Bring On August!

Megan Wingenbach

We are quickly reaching the end of July, and the thought of August brings one word to the minds of all Lady Hawk soccer players. That-Which-Must-Not-Be-Named, the word we all dread… (preseason). Today as I was struggling to recover after a long run in 100 degree heat, I started rethinking what actually is our biggest hurdle to get through in preparing for the season. Yeah, our two-a-days are beyond rough; they cause you to groan every time you get out of bed and hurt in places you didn’t think you were even using. But I think what we put ourselves through even before that point is overlooked.

For three months we are entirely on our own. It is up to us to come back to school in the best shape we can possibly be, and that is a hard task to accomplish without having someone there pushing you. A lot of the girls, like myself, work full time and the last thing you want to do after a long day at work is go out in the heat and run. It’s easy to think it is just a little too hot for a workout today and skip it, or tell yourself you’re tired and can’t keep going when no one is watching. It takes something inside to constantly fight for all those weeks to get better and come back as physically ready as you can.

Mastroianni and Wings
Center Midfielders

There is one huge highlight of returning to school, and that is our team. When it comes to our preseason at Quincy, let’s be honest, there is no easing into it. From day one we hit the ground running, or sprinting I should say. Being that this is my fourth time around, you would think things get easier after each year. They don’t. However, I have never been on a more supportive team before, and we get through every challenge and every minute of those days together. You can hear the encouragement on the field from all aspects, whether it’s fighting through a fitness test or someone’s shot to the upper 90. We push each other far beyond our limits, and that’s what gets us to that next level. I think we're all ready to get out there and see what we can make of 2011.

Megan Wingenbach
2011 Senior Lady Hawk