ALEX RIGSBY »» WOMEN'S HOCKEY Badgering...
A sophomore goaltender from Delafield, Wis., Alex Rigsby has started every game in net for the women's hockey team this season. With the second most minutes played among goalies in the nation, she leads the country with a .946 save percentage. Most recently, Rigsby became just the second goalie in program history to record 1,000 saves within the first two years of competition.
Do you have a routine that you go through before each game?
"I definitely have a routine, and I think a lot of the girls on the team have a routine as well. Usually when you find something you just want to stick with it, whether it's warming up the same way or getting dressed the same way. I think the one thing that most people notice about me is that I always carry around a tennis ball. After pregame warmups, off the ice I'll throw the ball against a wall and do some visualizations."
You've played almost every minute in net this season, do you take a different approach knowing you're going to start as opposed to not knowing who's starting each game?
"Even when I didn't know if I was going to be playing or not, I still went into every game the same way and I'd do the same routine. You have to approach the game as if you're going to be playing, you never know what might happen. Definitely this year it takes a lot of focus to be prepared for every single game."
What's been you favorite road-trip memory so far this season?
"I think one of the best trips was this last weekend. Traveling home from Mankato and listening to the Big Ten championship football game. It was exciting when they would get a touchdown or an interception. Our whole team was excited and getting pretty pumped up about the Badgers winning it."
How do you maintain a balance between academics and athletics as finals approach?
"When you step into the rink you kind of forget about school and focus about hockey. Even when you're lifting you have to focus on what you have to do to get better. You just have to balance your time between practices and classes. One of the biggest things is buckling down after practice to study for exams since they're coming up quick. Especially with this weekend trip to Bemidji State, there will be a lot of studying on the road."
18 » VARSITY DECEMBER 8, 2011
