The story was co-written with Morgan Miller
Toughness with a side of teamwork is on the menu for the WCU baseball team as they work together to survive the Omaha Toughness Challenge. Photo by Hailee McCraw.
The Western Carolina baseball team came back from their Thanksgiving feasts in full-swing at 6:30 a.m. in 30-degree weather. The team showed up to the football stadium for day two of the so-called “hell week.” Each day was a new opportunity to gain points for one’s designated team and walk away victorious at the end of the week.
After a close race in the 2100 yard shuttle, freshman infielder Will Prater came up one second short of first place after dropping his cone. He looked at teammate, senior Cameron Blaquiere, infielder/RHP, and said, “man, you beat me.” Blaquiere looked at Prater and replied, “just trying to make you better, buddy.”
Monday, Nov. 27, was the beginning of The Omaha Toughness Challenge for the 2018 team that is truly “relentless,” in the words of assistant coach, Brock Doud.
The Omaha Toughness challenge tests the athletes’ physical and mental endurance. Making it to Omaha, Nebraska is every Division 1 baseball team’s dream- as this is where the World Series of College Baseball is held. The week-long toughness challenge presents them with the idea that it takes nothing but hard work to get there.
See the video story on Omaha Toughness Challenge 2017 shot and edited by Morgan Miller.
Throughout the challenge, the players compete in teams and individually in various strength and endurance events. Some of these events include backward sled pulling, box jumps, elevator sprints, and dumbbell benches.
So close, yet so far away, Sophomore, Bo Fricks digs deep for the final push during the Prowler Push challenge. Photo by Hailee McCraw.
The toughness challenge not only lends itself to individual improvement, but it also turns a body of exceptional baseball players into a team. Several variations of the Omaha Challenge have been practiced for nearly 30 years at WCU. The past two years have included the same itinerary in an attempt to keep consistency so the players know what to expect and can look back and see how they have improved from the previous year.
“Everything we do here is about our team and our program. There is no I; no individual; it’s about the team,” said head coach, Bobby Moranda.
At the end of the challenge, the individual winners were Matt Koehler, representing the hitters, and Tristan Baker representing the pitchers. Team White was the team champions which included players, Mitch Rogers, Justice Bigbie, Clay Hodges, Trent Youstin, Taylor Purus, Matt Koehler, and Spencer Holcomb. The entire team celebrated surviving the toughness challenge with a cookout.
