Women's softball team prepares for Spring Break training games in Fla.

By Christopher Gleeson
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

When walking into Plumley Armory, you might hear a break in the usual silence as the women's softball team sprints across the gym floor during their training for the upcoming season.

Leading the Cadets into the field this season will be seniors Jennifer Mangum, Christina Kenny, and Christine Pariseau; all are coached by Dennis Tyner.

The Cadets are returning from last season with only one graduated senior missing from the lineup.

"We have a really strong team this year" said Jennifer Mangum, a 22-year-old sports medicine major from Albany NY. "We ended last season above the .500 mark, and the team this year looks stronger," said Mangum.

Heather Labranch a 19-year-old English major from Bow, N.H., said, "Coach believes that will comes first." Will and determination have been fueling the Cadets as they lift, run, and train at their past few captains' practices as well as on their own. Their official season does not start until next Monday, when Tyner resumes his coaching position after the off-season.

"Our defense is great; we just need some more offense practice," said Mangum. "Our spring trip to Florida will be a good opportunity to sharpen those skills before our season back here."

The Cadets will travel to Fort Myers, Fla. from March 2-9, playing two to three games a day, with only one day to rest throughout the entire week, --against Division I, II, and III teams.

"We have a lot of freshman this year, and they are all good," said Christina Kenny, a 22-year-old sports medicine major from Monroe, NY.

With new freshman as well as new walk-ons and returning players, the softball team will be a force to be reckoned with.

Tyner will be joining the softball team on Monday to kick the season off to an already rolling start, making practices change from captains' practice to coaches' practice.

The Cadets will continue conditioning and training for their spring trip to Florida in March.

Back to Guidon index