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In high school, I started in over a hundred consecutive varsity basketball games.

We had a really good team and I was a good player, but not the star. When I was recruited by Coach (Brad) Fischer to come to the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, I was excited to have the opportunity to continue my basketball career.

Once I finally met my teammates and started working with them at practice, it was easy to understand that they were all the best or one of the best players on their high school team. Competition for playing time was fierce.

Even though I thought I was ready for the challenge, I became aware at my first scrimmage game that I needed more work. I was playing help defense in the lane and left my girl out in the corner. A player drove in the lane, and kicked it to the girl I was defending for an open three. I did my job at stopping the penetration in the lane, but was late on my closeout to the shooter. Swish…welcome to college basketball!

My freshman and sophomore years were not easy. I had to learn so much about playing at the college level. Any mistake, no matter how small, can quickly change the outcome of a game.

During my freshman year, I played a total of 29 minutes and scored three points. I will admit, I was a little discouraged about the lack of playing time, but there was nothing I could do besides work to get better. I went to practice every day with the mindset of not only was I going to get better, but I was going to help my teammates get better as well. So that’s what I did; showed up every day and worked as hard as I could.

My sophomore year, I played 108 minutes. I could feel myself getting better, but still not enough to overcome the talented players that were ahead of me. I had a couple of moments during games where I knew I could play at the college level, which motivated me to keep on improving.

By my junior year, my coaches trusted me enough to make me a part of the rotation. I was able to perform at a level where I received honorable mention All-Conference recognition.

Now as a senior, I’m one piece of a very successful team. Having already locked up a WIAC Championship and a WIAC Tournament Championship, I am very excited to be once again playing in the NCAA Division III Championship. It is a great feeling!

When this season does come to an end, I will look back and not once regret my decision to come to UW Oshkosh and play for the Titans. It was a lot of work. To maintain a high GPA that Coach Fischer and Coach (Kelly) McNiff expect from their players; combined with the weight training, practices, games and long bus rides, was challenging. But I wouldn’t have traded it for anything.

Through the support of my teammates and coaches, this has been an extremely rewarding journey. I have made a lot of friends and learned a lot about myself and what I am able to achieve.

Being a member of the UW Oshkosh women’s basketball team will always be a part of me.

Forever a Titan!

Melanie Schneider

Titan Women’s Basketball