by Marta Gomez, Cowgirl senior forward

LARAMIE, Wyo. (February 27, 2019) – There are four conference games remaining in the Cowgirls' season and six seniors who will play their last game in front of the Wyoming fans on March 4^th in the Arena-Auditorium. Each game day leading up to Senior Night, one of the seniors will share her favorite memories, both on and off the court, from her career at the University of Wyoming. Today, Rachelle Tucker from Pierce, Neb., will share her favorite moments as a Cowgirl.
 
Rachelle chose Wyoming because of what it offered her academically and in the community. The university has a strong animal science program, which fitted her intentions of becoming a veterinarian. Also, she really enjoyed what she saw during her visit regarding the community of Laramie, and she felt really welcomed. All this combined made her confident that the University of Wyoming would be a good place for the next four years.
 
"During my first few weeks in Laramie, I remember how hard it was to get used to the elevation change in terms of working out," explains Rachelle. "Those first weeks were brutal trying to get ready to play at one of the highest courts in the nation." The Arena-Auditorium sits at 7,220 feet above sea level, which makes it harder for athletes to get their oxygen, but Rachelle remembers those tough times as experiences that have made her both mentally and physically stronger.
 
Being a Cowgirl means much more than just going to practice and getting a degree. Even though Rachelle has not stepped on the court as much as she would have liked when she had her visit, her experience has taught her patience, and she takes great friends and memories from Laramie.
 
"As a Cowgirl, I have learned what it means to represent the state of Wyoming and the community of Laramie," says Rachelle. "By doing so, I have become a better leader on and off the basketball court. Also, through basketball, many of my teammates have become some of my closest friends; we have created memories with each other that will last a lifetime."
 
Some of these memories came through basketball, like going to North Carolina and being able to play Duke during her junior year, an experience that she will never forget. But others have come from the city of Laramie and the beautiful state of Wyoming. Rachelle's favorite memory off the court is hiking to the Medicine Bow Peak at 12,014 feet, the highest peak in the Snowy Range.
 
Rachelle will graduate this upcoming May with her degree in animal and veterinary sciences. During her time as a Cowgirl, she has been able to maintain a 4.0 cumulative GPA, something that she is really proud of after all the hard work she has put into her academics. But for her, being a Cowgirl means to work hard, be strong, and never give up. She has learned plenty of life lessons in these past four years, the most important: "Good things come to those who wait."