Black Squad Wins Day Two of the OKC Challenge
November 21, 2014 | Softball
Senior shortstop Whitney Arion recaps day two of the OKC Challenge
Triathlon
Louisville Softball has now completed two of the four days of the OKC Challenge. I must say that's a hard statement to accept as a senior, knowing this is my last go around/ The level of passion, intensity, and competitiveness during these events is incomparable and I can't wait to see it all transfer over to the softball field come February. After all, OKC isn't just about one individual team winning or losing. It's about how to fight until the end and even more so how to bounce back from failure. In this game you will fail and it's how you choose to deal with that failure that really matters.
This morning's event took place at the Marshall Center where we spend week after week training. Both teams knew beforehand that today's event was a triathlon in which each team starts at the same place and cannot move on until they have completed the task. The first team to finish all three tasks wins 300 points. Each day the points increase. Day one belonged to the red squad, giving them a 200-point lead. The Black Squad was in need of redemption!
It's Go Time...
Before the competition began, the captains met and received instructions and rules regarding each task. Their job is to relay all the information back to their team. It is crucial that as a captain, you communicate as effectively as possible. You do not want there to be a miscommunication about what needs to be done and how it needs to be done. Failure to comply with rules of the game means an automatic deduction of points. Details are everything.
The teams had three minutes to get organized before the first whistle. The triathlon began right outside the Marshall Center where you will find 100 yards of turf. This is where the Louisville's Field Hockey Team plays. On each opposing goal line was one set of four sleds that had a large amount of weight on them. There was one set for each team. The sleds had to be pushed and pulled back and forth three times across the width of the field before moving on to the next task. This may seem easy but before making any assumptions let me add that the turf we were on was completely frosted over which made it very slippery/ It looked like a bunch of bumper cars out there. I'm sure the coaches found it nothing short of hilarious. The entire time it was neck and neck, but the Black Squad finished with the Red Squad right on their heels.
The Final Stretch
Now it was a speed race to the bikes. There were four stationary bikes per team and each bike had to reach eight miles before moving to the last task. The bikes were all on gear 20 and if you have any idea what gear 20 feels like on a stationary bike, you feel our pain. All players were switching on and off the bikes trying to reach eight miles as fast as possible! This is where the Black Squad gained the lead in the competition.
They were now off to the cardio path to run a mile for the final event of day. However, while they were running this mile as fast as they could, they had to attach carry an extremely large rope. This rope is meant for only one thing and that is to weigh us down. We can only run as fast as the person in front of us, which can be a real struggle. The Black Squad created a big enough gap that Red Squad would not be able to recover. Day two was redemption day for the Black Squad! They received 300 points after crossing the finish line putting them ahead of the red squad.
Bonus Round
But like the saying goes, "It ain't over till it's over." It was time for a BONUS ROUND, which is an opportunity for either team to seize an additional 200 points. The bonus round featured an OKC favorite - tug of war. The team captains put a lineup together that would eventually be split in half. Each team was only allowed five players on the rope per round. So the first half of the lineup competed in round one and the other half, the second round. It was best two out of three.
The Red Squad dominated the bonus round. While the Black Squad did put up a good fight the first round, they just couldn't surpass the strength of the Red Squad. Personally, I had never in my life, been dragged around like such a little rag doll. Not quite the ending I imagined but it makes for some great laughs at the end of the day.
The weekend is here and I know each team can agree it's a beautiful thing. A few days for recovery are a blessing after these last two days. Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend and I will be back Monday morning with more updates about what's going on in world of Louisville Softball.
Scoreboard
Red Bquad - 300 points
Black Squad- 300 points
