TommieSports Blog

When I was younger, I loved the holidays. It was my favorite time of the year. My favorite holiday was Christmas. Then it was a tie with Halloween and Easter for second. Now as I grow older I still love the holidays, a time for families to come together and celebrate. But, I have added another favorite to the collection…March Madness.
March is the best time of the year for basketball players, fans and coaches. March Madness is when dreams are made, champions are crowned and preparation meets opportunity.

Although the opportunity is in the present, the preparation began long before the season started. During the off-season, players are visualizing hitting the last second shot or scoring the big free-throws to win the championship game. In Schoenecker Arena our players worked endlessly for this opportunity. In each of these situations, their team wins and they never face the fear of the unknown. Now, in the present, players are filled with anticipation, anxiety and hope. It is exciting. Through these emotions, you see team determination, commitment, and care. This is team unity. As these emotions continue to build, you begin to see teams handle them differently. Some teams display uncertainty, hesitation and fear. Other teams show a will to win, a determination to be the best they can be. This is what I want from my team. This is why I am most proud of them. They understand the true value of competition. How the emphasis has to be on the process and being your best and giving it your best shot. They have learned from the journey. This is true celebration. Being your best, with people you respect and care for. What an amazing process!

At this time of year, it is important to remember the beauty that athletics brings with its ability to provide opportunity for its participants to grow, develop and be the best they are capable of being. At St. Thomas we are blessed with players, Alumni, fans, and people who have given their best to make us special! This is our beauty…the people in our program.

God has given us gifts and talents to use to our fullest. Let us enjoy the gift of the present at this time of year. Take chances and risks to allow ourselves to grow and be the best we are all capable of being.

Enjoy this time of year. It is a holiday! A whole month to celebrate what is great about athletics and basketball. I know I am excited, prepared and ready for the great month of March. My Tivo is set to record all the games. Make the most of the opportunities provided and be your best. Make it what you want it to be… Make it something special."Llife is not the amount of breaths you take; it is the moments that take your breath away! "-Unknown.

Posted by Ruth Sinn at 02:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The beauty in our women’s basketball program is the people. Each player, parent, coach, alumnae, booster and community member bring our program pride and character. Basketball is a lot like life – full of ups and downs, twists and turns. By playing the game you love, you learn a lot about life. This year our team read the book, “Make the Big Time Where You Are” by Frosty Westerling. From this book we learned the value of healthy competition, pushing yourself and teammates to maximum potential, and striving to be the best. The Basketball arena provides us with this opportunity of self-discovery, both individually and collectively as a team.

Our motto this year is “Play Like a Champion” with the expectation to give championship effort in all that we do. This goes against societies’ philosophy of number one or no one. We live in a credit card world where we get it now and pay for it later. This year our women’s team is all about commitment. A commitment to excellence, championship standards, each other, hard work, and making our days here at St. Thomas count. We wear the jersey with pride, purpose and class.

As the holiday season approaches, we all must take a look at what we can be thankful for in our lives. I can honestly say this group of young ladies is a blessing to me as a coach as well as our St. Thomas community. They epitomize the spirit of St. Thomas, as did the spirit of St. Thomas Aquinas, the entrepreneur, who believed in maximizing opportunities.

Our team is continuing to establish our identity and grow together on this journey. We look forward to what lies ahead and the excitement of being all that we are capable of becoming. God bless you and your family this holiday season.

Posted by Ruth Sinn at 02:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

2007-2008 Blog
Posted by Ruth Sinn 11/13/2007

When does a season officially begin and end? Officially, we began our 2007-2008 season on Monday October 15th. Unofficially we began after our final game last season when a group of our sophomore players decided they wanted more: more dedication, more purpose, and more from themselves and their teammates. So it began last spring in the weight room, at the football field with agility and conditioning drills, and in the arena for open gyms. It continued to build in the summer with leagues, individual workouts, more lifting, and more open gyms. As the ‘official’ season began this fall, it all came together with the establishment of a unified women’s basketball culture. Our culture is grounded with a shared vision of excellence. Excellence is each of us working towards maximizing our full potential, as well as, working together as a team to bring out the best in each other.

In speaking to this belief of excellence, our motto this season is to play like a champion. Everyday, whether we are in the weight room, classroom, or on the basketball floor, we give championship level effort and enthusiasm. Holding ourselves accountable is how we evaluate ourselves and ensure we are maximizing our full potential.

We are now in our fifth week of the basketball season and the past four weeks have been fantastic! Our hardworking, purposeful, and enjoyable practices and scrimmages have enabled us to make great strides as individuals and as a team. A true team is where everyone on the team has a voice, feels ownership and pride to the team, and contributes their gifts to the team unconditionally. Our team is a ‘true team’ and they are a joy to be around. I love coaching because of the people. Having the opportunity to get to know these young ladies is so rewarding. Their spirit, care and commitment to bringing out the best of each other sets them apart. They understand the true meaning of success. The journey!

Our first game is scheduled for this Friday November 16th. As a team with a vision and purpose, we are prepared and focused for the task at hand. We understand that this season, these games, are something we must work for, work through, and keep investing ourselves in being the best we can be. “Good, better, best; never let it rest till your good is better and your better is best”. We also understand that improving is all about change. Learning from our mistakes, and welcoming the challenges we will face with a belief and a certainty that we will succeed. We are ready to be in the arena… and dare greatly… for we know we will… play like a champion!

Posted by Ruth Sinn at 06:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)