Living in a college dormitory is unlike any other living experience you have ever had (even if you are a boarding school gal). I went from having my own room (even the whole upstairs and bathroom to myself after my sister left for college my junior year in high school) to sharing a small dorm room with another girl, and sharing a bathroom with about 15 other girls.

Being an athlete, I had the option of living with whoever I wanted, so I chose to live with a soccer girl (who I did not know). I wanted to live with another athlete who has season in the fall, however I did not want to live with another hockey girl because I could not spend that much time with the same person. I HIGHLY recommend rooming with another fall athlete.  A fall athlete, because you’ll have the same early morning training and study schedules.  Having a roommate who’s schedule conflicts with yours – and you may never get any sleep.

Living in a dorm means your mama is not there to tell you when to go to bed, turn down your radio, turn off the TV, do your home work, stop hanging out with friends and tell you that boys cannot go in your room.  This was a crazy transition for me because my mom was VERY strict with me.

Every hall has a few RAs (residential assistants), who are students receiving free board to make sure nothing too crazy happens, however there are no specific rules, curfews, etc.

It is also pretty crazy living in a co-ed dorm. My freshman and sophomore year I lived in an all girls dorm, but this year I chose to live in a co-ed dorm (because it’s more fun, of course). I actually live right down the hall from my boyfriend and all of his friends.  No matter what time of day it is, I can always find a close friend in his or her room.  On the down side, I have had friends who completely did not get along with their roommates, however this is pretty rare.  You just have to communicate with her and respect her stuff/time.

This is NOT my room - but an example of what can happen with no self discipline - and no one to tell you what to do..

Wellllll that is it for now.  Feel free to ask any questions!!

Hasta luego!

Tori Whitcher
University of Richmond, Class of 2011
Go Spiders
World Camp USA, Camp Manager
~ a Top Technical Skill Camp ~

One thing I did not know going into college was how hard-core D1 spring season is. We have a dry spring – I’m 21 – but that means no alcohol – ever.  7AM lift and running workouts Monday-Friday and afternoon hockey practices, and the second half of the spring season we have all day weekend tournaments where we play against other schools.

This week, being the first week back, and getting situated with new classes, we had lift testing Monday, Wednesday and tomorrow (Friday) and had conditioning testing this morning and an intense workout Tuesday morning.

Basically every girl on my team, including myself, is limping around campus feeling like a truck ran over our bodies.

This is why we do it. Me with the 2009 A10 Trophy

 Want to see a great goal by my teammate in the A10 Semis against  Umass – going one-on-one with the U21 Nat.  team GK – a Golden Goal to win!

Stay tuned for more spring season updates!

Tori Whitcher
University of Richmond, Class of 2011
Go Spiders
World Camp USA, Camp Manager
~ a Top Technical Skill Camp ~

Why do I do it…             

When being recruited in high school for College – I looked at D3 schools, D2 schools – and high to low end D1 schools. The D3 and D2 coaches basically guaranteed I would be a high impact player as a freshman, and said that I could help them win their NCAA championship. Although this sounded amazing, I wasn’t satisfied.  I wanted to be the best player I could potentially be. I know that if I went to Bentley, Babson, (two top Business schools) even Georgetown or UVM, I would always wonder what I could have been and how far I could have gone with my hockey game.  When I committed to the Richmond Spiders (who had won 5 consecutive Conference Titles and had a top 12 undergrad Business school), I knew that I would be challenged mentally, physically and academically.  I knew that I would train long hours year round and sacrifice the typical college lifestyle. I knew that I would be one of the weaker players on the team and would have to work even harder to catch up to my teammates (A Massachusetts player vs Pennsylvania players). And I knew that I would have to earn a spot on the field, rather than being guaranteed a spot.

Now, in a different time in my life, three-quarters into my spider hockey career, and preparing for the A10 title which gets closer every moment, there is so much to think about.  Mainly – why do I want to win…

I want to win it because my teammates and I have sacrificed so much in the past two years and have put so much time and energy into this season.  I want to win it because my coaches have put their lives into this program.  I want to win it for all of the past spider hockey ladies, and the many more to come after I leave. I want to win it for my father, who has supported my hockey game more than I deserve. I want to win it for Sierra, my teammate, who is trying to win a fight against cancer. I want to win it for the seniors, because they have been through so much over the past four years and will never have this opportunity again.  And I want to win against UMass, because they booted us out of the tournament the past two years. 

While all of these reasons are so important to me, and I would want to win this title for any single one, there is something deeper in this weekend for me.  This weekend is the reason why I chose to come to Richmond. I know that if/when I step on the field this weekend, I have worked tirelessly hard for that spot.  I sacrificed so much for that spot and pushed myself further than I could have imagined for that spot. 

It is so much more rewarding knowing that I deserve to play, rather than being guaranteed to play.  It is so much more rewarding knowing that the team I am playing for has the potential to win the A10 title, compete to be in the NCAA D1 tournament and play teams such as Maryland, which is the highest competition in the country.  When I step on the field on Friday, I know that at that time, I will be the best player I could have been at that time. This title would make all those awful Futures practices, which I had to drive 3 hours to do for 5 years, worth it.  It would make all the stress of being recruited and ‘being seen’ worth it. This title would make sacrificing my college social life worth it.  It would make all those nights I spent up studying because I had couldn’t study in the afternoon because of practice, worth it.  It would make all the dreaded lifts worth it….this list could go on and on.

No matter what, I know that I will never have the regret of wondering what type of player I could have been and how competitive of a team I could have played on.  Winning this title is the epitome of working hard as hxxx, living up to one’s full potential and deserving to win.

Tori Whitcher
2009 A10 Champions
World Camp USA Camp Manager
www.worldcampusa.com

Tori Whitcher
University of Richmond, Class of 2011
Go Spiders
World Camp USA, Camp Manager
~ a Top Technical Skill Camp ~

1) Do NOT get drunk.

2) Put your cell phone AWAY.  

3) Before you visit make a list of questions about the school and the hockey program and ASK them.

4) Visit all of the hot spots, ie. the locker room, the field, the gym, the dining hall, the library, dorms, training room, class rooms, etc. 

5) Keep in mind that the coaching staff changes continuously and girls on the team quit and come on.  So while the girls on the team and the coaching staff are important – they should not be a deciding factor. 

6) Do not visit over the summer or during that college’s vacations.  When you visit a school without the student population on campus, you do not get the whole effect of the school.

Tori Whitcher
University of Richmond, Class of 2011
Go Spiders
World Camp USA, Camp Manager
~ a Top Technical Skill Camp ~

When I was in High School I always wondered what a typical week was like for a college hockey player. In High school it was same old same old – wake up at 6 AM, go to the same classes every day until 2 and then had hockey practice or had a hockey game til 5, had dinner, did homework and then went to bed. College life is very different.  First off, you get to pick your classes and make up your schedule.   Mondays I do not have class, Tuesdays I have 3 classes and Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays I have two classes.  I have a lot more free time than I had in high school but one thing I did not know my freshman year was how to use that free time wisely.  On average, for every hour you are in class you get three hours of out of class work.  Every day I get to the locker room at 2:20 –  the athletic dept does our laundry each night because we have workout outfits assigned we have to wear.  At 2:45 we warm up at the field and start practice at 3:00.  Our field is next to the dining hall so we all go from practice to dinner (and yes, we are smelly). By the time we are all done lingering in the dining hall, (usually its about 7:30) we shower (either in the dorms or in the locker room) and then have the whole night to study, read, meet with groups about projects, maybe have night class or hang with friends and procrastinate. Most schools have games on Friday and Sundays – when we have games  Fri/Sun we have a very intense workout on Tuesday, conditioning and then have lift. Wednesdays are intense and long as well but are more focused on hockey and what we want to accomplish over the next weekend. Thursdays are what we call a walk-through which basically means a practice before a game.  Some times walk-throughs are very short and easy and other times they are just as long as a normal practice but it is almost always a lot easier on the body.  Saturdays are very easy and short, we usually review film from the day before, and Mondays we have off.

Tori Whitcher
University of Richmond, Class of 2011
Go Spiders
World Camp USA, Camp Manager
~ a Top Technical Skill Camp ~

Coming in my freshman year I mainly focused on my conditioning – and while I was in amazing shape and could easily run a sub 6 minute mile, I quickly learned that no matter how much you can lift, how fast you can sprint or if you can or can’t run a marathon, the only thing that will get you on the field is how well you play hockey. The summer going into my sophomore year I made it a goal of mine to completely step up my game, so every day from June 19 to preseason I dribbled a half a mile – no matter the weather or how sick I was – I even came home early from an amusement park with all my friends to do so. This year I needed to work on my vision and passing so this past summer after all the World Camp campers left the field for dinner I would grab a bag of balls and ask other counselors to do small scrimmages with me.

Preseason isn’t that bad if you come in shape (hockey shape and fitness shape) but most importantly with a good attitude (I know it sounds wicked cliche, but it is so true).  Preseason will be awful if you come in not super excited to play and win – it takes a ridiculous amount of energy to stay mentally and physically focused throughout each session during preseason and in order to have a successful one, you have to be in the right spirit (but i guess you wouldn’t join a D1 program if you didn’t have that, would you?). 

Alrighty, well that is my schpeel for now.  How hope you got a little taste of what D1 preaseson is like – and if you have any questions please ask!!! 

Speaking of preseason good luck with all of your preseasons!! One piece of advice: DO NOT COMPLAIN!! it will solve nothing and only irritate other people – be optimistic and encourage your teammates (trust me, you will be rewarded for having a good attitude). 

Peace, love and hockey    

-Tori

Tori Whitcher
University of Richmond, Class of 2011
Go Spiders
World Camp USA, Camp Manager
~ a Top Technical Skill Camp ~

Thanks to Mathijs Van Weerd for putting this together.

——————————————–

TECHNO:

Alex Gaudino – Destination Calabria
Blaue Flecken (Mike Candy’s Remix)
Blue Boy – Remember Me
Bob Marley vs Funkstar Deluxe – Sun Is Shining
Bob Sinclar feat. Sugarhill Gang – Lala Song
The Bucketheads – The Bomb
Calvin Harris – I’m Not Alone
Dance 2 Trance – Power Of American Natives
David Guetta feat. Kelly Rowland – When Love Takes Over
Dizzee Rascal feat. Armand van Helden – Bonkers
Earth, Wind & Fire vs. Phats & Small – September ‘99
Guru Josh Project – Infinity 2008
Gwen Stefani – What You Waiting For (Jacques Lu Cont Vocal Remix)
The Jackson 5 – ABC (Freemasons Remix) (and more from Jackson 5)
Junior Jack – Must Be The Darkness
Madison Avenue – Don’t Call Me Baby
Mighty Dub Cats – Magic Carpet Ride
Miss Jane – It’s a Fine Day
Modo – Eins, Zwei, Polizei
Norman Doray & Tristan Garner feat. Errol Reid – Last Forever
Panjabi MC – Mundian To Bach Ke
Planet Funk – Chase The Sun
Soulsearcher – Can’t Get Enough
Spankox – To The Club
Tiga – Shoes
TNN – La Cucamarcha
Tobias Schulz – Sonnenschein
X-Press 2 – Lazy (Original Edit or Moto Blanco Remix for more uptempo)

DUTCH ARTISTS:

Dio feat. Sef – Aye
Esmee Denters – Outta Here
Flinke Namen – Als Zij Langs Loopt
De Jeugd Van Tegenwoordig – Watskeburt
De Jeugd Van Tegenwoordig – Shenkie (especially for Danny’s teams)
De Jeugd Van Tegenwoordig feat. Katja – Kerstplaat
Gabber Piet – Hakken en Zagen
Pete Philly & Perquisite – Mellow
Pete Philly & Perquisite – Mistery Repeats
Typhoon – Bumaye
Valerius – She Doesn’t Know

American/English (pop/R&B):

Beyonce – Halo
Black Eyed Peas – Boom Boom Pow
Black Eyed Peas – Tonight’s Gonna Be A Good Night
Chris Brown – Forever
COldplay – Viva La Vida
Common feat. Pharell – Universal Mind Control
Daniel Merriweather feat. Wane – Change
Del Tha Funky Homosapien – Mr. Dobolina
Dizzee Rascal feat. Calvin Harris – Dance Wiv Me (or with..)
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – Summertime
Empire Of The Sun – Walking On A Dream
Flo Rida feat. Wynter – Sugar
Flo Rida – Right ROund
Ini Kamoze 0 Here Comes The Hotstepper
Jason Mraz – Make It Mine
Jessie McCartney – Beautiful Soul
Jordan Sparks feat. Chris Brown – No Air
Journey – Don’t Stop Believing
Kanye West – Heartless
Kanye West – Touch The Sky
Kelly Clarkson – My Life WOuld Suck Without You
Kid Cudi – Day ‘N Nite (Crookers Remix)
The Killers – Spaceman
The Killers – Human
Kings of Leon – S.. On Fire
Lady Gaga – Poker Face
Lady Gaga feat Colby O Donis – Just Dance
Lil’ John – Snap Ya Fingers
Linkin Park – New Divide
Madcon – Beggin’
Michael Buble – Everything
Michael Jackson – Billy Jean (Daft Punk Remix) (and all others of MJ)
OMD – How Bizarre
Pitbull – I Know You Want Me
The Pussycat Dolls – Jai Ho (You Are My Destiny)
Robin Thicke – Magic
Ron Carrel – Walking Down The Streets (With My Nikes On)(Radio Edit)
Sam Sparro – Black & Gold
The Script – The Man Who Can’t Be Moved
Sean Kingston – Fire Burning (On The Dancefloor)
Sergio Mendes – Funky Bahia
Shaggy – Mr. Boombastic
Skee Lo – I Wish
Taylor Swift – Love Story
Taylor Swift – You Belong With Me
The Ting Tings – That’s Not My Name
T-Pain – Bartender

DEMO MUSIC:

Daft Punk – Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger (Alive 2007 Remix)
Da Rude – Sandstorm
DJ Tiësto – He’s A Pirate (Tiësto Remix)
Felix – Don’t You Want Me
J & R Prohect – Keep It Up
Parla & Pardoux – Liberté
SO Project – Direct Disco
Storm – Time To Burn
Zombie Nation – Kernkraft 400

Tori Whitcher
University of Richmond, Class of 2011
Go Spiders
World Camp USA, Camp Manager
~ a Top Technical Skill Camp ~

Peace Love and Hockey,

-Tori

World Camp USA FOREEVVAAAA

Tori Whitcher
University of Richmond, Class of 2011
Go Spiders
World Camp USA, Camp Manager
~ a Top Technical Skill Camp ~

Tori Whitcher
University of Richmond, Class of 2011
Go Spiders
World Camp USA, Camp Manager
~ a Top Technical Skill Camp ~