Kaester Gives Fans Inside Access with Blog Posts

DURHAM, N.C. - Throughout the fall, senior Christie Kaestner will post blog updates, giving fans an inside access to Duke women's lacrosse. Read her first post below for the inside scoop on the beginning of the fall season.

Hello everyone from sunny Durham!

I'm so thrilled you are catching up with Duke Women's Lacrosse and I'll be your tour guide throughout the year...let's see if I can keep you properly up to speed with the always exciting and never dull lax team! It has been a crazy few weeks in Durham as the freshmen moved in and got their bearings (all seven of them, we couldn't be more thrilled with a group of girls), sophomores moved to West campus for a taste of the upperclassmen life (their rooms are huge how did they luck out?!), juniors got their own apartments either on campus or off (the kitchens will be put to use, Kat Thomas is a culinary wiz), and finally, the seniors sat down to figure out how our time flew so fast and just how amazing we will make our final year.

After attending a million orientation events, figuring out where classes are, buying books, hanging pictures and posters, catching up with old friends, making new ones, exploring the off campus nightlife scene, investing in nerf guns, and trying on all our new Nike gear, it was time to crush the run tests and get ready for the main event: lax! We were fortunate enough to have an incredible session with Lt. Col. Mark Tribus and his wonderful and rather buff cohorts to kick off the year. A team building and strengthening exercise, we had a military training session that tested our inner strength, outer strength, and unity as we battled our own selves to be strong, be committed, and be ourselves. As Lt. Col. Tribus always says, "Be you. You are enough." After two grueling hours of competition with each other and ourselves, our team came out the other side with flying colors, demonstrating willpower, perseverance, and strength. I personally got emotional looking around me and seeing a team that will fight to be the best. I could not ask to be surrounded by better girls through my last year.

With Mother Nature smiling down on us we donned our new pinnies, brushed off the old cleats, and rummaged around for those pesky goggles to begin practice! As per usual, the first day of practice is always one gigantic adrenaline rush, with everyone flying around the field, cheering the entire time, and simply purely elated to be back on the grass. After losing my voice from cheering on day one (I gotta work on those vocal chords), we stretched out with Daddy Howser, our lifting and running coach, and talked about how great the year is going to be. Eager to learn and ready to compete, Duke Lax 2010-2011 has officially kicked off! Check back in for more updates to come!

Duke Lax Love,

- Christie Kaestner, #7

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