Softball Embarks on 2013 Oklahoma City Challenge
November 12, 2012 | Softball
Nov. 12, 2012
The University of Louisville softball team has embarked on the third annual Oklahoma City Challenge as the Cardinals begin their quest to reach the 2013 Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.
About the Oklahoma City Challenge
Four captains are selected and teams were drafted to compete against one another in a four-day series of events that tests the athleticism and strategic thinking of the teams. A team champion will be crowned at the end of the OKC Challenge. Sports performance coach Teena Murray oversees the competition, while also motivating her charges to extend themselves to their limits. Coach Murray only gives instructions to the captains who must relay the information to their respective teams. Each day the teams have opportunities to earn higher point values as the OKC Challenge progresses.
Senior outfielder Chrisanna Roberts has resumed her role as the team's official blogger and will provide daily updates as the competition progresses.
Chrisanna's Blog
Monday, Day One
The teams
Last week Whitney Arion and Kayla Soles were chosen as captains for the 2012 Oklahoma City Challenge and the teams were picked. The Red Team led by captain Kayla Soles consists of: Alicja Wolny, Brittany Sims, Hannah Kiyohara, Katie Keller, Caralisa Connell, Rachel LeCoq, and Jordan Trimble. The Black Team led by Whitney Arion is as follows: Katelyn Mann, Jenn Esteban, Chrisanna Roberts, Maggie Ruckenbrod, Taner Fowler, Ally Vaughn, and Jasmine Smithson-Willet. Every player on our team has strengths they can bring to the table to help their team so I'm sure this will be a battle down to the last day.
The competition
Day one's competition was broken down into two separate halves both worth 50 points. The first half was a tire flip competition. Both teams had two 325 pound semi-truck tires and the first team to complete 100 flips the fastest would win. The Red team finished in 3:32 while the Black Team finished in 3:24 sneaking away with the first 50 points.
The second half was a repeat event from last year but always a classic, the truck push. The team that could push an F150 truck around a 2.3 mile loop while also carrying three dynomax balls weighing 20, 16, and 8 pounds would be victorious. The Black Team finished with a time of 38 minutes while the Red team finished with a time of 34 minutes giving them the second 50 points. Following the first day of competition the score is tied 50 to 50 with the point values doubling for tomorrow mornings events.
Added fun
An element that made this morning extra exciting was the fact that it was freezing cold and raining. But one thing I've learned in my past four years is that Teena does not care! In fact, I think she kind of enjoys it just a little more when Mother Nature is against us. Also the National Rodeo show is in town this week and around our 2.3 mile adventure I easily counted/ heard/ smelled over 100 different livestock. Needless to say it was a great start to my last OKC challenge and I can only imagine what we will be doing tomorrow.
