Starting College - Kaitlyn Eisenhard

So far my college experience has been going great!  I am taking four classes here at The Mount, Symposium, French, Intro to Criminal Justice, and Math 111.  I really enjoy the Symposium class, because I have an awesome teacher, and we always have great discussions in the class.  I also enjoy my math class because it is a lot of logical thinking, and it is a bit of a challenge.  I live on the second floor of Sheridan Hall, and my roommate’s name is Rebecca.  I’ve become very close friends with a group of kids that are from New Jersey.  I usually hangout with them in my free time, and we either go to dinner or go shopping.

Basketball has also been going great.  It’s awesome to be part of a team at The Mount ,and it has definitely made my first month at The Mount a lot easier.  I have a few classes with some of my teammates.  Practices are a lot different from high school, but I am enjoying the changes.  I like all the new information I am receiving from the coaches and the players.  I am learning a lot of new things.  I am very excited for our first game!  It has been a great start to college!

#45 Kaitlyn Eisenhard

Starting College - Kathleen Belanger-Finn

This weeks begins a three-part series by each of our freshman, detailing the experiences of their first couple of months here at The Mount ... ENJOY!

My start of college has been hectic to say the least. The hardest part is getting into a routine and getting organized in order to balance school work and basketball practices. Especially being a biology major, keeping up with 18 hours of classes per week, 7 am lifting every day, conditioning in the afternoon, basketball individuals some days - it leaves little room for distractions! However, by the third week I got into a pretty good routine and free time on the weekends was great to sleep and recover.

Jackie, Rachel, Me, Kaitlyn and Jenn

 

The first months of college are a great time to make new friends outside of the basketball team. I met a lot of new friendly people to hang out with other than my teammates. However, at the end of the day we always go back to hanging out with our team, because we are like a family going through the same crazy schedule and basketball experience.

#3 Kathleen Belanger-Finn

How Was Your Summer? - Mariah Powell

My summer went by extremely fast but it was very eventful. I spent the months of June and July at the Mount. At The Mount I spent most of my days going to class, and doing basketball workouts. On the weekends were the most fun because I got to spend lots of time with my wonderful teammates outside of the court and classroom.

Me with Jackie and Jenn

In August when I got to go home for a couple weeks before school, I spent some time with my friends and family. I also got some shopping in, I absolutely love to shop. I also went to the beach with my family. We went to the ocean, went mini golfing, biked, played basketball and eat at amazing restaurants. I can truly say I had an all around amazing summer.

--#13 Mariah Powell

How Was Your Summer? - Coach Keys

This summer was an excellent time for our program, as well as an enjoyable one for me personally. The NCAA allowed us coaches to work two hours per week with those student-athletes who were on-campus for summer school - the first such time this was permitted in Division I women's basketball. So while our team was here in its entirety through June and Jly, we were able to get a great jump ahead on the upoming season. I also took recruiting trips to Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee, New Jersey and Washington, D.C. on the search for the next generation of Mountaineers. I saw some great basketball, and crossed paths with numerous coaching buddies along the way.

Jane Albright is the head coach at the Univ. of Nevada, and a good frined I caught up with in Kentucky.

My wife Christy became the Assistant Registrar here at Mount St. Mary's in July. The change allowed her to move here from the job she was leaving in Virginia, where we moved from before last season. We bought a new home here in Emmitsburg, and we recently found out we are expecting a baby girl in February. We also invited a new puppy into our family. "River" is a female, yellow American Labrador who is now about 18 weeks old.

Christy and I on the court holding our future Baby Girl's onesie! Go Mount!

I am looking forward with great anticiption to my second season with the Mount St. Mary's women's basketball program. The players here have welcomed and accepted me with open arms, and I truly love going to work every day with such happy and genuine coaching co-workers.

-Assistant Coach Josh Keys

How Was Your Summer? - Coach Whitten

My summer was pretty good, but went by much too fast.  Our season is so long, spending time with my wife Angie and our 2 boys, Jamie, 5, and Brayden, 3, is always a highlight.  One of my favorite things to do is take the kids to the pool.  We usually call it boys day/night and we always have a great time.  This year we took a few trips as well. We went to Hershey Park for 3 days, and to Dutch Wonderland for 2 days.  We’ve been going to Dutch Wonderland every year for 3 years now and the guys love it.  Now that they are a little older, for the 1st time ever, Angie and I took a vacation without the boys.  For her birthday, I surprised Angie with a long weekend in the Bahamas.  It was great to send time together with her!!

Basketball-wise, this summer was a little different because it was the 1st summer we could work out with our players.  As a coach, that is my favorite time, being on the court with our kids.  Summer is always busy with recruiting, and this summer was no different.  We graduate 5 seniors this year and our staff did a terrific job recruiting and we feel we’ve signed an super class.  I traveled to Ohio, Florida, Chicago, DC, and Georgia.  Chicago pizza is definitely all it’s cracked up to be and there is an amazing Mexican spot in Georgia!!  Seeing coaching friends you don’t get to see much is always a great part of July as well. 

I hope your summer was awesome and I hope you’ll be following us this season!!

#ExpectExcellence

Coach Whit

How Was Your Summer? - Rachel Mathews

          My summer was great! I was fortunate enough to hangout with good friends and family, while being able to earn some extra cash money. I worked for the school system back home subbing, and then when the school year was over, I worked in guidance with the counselors. Then I got to go to the beach 3 times this summer! Twice to Myrtle Beach in South Carolina, and once to Sea Isle in New Jersey. It was great being able to go with teammates, spend time with family, and see friends that I hadn't seen all summer. We had a BLAST on each trip! Like always though, I got sunburned every single time.

typical night of summer school with the girls

          Other than working and my beach trips, I was able to come to the good ol' Mount for summer school. It was great being with my teammates! We had many good times together and laughed A TON! There's nothing better than morning team workouts and then late night workouts just for fun. Oh yeah, and the constant trips to Chipotle! It was just a fun time being together and allowing for our team chemistry to continue to become stronger (if that's even possible since we are already so close). While I am going to miss my family and friends back home, it feels nice to be back here on the mountain with my second family.

--Rachel Mathews

How Was Your Summer? - Jayla Leftwich

This summer was a very interesting summer for me personally. Even though I am sophomore it was my first summer having workouts due to my injuries. This summer taught me how to push my self in ways that I didn't think I knew how. It also made the bond with my teammates on the court a lot stronger. Learning each others strengths and weaknesses helps us learn how we can help each other grow.

My sisters and my future nephew.

When I returned home I enjoyed time with my family. I got to see my little brother for the first time in almost a year. I also was able to go to a couple of his football practices and games. Spending time with my family makes me understand how important they are. But not only my family at home but also my mount family. Overall I enjoyed my summer and the people I spent it with.

Family is important, because they are there when you need a shoulder to lean on.

#5 Jayla Leftwich