March 18, 2011
By Alexis Morgan, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Emotions ignited the room after ESPN finally revealed Penn State's bid to the NCAA tournament. It seemed only fitting Coach Washington and team captain Julia Trogele immediately turned toward each other and congratulated one another for their hard earned accomplishments.
Both Washington and Trogele began their journey together to this day almost four years ago. Although they were in different paths of life, they were bonded through the goal of rebuilding the Lady Lion program and of one day bringing Penn State into the national spotlight.
Their hard work prevailed and now is their time to finally realize the dream they've worked so hard to achieve.
"Julia and I grew up together here at Penn State. We both just looked at each other and said `it's about time'. This is what we've worked for since day one," said Washington. "We wanted to take the program back to where it was before, a national elite program. All the things we've gone through during the years; the losing streaks, the tough losses, the disappointments, we have gone through that stuff together."
Washington looked to the sole senior to lead the team all season while Trogele looked to Washington to learn the game from an experienced player and coach.
Gaining the first NCAA tourney bid since 2005, the dynamic duo led the Lady Lions through the highs and lows all year but pushed through every tough situation with the help of [the] each other.
Washington, who has known since October that the first rounds of the NCAA tournament would be held at home in the Bryce Jordan Center, counts it a great blessing.
"If the NCAA tournament was not being played here at Penn State, it would still be our goal. So, we just want to take advantage of it and that is the way we look at it; lets take advantage of the opportunity we have to get a couple games at home," she said.
Now that both the men's and women's basketball team are in the big dance, Washington says it's going to revive the entire Penn State program.
"We want Penn State basketball, both men's and women's, to be the best in the country. To be in the tournament is step one and we just want to build off that," she said.
Wanting to give the Lady Lion program a fresh start, Washington traveled to Happy Valley from an assistant coaching job at her South Bend alma mater. She immediately emerged as a prominent figure in Nittany Lion athletics.
Washington never even dreamed of being a coach as a child, but, in 2007 claimed the Lady Lion head coaching position. Since then, Washington has displayed her leadership in more ways than simply coaching. She was named the `Rising Star' by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association in 2009, while also volunteering and creating Coquese's Drive for the Women's Resource Center raising more the $28,000. She continues to uphold her Notre Dame recruiting reputation gaining top talent for blue and white from across the nation.
With each passing year, the Lady Lions get increasingly better under Washington and have begun to re-establish themselves as competitive Big Ten contenders.
At this year's pre-season press conference, Washington said, "I am hoping to build off last year in the step that we made forward in terms of a winning season and getting into postseason play."
After a 24-9 season, Washington did just that achieving her ultimate goal: an NCAA berth.
Although the Michigan native helped coach Notre Dame to an NCAA Championship win in 2001, this will be Washington's first tournament as a head coach.
"I'm really happy for our kids to have this experience. Playing in the NCAA tournament is one of the best college athletic experiences that you could possibly have," she said.
But her protégée Trogele attributes this special opportunity to her coach.
"I was sitting next to (Washington) and she said, `I'm really happy for you' and I said, `I'm really happy for us', and she said, `What do you mean, as a team?' and I said, `No for us because we've been through this journey together'. I've been here since year one and I've created a close bond with her," said Trogele.
"I am extremely honored to have played under her and accomplished what we have," she added.
Julia Trogele and Coquese Washington |
When Trogele came to Penn State, she was surprised to learn her recruiting coach, Rene Portland, had resigned. Choosing a college to play for was a big decision, but she decided to stick with blue and white. Trogele battled through two ACL injuries in high school as well as a long list of injuries since then.
The 6-foot-2 senior often says she feels like a 22-year-old trapped in an 80-year-old body. She pushes through the pain giving the team a positive example of perseverance through any situation.
Averaging 9.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, statistics don't give this perimeter player justice.
"Her strongest characteristic is that she is unselfish," Washington said. "We had a talk last spring after the season. She said, 'I don't need or want to be a star. I can play a different role,'"
Many times Trogele becomes the unsung hero of the game, taking a back seat to younger players getting the media attention. The Lady Lions know they need her presence on the court throughout the entire game.
"She knows her value to the team. And don't misunderstand: We absolutely need Julia on the court for us; she does a little bit of everything. She can play all five positions on the floor and this year she has played all five positions on floor. She's that glue that keeps us together," said Washington.
Born to play basketball, both her parents played at the national level in Germany. Just 180 miles from her hometown, she chose to attend Penn State because of the rich tradition and great opportunity offered both academically and athletically.
Four years later, the Big Ten Honorable Mention has grown into her new role as a team captain.
"This year, she's taken her will to excel and her leadership to a whole new level. She's taken ownership over this team as a senior and a captain. It's been really fun to watch her grow from a freshman who was trying to keep her head above water to a being a person that is making sure everybody else's head is above water," Washington said.
Teammates have also acknowledged her leadership ability
"She was the lone senior, but she stepped up," junior guard Renee Womack said. "Her leadership was beyond great this year. I had fun playing with her the last three years and she definitely set the bar for what leadership means to this team."
After graduation, the team's captain wants to earn a law degree and go to the WNBA just like her head coach. As for now, she's beyond content with her team's performance.
"My hope for the future is that this program continues to do really well, but I can say that I was a part of bringing back Lady Lion basketball and that's huge for me," Trogele said. "I think that this is the best scenario that I wanted to end my season with going to the Big Ten Tournament, being a really strong contender, and making some moves in the NCAA Tournament. So I couldn't be happier."
Washington admits she and Trogele have been through a lot to get to where they are today.
"She is so special to me because she has withstood all of the bumps that we've gone through as a program these first three years," Washington said. "
"For her to go through all of the things that we've gone through and some of the disappointments that we've gone through... for her to be able to finish her senior year in the fashion that she has, I'm really happy for her that she's had this experience this year."
Humbled, Trogele says all she wanted was to help her coach and her team.
"Everyone has worked really hard to bring this program back to what it was," Trogele said. "I felt this year, I had a lot on my shoulders and I wanted to go out with having helped make a change here. It's been a great honor."
Washington and Trogele did not know they would meet until that fateful day arriving at Penn State. Since then, the bond between player and coach has been unbreakable. In the beginning, they had their eyes on the prize, a chance at a Big Ten title and a tournament bid. Through thick and thin, they've prevailed, bringing their dreams to fruition. Regardless how far they go in this year's tourney, it is certain that Lady Lions and their fans for generations to come will remember this duo forever.