Update: Gators Chomping at the Bit During Competition Week
Thursday, January 20, 2011 | Lacrosse
The University of Florida women's lacrosse team has been busy this winter… outdoors. While every other team ranked in Lacrosse Magazine's Preseason Poll had snow on their field, the Gators have continued their preseason practices outside in 70 degree weather. Last week, a winter storm covered every state in America, canceling classes, delaying travel plans and postponing various sports' practices and games. Every state, that is, except Florida.
The Gators have taken to Dizney Lacrosse Stadium this week for Competition Week. Competition Week has become a new tradition for the Orange and Blue in their second year as a team. Competition week is a five-day competition between the Blue and Orange teams, which are split evenly by position.
The players compete in events in the weight room and in the drills in practice. Each point is recorded and added up at the end of each drill to determine the winner of the drill or event. The team with the most points for each drill or event wins the competition that day. At the end of the week, the team with the most points wins the 2011 Preseason Championship.
“Competition week is an important tradition for our team because the players take pride in their effort and spirit on the field,” Gators assistant coach Erica LaGrow said. “Each player has a vital role in the success of their team. They develop strategies and game plans using the strengths of their team. Leaders develop and emerge during this critical period of our preseason.”
So far, there have been three days of competition between the Orange and Blue squads. On Day One, the Blue team narrowly won the Weight Room Competition by a score of 7-6. This portion of the competition included events such as the 60-yard Sled Push with 100-pound plate, the Stability Hold and Wall Sits with a 45-pound plate.
In the practice competition on Day One, the Orange team answered back, taking the latter part of the day, 11-8.
On Day Two, the Blue team continued to show their success in strength and conditioning challenges, winning the Conditioning Competition with a score of 5-0. In this portion of the events, the teams had to complete Cross-Field Sprints. Points were awarded if the team had the winner of the sprint and also did not have the last person finish.
In the second part of Day Two, the Orange team came storming back, winning in-bounds and scoring drills, taking the Practice Competition by a score of 18-8.
On Day Three, the teams split once again as Blue dominated in the Weight Room Competition, winning the Bar Hold with an average of 29.8 seconds to Orange's 24 seconds. The next event was the 25-pound plate grip hold, where Blue took the advantage with an average time of 72.8 seconds to Orange's 60.8 seconds.
In the second part of Day Three, Orange continued their hold on the Practice Competition, winning 12-10. Blue has won every Strength and Condition Competition and Orange has won every Practice Competition. Day Four (Friday) holds the final Conditioning Competition, as well as the final Practice Competition.
Competition week concludes on Saturday with the final scrimmage, as well as the awarding of the Championship t-shirts and bragging rights for the next year.
“This is one of the players' and coaches' favorite times of the year,” LaGrow added. “We all have fun taking part in the rivalry and competing to win.”
There are two photo galleries for Day Two: Part One and Part Two. You can also see a composite gallery on the official Facebook page of Florida Lacrosse.
| Day & Challenge | Orange | Blue |
| Day One: Weight Room Competition | 0 | 3 |
| Day One: Practice Competition | 11 | 8 |
| Day Two: Conditioning Competition | 0 | 5 |
| Day Two: Practice Competition | 18 | 8 |
| Day Three: Weight Room Competition | 0 | 2 |
| Day Three: Practice Competition | 12 | 10 |
| Day Four: Conditioning Competition | ||
| Day Four: Practice Competition | ||
| Day Five: Scrimmage | ||
| TOTALS | 41 | 36 |
