, counters were made before half-court, and we were able to keep UNL off their base line. Although we were unable to gain another point in game one, we were able to identify aspects of our play to change for game two.
Final score for game one: UNL 5-1 UWP
Game Two
Game two started with a few throws off the start from UNL, none of which connected. Again, UWP was quick to counter, keeping UNL up at their attack line. The first point was a close call; both teams lost players at the same rate, but in the end UWP dwindled faster leaving one player and a balls over on Platteville. Incredibly, vet Hollie Wheeler secured a catch from a four person team throw, catching in rookie Ian Westrick while dodging the rest. She readied for another catch, but was unable to secure it. Ian got out soon after, ending the point.
Point two opened with a catch made by UNL followed by a powerful counter from UWP. UNL was kept up to their attack line yet again while UWP camped out on their baseline after each quick counter. Sadly, several detrimental mistakes were made by Platteville that resulted in many players getting picked off in quick succession. Four players soon turned into three, but vet Griffin Johnson made a solid connection against UNL followed by rookie David Laux hitting big name Noah Willey. Two dirty blocks later and Hollie Wheeler was in on her own again. Much like game one, she made a catch from a three person team throw, catching Ian Westrick back in. The intense back and forth between UNL’s seven players and UWP’s two resulted in a shot clock violation on UWP. Ian was targeted for two team throws and was hit out on the second. Hollie, in on her own once again, goes for a catch but misses, ending the point.
Well into the third point, vet Jalen Sims threw a huge cross which was caught, but vet Andrew Jones quickly counters and makes a connection. Captain Nicholas Stocks then throws a cross to an unsuspecting UNL player, removing another player from the game. UNL then has balls over called on them. With total ball control, Nicholas Stocks, Andrew Jones, and Ian Westrick set up a team throw with Andrew as the blocker. The first throw was successful, but the second team throw failed to make a connection. Several single throws follow before vet Kate Douglas throws a catch from the inside. Shortly after another balls over is called on Platteville. UNL sets up a few team throws, one of which was successful and Andrew stepped out. It was Nick’s turn to stand on his own in which he got a few throws off before getting hit out to end the half.
The second half of game two started with a clean opening rush. Several throws were traded before co-captain Dylan Fabry went for the catch but missed. UNL then quickly lobs a cross which is quickly countered with a clean hit from Jalen Sims. Shortly after, a missed block results in him getting out followed by another UWP player getting out due to a dirty block. About three minutes later, UNL throws a long cross which Hollie Wheeler easily catches!
Five UWP players quickly dwindled to two and a balls over. The first team throw was unsuccessful, but the second made contact with UWP captain, Nicholas Stocks. Hollie Wheeler, in on her own YET again, goes for the catch but couldn’t hold on.
Point three showcases UWP’s ability to counter quickly with two quick outs. A fight for a ball occurs shortly after with UWP claiming the ball for themselves. A few missed or dirty blocks knock UWP’s numbers down, and then Jalen Sims throws a close-call catch. UNL then calls for ANOTHER time out, which works out for them because they quickly pick off most of the remaining players leaving vet Kate Douglas in on her own. She gets out as two balls make contact.
The fourth point opened with a chaotic rush, and UNL momentarily had a break-dancer on their team. A fierce exchange of balls followed with great blocks from both sides. This time around, UWP was the one doing the picking, and UNL’s numbers quickly dwindled to just three. UWP set up their signature team throws, with one being successful. Vet Zach Brand then had an opening to secure a catch and quickly counter for two consecutive outs to end the point.
The second to last point of the day resulted in another UNL player spending too much time on the floor from an unsportsmanlike slide. Eventually, the pace picks up, and balls are exchanged with few to no outs. The first to go out on UWP’s side was head captain, Nicholas Stocks, but he was quickly caught back in by another great catch by Zach Brand; almost like he never left in the first place. Nick then secures his own catch before gleefully skipping to hold the center position which allows rookie David Laux to secure an out then vet Jalen Sims to follow swiftly after. Several more outs follow from Zach Brand, Ian Westrick, and from a team throw from Hollie and Nick. Moments later, not only does Nick miss a catch, but Kate Douglas throws a catch.
A balls over is called on UNL, which allows UWP to set up their beloved team throws. Two successful team throws and a close-range solo throw left one on the court for UNL. Another balls over is then called on UNL. It took three team throws, but the last UNL player finally got hit out.
The court was set up for one more attempt at a point. It starts off with a stalemate after the rush, but Nicholas Stocks makes the first attack followed by Jalen Sims. A follow-up attack resulted in a ball bouncing off Zach Brand’s chest but rookie Keaton Bahr secured the team catch. He then passed the same ball back to Zach as he readied for an attack. Several minutes later, a rouge throw took out Kate Douglas with a gnarly headshot. It was an accident; I was fine. The point was never completed as time ran out, but both sides played hard until the last second.
Final score for game two: UNL 5-2 UWP.
After Thoughts
We are very proud to have played as hard as we did. In the past, we would have expected a greater difference between scores especially with three of our vets being unable to attend. We are also grateful to UNL for hosting this double header that gave our rookies–and theirs–many good reps and two good games to look back on and learn from. We look forward to seeing them at our next tournament, the Pioneer Classic V!
On September 21st, UW-Platteville and UW-Stout met at UW-Eau Claire for our first official NCDA tournament of the season. Three full skirmish games took place with each team playing two games. Each team had some new faces which was great to see.
UW-Stout vs UW-Platteville
The first match had UWP against UW-Stout. UWP brought a team of eleven while UW-Stout had 7 players.
The first point of the day was awarded to UWP after just 4 minutes. But Stout wasn’t giving up! The next point dragged out for over six minutes with intense back and forth from the vets on both side. UWP eventually took that point as well, but UW-Stout put up a great fight. Over the next ten minutes, UWP secured two more points for a total of four to UW-Stout’s zero. During half time, Coach Erik and alumni players Caleb Laux and Eli Huntley took time to explain the rules to UWEC again.
The second half started with Eau Claire hopping in on the UW-Stout side which evened out the teams. Although the official game had ended, Stout (featuring Eau Claire) took two points to UWP’s one in the second which had UWP frazzled.
UW-Eau Claire vs UW-Platteville
The Eau Claire/Platteville game was more evenly rostered with UWEC bringing nine players and UWP with their eleven.
In the first half, UWP took the first two points, each lasting over seven minutes each. The third point was played through and was awarded to UWP.
The second half started with another excruciatingly long point and a balls-over called on UWP seven minutes into the point. One UWP player stood against two UWEC players. After another long back and forth, another balls-over was called on UWEC for a one-on-one battle where UWEC eventually secured the point. The point lasted a whopping ten minutes. The last point played (albeit unofficial) in the second half had a guest player: UWP alumni Eli Huntley joined to change up the dynamic. The ending score was 3 UWP to 1 UWEC.
Eau Claire’s style of play is vastly different from other teams we’ve played which makes it challenging to adapt and anticipate an attack. They provide us with a good challenge.
Afterthoughts
It’s great being able to play teams that are a day’s trip from Platteville. It’s also beneficial being able to play such an athletic team like Eau Claire as it forces us to step out of our comfort zone of shorter points and less running on the court. Additionally, as UWP is trying to build a women’s team, it was great to see each team with one or more women participating in the tournament. The rookies–three from UWP played at this tournament–performed well under pressure while not knowing how to pinch or using the shot clock consistently. Although there were moments where we could have played better or where we made silly mistakes, it felt good to be back on the court again.
If you’re reading this article then you must have shown interest in the UWP Women’s Dodgeball team at some point.
We need a minimum of 4 team members in order to compete at women’s nationals, but we are allowed 6 players on the court. Ideally, we would have enough to fill the court and have subs. We can even compete with more than one team. Last year, there were roughly 4 women’s teams in attendance. This means that, even with a team full of new players, we have a good shot at competing at Women’s Nationals.
Women’s dodgeball uses smaller balls that are called “no-stings” and I can assure you they do not hurt and are easy to work with.
Left to Right: Reagan, Alison, Coach Erik, Hollie, and a female police officer who plans to join in the spring when she returns to school for further education.
The way UWP plays dodgeball is all about brains over brawn. We use strategies and techniques so that every player can be successful and important on the court. You don’t need to have any background in any sports to do well on our team. We will teach you everything you need to know. We help give feedback to perfect your throwing, catching, and blocking. This isn’t like middle school or high school gym class dodgeball. We make sure everyone gets to play and has fun doing it.
The Co-Ed team currently meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 pm to 12:00 am at the wood basketball courts in the Pioneer Athletic Center (PAC). We can meet at this time on a separate court for just us girls, or we can choose a day and time that works better for us. Also, it is totally understandable if you can only make it once a week or need to skip practices. We would love for you to join us when you can, even if you don’t think you can commit enough time to the team. Having more people to practice with is beneficial to all players.
Left to Right: Reagan, Rose, Faith, Alison, Hollie.
Learn a little more about our current female members who play for the Co-Ed team until we can get a women’s team:
Kate Douglas 6th Year Started in September 2023 Club Content Writer
I decided to join because I finally had the time to dedicate to a club. I saw Dodgeball at Bridgefest 2023 as it was held inside the Markee due to extreme heat. I believe I met Nick (the president at the time), and he convinced me to show up to practice that evening. I wasn’t the only woman at first, but I was the only one to stay. I am extremely happy that I stuck around because I have built such great friendships within my team, and I have created many unique memories from team events and tournaments. I am extremely proud of my teammates, and I want to prove to other teams that we aren’t to be messed with!
Kate prepares to make a catch in a game with Club President Daniel watching from behind.
For the woman’s team, I hope that more women join because having an all women’s dodgeball team at a male-dominated university would be really cool. My experience on the team has taught me many things about myself and how to work as a team. I hope other women can learn just how fun dodgeball is while striving to become a better player.
Hollie Wheeler Sophomore Started in February 2024 Club Secretary
I joined after I saw the club at the spring involvement fair. I went to my first practice the same night as the involvement fair and I had a lot of fun. I decided to keep coming back to practice and started attending tournaments. Kate helped introduce me to other players, our strategies, and the techniques we use. I knew that Kate was there for me and I became more confident. I soon felt comfortable being at practice even if Kate couldn’t make it. The guys are all super nice and several of them would often walk me home to my dorm at night.
When I first started, I threw around 20 mph (coach has a speed clock). By the time nationals came around in April, I hit 40 mph. Kate helped encourage me to go to nationals with the team at Ohio State University and it was so much fun. I love being in the club because it helps keep me active without having to find time to go to the gym, and 2-3 nights a week of practice is the perfect amount of commitment for me, and it’s no big deal if I have to miss a practice. I was the Rookie of the Month for April 2024, and I was nominated as most improved of the season. I am the RA for the WiSTEM LLC in Bridgeway Commons, so I am also a great resource for anything you might need. Our club is a great way to make new friends. We host study sessions and team meals. We want to do women’s only team bonding too! We all really want to have a women’s team, we just need more girls to join us!
Kate and Hollie ready to counter at the Eau Claire Dodgeball Brawl. (PC: Angel Lucero)
Alison Draxler Freshman Started in September 2024
I joined because I loved the idea of being on a team again and especially because there was a chance there could be a women’s team. I stayed because I felt welcome and I didn’t feel like I was being judged for being new and not knowing what I was doing. I like that I’m learning all the techniques and strategies to the game and that I wasn’t expected to know everything right away. I also like that it isn’t a huge commitment and that you don’t get penalized for not being able to make it to something. New people should join because everyone is super nice and wants to help you learn. Also because if they join, we can have separate women’s practices and do other fun activities together.
Reagan Bucholtz Freshman Started in September 2024
I joined this club after seeing it at Bridgefest, and I was only slightly interested, but still pretty hesitant. Then my RA, Hollie, recommended some people in the wing to go with her to a practice, so I decided to go. I had so much fun at the first practice that I decided to keep coming back. Also, after going to a practice, I realized that it is not anything like the middle school dodgeball I had always hated. There are different techniques, strategies, and positions, which make the game more interesting and fun. One thing I love about the club is how welcoming they are to new members, and how they try to get you involved in games as soon as you feel ready. After just three practices, they had taught me how to throw and block with the correct technique. I also like being able to get away from schoolwork for a little while and play dodgeball with friends! Whoever is reading this should join because it is fun, it is good exercise, you get to learn a new sport, and you get to make new friends. You should also join because it would be so much fun to have an all-girls team! And if you are scared to go alone (even though I promise we are not scary), bring a friend with!
Please join us from 10:00 pm to 12:00 am on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays at the PAC.
If this time does not work for you, reply or send a separate email telling us what might work for you and we will try to accommodate!
We get to choose how we practice, when we practice, and how we hang out outside of practice.
The Baller 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. This month’s recipient is Senior Nicholas Stocks. Here’s what he had to say:
1. What are your thoughts on winning this award?
I appreciate having my hard work acknowledged by my teammates.
2. How do you think our first tournament went? What team skills does the team need more work on?
As a team, we learned a lot about ourselves. The rookies performed well for it being their first tournament and the veterans did an excellent job assisting the rookies. Moving forward, we need to focus on improving our communication on the court.
3. What is a personal dodgeball goal you want to achieve before nationals?
My goal is to continue to work on my throw, so it becomes solid and consistent.
4. Do you have any advice for the rookies regarding dodgeball or skills practices?
Make it a priority to come to practice. If you want to improve, consistent attendance is essential.
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. This month’s winner was Ian Westrick! He is a currently pursing a degree in General Engineering and is expected to graduate in 2028. Here are his responses from a brief interview.
1. How has this award impacted you and your interest in Dodgeball?
This award has impacted me by encouraging me to push myself even harder to improve.
2. What was your impression about your first tournament?
My impression of the first tournament was that it was a very fun event. The atmosphere while playing was awesome.
3. What skills do you hope to improve on for future tournaments? How do you plan on achieving those goals?
I hope to improve my accuracy, throwing form, and mobility. I plan on achieving these goals by attending as many skills nights and practices as I am able to.
4. Where do you see yourself on the team going forward?
I see myself staying on the team and continuing to improve on my skills. I feel like I have a strong arm that can be a help at some point in the future as well.
We are excited to see how Ian continues to improve throughout the rest of the season!
Photo Credit Richard LauxBack Row (L to R): Erik Zander, Jalen Sims, Dylan Fabry, Teigan Reich, Ethan Schmeling, Griffin Johnson, Cody Baxter, Caleb Laux, Tomas Zander. Bottom Row (L to R): Eric Sullivan, Daniel Breitenstein, Hollie Wheeler, Nicholas Stocks, Erik Nelson, Dalton Foreyt, Kate Douglas
Welcome back Platteville Dodgeball fans! Welcome weekend is upon us, and that means dodgeball is set to start up again. So here’s a sneak peak for this up-coming season.
As students move in over this Labor Day weekend, the Dodgeball Club will be participating in welcome weekend festivities like Bridgefest 2024 on Sunday, September 1st. After Bridgefest, we will be holding our first practice on the basketball courts at Memorial Park. The E-board officers have been working hard all summer to design new graphics and videos to come up with better ways to retain and recruit members.
Our starting roster this year is the largest it’s been in years with 14 players. We are especially proud to have two women sticking around for another season, and they are the starting blocks for the UW-Platteville Women’s Dodgeball Team. Both are E-board members and are directly responsible in the decision making process.
We plan on competing in several away tournaments, hopefully two home tournaments, and a few of the last NDA events. Several of our players, past and current, participated in the NDA season over the summer. These events were very fun, and the differing structure was a good challenge. The Pickaxers will be hosting a tournament on September 7th at UW-Platteville that we hope to see some alumni at.
The club is trying to encourage other UW schools to join the NCDA, so we plan on playing UW-Eau Claire and UW-Stout this fall. We look forward to seeing how each team developed and grew from our last encounters.
This year we are focusing on playing fast and hard. But don’t just hear it from me. Below are some responses from two of our most senior players about their hopes for this season.
Q. How do you hope to impact the new players this year?
Jalen Sims-I hope to impact the new players by getting the best out of them. This means teaching them the basics and going hard at them later in the season.
Nicholas Stocks-I hope to pass on my knowledge of the game to the recruits, so they do not make the same mistakes that I have in past seasons. I want to set an example of what a strong leader looks like on and off of the court.
Q. What skills do you personally want to focus on, and what skills do you want to team to focus on?
JS– I want to focus on getting quick low throws and as a team. I want more people showing up to practice.
NS-I plan to improve the speed of my throw and continue to work on my communication on court. For the team, we need to focus on the basics and communication amongst players on the court.
Q. What do you hope to accomplish this year?
JS– Something I would like to accomplish this year is getting my throw lower constantly.
NS-This season I aim to be a more well-rounded player. To be the leader the team needs I must improve upon my weaker areas and build on my strengths.
Q. What is a goal you hope our team will reach by the end of this season?
JS-Something I would like are team to accomplish this year is beating UNL and making it to top 8 at nationals.
NS-I have two goals for the team this season, the first is to win half of the games we play in, and second, to strengthen the camaraderie among the team. Over the past three years, this team has made significant progress, both on the court and within our bonds between teammates. I am excited to see what this team will accomplish this year.
We are extremely grateful for all the support from our fans and families. We want to prove to the NCDA that the Pioneers are a force to be reckoned with!
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!
