Gwen Svekis played with the USA Elite team this summer.
Blog: Svekis' Summer with Team USA
09/19/16 | Softball
Junior catcher Gwen Svekis recounts her time competing with the USA Elite team this summer
This summer was a crazy, exhilarating, eye-opening experience.
Everything was new and exciting and I am beyond fortunate for the time spent playing. At the beginning of the summer, we (the Elite team & National team) did everything together. We practiced together a little bit, we ate meals together, and stayed at the same hotel together. The coolest thing for me about being mixed with the National team was I got to get to know people that I have grew up wanting to play like, but it never felt like we were divided "us" and "them". Yes, they had more experience than our team did, especially on the international level, but it was never like we were inferior to them. We were all just girls who played softball and got the privilege of wearing "USA" across our chests. As the summer continued, however, we separated more and had different schedules, so we stopped practicing with them, and got to get to know each other on the Elite team much more personally, as players and as people.
Practices were usually two-a-days, with defense in the morning and then hitting after lunch. For the first week of the summer, this was the schedule everyday. Most of the girls had just come off of a long season, so it was definitely physically taxing, but it was also imperative that we got a lot of work in because we had one week to get ready for the rest of the summer's games. As a catcher, this was a particularly awesome experience because I not only got to work with other catchers that currently play in college, but I also got to work with Tairia Flowers, who played for USA and won gold. Having a head coach that was a catcher was so awesome because unlike most scenarios, there was a lot of time during practice put aside specifically for catching. Typically, catching work can be put on the back burner, so this was very valuable to me because I got to learn new things and choose what worked for me and add it to my game.
The coolest moments of the summer while playing were in the Japan game of the World Cup. We played a lot of teams, with a lot of different rituals and customs, but Japan was by far the coolest team to play. Additionally, it was such an intense game, that ended on a squeeze play in the bottom of the seventh. Though we lost, it was one of the best games I have ever gotten to be a part of. Another cool thing while playing was being able to watch my best friend compete. My closest friend from home, Meghan King, plays for Puerto Rico, so I was fortunate to get to watch her play and succeed in person again because now that we're in college, I rarely get that opportunity anymore. I also found it very cool listening to other teams communicate in their native languages while playing. Often I feel like I am stuck in this American bubble, and it was so cool to get to step outside of it and see other customs.
My favorite thing about the summer was seeing and meeting so many Pac-12 girls on the team. On the Elite team, there was Ali Aguilar (Washington), Madeline Jelenicki (UCLA), Bubba Nickles (UCLA), Mysha Sataraka (UCLA), Chip Bennett (UCLA), Hannah Flippen (Utah), Annie Aldrete (Cal), and of course Cheridan Hawkins. All of these girls I had played against for two years and you automatically make assumptions about their personalities when you play them on the other side of the field, but through USA, I got to know these girls on a personal level. I can't wait to play against them this year and give hugs or just say "hi"Â and ask how everything is. I can't even begin to explain how lucky I am for these connections.
I also got to know girls that play for some of the best teams in the country, girls that have the same goals and dreams that I have in college, and who have competed for the national championship at the WCWS. Even though we all came from different places, when we came together, it didn't matter what school we played for; We were all there to compete for our country, and to have fun while doing it. On top of all of that, I roomed with Cheridan for the bulk of the summer, and got so close with her. I was lucky to play two years of college with her, but even more fortunate to get an extra two-and-half months playing with my Cher Bear. I will never be able to explain how fortunate I am to have her in my life, and I could't think of a better person to have shared this experience with.
This summer made me remember why I play softball. College is a grind, and it's hard. It definitely isn't for everyone. Some days, it's hard to remember why you play, but this summer helped me remember. I am so lucky to have gotten to play with the girls that I got to play with, and for the coaches I got to play for. I will never be able to thank the 2016 USA Elite team for coming into my life because even if that team never exists as a whole again, it is forever something I will cherish. I can't wait for what the future holds for USA softball, and no matter what, I am so fortunate to have gotten the chance to wear those three letters across my chest. Hopefully I will get to again.
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Everything was new and exciting and I am beyond fortunate for the time spent playing. At the beginning of the summer, we (the Elite team & National team) did everything together. We practiced together a little bit, we ate meals together, and stayed at the same hotel together. The coolest thing for me about being mixed with the National team was I got to get to know people that I have grew up wanting to play like, but it never felt like we were divided "us" and "them". Yes, they had more experience than our team did, especially on the international level, but it was never like we were inferior to them. We were all just girls who played softball and got the privilege of wearing "USA" across our chests. As the summer continued, however, we separated more and had different schedules, so we stopped practicing with them, and got to get to know each other on the Elite team much more personally, as players and as people.
Practices were usually two-a-days, with defense in the morning and then hitting after lunch. For the first week of the summer, this was the schedule everyday. Most of the girls had just come off of a long season, so it was definitely physically taxing, but it was also imperative that we got a lot of work in because we had one week to get ready for the rest of the summer's games. As a catcher, this was a particularly awesome experience because I not only got to work with other catchers that currently play in college, but I also got to work with Tairia Flowers, who played for USA and won gold. Having a head coach that was a catcher was so awesome because unlike most scenarios, there was a lot of time during practice put aside specifically for catching. Typically, catching work can be put on the back burner, so this was very valuable to me because I got to learn new things and choose what worked for me and add it to my game.
The coolest moments of the summer while playing were in the Japan game of the World Cup. We played a lot of teams, with a lot of different rituals and customs, but Japan was by far the coolest team to play. Additionally, it was such an intense game, that ended on a squeeze play in the bottom of the seventh. Though we lost, it was one of the best games I have ever gotten to be a part of. Another cool thing while playing was being able to watch my best friend compete. My closest friend from home, Meghan King, plays for Puerto Rico, so I was fortunate to get to watch her play and succeed in person again because now that we're in college, I rarely get that opportunity anymore. I also found it very cool listening to other teams communicate in their native languages while playing. Often I feel like I am stuck in this American bubble, and it was so cool to get to step outside of it and see other customs.
My favorite thing about the summer was seeing and meeting so many Pac-12 girls on the team. On the Elite team, there was Ali Aguilar (Washington), Madeline Jelenicki (UCLA), Bubba Nickles (UCLA), Mysha Sataraka (UCLA), Chip Bennett (UCLA), Hannah Flippen (Utah), Annie Aldrete (Cal), and of course Cheridan Hawkins. All of these girls I had played against for two years and you automatically make assumptions about their personalities when you play them on the other side of the field, but through USA, I got to know these girls on a personal level. I can't wait to play against them this year and give hugs or just say "hi"Â and ask how everything is. I can't even begin to explain how lucky I am for these connections.
I also got to know girls that play for some of the best teams in the country, girls that have the same goals and dreams that I have in college, and who have competed for the national championship at the WCWS. Even though we all came from different places, when we came together, it didn't matter what school we played for; We were all there to compete for our country, and to have fun while doing it. On top of all of that, I roomed with Cheridan for the bulk of the summer, and got so close with her. I was lucky to play two years of college with her, but even more fortunate to get an extra two-and-half months playing with my Cher Bear. I will never be able to explain how fortunate I am to have her in my life, and I could't think of a better person to have shared this experience with.
This summer made me remember why I play softball. College is a grind, and it's hard. It definitely isn't for everyone. Some days, it's hard to remember why you play, but this summer helped me remember. I am so lucky to have gotten to play with the girls that I got to play with, and for the coaches I got to play for. I will never be able to thank the 2016 USA Elite team for coming into my life because even if that team never exists as a whole again, it is forever something I will cherish. I can't wait for what the future holds for USA softball, and no matter what, I am so fortunate to have gotten the chance to wear those three letters across my chest. Hopefully I will get to again.
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Players Mentioned
LHP
/ SoftballSunday, May 17
Saturday, May 16
Wednesday, May 13
Wednesday, May 13
