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By David Watson Boomerang Sports Writer
“It’s an Attitude. Cowgirl Up.”
That phrase is the moniker and motivation of the University of Wyoming Cowgirl volleyball program.
And just in case it happens to be forgotten, it’s on the cover of their individual player notebooks that goes where they go at all times.
Cowgirl Up has also become a challenge not only during the intense preseason practices filled with strength conditioning, drills, position specific workouts and scrimmages, but for team-bonding contests as well.
The Cowgirl Up Challenge features a go-for-broke, no-holds-barred downright competitive lineup of unthinkable tasks in the confines of the UniWyo Sports Complex.
As the players split into smaller teams, so far there has been competitions for the best team name, best war cry, an egg toss and the dirty diaper race, which involved an obstacle course of sorts ending with … well, imagination can take it from there.
“The Cowgirl Up Challenge is just another way to build relationships and get to know each other,” first-year UW head coach Carrie Yerty said. “We are trying to establish a competitive environment in everything we do, and part of being a successful volleyball program or a successful team is having balance.
“When they walk into the gym, I want it to be their haven and really love what they are doing. I also want them to know that when it comes time to take care of business, then we will take care of business. But it’s not all about the ‘W’ on the scoreboard. College athletics is an avenue for the rest of your life, and if we can establish that, learn and grow together, we will be a better team.”
The highly sought after and hotly contested prize is the “trophy hat” meticulously crafted by graduate assistant coach Sara Hinrichs.
“The winning team has to wear that all over the place for every team function,” senior libero Carissa Lee said.
And that includes before and after practice, in the dorms and at Washakie Center dinning hall.
The player notebooks are also another tool for motivation and a consolidation of important program information.
The notebooks include: a mission statement; fight song; match schedule; monthly calendar; practice schedule and what is expected for each practice; contact list; travel information; scouting reports to fill out before games; team goals (specific, attainable and measurable); volleyball positions; information for play sets and defensive sets, inspirational quotes and stories; academic guidelines; NCAA rules and regulations; training room and dorm expectations and recruiting information.
“The most important part of the notebook is to define the expectations so that the program has a starting point. It’s their team bible and it has everything they need to know about Cowgirl volleyball,” Yerty said.
Lee added: “We bring it with us all the time. It has all the information we need starting with the team creed — We give our all, all the time. We do not give up. We do not give in. Think big. Unite big. Step out big. We say that at the start, in the middle and at the end of every practice.”
David Watson’s e-mail address is davidw@laramieboomerang.com
