Badger Blog: Empower
September 02, 2016 | Softball
Coach Healy talks about moving week
Throughout the year, Wisconsin softball head coach Yvette Healy will write a Badger Blog to catch Badger fans up on happenings with the team. This week, she talks about the team moving in and getting acclimated to college life.
Empower
It's always interesting to think about what words resonate with coaches at different times in their season, and in their careers. Empower has been the word running through my mind this week. Our softball team returned to campus and moved in this past weekend. I saw a lot of mixed emotions as parents dropped their college students off throughout campus. There were smiles, tears, hugs and faces filled with pride, as our parents watched their young students, venture off on their own, into the college world.
I can't imagine what that day will be like for my husband Shawn, and me, when we drop our daughters Grace and Maeve off at college. Luckily, we have some time before that happens in the Healy household. We were emotional, as it was, dropping Grace off for her first day of third grade this week. It's amazing how fast your kids grow, and how independent they become, at such young ages. The memorable moment, for me, came at our first morning drop-off, at the elementary school playground. As all the kids lined up with their classmates, outside the school doors, waiting for the morning bell to ring, Gracie said, "Mom, you can go. I'm good here with my friends." A pang of brief sadness came over me, as I realized how independent she's become, and how fast she's growing up. That wave of emotion was quickly replaced by pride and happiness, realizing how brave and strong these young girls are, as we empower them to venture into their own world with new friends, teachers and adventures ahead.
One promise that we can make to all of our Wisconsin Softball parents, is that their daughters will be supported on and off the field, throughout their time in Madison.
We've spent the week helping the Badger Softball team get acclimated, with orientation meetings, staff introductions, Wilson and DiMarini glove and bat demos, and the highly anticipated, brand new Under Armour gear pick up. It was so fun to see the excitement from the Badger Softball team as we tried on our new Under Armour shoes, spikes, practice gear, and back packs. This incredible new Under Armour sponsorship that you'll see on TV this weekend, as our Badger Football team takes on top ranked LSU at Lambeau field, extends beyond football, basketball, and hockey, with every sport and staff getting dressed from head to toe in the latest fabric and technology out there. Add custom A200 Wilson gloves, embroidered with our logo, names and numbers, and personal DiMarini bats, bags, and helmets, and you've got a pretty impressive new bag of swag.
Yet beyond all of the gear we provide our student-athletes, the greatest resources we provide, are actually the caring people and support staff.
Throughout the week, we met with a team of Wisconsin athletics department staff, all dedicated to making our student-athlete's experience, amazing. Senior Women's Administrator, Terry Gawlik, shared excited news about our new Video Scoreboard, stadium graphics, and all-around administrative support. Kelly Higgins, our new academic advisor, spoke about the free tutors, early class registration, learning specialist, mentors and writing labs, all available to help our students excel. Jackie Davenport shared volunteer opportunities for our student-athletes, at the hospitals, in schools and throughout the community, with Badgers Give Back. Our Athletic Trainer, Ashley Parr, shared great information on our team doctors, physical therapy, sports psychology, nutrition counseling, and overall wellness support for our student-athletes.
We have an amazing system in place, here at the University of Wisconsin, to help empower our student-athletes. They are being provided a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, with tremendous support, to help them reach all of their goals, and achieve their dreams. What a special place to be part of!
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Empower
It's always interesting to think about what words resonate with coaches at different times in their season, and in their careers. Empower has been the word running through my mind this week. Our softball team returned to campus and moved in this past weekend. I saw a lot of mixed emotions as parents dropped their college students off throughout campus. There were smiles, tears, hugs and faces filled with pride, as our parents watched their young students, venture off on their own, into the college world.
I can't imagine what that day will be like for my husband Shawn, and me, when we drop our daughters Grace and Maeve off at college. Luckily, we have some time before that happens in the Healy household. We were emotional, as it was, dropping Grace off for her first day of third grade this week. It's amazing how fast your kids grow, and how independent they become, at such young ages. The memorable moment, for me, came at our first morning drop-off, at the elementary school playground. As all the kids lined up with their classmates, outside the school doors, waiting for the morning bell to ring, Gracie said, "Mom, you can go. I'm good here with my friends." A pang of brief sadness came over me, as I realized how independent she's become, and how fast she's growing up. That wave of emotion was quickly replaced by pride and happiness, realizing how brave and strong these young girls are, as we empower them to venture into their own world with new friends, teachers and adventures ahead.
One promise that we can make to all of our Wisconsin Softball parents, is that their daughters will be supported on and off the field, throughout their time in Madison.
We've spent the week helping the Badger Softball team get acclimated, with orientation meetings, staff introductions, Wilson and DiMarini glove and bat demos, and the highly anticipated, brand new Under Armour gear pick up. It was so fun to see the excitement from the Badger Softball team as we tried on our new Under Armour shoes, spikes, practice gear, and back packs. This incredible new Under Armour sponsorship that you'll see on TV this weekend, as our Badger Football team takes on top ranked LSU at Lambeau field, extends beyond football, basketball, and hockey, with every sport and staff getting dressed from head to toe in the latest fabric and technology out there. Add custom A200 Wilson gloves, embroidered with our logo, names and numbers, and personal DiMarini bats, bags, and helmets, and you've got a pretty impressive new bag of swag.
Yet beyond all of the gear we provide our student-athletes, the greatest resources we provide, are actually the caring people and support staff.
Throughout the week, we met with a team of Wisconsin athletics department staff, all dedicated to making our student-athlete's experience, amazing. Senior Women's Administrator, Terry Gawlik, shared excited news about our new Video Scoreboard, stadium graphics, and all-around administrative support. Kelly Higgins, our new academic advisor, spoke about the free tutors, early class registration, learning specialist, mentors and writing labs, all available to help our students excel. Jackie Davenport shared volunteer opportunities for our student-athletes, at the hospitals, in schools and throughout the community, with Badgers Give Back. Our Athletic Trainer, Ashley Parr, shared great information on our team doctors, physical therapy, sports psychology, nutrition counseling, and overall wellness support for our student-athletes.
We have an amazing system in place, here at the University of Wisconsin, to help empower our student-athletes. They are being provided a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, with tremendous support, to help them reach all of their goals, and achieve their dreams. What a special place to be part of!
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