Holy Cross Crusader Nation Magazine - Fall 2016

CRUSaDER

T H E M A G A Z I N E F O R F A N S A N D S U P P O R T E R S O F H O LY C R O S S A T H L E T I C S

The Next Step Forward

New Women’s Soccer coach has high hopes for program

NATION Fall 2016

The Illinois Boys HC and Loyola Academy share more than Jesuit heritage

Susie Whelan Horan ’07 shares HC lessons as educator, coach, mentor Fall 2016 • Crusader Nation 1

AD’s Corner Hello Friends, I hope this issue of Crusader Nation finds our readers happy, healthy, and filled with anticipation for another exciting year of Holy Cross Athletics.

I am proud to report that the 2015-16 competitive year was Holy Cross’ most successful in our 25-year history of membership in the Patriot League. Our teams scored the most ever points toward the Corvias Patriot League Presidents’ Cup in school history. We finished the academic year in sixth place of the 10 schools, so while we have now risen to the middle of the League, we still have room to improve — and we will.

Our student-athletes continue to be among the nation’s leaders in Division I in service to the community. This year, Holy Cross placed sixth in the nation in the NCAA Division I Team Works Competition presented by “Helper Helper.” The competition is based on how many community service hours each school contributes. Helper Helper serves as a charitable scoreboard, allowing studentathletes around the country to compete with their peers while serving surrounding communities. Our student-athletes totaled 4,959 total community service hours. In the classroom, they have upped their game as well. In the spring, 730 student-athletes combined for a 3.24 term GPA raising the student-athlete cumulative average to 3.15, ranking Holy Cross eighth in the nation — out of 1,071 teams recognized!

Our student-athletes would not be able to experience success on the field, in the classroom, and in the community if not for the alumni, family, and friends who support them — by contributing to the Crusader Athletics Fund, attending games, and serving as mentors. Thank you so much for your dedication to, and your investment in, Holy Cross Athletics.

I would like to recognize and publicly thank Bill Doran ’77, P16 for his dedication and leadership to alma mater. Bill was a legendary student-athlete and is a member of the College’s Varsity Club Hall of Fame. He was also a successful business leader in the financial services field. However, it is Bill’s service as a member of the Board of Trustees and as the Chair of the Committee on Athletics that I would like to bring to light. Bill’s support, guidance, generosity, and enthusiasm have helped lead Holy Cross Athletics to the position that we now enjoy. Please join me in a heartfelt thank you to Bill Doran.

Succeeding Bill as Chair of the Committee on Athletics is Doug Baker ’81. Doug has also long been a passionate supporter of Holy Cross Athletics and I look forward to working with him to further enhance Holy Cross Athletics. I look forward to seeing you on campus and at Yankee Stadium on Nov. 12, 2016, when our Football team takes on Fordham in the Ram-Crusader Cup. Go ‘Saders!

In This Issue 3 Coach’s Game Plan Women’s Soccer

5 Paying it Forward Larry Doyle ’83 and Spenser Huston ’83

6 Student Spotlight

Emily Iannaconi ’17, Track & Field

7 10 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT...

Maureen Connolly ’18, Field Hockey Yuji Callahan ’19, Men’s Soccer

8 A Record Year

FY16 Athletics Giving Recap

10 The Illinois Boys 12 Catching Up With Crusaders Susie Whelan Horan ’07

13 Calendar 15 What I was Thinking Lynsey Petersen ’19

16 Why I Give Crusader Nation PHOTOGRAPHERS Mark Hasprzk, Gil Talbot, Tom Rettig, Peter Cooke, Dan Vaillancourt DESIGNER Michael Grinley T E L L U S W H AT YO U T H I N K : Write Crusader Nation Office of Advancement One College Street Worcester, MA 01610-2395 Email CrusaderNation@holycross.edu Call 508-793-2415 Send ideas, thoughts, and comments. We want to hear from you.

Nathan Pine Director of Athletics 2 Crusader Nation • Fall 2016

Coach’s Game Plan The Next Step Forward With a bright young coach and a new attitude, the Women’s Soccer program holds high hopes for this season and beyond

By Chris Edmonds ’04

C

asey Brown got off to an early start as the new head coach of the Women’s Soccer team — first by the calendar and later by the clock.

Hired in December 2015, Brown “hit the ground running” on Jan. 4, some seven and a half months before her team opens its season. The head start has given her time to adjust, and to get her players to adjust their morning routines — dawn workouts have become the new normal for these Crusaders.

“We had two early practices in my first three years,” said Claire Malone, a senior captain. “The first day with Coach Brown, she tells us practice and conditioning will be at 6:00 or 7:00 in the morning.”

That’s part of a broader effort to instill a new culture within the program, one built on pride and intensity. And, though it remains early days, the effects are becoming apparent.

“The level has gone up every day,” said Brown. “From the weight room to indoor workouts, to out on the field, the level is at game speed, and it’s extremely detailoriented.”

Fall 2016 • Crusader Nation 3

New coach

Any transition, Brown admits, comes with a few bumps along the way: a new approach to the game, a new style of play and, for some players, new positions.

“It’s been a rollercoaster for sure,” she said, “but they’re awesome kids and very good soccer players and they want big things.”

And Brown should know about those qualities: she’s demonstrated them as a player and a coach. Brown played defense at Boston University, from 2006 to 2009.

She performed well enough to warrant being drafted by the Boston Breakers of the now-defunct Women’s Professional Soccer League.

Instead of turning pro, she headed to the coaching ranks, landing a job as an assistant at Long Island University Brooklyn from 2010 to 2012, before joining the coaching staff at her alma mater. In her final season at BU in 2015, Brown won a regional assistant coach of the year honor. Eight days after that honor was announced, she was unveiled as Holy Cross’ new head coach.

She credits BU coach Nancy Feldman with helping her ascend the coaching ranks

so quickly. “I can’t speak highly enough of Nancy. She molded me as a studentathlete and then later when I went back to work for her for almost four seasons. She is the best of the best, in my opinion.”

Her playing and coaching education at BU is part of the reason Brown, little more than six years removed from her college graduation, is taking the reins of a Division I program.

“I felt like I was absolutely prepared to go out and have my own program,” Brown said. “I don’t claim that I have all the answers, but I do have the tools to solve the things that come my way.”

So far, so good: Sophomore Andj Seslija, a member of the Bosnia and Herzegovina women’s national team, numbers among those impressed with Brown’s early performance. “I’ve been trained by a lot of coaches and I can say she is one of the best I’ve ever had.”

New approach

On a macro level, Casey Brown’s Crusaders aim to be a highly organized, possession-focused team.

“First and foremost, I want us to be a team that keeps

The Crusaders celebrate their first goal in a 2-1 win over Army in 2015.

Aspirations into action

“I don’t claim that I have all the answers, but I do have the tools to solve the things that come my way.”

– Casey Brown and shares the ball, but with tempo,” Brown said. “It’s possession with a purpose: to get forward.

“I also want us to be one of the most organized defensive teams in the conference, no doubt about it.

That takes a huge commitment on the players’ end and a huge effort on my end. But, if that’s there, we can play with any team in the conference.”

The early mornings are just one of the changes aimed at achieving those twin goals.

Off the field, team camaraderie has been fostered by shared meals and study halls. On the field, there’s a heightened intensity to training and an extra emphasis on the details.

“Everyone has always worked hard,” said Maggie Carey, a senior captain. “But now the focus is on the little things.”

And that should help engender Brown’s vision of “team cohesion and a gritty attitude.”

“The mentality is: we’re going to be a 90-minute team,” said Brown. “We’re going to be fighters on the field. If we lose the ball, we get it back quickly — there’s no lull after a mistake.”

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Two years ago, the women’s team won 10 of its 18 games.

A year ago, it just missed the Patriot League tournament.

This fall, the goal is to play in the postseason with a shot at the title.

“This season, I expect us to build our reputation in the league,” said junior captain Emily George. We were just points away from making the Patriot League tournament last year, so this year making the tournament is definitely high on the list.”

Or, as Carey put, it: “Once you’re in the tournament, it’s anyone’s ball game — as the Basketball team has shown.”

Getting there is a gameby-game process, Brown and her players said. That started at home against Iona on Aug. 19. Fourteen games later — an eternity in a 17-game season — the Crusaders will host BU. A win would help Holy Cross step closer to the Turnpike Trophy — a competition between the two schools that spans more than 20 teams.

Just don’t expect Brown to get caught up in the hype of facing her old team.

“Everyone wants to talk about the reunion game, but I’m so excited about the fall in general,” she said.

And the players share in that excitement, not only for the upcoming season but also for the direction of the program.

“Every year, the team has gotten better with higherlevel players and coaches with more experience,” said Malone. “The team from this season is going to get so much better at such a faster pace. And we’re right there. We’re ready to be an impact team in the Patriot League.”

Paying it Forward Larry Doyle ’83 & Spenser Huston ’83

L

arry Doyle believes in giving back ... and paying it forward. In fact, the practice could be called his passion. “I consider myself fortunate to count many great friends across a 50-plus year time frame,” Doyle says, “with the common bond being our love of Holy Cross in general, and Holy Cross Football specifically.”

Inspired by that sense of profound fellowship, Doyle dedicated himself to founding the Gridiron Leadership Council in 2009. The GLC has now been rebranded as The Friends of Crusader Football. But Doyle’s passion and dedication haven’t changed a bit.

“I saw a need and a place where I could help,” says Doyle. “I grew up on Holy Cross Football. I have fond memories of driving up from the Cape to the games with my family. So, first of all, I wanted to do something to emphasize the history and tradition of Crusader Football. We did this with the ‘Ring of Honor’ program — the brainchild of Ron Maheu ’64, in which we honor the best of the best ever to wear the Purple, with permanent naming recognition at Fitton Field.”

Recognition of past greats was only part of Doyle’s long-range goals.

“While honoring the past,” says Doyle, “I wanted simultaneously to engage with the present teams

and prepare for the future.

So we started a series of receptions, including our annual golf outing. This past year’s outing brought together 125 Crusaders to play golf while raising $50,000 for the program.”

Doyle’s devotion to the Crusader cause is shared by his friend and classmate, Spenser Huston ’83, who is equally enthused about the new era of Holy Cross Football.

“It’s an exciting time on Mount St. James,” says Huston. “The ability to compete at a high level at such a prestigious institution is what makes Holy Cross stand out among liberal arts colleges. I think we are right on the verge of breaking out in football to the new glory years.

It feels like Nathan Pine, Tom Gilmore, and his staff are focused on consistent improvement and success.

Playing Fordham in Yankee Stadium this year could not be more exciting.

Taking on BC once again, and Syracuse, and UConn will be great tests for our players — with the goal of consistently being at the top of the Patriot League.”

As much as Doyle and Huston are concerned with success on the gridiron, they’re just as passionate about the success of players after their last game on Fitton Field. Which was the motivation behind what might be the most ambitious support effort

Larry Doyle and Spenser Houston at the 2016 golf outing at Hopkinton Country Club from Friends of Crusader Football thus far — the “90-Wide” Program, a mentoring system that has been phenomenally successful. And which continues to expand.

“We now have approximately 130 alums serving as formal mentors for our current Crusaders on the Holy Cross Football team.

This program has been a grand slam in every regard.”

90-Wide connects former Crusader players with current players right from the get-go. Coaches use the program’s success as a recruiting tool,” says Doyle.

“Right from the beginning,” says Doyle, “I was

confident that a formal mentoring program could have a profound impact on everybody involved.

Holy Cross alums are giving by nature, but this mentoring takes that giving nature into an entirely new realm. In my opinion, mentoring embodies the true essence of Jesuit values. In fact, I think both mentors and mentees alike would assert that they have gotten far more out of the program than they could ever put in.”

With friends like Doyle and Huston supporting the program, the future of Crusader Football looks brighter than ever.

By Jack O’Connell ’81

Fall 2016 • Crusader Nation 5

Student spotlight Emily Iannaconi ’17

Cross Country/Track & Field Emily Iannaconi ’17 (Long Valley, N.J.) has fully immersed herself in all of the opportunities Holy Cross offers. If she is not at practice, Iannaconi is traveling to Haiti to build a house for a local family, studying abroad in Rome, covering the New York Giants for Inside Football, organizing The Crusader as the Editor-in-Chief, working at the library as a member of writer’s workshop, writing feature stories for GoHolyCross.com, and being an Orientation Leader. All of this hard work was recognized recently when Iannaconi became one of 200 studentathletes nationally to be selected to attend the NCAA Career in Sports Forum. Even with everything she has been involved in, Iannaconi has made the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll in every semester, including posting a 3.93 grade-point average this past spring.

Q What did you take away from

Q What has it been like covering

A I was definitely a little nervous

A I am so grateful to have the

your experience in Haiti?

before leaving. Once I entered the doors of the Be Like Brit orphanage though, I was amazed by how at home I felt. The children welcomed our group with open arms and hearts and the country of Haiti itself is unbelievably beautiful. The experience as a whole taught me how to love fearlessly and always stay open minded to new places and people.

Q Why do you to want to pursue a career in sports?

A I am particularly interested in

sports journalism and I would love to be reporting for a professional baseball or football team someday.

I grew up watching the Yankees and the Giants with my dad and I think that his passion for sports has definitely influenced me. Sports are incredibly hopeful and exciting.

6 Crusader Nation • Fall 2016

the New York Giants?

opportunity to intern under Patricia Traina and it has been incredibly eye-opening. She has taught me how to conduct and prepare for interviews, but what’s more, she has taught me how to navigate a men’s locker room as a woman as well as how to maintain confidence and composure in a room of mostly men. The players still intimidate me a little, but the experience has taught me that professional athletes are still human and each has their own unique story to tell.

Q What is your favorite thing about being on the Cross Country and Track teams?

A My favorite thing, without a

doubt, is the people that I get to run the miles with. The friends whom I have met through running make all of the hard workouts worth it.

Q What do you like about

working in the Athletics Media Relations office?

A Junior year was one of my

favorites and that has a lot to do with working in the office. I have learned the importance of loving what you do and have learned how to expand my comfort zone in ways that I could not have imagined doing a year ago.

Q What did you like about studying abroad in Rome last summer?

A I had the opportunity to become

fully immersed in the Italian culture during my time in Rome and I learned about Italian language and history. I also was lucky enough to make many new friends during my time there that I may not have met otherwise. Having the chance to travel to new places in Italy (and try lots of gelato!!) with my friends is something that I will never forget.

By Jim Wrobel, assistant director of Media Relations

10

thingstoknowabout..

Maureen Connolly ’18: Field Hockey

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Field Hockey junior forward Maureen Connolly has started in all 37 games since coming to Holy Cross. Last year, she was selected second team NFHCA All-Region, as well as first team All-Patriot League. She was also a 2015 selection for the Patriot League All-Academic team, and is currently an emerging leader with the Holy Cross Leadership Academy.

Born in London, England, but moved away before she could acquire an accent.

Lived in Corte Madera, Calif., for eight years, before moving to New Canaan, Conn., where she currently lives.

7 8

Her competitive nature sparked when she started her first sport, swimming, at the age of four.

Maureen started playing field hockey freshman year of high school and was named All-State during her sophomore, junior, and senior years.

She scored her first collegiate goal against UMass Lowell, which Holy Cross won in a 3-2 thriller.

Attended a private, all-girls, Catholic high school, Lauralton Hall, where she captained the field hockey, basketball, and softball teams. Also won a State Championship in basketball her senior year.

9 10

A summer intern at SeqLL, a biotechnology company in Woburn, Mass., that focuses on DNA and RNA sequencing.

Maureen is a chemistry major, Secretary of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and a member of the Leadership Academy at Holy Cross.

Commonly referred to as “Mo,” a nickname that has stuck since birth.

She is the middle child in her family with one older brother, who plays soccer at The University of Notre Dame, and one younger sister, who was on the U.S. Junior-National Synchronized Swimming team.

Yuji Callahan ’18: Men’s Soccer Men’s Soccer junior Yuji Callahan earned All-Patriot League accolades as a freshman. He also scored the game-winning goal in the 1-0 victory at Duke in the 2015 season. Callahan is a member of the Holy Cross Leadership Academy.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

A native of Okinawa, a small island south of Japan. His Japanese last name is Gushiken.

He has lived in the United States for only two years.

His favorite professional soccer league is the Premier League and his favorite team is West Ham United.

Yuji has played soccer for 15 years. He always wanted to go to college in the U.S. and play collegiate soccer.

He is a Math major.

A younger brother, Junta, and one sister, Reina, also play soccer.

Father, Michael, played soccer at St. Michael’s College (Class of 1991).

His favorite food is sushi.

When he graduates, Yuji hopes to work in the financial field.

Enjoys being far away from home because it forces him to be independent and allows him freedom.

Yuji misses the Japanese culture and his family.

Fall 2016 • Crusader Nation 7

A Record Year 100 percent participation in giving by senior student-athletes marks a new level of engagement with College athletics.

T

he 2015-16 school year will go down in the Holy Cross record books as the first time every graduating student-athlete pledged a gift to the College. There were 148 student-athletes among the senior class, and each one stepped up to support alma mater. Crusaders across campus are viewing the record as just one of several signs of a growing spirit of engagement with Holy Cross Athletics.

“We couldn’t be more pleased,” said Heather Palmer, director of the Crusader Athletics Fund. “There’s an important story behind the numbers. This is not something that commonly happens at our peer schools. Our student-athletes obviously feel a need to give back. They understand the value of the experience they’ve had on The Hill. And they want to pay it forward.”

“100 percent participation in giving by our senior class of student-athletes speaks volumes about the pride and passion they have for the College of the Holy Cross,” said Director of Athletics Nathan Pine. “I am very impressed by how they have embraced the importance of paying it forward and creating a legacy at Holy Cross for future classes to follow.”

“I think I speak for all of my fellow student-athletes when I say it’s been a genuine privilege to spend the last four years on Mount St. James,” says Michael Ortlieb ’16. “Talk to anyone and you hear the same thing. This is a unique place, both academically and athletically. It’s the best of both worlds.”

“I chose to make a gift,” says Kenny Acquah ’16, “because of the opportunities that Holy Cross has provided me, and so many others. Holy Cross is one of the only schools that meets 100 percent of the demonstrated financial need of its students. This ultimately gives students of low-income an opportunity to receive the elite education that Holy Cross provides.

I also believe that Holy Cross has done its job in prepping me for the next chapter in my life. And I would like to pay it forward to those that come after me.”

The class of 2016 can add this crowning achievement of generosity and class spirit to their accomplishments on the field and in the classroom.

By Jack O’Connell ’81

Student-Athletes in the Class of 2016 gathered for the first annual Senior Brunch during Senior Week.

8 Crusader Nation • Fall 2016

3

CAF saw historic increases in participation this past year. CAF set new records in annual funds raised — $1.63 million and 4,374 donors — both marks up from 2014-2015 all-time highs. The record-breaking year represented an 18 percent increase in dollars and a 12 percent increase in donors over the previous year. The Fund has seen a 140 percent increase since FY12.

Participation from student-athletes was also impressive, with all 148 senior student-athletes making a gift for the first time in school history. Overall, 12 programs established new records for dollars, while 10 sports broke the record for the most donors.

A special thank you to all who made a contribution this year. For a complete list of donors, visit: GoHolyCross. com/HonorRoll16

CAF was established in 2007 and has generated more than $9.2 million for Holy Cross Athletics since its inception, providing vital resources for coaching, enhanced recruitment, equipment upgrades, facilities improvement, and additional team training and travel.

For information on supporting our sports contact: Heather Palmer, director of the Crusader Athletics Fund at 508-793-2415 or hpalmer@holycross.edu.

Fall 2016 • Crusader Nation 9

4

(left to right) Peter Pujals, Jimmy Murray, Luke Ford

L

The Illinois Boys

Holy Cross and Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Ill., share more than a Jesuit heritage.

oyola Academy, a revered Jesuit high school located 40 minutes outside of Chicago, has a lot in common with Holy Cross, according to Luke Ford ’17, a 6’ 2” defensive back and cocaptain of this year’s Crusader Football team.

“Holy Cross and Loyola are strikingly similar,” says Ford. “They’re both genuinely dedicated to the idea of forming men and women for, and with, others. They’re both devoted to the notion of the student-athlete who excels in both of those areas. And they both feature a loyalty and a sense of belonging among their respective alumni families that is incredible.”

Maybe that shared ethos is why Loyola has been a top feeder school for so many years, sending dozens of student-athletes from Wilmette to Worcester for decades now.

The list of Loyola-Holy Cross alumni is both long and impressive. And the connection between the two schools is especially evident this year: Ford’s fellow senior and Crusader co-captain is former Loyola Rambler, 6’2”, 213 lb. quarterback Peter Pujals ’17. Ford and Pujals will be joined on Fitton Field this season by another Loyola alum, 6’5”, 297 lb. offensive lineman Jimmy Murray ‘17.

“When we were at Loyola,” says Pujals. “Luke and I received offers to play for Holy Cross on the same day. And we both committed right about the same time. I remember a few months later, being in my physics class with Jimmy, and he leaned over and told me that he was headed to Worcester as well. Ever since then, we’ve kidded him that he followed us here.”

Murray may have made his college decision a bit later than his fellow Illinoians, but he’s adamant that Mount St. James turned out to 10 Crusader Nation • Fall 2016

be the right place for him. And that the tradition should continue. “I’m hoping even more students from Loyola will continue to consider Holy Cross in the future,” says Murray. “When I consider how helpful alumni from both schools have been to me, it makes me want to contribute to the strong alumni tradition.”

The Loyola-Holy Cross brotherhood was out in force this last May 25, when a group of Rambler-Crusader alums gathered at the Chicago Reception for the Friends of Holy Cross Football. Hosted by Fred O’Connor ’84, P18, and Kevin Golden ’09.

O’Connor sees Loyola as a fine foundation for the Holy Cross experience.

“At both schools,” O’Connor says, “there is an overarching sense that people really care about your development and want you to achieve your potential. Ramblers may seek out Holy Cross because of the Jesuit or a family connection, but what they find on The Hill is genuine, demanding, fun, and fulfilling. They also create friends for life, and involvement in a robust and on-going community of alumni.”

Ford concurs. “I think of Loyola and Holy Cross as two sources of the same wisdom,” says Ford.

“The most important lessons of my life, the most lasting values, came out of both schools.

Everything was geared toward teaching the importance of a generous dedication to taking care of others. Or, in the words of St. Ignatius, ‘To give... and not to count the cost.’”

Whether in Wilmette or Worcester, the philosophy is timeless.

By Jack O’Connell ’81

Pujals, Ford, and Murray are just the most recent Ramblers to become Crusaders.

They follow in the tradition of: Rev. Thomas Henehan ’60 Paul Klauke ’72 Mike Murnane ’80 Fred O’Connor ’84 Mike Anderson ’85 Jim Boyle ’85 Kevin Garvey ’85 John Coleman ’86 Chris Degenhardt ’86 Mike Dooley ’86 Jim O’Gara ’88 Mark Murnane ’89 Mark Vanecko ’89 Bill Pragalz ’04

Stay Informed and Connected

with Holy Cross Athletics

Through Social Media

I

n mid-March 2016, all eyes were on Holy Cross. The Men’s Basketball team was in the midst of an improbable tournament run, causing a rapid upswing in popularity across the country.

Numerous media outlets such as ESPN, Sports Illustrated, CBS Sports, and the Boston Globe mentioned the Crusaders over the three-week period on their social media channels, resulting in more than 2 million people seeing Holy Crossrelated content!

Social media is a driving force in the world today. It provides every school the opportunity to shine on the national stage. That is why the Holy Cross Athletics department has put an emphasis on maximizing the use of social media to promote the achievements of its student-athletes and to establish an online community of Crusader supporters.

“Social media is an effective and valuable communication tool that we use to build the Holy Cross Hockey brand,” says Head Men’s Hockey Coach David Berard. “It helps us tell our story, share information and engage alumni, donors, fans and recruits.”

Social media provides Athletics an avenue to show why Holy Cross is such a unique place and how Holy Cross student-athletes are among the best

in the country. They are dedicated to excellence in everything they do, and fans will find displays of this dedication frequently on social media. Holy Cross Athletics harnesses the power of social media to showcase the development of its student-athletes on the field, in the classroom, and in the community. Fans can take true delight in witnessing all of the good work that distinguishes Holy Cross student-athletes from the rest of those around the country.

“It’s incredible the impact that social media has had on our Field Hockey program,” says Field Hockey Head Coach Lindsay Jackson. “We’re able to share with fans, friends, and potential studentathletes the hard work, dedication, and fun our girls are having while training to be their best in the classroom, in competition, and in the community!”

Social media also provides fans instant access to Holy Cross Athletics from the palm of their hand, bringing them to places they would not normally get to go. Whether through a photo of Women’s Soccer practicing at dawn as the sun rises over Worcester’s seven hills, a locker room video of the Football team celebrating a victory, or an intense video of the Men’s Basketball team walking out onto the court before the First Four of the NCAA Tournament, Holy Cross Athletics wants to display something special, something that fans are proud to be a part of, and something that potential fans and student-athletes might want to join.

Won’t you join us?

Experience it all, and never miss another moment of Holy Cross Athletics.

Follow @GoHolyCross on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat today!

By Carson Reider

Fall 2016 • Crusader Nation 11

CATCHING UP WITH Crusaders Susie Whelan Horan ‘07

Holy Cross Field Hockey Alumna and Former Assistant Coach

Y

ears after leaving the Holy Cross classroom and field, Susie Whelan Horan ’07 carries the lessons learned on The Hill with her, sharing them — as an educator, coach, and mentor — with her students.

When professors Cristi Rinklin and Joanna Ziegler suggested that education would be a good field for her, Horan, a studio art major and Field Hockey player, wasn’t so sure. It wasn’t until after graduation, when she became an assistant field hockey coach at the College, that she began to see that they were on to something.

“I had a transformative experience,” says Horan, who went from being a student on the team to a coach and mentor almost overnight. Beyond her work with the Field Hockey players, Horan’s interest in education grew during her experience recruiting students for Holy Cross.

“I became interested in helping families and students go through the recruiting process to find a good fit,” Horan shares. “I really enjoyed working with students through that transition.”

After coaching at Holy Cross for three seasons, as well as coaching at Boston College and Worcester State University, Horan decided to make the jump from higher education to high school, now with a Master of Science in Administrative Studies from Boston College under her belt.

Currently, Horan is the director of financial aid and associate director of admissions at Chapel Hill – Chauncy Hall School in Waltham, Mass., where she works with students and families every day.

“I always wanted to work at the administrative level where I can make an impact and help change lives,” says Horan, who serves as an advocate for students through her work on financial aid policies at the school. “I’ve had the opportunity to campaign for our financial aid program and advocate for a variety of students from around the country, some from disadvantaged backgrounds, and give them the opportunity to get a great education.

It has been incredibly rewarding.”

Horan credits Holy Cross for instilling

Horan on the sidelines as an assistant Field Hockey coach during the 2009 season.

12 Crusader Nation • Fall 2016

in her a desire to pursue a career — and a life — with intention.

“Holy Cross taught me how to make sure I was following my heart and that whatever I was doing in my life had a purpose. It helped educate the whole person in me — how to understand myself and how to be resilient; how to find my calling but also understand the process of getting there,” says Horan, a perspective she aims to pass on to her students.

In addition to her administrative work at Chapel Hill, Horan serves as a mentor on the field as well — on the lacrosse field, that is. She passes on lessons from her field hockey days on being reliable, consistent, and disciplined to her students, seeing the value in being a female role model for her students, just as her coaches were for her.

“I was so impacted by my coaches in college, particularly Meg Galligan. I find myself saying little things that she used to say to my own students. She would tell us to ‘slow down time,’ to be in the moment, conscious of our actions and what we were doing — both on and off the field. That’s something I now tell my students.”

Although her time on The Hill is over, Horan still remains connected to Holy Cross, was recently married in St. Joseph Memorial Chapel to Harvard assistant football coach Michael Horan.

“I do my best to get people together, give every year, and spread the word about Holy Cross,” says Horan, who believes in what Holy Cross has to offer, having seen what it has offered her.

“I left with an understanding of myself and my purpose. Changing the world a little bit and helping others around you starts with you. It starts with making yourself the best you can be in this moment.”

Whether in the classroom or on the field, Horan continues to carry on this mission for herself and for her students.

By Evangelia Stefanakos ‘14

Calendar

2016 Fall Home Events

September 2 3 3 4 6 9 9 11 11 13 17 17 17 20 21 23 24 24 24 27 30

Volleyball vs. Brown 7:35 p.m.

Volleyball vs. UMass Lowell 2:35 p.m.

Volleyball vs. Fairfield 5:35 p.m.

Field Hockey vs. Columbia 1:05 p.m.

Men’s Soccer vs. Siena 7.05 p.m.

Field Hockey vs. UMass Lowell 5:05 p.m.

Men’s Soccer vs. New Hampshire 7:35 p.m.

Field Hockey vs. Sacred Heart 12:05 p.m.

Women’s Soccer vs. New Hampshire 3:05 p.m.

Volleyball vs. Bryant 7:05 p.m.

Field Hockey vs. American 12:05 p.m.

Women’s Soccer vs. Lehigh 3:05 p.m.

Men’s Soccer vs. Quinnipiac 7:35 p.m.

Volleyball vs. Army West Point 7:05 p.m.

Field Hockey vs. Fairfield 7:05 p.m.

Volleyball vs. Colgate 7:05 p.m.

Football vs. Dartmouth (Homecoming) 1:05 p.m.

Women’s Soccer vs. Bucknell 5:05 p.m.

Men’s Soccer vs. Lehigh 7:35 p.m.

Men’s Soccer vs. Brown 7:05 p.m.

Volleyball vs. Loyola (Md.) 7:05 p.m.

October 1 1 1 1 7 8 8 8 11 15 15 15

Men’s & Women’s Swimming & Diving vs. Assumption 1:00 p.m.

Men’s Soccer vs. Bucknell 1:05 p.m.

Women’s Soccer vs. Navy 4:05 p.m.

Volleyball vs. American 4:05 p.m.

Men’s & Women’s Swimming & Diving vs. Iona 4:00 p.m.

Field Hockey vs. Lafayette 11:05 a.m.

Football vs. Bucknell 1:05 p.m.

Women’s Soccer vs. Colgate 7:05 p.m.

Women’s Soccer vs. Brown 7:05 p.m.

Men’s and Women’s Rowing Snake Regatta 8:00 a.m.

Field Hockey vs. Bucknell 11:05 a.m.

Football vs. Harvard (Ring of Honor) 1:05 p.m.

Check GoHolyCross.com for schedule updates Home Basketball: Hart Center Hockey: Hart Turf Field Venues Field Football: Fitton Field Ice Hockey: Hart Center

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15 16 18 19 22 22 23 26 28 29 29 29 29 30

Men’s Ice Hockey vs. Providence (DCU Center) 7:05 p.m.

Men’s Soccer vs. Colgate 1:05 p.m.

Field Hockey vs. Quinnipiac 7:05 p.m.

Women’s Soccer vs. Boston University 7:05 p.m.

Football vs. Lehigh (Family Weekend) 12:05 p.m.

Men’s Ice Hockey vs. Boston College (DCU Center) 7:05 p.m.

Field Hockey vs. Brown 1:05 p.m.

Men’s Soccer vs. Boston University 7:05 p.m.

Men’s Ice Hockey vs. Brown 7:05 p.m.

Men’s & Women’s Swimming & Diving Worcester City Championship 9:00 a.m.

Women’s Soccer vs. Loyola (Md.) 12:05 p.m.

Field Hockey vs. Lock Haven 3:05 p.m.

Women’s Ice Hockey vs. Sacred Heart 6:05 p.m.

Field Hockey vs. Bryant 3:05 p.m.

November 1 4 4 5 5 11 12 12 16 18 19 20 22 25 27 27 27

Men’s Ice Hockey vs. Union 7:05 Men’s Ice Hockey vs. AIC 7:05 Volleyball vs. Navy 7:05 Volleyball vs. Lafayette 4:05 Men’s Soccer vs. Loyola (Md.) 1:05 Volleyball vs. Bucknell 7:05 Women’s Ice Hockey vs.

New England College 1:05 Volleyball vs. Lehigh 4:05 Women’s Basketball vs. Quinnipiac 7:05 Women’s Ice Hockey vs. Southern Maine 6:05 Women’s Basketball vs. Marist 1:05 Men’s Basketball vs. Massachusetts (DCU Center) 1:05 Women’s Ice Hockey vs. Franklin Pierce 7:05 Men’s Basketball vs. South Carolina State1:05 Men’s Basketball vs. Monmouth 12:05 Women’s Basketball vs. Yale 5:05 Women’s Ice Hockey vs. Wesleyan 5:05

p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m.

1-844-GOCROSS • GoHolyCross.com/tickets Rowing: Lake Quinsigamond Soccer: Linda Johnson SmithSpring Soccer Stadium 2016 • Crusader Nation 13 Swimming & Diving: Hart Center Volleyball: Holy Cross Field House/Hart Center

UPCOMING EVENTS FOOTBALL AT YANKEE STADIUM The iconic Yankee Stadium will play host to the annual Ram-Crusader Cup on Nov. 12, 2016!

Experience Holy Cross Football like never before with the unparalleled amenities of one of America’s most impressive sports venues.

For more detailed information, including how to buy tickets, visit Ram-CrusaderCup.com or call 1-844-GOCROSS today!

MEN’S ICE HOCKEY AT THE DCU CENTER You will not want to miss when Holy Cross opens its 2016-17 season against 2016 Frozen Four participant Boston College and 2016 Northeast Regional top seed Providence College at the DCU Center on Oct. 15 and 22, respectively.

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Guarantee that you will be cheering from the best seats by becoming a season ticket holder today. Ticket access to these incredible matchups is currently only available to season ticket holders.

MEN’S BASKETBALL AT THE DCU CENTER For the first time since 2009, Holy Cross will battle UMass at the DCU Center! The schools will renew their storied in-state rivalry on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit GoHolyCross.com.

14 Crusader Nation • Fall 2016

What I Was Thinking Lynsey Petersen ’19

Women’s Volleyball Team From: Palos Verdes, Calif.

Photo taken: June 9, 2016 at Glen Afric Country Lodge in Hartebeesport, South Africa

“I was feeling incredibly lucky to walk with this majestic creature.

Her name is Marty. She was rescued by the Glen Afric reserve where I volunteered this summer. She had been ordered killed in order to lower elephant populations in Kruger National Park. This method of conservation is meant to protect species of flora and fauna in the bush, but as I learned last semester in Professor Poche’s class, Nature and Society, there are often counteractive means of conservation that benefit some species at the expense of killing others. In Africa, I found a passion for wildlife conservation and rescue.”

To read more about Lynsey’s experience in South Africa, go to: http://bit.ly/LynseyPetersen

Fall 2016 • Crusader Nation 15

Office of Advancement

College of the Holy Cross One College Street Worcester, Massachusetts 01610

NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. Postage

PAID

Worcester, MA Permit No. 760

Why I Give Alyssa Trometter ’08 (New York, N.Y.) Women’s Rowing

“Recollections of my time at Holy Cross include treks up to the Hart Center at 5 a.m. on brutally cold wintry mornings, memorable sunsets on Lake Quinsigamond, spring ‘break’ trips to Cocoa Beach, Fla., singing Mamie Reilly after regattas, and 2K erg tests that always proved unforgiving. These memories encapsulate only a small portion of the strength, discipline, and leadership skills I honed as a rower at Holy Cross. I give to Crusader Athletics because I wish to provide students with access to quality training facilities, excellent coaches, and invaluable memories of years spent perfecting their skills in a sport they love.”

Benjamin Chelmow ’14 (Franklin, Mass.) Swimming & Diving

“In addition to making great friends and connections, my four seasons on the Swim Team taught me many skills transferrable to professional life. Most important was the ability to set a goal and work toward it. Swimming is a goal-driven sport, both at the team and individual level. Coaches Parenteau and Hennessey made sure that we set goals and worked toward them throughout the season. Today, I apply the same strategies with my manager in a business setting and am grateful for the learning experience from my coaches. That’s why I give back to Crusader Athletics.”

Brian A. Cashman ’77 (Litchfield, N.H.) Men’s Lacrosse

“My affection for Holy Cross is directly related to my affection for my classmates and teammates with whom I shared an extraordinary educational experience. Giving back is only natural to keep the long purple line going. I give to support the mission of Holy Cross, of course. I also give for the memories of being on the lacrosse field with the best nationally recognized goalie in the country who kept us in games that otherwise would have been very one-sided; his effort inspired us all. The spirit of being on a team at Holy Cross is irreplaceable. I am blessed to have been a small part of it.”

Find Us

Phone: 508-793-2415 Email: CrusaderNation@holycross.edu GoHolyCross.com Stay in touch with Crusader Athletics via social media