Katie Bergfeld

October 19, 2004

So, after weeks of 7 a.m. conditioning three times a week, we got to enjoy a long weekend over Fall Break. Some went home, some stayed in Atlanta, but all of us had a great time wherever we were.

We came back on Wednesday not only knowing we had classes to attend to, but one more 7 a.m. conditioning, which Coach deemed a "surprise activity." Beth, being the secret agent she is, figured out that Coach had signed us up for a spinning class. When we arrived on Wednesday morning, we were all terribly disappointed to find that the spinning instructor had mixed up the times.

What else could we do? After a little game of Duck-Duck-Goose, we decided our best route was dodgeball. We chose two captains, Katie Rizz and Katie A., who then proceeded to choose teams. I was picked first by Katie Rizz, no surprise, as I am widely known for my cat-like speed and reflexes. My team dominated the first game, while the second game ended in a stalemate.

What next? Then came a friendly game of kickball. My team again dominated, and why wouldn't we with the awesome skills of Lynnio, Alex, Katie Rizz, and Julie?

After all these fun and games, it dawned on us: practice started on Friday. So, at 3 p.m. on Friday, October 15th, our season officially began. I have to say that I was very impressed by the difference in all of the returners' attitudes.

I can tell that we all really want to do well this year, and we really want to push each other to what we know we can do. The new freshmen are a great new addition, all of them are willing to listen and they are all catching on really quickly, despite the fast pace with which we have been going through drills.

One event that really sticks out in my mind happened on Saturday. We were running our fast break drill, and nothing seemed to be going right. I think every ball we brought down the court somehow became a turnover. Coach was getting frustrated, and so were we.

Coach finally stopped the drill, and after a little venting, she asked us what we thought she should do. Instead of just staring at her blankly, waiting for her to answer her own question by making us do sprints or some other "fun" activity, we quickly answered, "Let us work through it."

So, Coach put us back out there, and we put all our focus in running the drill right. And we did an awesome job, we had more intensity than I have ever seen. I think this event exemplifies exactly what we have been working for since the beginning of September. Instead of getting frustrated and giving in, we all got together and did what we had to do.

I only expect to see great things come from this mixture of determined, hard-working women. GOOO EAGLES!!! GOOOOOD SHOT!!!

Katie Bergfeld is a junior from High Ridge, Mo. She would love to answer e-mail questions from Emory recruits and fans.