This weekend women’s basketball will travel for their season debut at a tournament held by Vassar College in New York. With ten new first-year players, the Yeowomen are looking good in practice, with high numbers and higher intensity. Last year, and for only the sixth time in the women’s basketball program’s 28-year history, the Yeowomen won ten games. Led by Head Coach Christa Champion, Assistant Coaches Natalie Winkelfoos and Denise Legg and captain and College senior Jesse Oram, the team hopes to continue its success this year.

    Four sophomores, a crew that calls themselves “The Squad,” return this year. Wing Alyssa Clark, forward Maggie Casey, point guard Kira Rivera and wing Mandi Van Allen had a lot to say about the team’s upcoming games, last year’s memories and their favorite fast food.

Sarah Heaton: Women’s basketball is looking sharp in practice. Has anything changed since last year?

Mandi Van Allen: Our team is a lot bigger and the enthusiasm is up. We have ten new freshmen, so we don’t have to worry about numbers, and we can do a lot more in practice.

SH: I hear your team is practicing some interesting team-building activities this year?

Alyssa Clark: Yeah, we went to the ropes course. It was fun. Oh, and our team relaxation techniques.

MVA: We have a team relaxologist.

SH: I like it, what does she do?

Kira Rivera: She helps us to visualize everyday basketball efforts and, of course, relax.

AC: Yes, but we all have to do it the same way.

MVA: Yeah, you can’t choose how you relax.

KR: [Head Coach] Champ makes us lay on our backs, palms up.

MVA: Yep, relaxation Coach Champ style.

SH: Do you all do guided visualizations?

MVA: Last year we got to visualize plays; Coach Champ led them. They were really great and got us really pumped for the games.

SH: Were you visualizing some of those famous Coach Champ metaphors?

A: A lot of the time. Last year we were a ship, but sometimes, our sail didn’t work

Maggie Casey: Sometimes we thought that the sail had wind, but it didn’t.

A: Champ also tells Kira and me that we are hunters in the jungle with machetes. The NCAC is the jungle, and we get to go hack it to pieces. My favorite though is the train metaphor. It’s this year’s.

SH: Train?

KR: We’re a runaway train. We picked up our train tickets Oct. 17.

AC: She’s the conductor, and at preseason we started oiling the tires, checking some things out, if it doesn’t work, we can fix it. Our first game will be the first stop on the train ride. Where the train goes is up to us….

MVA: To the championship! Champ’s Train Trip to the Championship!

SH: So the first stop this weekend is at Vassar?

MVA: Yeah, and it’s a long train ride…about ten hours to Vassar.

MC: And, that’s only one way.

SH: Best part of a long trip?

MVA: Well first, we love to play the game, and then we love the singing and sleeping on the bus.

AC: And the movies!

MC: And the food!

KR: Oh yeah, the food is the great, especially when you aren’t paying for it.

MVA: Yeah, we get to order whatever we want. No limit!

AC: Except for this new rule of no fast food.

MVA: Yeah that’s awful. Last year we used to get Triple Whoppers, cheesecake, whatever we wanted…now no fast food.

AC: The thing is that we can have Taco Bell in a crunch, but I would rather go to Arby’s than Taco Bell.

MVA: I need Wendy’s Chicken Nuggets in my life though.

(Maggie gets up and leaves)

SH: So, has Maggie been better about coming to practice on time this year?

AC: Yeah, she’s been great this year.

KR:  We found her in the pool once. She showed up to practice 15 minutes late. We were like, “Maggie, where were you?” She said, “In the pool,” like it was no big deal.

AC: And she was all wet.

MVA: She was like, “All my friends were there!” (laughing)

(Maggie returns with an apple)

MC: These apples are good.

KR: Thanks, Maggie.

SH: So in your team’s metaphors, what part of the train are you?

KR: I’m the little engine that could.

MVA: I’m the caboose.

AC: The butt end?

MC: I probably missed the train.

AC: I’m the train whistle.

KR: That annoying thing?

SH: Alright, ladies. Why should OC fans come watch you this winter?

KR: Because women’s basketball is about to take off.

MVA: Seriously, we’re about to be real good! The team attitude is great, and we love to play together.

MC: Women’s basketball has its swagger back.

MVA: And at halftime, you can win Lorenzo’s pizza.