Day One is finally here!! We are pumped and ready to go. Here's a look at what this year's Captains see in our future this year:
Laura Cavanaugh '10 (Pylesville, MD/North Harford HS):
It’s hard to believe that the first week of practice is already here! I think everyone will be glad to finally get our sticks in our hands after a few months of hard training. Overall, our team’s strength has tremendously improved from where we left off last year due to our amped up lifting and fitness regimen. I am confident that our hard work in the off season will give us the edge we need to reach our goal this year (ODAC Champs!). Throughout the next few weeks of practice, I am convinced that everything will come together very well now that we will have our entire team on the field. Go Generals!!!!
Julia Gotwald '10 (Alexandria, VA/St. Stephens&St. Agnes) :
I think the team this year is going to be stronger and faster than we have been in past years. Everyone has been working hard running, lifting and doing agilities in the off-season that will definitely pay-off during our season. We are really excited to get the season going because we know what we are capable of and cannot wait to start playing. We expect that all the SAQ sessions and the lifting program will set us ahead of the competition and will definitely help us achieve our goals and be ODAC Champions! We predict that the defense will be very strong because we did not lose any key players on this end from last year and our offense will be innovative and quick this year. Overall, we cannot wait for the season to get going and we believe we are going to come out with a bang!
Emmy Mathews '11 (Baltimore, MD/Bryn Mawr School):
I am incredibly excited about the beginning of our season and from observing my teammates, the feeling seems mutual. This year we have put more work in than ever in the off-season to make our team faster and stronger, and I am very eager to begin to see all of that hard work pay off. In changing the way that we prepare for the season, a certain confidence permeates the team. We have confidence in what we have done up to this point and confidence that it's going to lead us to success in the coming months.
GO GENERALS!!
Monday, January 25, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Kat Michaels '08 - Assistant Lacrosse Coach at Colorado College
Classes are back in session and our first day is just around the corner. We hope everyone had a great holiday and is as ready as we are for January 25th! We're hearing from 2008 graduate Kat Michaels (Virginia Beach,VA /Norfolk Academy) this week about her adventures in coaching and out West:
1. What's your favorite part about coaching lacrosse?
Kat: It would have to be being on a team again. Of course I am on the other side and it's a tad different, but I love practice, and most of the time I am overly excited. Also, since I have not played lacrosse in awhile, I sometimes am allowed to play with them and love it!!!
2. What has been the biggest challenge going from player to coach?
Kat: My biggest challenge has been slowing down my explanations and communicating clearly what I want the players to do. For instance, it takes me awhile to figure out how to explain certain defensive movements that came naturally to me and my defenders do not understand why someone should move like that. I speak without thinking my explanations through.
3. Did you always know that you wanted to coach?
Kat: No, not really. I actually started coaching in Aspen for something else to do after the ski season ended. But after a few practices, I fell in love with the sport again. It was way too much fun helping the newbie middle schoolers with their defense and stick work. The best part was when a sixth grader, about the smallest person on the field, stopped the ball by leaving her girl in a game. It was so awesome! It's the best feeling.
4. Are you enjoying life in Colorado?
Kat: Life in Colorado is great. It is very different from East Coast living. It's more relaxed. I have picked up a lot of new sports and activities that I didn't do at the beach like hiking and skiing. Also, I want to get into road biking and mountain biking, but unfortunately bikes are rather expensive.
5. What do you do outside of the office and off of the field?
Kat: Outside of the springs, I am also a ski instructor in Aspen, CO. I have friends and family near there and can go to Aspen to work during the winter break because of school, which is the best thing in the world. We also don't practice on weekends so it gives me the ability to go skiing and visit some of my ranch friends in Wyoming as well.
6. What do you miss most about W&L/Lexington?
Kat:I miss my college friends and lacrosse family the most. Being on the other side of the country is a little hard to see everyone and keep in touch.
7. Do you still keep in touch with Generals Lax Alums?
Kat: I try to. Facebook is always a great thing as well as skype. Last April, we had a get together with the 2008ers in Virginia Beach.. I don't come over to the East Coast very often so we try to organize a fun weekend when I do. I hope this year when I come over with the Colorado College team that I will see some of my friends. We are coming to DC in March during Tilbor’s birthday weekend and then I am coming to Baltimore for a coaching conference in January. Also, I hope to see Bender and RBarr in Maine in April when we play Colby, Bates, and Bowdoin. The only 2008er I haven’t chatted with in a while is Henson. She is over in Africa saving the world and it’s just really hard to keep up, but I hear from my other friends that she is glorious and doing wonderfully.
8. If you could give one piece of advice to current Generals Lax players, what would it be?
Kat: Go somewhere different and live on your own for awhile. If going to DC or NY is what you have been dying to do since you could remember, go for it, but if there is any hesitation, go explore the country or world for that matter. Live life before you have to settle down and become a real adult person (YIKES!). If you need a connection out here, give me a shout. I will be out here for a little bit and would love to show you the West. Just remember, DC and NY will always be there and will be an easy transition if you decide that’s what you want.
1. What's your favorite part about coaching lacrosse?Kat: It would have to be being on a team again. Of course I am on the other side and it's a tad different, but I love practice, and most of the time I am overly excited. Also, since I have not played lacrosse in awhile, I sometimes am allowed to play with them and love it!!!
2. What has been the biggest challenge going from player to coach?
Kat: My biggest challenge has been slowing down my explanations and communicating clearly what I want the players to do. For instance, it takes me awhile to figure out how to explain certain defensive movements that came naturally to me and my defenders do not understand why someone should move like that. I speak without thinking my explanations through.
3. Did you always know that you wanted to coach?Kat: No, not really. I actually started coaching in Aspen for something else to do after the ski season ended. But after a few practices, I fell in love with the sport again. It was way too much fun helping the newbie middle schoolers with their defense and stick work. The best part was when a sixth grader, about the smallest person on the field, stopped the ball by leaving her girl in a game. It was so awesome! It's the best feeling.
4. Are you enjoying life in Colorado?
Kat: Life in Colorado is great. It is very different from East Coast living. It's more relaxed. I have picked up a lot of new sports and activities that I didn't do at the beach like hiking and skiing. Also, I want to get into road biking and mountain biking, but unfortunately bikes are rather expensive.
5. What do you do outside of the office and off of the field?Kat: Outside of the springs, I am also a ski instructor in Aspen, CO. I have friends and family near there and can go to Aspen to work during the winter break because of school, which is the best thing in the world. We also don't practice on weekends so it gives me the ability to go skiing and visit some of my ranch friends in Wyoming as well.
6. What do you miss most about W&L/Lexington?
Kat:I miss my college friends and lacrosse family the most. Being on the other side of the country is a little hard to see everyone and keep in touch.
7. Do you still keep in touch with Generals Lax Alums?
Kat: I try to. Facebook is always a great thing as well as skype. Last April, we had a get together with the 2008ers in Virginia Beach.. I don't come over to the East Coast very often so we try to organize a fun weekend when I do. I hope this year when I come over with the Colorado College team that I will see some of my friends. We are coming to DC in March during Tilbor’s birthday weekend and then I am coming to Baltimore for a coaching conference in January. Also, I hope to see Bender and RBarr in Maine in April when we play Colby, Bates, and Bowdoin. The only 2008er I haven’t chatted with in a while is Henson. She is over in Africa saving the world and it’s just really hard to keep up, but I hear from my other friends that she is glorious and doing wonderfully.
8. If you could give one piece of advice to current Generals Lax players, what would it be?
Kat: Go somewhere different and live on your own for awhile. If going to DC or NY is what you have been dying to do since you could remember, go for it, but if there is any hesitation, go explore the country or world for that matter. Live life before you have to settle down and become a real adult person (YIKES!). If you need a connection out here, give me a shout. I will be out here for a little bit and would love to show you the West. Just remember, DC and NY will always be there and will be an easy transition if you decide that’s what you want.
*Note: There were problems accessing the link in Christine Bender's last post - please try this instead: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=10633843
Monday, December 28, 2009
Christine Bender '08's First Year in Med School
Happy Holidays everyone! We hope you are enjoying the season and time with family and friends. This week we heard from 2008 graduate Christine Bender about her busy life in Medical School:
1. Where are you in Med. School?
Christine: I am at University of New England, located on the southern coast of the great (and wintery) state of Maine.
2. Overall how has your first term gone?
Christine: I am at University of New England, located on the southern coast of the great (and wintery) state of Maine.
2. Overall how has your first term gone?
Christine: The first trimester went well. We are well into the second and it is hard to believe I am halfway through my first year. All in all I like school and have great classmates.
3. Have you thought about what concentration of medicine you'd like to focus on? Christine: I am interested in orthopedics and sports med. But I am keeping an open mind to everything at this point. I'll probably have a much better idea once I start rotations during my third year (so perhaps another blog entry then!)
4. Did you always know that you wanted to be a Doctor?
3. Have you thought about what concentration of medicine you'd like to focus on? Christine: I am interested in orthopedics and sports med. But I am keeping an open mind to everything at this point. I'll probably have a much better idea once I start rotations during my third year (so perhaps another blog entry then!)
4. Did you always know that you wanted to be a Doctor?
Christine: Hmmm. Well no, but I am not exactly sure when I figured that out. It had been in the back of my mind for several years but I always questioned whether or not it was something I actually wanted to pursue. Even last year I was still a little unsure about it. But fortunately I think it's been a good choice so far!
5. What do you do in your free time (if you have any!)?
Christine: Free time??? I am no longer familiar with that concept. But I guess I had been finding some time to run...mostly along the fabulous beach right by school. I also played some IM flag football throughout the fall...but that led to an unfortunate incident. I somehow managed to tear my ACL so I'm now having that surgery right before Christmas. Occassionally I would go home (only about an hour away) for a weekend to see the fam and dog and get some good meals. Immediately following a week of block exams, my class generally manages to have some fun...I won't bore you with details, but these are by far the best weekends. I was planning on getting a ski pass for the winter but looks like that plan has changed...guess it leaves more time for studying.
6. Have you kept up with Women's Lax Alumnae?
5. What do you do in your free time (if you have any!)?
Christine: Free time??? I am no longer familiar with that concept. But I guess I had been finding some time to run...mostly along the fabulous beach right by school. I also played some IM flag football throughout the fall...but that led to an unfortunate incident. I somehow managed to tear my ACL so I'm now having that surgery right before Christmas. Occassionally I would go home (only about an hour away) for a weekend to see the fam and dog and get some good meals. Immediately following a week of block exams, my class generally manages to have some fun...I won't bore you with details, but these are by far the best weekends. I was planning on getting a ski pass for the winter but looks like that plan has changed...guess it leaves more time for studying.
6. Have you kept up with Women's Lax Alumnae?
Christine: Yup. Mostly the 08'ers...a classy bunch.
7. What's the biggest thing you miss about W&L and/or Lexington?
Christine: Hmmm...Utah, lax, Goshen, the colonnade, warm weather, the Chessie trail, Lex Coffee, our field, spring term (we dont exactly have that here)....I'm sure the list could go on.
8. Anything else you'd like Generals fans, players, parents and alumnae to know?
Christine: Well yes. A bunch of my classmates and I are going on a Medlife trip to Peru this summer. We basically hire a local doctor there and set up clinics in different villages each day where we treat the locals. In the past, it has been a huge success and hundreds of people line up at these clinics to get treatment they might not otherwise receive. It is an incredible opportunity to get clinical exposure and see things medically that we will probably otherwise never get to see in the US. Anyway, we have to raise money for trip costs and medical supplies to take with us, so if anyone would be willing to donate to this trip, I would be very appreciative. Donations can be made at: https://owa.wlu.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=8ea52d7f61f648e2b88152bb643740c4&URL=https%3a%2f%2fwww.paypal.com%2fcgi-bin%2fwebscr%3fcmd%3d_s-xclick%26hosted_button_id%3d10633843
Thanks and happy holidays!!!
7. What's the biggest thing you miss about W&L and/or Lexington?
Christine: Hmmm...Utah, lax, Goshen, the colonnade, warm weather, the Chessie trail, Lex Coffee, our field, spring term (we dont exactly have that here)....I'm sure the list could go on.
8. Anything else you'd like Generals fans, players, parents and alumnae to know?
Christine: Well yes. A bunch of my classmates and I are going on a Medlife trip to Peru this summer. We basically hire a local doctor there and set up clinics in different villages each day where we treat the locals. In the past, it has been a huge success and hundreds of people line up at these clinics to get treatment they might not otherwise receive. It is an incredible opportunity to get clinical exposure and see things medically that we will probably otherwise never get to see in the US. Anyway, we have to raise money for trip costs and medical supplies to take with us, so if anyone would be willing to donate to this trip, I would be very appreciative. Donations can be made at: https://owa.wlu.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=8ea52d7f61f648e2b88152bb643740c4&URL=https%3a%2f%2fwww.paypal.com%2fcgi-bin%2fwebscr%3fcmd%3d_s-xclick%26hosted_button_id%3d10633843
Thanks and happy holidays!!!
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