2008 Woodie Awards
Hawks primed for a comeback
Brendan Stiles - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 2/13/08 Section: Sports
Shocked. Disappointed. Feeling distraught.
These were some of the feelings members of the Iowa softball team had last May as they watched the "NCAA Selection Show," only to see their name not called despite finishing fourth in the Big Ten. In the process, they watched Penn State, which finished eighth in the conference, make it.
"I know that when we all got together and watched in front of the big screen, it was really hard," sophomore outfielder Taylor Leichsenring said.
But, while it was difficult to accept that missing the tourney for only the second time in 13 years, the players who are back in 2008 believe not being there last year is enough to fire them up.
"Once we realized we weren't in, that was Day One," junior shortstop Erin Riemersma said. "It has been a huge motivational factor for us. Through the summer workouts, through the fall, winter, we were reminded of that feeling on that day."
After watching her players put in the time and effort during the off-season, coach Gayle Blevins said that while improvements can still be made through the course of the season, she likes what she has seen.
"Our group collectively has a lot of energy, a real strong sense of 'team,' " she said. "That's going to be the difference for us this year, that ability to always put the team first and make that the first thing that we focus on.
"I feel like our group has done a real good job in its off-season of just making progress in its game."
As Iowa prepares to start its 2008 season in the Twin Cities over the weekend in the Metrodome Tournament, not a lot appears to be expected - the Hawkeyes come in unranked, while three Big Ten teams - Northwestern, Michigan, and Ohio State - are all nationally ranked.
But that doesn't mean the players don't feel the expectations come with wearing the Hawkeye uniform.
"I think everybody feels like we are the underdog now," Leichsenring said. "We're going to be the underdog in every tournament, so I think there is a little bit more pressure, but I think it's a good pressure, because it makes us feel like we can do it."
These were some of the feelings members of the Iowa softball team had last May as they watched the "NCAA Selection Show," only to see their name not called despite finishing fourth in the Big Ten. In the process, they watched Penn State, which finished eighth in the conference, make it.
"I know that when we all got together and watched in front of the big screen, it was really hard," sophomore outfielder Taylor Leichsenring said.
But, while it was difficult to accept that missing the tourney for only the second time in 13 years, the players who are back in 2008 believe not being there last year is enough to fire them up.
"Once we realized we weren't in, that was Day One," junior shortstop Erin Riemersma said. "It has been a huge motivational factor for us. Through the summer workouts, through the fall, winter, we were reminded of that feeling on that day."
After watching her players put in the time and effort during the off-season, coach Gayle Blevins said that while improvements can still be made through the course of the season, she likes what she has seen.
"Our group collectively has a lot of energy, a real strong sense of 'team,' " she said. "That's going to be the difference for us this year, that ability to always put the team first and make that the first thing that we focus on.
"I feel like our group has done a real good job in its off-season of just making progress in its game."
As Iowa prepares to start its 2008 season in the Twin Cities over the weekend in the Metrodome Tournament, not a lot appears to be expected - the Hawkeyes come in unranked, while three Big Ten teams - Northwestern, Michigan, and Ohio State - are all nationally ranked.
But that doesn't mean the players don't feel the expectations come with wearing the Hawkeye uniform.
"I think everybody feels like we are the underdog now," Leichsenring said. "We're going to be the underdog in every tournament, so I think there is a little bit more pressure, but I think it's a good pressure, because it makes us feel like we can do it."
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