INSIDE
WOMEN'S SOCCER
BY JEREMY WODAJO
@BADGERWSOCCER
SCHEDULE
COMING UP
Aug. 15
Marquette
(Exhibition)
Aug. 23
at UConn
Aug. 24
at Illinois State
Aug. 30
at Oregon
Sept. 1
at Oregon State
Sept. 6
Vanderbilt
Chemistry lesson: UW
bonding during off time
Team spending time together off the field
he grind that is the preseason can take a toll
on any player, especially
those who are not used to the
day-to-day
responsibilities,
both mentally and physically,
of being a Division I studentathlete.
Ever since she began coaching over two decades ago, Paula Wilkins has stressed the importance of bonding and team
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unity as a way of neutralizing
any of the mental hurdles that
student-athletes face. Every
season, Wilkins schedules numerous team activities, with
the hopes that those moments
will build the trust and friendships among teammates that
will result in success on the
field and lifelong companionships off of it.
"Without your teammates
7 p.m.
8 p.m.
1 p.m.
7 p.m.
1 p.m.
5 p.m.
you're nothing," Wilkins said. "An individual can only carry a team so far and
that's what I stress and that's why I encourage our team to stay close to another, especially off of the field.
"A lot of the older players have experienced some of the hardships that
the younger ones are or will be going
through, so it helps when someone close
to you is around to help soften the blow a
little and remind you that there are others who have experienced the same trials and tribulations."
Following a recovery session on Saturday morning, the team took a jog up
to Picnic Point where Wilkins and assistant coach Kristen Weiss were waiting
with food and drinks for the players. The
recovery run turned into a picnic for a
team that was in need of a light-hearted
moment following the first week of preseason training.
The weekend culminated in a minifeast at McKenna Meuer's parents' house,
where the team spent Sunday night dining together and watching a movie.
"You only have four or five years to enjoy college," Wilkins added. "...and I want
to make sure these girls are not only fulfilling their dreams as student-athletes
but also that they leave here knowing
they have a sister or sisters to call on
whenever they need them for the rest of
their lives."
