Gigi Downey ’23 set to represent US in ultimate frisbee world championship in Nottingham, UK

BY EMILY TARINELLI ’25 SPORTS EDITOR

When Gigi Downey ’23 was invited to a friend’s ultimate frisbee practice in 2015, she was unsure about going and whether she would even like it. Now, eight years later, she has multiple accolades in the sport. Her most recent achievement: qualifying for the women-matching under-24 national team, punching a ticket to Nottingham, United Kingdom, to represent the United States in the U24 world ultimate championship.

A geography major and architecture minor, Downey played several sports growing up — including soccer, softball and track — but none of them stuck with her like ultimate frisbee. As a student at Newton North High School in Newton, Massachusetts, Downey competed on both a youth club team and their high school’s frisbee team, where they served as captain during their senior year.

Now a senior at Mount Holyoke, Downey is a co-captain of Daisy Chain, the College’s ultimate frisbee team and one of Mount Holyoke’s club sports. Founded in 2005, Daisy Chain is no stranger to high achievements. According to the team’s biography on the USA Ultimate website, Daisy Chain has qualified for the Division III College Championships each year since 2016, with a fifthplace finish at last year’s 2022 championships in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Additionally, Downey was recognized as last year’s Ultiworld D-III Women’s Defensive Player of the Year for their stellar performance on the field, and was named to the All-American first team.

“On offense, Downey is a speedy handler who is not afraid to make a big play or two. Her upline and strike cuts proved hard to defend and she proved to be a force near the end zone (12 goals, 14 assists). Even when she turns the disc, she knows how to find a way to get it back,” a statement on the Ultiworld website said. “As a defender, she is just as, if not more, versatile. When setting up a zone, she could cause damage in any position … What possibly makes Downey stand out the most as a defender is her heads-up defense. With an eye always on the disc, she got her hands on discs that the players she was defending didn’t see coming.”

To qualify for the U24 world team, Downey had to complete a questionnaire application in order to

Writers of America Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award, and the 2018 Michigan Author Award, as reported by Goodreads. Her oeuvre consists of stories both “historical and contemporary” with a “particular focus on 19th century African-American life.” As stated in her Wikipedia page, Jenkins sets her romances during a time “of African-American history that she believes is often overlooked”

‘Black Love Matters’ edited by Jessica P. Pryde

In her first published book, Jessica Pryde, a librarian and podcaster, set out to “discuss often overlooked narratives regarding the joyfulness of Black love.” “Black Love Matters” is a collection of essays, described by Kirkus as an “anthology that collects a refreshingly wide variety of perspectives on Black love.” The compilation includes the voices of academics, authors, reviewers and readers who examine the depiction of Black love in popular culture, through films, shows and novels, Goodreads reports.

In her introduction, Pryde writes, “For more than 400 years, people of African descent have been treated abysmally in many nations of the world … Yet, whether free or enslaved, Black people throughout history have been able to find romantic love — regardless of their ability to marry — both inside and outside their own communities.”

The essayists also unpack the traditional “white-centered nature of most romance novels — and novels in general,” along with the many challenges Black authors face in the publishing industry.

Pryde currently lives in Tucson, Arizona, and is the co-host of the podcast When in Romance. She is also a contributing editor of Book Riot. She earned her undergraduate degree from Washington University in Saint Louis, and later attended San Jose State University. Although “Black Love Matters” is currently her only book, written in February of 2022, she hints on her blog of possible new works of fiction to come.

‘I’m So (Not) Over You’ by Kosoko Jackson

“I’m So (Not) Over You” follows aspiring journalist Kian Andrews, who is unexpectedly enlisted by his ex-boyfriend Hudson Rivers to stage an active relationship for the sake of Hudson’s wealthy parents. Incentivized by Hudson’s promise to promote his career in journalism and enduring feelings for his old boyfriend, Kian agrees. Publishers Weekly calls it a “multilayered queer rom-com that combines fun fake dating and second chance romance tropes while exploring timely social themes.” When the pretend relationship begins feeling all too real, both men are forced to face their true feelings. “Beneath the rom-com antics,” Publishers Weekly continues in their review, “Jackson uses the pair’s differing economic backgrounds to explore wealth inequality in America. With his majority Black cast, he also highlights the intersections of class and race.”

Kosoko Jackson was born in the DC Metro Area, and presently lives in Brooklyn, New York. His personal essays have been published in The Advocate, Medium and Thought Catalog. “I’m So (Not) Over You” was published Feb. 22, 2022, and represents his debut in adult fiction. Jackson has also authored the YA novel, “Yesterday is History,” and the more recent novel, “Survive the Dome.”

Mount Holyoke Track and Field finishes 12th out of 13 at Tufts

BY GENEVIEVE ZAHNER ’26 STAFF WRITER

The Mount Holyoke Track and Field team competed at the Tufts Cupid Challenge on Saturday, Feb. 4. The Lyons placed 12th out of 13 teams, with Brandeis University behind them by 18 points and Wellesley College ahead by one.

“We encountered a lot of tough competition at the Tufts meet last weekend, but our team did very well,” Maya Evans ’26 said.

Emma Doyle ’23 placed second out of 43 competitors in the shot put, and was short of a personal best by two centimeters at 11.29 meters. Doyle also placed ninth out of 36 individuals in the weight throw with a mark of 11.73 meters.

Photo courtesy of Mount Holyoke Athletics be invited to the tryouts.

Multiple Mount Holyoke runners set personal bests at the Tufts Cupid Challenge on Feb. 4.

“It was kind of like applying to a job or applying to school,” Downey recalled. “We answered a bunch of different questions that were like, ‘What’s Spirit of the Game? What kind of player are you? What’re your best strengths?’”

According to Downey, “Spirit of the Game” is a conceptual element that is unique to ultimate frisbee.

“Frisbee is a self-officiated sport. So we have observers at certain levels of play, but for the most part, when you make a call, it has to be from you and you have to talk to the [other team’s] person. … [Spirit of the Game] is basically holding respect for the other player, knowing the rules and upholding them and

Elle Rimando ’26 achieved a season best in the long jump with a mark of 5.04 meters, earning seventh place out of 21 others in the event. The jump put Rimando at fifth place on the Mount Holyoke all-time performance ranking for the event. Rimando also earned ninth out of 35 athletes in the 60-meter dash, placing just outside of team scoring with a time of 8.29 seconds.

Tessa Lancaster ’25 placed second out of 23 runners in the 3000-meter run and achieved a personal best time of 10:37.55, edging out an Amherst College athlete by 1.01 seconds and behind Tufts University’s firstplace finisher by 2.53 seconds. With this time, Lancaster, whose previous best time ranked eighth all-time for the indoor program, ascended to sixth on Mount Holyoke’s all-time performance list in the event.

“More people were excited about their performances [rather than] frustrated,” Head Coach Jay Hartshorn said. “In track and field you always have some ups and downs, so more ups is always the goal.”

Kim Beaver ’25 secured a personal record in the 600-meter run with a time of 1:47.16, shaving off 0.71 seconds from Beaver’s previous record. Devan Ravino ’23 also had a best time in the 1000-meter run with a time of 3:15.50, earning 17th place.

Bridget Hall ’24, Orion Griesmer ’24 and Maya Evans ’26 placed 11th, 13th and 14th respectively in the 5000-meter run, with Hall finishing at 19:55.45, Griesmer at 20:24.47 and Evans at 20:51.72.

Mount Holyoke Track and Field will next compete on Saturday, Feb. 10, at Middlebury College.