Throughout the course of the 2011-2012 season, MVNU sophomore forward Caleb Williams will write a weekly blog about what is happening with the team.

"Year in Review" (posted on February 27, 2012)

Welcome to the last installment of Inside the Huddle for the 2011-2012 season. I took a week off as I prepared to write this final blog. In this week, I wanted to try to gain a true perspective of this season. It was an extremely tough season as a competitor. In a society that bases success on results and in our case wins and losses, our season is seen by many as a failure. Although it was a disappointing season, it was not a total failure. Dealing with this season and continuing to work hard and compete even when there was nothing to play for, we all learned something about ourselves. We all learned something that we will look back on and use for the rest of our lives. The times we shared off the court far outweigh anything good, bad, or indifferent that happened on the court. Times spent with these guys are things I will remember for years to come.

As part of this blog, I want to recognize and thank each of our three seniors and let them know the impact they had on their teammates:

The first senior I would like to talk about is Josh Weikart. Josh is a guy that I knew before this year, but I really didn't know him all that well. It was really a blessing getting to know who Josh really is this year. Josh is an outstanding individual. He works really hard, he is very intelligent, and is very personable. I wish Josh the best of luck as he looks into the future.

Next is Danil Zakhlebbny. Danil, or the Russian Concussion, is a person I will never forget. Dan and I are both extremely similar and because of this we bumped heads at times, but I have so much respect for Danil. From where he was to where he is now, it is truly amazing his determination and his willingness to always trust in God no matter how meager the situation. Danil gave us great effort all season long, and brought passion and a competitive spirit to every game. I want to thank Danil for everything he has done for me over the last two years, and want to wish him the best of luck in whatever path God takes him down in the future.

Last but certainly not least is Rob Taylor. Rob meant more to our team this year than any other player in the nation meant to his team. Players scored more points or had more assists, but Rob did everything in his power to help us be successful. Rob fought through injuries, personal changes, and many other obstacles, but everyday whether it be practice or in a game he brought unbelievable leadership and a great winning attitude. I will miss being around Rob, but am very thankful for all he had done for me both on an off the court. Rob will be successful no matter where he ends up in the future, and I wish him the best of luck as he enters the world of business and finance.

I also want to send out special thanks to two coaches who will be leaving us. A big thanks to Coach Dennis Graham for his contributions this season. Coach Graham is going to be moving back to Michigan and pursue a career in corporate America. Coach Graham has an infectious personality and he always had a knack for knowing exactly what to say to lighten up the mood. Mrs. Graham will be missed as well, and we want to thank you for all the love and support you gave us this season.

The other coach leaving us was our student assistant Travis Green. I am so glad Trav was a part of our team this year. He did a great job of being the middle ground between the players and the coaches. He was always positive and was always available to talk when we needed someone to talk to. I want to wish both of these great individuals the best of luck in their future endeavors.

For our returning guys, we are in our resting period right now. The season is long and right now it's time to rest our bodies and our minds. We will get back started with workouts after Spring Break, and this time is important that we use the frustrations of this season to set a high standard for our spring workouts. We must continue to improve both individually and as a team.

There are some exciting things going on with the construction of our new arena. The PSU Annex which used to stand to the right of the Prince Student Union has been completely torn down and the ground-breaking for the new arena is scheduled for March 2. The construction is scheduled to take about 18 months. We also have signed two new players for next year. Mark Lieberman is a guard from Dayton Christian. Mark committed to our program last spring and we have had a lot of time to build a relationship with him and I am excited for him to finally be apart of our program. Troy Williams is a 6'6 post from New Bremen High School. I have a great relationship with Troy (he is my brother!), and he is very familiar with our program and the school. We are looking forward to these guys getting on campus and becoming a part of the MVNU basketball family.

I have really enjoyed writing the blog this year, and I want to thank our Sports Information Director Dave Parsons for giving me this opportunity. I am not going to lie, it was not always easy to write about our struggles, but it has only made me appreciate the good times even more. I thank all of you who have read the blog and for all the positive comments I have received. God Bless.

Peace be the Journey,
Caleb Williams #5

Feedback is always welcomed, so feel free to email me at cwilli10@mail.mvnu.edu or follow me on Twitter: @5CWill.

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