It was a successful year in terms of the journey, the miles of emotional growth the players ascended, but yet it ended so much shorter of our desired outcome. We had dreamed from the beginning to get back to the NCAA Regional Tournament, to be back in the WVIAC Championship game, yet we fell short of all of goals.
We won 20 games which for most programs and players is a positive outcome, but for us 20 is short of our expectations. On average, we have won 22 games a season with some seasons like the 2005-06 year being an incredible one with over 30 victories. Sitting back and evaluating the year, we know had we won the close ones at the beginning of the year, we would have been a different team. It is winning the close ones early which provides confidence and assurance of good things to come. Losing those games places doubt and anxiety in the brain.
It it true we were in every game with opportunities to win them. We were never blown out and never so deep over our heads against talent that we knew there was no hope. In the nine games we lost, we lost by an average of 4.7 ppg. They were close; they were heart breakers. One bounce of the ball, one missed free throw, one foul, or one missed call could have been the difference. These are the games I still feel deep within my soul. The wins I have already let go.
Mostly I feel for our lone senior, Katy Arick. She had some real ups and downs as a player not due to her lack of effort or determination but due to knee injuries and other team personnel issues. Her freshmen year, we were relatively successful winning 23 games while losing only 8, but we missed the regional bid by bowing out early in the conference tournament. Her sophomore year was one of the worst in UC recent history with us not reaching the 20 win mark and teammates who didn't share in the dream of winning. The junior year was remarkable in that we turned a 17-10 record into a 26-7 record, winning the conference, the conference tournament, and the first game in the regionals. This year, being the lone senior on the team, she had wanted so much more.
She gave her best, diving for loose balls, playing on a bum knee, never complaining, stepping up to take charges, saying the tough things to teammates a leader has to say, and finally scoring 1,054 career points. I want her to feel good about her achievements and what she gave to the program. I know I do and I know Katy's accomplishments will not stop now for she has a bright future. She will be a successful businesswoman. In just four years, she has managed to earn two undergraduate degrees and a Master's Degree in Business Administration in Leadership. WOW!
I am thankful for her attitude, her laughter, her intelligence, and her willingness to be coached. She was always gracious to her teammates and to her coaches, and she was a competitor in every sense of the word. I will miss you Katy. Thank you for four wonderful years. I wish it could have ended better.
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