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. September’s winner is Anna Behnke! She is a currently pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering and expects to graduate in 2029. Here are his responses to some brief interview questions.
Q: How do you feel about winning this award?
A: It feels good to start out my dodgeball career strong, seeing I could have a future on this team.
Q: How has this award impacted your interest in Dodgeball?
A: I am more driven to continue learning about the sport and better my skills.
Q: What did you think of your first tournament?
A: I think the first tournament went okay, there is a lot to learn and practice. Could have gone worse.
Q: What skills do you hope to improve on for future tournaments?
A: I mainly want to work on my throwing accuracy, but continuing working on my blocking, and communication.
Q: Where do you see yourself on the team going forward?
A: I hope to be a part of the starting 12 in the future.
Congrats again to Anna Behnke for winning this award! We can’t wait to see how much you improve throughout the season!
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. April’s winner is Ian Westrick! He is a currently pursing a degree in Marketing and expects to graduate in 2028. Here are his responses to some brief interview questions.
What improvements have you made over the course of the season? Did you achieve any of your personal goals?
I was able to massively improve my knowledge of the game, along with other things such as throwing velocity and catching ability. I achieved most of, if not all, of the goal that I set of myself.
What was your most memorable moment from the CSU national tournament? Favorite moment of the season?
My favorite moment from nationals was either winning the consolation bracket or finally starting to put all of my ability together during the first GSU game. My favorite moment of the full season was probably one of my catches against UC.
What impact do you want to have in the NDA this summer?
I want to show what I can truly do while (hopefully) healthy against the highest levels of opponents. I also want to be someone that can be relied on to constantly be an important contributor to the team.
How do you hope to further develop your skills for next season?
I want to improve my court awareness, throwing form, and stamina on the court to become my best self during games.
Ian has shown insurmountable support for both our co-ed team and women’s team, and he has an incredible ability to connect with his fellow players. He has made great strides over the season while battling a previous elbow injury and developing his current throw. We are looking forward to the impact he will have on the new members we hope to recruit next season!
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!
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. February’s winner is David Laux! He is a currently pursing a Mechanical Engineering degree and expects to graduate in 2028. Here are his responses to some brief interview questions.
What are you most looking forward to at nationals this year?
The experience. This is my first two day tournament, so I’m excited to be able to play twice as much.
What has been your proudest moment of this season?
My proudest moment is when we faced Illinois (UIUC) in December because they are a good team but we were still able to go to overtime.
What do you wish you’d worked on more?
I wish I did more work with my accuracy. A lot of the time I throw without getting outs.
What impact do you hope you’ll have on incoming players next year?
I hope to lead by making an example of what real effort looks like.
David has shown some real talent this year, and we are excited to see what roles he’ll fill down the road in his dodgeball career and what goals he’ll accomplish!
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. January’s winner is Tori Sanborn! She is a currently pursing a environmental engineering degree and expects to graduate in 2028. Here are her responses to some brief interview questions.
Q. How does it feel to have earned this award?
Winning this award has been a great feeling. It helps me know how much I have improved over the past few months and know others think I deserve it.
Q. What do you hope to achieve before co-ed nationals and no-sting national?
Before co-ed nationals as well as no sting nationals, I hope to achieve better skills in play calling and get my throw more accurate.
Q. What role do you hope to fill on the court in future tournaments?
A role I would like to fill in the court in the future would be captain next year, or at least a position on the board to show my commitment and leadership.
Q. How does it feel to be a member of the first women’s team at UW-Platteville?
It feels like an honor to be a member of the first women’s team here at Platteville. I hope the group continues to grow and we can continue with a team.
As a member of the women’s team, I can say that we are profoundly thankful for Tori and the other women team members for sticking it out and allowing us to achieve this goal. We are looking forward to watch Tori grow into the player she wants to become!
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. December’s winner is Alison Drexler! She is a currently pursing a mechanical engineering degree and expects to graduate in 2028. Here are her responses to some brief interview questions.
Q. How has your first semester on the Dodgeball team been? How has your confidence grown since you started?
My first semester on the Dodgeball team was so much fun! At the start I was very skeptical about my abilities and how joining the team would go. Since then, my confidence has increased, and I truly feel like a part of the team.
Q. What role on the court have you found yourself good at? What other roles do you hope to improve at?
So far, my best role on the court has been play calling for the women’s team. It has really increased my understanding of the game and is teaching me to be more confident on the court. I really hope to improve on playing center and being a leader during games.
Q. How does it feel to be a founding member of UW-Platteville’s Women’s Dodgeball team?
It feels amazing to be a founding member of our women’s team. The hopes of forming a women’s team was the main reason that I joined in the first place, so I am very proud that we made it a reality. I am so excited to keep recruiting more women and continue improving all of our skills.
Q. What skills do you hope to improve on before both national tournaments this spring?
Next semester I hope to improve all my skills but if I have to choose, I think it’s most important that I focus on blocking, catching and play calling. I know I can make the necessary changes and improve before nationals this year.
We are extremely proud of the leaps and bounds Alison has made in just a few short months! She is truly a role model for our future Women’s team and Women’s League!
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 Reagan Bucholtz! She is a currently pursing a mechanical engineering degree and expects to graduate in 2028. Here are her responses to some brief interview questions.
How has your opinion of dodgeball changed since you started playing?
Before joining the team, the last time I had played dodgeball was in middle school, and honestly, I hated middle school dodgeball. So, after being convinced to just go to a practice just to see what the dodgeball team was, I was very surprised by how much fun I had. It felt very different than middle school dodgeball, where, at least at my school, the boys were just chucking the balls at each other the second they got one, while the girls just stood at the back of the court doing nothing. This team is nothing like the middle school dodgeball I knew; it is better in every way. There is strategy, teamwork, and communication. The guys are always making sure all the girls are getting involved with the game, and work with us as a team. So, overall, my opinion of dodgeball has change from the day I hated most in gym class, to what I look forward to doing each week.
What role on the court do you hope to play in the future? What skills do you want to continue to work on?
On the court, the role I usually enjoy being the most is the blocker. Since I know I don’t have one of the strongest throws on the team, I feel like being able to block and cover for my teammates is how I can benefit the team the most. One role that I would like to maybe try doing, probably not for a year or two still, is play calling. The first time I did it was at a practice, and I got really overwhelmed and did not like it whatsoever. However, if I continue to work at it and understand what to do in different situations, feels like if I might eventually warm up to it. Being able to play call would be a good asset for me to have, especially since I have a tendency to get hurt or for previous injuries to act up, and I have a louder voice so my teammates can hear me. So, then I could still benefit the team, even if I am a little injured.
What has been your favorite moment of the season so far?
My favorite moment as a team is probably after we beat UNL for the first time in years. Although I didn’t play in the game, the huddle afterwards, when everyone, especially people who had been on the team for a few years, was so happy. Just the excitement that everyone shared made me realize just how amazing the community of the team is.
How does it feel to be a member of the first ever UWP Women’s Dodgeball Team?
I am so excited that there is a women’s team this year! I know that this is something that the team has been working on for a while now, so I am very honored to be a part of it. Even though most of the women’s team is rookies, we are constantly improving and growing, not only as individual players, but also as a team. It is also amazing how much support our coach and all the guys show us. They are always offering to work with us with the no-sting balls to help the women’s team to get more experience, which I really appreciate. I can’t wait to go compete at nationals next semester as a the first ever UWP Women’s Dodgeball Team!
We are extremely proud and excited to have a player such as Reagan on our co-ed team and the growing women’s team. We can’t way to see the strides she makes as a player!
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 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!
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 recipient is freshman Hollie Wheeler. Here’s what she had to say:
1. How do you feel about being voted ROTM?
I am very thankful that my teammates voted for me because it shows that they recognize my accomplishments and hard work. It also makes me feel proud of myself for achieving recognition.
2. How are you planning on continuing to improve for next season?
I look forward to attending as many practices and skills sessions as I can to work on gaining experience with the team and refining my skills as an individual. I want to improve on my endurance so I can play hard for every point.
3. What are your goals for the next season?
I want to throw consistently, low, and powerful. I would like to be more confident and natural in my throwing next season. As I work on throwing, catching, and blocking, I hope to have a healthy season with no injuries.
4. How did you felt about the season?
It was a really fun couple of months and I learned a lot. Initially, I didn’t realize the kinds of strategies and teamwork that go into dodgeball. Over the last few months, I’ve felt like I’ve improved a lot and gained more confidence on and off the court. I think it was a great first season for me to be a part of and I look forward to next season.
5. Anything else you’d like to tell the readers?
My only regret is that I didn’t join sooner. I hope that more universities can form their own teams to get more people involved in the near future.
Congratulations again to Hollie Wheeler on receiving the Rookie of the Month award. We look forward to seeing who’s next! Go ‘Neers!
