In a 7 a.m. practice last Friday, Penn freshman Rachel Wilson was bursting with energy.
Toward the end of the three-hour workout, the team split up to play an intersquad scrimmage.
Many players appeared drained from the strenuous drills. But not Wilson.
The Washington, D.C., native slapped the floor and screamed "Defense!" and seconds later grabbed a steal.
Wilson outleted the ball to junior Mikaelyn Austin and sprinted up the floor with a determined look on her face.
But as she set up on the left side of the key, she received unexpectedly a hard pass and turned it over to the other team.
While she may have bobbled that particular pass, the important thing is that next time, maybe in another practice or even in an actual game, she will be ready.
Wilson, like her fellow freshmen, Katie Boeck (Milwaukee, Wis./Milwaukee Lutheran), Jennifer Fleischer (New Hartford, N.Y./New Hartford), and Henley Hansen (Snohomish, Wash./ Lakeside School), is slowly learning the adjustments needed to make the transition from high school to college basketball.
Though practice and coaching are crucial to developing basketball skills, the support of their teammates has eased the off-the-court changes that college inevitably brings.
This aspect of team unity, in which the veterans care for the rookies, is stressed constantly by Penn coach Kelly Greenberg.
"Even during my recruiting trip, everyone was really nice and welcoming," Hansen said. "They know what we're going through and so they've made the transition much easier."
On the court, the freshmen often compete against each other, as they are all forwards and centers. Indeed, they have the unique opportunity to work together as a freshman class, so to speak, to help each other improve and learn the new system.
The primary reason for recruiting power forwards and centers this year, according to Greenberg, was to compensate for the loss of Julie Epton.
"After Julie left, we only had one player above 6'0," Greenberg said. "My goal was to bring in size, and so three out of the four recruits are above 6'0."
While college basketball is indeed a change from high school -- in terms of the style and speed of play and higher level of intensity and competition -- all four rookies seem to relish the challenge.
"Basketball at Penn is more physical in the post, it is faster paced, and everyone is good, which are all changes from high school," Hansen said. "But it's so much fun to be pushed every day; you rise to the level of your competition."
Boeck echoed the words of her teammate.
"The game is a lot more intense, you have to be ready to compete always," Boeck said. "But I love the change. You have to play with so much energy and just go crazy!"
While Boeck seems eager to partake in college basketball, her role on the team thus far has been limited to "cheerleader," Greenberg said, as she has been sidelined due to a back injury.
But the three other freshmen have proven their abilities and established their respective roles on the team.
"Rachel is a smaller forward and is playing behind three other people, but she must continue to play hard and make herself better," Greenberg said. "Henley is very tough and has a bright future on this team and Jenn has already made great strides and her size will contribute immediately to the team."
One would think that adjusting from high school stardom -- as all four of them experienced -- to playing on the bench, would be a tough blow to one's ego and a tough change to accept.
Boeck received first-team All-Conference and honorable mention All-Area recognition.
Fleischer earned Central New York Player of the Year and All-State honors.
Hansen was a first-team All-Metro and second-team All-State honoree in 2001-2002.
And Wilson was a McDonalds All-American nominee in 2002.
But these first-year players have all checked their egos at the door of the Palestra. They are all more than happy to contribute to the team in any way possible -- be it playing hard in practice to improve the players who get more minutes in games or just cheering on the team.
"I'll do whatever they need me to do, I'm ready and willing to help the team," Wilson said. "It does not matter whether I play or not. The most important thing is that we win."
"If you're on the bench and encouraging your teammates, that is still helping the team," Boeck said. "Everyone is involved somehow on this team."
A few plays after Wilson's mishandled pass during Friday's practice, Fleischer received a behind-the-back no-look pass and also had difficulty controlling it.
"In high school, I wouldn't normally get no-look passes," Fleischer said. "It takes time to get used to."
Fleischer, like Wilson, is slowly adjusting to playing for Penn's women's basketball team -- learning to mold her game in a way that complements her teammates and allows for the team to improve as a whole.
Indeed, the freshmen foursome has learned invaluable lessons throughout Penn's month of practice.
As they battle and grind in the low-post, fighting for every rebound and loose ball, giving it their all and striving to improve, they'll do it together, hoping to contribute to the team in any way possible.
And if their size is as beneficial as Greenberg anticipates, then the rookies' ultimate goal may in fact be achieved -- the freshmen quartet will help Penn work its way back to its second Ivy League Championship in three years.
