A former Tiffin University Women's basketball player has a child in the hospital. The baby is only a few weeks old and has not been able to come home due to an illness. She  also has three other kids. In order to let her know we are thinking about her and her family, we took a picture to send to her, and sent teddy bears, little basketballs and TU baby shirts to all of the kids. When holidays come around, it is always difficult when families are struggling. As a team, we want to share our happiness with as many people as we can.

On Saturday we had our first real competition. This year was a little different. Instead of first playing in scrimmages, we played in our exhibition game first. We played against Bowling Green, a Division one team. This team was very good, and a great challenge for us as a team. We did not win the game but it was a successful game in that everyone learned about what they needed to do to get better. My duties at the game were fairly simple, yet important. I am in charge of the shot chart. What the shot chart is, is keeping track of every shot that we take and if it is a miss or make. This helps the coaching staff with game breakdown. I also have taken on the task of helping out our new ball girl, Lexi. She does not yet know what she is doing so I help her with all her duties. This game is getting me very ready for the season.

At practice, other than helping coach, I help video tape. When the team goes 5 on 5, coaches like to have film to watch and help coach the players on what they need to improve. A task I was given was to create a highlight tape for the players from practice. I had to look at all of the practice film and edit good plays, and find music to put with it. The point of this was to get the team motivated for the upcoming BG game. But we ran into some problems. I did not have access to the site, so I had to use another coaches log in, which worked out fine. The next issue we ran into was that I did not have the technology to put the music to go with it, so someone else was supposed to finish it. It ended up not getting done, and the video was lost. I was upset but realized that I still am learning how to use the software.

On Tuesday Tiffin hosted the first ever, Dragon Madness. Dragon Madness is put in place to introduce both the men's and women's basketball teams. The men's and women's teams competed in an obstacle course, three point shooting contest, and a game of knockout. Of course the women won in every category, except what we were automatically disqualified from, the dunk contest. The best part of the evening was not the introduction of the teams, or the contests. The best part was a little guy named Sam. Sam is a young boy that has a life threatening tumor in his head. The men's team "drafted" him and this was the night that he signed to be a part of the team. Watching how happy he was just to be a part of a team is very heart warming. The gym was full of students and fans just as excited about the season as we are.

On Monday, while everyone is home for fall break, Tiffin Women's basketball was not taking a break. In between practices, we went to a food pantry in Toledo. At this food pantry we spent a couple hours sorting out food and put it on shelves. We also prepared stacks of potatoes and carrots in order to make it easier to ship. This was a great experience for everyone. Leaving community service always changes my perspective on things. It is amazing how much people take for granted when others have so little. This was a learning experience for all the player and everyone felt great for helping out the less privileged.

After a long hard four weeks of conditioning, the players deserve a break. On the last day of conditioning, we have what we like to call "Crazy day." Crazy day consists of everyone dressing up in the craziest outfits they can think of. The coaches come up with a variety of things they must do, which usually consist of relays, obstacles, and some spinning in circles. The best part of the day is when we vote on the worst dressed person (least crazy), and they have to do a dance for everyone in the café. This is also a celebration that preseason is over and we are starting our season. Tuesday was the first day we were able to have a practice, so at 12:01am we began our first practice of the season. This is a very exciting time, and it was a great kickoff to our season.

On Wednesday we went up to the University of Toledo for a team building activity. When we got there, no one except the coaches knew what we were doing. UT students led us in some team activities and challenged us as a team. We then went onto the fun part, a high ropes course. This was a fun experience for everyone, except the people scared of heights. There was one person that cried, but the team helped her out and she was able to make it through. This experience was not only fun, but it was a great way for the team to come together in a way other than on the basketball court. It was also a chance to see who was willing to step up as leaders.

This week was the start of conditioning for the team. 6am Monday through Friday. One Mondays and Wednesdays they have on court conditioning. Tuesdays and Fridays they did pool workouts. Thursdays they did spinning workouts. This is very good for them to mix up what kind of workouts they are doing. Conditioning every day can get very stressful on the body. With swimming and spinning, they are still getting a workout in,  yet their joints are not feeling it as harshly. My role at these 6am conditionings may seem minor, it is important. They are tested both mentally and physically, and it is my job to be their positive motivation. I have to push them and encourage them no matter how hard the conditioning is

This weekend we went up to cedar point and worked two 8 hour shifts. Cedar point has a very good fundraising program. In this program you can bring a group of people to work shifts, and you get money. I am not sure of the exact amount our team gets, but I am sure it is a pretty good amount. Don't let the picture fool you, the fun we look like we are having is nothing but a pose. These were  16 very long hours! We were assigned to food stands throughout the park, and not allowed to sit down any time except for lunch. Though it was long, boring hours, we brought a lot of money into our

On Monday we participated in community service. This activity was to clean up trash on the side of the highway. The Tiffin Women's basketball has "adopted" the highway, 53. About once a semester we all go out to the highway and pick up trash alongside of the road. It is not a fun job and not easy, but after it is completed, we feel very good about ourselves. If you look on the side of the highway, there is a sign up that says "Tiffin University Women's Basketball: Gold Star Group." This is another thing that the team does to reach out to the community.