March 16, 2009 (Final Entry)
This year was definitely a great one. We made so many memories on and off the court as a team. I’m sure we can all walk away from this year with plenty of great and funny stories, or ways in which we’ve been changed. It was great to see the team develop and improve their basketball skills, as well as grow spiritually and learn lessons to apply throughout their lives. There were some ups and downs throughout the course of the season but we were able to learn from them and enjoy our time together.
It’s great to be on a team that is united with a common purpose both on and off the basketball floor. To have teammates and coaches who support and encourage one another towards spiritual growth and Christ-likeness is something to be embraced and be thankful for. It’s a great thing to be involved in and I’m thankful for another year to be impacted as well as to try to make an impact on others, both on this team and elsewhere.
March 9, 2009
Spring break is nearly over and students are starting to make their way back to campus. The team had spring break cut short and arrived back to campus on Wednesday in order to begin practices to prepare for the national tournament. We will be leaving very early Monday morning so I am writing this blog a little earlier than usual. Although we will be getting to Sioux City on Monday, our first game will not be played until Wednesday. We garnered a number five seed in the tournament and will face Bethel (a four seed) in the first round. The team is excited to get to Sioux City for the great competition, and to experience the fun and energy that the tournament brings.
Assistant Coach Huckaby will not be making the trip to Iowa this year because of some troubles that she has been experiencing with her neck and back. She has various appointments with doctors throughout the week and will likely be having surgery within the next two weeks to repair a bulged disc. We will definitely try to keep her lifted up in prayer, and pray for complete healing and wisdom for the doctors; if you would join us in that effort it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much for your support this season; the team will work to finish the season well.
March 2, 2009
We are now on Spring Break! This is a great time for the team to get rested up and prepare for the NAIA National Tournament that is fast approaching.
Before leaving for break, the team traveled to Shawnee State to play in the conference "Showcase" game to compete one last time before heading to Sioux City. The national tournament will be played in Sioux City, Iowa and the team will be leaving on Monday, March 9th. Hopefully, we will be wearing out our stay there.
At least for now, the team can take some time to get refreshed and not only prepare for the tournament, but also for the classes that we will miss while in Iowa. It’s great to have a break before making one last push to finish the season strong, but to be on spring break while there’s snow on the ground (at least here in VA) is an interesting concept. Enjoy the week, Go Jackets!
Feb. 23, 2009
This week we spent most of our time on a bus. We traveled to Ursuline on Tuesday where the Nosal family welcomed us to their home and provided a super spectacular pre-game meal. Big thanks to them for their gracious hospitality and time of fellowship; they’ve provided many great meals for our team this year, and in years past.
We left for New York Thursday afternoon, and got settled into the hotel later that night. The team played Houghton College on Friday night before traveling to Roberts Wesleyan College on Saturday. By winning these two games (and Walsh losing two games) the team clinched a spot in the national tournament that is going to be played in Sioux City, Iowa again this year.
It was also exciting to be around to watch the men’s team finish their season strong and become co-champions of the conference. It was a great way to cap off the regular season, but obviously there are still more games to be played and we’re looking forward to that.
Spring break is next week, so that will provide a slight break from the routine before heading to the national tournament the following week. Thanks to everyone who has supported us through the regular season, we’d appreciate your continued support through the post-season. Go Jackets!
Oh, and happy birthday wishes to Lish (whose birthday is today), Coach Martin (whose birthday was yesterday), and Ali (whose birthday was the 18th). A trip to Sioux City isn’t a bad birthday present.
Feb. 16, 2009
Home games are always exciting because of the supportive crowd that shows up each week to cheer us on. This weekend was no exception, and we were thankful for those that came to support us and also help us show our appreciation to our two seniors, Alisha Lee and Bayley Nosal.
Saturday night was Senior Night as we competed against Point Park for our final regular season home game of the year. Family and friends were in attendance to help us celebrate the impact and contributions that Lish and Bayley have made, both on and off the court, during their time here.
Celebrating the achievements of these two teammates, as well as who they are, was a great reminder of the awesome blessing of friendship within this team. It is great to be surrounded by people to who respect and care for one another, and who are willing to make sacrifices for the benefit of the team.
Thanks to Lish and Bayley for the hard work, dedication, laughter and acts of friendship that they've contributed to this program and this team. We look forward to helping them finish strong in their final season here as we approach our last week of regular season play with games at Ursuline, Houghton and Roberts Wesleyan.
Feb. 9, 2009
Days off from practice serve to be a time to allow the team to get refreshed, and today (Monday) happens to be one of those days. Last week we had two great outings against Wilberforce and Notre Dame, and this week will provide us with time to recover and then prepare for two weekend games.
Carlow will make the trip here on Friday, and Point Park will revisit us on Saturday to round out the week. These will be our last two regular season home games so if you have a chance to make it out to see us, that would be great!
During our team Bible Study time last week, the team was introduced to “The Luke Commission” - an organization designed to take medical missions to southern Africa in order to provide poverty-stricken people with the medical care they need but cannot afford. The team is looking at ways that we can get involved in this project and to raise money to help The Luke Commission with funding and outreach.
Keep an eye out for announcements to let you know about ways that you can possibly partner with us to get involved. Have a great week - the weather is getting warmer!
Feb. 2, 2009
Well, we’ve made it to February; it seems strange to think that we only have three months of school left. Although we anticipated last week to be somewhat different from our usual routine, the snow storm of last week also provided us with a surprise and an unusual day off from classes on Wednesday.
Snow days are always great; some of us spent time shoveling driveways, building tunnels in the snow piles, watching movies, and just relaxing. It was a great change of pace and a break from the routine that we can so easily get caught up in.
Recently we’ve made a little change in our pre-game preparation as a team. Previously, right before a game the team would sing one of Coach Martin’s favorite songs, and although we would go crazy, it wasn’t exactly our style. We have slowly strayed from that pre-game ritual and have now indulged in what we call "role call."
Lacie Condon starts a beat for us, we get some hand claps in there and one by one we rattle off/chant a few lines that briefly describe each of us. Some of us still struggle with keeping the beat and rhythm but it has proven to be, at the very least, an entertaining activity for all of us.
There’s only a few weeks of regular season left. It’s hard to believe, but we’re looking forward to another set of interesting games this week. Thanks to everyone who has come out and braved the cold to support us, it is very much appreciated. Have a great and safe week.
Jan. 26, 2009
The ebbs and flows of a season can always be interesting. As we approach our final week of January it can be easy to get into the routine of games and practices - it's a long season.
However, these next few weeks provide some variety in our schedules, at least in terms of basketball. For instance, we will not be having practice today; Coach Martin saw fit to give the team a break in order to rest up for the week ahead.
Some of us will use the time to get ahead of our homework schedules (notice that I said "get ahead" not "catch up"), some will be heading home to crash on the couch, and some/one of us will be attending biology seminars (I'm sorry Aubrey). Regardless, we can use the time as we choose.
This coming week will provide us with a nice change of pace, we will be playing two homes games which is far different from the traveling we've done in the last few weeks. We will be playing Mount Vernon Nazarene here on Thursday and Shawnee State will make the trip here on Saturday.
We're looking forward to some great games this week and we’re hoping to keep our momentum after playing very well against Daemen on Saturday. Thanks for your faithful support of our team, for reading this blog, and for being awesome. Stay warm. Go Jackets!
Jan. 19, 2009
Another week of conference games has come and gone. The team traveled to Mount Vernon during the week and also visited Malone over the weekend - shout out to my roommate (Alison Lemon) for scoring her 1,000th career point!
These games offered some good competition and allowed the team to bounce back from a previously tough week; however, one of our most persistent opponents this week was the cold weather. I had never experienced such cold weather before, but it was a great reminder of the many blessings I have been given. It reminded me to be especially thankful for a warm and comfortable place to stay at night because so many people have to do without that.
This week was a great time to reflect on God's faithfulness and direction. The team was able to come together on Friday to wish (assistant coach) Heather Grooms well as she left for basic training in the Army. It was just a great example of how God can speak clearly and directly to us as we are challenged to grow more in Him. We are dependent on Christ for everything we need, and it is great to know that He can provide.
Lamentations 3:22-24, "Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness."
Jan. 12, 2009
Classes started this week which required that everyone adjust to a new routine. Getting up for early morning classes was far different than the schedule we enjoyed over break. However, the games must go on and the team competed in two home games this week against Ohio Dominican and Walsh. Kara Cayton was back in action on Saturday for the first time since her ankle injury so we were thankful for the quick healing that took place there.
This coming week offers two road games at Mount Vernon and Malone, and we’ll also be sending off Heather Grooms as she leaves the program and takes a new step in her life. Heather is a 2008 graduate who has served as an assistant coach this year and she will be leaving to go to basic training for the Army. She will definitely be missed and if you could keep her in your prayers as she adjusts to many new changes, that would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much for your support as friends, family members and fans - have a great week!
Jan. 5, 2009
After a great trip to Florida the team was able to enjoy Christmas with their families before returning back to school. We arrived back to campus on December 28th for practices before hosting Saint Francis of Indiana on the 30th and Rio Grande this past Saturday.
The team was able to spend some great time together here while the rest of the student body was on break. We played "Rockband" (a music video game), watched movies and played card games. Most of the team spent New Years Eve at Coach Martin's house where Tex (student assistant Steph Latham) made some super great food for us before playing some games and welcoming in 2009.
Classes begin on Tuesday this week so we will be preparing for another semester as the rest of the student body makes their way back to campus. We will also be hosting Ohio Dominican on Tuesday and Walsh on Saturday as we dive into our first full week of conference play. It's hard to believe that second semester is already upon us but we're excited to see what's in store for our team on and off the court this semester.
Dec. 22, 2008
The warm weather and sunshine of Florida was a great change of pace for the team this week. We left cold and wintry Ohio early Wednesday morning after a very long night on Tuesday. We traveled to Madonna University to compete on Tuesday and did not arrive back to campus until 1:30 a.m. after driving through snow and ice. A 5:00 a.m. wake-up call gave us little time to rest before leaving for the Dayton Airport at 5:45 to catch our flight.
We arrived in Florida and were greeted by the warmth and sunshine that we had expected. The coaches had rented several vacation houses for us to stay in during the week and the spacious rooms and cold pools served to be a great place for us to kick up our feet.
Games did not begin until Friday so Wednesday and Thursday were practice days and allowed for some time to rest and relax by the pool. Warner University hosted the tournament and we competed against St. Francis of Illinois on Friday and Brewton-Parker University on Saturday.
Bayley's parents Bob and Joan Nosal had made the trip to Florida as well and they were kind enough to provide us with some exceptional pre-game meals. They can fix some great food and we very much appreciated the time and effort that they put into that.
Sunday was a full day of fun and we got started early with some devotional time led by Coach Martin. He discussed a few principles that can be helpful in our Christian walks and this was a great reminder of the roles and responsibilities we have as followers of Christ.
After that, we set out for the beach and spent some time together in the sun (our red faces and crazy tan lines are evidence of that). The pinnacle of our trip was our time at Downtown Disney on Sunday night. We went to the Rainforest Café for dinner and ate plenty of great food and far too much chocolate.
To cap off the day we competed in a scavenger hunt that had us running in and out of every store in Downtown Disney. Coach Teresa Clark and Barb Cross (wife of head athletic trainer Chris Cross) planned the hunt and divided us into three teams. The hunt required that we find specific items located throughout the stores and take a picture of this to verify our findings.
We had a time limit of one hour so we were all sprinting down the sidewalks and weaving in and out of pedestrians in attempts to be the first-place team. We have some great pictures and awesome memories from this extreme scavenger hunt and we totally appreciate the time and thought that Coach Clark and Barb put into making it a great one.
Kara Cayton was riding in a wheelchair during this crazy hunt due to a leg injury that she sustained during our Saturday game. There is no diagnosis as of yet, but if you want to be in prayer for her speedy recovery that would be very much appreciated.
I'm sitting in the airport now waiting for my flight, so that can only mean that our time here in Florida is over. It was a great trip but for many of us it just doesn’t feel like Christmas when you’re wearing shorts and T-shirts in December. The lights on the palm trees here reminded us that Christmas is just days away so we’re ready to head home and spend the holiday with our families. Until next week...Merry Christmas!
Dec. 15, 2008
The semester is over and our break from classes has begun. With finals finishing up on Friday, the team was able to rest up a bit before competing against Urbana on Saturday. Our win on Saturday gave Coach Martin his 500th career victory and he was able to celebrate with his family on his home court with some cake!
This weekend has served to be a time for the team to get refreshed before heading into another busy week. We will be traveling to Madonna on Tuesday before flying to sunny Florida on Wednesday. We will be playing two games while in Florida and we will also have the opportunity to spend some time together as a team.
Last year between games and practices we played card games, had a cooking contest, watched movies, spent some time in the pool, and played a guessing game that Coach Martin introduced to us (it actually was a fun and entertaining game so we'll give him credit for that).
Hopefully, this week will be a great time for our team to compete well, strengthen our friendships, and develop relationships with others that will impact them for Christ. Thanks for your prayers and support of our program!
Dec. 8, 2008
Christmas break is almost here! We just finished up our last full week of classes for the semester and now we’re heading into final exam week. Although this week will require that we dedicate much of our time to studying, last week allowed for many opportunities to compete on the court. With games against Central State, Urbana and Wilberforce, the team was able to get in a few games before heading into a week that only has one game scheduled.
We were able to spend some time off the court together on Sunday by ministering to some local children at The Ark in Springfield. The Ark is a children’s ministry that provides a place for children to learn more about a spiritual walk with Christ and the truth of His Word.
Our team was given the opportunity to minister to the children by reading scripture about the birth and death of Jesus Christ, singing Christmas carols, spending time in prayer, and sharing a meal together. Opportunities like this allow our team to reach out to others in hopes of being a blessing and encouragement to them, but we are also blessed by the opportunity and the time of fellowship we have with those around us.
Although this week doesn’t include many games or activities, we will be spending plenty of time with our noses in books as we bring the semester to a close with final exams. We are definitely looking forward to Christmas break, a time that allows us to get away from school for a bit and head to Florida for some more basketball! We’re excited about the sunshine and some warmer weather, but until then, it’s test time.
Dec. 1, 2008
Before heading home for a much-needed Thanksgiving break, the team competed at Shawnee State on Tuesday night and finished classes at one o'clock on the following day. The break served to be a great time for us to spend time with our families and friends, get some great food, and prepare ourselves for the final two weeks of the semester.
The team returned to campus Sunday night for a late practice in order to prepare for a week that consists of three games. An interesting way that our team prepares for a game is by singing. It's a surprising concept for a basketball team and if you heard us sing you would know why we’re a basketball team (there might be one or two who are talented in both singing and athletics).
Just minutes before taking the court in a game we sing "Love the Lord Your God" in three-part "harmony." It goes something like this.....
Love the Lord Your God
with all your heart
and all your soul
and all your mind
and love all mankind,
as you would love yourself.
with all your heart
and all your soul and mind
and all mankind.
We've got Christian lives to live
We've got Jesus Christ to give
We've got nothing to hide
Because in Him we abide.
We will be singing this prior to our games against Urbana and Wilberforce this week...but in the locker room...by ourselves...with no one else around; we get shy when we have to sing in front of people! Unfortunately we don’t have time to practice for our pre-game song, we have a busy week ahead but we’re hoping for a great one!
Nov. 24, 2008
The Lady Jackets started the week with a home game against Taylor on Tuesday night. The team was able to help Coach Martin collect his 200th career victory here at Cedarville and defeat the 16th-ranked Trojans, 63-56. This game allowed us to evaluate our play against tougher competition, and our team was pleased with the outcome and the way we played in the second half to finish off the game. The remainder of the week was spent fine-tuning some things and preparing for the upcoming game on Tuesday against Shawnee State.
Off the court, the team was able to get to know Caitlyn Mauch, a transfer from Thomas More, a little bit better during Bible study. Our team Bible study is held every Wednesday night and activities range from sharing testimonies, learning from the Word, planning or participating in service projects, and eating great desserts!
Caitlyn was able to share with the team some of her past experiences and how she has grown from them, as well as how she was led to Cedarville and how she is growing spiritually now. This has been a great way to get to know each other better and be able to have an understanding as to how and why each person is who they are today. As we learn more about each other we can discover new ways as to how we can be an encouragement to each other and specifically be in prayer for one another.
Not only do we work to encourage and build one another up, there is a faithful group of ladies that work on campus here that have volunteered to be our “encouragers”. Each lady has volunteered to take one player from our team and encourage her throughout the season (shout out to my encourager Fran). This has been a great opportunity for the players and encouragers to get to know one another better and be in prayer for each other. Our team is so thankful for these ladies that have volunteered their time and effort to invest in us and support us throughout the year.
As we prepare for this week we are anticipating our game at Shawnee State on Tuesday, our first road game of the year. Shawnee State has always been an interesting place to play so we’re looking forward to a great game there as we head into Thanksgiving break. Break begins on Wednesday so we are also looking forward to turkey, pie and being home!
Nov. 17, 2008
The season got underway over the weekend with games against Point Park University on Friday, and Malone University on Saturday. The team was highly anticipating the start of games due to a seven week pre-season that began September 30th. Although games felt like years away at the time, we managed to stay busy with not only practices, but also with some ministry opportunities that became available to us.
The team volunteered at "The Main Event" on October 30th on the campus of OSU. The event was open to the public and was organized by some of the members of the OSU football team in order to share their personal testimonies and the truth of Christ with those who came. Our team helped the event staff with organizing seating and we were also available to speak with anyone who had questions regarding salvation, etc.
In addition to that, our team held a basketball clinic at Southeastern High School for 3rd-5th grade girls, and volunteered at the Integrated Youth Services in Xenia by painting some rooms in their facility. We've also spent time collecting items for Operation Christmas Child boxes that we plan to send in the next month, as well as raising money for breast cancer awareness, and organizing a mission's trip to Costa Rica with the women's soccer team that we will be taking in May.
It has been awesome to be able to reach out to others in the surrounding area through these projects, and it's also been great for our team to spend some time and serve together off the court. We're looking forward to the projects and events we've scheduled in the upcoming weeks and we hope they'll be as enjoyable as the previous...we also hope tomorrow's time spent on the court will be extremely enjoyable as well.
Stefanie Rodgers, a sophomore guard from Harrisonburg, Va., is in her third year at Cedarville University majoring in exercise science.
