I am a member of the women’s basketball team at Mount Royal University. I just became a part of this community this year and I love it. I wasn’t planning on playing this year as I was at Red Deer and a rival to MRU the past two years. My decision to tryout was spontaneous and I am so glad I did it. I love all the girls on the team and I feel we are bound for greatness (and yes that may sound corny).
We are on a mission this year and it’s coming down to the wire. We started this season with 16 girls but due to injuries and other unfortunate events we are now a very tight group of 14. We are constantly growing as a whole and working on our team dynamics as this season progresses. We work hard, we push once another and we hold every member accountable every day.
We have great support at MRU. Our facility is awesome and perfect for both practices and games; this is not just due to the physical gym itself. All the Cougars on campus are supportive and involved in both sports and the community. The athletic therapists help our athletes every day so that we can perform our best. The events crew and support staff make games exciting and ensure they run smoothly. And the fans, all the dedicated parents, siblings, friends, etc are very important. Without one of these groups our community would feel incomplete. All these communities are connected and vital to the success of MRU Women’s Basketball.
In the future…
- Recognize everyone in the community. There are more than just athletes in the Mount Royal Cougar Athletics community. Everyone deserves to be recognized for the hard they put into making every game a success.
- More community involvement. As athletes at a post-secondary level, it is our responsibility to share our experiences and knowledge with the surrounding communities. Programs like Cougars On The Court are great for getting our athletes helping out the community but we could do more as there are a lot of us (10 varsity teams total).
MRU Women’s Basketball has taken many steps forward as a community but we still have a ways to go before we achieve our goals. Both provincials and nationals are quickly approaching so we have our work cut out for us. It will be hard but with support form all the fans, therapists, and event staff I truly do believe we are up to the challenge!
I've never played or known anybody playing for a varsity team so liked the perspective. It's great to hear that the teams are involved in the community, even if it is limited at the moment. Giving recognition to others involved in the Cougars community who are not actively on the team is a great suggestion too.
ReplyDeleteLast year I played College hockey and had a season ending surgery. Without the professionalism of the athletic therapists and trainers on our team, my injury could have been a lot worse. I agree with you when you say, "Recognize everyone in the community. There are more than just athletes in the Mount Royal Cougar Athletics community. Everyone deserves to be recognized for the hard they put into making every game a success."
ReplyDeleteWithout the help and commitment of these people, college teams would just fold.
we certainly are up for the challenge!! I can't wait to see how the post season plays out for us!
ReplyDeleteObviously loved the blog. Our team truly is an amazing community! One of the best teams i've ever had the privilege of being a part of!
Nice post Kari! Its good to here you are enjoying your experience on the cougar's women basketball team. That is a great point about recognizing the everyone in the community, not just the players. There must be a lot of people in the background helping the show go on, and they deserve recognition as well. Having more community involvement would be a great way to create awareness and show that you guys care. Good post an good luck with your season!
ReplyDeleteI like the part where you stated the future action plan for your community. Not only everyone is appreciated for their good work or support, but also there is a plan for improvement that can be implemented for the benefits of every member. It helped to showcase how nice your community truely is.
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