Women’s Basketball team playing large and taking charge!Women’s Basketball resurrects bigger and stronger
Jamie Garrison-women’s basketball preview
As the players run sprints to the single blow of a whistle, faces beginning to glisten with sweat and grunts of pain reflecting hard work in practice, the Pierce College women’s basketball team prepares for the 2007-08 season.Last season, with an exceptional record of 25-6, was the best in the history of Pierce College women’s basketball. Jim Couch, who is starting his 11th year as head coach, is turning the game up a notch by challenging his players to be the best this year. Since the beginning of the semester, the team has been weight-training twice a week and running four times per week. However, Couch is not only preparing the team to be competitive, but to compete against the biggest opponent: their chemistry.”They all can play, it’s a matter of getting them to the same level,” said Couch. “We’re the best talent-wise this year.”According to Couch, some players are often self-absorbed, and parents have high expectations because they believe their daughter should have gone to a four-year university right out of high school.”Most players think they’re ready to play at a Division 1 college, but they’re not,” said Couch. “A junior college is a reality check.” His goals are to make sure his players are successful by creating the best academic student athletes and having the team aim high. Last season, the coach was forced to forfeit 24 games due to clerical errors regarding some of the players. “It was unfair and a black eye to women’s athletics and the student athlete,” said Couch.Because of this setback, Couch is following through with all paperwork on the athletes. This season, the roster is fully equipped with players who can shoot, rebound and can move the ball up court. “My main motivation is I want to prove we have a quality program at Pierce,” said Couch. “I want to prove we have a good athletic and academic program.” The goal of Ralph Wesson, assistant coach, who is starting his seventh year team, is to win conference and the championships. “Everyday we are improving,” said Wesson.He also hopes to inflict, in each game, what he calls “40 minutes of hell” on their opponent. As the returning players complete their second season this year, Emmilee Ringelberg, guard, whose goal is to transfer and become a nutritionist, stated that “in the program, a player can learn.”Samantha Session, power forward, also plans to transfer and eventually direct a city recreational program.Mary Chirishayn, guard, plans to transfer and step her game up from last season. She “highly recommends” the program.Twin sisters Melodie and Tiffanie Puente, who once played for San Francisco State University, are in the process of looking for four-year schools, according to Couch. Nicole Portius, Taryn Sherman, Bridget Jenkins and Tiara Richardson are freshmen on the team this year.Richardson, aka “Lucky,” hopes to build both her academic and athletic careers at Pierce. “It will be a nice transition when you go to a bigger school,” said Richardson. The first official game will be Nov. 7 at home vs. Victor Valley at 5:30 p.m.