Nov. 25, 2012

Hi GymCat Fans!

This past weekend we had our first ever team retreat!! We are all so thankful that we were able to spend a weekend away with each other, and it was an experience none of us will forget. We spent our time together in this amazingly beautiful house up on Mt. Lemmon, complete with an awesome fireplace - perfect for making s'mores! It was incredibly peaceful up there for the weekend, and it definitely gave the whole team a chance to relax and recharge. We went on a hike Saturday morning, which was a definite success considering no one got lost or fell off the side of the mountain. It was great to be able to take in all the scenery; it was a view that no picture taken could have done justice.

It also gave us time to do some serious team bonding GymCat style. We played about 27 games of Mafia over the weekend (and if you have never played Mafia you are seriously missing out), and we screamed a bunch at the TV while watching The Wildcats take on Utah. We also had an opportunity to do some team building activities with Dr. Goldman, the sports psychologist here at U of A. He's a super cool guy, who had some really helpful and effective tactics to make our team even stronger than it already is. We learned that each one of us play a specific, yet equally important, role on this team, and it's going to take all of us collectively to work together and accomplish our shared mission.

This weekend only made me, and I'm sure the whole team, more excited for this upcoming season. I've never been a part of a team that is so determined and so cohesive as this team - we're like a family. I'm only a freshman, but I can feel the excitement everyone has for this year. We talked about how the term "all in" in poker means you are betting everything you have on one hand. The term "all in" is a sign that you have confidence, confidence with all of your being, in one, singular thing. Being "all in" means believing so fully in something that you are willing to risk everything you have for that one thing. Well, that one thing happens to be this team. The GymCats. We're all in, we're putting everything we have into this team, and we won't be folding anytime soon. Get pumped guys because this season is going to be awesome!!

Beardown Cats,

Shelby