Caitlin Howe Diary

Oct. 15, 2002

Hello everyone! Hopefully, I can share some insight into the lives and times of the Duke Women's' basketball team this season. But first, let me introduce myself.

My name is Caitlin Howe. I am a freshman from Rochester, New York. I will tell you about my family now because I'm sure I will write about them this season (this also helps to explain my personality because I am fourth out of six kids). We are often called the Brady Bunch because we have three girls and three boys. My family is my inspiration. My parents are probably the most amazing people I know but as you may have guessed, a little crazy (they did have six kids!)

Speaking of my mom, she and my high school coach, Karen Thull, came to visit me this weekend because Duke had fall break. Jessica, my teammate from Australia, and I were the lone team members of the basketball team still on campus because the rest went home. The next chance we'll get to go home will be Christmas (for only two days). We start practice officially on Tuesday night. I'm a little nervous, but mostly just excited. Every time I think about practice starting on Tuesday, I can't help but smile. We could have started earlier according to NCAA rules but Coach G wanted to give us a few days off between preseason and starting practice.

Preseason consisted of lifting weights (three times a week), playing pick-up, and vigorous conditioning (both in the pool and on land). Unfortunately, for most of preseason, I was limited to watching and cheering on my teammates from on top of a stationary bike due to injuries. I spent more time with Joe Angus, the women's' basketball trainer, and the rest of the medical staff than anyone else on campus. We joked that I should move my mattress into the training room! I was really proud of how my teammates consistently worked hard and kept a positive attitude, especially when preseason got hard. I think our strength and conditioning coaches, William Stephens and Jeff Houser, did a great job getting us physically prepared for the season to come. I can't wait to start practice - we will all be challenged.

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Caitlin Howe

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