Our final conference games of the season (and final home games) were against Oberlin. These games were very important because they would play into our fate of making it into the NCAC tournament. The games were set to be played on Saturday, but due to bad weather they were pushed to Sunday.
Playing on Sunday, we won both games. This allowed our team to solidify second place in the conference. This means we earned our way into the NCAC tournament!!
Since these were the final home games, this was also our time to honor the Seniors! Marissa, Gwen, Lauren, and Rachel have put in four years of hard work into our program. They have also contributed to this team to help us have the winning-est season in Wooster softball history.
Before the game all of the underclassmen met at the field and decorated the dugout and field to help honor them. We also put pictures of them all around and had gifts for them. This was a great way to help honor them, but the best was getting the W's on the day and making our way into the tournament conference and softball history.
Danielle
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Friday, April 27, 2012
Final Week in Biology
Since I am a biology major, I thought I would share some of the exciting work that I have been doing in my Animal Behavior class. Almost every biology course has a lab that goes along with it that lasts from 1-3:50 one day a week. Since I am in an Animal Behavior lab, most of the labs we completed consisted of observing animals and their behavior to find what might be influencing their behavior.
Instead of giving us a final exam, my professor chose to give us a final project. She had a choose an animal (that could easily be maintained in the lab) and we had to research that animal and devise an experiment that future labs could perform. Originally I chose to work with butterflies, but after receiving them from a distributor in Florida, they didn't live very long. After talking with my professor, she suggested that I would with wolf spiders. These spiders are known for females cannibalizing males after mating and another student in my class was observing this behavior. My professor thought it would be interesting to have me observe it from the males point of view. Other studies conducted suggest that males can sense when a female is hungry and is less likely to mate with her in order to save his own life.
I am not a huge fan of spiders (or a fan at all, to be honest) so I wasn't sure how this was going to go. Yesterday was the first day that I worked with them and it went pretty well. I don't actually have to touch the spiders and they are rather small, so that definitely helps. There was a clear difference in the males behavior when he was exposed to a hungry female and a female that had been fed. On Tuesday I will be completing some more trials and then presenting this lab to my classmates on Wednesday.
I think this was a great idea to really become engaged in the class and it is nice that there is one less final that I will have to study for! Even though I plan on going into healthcare, this was an interesting class to learn more about the behavior of animals.
-Danielle
Instead of giving us a final exam, my professor chose to give us a final project. She had a choose an animal (that could easily be maintained in the lab) and we had to research that animal and devise an experiment that future labs could perform. Originally I chose to work with butterflies, but after receiving them from a distributor in Florida, they didn't live very long. After talking with my professor, she suggested that I would with wolf spiders. These spiders are known for females cannibalizing males after mating and another student in my class was observing this behavior. My professor thought it would be interesting to have me observe it from the males point of view. Other studies conducted suggest that males can sense when a female is hungry and is less likely to mate with her in order to save his own life.
I am not a huge fan of spiders (or a fan at all, to be honest) so I wasn't sure how this was going to go. Yesterday was the first day that I worked with them and it went pretty well. I don't actually have to touch the spiders and they are rather small, so that definitely helps. There was a clear difference in the males behavior when he was exposed to a hungry female and a female that had been fed. On Tuesday I will be completing some more trials and then presenting this lab to my classmates on Wednesday.
I think this was a great idea to really become engaged in the class and it is nice that there is one less final that I will have to study for! Even though I plan on going into healthcare, this was an interesting class to learn more about the behavior of animals.
-Danielle
I.S. Symposium
Today is a very exciting day at the College.. I.S. Symposium! Each year on a Friday in April, all of the classes on campus are cancelled so that students and faculty can engage in the I.S. topics that seniors have spent their whole year working on.
Most seniors create posters about their topic and are designated an area and a time slot to present their posters and answer any questions that spectators might have. As underclassmen, this is a great opportunity to be involved in I.S. It gives students the opportunity to see what topics other people have worked on and a chance to generate ideas for their own I.S.
For the most part, I.S. Symposium is pretty relaxed and gives students the opportunity to not only look at posters and listen to talks, but to catch up on work of their own! Some professors will require students to complete a quick write-up on one of the posters so that they know students are engaging themselves.
Today after observing some of these topics, I will be working on homework and try to get ahead on my assignments for next week! This weekend is going to be very busy and with the last week of classes next week, finals aren't too far away. On Monday I have a biology quiz and my last Spanish exam. Then on Tuesday I have a presentation in Spanish and I have some lab work that needs finished. Wednesday I will be presenting about my lab topic (I will elaborate more later) during my lab period in the afternoon. After this, my week will be more relaxed and I will begin to focus on studying for my exams. What a busy week it will be!
-Danielle
OWU
On Wednesday we hosted Ohio Wesleyan for our Strike Out Cancer games. Going in with a goal of a sweep, we had high expectations for the game. The first game was a nail biter and everyone was excited in the dugout (and nervous!). The game went into eight innings and offensively there were a lot of contributors at the plate to seal the win.
After winning the first game, we knew we had to come out with the same intensity in the second game in order to be successful. This time we were able to win the game in 7 innings with a 3-0 score. These were really big wins and it was great to have a team effort.
As of now, we are ranked second in the conference and on our way to reach one of our goals of the season: making it to the NCAC tournament. Our last conference games are tomorrow against Oberlin and it is essential that we play our game. Coach always tells us "Control what you can control. We have to play our game. The only thing that changes everyday is the opponent we are facing." Saturday is also our last home game, so it will be Senior Day. I can't believe the end of the season is almost here already and the seniors will be graduating.. After the games the parents will be putting their resources together and hosting a cook-out/dinner for all of us.
It's a great day to be a Scot!
-Danielle
After winning the first game, we knew we had to come out with the same intensity in the second game in order to be successful. This time we were able to win the game in 7 innings with a 3-0 score. These were really big wins and it was great to have a team effort.
As of now, we are ranked second in the conference and on our way to reach one of our goals of the season: making it to the NCAC tournament. Our last conference games are tomorrow against Oberlin and it is essential that we play our game. Coach always tells us "Control what you can control. We have to play our game. The only thing that changes everyday is the opponent we are facing." Saturday is also our last home game, so it will be Senior Day. I can't believe the end of the season is almost here already and the seniors will be graduating.. After the games the parents will be putting their resources together and hosting a cook-out/dinner for all of us.
It's a great day to be a Scot!
-Danielle
Monday, April 23, 2012
Academic Update
Since season is in full swing as well as academics, I haven't been blogging as frequently. It can be tough to maintain both academics and stay on top of your softball game, but we all make it work. I am actually more productive during season since my time is limited. I do not particularly like studying on the bus and I definitely cannot read on the bus, so I always try to get ahead academically so when we have away games I do not fall behind or have to stay up late.
The beginning of our season was filled with away games, but now that we have reached the home game stretch, it has been a lot easier to complete work before and after games. We gain time because we are not traveling on the bus. It is also nice because we have the ability to eat in Lowry as a team after the games (and we usually can't get there soon enough!).
Last week was pretty busy for me since I had my final biology exam and a written homework assignment for my religion class. We also had games on Tuesday and Thursday, which are usually my work days since I have class all morning on Monday, Wednesday, Friday. I had a few early mornings, but I was able to get all of my work done in a timely fashion before the games. This always helps to relieve stress!
This week isn't quite as busy. We have a game on Wednesday and Saturday, so softball won't interfere with my academics and I don't have a lot of assignments due. Next week, however, I have two presentations due (biology and Spanish) so I should start working on those now. Only two more weeks left of the semester before finals! The end of the semester always comes so fast, especially with softball season. But I am always anticipating summer and, hopefully, warm weather!!
-Danielle
The beginning of our season was filled with away games, but now that we have reached the home game stretch, it has been a lot easier to complete work before and after games. We gain time because we are not traveling on the bus. It is also nice because we have the ability to eat in Lowry as a team after the games (and we usually can't get there soon enough!).
Last week was pretty busy for me since I had my final biology exam and a written homework assignment for my religion class. We also had games on Tuesday and Thursday, which are usually my work days since I have class all morning on Monday, Wednesday, Friday. I had a few early mornings, but I was able to get all of my work done in a timely fashion before the games. This always helps to relieve stress!
This week isn't quite as busy. We have a game on Wednesday and Saturday, so softball won't interfere with my academics and I don't have a lot of assignments due. Next week, however, I have two presentations due (biology and Spanish) so I should start working on those now. Only two more weeks left of the semester before finals! The end of the semester always comes so fast, especially with softball season. But I am always anticipating summer and, hopefully, warm weather!!
-Danielle
OWU--Strike Out Cancer
Some quick promotional work--
On Wednesday we will continue our conference play against Ohio Wesleyan. This is not only a big game because of the conference play, but this is also out Strike Out Cancer game. Each each we choose a special cause that is cancer related that we want to help raise money for. Last year we helped to support a local little boy, Mason, that had been diagnosed.
This year we are supporting Lung Cancer Research. One of the girls on our team has had experience with this in her family and we thought it would be a great focus for this years game! Before we went to Florida the team was split into a few different groups. These groups were then given a list of businesses around the Wooster area and we went out to see if these businesses would like to donate or help us raise money. Many of them made contributions that we can raffle off at the game, while others made flat donations. Each year every member of the team also receives ten envelopes that we address to our family members to tell them more about the game and ask if they would like to donate as well.
This year we have had a lot of success with fundraising for this great cause and we are really looking forward to playing! If you can make it, we would love to see you at the game!
-Danielle
On Wednesday we will continue our conference play against Ohio Wesleyan. This is not only a big game because of the conference play, but this is also out Strike Out Cancer game. Each each we choose a special cause that is cancer related that we want to help raise money for. Last year we helped to support a local little boy, Mason, that had been diagnosed.
This year we are supporting Lung Cancer Research. One of the girls on our team has had experience with this in her family and we thought it would be a great focus for this years game! Before we went to Florida the team was split into a few different groups. These groups were then given a list of businesses around the Wooster area and we went out to see if these businesses would like to donate or help us raise money. Many of them made contributions that we can raffle off at the game, while others made flat donations. Each year every member of the team also receives ten envelopes that we address to our family members to tell them more about the game and ask if they would like to donate as well.
This year we have had a lot of success with fundraising for this great cause and we are really looking forward to playing! If you can make it, we would love to see you at the game!
-Danielle
Telescope
Even though the softball field is on the Northern edge of campus, many students still venture up to the field. Sometimes when we are practicing, the Ultimate Frisbee team will be practicing at the bottom of the hill or some students will be having a picnic or tossing a ball around.
Since our field is not closed off, people have the opportunity to venture onto it and sometimes leave some belongings behind. One day when we went to practice we saw a white thing on the roof of the shed where we keep all of the field maintenance equipment. At the end of practice we went to check it out and realized it was a telescope! After it remained there for about a week, Marissa decided that she wanted to actually use it. So I thought it would be a good idea to take a picture and share it with you.
Since our field is not closed off, people have the opportunity to venture onto it and sometimes leave some belongings behind. One day when we went to practice we saw a white thing on the roof of the shed where we keep all of the field maintenance equipment. At the end of practice we went to check it out and realized it was a telescope! After it remained there for about a week, Marissa decided that she wanted to actually use it. So I thought it would be a good idea to take a picture and share it with you.
Here is Marissa showing off the telescope after practice! It will be interesting to see if it actually works and if she can see anything cool!
-Danielle
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)