In college sports, “redshirt” is a common term that is thrown around.

Being redshirted as an athlete means he or she is withheld from competition but does not lose a year of eligibility.

Freshman Sean Horan is on Butler’s football team and was redshirted this year.

Horan said he wanted to play coming into his first collegiate year, but it just didn’t happen.

“(Coach Jeff Voris) pulled me and the three other redshirted linebackers aside after a practice before the season started and told us that we probably won’t have the opportunity to play this year,” Horan said.

“There weren’t really any other options besides redshirting because I knew I wasn’t prepared to play in a college game just yet.”

Sitting on the sidelines was a new experience for Horan, who was used to starting.

“I was understanding and knew that I was making the team better in practice even though I could not go out on the field on Saturdays,” Horan said.

Junior Sarah Hamm is another Butler athlete who was redshirted this year, but in her case, it was due to injury.

Hamm earned all-conference honors last season for the Butler women’s basketball team but had to sit out this season after she tore her ACL.

Hamm said she thought about trying to battle back from her injury, but she decided redshirting was her best option because of the lengthy recovery time.

Players may receive a “medical redshirt” if they appear in less than 30 percent of their team’s competitions.

Hamm can play next year as a senior and can also compete in a fifth year at Butler if she chooses.

Like Horan, Hamm did not let redshirting prevent her from contributing to the team this year.

Hamm was one of the most experienced players on the team and used her knowledge to help others.

“We have such a young team this year that I think having a more seasoned player on the sidelines to help really helped them understand things a little better,” Hamm said. “As a post player, I’m always watching my fellow posts and seeing if there’s anything I can help them with.”

Hamm took a lot away from being sidelined this year.

“I also feel like I’ll be a smarter player because I have been able to sit on the sidelines and watch a lot of basketball, and I think I’ve learned a lot from being an observer,” Hamm said.

Had she recovered from her injury mid-season, she could have given up her redshirt to help the team out this year because receiving a redshirt does not mean a player is ineligible for the entire year.

The best example of this can be found in senior Becca Bornhorst, another women’s basketball player.

Bornhorst, like Hamm, had a medical redshirt but decided to play in the second half of the season.

A redshirt can be lifted from a player if he or she shows significant talent, growth or recovery.

Bornhorst understood due to the delay in her surgery date that even if she waited out this year, she may have missed next year because of the recovery time for her surgery.

Bornhorst had her redshirt lifted because she missed the game of basketball and wanted to help her team.

“I’m not going to be a starter like I was last year, but, you know, I would be a role player if they need me for a few minutes here and there and just be able to play and practice a little bit,” Bornhorst said.

Bornhorst made her first appearance for Butler on Feb. 17 against St. Bonaventure, playing six minutes in the contest.

Regardless of the situation, it is hard for athletes to be taken from the competition and the game they grew up playing.

“I love playing basketball, and that makes it very difficult to sit and watch,” Hamm said. “It’s hard to have something like that taken away from you.”

The women’s basketball season is about to tip off for Butler, and although the team will still be playing in Hinkle Fieldhouse, the Bulldogs will no longer be playing in the Horizon League.

The team finished with 13 victories against 17 losses in its final season in the Horizon League.

This year, Butler will look to improve on this mark as a new member of the Atlantic 10 Conference.

“Everything is going to be new for us,” Butler coach Beth Couture said. “From top to bottom, the league is going to be much more competitive.

“I’m so excited to be in a league like the A-10 where women’s basketball has such rich tradition.”

The Bulldogs will have only four active returning players when they kick off their inaugural A-10 season.

“Everything is new: the players we have, the conference, the locations,” sophomore forward Haley Howard said. “We just don’t really know what to expect, and I think that will be the toughest challenge for sure.”

Junior center Sarah Hamm earned All-Conference honors last season but will miss the entire 2012-13 campaign with a torn ACL.

The squad’s only senior, forward Becca Bornhorst, recently had knee surgery as well and will not play this season.

The loss of Hamm will leave a gap in the Bulldogs’ lineup that will eventually need to be filled.

“We’re going to have to (fill Hamm’s role) by committee,” Couture said. “(Sophomore center Liz) Stratman will be eligible after exams, which will help us when we get in A-10 play.

“But we’re looking at (junior forward Daress) McClung and (sophomore forward Amanda) Raker to really be the leaders early with their experience.”

Stratman, McClung and sophomore guard Taylor Schippers all transferred to Butler within the last year and are expected to contribute this season.

“The transfers play a major role in this year’s team,” junior guard Mandy McDivitt said. “Each of them brings unique experiences from other programs, and each is so talented.”

McClung and Schippers will be able to play from the outset while Stratman will have to wait until mid-December to join in on the action.

With so many new faces on the roster, returning team members will need to figure out new members’ playing styles and how they will fit on the team.

“We have 10 girls that can go out and play very well and be extremely successful,” Howard said. “I see no problems with team chemistry this year at all, especially for having so many new girls at one time.”

Despite going into this season with many variables, Couture said she does have one aspiration for the team.

“When we leave the floor after a game, we want the people that we’ve competed against to say, ‘Wow, they were a tough team, and they played hard and they played together,’” Couture said, “and if we can accomplish that, we’ll have a chance to have some success.”

As the spring sports season begins to wind down, many teams are already beginning to prepare for their next season.

The football team had its annual blue and white scrimmage, the men’s soccer team had its spring exhibition matches, and five teams have announced additions to their rosters for next year.

Let’s take a look forward and see how some of Butler’s teams will be changing for the 2012-13 school year.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

The men’s basketball team finished the 2011-12 season with a 22-15 record, averaging 40.8 percent shooting from the field and 28.1 percent shooting from beyond the arc. The Bulldogs were ranked eighth and 10th in the Horizon League in those categories, respectively.

The team has a chance to improve with the additions of senior guard and transfer Rotnei Clarke and incoming freshman guard Kellen Dunham.

In three seasons at Arkansas, Clarke averaged more than 15 points per game and shot nearly 44 percent from 3-point range.

Dunham averaged more than 29 points during his senior season at Pendleton Heights High School.

The Bulldogs will also be adding guard Devontae Morgan from Tampa, Fla., and guard Chris Harrison-Docks from Okemos, Mich.

Morgan led his high school team to a state championship last season, averaging more than 15 points and six rebounds per game.

Harrison-Docks averaged 21 points and five steals per game in his senior season.

The team will lose only two players—guard Ronald Nored and forward Garrett Butcher.

Butler will have to make up for the loss of Nored’s defensive prowess, as well as the experience and leadership provided by the pair.

Clarke and seniors Emerson Kampen, Chase Stigall and Andrew Smith will likely be asked to step up and fill those roles.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The women’s basketball team concluded its 2011-12 season with a 13-17 record and said goodbye to two senior guards—Devin Brierly and Kaley May.

Brierly was the only Bulldog to start in all 30 of the team’s games. She recorded more than 32 minutes of playing time per game, averaging 11 points per game.

Sophomore center Sarah Hamm is the only returning player to average more than 10 points per game last season.

Hamm will be joined by sophomore guard Jenna Cobb, freshman forward Hayley Howard and freshman guard Hannah Douglas, who all played key roles on the team last season.

Butler will also be adding four incoming freshman—forward Katie Brewer from Indianapolis, guard Blaire Langlois from Carmel, guard Lexus Murry from Indianapolis and forward-center Olivia Wrencher from West Chester, Ohio.

Brewer is a versatile player who has the ability to knock down three-pointers and battle down low.

Langlois has deep range on her jump shot but also has the ability to make plays with her passing.

Murry averaged more than 22 points per game during her senior season and can also be effective on the defensive end, where she averaged 3.5 steals per game.

Wrencher will bring size to the Bulldogs that will complement the play of Hamm and Howard under the basket.

SOFTBALL

The softball team will lose seven seniors at the conclusion of its current season, including four-year starting outfielder and third baseman Lauren McNulty, Butler’s home run record-holding first baseman Erin Falkenberry and catcher Mallory Winters.

Despite this, coach Scott Hall has five incoming players who could make an immediate impact on the program.

Alex Kotter, a shortstop from Vincennes Lincoln High School, had a .615 career batting average and was an Indiana first team All-State pick.

Chelsea Conover, an outfielder from Brownsburg, led her high school team in stolen bases, runs scored and on-base percentage for three years.

Audrey East is a utility player from New Palestine High School. East is one of the best power hitters in Indiana and boasted a .902 slugging percentage, eight home runs and 47 RBIs last season.

Taylor Lockwood, a pitcher from Southport High School, has good control and will be a solid addition to the pitching staff.

The same could be said for Kristin Gutierrez, a left-handed power pitcher from Highlands Ranch High School in Colorado.

Gutierrez, a 2011 Triple Crown All-American honoree, is a dual threat with her pitching and hitting. She led her conference with 127 strikeouts and recorded a .542 batting average.

The success of the pitching recruits could be key with the loss of senior pitcher Breanna Fisher and injuries to junior pitcher Jenny Esparza this season.

BASEBALL

The baseball team will add four players who could have an immediate impact next season.

Nick Bartolone is a left-handed outfielder from Harrison High School. Coach Steve Farley said he expects Bartolone to compete for position in the outfield next year.

Chris Marras, a catcher from Vernon Hills, Ill., will get the chance to work with two fifth-year senior catchers, Radley Haddad and Nick Hladek.

Nick Saldutti is a power-hitting first baseman from Westfield High School. He hit .477 with a .571 on-base percentage in his junior season.

Drew Small is a utility player from Zionsville. He was an All-State honorable mention.

His versatility and speed will help him compete for a spot in the outfield, especially with the loss of senior outfielder Mike Hoscheit.

The Bulldogs will also lose pitchers Dom Silvestri, Mike Hernandez, Brad Schnitzer, Brian Padove and Ryan Salvino, as well as senior infielder Griffin Richeson.

VOLLEYBALL

The volleyball team is returning eight players who played in at least 50 sets last year and lost only one senior in Maureen Bamiro.

Bamiro, a former middle blocker, finished with the second-best attack percentage in Butler history and sixth all-time in kills and kills per set.

Last season, she was voted All-Horizon League.

The Bulldogs will return sophomore middle blocker Maggie Harbison, who will likely be a key contributor after being voted All-Horizon League last season.

Butler will also add two transfer students.

Freshman Erica Stahl, a transfer from Cincinnati, will be an addition to the middle blocker position.

Stahl only has four sets of collegiate experience under her belt but was named among the top high school volleyball players by the Under Armour Watch list in 2010.

Sophomore Morgan Peterson, a setter from Middle Tennessee State, will have two years of eligibility with the Bulldogs.

She averaged 8.58 assists and 1.41 digs per set last season.

The Butler women’s basketball team scored a 51-48 home victory over Illinois-Chicago on Saturday.

The game was quite a reversal for the Bulldogs (12-13, 8-6), who fell to the Flames (16-10, 9-6) 77-42 on Jan. 19.

With the victory, Butler has now won five of its last six games.

“For me, I think the game was won by toughness,” coach Beth Couture said. “[At UIC], we did not match their toughness, and I thought we did here.”

The first half of the contest with UIC saw the teams exchange the lead six times before a 3-point basket by Butler sophomore guard Mandy McDivitt put the Bulldogs up 25-23 with 47 seconds left.

The Bulldogs ended the half with 20 rebounds to the Flames’ 19.

“I am just so proud of our girls because I felt like, offensively, we never really got in sync,” Couture said. “We really got after [the Flames] defensively, and I thought that was one of the best defensive efforts we have had.”

Photo by Taylor Cox

Butler opened the second half on a 9-2 run, which was fueled by a 3-point basket from senior guard Devin Brierly and four points from junior forward Becca Bornhorst.

After the game, Bornhorst said the team’s 72-59 loss to Valparaiso on Feb. 11 pushed Butler to work hard to win contests.

“We were so disappointed after losing to Valpo,” Bornhorst said. “We should not have lost to them. It benefited us because you can see we worked harder and we played tougher and we wanted it more.”

UIC eventually closed the gap to 49-48 following a 3-point basket by sophomore guard Kobel with 15 seconds left in the game.

The Bulldogs were able to hold on for the win, though, after Brierly successfully converted two free throw opportunities.

Following the victory over UIC, sophomore center Sarah Hamm was named Horizon League Player of the Week.

Hamm tallied a combined 39 points against UIC and Loyola of Chicago, Butler’s opponent on Thursday at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

The game against the Flames proved to be much tighter than the Bulldogs’ 72-46 victory over the Ramblers (11-15, 6-9).

The Bulldogs recorded 23 steals and were led by sophomore guard Jenna Cobb, whose 12 steals allowed her to break the school record and tie the Horizon League record for most steals in a game.

“It is definitely exciting, but a lot of it was our whole team pressuring the ball and allowing me to get those steals,” Cobb said.

Brierly led the Bulldogs in scoring with 21 points.

The Bulldogs will continue their season at Milwaukee-Wisconsin tomorrow before facing off against No. 11 Green Bay on Saturday.

The Butler women’s basketball team got back on track after a six-game losing streak early in the season.

The Bulldogs (10-12, 6-5) came out of an Ohio road trip with two more Horizon League victories after topping Cleveland State and Youngstown State.

Against the Penguins (10-12, 4-7) of Youngstown State on Saturday, a 3-point basket from sophomore guard Mandy McDivitt with 2.3 seconds remaining pushed Butler to a 65-63 win.

Youngstown State was facing a double-digit deficit with 14 minutes to go in the second half.

The Penguins spent nearly all of that 14 minutes battling back, taking a 63-62 lead with 28.7 seconds left in the game.

That set the stage for McDivitt, who came off the bench, to hit her sixth 3-pointer of the contest and seal the win for the Bulldogs.

Butler hit 12 3-point baskets against Youngstown State, besting a previous season-high of eight in one game.

On Thursday, the Bulldogs claimed a 68-62 win over a struggling Cleveland State squad.

Despite receiving double-digit points from three players, the Vikings (8-14, 3-8) could not topple the Bulldogs.

Sophomore guard Jenna Cobb tallied a team-high 21 points for Butler and sophomore center Sarah Hamm posted a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Leading 30-26 at halftime, the Bulldogs went on a 10-2 run in the first four minutes of the second half.

Cleveland State eventually closed the deficit to single digits, but Butler managed to hold the lead and grab the win.

Butler faces in-state and in-conference rival Valparaiso (6-16, 2-9) at home this Saturday at 2 p.m.

The Butler women’s basketball team ended the week on a high note after beating Milwaukee (6-13, 2-7) 76-63 at home on Saturday.

According to Butler coach Beth Couture, working hard for rebounds and assists was crucial for the Bulldogs (8-12, 4-5).

Butler ended the game with 40 rebounds to Milwaukee’s 19.

“I think we were aggressive,” Couture said. “I was really pleased with their fight. At halftime I told them we really have to pick up the defense, and I think that was the difference.”

Sophomore center Sarah Hamm had her best outing of the season, posting a career-high 30 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks.

Photo by Taylor Cox

After the Panthers cut their deficit to one point with 7:04 remaining, Hamm scored two quick field goals to give Butler momentum and a 63-58 lead.

Hamm attributed her success on the floor to her teammates, including junior forward Becca Bornhorst, who had 10 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, and sophomore guard Jenna Cobb, who also posted a career-high 16 points with six assists.

“I think we have to play hard to get out of those kinds of situations,” Hamm said. “I think what really helps me are the playmakers who make things happen and get me points.”

Couture said she also recognized Bornhorst’s positive impact on the game.

“[Bornhorst] having six [defensive rebounds] and four [offensive rebounds] is what we need her to do,” Couture said. “Her 10 points were great, but at the end of the day we really need her rebounds, so I thought she was really good.”

Bornhorst said she tried to find a good formula to help her make good plays for her team.

“I just let the game come to me, and I finally found a rhythm and just played relaxed,” Bornhorst said. “Our team played well all around, and we executed offensively and hit shots.”

The game served as a stark contrast to the team’s 60-36 home loss to No. 9 Green Bay on Thursday.

Despite losing the contest, the Bulldogs kept the Phoenix (19-0, 9-0) to their lowest score of the season. Their previous low was 65 points against Wisconsin.

“I thought in the first five minutes we played really good defense but could not score,” Couture said.

After being down 42-13 at halftime, the Bulldogs attempted to make a comeback in the second half, outscoring the Phoenix 23-18. It bore resemblance to Butler’s 60-57 comeback win over Loyola of Chicago on Jan. 21 but ultimately had a different result.

“We just got back to the gameplan [in the second half],” Couture said. “When you play the No. 9 team in the country, and they play like that, it is hard to make a comeback.”

The Bulldogs will start a two-game road swing tomorrow night at Cleveland State before heading to Youngstown State on Saturday.

The Butler women’s basketball team ended its two-game Chicago trip with a 60-57 Horizon League win over Loyola of Chicago on Saturday.

For the Bulldogs (7-11, 3-4), the victory was their first on the road this season.

“We have played some away games that were pretty close and could have gone any way,” coach Beth Couture said. “Now that we have won one, I think the pressure is off of us. I think the kids were ready, but it had not rolled our way until Saturday.”

The Bulldogs started the game neck and neck with the Ramblers (9-10, 4-4), but two 3-pointers from Loyola junior forward Abby Skube gave the squad a 16-9 advantage.

The Ramblers used that momentum to build a 31-18 lead by halftime.

Butler ended the first half shooting 22 percent from the field, a far cry from Loyola’s 42 percent mark. The shooting discrepancy put the Bulldogs down by as many as 17 points in the first 20 minutes.

“They are a 3-point-shooting team, and we knew if we let them shoot or make a lot of threes, it was going to be hard for us to score with them,” Couture said. “We gave them five 3-pointers in the first half, and that was really the difference.”

In the second half, sophomore center Sarah Hamm led a rally that eventually cut Loyola’s lead to one point. Hamm finished the game with a team-high 18 points and eight rebounds.

“[Sarah] has really stepped it up, and her ability to flat out score inside and out is a huge key to us winning games,” junior forward Becca Bornhorst said. “She has been knocking down threes consistently, which makes her harder to guard.”

The Bulldogs took a 58-56 lead with 1:26 remaining in the game on a layup by freshman guard Hannah Douglas.

The Ramblers were unable to rally, giving Butler its fourth conference victory.

Hamm also led the team with a career-high 23 points in the team’s 77-42 loss at Illinois-Chicago on Thursday.

Despite leading all Bulldogs in scoring, Hamm said she was disappointed in the team’s overall performance.

“Individual performance did not matter in that game because we did not perform well as a team,” Hamm said. “Our team needs to be focused and more tuned in to the game plan.”

Despite Butler’s losing record, Couture said Hamm’s scoring has become an asset to the team.

“She has just continued to improve since right before Christmas,” Couture said. “She has really taken her game to the next level. She is a force inside the guard, which has really opened some things up for us inside.”

Couture also said that the team lagged behind in shooting against the Flames (12-7, 5-3) and that UIC’s 46 rebounds helped them to control the ball.

“It was one of those games where we were not even close to being at our best and they played at pretty much their best,” Couture said. “Even things we could control we just could not get a grasp on. I do not want us to play like that ever again.”

Couture said the Bulldogs will now turn their attention to their next game, a home contest against nationally-ranked Green Bay on Thursday.

“I think we will have to play pressure-free,” Couture said. “Hopefully the girls will go out there pressure-free and have some fun and see what happens when the stress is not on us.”

The game will start at 7 p.m. in Hinkle Fieldhouse.

College athletes begin their seasons with high hopes for success, but for a few, their hopes are crushed by athletic injuries.

While injuries don’t affect an overwhelming number of Butler student-athletes, a few cannot escape the inevitable.

Ryan Galloy, head athletic trainer, said he sees some season-ending injuries but not a lot of career-ending injuries because Butler athletes dedicate themselves to the recovery process.

“We’ve had some kids that, if they didn’t have the heart and the hard work and the work ethic that they have, they would’ve had a career-ending injury,” Galloy said. “They were able to push themselves and persevere.”

Sarah Hamm, a sophomore center for the Butler women’s basketball team, found out personally about the reality of a serious injury.

Hamm sustained an ACL, MCL and meniscus injury at the beginning of conference play as a freshman last January.

She said she was initially unaware of the severity of her injury but quickly learned that it would change the dynamic of her season.

“I was really worried about the season and whether I could play or not,” Hamm said. “It was kind of an emotional blow.”

Casey Sines, a junior middle blocker on the Butler volleyball team who sustained a shoulder injury, also said season-ending injuries take a mental toll on athletes.

After her injury, Sines said it took her a while to feel comfortable with her shoulder again.

“I kept babying it for a really long time,” she said. “I kept swinging at half speed instead of going after it. It took a lot longer for me to heal mentally than it did physically.”

Although an injury appears to be a wholly negative experience for an athlete, sometimes it proves to be a learning experience.

“I got smarter watching the game,” Sines said. “I raised my volleyball IQ—my sports IQ—just from watching the game a lot and watching drills and seeing things you don’t necessarily see when you’re out there playing. “

While injured athletes are still vital members of their teams, teammates and coaches said they aim to make the athletes feel like contributors to the team.

Beth Couture, Butler’s women’s basketball coach, said it’s important for an injured athlete to still feel involved.

“To keep them involved and feeling part of the team can be really tough,” Couture said. “So I think it takes a conscious effort from the coaching staff and the team.”

Hamm said she received a lot of support from coaches and teammates.
“Butler was a great school to be at during this,” Hamm said. “I had a lot of support. A lot of my teammates actually went through the same thing, so they were able to help me and talk me through it.”

Couture said that not only does the injured athlete need support, but that the entire team needs reassurance. She said she tries to lead by example for her players.

“I really try to stay calm,” Couture said. “Obviously for the player that is hurt, but also for the team coming back. If it’s an impact player, the players have to feel confidence that other people are ready to step in.”

Galloy said that the athletic trainers are also an important part of the prevention and recovery process.

“We want to be proactive,” he said. “If something is bothering you, we want to know about it so if there’s something we can do to help you stay on the court and stay on the field, then we’re going to do it.”

Hamm said it’s also important for an injured athlete to stay positive and think about the desired goal.

“You definitely need to be focused on your recovery and do everything you can to get back sooner,” she said.

Sines said she realized that hard work and dedication through recovery pays off.

“It an injury sounds terrible when it happens, and you think it’s the worst thing that could’ve happened,” Sines said. “I think I’m a stronger person from this happening.”

In her tenth year of coaching at Butler, Couture said she has seen her athletes fight the odds.

“At the end of the day, injuries are going to happen,” she said. “You hate it, and it’s disappointing, but it’s part of the game.”

by Allie Qualls

Seats, scoreboard, court, two basketball goals: all of these are essential parts of any college basketball arena.

Of course some arenas have extra perks, such as special effects lighting and jumbotrons, but most players would say it is not the arena’s amenities that make it their favorite place to play.

For Butler senior women’s basketball player Terra Burns, it’s about the people who contribute to the atmosphere.

“My favorite place to play in is Hinkle, just because of its history,” Burns said. “And I like having the band there during home games.”

Most athletes would tell you their home court is where they like to play the most. For the Butler Bulldogs, home court is Hinkle Fieldhouse.

“It’s like a second home,” Butler sophomore women’s basketball player Sarah Hamm said.

Hinkle Fieldhouse has been home to Bulldogs since it was built in 1928 and is known for being one of the most historical sports arenas in the country.

The students and athletes said they do not take this for granted.

“I would say my favorite place to play is Hinkle,” senior women’s basketball player Devin Brierly said. “There is so much history in Hinkle, and it’s a privilege to play there.”

But, where do the Bulldogs like to play when they are away from Hinkle?

Brierly said her favorite away location is Kress Event Center, home to the Green Bay Phoenix.

“They always have an awesome atmosphere with the gymnasium packed,” Brierly said. “It’s so fun to play in front of that many people. They are also one of our biggest rivals.”

Sophomore transfer Daress McClung enjoyed her experience playing in the massive 721,762 square foot KFC Yum! Center, located in Louisville, Ky.

“It is very modern, up to date with its seating patterns and gym floor design,” she said. “The arena is built around the gym floor with heightening seats, continuously going up from gym floor level up.

“Its an amazing atmosphere due to the diehard fans.”

The men’s basketball team has extensive road experience thanks to multiple NCAA tournament appearances and back-to-back appearances in the National Championship game.

Seniors Ronald Nored and Garrett Butcher said they like to play in NFL arenas because it means they are back in the Final Four, and, like any dog, once they have gotten a taste of something they like, they want more.

“The atmosphere is unbelievable,” Nored said of playing in the large arenas.

Photo by Maria Porter

Women’s basketball coach Beth Couture is a fighter. But she won’t tell you that.

After successfully battling breast cancer, Couture never missed a beat, continuing to coach and leading her team to numerous NCAA tournament postseason appearances.

“A fighter is absolutely an accurate title for her,” associate head women’s coach Amy Cherubini said. “She has a lot of passion, and she fought cancer just like she fights on the court. That makes her a success story with her career and her life as well.”

Couture even fought through a two-day, 15-mile walk to raise money and awareness for cancer and said she was motivated to keep going by the generosity of the doctors she received treatment from when she was recovering from cancer.

“It was just a small thing I could do to give back to the doctors and nurses that treat women all across Indianapolis,” Couture said.

Despite being labeled as a fighter, Couture said she finds it odd and would rather see the title given to her players.

“I find that weird when I hear people say that because it is something that is natural for me,” Couture said. “I am honored people think of me that way, and I hope I can live up to that. I just think that success is a choice and when you compete, effort is very important.”

Overall, Couture said that despite the team losing many of its seniors last season, she has high expectations and predicts the will do well this season.

“After losing five players we will have a new look,” Couture said. “Sarah Hamm and Terra Burns are two important ingredients in helping our team, but we will definitely need experience to develop into a solid team.”

Couture said she hopes the team will improve with the older players mentoring the younger players. Couture named Burns as one of the team’s key leaders and expects her to help the younger players improve.

“Our upperclassmen have to mentor the younger players,” Couture said. “It is a long season and I think we have the ingredients to help teach them.”

Though last season the team’s away record was 7-9, Couture said she thinks the team’s youth will actually help them at away games.

“That record was weird because usually our away record is better,” Couture said. “It is up to us as coaches to develop an atmosphere that is conducive for basketball. Usually younger players are more comfortable at away games since they are not used to playing in front of the home crowd, which can get to them.”

Burns said she thinks Couture’s connection to her players is what makes her a good coach.

“Me and coach are really tight,” Burns said. “She has great communication with her players. Of course we are supposed to do our job on the court but of course she still cares for us. Her fight with cancer is inspiring.”

Overall, Couture said that her battle with cancer definitely changed her perspective in coaching and in life.

“It makes you change your priorities and teaches you to not sweat the small stuff,” Couture said. “You just have to let things go and see what is important and reprioritize.”