They've been going full speed for more than five months straight, five days a week or more. But they aren't tired. Coach Tessler won't let them be.
"We says to us every day 'You're not tired' during every drill," said sophomore guard Nina Gregory. "And after a while, really, you don't think about it anymore. It's playoff time. Here it's one and done and there's no room to be tired."
Seeded second in the NorCal Regional basketball tournament, the Fresno City College Rams watched the other three other two seeds, including the Ram men, get upset over the weekend.
"It caught my attention really quick," said Tessler. "I just never feel comfortable and I think that's a good thing. Because I think the girls can see that. And I think it gives us and edge to our practices."
And now Coach Tessler has to worry about tomorrow night's quarterfinals against Merced College, a team FCC has already beaten twice this season. A third time will be difficult.
"The fact that they have a very good coach that runs a very good program makes it that much tougher," said Tessler, "So it's one of those things where I'm nervous about every game, but I'm certainly nervous about play a team a third time."
"It's really hard to beat somebody three times in a row," said Gregory. "So they're going to come in here with all guns blazing and just try to go for it because they want the win just as bad as we do."
But ask both players and coaches, and they'll tell you these rams are different. They know what it's going to take to achieve their ultimate goal: Making a return trip to next week's state tournament, and coming away with the first state title in program history.
"Just coming ready to work every day and attentive, and paying attention to all the details that he gives to us," explained Gregory. "Just being focused and ready to play."
"They're not 'rah rah' type kids," admitted Tessler. "It's a business aspect to them, and they don't look past any one game. Like I said I always feel like we have a chance."
Both Merced College and FCC fans will find out Wednesday night at 7:00 pm, at the FCC Gym.
