Katie Wildermuth

Past Entries

Entry 1

Entry 2

Entry 3

September 27, 2004

The "Tuesday Curse" is a phenomenon that has developed this season. For the past few weeks every Tuesday we have extremely "difficult" practices. By difficult, I don't mean physically challenging, I mean that the practices lack intensity.

We are trying to keep the intensity high, but for some reason we just haven't been clicking on Tuesdays. The lack of focus on Tuesdays, however, never carries over to Wednesdays or Thursdays. The rest of the week, in fact, we are extremely focused in preparing for the weekend.

Well, last Tuesday for me was extremely difficult. Tuesday night after practice I was upset and scared that we would never get past the "Tuesday Curse." This weekend was extremely important because regional and nationally ranked teams were coming to play us. It was also important because we had yet to win a tournament this year.

Well the rest of the week played out like the weeks of the past. Practices on Wednesday and Thursday were intense and focused. I shook off the fear that I felt on Tuesday and decided to put it behind me.

The first three matches of the tournament were important because they were regional matches. Winning those matches is tremendously important for bids to the NCAAs. Our last match against Elmhurst (Ill.), however, was also important because although they are not in our region, they are a nationally ranked team.

Beating Elmhurst in a tight, five-game match was our first large success as a team. Yes all of our victories in the past were important, but this was the first time we rose to a challenge. Elmhurst completely outworked us in games one and two. It took a lot of hard work and pride for us to come back from a 2-0 start to win that match.

I am extremely proud of how hard we worked to turn that match around. I also think that this match was a pivotal point in the season. Our victory over Elmhurst gives us the right amount of confidence to take us into next weekend which marks the beginning of conference play. I also hope that the success of last weekend will help us overcome the "Tuesday Curse."

Katie Wildermuth is a senior from San Clemente, Calif. She would love to answer e-mail questions from Emory recruits and fans.