Oklahoma State University Athletics
The Summer Of Mallory
June 17, 2016 | Cowgirl Softball
STILLWATER ---- The Cowgirls have similar plans this summer.
Get ahead in school with summer classes, enjoy the summer with one another and spend plenty of time with Oklahoma State softball strength and conditioning coach Mallory Fowlkes.
"The first thing is these kids are here to go to school," OSU coach Kenny Gajewski said. "They're getting ahead in their majors by taking some classes that might be tougher to take in the spring or fall. Now they're here and can knock some stuff out.
"Because they're here, I think it makes sense that they workout on their own with our strength staff. It's exciting as a head coach to know that we have so many kids here. Every returner is here, along with four or five of our new comers. I think it's a nice thing that we have so many kids who want to be here."
The Cowgirls work week to week with Fowlkes, and the weeks start early.
Workouts start every Monday at 7:45 a.m. at the track for conditioning. Next, the Cowgirls split into groups on Tuesdays for lifting. Wednesdays are spent at the track, while Thursdays and Fridays are weight room days to close out the week.
It's a regiment that was set long before the season ended.
"Kenny and I met before the season was over because we knew once the season was over it was going to go fast," Fowlkes said. "It was all going to pile up. So we sat down and I told him what my ideal plan was, and he has been really good about giving me ideas I don't think about and I put that toward what I want to do."
For the most part, Gajewski lets her do what she wants to do as far as the workouts go. He can trust Fowlkes after the season in which he saw the team grow stronger and faster.
Another thing he noticed, the Cowgirls had few injuries, something that can be attributed to good luck, and the workout and stretching regiments Fowlkes set for the team.
"The workouts are huge," she said. "Especially in season. The girls are beat up because it's a grind. In season, we love to do a bunch of mobility stuff and get them moving. Then we do a bunch of preventative stuff."
As for the offseason, it's all about gaining strength and condition in preparation for next season.
Although Fowlkes sits quietly in the dugouts and on the bus during the season, she comes alive in her domain during the offseason.
Constantly pushing the Cowgirls to limits they didn't know they have, never letting them give up in an effort to make them better.
"Mallory really pushes us," Senior Brandi Needham said. "I've never had a strength coach before who if maybe I wasn't having the best day, I was back in the middle of the pack instead of the front, she's getting onto us. She's telling us she knows what we can do and she's going to make you push."
The summer plays another vital role for the Oklahoma State softball program. It's also a time of teaching and learning for the incoming Cowgirls who are experiencing the workouts for the first time.
"Every kid is different," Fowlkes said. "It could be they get it the first week or month. Usually the first month they get here we just take it really slow. That's for their benefit and mine. So I teach them like they know absolutely nothing, and from there I can scratch."
She said there's no real agenda or timetable for the new Cowgirls for now. She's mainly focused on seeing them improve and learn more as the week's pass so they'll be ready come fall.
Once fall comes, things will be moving fast and the new players will need to know what's happening. But for now, she said they could just take it slow and learn while they're still adjusting to college softball.
Knowing your team and what each player can do is an important part of a strength and conditioning coach's job, and that's something the Cowgirls aren't worried about with Fowlkes.
She always knows when to push them, and when they need a lighter day or two.
This, players say, is why they're so fond of Fowlkes.
They also enjoy knowing they can approach her at anytime, even if it's not about the workouts.
"The girls know I'm here, Claire (Williams) is here to do whatever it takes to get tem better," Fowlkes said. "I think we've built a lot of trust with them and I think they know what we're doing has a purpose and reason and we're not just throwing things together."
Although working out five days a week during the summer might not be the perfect summer after a long season, the Cowgirls don't mind. In fact, they're happy to be back.
They're happy to be back in Stillwater, happy to be with each other, and happy to be back in the weight room with Fowlkes while she pushes them to new limits.
"I think the bottom line is it's making us better as a team," Sophomore Taylor Lynch said. "She definitely pushes us as far as we can go and we need that. We need someone behind us telling us to go the extra mile. That's what she does. She's incredible, she gets us and knows our limits or when we're tired. It's good to have somebody who gets it."
Get ahead in school with summer classes, enjoy the summer with one another and spend plenty of time with Oklahoma State softball strength and conditioning coach Mallory Fowlkes.
"The first thing is these kids are here to go to school," OSU coach Kenny Gajewski said. "They're getting ahead in their majors by taking some classes that might be tougher to take in the spring or fall. Now they're here and can knock some stuff out.
"Because they're here, I think it makes sense that they workout on their own with our strength staff. It's exciting as a head coach to know that we have so many kids here. Every returner is here, along with four or five of our new comers. I think it's a nice thing that we have so many kids who want to be here."
The Cowgirls work week to week with Fowlkes, and the weeks start early.
Workouts start every Monday at 7:45 a.m. at the track for conditioning. Next, the Cowgirls split into groups on Tuesdays for lifting. Wednesdays are spent at the track, while Thursdays and Fridays are weight room days to close out the week.
It's a regiment that was set long before the season ended.
"Kenny and I met before the season was over because we knew once the season was over it was going to go fast," Fowlkes said. "It was all going to pile up. So we sat down and I told him what my ideal plan was, and he has been really good about giving me ideas I don't think about and I put that toward what I want to do."
For the most part, Gajewski lets her do what she wants to do as far as the workouts go. He can trust Fowlkes after the season in which he saw the team grow stronger and faster.
Another thing he noticed, the Cowgirls had few injuries, something that can be attributed to good luck, and the workout and stretching regiments Fowlkes set for the team.
"The workouts are huge," she said. "Especially in season. The girls are beat up because it's a grind. In season, we love to do a bunch of mobility stuff and get them moving. Then we do a bunch of preventative stuff."
As for the offseason, it's all about gaining strength and condition in preparation for next season.
Although Fowlkes sits quietly in the dugouts and on the bus during the season, she comes alive in her domain during the offseason.
Constantly pushing the Cowgirls to limits they didn't know they have, never letting them give up in an effort to make them better.
"Mallory really pushes us," Senior Brandi Needham said. "I've never had a strength coach before who if maybe I wasn't having the best day, I was back in the middle of the pack instead of the front, she's getting onto us. She's telling us she knows what we can do and she's going to make you push."
The summer plays another vital role for the Oklahoma State softball program. It's also a time of teaching and learning for the incoming Cowgirls who are experiencing the workouts for the first time.
"Every kid is different," Fowlkes said. "It could be they get it the first week or month. Usually the first month they get here we just take it really slow. That's for their benefit and mine. So I teach them like they know absolutely nothing, and from there I can scratch."
She said there's no real agenda or timetable for the new Cowgirls for now. She's mainly focused on seeing them improve and learn more as the week's pass so they'll be ready come fall.
Once fall comes, things will be moving fast and the new players will need to know what's happening. But for now, she said they could just take it slow and learn while they're still adjusting to college softball.
Knowing your team and what each player can do is an important part of a strength and conditioning coach's job, and that's something the Cowgirls aren't worried about with Fowlkes.
She always knows when to push them, and when they need a lighter day or two.
This, players say, is why they're so fond of Fowlkes.
They also enjoy knowing they can approach her at anytime, even if it's not about the workouts.
"The girls know I'm here, Claire (Williams) is here to do whatever it takes to get tem better," Fowlkes said. "I think we've built a lot of trust with them and I think they know what we're doing has a purpose and reason and we're not just throwing things together."
Although working out five days a week during the summer might not be the perfect summer after a long season, the Cowgirls don't mind. In fact, they're happy to be back.
They're happy to be back in Stillwater, happy to be with each other, and happy to be back in the weight room with Fowlkes while she pushes them to new limits.
"I think the bottom line is it's making us better as a team," Sophomore Taylor Lynch said. "She definitely pushes us as far as we can go and we need that. We need someone behind us telling us to go the extra mile. That's what she does. She's incredible, she gets us and knows our limits or when we're tired. It's good to have somebody who gets it."
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Cowgirl Softball
RHP
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