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role models." "Through my training, my confidence began to grow and my thinking began to change. After all, age is just a number. They may have played in college or even in the Olympics, but they have two arms and two legs and so do I. Age is not a factor seeing as though everyone is equal once we get on that ice and the only thing that matters at the end of the day is how well you perform." Wisconsin head coach Mark Johnson is familiar with the camp after leading the U.S. National Team to a silver medal at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. He believes it is a tremendous opportunity for Pankowski to grow as a player and as a person. "We are all excited that she is getting an opportunity to go to the trials," Johnson said. "She has been a high-profile player, and to get invited to the national camp at her age is a tribute to her hard work. I think just getting the chance be around the nation's bests players and getting to work with them and observe their practices on and off the ice will be great for her growth. " Pankowski will join former Badgers Brooke Ammerman, Brianna Decker, Meghan Duggan, Hilary Knight, Erika Lawler and Jessie Vetter, along with future teammates Courtney Burke and Alex Rigsby. at the camp held in Lake Placid, N.Y. Pankowski played with Burke at the U18 World Championships and has meet all of the other Badgers participating in the selection camp. She says the success of the program is one of the reasons why she decided to attend Wisconsin. "Nine players coming through this program share the same dream I do," Pankowski said. "I think that it says a lot about the program. Coach Johnson, (Jackie) Friesen, and (Dan) Koch have proven that they can give every opportunity to improve and continue to move me toward my dreams. I think the biggest reason I chose UW was entire culture the campus has to offer as well as the opportunity to compete for a national title." The U.S. Women's National Team roster will be announced on June 24, and the team will 42 ยป VARSITY JUN E 20, 2013 train on June 25 and 26 following the announcement. The final 21-player U.S. Olympic roster is expected to be announced in late December. Regardless of the outcome, Pankowski believes the experience will help her when she dons the Cardinal and White this fall. "The ability to spend the week training with the best women to play the sport is an opportunity that I will fully take advantage of," Pankowski said. "Learning from the great players that are attending the camp will be an experience I will take with me into my years at Wisconsin." "Just having this honor of being invited is a great confidence and experience booster, that I'm hoping will carry into my college career at Wisconsin." Of the 41 players invited to try out for the U.S. National Team, nine are current, former or future members of the Wisconsin women's hockey program