Boasting of Texas pride and working to always improve her time management skills, Brittany Givilancz, a sophomore on the No. 25-ranked UT women's golf team, takes a break from her busy schedule to talk about the 2005-06 season. She will make her debut in the Longhorn line-up this weekend, Oct. 7-9, at the Lady Tar Heel Invitational in Chapel Hill, N.C.
"Last year gave me the chance to learn to manage my time better and really improve on my game," says Brittany who hails from Weslaco. "It was a real surprise coming here from high school. It's very competitive, both in school and athletics."
Freshman year opened her eyes to many new people and opportunities. Yet, after finishing her first season with only a few tournament appearances and undergoing summer knee surgery, Brittany says this year she will concentrate all her energies on golf and hopes to continue to find a spot on the traveling team.
"My first year was tough," Givilancz admitted. "You always want to succeed. But at the college level everyone has ability to qualify for the national championships. It's hard work that separates you from the rest. I still have work to do to improve, but I feel my first year was an eye opening experience."
With a chance at nationals in mind and good group cohesion among the team, Brittany is concentrating on getting better after surgery and supporting the traveling team.
According to Brittany, the team is already on the path to success. "So far practices are very productive," she says. "Everyone works together to make each other better."
With four new freshmen and only one senior on head coach Susan Watkins' squad, this year's team is relying on the "middle-classmen" for support and guidance.
Brittany says she finds herself trying to motivate her teammates to finish strong and never settle for the minimum. "You have to go to the edge till you are finished," she says.
In addition to bringing a positive attitude, Brittany always makes sure that the night before a tournament she gets a good amount of sleep and a solid meal. She likes to think about the course she will play on and visualizes the different shots she will have to take.
Givilancz explains that even before she swings, she is visualizing where she wants the ball to land and imagines the flag on the green. "I think about the tempo of my swing and getting a clean hit on the ball," says Brittany.
For Givilancz, what began merely as a hobby in seventh grade has developed into a college, and perhaps, professional career. Brittany says she would like to turn professional after she graduates.
Although she understands the level of competition and the amount of work required to achieve professional status, she feels it is important that she try to use the talents and skills she has learned here at UT.
Brittany, an advertising major, says that if the professional circuit does not work out, after she graduates she may go to the UT Art Institute to pursue a career in interior design or architecture.
"Texas will give me the chance to reach my goals," said Givilancz. "It will be up to me to use the resources here to exceed them."
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