Championships? So What!

Recently, I received my second conference championship ring. And as coach gave them out I felt, well, indifferent.

Don’t get me wrong, we worked hard for these rings. It was a tough season.

But after winning two conference championships in one year, and then losing two in the next, all I felt was obligation. I now EXPECT us to be in that championship game, in fact, we all do. Who can blame us? Let’s let the numbers do the talking:

4-6: that was our football record in 2005. In 2008, the team went 9-3. Adding two more games and five more wins in four years ain’t bad. Oh yeah, and the first ever bid to the NAIA Football Championship Series.

0: the amount of championships baseball won in 2005. 2: the amount of championships baseball won in 2008 (Region XII Region Championship and NAIA South Central Super Regional Championship), not to mention making into the NAIA World Series. And in between, the baseball team won the conference championship in 2006 and the region title in 2007.

.606: the winning percentage for woman’s basketball in 2005. During the 2007-08 season, the team had a .735 winning percentage, an AAC regular-season championship and AAC Tournament Championship to boot.

5: the number of championships, both conference and region won between 2005 and 2008. That’s averaging more than one a season.

Let’s not leave out the regular season AAC Championships won by softball in spring 2007 and volleyball in fall of 2007. Or Women’s tennis 6 championships (AAC regular season and tournament), including a Region XII Championship in only 3 years. How about the 9 individual AAC Championships won by our men’s outdoor track team? Oh, and there is the cycling team, who has won 3 conference championships, and one individual NCCA National Championship.

When I came in as a freshman, there were no expectations for either of the teams I played for. Yet here we are reaching the championship game year after year. Union has become the team to beat in the MSC and the AAC.

Who can we attribute this success to? Coaches? Some teams brought in new coaches, but others haven’t and have experienced this same success.

How about star athletes? Let’s take a look at the senior class, mine. There are a number of teams who are losing the largest number of seniors in years. We came, and we stayed.

Could it be thanks to Union President Edward de Rosset and the trustees? With the constant improvements made to not only academic, but also athletic facilities most students are bound to stay right?

Or maybe it’s the athletic director; can we give all of the praise to Darin Wilson? Wilson was honored by the Appalachian Athletic Conference in 2008 as the league’s Athletic Director of the Year. He wouldn’t take all the credit even if it was due solely to him.

It is the collaboration between all of these groups. It has become apparent that Union Athletics has become one well-oiled machine.

As the championship rings keep piling up, I’m excited to see how much farther the bulldogs can go from here. And judging by the numbers, it won’t take long for us to put a few more NAIA national championships under our belts.

November to February: Not Quite Volleyball, Not Quite Softball

It is a unique situation, being a dual athlete. When I initially signed, I was not primed for the amount of time I would be dedicating to volleyball and softball or the amount of time I would need switching from one season to the other. There are a few similarities and differences that have come with this transition:

· The teams are so different. With volleyball, I become exceptionally close with my teammates, especially with underclassmen, which could be attributed to those two weeks before season, known as death, or more formally, preseason. This condensed preseason is probably the chief variation between volleyball and softball. In softball I come in November, leave for December and return for 4 and a half months. It’s a bit harder to connect with underclassmen who have had time to get to know other players and acclimate themselves to school. So one of the hardest things to do in transition is become a part of the team again.

· There is a bond between coaches and their players. This has been one thing that hasn’t changed in four years of playing. I know with Union volleyball coach Whitney Erb, she expected me to set an example; she knew it was a hard to get back into volleyball. So helping me set a goal and focusing on it put me right back into volleyball-mode. When I go back to softball I Union softball coach Bubba Szary expects me to come in ready to work. He has never told me I am behind but pushes me to keep up. He always offers me a break after volleyball and in four years I never took it once. I always felt it would only benefit me to start back sooner. My relations with my coaches are consistent and it makes switching teams much easier.

· Being in season, there is a sense of urgency to learn and apply skills. There isn’t much time to fuss and prepare for particular situations. Though being in season is more fun, it is simply because there is less time to be picky. More games simply mean less practice, and who doesn’t want that? Being out of season has its perks as well; as a softball player I learn the most in my off-season hit groups. Here is where coach can break down my swing technique and work on it step by step. This sort of detailed correction doesn’t exist in season; there are far too many other particulars to address.

It is a funny position I’m in when finishing up conference tournament in November. I want to win because I want my team to go to the NAIA nationals but also because I wasn’t looking forward to those softball conditioning days. Or when we lost, I was upset that it ended our season but also excited to start on my next season. The feeling is always bittersweet.

With this being my last “transition” from volleyball to softball it is nice to sit back and say that it has always been smooth, with the help of good teammates and cooperative coaches. I think this kind of consideration can only be found at a place like Union.