(Editor's note: Duke senior Georgia Schweitzer, the 1999-2000 ACC Player of the Year, will share a weekly diary with ESPN.com throughout the season.)

Oct. 22, 2000

	Schweitzer

The season has finally officially begun! I have bruises on my knees and upper arms, scratches on my wrists, and I love it.

The first week of practice consists of working out some of the jitters -- I was so excited I had to relax a little and just play. We have five new faces and they have a lot to learn but the freshmen did great. By the end of the week, practice felt much more comfortable, although I personally want to play better than I have been.

We did have one scare when Rochelle Parent, one of my fellow seniors and my roommate, sprained her ankle. Ro, as we call her, is my hero. She exemplifies a toughness unparalled by anyone I have ever known. When she fell, I knew she landed awkwardly and immediately the worst ran through my mind -- torn ACL. Last year we lost a player (Peppi Browne) who tore her ACL, and it seems almost every women's basketball team in the country has dealt with this injury. But Ro, thankfully, sprained her ankle and she will be back soon.

Injury is something every athlete has to endure. It's part of the game whether I accept it or not. This summer, I decided I was going to try and control things a little more by working out hard in the weight room.

Summer fun
The summer before my senior season, my last chance to prepare myself the best I could, was a busy time. I spent the first five weeks at Duke's marine lab in Beaufort, N.C. I lived on a small island with 40 other students and studied marine invertebrate zoology. Class was from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and we spent a lot of time out on the water.

After that, I went to the gym to lift weights and run. I played basketball with the guys at the lab, and it was a lot of fun and I am so thankful for the experience.

After five weeks, I went home to Columbus, Ohio, to stay with my parents. I took a preparatory class for the MCAT, the medical school entrance exam. Needless to say, I spent considerable time studying. I also enrolled in a strength and conditioning program at "The Edge." The trainers there were awesome, Aaron and his dad, Bob Fry, were very committed and excited. We set some goals and honestly, I never imagined things would turn out so wonderful. The program was tough and I was really sore but I drastically improved, got stronger, and became a better basketball player.

I have always believed that possibilities are endless with hard work. I wanted the summer to be a time to work on my weaknesses and to set things in motion for my future, which hopefully includes medical school. With all that behind me now, I am ready and focused for the upcoming season.

Go Duke!