Through their eyes: Dylan Richter – Volume 7
Hey everyone,
So it’s a sad day for our team over at Wash U. With the playoffs underway we were excited and hoping for another long run. We got past Westminster who played a great game in the first round at our place but then fell to Illinois Wesleyan University in the 2nd round by 5. We’ve played them a few times the last few years and every game has been a battle. They’re a great team with a great coach who I, along with my team, really enjoy playing against. I wish them the best of luck in the tourney and hope they make it all the way.
With basketball coming to an unexpected end so soon, there are a few things to mention. First, after the game I wasn’t so sad that we lost and weren’t going to make it down to Salem again, but more that I wasn’t going to get to play with our seniors again. Each and every one of them were great basketball players but even better people. I’ve learned so much from all of them and couldn’t even begin to try and sum it all up here-so to them thank you for everything. Its been an honor and pleasure playing with and learning from you all. We have a few more weeks together in Phi Slamma Jamma (the frat house we live in this year) so we’ll make it a good time.
Another new thing we are experiencing for the first time, and the seniors are experiencing for the first time in their college careers, is spring break. You don’t really think about it, but we miss Thanksgiving, winter and spring break every year due to basketball but since were out of the playoffs now we have a week with nothing to worry about now. Unfortunately, I wasn’t quick enough on my feet to think of anything exciting to do so I’m afraid I’m going to be stuck at home with about 3 and a half friends here to hang out with. Won’t be your typical sandy-beach-beautiful-people spring break most college kids go on, but it’ll do. I’ll take it easy for a week or so then get ready to put in work for next year.
Speaking of – next year is going to definitely be a different team. We are losing 4 starters and 4 seniors plus one graduate student (sorry Sean, I know the joke’s getting old), and we will have a totally different group of players. I know the talent is there for sure, it will just be a matter of us getting the chemistry together which is something the team this year had plenty of considering they played with each other for 3 years. Either way, I’m SUPER excited about it and super excited to start putting in work. I like to think I have a good work ethic but especially after sitting out for 115 days (yes I counted them all) last year with the broken foot, I have developed a new appreciation for the off-season and how much can be accomplished during it.
I wish the best of luck to all the teams still competing in the division 3 playoffs and to our Wash U women’s team who is playing at home next weekend. Finally-I’m writing a little journal-ish blog as well once in a while at www.drichter20.blogspot.com in case anyone wants a little additional reading material.
Have a great break,
Dylan Richter
Dylan ended his sophomore season averaging 18 minutes and 6.9 points per game. He shot a very respectable 48.1 percent from the field and 32.6 percent from 3-point range. He needs to work on his free throws (ha! Just teasing, kid!), as he was 40-of-61 from the line (65.6%). Richter also had 13 blocks, 16 steals and 73 rebounds in his second year at Wash U. Overall, the defending champion Bears went 24-3 on the season.
