| DCFH goes bowling in family costumes. |
Season’s
Greetings fellow DCFH friends, family, fans and random Internet browsers,
Long time, no blog! It’s been quite some time since my last post; I know you
all have been anxiously awaiting my next one. I have a lot to cover, the ups,
the downs, and the in-between. Overall, as cliché as this sounds, our final
record does not reflect the hard work, long hours of difficult practice and
passion that EVERY member of our DCFH family, including our coaches and trainer
(HI PAM), displayed throughout the season. In the long run, our mediocre record
is just a number that will be long forgotten in the coming months and is not
something to dwell on because it has served a much higher purpose. Honestly, I
had to look it up on our website because I didn’t know it. The six wins were
hard-fought battles and total TEAM victories. The subsequent losses served as
much more than another number on the right side of the record dash, but as
opportunities to learn and grow as a unit.
Despite
the rollercoaster record, this season included typical DCFH shenanigans. During
preseason the team divided up into our families*, dressed up as a fellow celebrity
family and hit the bowling lanes. Yes, we got bumpers. The Kardashians, the
royal family, Family Guy, the Osbournes and the Turner family (yes, Coach Ginny
& husband Rhett) were all represented at the bowling alley that fine
evening. A side note, senior captain Brooke makes a phenomenal Ozzy Osbourne
and I apparently look a lot like Chris Griffin from family guy, yes, he is a
boy.
DCFH
also continues to uphold the Halloween practice tradition.* The senior class
dressed up as characters from Harry Potter: Harry, Hermione, Ron and Voldemort.
The juniors portrayed “Despicable Me” characters while the sophomores rolled in
as Mario Cart drivers. Finally, the freshmen were the “Pitch Perfect” Barden
Bellas and the coaches chopped their way into being sushi. After the skits some
of us tried to practice in our costumes but soon realized it is way easier to
sprint not wearing an itchy wig and/or fake mustache.
After
our conference tournament during the first weekend of November, we have been
given time to rest, recover and for some of us, rehab. We have continued to
lift with our strength trainers, Sarah and Rowan, twice a week in preparation
for our spring season and ultimately, our exciting transition to the A-10
conference next fall. I won’t lie, I am somber to leave to NorPac conference
simply because we have had great success over the past years. I also will miss
playing my sister at App State two times a season; for this reason, my parents
are grateful for our move as it alleviates stress on them because they never
know who to cheer for, I think the answer is quite obvious. This bittersweet
transition is also extremely exciting for us as players and our program as a
whole. This historically more-difficult conference will help enhance our
program and take it to a whole new level.
This
brings me to my next point, I love when my transitions work nicely, spring
season. To prepare for our tough fall 2014 schedule, our coaches, alongside our
strength trainers, are ready to kick our butts into the best shape possible.
While spring season is not our main season, this is a time for players to refine
skills, develop new ones and get extra touches on the hockey pitch. We still
practice five-times a week and will be lifting three times during the week as
well. As a reward for the hard work during this challenging “off-season,” we
typically attend a few spring tournaments in the area.
Where
in the world is DCFH?
Starting
this winter break, members of DCFH will not only be Davidson students, but also
world travelers. Sophomore Danielle King, “D”, will be headed to Ateiku, Ghana
during holiday break to volunteer in a local hospital and work with kids in a
nearby school. Prior to trekking to Ghana, D will embark on a European
adventure traveling to Paris and Madrid. For the spring semester, junior Kaity
Anstrom will be sailing to Turks and Caicos to study marine life and animals. I
actually just googled “Where is Turks and Caicos?” and discovered it is near
the Bahamas. Be on the lookout for pictures of her catching snakes and other
reptiles, she has a tendency to do that as a dedicated volunteer at the Davidson
Herpetology lab. I will also be abroad for the spring semester. I am headed to
Buenos Aires, Argentina to study social movements and human rights in the
region. While Kaity and I are both extremely excited to study abroad, it is
very weird to think of being away from our teammates and sisters for an entire
semester. Studying abroad is something I have wanted to do since about the
fourth grade and one of the reasons I chose Davidson along with the field
hockey program. Ginny is very accommodating to those who choose to study abroad
which is sometimes unusual to see in a DI hockey program. In Latin America
their semesters don’t start until late February, so I will have some quality
family time in the DYT (Dayton, Ohio baby).
Overall,
this fall has flown by, how is it December? Soon we will receive the best gift
of all, our winter workout packets! In all seriousness, Ginny does a phenomenal
job of giving us workouts and exercises that are different each day as well as
challenging. I am not sure if I will be “blogging from Buenos” (that’s not a
bad title for a blog, eh?) or if someone else will be temporarily taking my
spot as DCFH blog extraordinaire, I am not ready to hand over the torch
completely. Regardless, be sure to check back in a few months to catch up with
your favorite field hockey team. I’m sure I will be receiving an email from my
father letting me know within the next couple hours if I had a typo, but I’m
off to the DCFH annual Christmas spin, taught by our very own Ginny Turner. Then
I should probably start studying for exams - I mean - Dad I’ve been studying for
weeks! Wishing every reader a safe, happy holiday season and that it can be
spent around your loved ones.
Until next fall,
Frenchie
DCFH Glossary indicated by *
· Families- Typically
comprised of a member from each class, DCFH families are units of 4-5 members
on the team that periodically meet throughout the season for dinner, ice cream
or just to chat.
· Halloween practice- A
cherished tradition of DCFH, this is a practice near or on Halloween that each
grade dresses up as a collective theme. One by one each class enters the field
to reveal their costumes. Following the big reveal, each grade performs a skit
incorporating their characters and field hockey. Then we take a picture and
start practice.
