Athletics Student Blog

Just a quick note to inform all readers that......

THE JUDSON COLLEGE SOFTBALL TEAM HAS QUALIFIED FOR NATIONALS!!!! 

Today was the BIG day! We received our bid to go to the "big tournament"! It's what we've worked for all season. The tournament will be held in Akron, Ohio at Firestone Stadium.

Stay tuned for more updates!! =) =) =) =) 

- Samantha Jo =) 

 Once again, folks, here I am blogging at the wee hours of the morning! Like I’ve stated many times before, it’s that quiet time that I’m allowed just to myself to take a few moments and reflect…..

I would like to welcome (not so willingly) to my life, the long awaited stress of senior-hood. Although I am, by hours, considered a junior, my social standings belong with the seniors. I will be returning to Judson again in the fall for the final go-round, but just recently it has begun to dawn upon me that this will be the last...

I barely remember life before Judson. It seems like she’s always been there and been a part of me.  When I graduate in 2012, what will life then become? What is going to fill the missing pieces of my heart?

Which brings me to my main idea up for discussion, Judson College makes me happy.  Judson houses everything that I, myself, feel is necessary for happiness. I have certain career goals that good ole’ JC is helping me to accomplish. But with each day I become a step closer to those goals. This brings much fear and stress. Fear of failure and unhappiness, and many more emotions are present as we step toward this milestone day. College graduation is not like that of high school. I cannot say that it is more meaningful, but I will say that it’s something of which I will actually be proud. 

Part of me wants time to freeze, so I can stay here forever. It’s become a part of my life. I can already see myself on that day. I’ll cry a little. I’ll laugh a little. I’ll be excited about being free for a little. Then, I think in passing, it will hit me. Even though I will always be a Judson Girl, my time here will be done. I’ll pass the cap and gown off to my little sister’s class. It’ll be her turn to make her mark.

Some students just go to college. At Judson we actually live it. It’s more than anything I would have ever expected. My rapidly approaching graduation is affecting me more than I fathomed that it would. Even now just writing this and thinking about it, I shed a tear. There have been times that I’ve hated school with every inch of my being, but where would I be without Judson and her guidance?  Sisterhood is something that some don’t understand. These bonds and ties will stick with us forever.

There will always be a Judson, and she’ll always have a senior class. We’ve been shaped and molded into our own creations. It will soon be our time to figure out what we are made of in the real world. The memories I have made will always be a treasure. They will be kept tight in that special place in my heart, a place where only Judson Girls will understand. You have to experience it first-hand or you will just never know.

As a freshman, I took for granted certain aspects about this place. Being a senior makes me appreciate it so much more. I appreciate all that I have been taught, these lessons don’t just happen in the classroom. If I had gone to another school my life would have been so different and I am grateful for where I have ended up. Judson’s impact on my life has been tremendous.

This is goodnight and not goodbye.

Goodnight, Sweet Dreams.

-Samantha Jo =) 

So... We athletes like to call those serious pre or post game pow-wows “come to Jesus meetings”. I know pretty much everyone out there has experienced one, sports related or not. Sometimes they are just what you need to get the fire burning, or in our case, to get the ball rolling. I’m not sure why they are called this but in my experience good things happen after these little chats.

Our chat on Tuesday after our first game against Gadsden State Community College went a little bit like this…..

Get your head in the game!

That’s pretty plain and simple right? Well, let’s just say from there on out it’s been nothing but good things. We ended up beating Gadsden State in the second game, which is great for me since that’s my hometown! I got to see a few friends that I played ball with in high school that now play for that team. Today we had our first game in our very own tournament that we are hosting in nearby Selma. We played AUM (Auburn University Montgomery), and even though they are significantly “larger” than we are, we played with a lot of heart. I couldn’t be more proud of my team. We did end up losing but not by errors! We hit. We fielded. We made those ESPN plays, but just fell short.  Coach Jones knew how well we played, and offered up nothing but kind words at the end.

Tomorrow is another day which means more games. We have two games on Friday and two games on Saturday. We are hoping to add a few more “W’s” to our list before we head off for Spring Break. If we continue to progress like we are, then it is possible that we will return to the big tournament at the beginning of May.

Nationals, here we come! I can almost taste it.

-Samantha Jo =)

“We need to learn how to win! " – Coach Jones

Would you say that this is a true or false statement?  I could see how some would say false.  I mean really how do you “learn” to win?  I mean either way it’s a matter of opinion. What does learning to win mean? I understand hard work and dedication, but what else goes into winning? After all, I really just want to be successful.  After our loss to Bishop State on Wednesday, Coach blessed us with this quote. One of his more serious ones I might add. This quote full of meaning, stuck with me and I’ve actually been pondering it the last few days…. How do we learn to win?

Sometimes winning isn’t always about the physical. I personally think the mental plays a key role in sports (and in life for that matter). You have to believe you can win. You have to become accustomed to winning.  Sometimes when you get on that losing bandwagon, you feel like you just can’t get off. I think what Coach wants us to do is…. Believe.

Believe  when you’re hitting.

Believe  when you’re diving after that ball.

Believe  when you’re sliding into home plate.

We have the will power. We have the skills. We have everything possible to produce wins, but what is it that is missing?

True Story: This is the best team I have EVER played on. Yes, I know it’s early but we have great team chemistry and we are in it to win it. Maybe it’s like that movie “Facing the Giants”, our time will come….

Tomorrow we have a double header; we are going to put these new ideas into effect. We may win… We may lose….  But I believe we can do this. =)

 -Samantha Jo