Coach Cyndi Justice Blog

End of the Year!

2012-02-07T06:57:00.000-08:00

Guess I can start this blog by saying, “I’m sorry” …I’m not
sure where this season has gone but it is now winding down with only five games left! I had every intention to write every week or at least every couple of weeks and somehow the weeks became months and the season got away from me.

We are currently 13-7, 9-6 in the ODAC. We have been close in a couple of those losses and hope that come tournament time we learned from them and can redeem ourselves. It’s a whole new season when you get down to Salem and anyone who doesn’t believe it can look back at our 2008 team that was the #6 seed and came away ODAC Champions! It can be done!!

The Eagles only have one more home game …next Tuesday,February 14, 2012 at 7 p.m. We will take that opportunity to honor our seniors before the game: Sarah Boeren, Jenny Logan, and Jessie Owens,as well as our managers Danielle Dulaney and Cari Hensley. These young ladies have been great to work with over the past four years and each of them have a bright future ahead. I hope you’ll be able to come out and show your support!!

That Tuesday is also our Play4Kay game (formerly known as the Pink Zone) …we are asking all our fans to wear pink and make a donation for admission to the game. Thanks to help from Eagle Productions we are going to try and "paint the campus pink." We will have some silent auction items, a bake sale, raffle tickets, and a limited number of Play4Kay t-shirts for sale. There are also going to be some great door prizes. All proceeds from these items will go towards the Kay Yow fund. Last year we raised almost $2000 but our goal this year is $2,500. If you would like to join our team and make an online donation you can by going to our website http://www.play4kay.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.asp?ievent=490218&team=4941954 Let me go ahead and say thank you ahead of time for helping us reach our goal and helping us spread awareness around our community and campus. We hope to see you next Tuesday in your PINK ready to show our seniors your support as well as help us raise breast cancer awareness!!

Until next time …GO EAGLES!!

Happy Holidays

2011-12-14T06:40:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays from the Bridgewater College Women’s Basketball team!! I can’t believe that the first semester of the 2011-12 year is gone!!

I’d like to start off by congratulating head coach Jean Willi on her 300th career victory!! That is an average 19 wins per season over the last 16 years! Incredible!! I have been on Coach Willi’s staff since she became head coach and although we have had some bumps in the road, it has been a great ride!!

Also congratulations to junior Jessica Mullen. On Tuesday night against Southern Virginia, Jess scored a career high 34 points. For her efforts, she was named the O.D.A.C. Player of the Week!! The second time this season she has earned this honor!! Way to go Jess!

We enter the break with a 4-3 record and a two-game win streak! We open up the 2012 season with conference foe Roanoke on Jan. 3!! Whenever these two teams face each other it is always a “dog fight” – you can toss the records because it is going to go down to the wire!! After that the season really is in full swing …three games a week with the conference tournament at the end of February!!

Thanks to all our fans that helped support our toy drive on Tuesday, December 6! We were able to collect 215 toys for the Rockingham County United Way!! These toys will make some local children very happy on Christmas morning, so THANK YOU!!

Merry Christmas to all our loyal fans!! We look forward to seeing you in the stands in 2012!!

As always ...GO EAGLES!!

A New Year Begins

2011-11-16T06:47:00.000-08:00

I’ll begin this blog with a huge “I’m sorry.” I know some of you have been waiting for me to post for about three weeks now. I really will make the effort to start posting every week …pinky promise. :)

Pre-season is about over …we have had our two scrimmages and Friday we will travel to Johns Hopkins University to tip-off the 2011-12 season. The nice thing about scrimmages is that they are scrimmages. I think everyone was feeling pretty good about themselves up until that point and afterwards, we realized we still have a lot of work to do. With seven new faces on this year’s team, we are still trying to find an identity. We may hit some bumps along the road but we WILL GET THERE!!

The players have really worked hard this year!! There is so much POSITIVE energy in practice and that kind of enthusiasm, support, and desire will carry us a long way. As coaches we are excited about the potential of this year’s team.

The pre-season O.D.A.C. coach’s poll came out a couple of weeks ago and we were picked tied for third with W & L. RMC was picked first and are the league favorites but I think everyone should watch out for Guilford. They were loaded last year with young players and those kids are now a year older and a year better.

Our first home opener is the Monday after Thanksgiving, November 28th against cross-town rival EMU. Come out and show us your support!! They were picked right behind us and in this league you have to win your home games and “steal” some on the road.

I also want to remind everyone about our toy drive. Bring a new, unwrapped toy to our game on December 6th and receive FREE admission. I know students; faculty, staff and Eagle Club members get in free but help us make a child’s Christmas special!! We have had great success with this the past couple of years and I hope this year will be even better. We will donate the toys to the Harrisonburg-Rockingham County United Way.

I will try to post another blog after our trip this weekend and let you know how things went for the Eagles in Baltimore.

Until then …GO EAGLES!!

It's Almost Here ...

2011-09-15T11:14:00.000-07:00

One more month!! The official countdown is on …today is September 15th …the NCAA allows us to start practice on October 15th!! One month!! Fortunately or unfortunately (depending on who you are - a coach or a player) we will actually start on Oct. 16th because that is the weekend of Homecoming!! Too many activities going on around campus and Coach Willi and I each have our “other hats” to wear on game days so we are giving the players just one more day …

I think it’s going to be an exciting year for us and for you our fans. I hope you’ll be able to catch us in action at some point in the season. A reminder to all our alumni – we will have everyone back on campus for our January 24th game against Randolph Macon!! Make plans now to attend. Coach and I haven’t had time to discuss it but I would hope that we will be able to have an alumni game that morning …it’s a 2:00 p.m. game so it would have to be early. Thoughts? I’ll keep you guys posted!

I also want to make fans aware that they can follow the women’s team on facebook …just type in Bridgewater College Women’s Basketball and hit “like.” And follow Bridgewater College Sports in general by liking Bridgewater College Sports.

Our fall sports teams are off to great starts – football is 2-0, women’s soccer is 5-1 which is the best start in school history, men’s soccer is 3-2, and our cross country teams are each regionally ranked. Volleyball is under first-year coach Erin Albert and boasts a 6-2 mark, while field hockey is 1-3. Best of luck to all those teams as they get ready to start O.D.A.C. play!!

As always …GO EAGLES!!

A New Year

2011-09-06T11:57:00.000-07:00

Greetings Eagle Fans,
I hope everyone has had a great summer and are ready to kick off another year with the Bridgewater College Eagles!! It’s hard to believe but the 2011-12 school year is HERE!! Classes started today and the campus is a hub-bub of activity.
Fall sports teams have been in for a few weeks now and are working hard each day towards their quest for an ODAC title. Good luck to each of those teams …women’s basketball will be there to support each group as often as we can!!
Coach Willi and I met this morning to get our heads together about the fast, approaching season. Looking at the calendar it is only SIX SHORT WEEKS AWAY!! We both are excited to tip it up and get the season started!! There are going to be a lot of new faces on the team and I hope each of you can catch us in action at some point.

Here are some dates to mark on your calendars:
• December 6th versus Southern Virginia at 7:00 p.m. will be our annual TOY DRIVE. Bring a new, unwrapped toy for free admission.
•Saturday, January 21st versus Randolph Macon at 2:00 p.m. We will have our alumni back in town!! Come out and join us and see some of your former Eagles.
•Friday, February 3rd versus Hollins at 7 p.m. will be our annual Play4Kay game (formerly known as the WBCA Pink Zone). All the gate proceeds will go to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.

We are looking forward to an exciting season. Thanks for all your support! Best of luck to all our Fall sports teams and as always …GO EAGLES!!

Spring Has Sprung!!

2011-04-07T07:42:00.000-07:00

Greetings Eagle Fans!
I am so sorry that I have not posted a blog since the season ended. Unfortunately I think I might have SPRING FEVER!!

It is so hard to believe that the school year is winding down …this has been a really fast spring! It’s been a cold, damp season thus far and I am so excited that we have had warm temperatures the past couple of days. It’s great for our spring sports teams as they are wrapping up their regular seasons and getting ready for the O.D.A.C. tournament!! Best of luck to all the teams in their quest for the coveted O.D.A.C. title!!

It seems strange not to see the players on a regular basis, although we do have some stop by from time to time. Of course, those that have class here in Nininger we see more often.

Tonight we are all going to the President’s house for dinner. It’ll be great to be together again, catch up on what everyone is doing, and enjoy each other’s company!! The meal should be fabulous too!!

Only a few more weeks and we will send the players off with their summer workouts. We are excited about our incoming freshman this season. Since these young ladies have paid their deposit I can mention their names: 5-5 Guard, Dorthy Cliatt from Hayfield H.S.; 5-9 Guard/Forward, Kelly Hughes from Annandale H.S.; 5-11 Forward, Kelsey Taylor from Brentsville; 6-2 Center, Katie Snead from Nottoway H.S.; 5-10 Forward, Emily Ashcraft from Caroline County; 5-9 Forward, Olivia Mason from Millbrook H.S.: 5-7 Guard, Lindsay Tourbeck from Catholic H.S. in MD. And we are still hoping to add one more post to this class. These young ladies are very talented and we are excited about their future. I think they will work hard (most of them have already asked for summer workout packets- they’re eager and that’s great) and I hope you we will be able to catch them in action next winter!

Good luck to the spring sports – bring home the O.D.A.C. title!

As always …GO EAGLES!!

2011-03-01T06:57:00.000-08:00

We had a disappointing loss in the O.D.A.C. tournament last week. The Eagles just picked a bad day not to play well. I give Guilford credit …they executed and hit some 3’s. GC never got rattled when we were up 12, they ran their offense and hit some shots. We on the other hand did have plenty of chances to win that game. Missed box outs, missed shots, missed opportunities…they all hurt us and after reflecting on it over the weekend we can’t let that one game get us down. We won 22 games!! It has been a L-O-N-G time since we won 20+ games.

Congratulations to Jordan Burkholder for her Player of the Year award. BC has not had a POY since 1983 and Jordan makes only the second POY in our history with the O.D.A.C. She had a stellar career at BC and the honor was well-deserved. Also kudos to Coach Jean Willi on her Coach of the Year award. After being picked #4 in the pre-season coaches’ poll, Coach Willi led her team to a first place tie in the O.D.A.C. regular season.

Ending the season is tough but what makes it tougher, is having to say good-bye to your seniors. Young ladies that have given you four years and have matured into citizens our program can be proud of. Our five seniors this year are: Lacey Barnett, Emileigh Lambert, Brittani Criss, Bianca Booker, and Jordan Burkholder. We have nothing but best wishes to all of them in their future endeavors.

Good luck to all our spring sports on their quest for an O.D.A.C. title!! We’ll be there supporting each team!!

As always …GO EAGLES!!

End Nearing

2011-02-10T06:36:00.000-08:00

Greetings Eagle Fans!
What a great week it was for the women’s basketball team!! One of our goals this year was not to be swept by any opponent and we were able to avenge two losses last week as we defeated Roanoke and Washington & Lee here on our home court. Sandwiched in there was a road win at Hollins.

The team is really playing well right now and it’s nice to have this last stretch of games at home. We will travel to Virginia Wesleyan next Tuesday and that is always a tough road contest.

We were able to defeat Randolph last night 71-30. Everyone got to contribute and it was just a great victory at home. Randolph is coached by former Eagle Allison Nichols. Allison is in her first year and I know that she will have that program turned around as she is able to get her style of players in. She has always had a tremendous work ethic and I’m sure it is not any different now that she is on the other side of the whistle.

Saturday is a HUGE game for us. W & L defeated RMC last night which gave the Yellow Jackets two conference losses. If we can defeat them we will be in a three-way tie for 1st (Roanoke is the other team). RC and RMC will play the last weekend of the season and of course, it won’t matter at all if we don’t take care of our business down the stretch.

Reminder that Saturday, February 19th is our senior day and our PINK ZONE game. Come out and cheer our five seniors on as they have had a huge part in our success this season. But remember to wear pink and make a donation. Last year we were able to raise $1700 and our goal this year is $2000. We have great door prizes to give away at time-outs and during half-time. Students and community fans will each receive one FREE raffle ticket as they enter the game. A student can purchase a 2nd ticket for $1 and community fans can purchase an extra one for $3. All the proceeds from the gate and raffle tickets will go to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. So come out and show your support for the seniors and the Eagles and help us raise breast cancer awareness on our campus, in our community, and beyond.

Wear GOLD, bleed Crimson, and GO EAGLES!!

Spring is Here!!

2011-01-28T08:02:00.000-08:00

We officially started spring semester on Wednesday (Jan. 26th) although it didn’t look a lot like spring with the cold and snow that was predicted to fall. It’s just hard to believe that February is upon us and basketball season is winding down. Makes me sad to think about it … so I won’t. 

We had a great win over cross-town rival Eastern Mennonite on Tuesday night. It was a tremendous atmosphere as the Eagles defeated the Royals for the second time this season. Although it was a five point win at times we were ahead by as many as 14. EMU didn’t back down and hit some key shots down the stretch to make it close. We were able to convert at the free throw line and come away with the victory. Senior Jordan Burkholder had 30 points in the win, and sophomore Jessica Mullen had 20. The two of them scored over half our points!! Wow!! Jordan is closing in on the all-time BC scoring record …only 15 points away. What a great career she has had here at BC. I would love to see her break the record at home next Tuesday when we face Roanoke but if it means us winning tonight at LC and her scoring 17 then that’s what we will do.

It seems as though we have been on the road forever this season but we finally can get off the bus and play some home games during the month of February. Make plans now to attend our Saturday, February 19th game against E & H. We will honor our five seniors (Lacey Barnett, Brittani Criss, Bianca Booker, Emily Lambert, and Jordan Burkholder) before the game and we will also be participating in the WBCA Pink Zone. All our fans are being encouraged to make a $2 donation and wear pink for admission to the game. Last year we were able to raise $1,700 and our goal this year is $2,000. Help us raise breast cancer awareness because no one should fight alone.

Until next time …bleed gold, wear crimson, and GO EAGLES!!

Mid-Way Point

2011-01-18T07:22:00.000-08:00

I find it hard to believe but we are now thru the mid-way point of the season. It seems like only yesterday we were brain storming ideas on raising money for our trip and now that has past and we are in the “heart” of the season.

This weekend we welcomed back the 2010 team that we had not seen in our two losses. Two big road wins!! Defensively we were just so impressive and that led to easy points in transition. We are always telling our players you have to win games at home and “steal” some on the road …this weekend was no exception. We now stand alone in 3rd place with two conference losses, with EMU & W & L right behind with three. This weekend we will travel to league leading RMC who is currently 8-1 in the O.D.A.C.

I recently checked out the NCAA rankings. Out of 441 teams BC is ranked 18th in scoring offense, 28th in steals per game, 46th in scoring margin and field goal percentage, and 47th in free throw percentage. Individually, out of 500 players, senior Jordan Burkholder leads the nation in steals at 5.2 spg. Sophomore Jessica Mullen is 7th in free throw percentage and junior Jenny Logan ranks 109th in assists. The Eagles are off to a good start both team and individually. There are still a lot of games to be played and room for improvement. Our goal is to “climb ladders, cut down nets.”

Our next home game is January 25th versus Eastern Mennonite. I hope you will be able to come out and cheer us on to a victory over our cross-town rivals.

Until next time …bleed gold, wear crimson, and go Eagles!!

Happy New Year!

2011-01-03T10:51:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! I am so sorry that I have not posted a blog since, hmmm …the season started. We are entering 2011 with an 8-0 record and hope to continue the momentum tomorrow night as we travel to Roanoke for a key-ODAC game.

After a couple of years of fundraising the Eagles played in the Cruzin’ Classic in Fort Lauderdale, FL before the Christmas break. It was a great opportunity to face some quality out of conference opponents. We left Bridgewater very early (2:30 a.m. is very early) on December 16th and arrived in Florida to some warm weather! We practiced on the 19th and played Ottawa University on the 20th. We won 85-67 and then on Sunday morning at 8:00 a.m. we defeated Manchester College 73-56. It was great to have the break from conference games and to defeat two quality opponents. Then we set sail on the Carnival Sensation for a four day, three night cruise.

The players and coaches, as well as fans that joined us, really enjoyed the trip and the weather was fantastic. We had stops in Freeport and Nassau and one day at sea. I think one of the best things about our team is the camaraderie we have amongst teammates. So often on the ship we would see four or five of them together but then later you would see a some of the same ones with different teammates. Team chemistry is a MUST for teams to be successful and I am really happy with the way this group of young ladies has bonded. When you are willing to sacrifice your stats for the good of the team, it can carry you a long way.

Big week coming up for the Eagles as we head to Roanoke tomorrow, host Hollins on Friday, and then travel to Lexington to W & L on Saturday. This is what we call “the 2nd part” of the season, the “meat” of the schedule. You’ve played your non-conference games and now each opponent you face is a rung on the ladder to help you reach the championship. It’s going to be a fun climb!!

I hope to do a better job in the future with my posts. I hope you will be able to come out and catch us in action soon, although we only have a couple of home games until February. Until then, GO EAGLES!!

The Season Has Begun!!

2010-10-28T10:16:00.000-07:00

Sorry it has been a while since I last posted. I really don’t have a good excuse except that the season has started (Hooray for Oct. 15th) and we have been busy with fundraising!!!

Homecoming was a couple of weeks ago and we did our annual “yard sale” of old gear to sale to alumni and BC friends. The best part about Homecoming is seeing some of the former players and reminiscing about the “good ole’ days.” After 14 years on the sideline here at BC I am always impressed with the number of alumni who turns out for Homecoming.

We are in our second week of practice and I have to say that I have been very impressed with the competitiveness, hustling, and work ethic that this team brings. They are really pushing one another to get better and that is what it is going to take for us to have a successful season.

Those of you who come out to games will see four new faces this year. Those freshman are: 5’8 guard/forward Holly Morgan from Buffalo Gap H.S., 5’10 Forward/Center Rebecca Reifsnider from Keymar, MD, 5’7 Guard/Forward Molly Shelley from Simsburg, CT, and 5’6 Guard Berlyn Seitz from Fulton, MO. We are excited about what these four young ladies bring to the court!!

With a solid returning class and the addition of our freshman the whole team is excited about the 2010-11 season. I can’t wait for us to tip-it up and get the season rolling.

We are having our 3rd annual spaghetti dinner fundraiser this Saturday, Oct. 30 from 3:30 – 6:00 p.m. on the upper-level of the gymnasium. There is a lot going on campus: our women’s soccer team is hosting, for the first time, a first-round game in the ODAC tournament, football plays their last home game against E & H, and men’s basketball will have an alumni scrimmage starting around 4:00. Take this opportunity to come out and show your BC Pride, while also supporting us in our fundraiser. Bring some extra money because we have some great silent-auction items too. Cost of the dinner is $6 for adults, $4 for students, and kids under 5 eat $2. Did I mention it is all you can eat??

A couple of dates to mark on your calendars are December 1st and February 19th. The December 1st game versus Virginia Wesleyan will be our annual toy drive. Bring a new, unwrapped toy and get into the game for FREE. All toys will be donated to the Harrisonburg-Rockingham County United Way. Please help us make a child’s Christmas special. The February 19th game versus Emory & Henry is our Pink Zone game. Wear pink and make a donation for admission to the game. We have great half-time door prizes and hope you will help us continue to raise breast cancer awareness.

I look forward to seeing you in the stands this season!!

As always …Go Eagles!!

It's Almost Time

2010-10-11T11:36:00.000-07:00

Four days and it BEGINS ...October 15th will finally have arrived and the 2010-11 season will start. I am excited about the upcoming year. There is a lot of potential there and I hope the players are as enthusiastic as we will be come Friday morning at 5:30 a.m.!! :)

We had a great day selling old gear at Homecoming on Saturday. It was a beautiful day in the valley and it was fantastic to see so many of our alumni as they stopped by our table. That is one thing I think is so special about the BC family ...graduates continue to come back year after year.

We are in the midst of fundraising four our Cruzin Classic in December. We will travel to Fort Lauderdal and play two games before setting sail for the Bahamas! I've never been on a cruise (and I'm not sure how many of our players have either) and I'll admit I'm a little hesitant but I KNOW it will be a great time.

We are having what has become our annual spaghetti dinner on October 30th beginning at 3:30 p.m. That is our last home football game and our men's basketball team will be scrimmaging that afternoon as well. It is an "all you can eat" dinner!! Tickets are $6 for adults, $4 for students, and children 5 and under $2. You can see any of the players for tickets or you can contact either myself or Coach Willi . Tickets will also be sold at the door. We will also hold a silent auction with various items (a BC chair, a golf pull cart, duffle bags, etc.). We would love to see you there!!

Good luck to all the fall sports as they head into the final weeks of their season!!

As always ...GO EAGLES!!

Back at it!

2010-09-06T07:50:00.001-07:00

Greetings to another school year!! All of our fall sports teams have opened play and it looks like it's going to be another great year. Best of luck to each team on their quest for an O.D.A.C. championship!

The summer has gone by fast and I hope each of our players took it upon themselves to improve their skills. It's tough at the Division III level because we aren't allowed individual workouts with our players out of season. At BC it is our hope to have players in the program that know that hard work pays off ... that you become a better player in the off-season. Those are things that we stress and we feel fortunate that our players have bought into that philosophy. October 15th is just around the corner and I hope the players are as excited as the coaches are ...

If you aren't a member of our Eagle Club I hope that you will check into joining this season. It's a great opportunity to meet other Eagle fans, while also supporting the athletic department. If youare interested please contact our Eagle Club director Donnie Fulk at dfulk@bridgewater.edu or 828-5390. To learn more you can visit the Eagle Club website at http://www.bridgewatereagles.com/eagleClub/eagleclub.

As always ...GO EAGLES!!

The End is in Sight

2010-05-03T06:48:00.000-07:00

There is a light at the end of the tunnel!! A few more days of classes, then exams, and all our students will be leaving for the summer. Once again the campus will be empty ...This has been a fast school year!

Here's a recruiting update ...We have four paid deposits for next year. I know our fans are wondering about that since we only graduate one senior but you need to realize that we will have five senios next season and that is going to be a lot of scoring and rebounding to replace. It will be a great opportunity for the freshmen to play with this senior class.

Here are the recruits:
Holly Morgan is a 5-7 guard from Buffalo Gap High School and is capable of playing the 1,2, or 3 for us. She had a stand-out career and helped lead the Bison to back-to-back state titles.
Katy Bergey is another local recruit from Eastern Mennonite High School. A 5-6 left-handed guard, Katy is the all-time leading scorer at EMHS. She shot 40% from behind the arc while averaging 19 ppg.
Molly Shelley is our first recruit out of the state of Connecticut. A 5-8 guard/forward she will give us size on the perimeter.
Rebecca Reifsnider is a 5-11 post from Keymar, MD. Rebecca will give us some depth in the post position.

I think fans will enjoy watching these young ladies in the years to come!! The coaching staff is ready for October 15th - after we've had an opportunity to hit the links some this summer of course. :)

Congratulations to the baseball team for winning their 13th ODAC tournament title and to the golf team for capturing their first-ever title!! Best of luck from the women's basketball team as you head into the NCAA tournament!!

As always ...GO EAGLES!!

End of the Year

2010-04-08T08:04:00.000-07:00

The men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments are now over and we have to wait seven months to catch any college basketball action!! I guess I’ll have to find other ways to fill my time. The men’s championship was a tremendous game and being an ACC fan I was happy for Duke but the Butler Bulldogs were sure fun to watch. What a great game!! The women’s game was another UCONN victory and an ugly one at that!! It’ll be interesting to see if some of the other programs can rise to their level and challenge next year. Teams that come to mind are Baylor (they do have 6-8 freshmen Brittney Griner), Duke, Nebraska, and of course, the Lady Vols. I can’t wait!!

We had Founder’s Day here at BC on Tuesday and retired volleyball coach Mary Frances Heishman was named Outstanding Professor. Congratulations Coach Heishman on a well-deserved honor! With Founder’s Day comes the realization that the school year is almost over! Spring sports have two weeks left until O.D.A.C. tournaments and if I counted correctly, there is about five weeks until graduation. It sure seems like it was a short school year.

Good luck to all our spring sports in their quest for an O.D.A.C. championship!! As always …GO EAGLES!!

Spring is Here!

2010-03-24T07:22:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful day today in the Valley ...lots of sunshine!! Everyone has returned from spring break and now there's that last push until the end!! All our spring sports are in action and I wish them much success. It's great to go out and catch a game and see so many of our players there supporting other teams.

I have been working on our Facebook page and I encourage all my followers to join our fan page - Bridgewater College women's basketball. It will be a great way for you to stay in touch with the ins and outs of our program.

This is my favorite time of year - basketball on television seven days a week. The men's and women's NCAA tournament is always an exciting time. It's great to pull for the underdogs. On the men's side I like Cornell and Northern Iowa. What a great Cinderella story!! In the women's tourney I still don't think anyone can beat UCONN but I like that Tennessee might face them in the semi-finals. Two great teams, two great coaches, and lots of winning in each program. That could be an exciting game. The other team I like is Gonzaga. We don't get to see them play here on the East Coast but what a good team ...I have enjoyed watching them the first two rounds.

Then there is the NIT ...my Tar Heels are still playing and that's a good thing. :) So are the VT Hokies. In the women's NIT my friend Bonnie Henrickson has the KU Jayhawks still playing!!

It's a great time to be a basketball fan!

Good luck to all our spring sports! Now that the weather is warming up I hope to see some of you in the stands!! As always ...GO EAGLES!!

Thanks

2010-03-02T07:24:00.000-08:00

I would just like to say “thank you” to everyone who came out and supported us throughout the season. Although the final result wasn’t an O.D.A.C. championship we did finish with a 17-9 record and that is a quality season.

The coaches would like to say “thank you” to Kristin Bosserman, our lone senior. Kristin has been a four-year letter winner for the Eagles. During her four years at B.C., the Eagles finished with a cumulative record of 66-43, an O.D.A.C. tournament title, and a berth in the NCAA tournament. We will miss her next year!!

The next month is my FAVORITE time of the year …Division I basketball at its best – the NCAA tournament!! Who’s your team? Most of you know that I’m a Carolina fan and unfortunately I don’t think they’ll get a bid unless they win the ACC tournament. On the women’s side I don’t think there is a team that can beat UCONN but I’m a Lady Vol fan and who knows if they meet up??

Good luck to the two teams representing the O.D.A.C. in the Division III tournament –Roanoke and W & L. W & L received the automatic bid after winning the O.D.A.C. tournament and RC received an at-large. Both teams are playing at CNU on Friday and I know our staff will be there cheering them onto a victory!!

I hope to see some of you in the stands to cheer on our spring sports!! Until next time ...Go EAGLES!!

O.D.A.C.'s

2010-02-24T07:30:00.000-08:00

What time is it?? TOURNAMENT TIME!! We finished the regular season as the 4th seed and will face #5 seed Virginia Wesleyan on Thursday at 3 p.m. We have had two really good days of practice - getting back to the basics ...defense and rebounding. Our returners know that at the tournament anyone can win it all (remember two years ago when we won it as the 6th seed?).

We'll leave today for the O.D.A.C. banquet that the Salem Rotary Club hosts. We are fortunate to have their support because few Division III teams get the opportunity to play at a neutral site and have a banquet. Tonight awards will be given out to First & Second Team, Coach of the Year, Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and the Scholar Athlete of the Year as well as a hi-light video of the 11 teams. The best part of the evening is seeing the players. It's amazing to see what they look like out of uniform - hair down, make-up, & dress clothes. Coach Willi and I always like to think we have the best looking team there. :)

Now it's one and done - there is no tomorrow. We'll give everyone our best shot and we'll do our best to bring that championship back here to B.C.!!

Until next time ...GO EAGLES!

Four in a Row!

2010-02-15T11:07:00.000-08:00

Well we closed out the next to the last week of the season on a four-game winning streak and are hoping to get three more “W’s” this week.

Tuesday night we traveled to VA Wesleyan and won in O.T. It had been five years since our last win down there so that made it even more special. It was a late night for the team and coaches though. With the extra five minutes of action that put us late starting and then our bus broke down on the way home. But our dependable driver, J.P., got us back to campus safely at 2:30 a.m.

We stepped out of conference to play at Mary Baldwin on Thursday and picked up a win. We went 4-1 in non-conference games this year …it’s been a while since that has happened.

Then on Saturday in front of 450 fans we defeated Randolph in our third-annual “PINK ZONE” game. It was a great atmosphere. Total counts are not in yet but at the game we took in over $1500 in donations!! Eagle Productions sold “dress down” buttons to faculty/staff for $5 and I do not have the exact amount that they took in then. You’ll have to check the website later for those. But EP did a TREMENDOUS job of helping us promote the event. And a GIANT THANK YOU to everyone who donated!!

Yesterday we were on the road at E & H and picked up another KEY O.D.A.C. win. Besides numbers 1 & 2 the rest of the standings are going to be decided in the last week of the season. That sure makes things interesting!! I can’t believe we only have three games left!! Time to pick up the lunch pail and get to work …

Until next time …Go EAGLES!!

Crazy Week

2010-02-09T07:09:00.000-08:00

Sorry I haven’t posted in a while …between trying to win games and shoveling myself out from the blizzard it has been busy!!

We won at Randolph Macon for the first time since 2004!! It was a tremendous feat and a great team effort!! It was only the Yellow Jackets third loss in three years at home and the team just played with a lot of energy and intensity for the whole 40 minutes. It was a FUN bus ride back from Ashland!!

On Tuesday we had the “Poultry Road” showdown with cross-town rivals Eastern Mennonite. We prevailed with a three-point win!! We put ourselves in a good position in the standings with these two wins.

We had to change our travel plans to Guilford because of the snowstorm moving in so we played on Thursday. We dropped a heart breaker by three. It was a tough loss for the staff and players but IF we learn from the mistakes we made in the last three minutes of the game WE WILL BE BETTER!!

Tonight we travel to Virginia Wesleyan for a KEY O.D.A.C. contest. It is a game we need to win and I KNOW the team is ready!! In the O.D.A.C. standings there are a bunch of teams in the middle of the pack with five/six losses. The standings are going to be decided during the last two weeks of the season. We control our own destiny and have to be ready to play EVERY game.

Saturday is our PINK ZONE game at 1:00 versus Randolph. The men play W & L at 3. We have some great door prizes to be given away at half-time of our game, between games, and at half-time of the men’s game. We are asking fans to wear pink and make a $2 donation for admission to the game and we will also have a donation box set up in the lobby. All the proceeds will go towards the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund. We hope you’ll be able to come out and help us in this great cause.

Until next time …GO EAGLES!!

Time Flies

2010-01-29T10:05:00.000-08:00

Hard to believe that spring semester started Wednesday and that the school year is almost over. Wow! I looked at the calendar the other day and suddenly realized we only have three home games left!! This season has flown by - FAST!

On Tuesday night we defeated Virginia Wesleyan here 75-42. It was by far the best two halves of basketball that we have put together all year. Our game for tomorrow at RMC has been postponed because of the weather. We'll travel on Sunday to face the Yellow Jackets at 3:00 p.m.

Instead of practice yesterday we got the players together and tie-dyed t-shirts!! It was so much fun. It was a first for a lot of the players as well as the coaches. We will wear the shirts for our "PINK ZONE" game on February 13th against Randolph at 1:00 p.m. We have had Eagle Productions join in with us for the event and we are hoping to have a huge turnout!! There will be door prizes for fans in attendance, which we will give out between games and at half-time of the men's game. They will follow us that day and face ODAC-foe W & L at 3:00 p.m. Last year we raised $1,996 and our goal this season is $2,500. For admission to the game we are asking fans to wear pink and make a $2 donation. We will also have a donation box set up in the lobby for anyone who wants to make a donation. All the proceeds will go to the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund. I hope you will come out, cheer us onto a victory, and help support a great cause.

As always, "GO EAGLES!"

Half-Way Point

2010-01-20T07:14:00.000-08:00

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Eagle Productions and the Nininger Nuts for their involvement in our “white out” game on Saturday. As a coach I really appreciate all the hard work these two groups did to get community and student involvement to our games. It was a great atmosphere to sit on the sidelines and see so much white in the stands!! Unfortunately Coach Willi didn’t find her John Travolta style white suit. HaHa!!

We went 2-1 last week with wins over Lynchburg and Hollins and a loss to W & L. Last night we lost a tough game to league-leading Roanoke and on Thursday we will step out of conference to face NAIA opponent Southern Virginia. We’ll then have the weekend off before the final push of the regular season.

It’s hard to believe that we only have 12 games left …that our season is half-way over. As coaches, we are going to do our best to really push the players during this last stretch and continue to find ways to improve as a team and individuals.

Mark your calendars for February 13th. That will be our Pink Zone game. We ask fans to wear pink and make a $2 donation for admission to the game. There will also be a raffle for door prizes at half-time of the women’s game. Raffle tickets will be $3 for one or two for $5. We will also have a donation box set up at the gate for anyone interested in making a donation. All proceeds from the game will go to the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund.

Happy New Year

2010-01-12T11:50:00.001-08:00

Happy 2010 to all of our BC fans!! We are now really in the heart of our season, 20 games in two months. Wow!! We opened 2010 with a road win over the Wildcats of Randolph. It was good to get that first conference win under our belts. We had gone 28 days without competition so it was good to get back into the routine of practice and games. Kudos to our players for coming back in shape!! That's a long break and it takes dedication to keep working diligently on your game when you know you aren't going to be playing.

We had four games last week. After traveling to Randolph we then went to cross-town rival EMU and dropped a 68-55 decision. It was a tough loss but the players responded and we were able to get two wins this weekend over Guilford and Emory & Henry. Two in a row and with three of our next four games at home we hope to keep that streak going. There is nothing like a "home court" advantage and we have the best fans in the conference.

Congratulations to Jordan Burkholder on scoring her 1,000th point on Saturday. It is quite an accomplishment! She became the 17th player in Bridgewater's history to surpass the mark!

On Saturday - Eagle Productions and the Nininger Nuts - are sponsoring a "white out" game! All fans are encouraged to wear white to the double-header. The first 50 students at the men's game at 1 p.m. will receive a t-shirt. The women play at 3 p.m. and the first 50 students to that game will also receive a t-shirt. I'm really excited about this event!! If you tuned in last night to the Louisville-Villanova game at LU they were also hosting a "white out" game. Rick Pitino (LU's coach) was decked out in a white suit. I'm wondering if Coach Willi will be out in the 'burg this week trying to find a white suit??

I hope you guys are enjoying the new year!! Come out and support the Eagles whenever you can!! We truly appreciate the support of the students and the community!!

Three games this week ...Let's make it three in a row tonight against LC!!

As always ...GO EAGLES!!

Merry Christmas

2009-12-09T08:28:00.001-08:00

Saturday was our annual toy drive. This year the men's basketball team and Eagle Productions joined in with us to help make a child's Christmas brighter. Although it was snowing outside that didn't keep our fans away!! We received 163 toys and those will be donated to the Harrisonburg-Rockingham County United Way Agency. It was a huge success and we would like to THANK everyone who helped us in spreading some Christmas cheer to area children.

The 2009-10 women's basketball team wishes everyone a very, Merry Christmas!! Have a safe and happy holiday and we look forward to seeing you in the stands in 2010!!

Go B.C.!

O.D.A.C. Action

2009-12-09T07:04:00.000-08:00

Well our first week of conference games did not go like we expected. It was disappointing to drop both games but it should also be a confidence booster for our players to know that they can play with any team in the O.D.A.C.

In our loss at Roanoke we held a two-point lead at halftime. In the second half we exchanged leads with the Maroons on eight or more different occasions but costly turnovers and "empty" possessions on the offensive end gave Roanoke the win. Junior Jordan Burkholder had her first double-double on the year with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Saturday we came out on fire against pre-season #2 Randolph Macon. We jumped out to an early 21-4 lead and held a 41-32 advantage at the half. We knew RMC would pick up their play in the 2nd half and they did. They made a lot of free throws and went home with the win.

The players are in finals this week and it's hard to believe but when we get back we will play 20 games in two months. Wow! That first week of 2010 is going to be huge for us ...we go to Randolph College, to cross-town rival EMU, and then host E & H and Guilford. Four games in six days. The players will get their Christmas break workouts tomorrow and being the competitors that they are I KNOW they will be ready to face the challenge we have lying ahead of us in 2010.

Thanks so much for your support and remember GO EAGLES!!

O.D.A.C. Opener

2009-12-01T06:40:00.000-08:00

I was very proud of the team's effort on the Tuesday before break in our home opener against Averett. We trailed the whole first half but responded in the second half and entered Thanksgiving break with a 2-1 record.

In our tip-off tournament at Randolph Macon we defeated Methodist and had a tough loss against Greensboro. In both games, the starters really came out with intensity and we opened with a 10-0 lead. In the Methodist game junior Jordan Burkholder had eight points in only 93 seconds of play. We were up by as many as 13 in the Greensboro game but couldn't hold onto the lead. After watching the Greensboro game film with the team we all learned some things that will (hopefully) help us later in the year.

This is an exciting week as we open conference play!! We travel to Roanoke tonight and have Randolph Macon on Saturday. These two teams were pre-season picks #1 and #2 respectively by the coaches. They are both quality teams with strong post play and solid perimeter players. Both games will be a battle!!

Saturday's game is a double header with the men's team and will be our annual toy drive. Bring a new, unwrapped toy and receive FREE admission to the game. The men's team and our student organization -Eagle Productions - are joining our cause this year. Last year we collected over 100 toys and we hope to top that this year. All our toys will be donated to the Harrisonburg-Rockingham County United Way Agency. I hope you will help us make a child's Christmas special!!

Until next time ...GO EAGLES!!

It All Begins Friday

2009-11-17T07:10:00.000-08:00

Well, it doesn't matter if we want another week of practice or not - the season officially tips-off this weekend. We have three days to have everything in place and begin the quest for another O.D.A.C. title!!

We had two scrimmages last week - at Shenandoah and against Marymount here. I think overall we were pleased with the team.

In the Shenandoah scrimmage during the first half we looked like we were off to the races and no one was sure of what was going on ...I think most of the "mayhem" was caused by first game jitters and the excitement of playing against someone different. Saturday's scrimmage against Marymount went a lot better and I'm excited for us to tip it up on Friday night. Although Marymount wasn't at full strength - they are still a top caliber team and we played well. The post stepped up and defended down low and the guards really pressured the ball on the perimeter. Because we don't have a lot of size on the low block those are two things we MUST do to be successful this year. The league has a lot of quality post players and we will have to defend!

The Eagles begin their quest this Friday evening in a match-up with Methodist in the Randolph Macon tip-off classic. Methodist returns four starters off of last year's 15-11 team and we will have to work hard to come out with a "W." I'm confident our players are up for the challenge. Then on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. we will face another USA-South opponent in Greensboro. The Pride received votes for top 25 in the d3hoops.com preseason poll where they finished last season ranked #25. They return three letterwinners and one starter from last year's 27-3 team. I love a challenge and this is going to be a FUN weekend!!

If you can't make it to Ashland this weekend please come out to the BC/Don Glick tournament here on campus. Admission is FREE if you bring a can of food that will be donated to a local food pantry. Good luck to the men in their tournament!!

As always ...GO EAGLES!!

The Carolina Way ...

2009-11-04T10:33:00.000-08:00

For those of you that have known me you know that I am a diehard Carolina basketball fan. I was born and raised in North Carolina and growing up you had three choices - Carolina, Duke, or NC State. I chose UNC and since I can remember I've been a Tar Heel. And for the most part I always pull for the ACC ...it's what North Carolians do but the Tar Heels are always the "tops" on my list. And that is coming from someone who graduated from Virginia Tech. When people ask me why I didn't go to Carolina and became a Hokie instead the answer is always simple, "they didn't offer me a scholarship." But in my heart of hearts when it's basketball season UNC is the team I cheer for.

So when the opportunity presented itself a couple of weeks ago for me to attend the Roy Willimas Coaches Clinic in Chapel Hill to say I was "thrilled" would be an understatement. I was counting down the days and the night before, I was like a child waiting on Christmas morning. I just couldn't wait to get there. Some of my high school friends graduated from UNC and on my trip down I thought about the last time I had been on campus. It was for their graduation in 1990. Was it really 1990?? Yep, it had been 19 years since I had set foot on campus. Wow!! So after arriving early, I decided to drive around and see the campus and how it had changed and grown. Amazing ...

I LOVE to talk hoops ...Coach Willi says I could do it all day and I KNOW I could ...I just love learning new things about the game. And all of us coaches are good at one thing ...stealing from each other and tweaking it to work for your team. So that weekend was a wonderful opportunity for me to learn some of the Carolina system. No, we won't ever have the athletes UNC does but I would like to think our programs are alike in two simple facts - we play hard EVERY possession and we LOVE to play defense.

The players have really been working hard during the first couple of weeks of practice. The team is so competitive with each other and like I said in an earlier blog, "practice should be difficult and games easy" ...I'm excited to get the season started. We scrimmage at Shenandoah next week and it will be nice to go up against someone different. It's hard to believe that the season opener is only 16 days away!!

Until next time ...GO EAGLES!!

Back on the Hardwood

2009-10-19T08:08:00.000-07:00

It was so great to get back on the hardwood last Thursday as the 2009-10 season has begun. We had 18 players try-out and after two days we were able to cut the number to 15. I am very excited about the potential of the team. I think that our practices are going to be very competitive this season and that is always good. We are often telling our players throughout the year that games should be easy. And I am hoping that that will particularly hold true for this season. It has been a while since we had depth at different positions and with that we are hoping we can play a variety of different lineups. Exciting!!

The players are really working hard. We have five freshmen and one sophomore transfer this season and I think they are fitting into the mix quite well. It can be very overwhelming for "newbie's" with all the information being thrown at them, playing with a :30 shot clock, playing with new teammates, and learning our coaching style. I think they have adjusted well.

The returnees have done a good job of leading by example and have really been encouraging to their teammates. We have all been that "new kid on the block" and I think they can relate to what their new teammates are feeling.

If you'd like to see our new roster click here: http://www.bridgewatereagles.com/sports/wbkb/2009-10/roster

We have a TON of things to get done before our season opener on November 20th. I will keep you all posted on how things are shaping up over the next week.

Until then ...GO EAGLES!!

Kudos to Coach Willi

2009-10-06T12:08:00.000-07:00

The leaves are turning fall colors ...the air is getting cooler ...and soon we'll be hearing the squeak of sneakers and basketballs bouncing!!! Only nine more days until the first official practice! It's an exciting time of the year for the coaching staff (I'm not sure if the players look forward to those first few weeks as much as we do - LOL). We have our fall break this weekend and when we return it will be time!! YAY!

I really wanted to post this blog to recognize Coach Willi, who was recently inducted into the Turner Ashby High School Hall of Fame. It is a well-deserved honor for her. Not only is she an exceptional coach but she was also a tremendous athlete.

During her time at T.A. (I won't mention the graduation year) she led the Knights in scoring (and that was before the 3-point line) and was also a state qualifer in the shot put. She also was the first female at T.A. to participate on a men's team ...the golf team.

Kudos to Coach Jean Willi on this honor!!

Everyone enjoy this fall weather!! I'll be posting again after our practicies have begun, cuts have been made, and the team is finalized.

Go Eagles!!

A Look Back ...

2009-09-17T06:30:00.000-07:00

I can’t believe that I am starting my 14th season here at B.C. When I first took the job I thought I’d be here maybe four or five years and then move on but I have chosen to stay b/c of the great student-athletes that Bridgewater draws. Unlike, Division I and Division II athletes our student-athletes pay to play and they do it with a passion. They are here to get a solid education and participate in a sport they love. So as the season approaches (only 29 more days until the first practice!!), I decided to take some time to reflect on some of the great moments since Coach Willi took over in 1996. These are my choices (with input from Coach Willi). Prior to 1996 Coach Laura Mapp was the head coach …I KNOW there are a lot of memorable moments from that era as well because I have heard the stories!! I wasn’t around for those so I’m only sharing the ones I have witnessed!! Here goes …

#1.) 2007 O.D.A.C. Championship!! After an up and down season, we entered the tournament as the #6 seed. Coach Willi and I both knew we could do it …we had been so close in games throughout the season. We had seven freshmen on the roster and only one senior …young and inexperienced. But we did it!! After losing to our cross-town rival EMU on two occasions by a total of 12 points we knew it’d be a fight …we prevailed and upset the #3 seed 51-47. Then we took on #2 seed Randolph Macon. It was an incredible atmosphere!! We won 70-64!! For the championship game we had a tremendous group of B.C. supporters and despite a last ditch effort by VWC, the #1 seed, we won, 57-56. We became the lowest seed to ever win the title. I will never forget it!!
2.) Another championship moment …winning the 1999 title in overtime against Randolph Macon!! Kind of weird but that team also only had one senior and seven freshmen …see the correlation? Spooky. Anyway …It was another amazing experience. I remember that senior Connie Ritchie literally put the team on “her back” and carried us to the victory. When our junior Amanda Kyger fouled out in regulation, we had freshmen Sarah Hagood and Lindsey Coleman step in and make great contributions. Although I don’t remember all the details I can still feel the excitement as Coach Willi and I captured the first title under our helm.
3.) The 2005-06 teams run to the NCAA “Sweet 16.” We had lost to Randolph Macon in the championship game so we did not receive the automatic bid but the NCAA did award as an at-large and did we ever make the most of it!! We traveled to Mt. Saint Mary’s College in Newburgh, NY and were to play Bates College. We won 71-69 behind the lone senior Marsha Kinder’s 28 points. Katy Herr had a double-double (11 points and 11 rebounds), and Shannon Scales had 11 points. Shannon came off the bench to hit back-to-back “3’s” that put us ahead. After romping, Baruch 72-49 we were off to the “Sweet 16.” We traveled to the University of Southern Maine and lost 68-55 but we put up a great fight. A win wasn’t in the cards but we played so hard …Traveling to Maine (my first time there) was a great experience…It was cold but a memorable trip.
4.) 1997 and the Bridgewater College women’s basketball teams first-ever NCAA trip!! We had received an at-large bid after losing to Guilford in the ODAC semi-finals. Not only did we get a bid but we got to host!! Students were away on spring break but the community really stepped in and made it an incredible atmosphere. We defeated Christopher Newport and then lost to Thomas More.
5.) January 20, 2001 vs. Eastern Mennonite. This was the 100th win in our coaching time together. We defeated the Royal 90-63 on their home court. Across the bench from us all our fans had signs that read “100” …to win that 100th game and to do it on your cross-town rivals court was a special moment in my memory.
6.) Defeating Roanoke in the ODAC semi-finals in the 1999 ODAC tournament. Our games with the Maroons are always fierce and this one was no different. We had lost to them twice during the regular season and to come out and play like we did was incredible. I can still vividly see Connie Richie at the top of the key, driving the lane, drawing Amanda Osborn’s defense and Amanda nailing 3’s. RC coach, Susan Dunagan, looking down at our bench like “where did that come from?” Amanda finished the night with 23 points.
7.) Another vivid memory for me is our January 3, 2007 game vs. Randolph Macon. It was a great game to coach in and an even better game to just sit and watch…I have watched the game and listened to Coach Bill Phipps play-by-play a few times. We won in double-overtime, 83-81. Although there is a great rivalry with the two teams, it was fun to watch players “go at it” but yet, have so much respect for each other. Marsha Kinder had 20 points in that game and Katy Herr had 18 points and played every minute. I can still see Katy and RMC’s National Player of the Year Meagan Sylva going head to head. It was a tremendous atmosphere to be a part of!!
8.) February 4, 2006 vs. Guilford. The Eagles gave Coach Jean Willi her 200th win with an 87-52 victory over the Quakers. Again fans held up “200” signs in her honor and it was just something to say I’m proud to be a part of it!
9.) Hosting the NCAA “Sweet 16” during the 1997-98 season. The students were away on break and we PACKED the house!! I can remember sitting in the stands during the first game (Univ. of Wisconsin-Oskkosh and Austin Univ.) and whenever any of our players walked into the gym the sound of the crowd was deafening. It was standing room only and we had packed the place. We played the second game against the overall #1 seed University of Washington – St. Louis. Another thing I remember they kicked our tail! That was on their way to their 3rd straight national championship and they had a junior who was a 2-time National Player of the Year (she actually won it her senior year too). Although the game did not come out like we had planned …I will never forget the energy, enthusiasm, and passion that were in our gym that weekend!!
10.) This is only somewhat basketball related but I have to say our tournament in Honolulu, Hawaii is one experience I will never forget!! We had the opportunity to play two quality teams and get to see one of our states that only a few people ever get the chance to visit. The adventure was incredible and after all the fundraising that we had to do I swore I’d never try to raise money to go back there but when I think of walking on the beach with Diamond Head in the background and the sun rising over it …yep, I’d do it all again!!

So there you have some of my fondest memories since I arrived here at Bridgewater. There are other trips I could’ve talked about too (Las Vegas, New York City, Boston, and Atlanta). And who could ever forget the Halloween costume parties we have done?? I fondly remember some GREAT costumes (to name a few: the Pink ladies and Sandy from Grease, clowns, nerds, “the bench warmers,” and players dressed like coaches). Then there have been games played on bus trips …Wow, I’m thinking I have another blog to write in the near future about all that stuff.

Until next time …

GO EAGLES!!

2009-09-09T06:31:00.000-07:00

Greetings Eagle fans!!
It was an exciting weekend here at Bridgewater as women’s soccer, field hockey, and football all had home games!! It was a great day to be an Eagle as all those teams won!! What’s special about the BC community is how the athletes support one another in their sports. It’s always great to see our players at the fall sports showing their Eagle Pride!!

The women’s basketball team always works the gate for the first home game. It’s kind of “nerve wracking” as everything is trying to get set up but for the most part everything went fairly smooth. We have signup sheets to work and it usually always falls on the freshmen class. Jordan (Burkholder), who has experience at the gate, was the clicker-counter.

Emileigh (Lambert) and Jenny (Logan) didn’t have much luck selling our t-shirts and sweatshirts but when it’s 85 outside who wants a sweatshirt? We’ll have more luck as the weather gets cooler …

Hard to believe the season is right around the corner …Only 35 more days until the first practice!!

2009-08-26T08:04:00.001-07:00

Hello to our Eagle Fans!

I'm new to this blogging so you all will need to be patient with me as I learn the "ins and outs" of it all. I'm excited about doing this and sharing with our loyal fans some behind the scenes look into our program. So let's get started with it ...

The Bridgewater campus has been quiet for most of the summer but things are bustling now! Fall sports started arriving on campus last week and "autumn is in the air!"

We are excited about the incoming class and so I thought for my first blog I would share with the Eagle fans what some of our recruits had to say about why they chose to come to Bridgewater College. Enjoy!!

"I chose Bridgewater because it is a beautiful campus, not too far from home, has my major, and the women's basketball team has a great program." - Sarah Boeren, Class of 2012, Troutville, VA

"I chose Bridgewater because when I visited it just felt like the right place to be. Bridgewater also had the academic programs I was looking for, plus I get to play basketball which is quite exciting! Bridgewater just felt like a nice home for the upcoming four years." - Molly Look, Class of 2013, Mathias, WV

"I chose Bridgewate becasue it was just one of those things that when I stepped on campus I just knew that was the place for me. I met Coach Willi on my first visit and after talking to her for a while, I knew I wanted to play basketball for her. I liked how the school is close enough to home, yet just far enough away. The girls on the basketball team we're also very welcoming when I visited and made me feel at home. Plus it has my intended major of Athletic Training." - Caitlin Boles, Class of 2013, Charlottesville, VA

"I chose Bridgewater College mostly because of the basketball program. It's promising and I think I'll fit in better here than anywhere else. It also helped out that the coaches at B.C. are very friendly. I also liked the campus everytime I went to visit. And all the people there were very nice and welcoming." - Katie Hottinger, Class of 2013, Broadway, VA

"I chose B.C. because the campus was beautiful and so inviting! It felt like a home away from home for me and it just felt right. Plus, everyone was so inviting and friendly, and I think the experience will be more than worth it." - Paige Quesennberry, Class of 2013, Max Meadows, VA

"I chose Bridgewater because they had my major and the school seemed to be such a close community. Everybody knows everybody there and there are so many things to get involved with." - Jackie Buckley, Class of 2013, Bowie, MD

With our returnees and the incoming class, the coaches are excited about the upcoming season and we hope you are too. I look forward to sharing more thoughts with you later ...Only 51 more days until practice!!