A Window on the Winter Olympics

At a special Brookside assembly dedicated to sportsmanship, six Upper School student-athletes, dressed in their varsity uniforms, shared their insights and experiences with an awestruck young audience.

Seniors Nick Della Penna (Football and Baseball), Erin Spain (Track and Field), Lacey Silvano (Field Hockey and Lacrosse), Remy Kartzman (Swimming and Baseball), Stephanie Tramutola (Soccer) and Pat Livesey (Football and Baseball) were the centre of attention as they explained what sportsmanship meant to them.

While Stephanie and Pat explained the importance of fairness and honesty, following the rules, staying positive and happy and displaying good manners at all times, Nick used the example of Derek Jeter as an athlete who has achieved as much as he has in large part due to his sportsmanship. Lacey and Erin highlighted how sportsmanship can take different forms in team and individual sports and Remy, citing the sportsmanship displayed by the Patriots when they lost the Super Bowl to the Giants, reminded Brookside that as important as winning is, it is more important to respect your teammates and opponents and to be a good person both on and off the field.

Answering questions that included “How do you hit home runs?” (Answer: “With a lot of practice and great coaching from Coach P.”) “What is your favorite color? (Answer: “Blue and green to represent MKA!”) And “What do you do if you forget good sportsmanship?” (Answer: “It’s not the end of the world, but you need to remember it for next time.”) the students clearly lived up to Coach P’s endorsement that “They are not only outstanding athletes, but more importantly, they are outstanding young people.”

Fourth graders at The Montclair Kimberley Academy recently experienced a thrilling first-hand glimpse into the excitement of the Winter Olympics. Thanks to the work of MKA parent Bill Ruhl, and to the wonders of modem technology, they enjoyed a Skype video conversation with Chris Gilbertson, Assistant Coach to the historymaking American Men’s Nordic Combined Ski Team, who won their first medals ever in this Games.

Gilbertson talked about his work helping to coach a team from relative obscurity to gold and silver medal winners, and answered student’s questions, such as “What does it feel like right before the start of a race?” “” What are some of the training techniques you use?” “Does the Coach get a medal too?” (The answer is no!) and “What was your most exciting and most disappointing moment?”

“Skyping with an Olympic coach was remarkable,” Commented fourth grade teacher Kyle Chapman, “It was not only timely and relevant, but inspiring for all those in attendance. I believe that exposing students to successful people, no matter the arena that they are successful, is beneficial to a young person, and Gilbertson is obviously as successful as one can be in his area.”

review spring 2010

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