Hello Illini Nation!!

This past weekend, the team had the opportunity to go to Lake Shelbyville, Illinois! This trip was our annual team advance, where we get the chance to know everyone a little better and reconnect with each other after summer break. With limited access to the outside world, we were able to give each other our undivided attention and enjoy the nature around us!

Getting there Saturday morning, we had a full day ahead of us. We completed all sorts of activities, including the human knot. In past years, we've always struggled to untie ourselves but this year we were successful several times! Another activity we did was attempting to throw a ping-pong ball on our partner's nose, which was covered in peanut butter, and having it stick there. Tristyn was our clear winner, having the ball stick to her nose on the first attempt almost every time!

That night, we sat around the campfire and made s'mores while getting to share goofy facts about ourselves. From what's our favorite childhood memory to "would you rather" questions, we got to get to know each other on a deeper level. On that same night, we played our annual game of Pictionary! This always brings out the competitive edge in everyone and there was definitely a lot of energy.

This was a great opportunity for the team to bond. Spending so much time with each other just reinforced why we all love this team so much. We're ready to kick off our season with our first tournament this weekend in Knoxville, Tennessee, for the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate tournament!

Go Illini,

Bing Singhsumalee