WSW USA National Team News

January 11, 2002

Aly Wagner writes from Charleston, South Carolina

Well, I was able to attend one day of class at Santa Clara before I had to come to Charleston, South Carolina to join national team camp. Each teacher I told about the possibility of missing the first month (out of three) of this quarter STRONGLY suggested I drop the class. Since I want to graduate sometime before I hit menopause, my choices were to drop Organic Chemistry and enroll in "Intermediate Swimming: Staying Afloat in the Pool," or gut it out in my Combined Sciences major. I decided that I'll just have to play catch up and do my best. Although, mom and dad, in case you do read this, I AM actually going to drop O-Chem. It's just too painful. Sorry. I love you guys. Jerry Smith is paying for it anyway.

Training has been very competitive the last four days. The majority of players are professionals and the eight college players are awesome. That combination, and the fact that everyone is competing for spots on game rosters has made for an intense environment, but also fun and exciting. I found out tonight that I made the 18-player roster for the Mexico game tomorrow. It always encouraging to make any roster for the U.S. National Team, but I know this is just one small goal I've reached and I still have very far to go to make an impact on this team. I don't know if I'll get to play tomorrow, but if I do, I will focus all my mental and physical energy to do what is asked of me to help the team win. I have only played 15 times for the full national team and each game was special. I hope if I get the chance to play tons of games like the veterans on the team, that that feeling will always be there. I think it will.

One last note on Brandi Chastain. Brandi was my assistant coach at Santa Clara and my idol when I was growing up. I always tried to emulate her on and off the field, but there is one area where I might be able to influence her life. She called me before we left for this trip and asked me what I was packing. I answered, 'the bare minimum…you know, a few sweatshirts, some t-shirts and I'm debating a pair of jeans.' The opportunities for us to 'dress up' are few and far between on road trips…unless you're Brandi Chastain. She brought three pains of jeans, a leather jacket, her suede jacket, a puffy jacket, I don't know how many pairs of shoes (but I haven't seen her wear the same pair twice) and a full compliment of accessories, hair products and cosmetics. Her severe case of over-packing has no bearing on the fact that she wants to, and often does, buy something in every store we walk into.

Well, if you're in front of your TV tomorrow at 7 p.m. Eastern time, flip it over to ESPN2 and watch the U.S. Women. Hopefully, we'll put on good show. And hopefully you'll see number 10 on the field. That's me.