June 15, 2012
1. Tell me about what you are up to this summer?
I am up in beautiful Denver, Colorado this summer. I have been here since the beginning of May and will be here until second session summer school back in Waco at the beginning of July. I have had the privilege of playing on the Colorado Rush W-League team. It's been a really neat experience. The girls on the team are great, and the training environment is very high-level and professional. I've also had the opportunity to travel to Canada and play in some awesome games. It's also been great to play with a couple of my Baylor teammates here too!
2. How are you enjoying Colorado? Are you enjoying the outdoors or do you have any good stories?
I love Colorado; it's beautiful to look up and see mountains every single day- a big change of pace from Waco. The weather is almost perfect, although I feel like I traded in the Texas humidity for the Colorado altitude. We haven't been up to the mountains yet because we have been pretty busy with trainings and games, but I am definitely enjoying the change of pace from the heat! The first day I was here, the girls and I went up to the track to try to get our lungs adjusted to breathing in the altitude. I made it one lap around before I had to take a break to breathe. It's gotten better since then though.
3. How has this past season's success motivated you in the offseason?
This past season has been a huge motivation for me, as well as for everyone else, too. I know from talking to the girls this summer that everyone was encouraged by how much our hard work paid off last season--from coming in with a 100% passing rate on the fitness test to making it to the second round of the NCAA tournament--but I also know that we aren't just settling for that. It's good to be reminded of how well we did last season, but it's better to know that no one on this team is content with anything less than being the best. Every girl on the team has the mentality that last season was last season, and if we want to get where we got to last season, and even further, then it's going to take more.
4. You got to play against USA National players like Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and Hope Solo, what was that like?
It was an honor and an unbelievable experience to get to play on the field with those girls. They are obviously incredibly talented, some of the best in the world. To get to play against them was so beneficial for me, because playing against the best competition only makes you better. I couldn't ask for a better experience this summer to prepare me for non-conference and conference competition this fall.
5. How is this summer's experience benefitting you both on and off the field?
Playing on Colorado Rush this summer has been such a beneficial experience all around. On the field, I have gotten an opportunity to work on so many aspects of my game like 1v1 defending and attacking out of the back. Training has been challenging, with a lot of focus on technical skill, so I am hoping that I'll be able to come back sharp, fit and focused for this season. Off the field, it has really been a time for me to continue to learn and grow as a player, person and teammate. The challenges have given me the ability to rely on God as my source of strength and confidence. And overall, it has taught me how unbelievably blessed I am to be a part of Baylor Soccer. I miss the team and coaches so much and I am so ready to get back to Waco and keep preparing for a big year next year. Year of the Bear, round 2!
