BADGERING
YVETTE HEALY »
SOFTBALL HEAD COACH
The Wisconsin softball team opened the 16,500 square foot Goodman
Softball Training Center on Sept. 8. The premier indoor facility features a
regulation size infield diamond, indoor batting cages, a team conference
room and a team lounge. Varsity Magazine caught up with head coach
Yvette Healy to talk about the Badgers' new home.
"I think the biggest thing is that the facility gives us the ability
to teach. We think Wisconsin is a school really based on education. I think the coaches here do a phenomenal job teaching
at every sport. We are not the type of school that you have
athletes come in as finished products. The teaching element,
having a facility that is going to allow the team to work hard,
get better and learn is huge.
"Beyond that, it is just a beautiful building. I think everybody
was inspired, seeing the beauty and feeling the love of how
much time and money is being invested in a women's sport. I
think the team seeing the building being built last year really just felt the support of the community and the athletics department. They practice and play with a lot of pride
knowing that so much has been invested in their future and
their success."
What does it mean to to have a facility like the Goodman?
Does this facility put the Badgers on par with the rest of
the Big Ten?
"A lot of Big Ten schools have beautiful indoor facilities, so
it's out there. People are practicing in their own dedicated
space. This helps up tell the story of Wisconsin softball
more. I don't think we had a dedicated home where we
could put trophies and hoist banners. Our stadium has
always been a beautiful little gem on the water, but this
facility really has a lot more of a connection to the university with all of the graphics and designs on the banners."
What does this facility say about the future of the
softball program?
"The university took a big leap of faith on our staff
and about building for the future and getting the
program on the national stage. It all came together
so quickly ― the facility and the success ― they
were really paying it forward, investing and having
faith in where the program was going before it was
there. That means a lot to our program, the coaches
and the players. This wasn't a reward. It was really
the university helping us invest in the future. This
facility is another example of the university investing in their belief of where the program is going.
26
//
VARSITY September 12, 2013
