Friday, March 23, 2012

And Just Like That … The 2011-12 Season Is Over


Well here it is … March Madness and while I will say this is my favorite time of year, I also can’t believe that our season is over, I really feel like it just started yesterday.

With that being said, the season really is over. Rookies are no longer rookies (this means you guys: Kamala, Nicole, Abby, Tia, and Milica) and our senior Sasha Dosenko is moving on to the “real world.”

My first season as a member of the Dartmouth women’s basketball family was one that surprised me, in a good way. I’ve been doing this a few years and first seasons can be challenging and full of change, but this first season was different, I felt like I was automatically apart of the family and that made things so much easier. So I want to thank the players, who welcomed me with open arms, and coach Wielgus and her staff who made me feel at home from day one and who I wouldn’t trade for the world.  This group of coaches has become more than just colleagues, but friends and when you get to work with friends, what could be better??

I’m sure when I first met the players back in September, they were like “Who is this, chick?” but now that we’ve been through a season together I think we’ve got a much better understanding of each other. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed spending time with this group.  The laughter, jokes and good-natured ribbing that happen with this bunch provides constant laughter and makes me really happy to be where I am!

I’m going to miss the bus trips (although we can delay the Columbia-Cornell trip as long as possible, that is one of those trips that is just not recommended more than once a season).  I love giving Nicola Zimmer a hard time about having (or not having) the essentials, namely her shoes! I also love giving both Faziah and Nicola a hard time about their “travel buddies” Carl and Tamsun (sorry if I spelled this wrong, Ziggy!) aka Pillow Pets. We’ll be adding another to the mix next season – his name is DC and he’s a Moose!

Although the season that had some lows, we did end on a high note sending Sasha out with two wins at home and then playing Harvard tough as nails in the finale. I’ve seen this group grow and it was fun seeing it all come together over the course of the last month of the season and I know big things are in store for next season. Honestly, I can’t wait for next season to start! Only 195 days until the first practice for the 2012-13 season!

Jess Poole