Yellow Jacket Nation

Jen Larsen, Sophmore from Mesa, AZ.

Two weeks into practicing and the competitive atmosphere is back in action. Practices are jam packed with energy and filled with excitement for our upcoming games this weekend against the U-16 and U-18 Magic City teams. The last time we played a full field game was back in November at the NCAA tournament. Talk about an anxious group of girls. We are more than ready to start our spring season and bring that competitive atmosphere into actual games!
This past week was a busy one. In between practices and school, we found time to watch our Yellowjacket Golf Team come away with a victory. Unfortunately, we only were able to watch an hour of the match, but in that hour, we did learn something. We learned that golf is definitely NOT a yelling sport. All we wanted to do was yell and cheer for our amazing golf team, but we had to contain ourselves and resort to clapping. We also had the privilege of attending a softball game! Our vocal chords were much more useful at the softball complex, just ask Heidi Greenback:). I think all of the cheering helped because the team crushed the opponent and came away with a victory. Our team attended two games and came out with two victories. Coincidence? I think not. We look forward to going to many more Yellowjacket sporting events this spring!
Overall, this weekend was a success. We look forward to the upcoming week and wait in anticipation for next weekend! I know that our practices will be very focused as we get ready for our games! The competitive atmosphere will continue to flourish and get stronger as the games grow nearer.

Starting Anew

Posted by Amanda Brusic, Junior from Yakima, WA



As we all took our much needed spring breaks,we came back to some
bittersweet news: Don was resigning to take an assistant coaching
position at the University of Wyoming. It was hard to hear and most of
us shed a few tears when he told us of his resignation. This past year
was a challenging yet successful year and Don’s commitment to the team,
program, and sport was a huge contributor to our striving season, which
will not soon be forgotten. We are all happy for Don as he takes his
next step in coaching and wish him all the best in his future
endeavors.

We turn now to what lies ahead. I’m excited to have Wojtek, our new
head coach, take on the role and help continue our success. I trust he
will do a good job as the Spring/Fall seasons emerge. As we started
our first Spring practice outside this past Wednesday, we came out with
flying colors, ready to get after it. Everyone has a lot of energy and
I think we are excited to be outside again on the turf. I believe if we
keep our competitive spirits alive in practice, they will carry over
into our Spring games.

I look forward to what this team will accomplish amidst the changes. We
have each other, we are a family,and I think something as special as
that can turn any transition or adjustment into an easier one. It just
takes the right attitude and the willingness to work hard, on and off
the field.

"FINISH STRONG"

A New Challenge

Posted by Don Trentham
Former MSUB Women's Soccer Head Coach

Players, alumnae, fans and boosters of the Montana State University Billings Women’s Soccer program, as well as all of my great colleagues on campus, I announce today that I will be resigning as head women’s soccer coach of this university to accept the assistant women’s soccer coach position at the University of Wyoming. It is time for me begin a new challenge and pursue my goal of being a head coach at the DI level, and I believe this is a necessary step for me to get there.

First off, I want to thank all of you who made my time here in Billings and at MSUB so special. I consider myself very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with and meet all of you over the past 9 years. So many of you have helped me grow as a person and a coach, and I cannot thank you enough. Jenn and I will leave Billings with a heavy heart, as this community, the campus and all of the wonderful people we have met here mean so much to us.

I have seen this program grow immensely over the past nine seasons, and am very proud of everything we have accomplished here. While this was a difficult decision, it was made a little easier by the fact that the program is in a fantastic place right now. We are coming off a 2nd round appearance in the NCAA Tournament, we have 18 very good players returning for 2011, we have a solid recruiting class coming in and most of all we have a truly special family atmosphere that makes Yellowjacket women’s soccer so unique.

In addition, I have great confidence that my former assistant coach, Wojtek Krakowiak, will take this program to the next level in the upcoming years. It is my hope all of you will give him the same support you have given me over the past nine years, as I know great things lie ahead for the program with him in charge.

As for me, I look forward to the new challenge that lies ahead and while I will no longer be on the sidelines to coach the team, I will now become one of the biggest fans of Yellowjacket women’s soccer. I will anxiously await the final scores of each and every game, and will follow the news of the program intently.

I also want to sincerely thank former chancellor, Dr. Ron Sexton, and current athletic director, Dr. Gary Gray, for giving a young coach his first opportunity to be a head college coach. Not only did you give me the opportunity, but your mentorship and your support through the years was awesome. Both of you deserve major credit for the success of the program.

Lastly and most of all, I want to thank all of the great assistant coaches and student-athletes who I have had the pleasure to be around the past nine years. Your commitment to this program and to me as your coach was appreciated more than you will ever know. I have always felt selfish through the years, as I know I learned way more from all of you than you could have possibly learned from me. Thank you so much...it will be all of you who I will miss the most.

Privileged to be a member of the Yellowjacket family!!!

Sincerely,

Don Trentham