Softball Begins 2011 Oklahoma City Challenge
November 16, 2011 | Softball
Nov. 16, 2011
LOUISVILL.E, Ky. - Well Cards fans, it's that time of year again. Although our entire team cannot wait to head home for the Thanksgiving holiday, we still have one more thing to look forward to; the second annual Oklahoma City Challenge! This challenge will be a four day event that will test our physical and mental abilities as well as teamwork. At the end of each event, points will be awarded to the winning team and at the end of the week the team that has accumulated the most points will be crowned the 2011 Oklahoma City Challenge Champion. By coming out victorious your team earns bragging rights for the entire year. This being said, it is very important that you not come out on the losing end... trust me I know from experience.
2011 OKC Teams
This year's captains were selected by the coaching staff. sophomores, Katie Keller and Maggie Ruckenbrod are captains of Team One, while senior Tori Collins and sophomore Hannah Kiyohara are captains of Team Two. These captains then drafted their teams and did their best to choose their teams wisely to give themselves the best opportunity to win. The teams are as follows:
Team One: Katie Keller, Maggie Ruckenbrod, Tesha Paysen, Katelyn Mann, Jordan Trimble, Taner Fowler, Chelsea Leonard, Chrisanna Roberts, Whitney Arion, Caralisa Connell
Team Two: Hannah Kiyohara, Tori Collins, Kristin Austin, Alicja Wolny, Chelsea Jordan, Kayla Soles, Trista Cox, KC Straley, Jenn Esteban
The captains speak
When I asked the captains how they felt about their teams going into the challenge they both had some insightful words to share. When referring to Team Two, captain Hannah Kiyohara responded, "I think I really played my cards right with this draft, we have a great mix of people who are strong, fast and mentally tough. We're not losing."
Maggie Ruckenbrod, Team One's captain, responded, "Our team is very strong and we are going to strategize well. Katie and I are going to do everything we can to make sure we are ready for each day."
And so it begins...
Both of these teams are very evenly matched and it will come down to who wants it more and can strategize the best to maximize their strengths. As for day one of the challenge tomorrow, both teams are completely oblivious as to what we could be doing. In fact, we will not even know where to meet until we receive a text at 5:30am. Yes I did say 5:30am. Could it be the pool? KFEC? Papa Johns Cardinal Stadium? Who knows? Only time will tell. However, wherever we end up I can assure you that our Strength and Conditioning coach, Teena Murray already has a few tricks up her sleeve. I have been here three years now and she has yet to disappoint. I just pray whatever we do it does not involve kettle bells!
