September 4th, 2015 | Uncategorized
Imagine walking to in a home for the first time and the family instantly takes care you as if you were a member of the family and lived in the house since birth. Well, the Wildcat Organization has treated Katie and I with such great care along that same story line. We are so appreciative for the Hayes’ Family and club members because they have welcomed us with arms as wide as the Atlantic Ocean. Before Katie and I got accommodated, the Hayes’ family allowed us to sleep over and cooked us a hearty breakfast the next morning. Jillian Hayes, community partner with Sport Changes Life and club member, bought us groceries, linen, and an extra duvet for our housing. Jillian and her father, John Hayes, have driven us to all of the places Katie and I needed to go willingly, such as Tesco, club practices, and Wildcat basketball camps. On top of that, Katie and I are able to have a free meal once a day, which consists of a sandwich, piece of fruit and a drink, from the club’s sponsor, Maxol gas station. Also, our team mom took Katie and I to get our SIM cards and offered to take us to practices and camps in the future. Needless to say, the club gave Katie and I our own personal basketball to have for workouts outside of practice times. Giving a pair of basketball players that epitomizes “ball is life” their own basketball is similar to giving a child candy. Katie and I are so fortunate to be a part of a club that is so welcoming and kind and will definitely pay our gratitude through community camps and basketball matches.
Not knowing what to expect from my first practice as a Waterford Wildcat, I was pretty anxious before the practice began as well as slightly out of shape. Overall, practice was fun and slightly different than my college practices in America. Out of all the players on the team, I am one of the tallest or second tallest girls on the team and I am 5’7”. Despite playing post in college, I was always one of the shortest people on the team; however, I’m excited to be classified as Waterford’s newest post player. Practiced involved a lot of running and quite of bit of drills that I never did in the States. The girls on the team were very encouraging and generous towards Katie and I, and all of them can shoot the ball very well. If I had to foretell how our club season would go, our height disadvantage indictates that we are going to be fast, push the ball a lot, and be scrappy defenders. On Wednesday night, September 9th we will be playing a game against the Kilkenny Ladies, so we will see how accurate my assumptions are…
Victory Scholar: Jazmen Boone
Present University: Waterford IT
US League: CAA
Club/Community Partner: Waterford Wildcats
Alma Mater: The College of William and Mary
Sponsored by: Teamwear Ireland
