Monday, March 26, 2012

Springtime Community Service

As collegiate student-athletes at UIndy, we believe that our four years as Greyhounds aren’t just about practices, lifting, fitness, and games. Giving back to the surrounding community by volunteering is something we all share a passion for. This past Friday, our team took time out of our busy spring schedule to volunteer at the Riley Children’s Hospital. We danced and laughed with the kids and their siblings, and our coaches got involved too! If you know anything about our team, you wouldn’t be surprised to know we jumped right into the dances without any hesitation. Coach Reese eagerly volunteered herself into numerous dance- offs in which the kids proved to be tough competition. It was such an amazing feeling to see how we were able to put smiles on so many young faces, but what they might not have known was that they did the same thing for each of us. This was definitely a rewarding experience for all of those involved.
Forming a circle to try out some yoga moves!

Coach Reese was a dancing machine...

Breaking it down as one big team :)

The team would also like to send a shoutout to Jackie Paquette for these amazing pictures! GO HOUNDS!

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Greyhounds Go Gladiator!

     It’s official: We finally feel like soccer players again. The inescapable turf pellets are back in our clothes and cleats, the bruises are back on our Barrick-strong legs, and the wonderful stench of sweaty shin guards is back in the locker room. It can only mean one thing¾we’re back! Playing soccer! Last week, we busted out the soccer balls for the long-awaited first spring practice. After weeks of only weights and conditioning, we were all just itching to get our feet on some soccer balls. When we finally put the pennies on to end practice with some 8v8, we were so happy to finally just be playing the sport we all love with the teammates we love. And let’s be honest¾ it was a nice change of pace to see our teammates at a time other than 6:45am, because we’re all a lot cheerier when the sun is out.
     Our energy and excitement from that first practice has carried over into our other practices, morning lifts, and conditionings. We’re just all a lot happier now that we are actually playing soccer together, and this happiness has translated into a lot of hard work. We’ve been maxing in the weight room (and preparing to go up a jean size from squats) and working on our speed, agility, and endurance in the dome (spring break bodies, anyone?). It’s been amazing to see us all pick each other up during these early morning workouts and hold each other accountable. We haven’t forgot our favored adage: “Teamwork makes the dream work!”
     To reward our hard work, Coach Reese planned a fun but challenging day of competition-style conditioning for us on Thursday. If you have been around our team, then you probably know we LOVE a bit of friendly competition. So even at 6:45am, we were bright-eyed and ready to compete. After breaking up into three teams, we did some classic sprint relays, relays carrying the medicine ball over our heads or in our arms, and sled-pushing relays. But the real treat was when Coach Reese dragged out the rope. Tug-of-War, we thought. Nope, it was something ever better: GLADIATOR-STYLE FIGHTING! We circled the rope to form a fight ring, and Coach Reese put us up against each other in a “friendly” warrior tournament. Using giant pads as our buffers, we all fought for bragging rights, each trying to push our opponent out of the ring. It was a real-life “Who let the dogs out” moment. We all agreed that it was the best conditioning session ever, of all time. Check out the video slideshow of pictures below!


Make your own slideshow with music at Animoto.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Blogging for Dummies: Round Two

Just over a year ago, our beloved Libby started the first-ever Women’s Soccer blog as a way to document our team’s year-round adventures, both on and off the field. But as we all know, “Mamma” Libby was among the nine seniors we had to say goodbye to at the end of the fall season. These seniors were our teammates, friends, and sisters, and they always will be. But we’re still grieving over the fact these hound pups aren’t with us every waking morning before the sun comes up, still shocked at how weak our end-of-practice breakdowns sound with 9 less voices, and still wondering, “Where the heck is the rest of our team?”

The truth is, we haven’t lost anyone. Ask any of the nine soon-to-be-graduates. These girls are still a part of our team, whether you call them alumni or Super Fans (cough, cough…Libby). They didn’t put in four preseasons, four seasons, and three spring seasons for nothing—who would? These girls did it for their love of the game, but most importantly, for the team. For that, we can’t thank them enough for all of their hard work, because we ARE the very team they worked for.

We ARE the team. It’s not the names on the roster that matter, but what we do together. And surely we all haven’t forgotten about what this team wants to do together. When this blog was born, Libby wrote of our team’s goals to “win every game, capture a GLVC Championship, earn an NCAA bid, win a National Championship, and most importantly grow as individuals and as a team.” These goals are still ours. Now, in the spring season, these goals mean one thing: 7am, the dark, sunless hour when we’re running and lifting. Sure, we’re not all morning people, but we’re all soccer players and we’re all a team; that’s what wakes us up. At 7am, we could be in bed, still sleeping and dreaming, but we’re doing something even better—we’re making our dreams a reality. And what better way to start the day than knowing we are one step closer to achieving our goals?

But speaking of morning workouts, we better be off to bed. By the way, this blog post is the baby of—you guessed it—Abby and Kait. We can only hope to make it half as cutesy and inspirational as Old Woman Libbith did in her blogging days. But still, it’s not our blog! It’s the team’s blog, our way of showing our journey...showing the world what it’s like to be a team with a dream and the means to achieve it.

GO HOUNDS!!!

Kait #5 and Abby #25

P.S.-Pardon this novel of a blog post...one of us might be an English major.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Greyhound for Life

I know most of the girls have heard me say that I will be a "Greyhound for life." Most people assume I say this because I am going to be studying at UIndy for three more years, but the true meaning is actually much different.

For the past four years, I have had the privilege to put on a jersey every Friday and Sunday in fall. I didn't always take the field with the same girls, under the same leadership, or against the same opponent, but one thing ALWAYS remained the same: the UIndy logo on the front of my chest. A lot of people do not understand what comes with wearing this jersey: "blood, sweat, and tears," (if you know me well, this saying was a literal description of my career haha), pride, sacrifice, determination, heartbreak, joy, perseverance, and celebration ... along with epic rap battles, dancing, and pranks. Wearing this jersey has forever united me with the women who have previously worn the uniform and all of the future Greyhounds who will. Wearing the uniform was more than being apart of a team. It made me apart of a family. My teammates and my coaches will forever be in my heart, and that is why my fellow seniors and I are truly "Greyhounds for life."

Tomorrow, this blog will officially change hands to 2 underclassmen near and dear to my heart, Abby and Kait, and more importantly, the 2012 Greyhounds will start their off season training. My fellow seniors and I wish this amazing group of ladies the best of luck in the future.

It has been a pleasure blogging for you Hound Pound Nation! I'll see you in the stands this spring!

With all my love,
lib

Friday, October 21, 2011

Hounds with TOPSoccer

The Greyhound Women's Soccer team got out of bed extra early last Saturday to train before heading over to the St. Francis Soccer Club fields for TOPSoccer! TOPSoccer is an outreach program that allows young athletes with mental or physical disabilities to learn and play soccer. Not only did we come together on Saturday morning to play "Sharks and Minnows", but several of the players came to cheer us on against Drury on Sunday! As Brea would say ... our Hound Pound increased by 10 that day. Here are some pictures from the event:


The whole group!
Tim was a ladies man ;)
Morgan, Tim, Michelle, and Dana took a break to smile for the camera :)
 
Coach Kiley came too!

There were a lot of hugs before everyone went home.

The Hounds plan to continue to volunteer with TOPSoccer in the Winter and Spring. To learn more about Indiana Youth TOPSoccer, click here!

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Countdown to Senior Day - #00 Michelle Kistler

Look at this cutie :)

Position: Goalkeeper
Major: Exercise Science
Concentration: Healthy Diploma

How long have you been playing soccer?
Since I was 5 years old!

What is your favorite memory from your four seasons as a Greyhound?
My favorite memory was having a shutout against Butler.
 
 
 
What was your most embarrassing moment as a Hound?
1. Coach Geoff tripped me into the goal during practice one day.
2. When Geoff was asking about all the distractions we face very seriously and I said construction.

What will you miss most about this team?
I will miss seeing my friends every day and having sisters!

What are your plans after this season?
After season, I will graduate and go to school to become a PTA.

What advice do you have for future Greyhound Women's Soccer players?
Cherish every second. It goes by faster than you think.





Friday, October 14, 2011

Countdown to Senior Day - #28 Dana Rosswurm

Little Danedog :)
Position: Center Mid
Major: Exercise Science, Pre-OT

How long have you been playing soccer?
18 years!

What is your favorite memory from your four seasons as a Greyhound?
My favorite memory was making the NCAA tournament sophomore year.

What was your most embarrassing moment as a Hound?
Uh? Dancing on the bus freshman year?

What will you miss most about this team?
My teammates!

What are your plans after this season?
Finish school, get married, and go to graduate school.

What advice do you have for future Greyhound Women's Soccer players?
Work hard and play for each other. This will end faster than you think. :'(

A special thank you to Cindy Rosswurm for
all of her photography this season!