The battle of the sexes may be the longest running rivalry in human history, and here at UW the competition heats up at every women’s basketball practice. Although the competition between men and women can sometimes elevate beyond the playing field, the Badgers have found a way to bridge the fierce rivalry and use it to the team’s advantage.
During some of its practices, the Badgers have a special practice squad come in to run drills and scrimmage against the team. The special practice squad is all-male. There are 18 men in total, but only 10 practice with the team regularly. They are all students at UW, sophomores and older, and must be eligible like any other athlete to participate. There aren’t any tryouts for the squad, but members are recruited from the courts at the SERF and the SHELL.
At first glance the guys were much more muscular then the girls; they looked stronger and quicker. The guys were not afraid to get physical, either.
“I’m not afraid to get down low and bang around with the big girls,” practice squad member Joe Arnold said.
Slowly but surely, the quickness of the Badgers started to help them get by the huskier guys. By moving the ball well and making solid moves, the girls were often getting layups and good looks at the basket.
After playing with the girls all season, the guys have started to notice the skills of their counterparts.
“I went to an all-guys high school, so I didn’t really pay attention to women’s basketball: I didn’t really respect it that much,” said rookie practice-squad member Joe Wagstaffe. “I come out here and play against girls who are high school All-Americans. They’ll cross you up and take you to the hole. It’s a little embarrassing, but it’s fun to play against them and even talk a little trash.”
All of the practice-squad members seemed to concur on the girls’ skills. “After a while you just kind of look at it and go, ‘Wow, these girls really do have game,'” rookie member junior Justin Baumann said.
Although the job may sound like fun and games, the life of a practice-squad member is not easy. The practice-squad members are not there to advance their own game; they are there to help the team out. There are never congrats or pats on the shoulder unless one of the girls makes a good play and the men get beaten. There can be no ego involved for practice-squad members, and each player’s motivation has to be to help someone else.
Perhaps there’s a hidden benefit to being on the practice squad. Yes, they get spiffy red shoes and get to play on the Kohl Center floor from time to time, but there’s even more.
Kyle Rechlicz is the coach of the practice squad, and she played against an all-male practice squad when she was at UW. Her freshman year, while boxing out down low, she ran into Dave Rechlicz, her future husband. The two were married last summer, and the marriage has started a running-joke between the squads. At least with practice guys, you know you have a chance to meet your dream guy.
