Air Force women's basketball team comes to Tyndall

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Rachelle Elsea
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Tyndall was recently selected to host the Air Force's Women's Basketball try-outs and training camp, March 6 to 23.

This three-week process will culminate with an Armed Forces championship, also hosted by Tyndall.

Twenty Airmen from bases around the globe are competing for positions on the team.

"This year we decided to come with a much smaller camp than normal," said the team's coach, Master Sgt. Darryl Carpenter, 39th Logistics Readiness Squadron flight chief, Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. "Normally camp will range from 16 to 30 players. This year we decided to come in with about 20 players because the time frame for us is a little shorter than most of the other services."

Sergeant Carpenter, who has served proudly for 22 years, has been coaching the team since 2007.

"I started out working with youth and I progressed to the base level and then to the headquarters level-type competitions," said Sergeant Carpenter. "I ended up getting a recommendation and filled out the appropriate paperwork, submitted a package and was picked up for the position."

Coach Carpenter, a native of New York, grew up around basketball and even played at the college level.

When he arrived at Tyndall, he said he was excited about the base's fitness center.

"This facility is very relaxing," said Sergeant Carpenter. "When you first walk through doors, it feels very open and inviting; it is not your typical gym atmosphere. It was also an added bonus to see the energy saving technologies that are in use."

Over the next week the Airmen trying out will be cut down to a smaller group.

"We will keep a total of 15 players," said Sergeant Carpenter. "The final group will consist of 12 players and three alternates."

The selection process is very competitive.

"We try to use girls from the base varsity sports programs, which is always a good starting point," said Sergeant Carpenter. "Most the girls that are actually coming into this program usually have collegiate experience. So, that itself is a big help because you know you are getting raw talent or experienced talent, where you don't have teach a lot, you just have to manage."

The practices are also a challenge.

"Over the next three weeks we will have a lot of practice, hard work, conditioning and instruction," said Sergeant Carpenter. "We are trying to hone their skills, improve on some of their strengths, build chemistry between players and have them understand what their roles will be and what the expectations are."

The coach also said the girls will be practicing for many hours a day.

"We are looking at a minimum of seven to eight hours a day of practice with two and a half hour segments," said Sergeant Carpenter. "Right know we are doing two a days, once we finalize the team we will increase to three. Then, we will throttle back a few days prior to the tournament."

On top of practices, and in order to build a team dynamic, the players will spend a lot of their free time together as well. They will be housed together, ride to and from practice together and, often times eat meals together.

The coach's goals are to not to win, but to improve.

"Our goal, honestly, is to out-do ourselves," said Sergeant Carpenter. "It is not necessarily to outdo our opponents. We just want to do the best we can do and try to better that instinct we are trying to provide. If we can do that, everything will take care of itself from then on."

With players returning from previous years, the team has an upper hand.

"We have seven returning players from various years," said Sergeant Carpenter. "We have a few that have come three or four years in a row. It is good to have them for the continuity and structure. We can also use those young ladies to provide information to the newcomers."

For Captain Monica Mason, 17th Air Force chief of service readiness and engagements, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, this is her fourth year playing.

"My goal for this camp is to have a positive attitude and put forth the best effort possible," said Captain Mason. "I want to be a leader out there on the court. It is important to encourage the ladies because for some of them this is their first time out."

Captain Mason was previously stationed at Tyndall, along with Staff Sgt. Tiffanie Guthrie, 715th Air Mobility Operations Group knowledge operations manager, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.

"It is nice getting to meet up with old friends," said Sergeant Guthrie, who is here for her third year. "I hope we win the tournament and have fun doing it."

Overall morale is high, which is a major goal for Sergeant Carpenter and his team.

"Team sports, to me, provide a sense of camaraderie, a morale builder and lifelong friendships," said Sergeant Carpenter. "I think it is one of the most important things that the girls will have, no matter how long they stay; no matter if they stay for three days or three weeks. They will develop friendships that will last the remainder of their career and beyond."