Senior Players Will Be Missed

By Becky Griggs

To three senior girls, this year's girls basketball team was worth waitingfor

Playing basketball at Liberty was different than I ^xpected,"saidLynnJames,aseniorwho has beenonthe team for fouryears "Iexpected tohave one coach, butI had three. Ithought we would have betterteams in the past, but this one was worth waiting for."

This year isthe fourth year that the girlsbasketball team has been Division I. Seniors Lynn James, Wendy Johnson,and JeriWiley have played throughout those years

Division Iislikea totally different game from high school," Jerisaid "I've had torelearnthe game Theskill of opponents adds a lot more pressure. The girlsare quicker, stronger and smarter."

All threeof the girls claimthat second yearCoach Rick Reeves and playing Division Ihave both made a difference for the team. "Our playing ability has increased tremendously,"Wendy said."CoachReevesworkswith usindividually,and goesovermorefundamentals. Playing Division Imakes you want topracticehard."

Reeves said thatthe senior girlshave provided great leadership for the team. "When Ifirstcame,they accepted thefactthatIdid thingsdifferently Lastseason we set a win record forDivisionI,and now theybelieve they can win. I've heard many people say, 'They play hard and they never give up.'"

Senior JeriWiley waited two years before she joined theteam. "When Ifirst came here, Iwas burnt out from highschool," shesaid "Icame hereto study, notto play ball.Aftertwo yearsof watching the team play, Imissed it. When Coach Reeves came,he gave me a shot."

Theseniorgirlsare awareoftheirresponsibilitiestothe underclassmenonthe team. "I feellikeIshouldbea good exampleby goingtoclasses(academics),havingthe right attitudeand showing them thatIcare,"Wendy said.

Playing basketball has helped enhance Jeri'stime at Liberty "I've metalotofpeoplethatIwouldn'thavemet, like other athletes,"Jeri said. "It has also helped me disciplinemy time asfaras studies."

Lynn said thatthe seniors have developed one main thing. "More of a team concept. Inhighschool, we were all thebest. Here, we had tolearntowork asa team."

As theseniors leaveLU, theywill carrylasting memories with them.

"My fondest memories willbe away games,and just having fun together asateam," Wendy said.

"Theteam is veryclose," Jerisaid. "Where oneofus is, you always seetwo orthreemore."

The "senior leaders"have been a fineexample tothe girls on theteam, and their memory will be cherishedin the years to come. "They'vehad adramaticinfluenceon our team attitude," Reeves said. "They have turned the program's attitudearound."