On Jan. 28 and 29, the WTAMU Cricket Club traveled to College Station to compete in the southwest regional championship.

The 2012 American College Cricket tournament was WT’s first regional trip after forming the club this past fall.  Players remained optimistic against their veteran competition.

“It was a first-time experience for our WT team,” player Saizad Prasla, Nursing major, said.  “We did well.”Texas universities traveled across the state to play on the new Texas A&M cricket field.  A rookie team from the University of North Texas, should soon be joining the Texas cricket competitions in March 2012.

Having previously beaten Texas Tech in a past tournament, Vice President Sahil Prasla enjoyed playing against the WT rival.

“My favorite part was playing against Tech,” Sahil, a Biology Secondary Education major, said.

Learning from the first regional experience, WT cricket players wasted no time improving and prepping for the next tournament.  Weekly practice should develop their strengths as a winning team, said Saizad.

“[We] practice once a week with other cricket teams from Amarillo and sometimes with Texas Tech,” said Prasla.  “We have strength to win against other teams if we practice regularly and we strengthen our pitching (bowling) side.”

Cricket Club supporter Alissa Harmon said the team shows obvious passion for the sport.

“I can tell they really enjoy it when Z [Saizad] talks about their games,” said Harmon, an Engineering major.