Sports Junkie

Sports Junkie: “Too Busy”?

too-busy
Clock with “Too Busy” written. Picture from www.videoblocks.com.

Caitlin Dorsch ~ Co-Editor in Chief

     Perhaps one of my pet peeves is hearing the words, “I am too busy!”  In my opinion, the word “busy” means that you do not have time to give to something.  This idea implies that you are giving your time to something else, not related to the thing that you are “too busy” for.  And, hearing this as a student-athlete was always something that aggravated me to no end.  

     Now, I want to make note that I understand that, sometimes, student-athletes genuinely are busy in their lives.  However, I refuse to believe that an individual literally has no time whatsoever to give to the sport that they say that they love.  For me, being “busy” is simply a matter of perspective. For example, if I tell myself, “Wow, I am really busy today,” then I am essentially given myself an excuse to not do something else that I could have done to make myself better that very day.  

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Sports Junkie: Mentality

Change your mindset. Hand holding megaphone
Photo retrieved from www.istockphoto.com.

Caitlin Dorsch ~ Co-Editor in Chief

     Something that Coach Olsen insists that each of his players have is “grit.”  In reaction to Coach’s statement, many players typically think, “I have grit!  I do all this extra stuff, so he must be wrong.” Well, I am here to tell you that you can always do more than you think you can, especially as an athlete.

     Over my four years as a student-athlete on this campus, I saw the potential that each member on every sports team had at the University.  And, I finally realized something that was a weakness to practically all of our teams: mentality. In my opinion, mentality is all about adaptability to a situation.  Our fault is that we typically have fluctuations in our mentality based on conditions outside of our control. It is this uncontrollable factor that causes the mentality of players to drop, to become negative in some way that is against the benefit of the team.  

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Sports Junkie: “You Just Got to Have Fun”

Soccer Ball
Black and white photo of a soccer ball found on Coast ink: The Future of Apparel Printing website, http://cisports.blogspot.com/2010/09/soccer-ball.html.

Caitlin Dorsch ~ Co-Editor in Chief

     Such a simple phrase, “You just got to have fun.”  But, honestly, I found this to be one of the hardest things for me to remember throughout some games and practices over my four years on the women’s soccer team at the University of Lynchburg.  Sometimes, at practices and games, I would find myself so stressed and anxious to make that one save as a goalkeeper that I forgot to “just play.” The coaching staff told me multiple times to “just play” throughout my years, yet I would always think, All I ever do is play.  What do they mean?  

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Sports Junkie:  Why I Chose To Be A Goalkeeper 

 

sports junkie
Photo taken of fourth-year goalkeeper and co-captain Caitlin Dorsch by fourth-year photographer of Lynchburg Hornets Sports Network on Sat., Nov. 2.

Caitlin Dorsch ~ Co-Editor in Chief

     Throughout my sports career, both at the club level and collegiate level, I am often asked, “Why did you decide to become a goalkeeper?”  Typically, their statement is followed by a quick remark like, “You must be crazy. That position is too stressful for me. You are like the last person to stop a goal from going in!”

     In response, I say, “Yes, you are right.  It is a very stressful position, but that is why I love it!”  To be honest with you, I have a love/hate relationship with my position.  It is a ton of pressure knowing that you are the last person between the opponent team scoring and the sacred goal.  It is hard knowing that one mistake by you could inevitably lead to a loss for your team. For me, having the trust and love for my teammates and coaches on the women’s soccer team at the University of Lynchburg was the most important aspect for me to want to do well.  Without feeling supported and wholeheartedly trusted by my teammates and coaches, I would not have had the confidence during my final year of eligibility to believe in myself as a goalkeeper.  

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Sports Junkie: Experiences of a Student-Athlete:  The Student-Athlete Team

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Caitlin Dorsch ~ Co-Editor in Chief

     On November 6, 2019, my collegiate soccer career at the University of Lynchburg came to a close, losing in the quarterfinals of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) tournament by a score of 1 to 4.  

     To be completely honest, it was so weird for me the first few days that we were back from winter break.  I did not know when I was going to see my soccer family again. I was worried about how much I would be able to see them since I know how busy the off-season spring schedule is for all fall student-athletes.  

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Women’s Golf: Creating a Legacy

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Freshman Lilly Self driving a ball off of the tee in the Emory & Henry Invitation on Tues., Oct. 1.  Image retrieved from the University of Lynchburg Sports Website. Courtesy of Brent Treash of Emory & Henry College.

Caitlin Dorsch ~ Copy Desk Chief

     The University of Lynchburg Women’s Golf program has started their first year strong, already creating a legacy of team comradery and excellence.  Third-year student and first-year golfer Lindsay Stanley insists, “Being a player on the first women’s golf team is so exciting. We’re making history and having fun while doing it.”

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Women’s Track and Field Wins Another ODAC Title

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Caitlin Dorsch ~ Copy Desk Chief

On Saturday, April 20, 2019, the women’s track and field program won their second-straight Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) outdoor title. The team scored a total of 222 points, which was 76 points ahead of the second-place team, Bridgewater College. This ODAC title is also following their ODAC title for indoor track and field on Sunday, Feb. 24, of this year. There, the team ended with an overall score of 176 points, which was 44 points ahead of the second-place team, Bridgewater College.

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Tennis Looking to Redeem Themselves

Caitlin Dorsch ~ Copy Desk Chief

Lilli A - UofL Tennis.jpg

Lilli Altenburg is getting into position in her singles match on Saturday, March 23, 2019.  Photo retrieved from the University of Lynchburg Sports Website. Credit to Joe Hutzler and senior photographer Hannah Grasberger.

On Saturday, March 23rd, 2019, the University of Lynchburg (UofL) Women’s Tennis team lost their first match as a team this season against the Cougars of Averett University by a score of 5 to 4. This tight score means that the Hornet players defeated the Cougar players in four matches but losing five. At no. 3 doubles, seniors Reagan Coon and Lilli Altenburg won by a score of 8-2. Coon and Altenburg also won by a score of 6-0, 6-0 in their respective singles matches as well. At no. 4 singles, freshman Alissa Anderson, won a close and hard-fought match by a score of 6-1, 4-6, 6-1.

In reaction to this loss, Altenburg noted that the mentality of the team has not wavered since the loss this past weekend. She stated, “The mental and physical strength of our team as well as the bonds we have with one another is extremely important to our program.”

Sophomore Ellen Druebbisch also said, “Our line-up has been very successful this season so far and I think that’s because we are so deep. We have a lot of players at similar levels and this gives us a lot of strength, especially in the bottom three singles spots. We have also been working a lot on doubles and have been successful in those matches as well.

Druebbisch continued, “We have three seniors this year that are great leaders and I think they have developed the culture of Lynchburg Tennis over the years they have been here. We support each other through every match and at practice. Coach Johnson has also created a culture of working hard and fighting through every point which makes us very competitive overall.”

The UofL Hornets continue their regular season campaign Saturday (March 23rd, 2019) away against Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, VA at 1 p.m., Sunday (March 31st, 2019) away at Emory & Henry College at 1:30 p.m., and Tuesday (April 2nd, 2019) away at Washington and Lee University at 4 p.m. The team’s next home game will be their Code Red Match against Virginia Wesleyan University at the tennis courts below Wake Fieldhouse at 3:30 p.m..

Alvarez v. Golovkin

Chris Snan, Staff Columnist~

Canelo_vs,_Gennady[1]

The rematch between Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin for the unified middleweight world championship took place Saturday September 15th, and unlike the first match there was a winner, and a loser this time. Vegas held the rematch between these two elite boxers, and with a sellout crowd of 21,965 people boxing fans everywhere had a good night.

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Sports Junkie: Chicago Welcomes Mack

Sports Junkie: Chicago Welcomes Mack

Chris Snan, Staff Columnist~

The former Oakland Raider, Khalil Mack, has a new home in the Windy City this upcoming season. It was made official Saturday when the Raiders and the Chicago Bears came to an agreement with the trade, which now makes Mack the highest-paid defensive in NFL history. A record breaking 6 year $141 million dollar contract was more than enough to land one of the best pass rushers in the league today. (more…)

The NFL is Back

Chris Snan, Staff Columnist~

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Football Sundays have returned and week one was nothing short of what every fan dreamed for. Almost every team played, and every team that did play performed to the level everyone expected. There was a little bit of everything, from upsets to comebacks, and the games that come down to the last second, NFL Sunday had it all.

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Sports Junkie: Lebron James or James Harden?

Sports Junkie: Lebron James or James Harden?

Chris Snan, Staff Columnist~

This past regular season was arguably one of the most entertaining seasons in NBA history, due in part to the star power in the league. Several players stepped up in big ways on game day, improving the quality of the competition. It was even sweeter to see rookies like Donovan Mitchell, Ben Simmons, and Jayson Tatum make use of their playing time and put up good numbers in their first season. (more…)

Sports Junkie: MLB’s Opening Day

Sports Junkie: MLB’s Opening Day

Chris Snan, Staff Columnist~

March 29 marked the earliest opening day in MLB history, and it was a good one. As every baseball fan knows, opening day is always the best day of the year. Every major league team competes in nine wonderful innings, as a welcome back to their loyal fans. (more…)

Sports Junkie: Trades, Trades for Days

Sports Junkie: Trades, Trades for Days

Chris Snan, Staff Columnist~

This NFL offseason has been quite the eventful one. Kirk Cousins signing with the Minnesota Vikings and Michael Bennett with the Eagles, and let’s not forget about the Cleveland Browns adding Tyrod Taylor and Jarvis Landry to their team. Just when you thought that trades were about to simmer down, teams decided to make even bigger changes to the NFL atmosphere involving guys like Aqib Talib, Case Keenum and Ndamukong Suh. (more…)

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