2021 NEPSAC Summer News Magazine by NEPSAC COMMUNICATIONS

NEPSAC News ®

NEW ENGLAND PREPARATORY SCHOOL ATHLETIC COUNCIL

Enjoy the moment

SUMMER 2021

Don’t just play to win. Plan to win. Serious athletes need their body and the brain well fueled if they expect to win on the field and in the classroom.

SportsGrub delivers. ™

Sign your team up today.

We deliver on-the-go meals for serious athletes. SportsGrub™ makes planning pre- and post-game/ practice meals simple, convenient and nutritious. Select from our large selection of signature meals and performance snacks. Our meals are always made with wholesome and fresh ingredients and enhance performance and promote success on and off the field. SportsGrub conveniently delivers onsite whether you are playing at home or on the road.

Here’s How It Works

SportsGrub makes it simple!

Get the App

Delivery

Simply download the SportsGrub™ app, select your team or organization, your event and place your order.

We’ll deliver a thermal cooled team box to your location with individually labeled meals.

Create your own team menu. Choose items from our Master Menu or tell us what you’d like. Your athletes will only see what was created for your event/game. We can also set a per person purchase limit if you would like.

We know how busy you and your athletes are. We won’t forget! SportsGrub™ will make sure everybody places an order prior to your event. Our app will send out reminders to team or organization members who have not placed an order as the deadline nears.

Select from our signature meals and performance snacks right from your mobile device.

2 | NEPSAC News | Summer 2021

Get started at sportsgrub.com info@sportsgrub.com | 978.561.9779

www.nepsac.org

NEPSAC News NEPSAC

In this issue

New England Preparatory School Athletic Council President George Tahan Belmont Hill School Vice-President Martha Brousseau Greenwich Academy Secretary Ryan Frost Cardigan Mountain School Treasurer Jim Smucker Berwick Academy Co-Directors of Championships Lisa Joel Phillips Andover Academy Bob Howe Deerfield Academy Jamie Arsenault New Hampton School Director of Classifications Mark Conroy Williston Northampton School Coordinator of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Lamar Reddicks Milton Academy Past Presidents Bob Howe Deerfield Academy Jamie Arsenault New Hampton School Mark Conroy Williston Northampton School Richard Muther St. Paul’s School Middle School Representatives Amber Kuntz Beaver Country Day School Rob Feingold The Fay School District I Representatives Stefan Jensen Hyde School Nan Hambrose Kents Hill School District II Representatives Matt Lawlor Brewster Academy Tara Brisson Tilton School Ryan Frost Cardigan Mountain School District III Representatives Rob Quinn Berwick Academy Betsy Kennedy Pingree School Jen Viana Cushing Academy Rick Forestiere Thayer Academy District IV Representatives Geoff Barlow Avon Old Farms School Rob Madden Taft School John Egan Christian Heritage School Tauni Butterfield Greens Farms Academy Communications Specialist Laurie Sachs The Rivers School “NEPSAC” and the NEPSAC logo are registered trademarks of the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council and may not be used or displayed without permission.

NEPSAC athletes are Tokyo bound

From Hotchkiss to UMass

A rarity on the lacrosse field

FA’s Provo wins second G national wrestling title

A rnold wins NYRR Washington Heights miler

Z oe Tinnesz named “Women of Will” award winner

tudents run half marathon S while studying remotely

onversation with Kathy C Boudreau, laundry clerk

P omfret’s cool pandemic project

occer videos connect S student to community

hanging negative thought C processes — from TrueSport

Departments 4 Around NEPSAC

11 Laurels

42 #ICYMI

New England Preparatory School Athletic Council qualifies as a public charity under Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3).

ON THE COVER: Greg Carvel takes a moment with his UMass team

www.nepsac.org

NEPSAC News | Summer 2021 | 3

AROUND NEPSAC

President’s Letter George Tahan Belmont Hill School

year ago at this time, we were all just a few months into the COVID 19 pandemic and its many challenges, both known and unknown. I am thrilled to be writing now as our country and our schools are coming out of the pandemic and now planning a return to what we all hope will be a fantastic 2021–2022 school year. The NEPSAC Executive Board has been working on a number of items in conjunction with the 2021–2022 school year. As we all head for what I hope is a summer of rest and rejuvenation I would like to leave you with these few reminders.

NEPSAC Directory goes online

You have received an email regarding our new NEPSAC Online Directory. Please be sure to submit your school information at your earliest convenience. Contact Laurie Sachs if you need help or have questions.

2021 Annual Meeting

I am very pleased to a be able to also confirm that we will gather in person for our NEPSAC Annual Meeting on Tuesday, November 16, 2021 in Boxborough, MA. I look forward to seeing everyone meeting with vendors, attending breakout sessions, and honoring our annual Souders and Distinguished Service Award winners. Please be sure to add this to your calendar.

Save the Date!

NEPSAC Annual Meeting Tuesday, November 16, 2021 Boxboro Regency Hotel and Conference Center 2021–2022 NEPSAC Board Meetings Times/Locations TBA Tuesday, September 14, 2021 Tuesday, October 5, 2021 Monday, November 15, Boxborough, MA Tuesday, November 16, 2021 NEPSAC Annual Meeting, Boxborough, MA Tuesday, January 11, 2022 Tuesday, February 15, 2022

Vaccination policies

Speaking of calendar, in the context of scheduling, it has come the Executive Board’s attention that various NEPSAC leagues and member schools are considering a number of possible policies with respect to vaccination and COVID testing requirements for the 2021– 2022 school year. Some schools are considering the possibility of only playing schools whose students and coaches have been vaccinated. Others are considering requiring that participants be vaccinated or produce a negative COVID test the week of participation. As you work through your 2021–2022 scheduling you should make sure to ask and understand if any of your opponents will be requiring any of the above. At the same time, you should also be prepared to explain your school’s policy when your opponents ask.

DEI webinar

The last calendar item involves NEPSAC’s ongoing DEI work. The Board has approved a fall DEI Webinar to take place in late September or early October. A number of members of the Executive Board are working with Lamar Reddicks, our NEPSAC Coordinator of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion to choose a speaker and put together the webinar. More information to follow once the particulars of the program are finalized. Stay tuned.

4 | NEPSAC News | Summer 2021

Tuesday, May 3, 2022

NEPSAC policies return

Finally, another reminder that all NEPSAC member schools will return to following and adhering to all NEPSAC policies for the 2021–2022 school year. All COVID-related policy changes made during the 2020–2021 school year are no longer in effect. More specifically, the NEPSAC Out of Season Coaching Policy as stated in the NEPSAC Handbook & Directory, page 18, is back in effect and will be strictly enforced for the 2021–2022 school year. All NEPSAC championships will be resumed during the 2021–2022 school year. NEPSAC championship participation in the 2021–2022 school year will only be available to those full time member schools that comply with all NEPSAC policies without exception. In closing, I wish you all a well deserved break this summer and I congratulate you on successfully navigating the most challenging year in the history of NEPSAC. As always, do not hesitate to contact me with any questions and concerns. George Tahan

www.nepsac.org

AROUND NEPSAC

TREASURER’S REPORT Dues and NEPSAC Directory by Jim Smucker, Berwick Academy, NEPSAC Treasurer

hank you for your continued support and efforts in this challenging year!

DUES:

Beginning on July 1, 2021 all NEPSAC, District and Coaches Associations dues will be available to be paid on online (Access Here), and all dues need to be paid by October 15th: Expect communications regarding dues paid in 2020/2021 that will be applied to 2021/2022.

NEPSAC Directories:

As mentioned in the April 2021 Business meeting, NEPSAC will be moving to online versions of the Directory and Handbook for 2021–2022. We feel that this will be a much more efficient system moving forward and will allow schools to make changes throughout the year to keep information more accurate. As in the past, you will be reminded to update your department’s information in the spring and your updated information will be published online in the fall. You will no longer be mailed a directory or even have to pay for one! Work will be done this summer to create the new online versions and we will notify you when the work is complete in the fall. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to Jimmy Smucker or Laurie Sachs.

ALL-NEPSAC All NEPSAC All Star Recognition for Spring Team Sports!

ne of the NEPSAC Executive Board’s goals for this coming year is to ensure that all spring team sports recognize postseason individual All NEPSAC teams! Girls lacrosse took the lead this past spring by recognizing their first ever All NEPSAC team. The board will be reaching out to league presidents and others to help with this initiative. The biggest challenge has been that organized NEPSAC wide coach association groups in many of these sports (boys lacrosse, softball, baseball) do not exist. Similar to what we have done in the fall and winter, mechanisms will be put in place so our amazing spring athletes will also be given All NEPSAC recognition. Stay tuned!! You can find the list of girls lacrosse All NEPSAC recognitions here: https://www.nepsac.org/page/3308

www.nepsac.org

Calling All Equipment Managers!

by Donald “Mac” McElreavy, Phillips Exeter Academy

have been at PEA since 1979. My first four years were spent on the athletic grounds crew, maintaining the playing fields, and in the winter season, our indoor, clay and dirt floor cage for track and working in our twin rinks for hockey. In 1983 I became the athletic equipment manager. Over those 38 years so much has changed: cloth for uniforms, sports equipment and how those things are cleaned and cared for to get the most out of everything our sports programs use, for example. Even more important are the inspections and certifications that a large amount of our sports protective gear now requires. Examples are NOCSAE certifications for helmets and the recently enacted commotio cordis requirement for chest protectors for lacrosse goalies and baseball catchers. Every equipment manager has to stay up to date on upcoming rule changes in every sport our programs offer as well as making sure that these updates are implemented when they’re due. To help with these constant changes and revisions it’s always helpful to reach out to other equipment managers to get their opinions about options and availability. The pandemic highlighted this with all the myriad issues that COVID brought to all of our schools. In January 2020 I was invited to join a group of equipment managers across the country organized by Ron Turner, the equipment manager at St. Mark’s School of Texas. We’ve been meeting weekly since then on Zoom. Initially meetings were heavily focused on the best practices on dealing with COVID regarding sanitation and disinfecting equipment and keeping every student and coach as safe as possible. A lot of our time was spent simply sharing information on which products worked best on certain types of equipment — like leather balls as opposed to rubber balls — and the availability, or lack of, those products as well. Through our meetings this group — which has included Groton School, Choate Rosemary Hall and St. Paul’s School — a camaraderie and network that is reaching out to each other outside of meetings for advice and recommendations. A couple of years ago, Laurie Sachs at NEPSAC approached me about getting equipment managers at our member schools together to share knowledge and get recommendations on how our experiences in this position could benefit each other and our programs. Interrupted by COVID, hopefully we can get that attempt back on track and start up a NEPSAC group similar to the national group I’m a part of now. Please feel free to reach out to either Laurie or me, and hopefully we can move forward with this group.

NEPSAC News | Summer 2021 | 5

AROUND NEPSAC

From the Archives GREAT MOMENTS FROM 75 YEARS OF CLAREMONT-MUDD-SCRIPPS ATHLETICS

1985 Women’s Track and Field: Hardesty Wins National Championship in 3000 Meters

ne interesting piece of trivia to the rich history of CMS Athletics is that the first Athena to ever win an individual national championship was really more like a Pioneer in Athena’s clothing. In the 1980s, exchange students between US colleges were a more common phenomenon than they are now, and when students visited a different college for a semester or an academic year, as long as they were enrolled full-time, they were eligible to compete in athletics. Gwyn Hardesty was one such student-athlete. She enrolled at Smith College in Massachusetts in 1983, but for her sophomore year, as a budding mathematician, she traveled across the country to attend Harvey Mudd as a visiting student. While attending, she joined the CMS Women’s Track and Field team, and took a national championship trophy home with her, capturing the 3000 meters in 9:42.46 at the 1985 NCAA Division III Championships for the first national title won by any CMS women’s student-athlete. After returning to Smith, she won the national championship again as a junior for the Pioneers, and graduated

6 | NEPSAC News | Summer 2021

finished second in the SCIAC to Occidental with a 5-1 league mark, and junior Diana Thomas set school records in the 100, 200 and long jump. Barb Backmann added a school record in the 400 meters and Canon Price matched Thomas with a new long jump record. Thomas would go on to capture AllAmerica honors as a senior the following year, finishing eighth in the 100 with a time of 12.56 and graduating with four school records (100, 200, long jump, triple jump). She would later earn a spot in the CMS Athletics Hall of Fame, along with three of her 1985 teammates, distance runners Cindy Nagle, Liane Kivela, and Sheilagh Boyle, who were part of a top-10 NCAA finish for the cross country team in 1984 under Goldhammer (along with Jessica Tisdale and Margaret Vandervert). As for Hardesty, she was a good fit during her year at Harvey Mudd, and went on to earn her Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Colorado in 1999. HardestyCoogan currently is the mathematics chair at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire, her alma mater.

with Smith school records in the 1500, the 3000 and the mile (her 3000 time still ranks third at CMS). Post-graduation, Hardesty competed in the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, where she finished 13th in the 10000 meters, and won the USA Track and Field national championship in the Marathon in 1998. She was inducted into the Smith College Hall of Fame in 2012. Hardesty had the top individual highlight of the 1985 CMS Track and Field season, but it was a strong overall year for the Athenas as well, despite a modestsized roster of 12 student-athletes under first-year Gwynneth Hardesty Coogan is Phillips Exeter Academy Head Coach John mathematics chair and the George Albert Wentworth Professor Goldhammer. CMS in Mathematics.

www.nepsac.org

AROUND NEPSAC BERKSHIRE SCHOOL | SHEFFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS

Celebrating 43 Years of Service

Athletics Equipment Manager Skip Bowman Retires

fter 43 years of dedicated service to Berkshire School, Skip Bowman retired from his post as equipment manager this September. Mr. Bowman, often viewed as the backbone of the athletic department, joined Berkshire

Skip Bowman was a steady presence on the sidelines.

www.nepsac.org

in 1977. The School community will honor Mr. Bowman with a traditional gauntlet ceremony this spring. With his character, wit, grace, kindness, and love for Berkshire, Mr. Bowman has left an indelible mark on thousands of students, colleagues, parents, and friends of the School. Many students’ fondest memories of athletics include Mr. Bowman, who had a reliable presence in the Jack — and doled out a steady stream of Jolly Ranchers. He made a point to attend as many games (no matter the sport or skill level) as he could, even in inclement weather. And students welcomed his words of encouragement as they were healing from injuries or preparing for tough matches. Director of Athletics Dan Driscoll said of Mr. Bowman, “His quiet dignity, his kindness, and his ability to connect with everyone who was lucky enough to enter his orbit, has shaped our school into what it has become today. Skip’s

presence alone was reassuring. He was always there ... there for a nervous student who forgot their uniform or for a coach who was running from class to the court. Most importantly, he was there to make sure that everything was going to be okay. This presence gave those around him the confidence to grow, to connect, and to feel at home. Without Skip, we would not be Berkshire. We can’t thank him enough.” Read tributes to Skip Bowman on a special page at Berkshire School’s website.

NEPSAC News | Summer 2021 | 7

AROUND NEPSAC WINSOR SCHOOL | BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

An Extraordinary Gift

Dedicated to helping others, Sarah Carter Crawford ’56 leaves Winsor its largest bequest in history

or many of us, our “personal best” tells of one moment of adrenaline, one medal, one relished victory. For Sarah Carter Crawford ’56, a personal best was not a superlative, nor a transient moment atop an apex. Carter — as she was known — seemed to spend her life inviting opportunities to set another personal best whether through athletics, a full career, a com mitment to community service and volunteer work, or philanthropy. An accomplished athlete at Winsor and Smith College, she never hung up her sneakers or gear, and never ceased in her pursuit for fulfillment and joy. After college, Carter worked in finance, then in advertising. She married, and divorced. In 1975, she changed careers and entered sales for a local television channel in Los Angeles. Seven years later, after a critical illness, her life changed when she moved to Fairbanks, Alaska as general sales manager at KTVF; a move she recalls as having saved her life, and created a new one.

8 | NEPSAC News | Summer 2021

In Alaska, she returned to her lifelong love of sports and competition — running, weightlifting, motorcycling, skydiving, softball, soccer, golf, lacrosse, and even picking up her first ice hockey stick at 45. The winner of many Running Club North age-division awards, Carter was an avid ambassador for fitness for all women, encouraging and cheering other athletes in their efforts to reach their personal bests. Off the pitch or track or rink, Carter — known at Winsor and frankly, everywhere she went, as funny, ebullient, and at times delightfully irreverent — applied herself to helping others. Upon retirement, she founded Crawford Communications, but it was her passion for the stock market (after her father fulfilled her high school graduation request for one share of AT&T stock) that led her to funding numerous nonprofit orga nizations locally and across America. Carter was honored with innumerable service awards from orga nizations for which she devoted her energy and time, one of which she was especially proud: her role as president of the Fairbanks Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. Carter is also listed in several “Who’s Who of American Women.” Wherever she went, it seems, she left an indelible mark. So, it should come as no surprise that when she passed away, Carter left the largest bequest in Winsor’s history. She spent years planning her legacy gift with her personal advisors and with Winsor. Carter lived modestly and was deeply aware of the inequities around her; she felt it her duty to give to others, especially those less fortunate, whether through philanthropy or volunteerism. Understanding that a Winsor educa tion was instrumental in shaping her values, she chose to leave an unre stricted bequest knowing and trusting that her legacy would be put to good use by the school she cherished. To honor Carter’s wishes and her extraordinary legacy, Winsor has named

an endowed scholarship fund after her mother and her: The Gribbel Carter Scholarship. Winsor also honored her commitment to a more equitable society and her deep appreciation of Winsor’s teachers by establishing two separate endowed funds for diversity, equity, and inclusion, and for faculty professional development. What’s extraordinary about Carter’s legacy to Winsor was not only its size — over $4 million — which would have surprised Carter herself, but that it was received during a time of general economic uncertainty. No doubt, it would have elated her to know how transformative her legacy would be to providing opportunities to future generations of talented Winsor students. Her lifelong friend, Nancy Bassett Smith ’56, with whom Carter spent summers at camp in Maine and arrived in Class VI as new girls, remembers Carter’s moxie. “She was always such a bubbly person, so warm. Recently, I looked back at our yearbook and with her photo was the quote, ‘Be always merry as you can, for none delights in a sorrowful man {woman}.’ Those words sum her up to a T!” Among the life-long list of accomplishments, proud moments, generous gifts, and personal bests, no doubt her astoundingly generous legacy to Winsor would top the list. Victoria Tilney McDonough ’83 is a writer based in Alexandria, VA.

www.nepsac.org

A private social platform designed for schools Engaging students and families is a challenge at the best of times. When everyone is remote, the effort and creativity required are that much greater. What if your students and families can contribute to capturing their experiences — whether it's Athletics, Drama, Makers Club or Home Schooling? That's where Vidigami comes in. Give your school the easiest way to capture student learning visually. Engage your community with a personalized experience for every teacher, student and family, year after year.

Exclusive Offer for NEPSAC Schools BOOK A DEMO

Email info@vidigami.com

www.nepsac.org

Book a demo before September 1st and enter in a draw to win a drone for your school!

More info about.vidigami.com

Phone +1 (604) 559-9755

NEPSAC News | Summer 2021 | 9

The DRW041 24-passenger multi-function bus is perfect as an initial bus purchase or to add to your fleet. We have created a guide to help you through the decision process when considering all the new features and regulations of ownership. Click here to download the GUIDE and feel fr free to contact me for more information about our complete line of transport vehicles.

Thomas Built Buses has been designing and building tough and reliable school buses in North America since 1936. We have put our experience to create one of the toughest Multi-Function School Activity Bus (MFSAB) vehicles on the road - and yet it is so easy to purchase and drive. OUR MISSION : To make owning buses more profitable and enjoyable by anticipating customer needs at every stage of the ownership experience.

10 | NEPSAC News | Summer 2021

.PDF Download

Alliance Bus Group 13 Rebel Road • Hudson, NH 03051 www.alliancebusgroup.com Greg Anthony • 603-402-7026 greganthony@alliancebusgroup.com

www.nepsac.org

CUSHING ACADEMY | ASHBURNHAM, MASSACHUSETTS

Hayley Moore named AHL VP, Hockey Operations

merican Hockey League President and Chief Executive Officer Scott Howson announced that Hayley Moore has been named to the position of Vice President, Hockey Operations for the AHL. Moore will be responsible for overseeing the league’s on-ice operations, including management of the AHL officiating program and the league’s disciplinary process. “Hayley has extensive experience at every level of hockey, and will provide outstanding leadership in her role with the American Hockey League,” said Howson. “On behalf of our Board of Governors, I am pleased and excited to welcome her to the AHL.” Currently president of the Boston Pride of the National Women’s Hockey League, Moore will begin her duties with the American Hockey League on Feb. 8, following the conclusion of the upcoming NWHL season. With the Pride, Moore manages all hockey and business operations of the organization; she previously served as general manager of the club, guiding the team to a two-year record of 30-4-1 and an Isobel Cup championship in 2016. From 2017 to 2019, Moore was the deputy commissioner and director of player development for the NWHL, overseeing all hockey operations and playing an invaluable role in the growth of the league. She also has administrative experience as director of girls’ hockey for the East Coast Wizards youth hockey association in Bedford, Mass., and as commissioner of the Eastern Women’s Hockey Conference. “My career has been fueled by a passion for development, so I am thrilled to be joining

www.nepsac.org

Taft Boys’ Lacrosse Wins GEICO Nationals

aft Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse defeated St. John’s College High School to win the 2021 the GEICO High School Lacrosse Nationals. The final score was 10 to 6. Four teams were invited to compete in what has been billed as the biggest, most selective post-season lacrosse event. All were ranked in the top-10 nationally. Number 6 Taft defeated number 9 Culver Military Academy by a score of 10 to 8 in the first-round matchup on Sunday, May 30. St. John’s knocked number 5 Georgetown Prep out of the competition on the same day. Taft and St. John’s faced off Monday, May 31 for the title. All games were played on Carlini Field at Catholic University in Washington, DC, and aired on ESPNU. Congratulations Rhinos!

the American Hockey League, the premier development hockey league in the world,” said Moore. “For this enormous opportunity, I want to thank Scott Howson and the AHL’s Board of Governors, and I look forward to working with everyone in the league. I also want to acknowledge the owners, players and staff of the Boston Pride, and my colleagues at the NWHL. I am immensely proud to have been a part of the league for its first six seasons.” A native of Wakefield, Mass., Moore was a two-year captain and two-time All-Ivy selection playing at Brown University, and skated

professionally for the Boston Blades of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League as well as in Switzerland. She later served as an assistant coach for the women’s team at Harvard University and as a development camp skills coach and onice director for USA Hockey. In operation since 1936, the AHL serves as the top development league for all 31 National Hockey League teams. Nearly 90 percent of today’s NHL players are American Hockey League graduates, and more than 100 honored members of the Hockey Hall of Fame spent time in the AHL in their careers.

NEPSAC News | Summer 2021 | 11

Tokyo Bound!

NEPSAC Athletes at the Olympics

ongratulations to the athletes shown here who will be competing on the world stage in Tokyo. After a year’s delay we are sure they will savor this moment even more. We will all be cheering them on.

Did we miss anyone? Please let us know so we can highlight more NEPSAC Olympians in the next issue.

Best of luck to all NEPSAC athletes representing their countries in Tokyo!

TAYRA MELENDEZ | RIVERS SCHOOL | BASKETBALL

STU MCNAY | ROXBURY LATIN SCHOOL | SAILING

GIA DOONAN | TABOR ACADEMY | ROWING

12 | NEPSAC News | Summer 2021

www.nepsac.org

Four Belmont Hill alumni will be competing for three countries at the Tokyo Games. Tap the photo to read more about US rowers Alexander Richards and Andrew Reed; Benny Wanger, who will play baseball for Israel; and Dara Alizadeh, also a rower but wearing Bermuda’s colors.

GEVVIE STONE | WINSOR SCHOOL | ROWING

ALYSSA NAEHER | CHRISTIAN HERITAGE SCHOOL | SOCCER MOLLY RECKFORD | PHILLIPS EXETER ACADEMY | ROWING

ELIZABETH YEAGER | SACRED HEART GREENWICH | FIELD HOCKEY

www.nepsac.org

GABBY THOMAS | WILLISTON NORTHAMPTON SCHOOL | TRACK AND FIELD

NEPSAC News | Summer 2021 | 13

14 | NEPSAC News | Summer 2021

www.nepsac.org

Former Hotchkiss Standout Coaches UMass to National Championship SPONSORED BY: SPORTSGRUB

by Bob York

reg Carvel called a timeout before time ran out. The University of Massachusetts hockey coach requested the stoppage in play with just under three minutes remaining in the championship game of this year’s NCAA Division I Men’s Hockey Tournament. With his Minutemen up on St. Cloud State by a 5-0 score and just moments away from chalking up their first National Championship, Carvel summoned his players together at the bench and gave them one last directive: embrace the moment. The veteran mentor, who fell in love with the game as a kid while playing youth hockey in Canton, N.Y., learned long ago that hockey teams rarely enjoy the opportunity of basking in a 5-0 lead in the closing minutes of a game — much less a National Championship game. “So,” explained Carvel during a post game interview with ESPN, “I just told the kids to enjoy the moment … to soak in the last three minutes of the game. “I wanted them to come together and to remember the moment,” added Carvel, “because I knew this would be one of the best moments of their lives. I wanted them to hear that from me. Plus, I wanted to express my gratitude for everything they’d done for the program. “I’m very proud of everyone in our program, where this program was five years ago and now we’re National Champions. These kids have done it all. I’m so proud of them … so thankful … so grateful,” continued Carvel, who, it turns out, is well versed in being a part of successful hockey programs in the western New England area. In addition to the numerous team and personal accomplishments Carvel has already chalked up during his brief five years as a mentor in Amherst, he left quite a name for himself as a player at The Hotchkiss School (’89) in Lakeville, Conn., as well. During his rookie (junior) season touring New England’s prep school icehouses, his scoring touch helped lead the Bearcats to their best season record ever (24-1-0) and a top seed in the 1988 New England tournament. “Unfortunately, we got upset in the first round of the playoffs by Tabor Academy, who went on to win the title that year,” remembers veteran Hotchkiss mentor Jeff Kosak, and despite posting New England championships in 1992 and 1995 and a runner-up finish in 1997, the coach still gave Carvel and his 1987-88 teammates a highfive by rating them as “one of the very best teams we ever had here.” And, according to Kosak, Carvel was one of the big reasons why this was one of the very best teams he ever presided over during his 14 years as the head coach at Hotchkiss. “He was our go-to guy,” said Kosak of Carvel, who landed first team All-New England Prep School laurels for his play at Hotchkiss,

www.nepsac.org

and it wasn’t just because he was one of the team’s leading scorers both seasons he was there. “It was about the way he played the game ... in addition to being an outstanding athlete, he had a tremendous work ethic. At practice, he was always the first guy on the ice and the last guy off it. He never stopped working to improve his game. “And believe me, we took advantage of that talent and work ethic as much as possible,” Kosak quipped. “We used him during any and all situations on the ice … we used him five-on-five, we used him on the power play and we used him on the penalty kill.” Kosak even used his high-scoring forward on defense, “but only because I had to,” he explained. “During Greg’s senior season, we had a shortage of experienced defensemen to start with and after some injuries depleted the unit even more, I moved him back to the blue line and he did an excellent job there. “Although he was looking ahead to a college career, Greg never once complained about the move and I never expected he would because a solid character was one of his distinctive qualities,” added Kosak. “He’s was a totally unselfish player who always had a team-first attitude and that’s one of the reasons why he was a unanimous choice as captain his senior year.” And despite the move to defense, Carvel still managed to lead the team in scoring. “Having seen the way Greg approached the game of hockey as a player during the two years he was at Hotchkiss, it’s easy to tell from watching the way his teams play the game today that he’s approaching it the same way as a coach,” said Kosak. “He always believed in hard work, always played disciplined hockey, always played the game hard but played it clean, and that’s the way he’s got UMass playing the game. Plus, he’s bringing in kids just like him … kids with a lot of character. “And to be totally honest,” added Kosak, “I’m not the least bit surprised Greg’s the coach of a National Champion team. I am surprised, however, that it took him only five years to do it … how far he’s taken UMass in that short a period of time is really incredible.” While Kosak had plenty of positive attributes to point out about his former charge, it didn’t take long in conversing with Carvel to realize that more than 30 years after the fact, there’s a mutual admiration society here and it’s alive and well. “Jeff Kosak was the most outstanding coach I’ve ever played for,” said Carvel. “I came to Hotchkiss from a small farming town in upstate New York and quickly learned that a prep school environment is truly unique and it’s really important to develop strong relationships with your fellow student/athletes, as well as

NEPSAC News | Summer 2021 | 15

your teachers and coaches and it was coach Kosak who instilled such values as integrity, discipline, philosophy and focus, not only in the way we played hockey, but in the way we approached academics and everything else we did and I still look to those very same qualities today.” Although he was named league MVP following his junior season at Canton High School, Carvel was entertaining aspirations of playing on the Division I collegiate level and therefor, “I felt a need to play at a higher level to prepare myself for that. The reason why I chose Hotchkiss was because two or three of my buddies in Canton attended Hotchkiss and had good things to say about the school’s academics and its hockey program.” The move to Hotchkiss paid dividends, as Carvel accepted an invite to play college hockey at St. Lawrence University back in his hometown of Canton. There, where everybody already knew his name, he helped the Saints win an ECAC crown his junior year and as a senior, earned his first national prize: The Outstanding Defensive Forward Award. Despite his flare to defend, however, Carvel still completed his collegiate career with nearly a point-pergame average, ringing up 123 points in 131 games on 38 goals and 85 assists. Although Carvel was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins, no contract was ever offered and so he spent a year playing professional hockey in Sweden before donning his first assistant coaching cap. Ironically, that cap was offered by a former prep foe: Canterbury School. “It turned out to be a great first step,” said Carvel. “They gave me a lot of responsibility that season and it really helped get my coaching career off to a fast start. What’s more, Canterbury won a New England championship the previous year so it turned out to be a great way for me to get my feet wet.” That 1994–95 season at Canterbury kicked off a 16-year climb through college and professional coaching staffs — highlighted by two treks to the Stanley Cup finals via the Ottawa Senators (2002– 03) and Anaheim Ducks (2006–07). Then in 2012, Carvel got the nod to take over the St. Lawrence program where he posted a

16 | NEPSAC News | Summer 2021

record of 86-82-18 and was the recipient of the 2014–15 Tim Taylor Award as the ECAC Coach of the Year. “I really liked UMass’s leadership,” said Carvel of Athletic Director Ryan Bamford and Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy when asked what sealed the deal for him to take over the Minutemen hockey program. “They made it clear that they wanted to see the hockey program head in a positive direction and they said the pieces and the recourses to accomplish that would be available. When asked how he might have responded during that introductory press conference if someone had told him he would be a National Champion in just five years, “I would have said it’s impossible … I would have said it’s something I would never have even dreamed of,” said the Minuteman skipper who has rung up a 74-70-6 record since coming here, but who has gone 69-41-4 following a 5-29-2 debut. “There wasn’t much in place when we got here,” said Carvel, who, in addition to hoisting this year’s NCAA Championship trophy, has now taken his club to the past two Frozen Four finales. He also has the 2019 Hockey East Championship and 2021 Hockey East Tournament trophies tucked away in the Mullins Center. “We’ve been very fortunate, however, we’ve been able to recruit outstanding hockey players who work hard both on and off the ice and who are very deserving of everything they’ve achieved.,” added Carvel, who in addition to owning the Tim Taylor Award, and as of 2019 was named winner of the Bob Kullen (Hockey East) Coach of the Year Award, the Clark Hodder (New England Div. I) Coach of the Year Award and the Spencer Penrose (NCAA Div. I Coach of the Year) Award. Of the players on this year’s roster whom Carvel described as being deserving of a National Championship, five were former NEPSAC skaters, as was assistant coach Jared Demichiel (Avon Old Farms). The five former prep standouts were Oliver Chau (Northfield Mount Hermon), Jerry Harding (Noble and Greenough), Carson Gicewicz (Nichols), Zac Jones (South Kent) and Colin Felix (St. George’s). Despite the plentiful honors and accompanying hardware that have come Carvel’s way since taking up residence at the Mullins Center, the veteran mentor still enjoys reflecting on his prep school playing days back at Hotchkiss. He does that by frequently gazing at one of his all-time favorite photographs he proudly displays in his office. “I was voted the Connecticut prep school player for the month of January during my senior year at Hotchkiss,” explained Carvel. “Because of that honor, I was invited to attend a luncheon in Hartford where I got my picture taken with Gordie Howe … it’s a real keepsake.” Now he has another memento to cherish: The 2021 National Championship trophy. Photos courtesy of UMass Athletics

The NEPSAC SPECIAL NEWS is sponsored by SportsGrub. SportsGrub provides athletic teams with nutritional meals delivered directly to their event. We provide a diverse menu that athletes can order from directly in our app. Don’t just play to win, plan to win with healthy and delicious meals from SportsGrub. Contact us for more information at www.sportsgrub.com

www.nepsac.org

SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST IS THE #1 KILLER OF STUDENT ATHLETES.

WE BRING ECG SCREENINGS DIRECTLY TO YOUR SCHOOL. Mass Heartbeat is committed to bringing affordable, efficient, and noninvasive ECG screenings directly to your school. The screening takes less than 5 minutes, and could detect a fatal heart issue student athletes may otherwise never know existed. We can screen over 200 students/athletes during a given www.nepsac.org school day.

The NEPSAC SPECIAL NEWS is sponsored by SportsGrub. SportsGrub provides athletic teams with nutritional meals delivered directly to their event. We provide a diverse menu that athletes can order from directly in our app. Don’t just play to win, www.massheartbeat.com plan to win with healthy and delicious meals from SportsGrub. Contact us for more information at www.sportsgrub.com

(508) 625-0353

NEPSAC News | Summer 2021 | 17

VISIT US ONLINE AT www.coachad.com

• Read first-hand experiences from coaches and athletic directors to enhance the athletic experience for student-athletes

• Find opportunities • Get the facts on to upgrade athletic current trends in facilities and athletic nutrition, improve the overall sports medicine, value of an athletic and strength department training

18 | NEPSAC News | Summer 2021

• Stay up-to-date with how colleges, high school associations, and school districts are handling athletics amid the COVID-19 pandemic

ROXBURY LATIN SCHOOL | WEST ROXBURY, MASSACHUSETTS

Andrew Song: A Rarity on the Lacrosse Field

rom a distance, looking down on a lacrosse field, they are an army in Princeton helmets, distinguishable only by the different numbers on their jerseys. Number 32 stands out. Number 32 plays with tenacity and ferocity mixed with grace and skill, which is a combination that is hard to miss. He gives maximum effort at all times. He is always in the middle of the storm. He checks off every box you could want from a longstick, the lone exception being that he is 5-10, 185 pounds and not five inches taller and 40 pounds heavier. Other than that? He’s the complete deal. Ability to cover one on one? Check. Ability to play off ball? Check. Great positional player? Check. Versatile? Can play longstick midfielder or close defense? Check? Great on the faceoff wings? Check. Turns defense to offense? Check. He’s one of the best — and one of the most underrated — ever to play his position at Princeton. “I truly think Andrew is one of the best players in the Ivy League, if not the country, and I can’t wait to see him get his proper recognition next year,” says Number 17, his Princeton teammate, roommate and best friend, not to mention a first-team

www.nepsac.org

SHELLEY SWZAST/PRINCETON UNIVERSITY

by Jerry Price, Senior Communications Advisor/Historian, Princeton University

All-American defenseman himself. “He is vastly underrated, in part because he is so smooth and makes plays so effortlessly.” To give you a sense of how Number 32 plays the game, you need to go only so far as to his second game ever at Princeton, back in his freshman season of 2018. Princeton was at Virginia, down three goals in the second quarter. It was then that Number 32 made one of the greatest plays a Princeton longstick has ever made. Coming off the wing on the face-off, he ran towards the middle of the field. When the play came his way, he made a 180-degree turn and scooped the ball away from a Cavalier who was draped all over him. Now facing the sideline, he turned back towards the goal, splitting to UVa players to do so. Instead of slowing and looking for an outlet, he accelerated and sprinted towards the crease, where he was challenged by three Virginia longsticks. He dipped his stick just enough to get his hands free and then dove parallel to the goal line, ripping the ball into the top of the net as he did. “Watching Andrew score that goal in the first half against UVA in Charlottesville is one of my all-time favorite moments,” Number 17 says. “The goal itself was incredible, but it also inspired our

NEPSAC News | Summer 2021 | 19

“My actual family,” he finally says. “And my Princeton lacrosse family.” If you mention the goal against Virginia to his coach, then you’ll get to see Matt Madalon reenact it, walking first toward an imaginary sideline and ending with an imaginary dive across the front of the crease, all with a little commentary along the way. “I love the guy,” Madalon says. “He’s just an amazing player and an even better person.” As for Number 17, that would be firstteam All-American defenseman George Baughan, Song’s best friend from Day 1 Andrew Song with his hometown youth hockey team. Photo courtesy of the Song family. at Princeton, when they were randomly assigned to the same residential college. Like Song, his motor is always going on the lacrosse field. entire team seeing a young freshman make that type of play in “I was fortunate to have been placed near Andrew basically such a big game.” since our Princeton experience began,” Baughan says. “We were That was the breakout moment for Number 32. The only thing randomly assigned dorms on the same hallway freshman year, and that has stopped him from standing out on a lacrosse field since we also were placed on the same Outdoor Action trip. We spent a has been a global pandemic. Number 32 also stands out, albeit in week in the cold and rainy woods of Central Pennsylvania, and I a much different way, when they all take those helmets off. saw firsthand how Andrew connected with everyone easily. He is Nobody else looks like he does. a guy everyone in our locker room looks up to and respects. While Number 32 on the Princeton men’s lacrosse team is named he is typically the smartest guy in the room, he is also the most Andrew Song. The son of Chinese immigrants, he and his sister humble and is always willing to consider the ideas and opinions of Catherine, Princeton Class of 2021, are first generation American everyone around him. Hard work underlies all of Andrew’s success and he serves as an inspiration to me and many others on the team.” Andrew Song’s parents met on a train in China. They would get married and move to the United States, while every other member of his family on both sides stayed in China. Once in this country, they settled outside of Boston, where his mom works in the pharmaceutical industry and his father is a software engineer. They were also active, though not in organized athletics. And when their children were little, they saw how different the youth sports scene was in the United States.

On the negative side, he has heard it all. Every slur. Every stereotype. Every insult.

citizens. He is the only Chinese lacrosse player at Princeton now and one of few who have ever played for the Tigers, and he has dealt with the positives, and sadly, the negatives that have come along with being an Asian-American athlete. On the negative side, he has heard it all. Every slur. Every stereotype. Every insult. He’s especially heard them throughout his athletic career, on the ice and on the field. How does he handle it? “I get support from a stable family around me,” Song says. “My parents have always told me to let my play speak for itself. No matter what anyone says to me, don’t get caught up in that. I’ve definitely dealt with the presence of racism growing up. That’s persisted and been there through the years. I’ve had things said to me and done to me that weren’t great.” Then he pauses. As he does, it seems like he’s reliving all of those moments. And, at the same time, he appears to be reminding himself of all of the people who have been there for him, and with him.

20 | NEPSAC News | Summer 2021

Andrew Song and his parents at the U-19 Worlds. Photo courtesy of the Song family.

www.nepsac.org

Andrew Song played for China at the U-19 World Championships. Photo courtesy of the Song family.

“They would run, ski, hike,” Song says. “From the moment they immigrated, that was what they pursued. There weren’t a lot of rec sports in China, but once they settled down and saw and heard about all the sports opportunities, they thought we should try them all. They taught me to ski and skate when I was two. I remember long hikes with my parents and sister. Any time I said that I saw these kids playing this or that, they’d encourage me. They signed me up for soccer, tennis, hockey and lacrosse.” He first excelled at hockey, but he realized lacrosse would be his path to college athletics. He’d been handed a pole in seventh grade, and he took to it immediately. By his senior year at Roxbury Latin, he was a US Lacrosse All-American. “I remember his first day of practice,” Madalon says. “He told me that I just needed to tell him what to do and he would do it the best he could. I said ‘we’re not going to have any problems with him.’ He’s been such a valuable part of our program since he first walked into our lockerroom. He’s a great player, but he brings so much more with him every day.” In hockey, he was a goal scorer. In lacrosse, he’s a defender. The intersection of the two sports can be seen in his ability to pick up ground balls. He’s been Princeton’s leader in ground balls by a longstick each of his first two full seasons plus the five-game pandemicshortened 2020 season. He often will steer the ball, hockey style, to open space on the field, where he will pounce on it and start the other way. He has scored five goals — on five career shots. He scored in three consecutive games his sophomore year, something there is no record of any other Princeton longstick ever doing. He’s also the

only longstick in program history to have a game with at least one goal, one ground ball, one face-off win and one caused turnover, something he did in the Virginia game his freshman year, earning Ivy League Rookie of the Week honors and catching the attention of Virginia head coach Lars Tiffany. “A possession player,” says Tiffany, whose Cavalier teams routinely lead the nation in ground balls. “Is there anything more valuable than an athlete that continuously gobbles up more than his fair share of loose balls? Unfortunately for us, for three years, we have witnessed first-hand Number 32 Andrew Song swoop in and secure ground balls on face-off wings and the Tigers’ defensive end.”

Playing for China was a way to be able to connect with my heritage and my roots while doing something I love.

www.nepsac.org

Song has started a few games on close defense, but he’s mostly been the No. 1 longstick midfielder in all three of his seasons. He was an honorable mention All-Ivy League selection as a sophomore, and he was headed to league and national postseason honors through five games of his junior year, all of which were Princeton wins, including a 16-12 win at Virginia, who

NEPSAC News | Summer 2021 | 21

22 | NEPSAC News | Summer 2021

www.nepsac.org

won the NCAA title in 2019. Princeton was ranked in the top three of every national poll, and the team was headed for a big May run when the season was yanked away by the pandemic. “Thinking back to last March, we were obviously extremely sad and disappointed,” Song says. “We were having a great year. We’d been going through our metamorphosis. To not have that pan out and have that chance to grow into what we knew we could be, that was so disappointing. I hope we would have been playing on Memorial Day weekend. But Coach Madalon always says to control the controllables. You can’t control a pandemic. As a team, we moved forward.” All but one of the would-be seniors took off the 2020-21 academic year, to give themselves another year to play together. They’ve lived together in groups during their year off, working out on their own to be ready for next season.

BRIAN MCWALTERS/PRINCETON UNIVERSITY

Song recognizes that there are players out there now who are looking up to him as their own role model. “It shows how committed we are to staying part of the family,” he says. “What we were in the process of doing last year was special. We wanted the chance to continue to forge those relationships and move forward to do something special together.” Song has embraced his Chinese heritage as much as he has his place on the Princeton men’s lacrosse team. He represented his parent’s native country in the U-19 World Championships in British Columbia in 2016 and then again in the 2018 World Championships in Israel. “Getting a chance to represent China was awesome,” he says. “Lacrosse in China is growing. It’s not really that big yet, but they’re in the process of trying to make it more popular. Playing for China was a way to be able to connect with my heritage and my roots while doing something I love. I made a lot of good, lasting friendships with that. I got a chance to play with guys who look like me.” There are not many great lacrosse players who do. In fact, there were none he grew up idolizing, the way the current generation of Black players grew up idolizing players like Johns Hopkins’ Kyle Harrison and Princeton’s Damien Davis. Also, like Davis has said many times, Song recognizes that there are players out there now who are looking up to him as their own role model. “There were times in high school when I’d second-guess myself and think that it would be great to have a mentor,” he says. “Because there weren’t a lot of Asian lacrosse players, I looked to the world of Asians in all sports to find Asian players. For me, watching Jeremy Lin be a superstar was awesome. In soccer, there was Son Heung-min [Tottenham Hotspurs]. Even though I didn’t see many Asians in lacrosse, and not really many in football and hockey, it was always great to see Asians in other sports. As for me, it means a lot to know that there might be kids who look up to me. I love getting messages on Instagram or texts from guys and

www.nepsac.org

talking to them and helping them. I want to see Asian-Americans to play sports and excel at them. I hear from Asian-American kids who want to know I came to Princeton, how I came to play lacrosse. I want to be supportive and a sounding board.” He relishes this role, something that’s not been lost on his teammates. Up next for Song is his delayed senior year and final lacrosse season at Princeton. He spent the year off first in Park City, Utah, and then at home with his family before coming to Princeton in February. He’s worked for a start-up digital marketing agency and then started an internship with a technology focused private equity firm. An economics major, he’ll be working in investing in business and tech, possibly in China. “It has been great to watch Andrew grow closer to his Chinese heritage throughout his time at Princeton,” Baughan says. “He has taken multiple Chinese language and culture courses throughout his time at Princeton and is fully fluent now. Andrew isn’t the type of kid to let an opportunity go to waste, and he recognized the importance of learning the language. On our team, we are very welcoming and very inclusive of all races, religions and ethnicities. It has been great for our team and me personally to learn more about his heritage and see firsthand him embrace it through studies and extra-curriculars at Princeton. I can’t say more about how much Andrew has meant me, this team, and this program over the past few years.” When Princeton takes its next face-off, Andrew Song will be on the wing, set as he always is, ready to pounce. He is a rare player on a lacrosse field, distinguishable by his play, and by his looks. There is great meaning in both.

Is this you?

Trying to manage your athletic scheduling the same old way, using spreadsheets and post-it notes? It’s time to modernize your scheduling process with the

Athletic Scheduler+. Featuring • Importing Contests, Students, • Integrating with Google Calendar, Blackbaud, Officials Whipple Hill, Finalsite, etc. • Calculating Logistics for Each • Emailing contracts, notices, & Contest in seconds. reminders. • Creating Repeating Practice • Customizing to suit you using Schedules Filemaker Pro. • Managing Transportation, Players & Officials

Contact markbperkins@gmail.com or visit highstreetsolutions.weebly.com/

NEPSAC News | Summer 2021 | 23

FOR LOVE OF THE GAME, WE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT THE NEPSAC

#MORETHANAFIELD

24 | NEPSAC News | Summer 2021

www.nepsac.org

GREENS FARMS ACADEMY | WESTPORT, CONNECTICUT

GFA’s Provo Wins Second National Wrestling Championship by John Nash

reens Farms Academy senior wrestler Nico Provo capped off the most illustrious career in the school’s history on Monday with his second national championship in just two weeks. One week after winning the NHSCA’s National Championship in Virginia, Provo won the 120-pound 2021 Prep School National Championship in Wilkes-Barre, Penn. He was one of eight GFA wrestlers to bring All-American honors back to campus. Senior Justin Mastroianni finished as the Prep National runner-up at 145 pounds, freshman Nate Taylor placed third at 160 pounds, junior Peter Kane placed fourth at 145 pounds, senior Aiden Hebert was fourth at 132 pounds, and Caleb Seyfried placed seventh at 126 pounds, Mikey Bartush was seventh at 195 pounds and CJ Shea was eighth at 132 pounds. “It’s hard to imagine four years ago we only had one AllAmerican in the history of the program and today we have eight in this tournament,” Provo said. “This was the last hurrah.” Provo won five matches to win his first Prep National championship. “He was the most dominant kid in the whole tourament. Period,” GFA head coach Jack Conroy said. “And, he was in the toughest weight class, too.” Following an 18-3 technical fall win in his opener, Provo pinned three straight opponents to advance to the championship match. An 8-2 decision gave that elusive title had had been chasing four of his years at GFA. “It’s hard to put into words what this means,” Provo said. “National Preps, for us, our season leads up to this moment. It is THE tournament and to finally win it, it’s about time. It means a lot to me and it means a lot to GFA and the program.” The title also means Provo’s GFA wrestling career has come to an end, leaving him as arguably one of the most prolific athletes in the history of the school. “It hasn’t really hit me, but I’m sure it will,” said Provo. “Maybe later today or this week. I tried not to think about it during the tournament because it might have made me wrestle differently. Putting some thought into it now, it’s weird.” Mastroianni pinned his first three opponents and rolled through the semifinals with a 15-0 tech fall victory.

www.nepsac.org

In the championship match, Mastroianni had a 1-0 lead in the late going before two controversial points were awarded to his opponent, relegating him to second place. “What happened to Justin in the finals was unfortunate,” Conroy said, “but Justin’s career is not ending with that loss. He’s going to keep getting better in college.” Taylor placed third at 160 pounds in his first season as a GFA wrestler. “It means a lot, definitely,” Taylor said. “It says a lot about what kind of wrestler you can become at GFA in your first year. To come out and take third in a big national tournament is great. I set my expectations high. You always want to have goals of being one of the best in the country.” After two wins, one by pin and one by major decision, Taylor fell in the quarterfinals. In the consolation round, though, he posted four straight hard-fought decisions, by a combined 18-4 count, to pull out his third-place showing. “The craziest thing about Nate Taylor is there is still a lot of room to grow,” Conroy said. “We haven’t even scratched the surface how good he can be.” Also, Kane placed fourth at 145 pounds. After opening with a 16-second pin and an 8-0 major decision, Kane found himself on the wrong end of a 13-4 major decision loss. In his first two consolation matches, Kane outscored his opponents 25-0 and then pinned his opponents in 2:51 to wrestle for third place. Facing the same wrestler who beat him before, Kane fell 5-0 the second time around, to finish fourth. Hebert won three straight matches, two by pin, while advancing to the semifinals. In that match, he was leading 6-3 when he was pinned with just two seconds left in the first period. He bounced back with a 14-10 decision but was unable to wrestle for third place and was awarded fourth place. Seyfried won his first two matches with back-to-back pins before falling by pin the quarterfinals. He went 2-1 in the consolation round to place seventh. Bartush also placed seventh at 195 pounds, losing in the second round. A 31-second pin in his last match gave him seventh. After winning his first two matches, Shea lost in the quarterfinals and both of his consolation matches to place eighth.

NEPSAC News | Summer 2021 | 25

26 | NEPSAC News | Summer 2021

www.nepsac.org

KING SCHOOL | STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT

Zoe Tinnesz Named 2021 “Women of Will” Graduation Award Winner

ing School Athletics is extremely proud to announce that standout Senior student-athlete, Zoe Tinnesz, has been named an inaugural “Women of Will” graduation award winner presented by Under Armour and BSN Sports! A three-sport athlete in soccer, basketball, and softball, Zoe has received multiple postseason honors from the Fairchester Athletic Association (FAA), the Women’s Western New England Preparatory School Soccer Association (WWNEPSSA), and the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC), while also making an impact in the community by volunteering at the Tim Tebow Foundation “Night to Shine’’ with members of the girls varsity basketball team. It’s only fitting that Zoe now joins the hundreds of other “Women of Will’’ graduation award winners from across the United States as part of Under Armour’s national campaign. Founded in 2018, “Women of Will” (WOW) is an exclusive women’s high school sports sponsorship powered by BSN Sports

www.nepsac.org

and Under Armour that exists to celebrate the surmounting of any obstacle, whether mental, physical or rooted in society’s expectations. In addition to being named a 2021 “Women of Will” Graduation Award Winner, Zoe was also announced as the Outstanding Senior Female Athlete at the annual King School Prize Day ceremony held on campus for senior students and their families. The Rowayton native was recognized as the strongest female athlete in the 2021 senior class, serving as a 5-time captain and earning an impressive combined 13 varsity letters in her sports of soccer, basketball, and softball Congratulations to Zoe Tinnesz on being named the Under Armour “Women of Will” Award winner and for receiving the Outstanding Female Athlete Award. To commemorate these honors, Zoe’s name will be included on an award plaque displayed in the Athletics Center and a banner will also be raised in the Upper School Gym celebrating Zoe’s “Women of Will” achievement.

NEPSAC News | Summer 2021 | 27

s the Director of Student-Athlete Leadership and Experience, I am proud to announce our partnership with Under Armour to honor our female athletes in a campaign appropriately called “Women of Will.” This partnership provides top-notch performance clothing for our female athletes and highlights their accomplishments on social media. The campaign culminates with the presentation of an award celebrating the female athlete who, over the course of her time at King, has most clearly exhibited all the pillars of our King core values: leadership, commitment, perseverance and teamwork. There are already more than 80 athletes nationwide who have been recognized with this award and Corporate UA will continue to release names through May and June, with the top hall of fame award winner to be flown down to the Under Armour headquarters in Baltimore! In a year of tremendous change that continues to affect sports at every level, we celebrate our WoW seniors who persevered with a positive attitude despite the challenges faced. These fierce young women exhibited some or all of the following characteristics: » Will to Win » Outstanding Athletics » Superior Academics » Positive Sportsmanship » Strong Leadership

Our inaugural “Women of Will” award winner is Zoe Tinnesz. We see you Zoe. We want to raise you up and honor the visible, valuable work that you do on the athletic fields, because it is there that you are learning how to be ambitious, how to set goals, how to compete, and how to be a fearless leader. There is no doubt that this “Women of Will” campaign will empower and embolden our King female athletes — a crucial part of influencing our world’s future women and you are so appropriate to be the inaugural very first women of will candidate.

28 | NEPSAC News | Summer 2021

Zoe has taken full advantage of her time at King and successfully made her mark in many areas of the King community. She does not shy away from the spotlight, always engages in serious, reflective conversations, and simply brightens the room with her upbeat, positive personality. Zoe is hands down the best female athlete in her class, if not the school. Her hand-eye coordination provides her with an ease and confidence that exudes throughout her body. As has been the case throughout high school and even in middle school, Zoe is a force to be reckoned with and her coaches regularly commend her for her leadership, enthusiasm, and positive energy. As a junior captain and trisport captain, Zoe is an integral part of our student-athlete leadership academy — the Captains’ Council. While we are here tonight with your softball teammates, your soccer coach had the following to say: “Zoe is an ultimate competitor. Her competitive drive is above and beyond anyone else’s on the team. She is a verbal leader, often being the most vocal on and off the field. Her teammates look to her for confidence and reassurance. Because of those traits, Zoe was elected to be a captain this year. She is a three-sport athlete, and in each of those sports, she stands out as not only one of the best athletes but the most focused one. Her drive to succeed however does not overtake her core values and is supportive and positive through wins and losses. I am very fortunate to coach an athlete of her physical and moral caliber.” Zoe, congratulations. I hope you relish this uniform and this award for years to come. I look back fondly on my days on the field with my teammates and hope you will too. Thank you for all the blood, sweat, and tears you put into King Athletics to elevate our program!” — Emily Prince, Director of Student-Athlete Leadership and Experience at King School

To learn more about how your school can empower the next generation of female athletes through the Under Armour Women of Will (WoW) program, please reach out to Emmy Walton, UA WoW National Account Manager, and visit our landing page: ewalton@bsnsports.com https://www.bsnsports. com/ib/women-of-will

www.nepsac.org

THIS IS A CALL TO THE BELIEVERS Saving you time off the court and field so you can spend more time impacting the lives on it.

A HIGH SCHOOL FEMALE ATHLETE PROGRAM

EXCLUSIVITY

JOIN OUR WoW MOVEMENT TO CREATE A POSITIVE EMPOWERMENT CULTURE CHANGE OF FEMALE EMPOWERMENT ON YOUR CAMPUS. EXCELLENCE

WOMEN OF WILL PERKS • • • • • •

First of its kind, the WoW program is exclusively offered by BSN SPORTS & Under Armour. Only a small percentage of schools in the country are sought out to join our Women of Will Family. Women of Will athletes gain the confidence to pursue their goals and dreams while tackling adversities that come their way. AD’s, coaches, and athletes have a full service team through BSN SPORTS and Under Armour to help save you time and grow your athletics programs. Through the WoW program, your teams will have access to the best performance gear in the game built specifically to fit the female athlete’s body.

DEDICATED WoW EXPERT

Under Armour Retail Allotment WoW Branding Package Exclusive Access to WoW Webinars WoW Awards Exclusive Logo & Product Social Media Exposure on a National Platform and much more

As a team with your BSN sales pro, we are ready to help answer your UA product questions and launch this program at your school!

Emmy Walton • • • •

BSNSPORTS.com/ib/women-of-will

WoW REQUIREMENTS

UA WoW NATIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGER

Former DI soccer player, Cal State Fullerton In 2018, spearheaded WoW program in CA Manages the BSN/Under Armour Women of Will program NASM Certified Personal Trainer, TRX Master Trainer, and Schwinn and Spinning Cycling Instructor ewalton@bsnsports.com (949) 677-6382

• HIGH-SCHOOL ONLY • 3-YEAR COMMITMENT

• HEAD TO ANKLE IN UNDER ARMOUR (UNIFORMS, WARM-UPS, BACKPACKS, COACHES GEAR) • ANNUAL PLAYER & SPIRIT MY TEAM SHOP

FUNDRAISING TOOLS Our My Team Shop program is a quick 2-week store featuring product specific to your needs. Stretch your dollars further.

YOUR SHOP CAN BE SET UP IN MINUTES FOR FREE!

UA Team Catalogs: uaretail.com

www.nepsac.org

EMAIL YOUR NATIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGER TO SCHEDULE A WOW MEETING TO ELEVATE YOUR GIRLS’ PROGRAMS

@BSNSPORTS_Women @BSNSPORTSWomen

NEPSAC News | Summer 2021 | 29

30 | NEPSAC News | Summer 2021

www.nepsac.org

NORTHFIELD MOUNT HERMON | MOUNT HERMON, MASSACHUSETTS

Conversation with ...

Kathy Boudreau, Laundry Clerk

or years, every single sports uniform that NMH students wore has passed through the hands of Kathy Boudreau. As the sole employee in the laundry, she makes sure that uniforms, practice gear, gym towels — anything from the athletic department that’s made of fabric — get washed, dried, and folded. She cleans every custodial mop on campus. She’s washing students’ face masks now, too. And until last spring, when COVID-19 canceled in-person campus events, she fit all the seniors with their caps and gowns for Commencement. It’s a job she can’t wait to do again.

What was the first time you ever did laundry?

How do the sports seasons typically differ in terms of laundry?

I remember standing on a stool when I was 7 or 8 and helping my mother with an old wringer washer. The clothes went through two rollers to get the water out and we hung them on the line. I also remember getting dropped off at the laundromat with the family’s laundry. We were four kids, so there was a lot.

During the fall and spring, there are more uniforms, but they’re fairly light and easy to deal with. Winter is the hardest because the clothes are heavier, especially the big coats the swimmers wear. And towels — in the winter, I usually do between 300 and 400 towels a day. At the end of the season, I get the hockey knee pads and elbow pads.

What was the laundry like when you started working at NMH?

What’s the smell situation?

That was 18 years ago, and 20 people worked here. There were no washers and dryers on campus, so we did laundry for everybody — students, faculty, and staff. I worked the counter. I’d wrap up laundry and hand it out to people when they came in. It was fun being able to talk to everyone all day.

Before COVID, Saturdays were game days for all the teams. The uniforms would sit for the rest of the weekend in locked baskets, and they’d come to the laundry on Mondays. I’d open up the baskets and

the odor would just rise right out of them. It sometimes made my eyes water.

How do you feel about ironing?

Absolutely not. I don’t buy anything that has to be ironed. Or dry cleaned. If it can’t go in the washer or get hand-washed, I don’t own it. Photos: Chattman Photography This article first appeared in the Fall 2020 issue of NMH Magazine. Reprinted with permission.

What are the pros and cons of working alone?

Sometimes it’s lonely. I miss seeing students. But sometimes it’s nice. I like to dance to the radio when I’m folding towels. And I’m so organized, it’s not even funny. I have a routine and if anybody came in here to help me, it would mess me up.

How is COVID-19 affecting your work this year?

Students will still be wearing uniforms when they scrimmage each other, and some of the winter teams will be practicing during the fall — so there is still plenty to wash. And the face masks take pretty much the whole day, three days a week.

www.nepsac.org

NEPSAC News | Summer 2021 | 31

Your Athletes Are Creating Memories That Should Last A Lifetime. You Can Make Sure They Do. Create and distribute a memory keepsake for your athletes that is online, highlights the key accomplishment of the athletes and team, and features the most memorable videos of the year. n

Because it’s digital, parents, athletes and coaches can access the Digital Video Memory Book at any time. The shelf life of this Memory Book is limitless. Athletes and parents have the option to download the Digital Video Memory Book and print it or keep it on their computer The system to create your Video Memory Book is affordable, and sponsors can be added to more than cover the cost. Utilizes information that you already have—not additional work needed! Perfect for other types of student activities as well

CLICK HERE TO RECEIVE MORE INFORMATION. or email: d i g i t al sp or tsmemor ies@gmail. com

32 | NEPSAC News | Summer 2021

www.nepsac.org

LOOMIS CHAFFEE SCHOOL | WINDSOR, CONNECTICUT

Soccer Videos Connect Norton Fellow to Local Kids

o help Hartford-area children develop soccer skills despite the pandemic, [Loomis Chaffee] senior Eamon Moylan has created a series of training videos focusing on at-home skills development for schoolaged kids and shared them with local organizations dedicated to youth engagement, recreation, and education. “Footy at Home,” as the video series and accompanying website are called, offers nine short instructional films explaining and demonstrating soccer drills that kids can do using spaces and items around the house. Featuring upbeat music and encouraging advice, the videos are designed to help children work on their ball skills even when team play is not possible. Eamon created the series, with help from several fellow Pelicans, as part of his Norton Fellowship, a community engagement program administered by Loomis Chaffee’s Norton Family Center for the Common Good. A soccer aficionado, Eamon has played in numerous youth leagues and on various teams since he was a small child and is now a leader on the Loomis boys varsity soccer team. Eamon said the project was inspired by the positive interactions he’d had with young kids from Hartford as a volunteer in a mentoring program through his church and as a lifeguard in a town recreation program. “I got to be really good friends with some of the kids,” Eamon said, adding that he had hoped to make more connections though his Norton Fellowship project. Eamon’s original plan for the project, which he proposed in early March of last year, was to host underserved Hartford children at a soccer skills camp during the summer of 2020. When spring and summer brought the widespread shutdown of schools and other community activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the camp had to be canceled. “I was just hoping things with the coronavirus would get better [last spring] and that there would be a window where I could the run the camp as I had planned. It was disappointing for sure,” Eamon said. Eamon pivoted to “Footy at Home” as a way to still connect with kids and organizations that support young people in the community, and to fulfill his commitment to the Norton Fellowship. He said he hoped to at least offer the kids a fun activity they could safely enjoy. The instructional videos were filmed on campus in September when day students were able to return to Loomis for in-person

www.nepsac.org

classes. Senior Declan Coyle filmed and edited videos of Eamon demonstrating the drills and then set up the “Footy at Home” website so anyone can access the video series. Senior Lauren Morrissey, a member of the girls varsity soccer team, and junior Will Cleary, Eamon’s soccer teammate, also appear in the videos. Eamon said he was happy with how the project turned out, but there were times when he was discouraged, including when he had to re-think his original idea because of the pandemic. “I learned to focus on controlling what I could control,” Eamon said, noting that he will likely continue to find this skill useful. He also had to get comfortable asking others for help and learn to shake off discouragement when people weren’t interested or able to help him with his project. He said he especially appreciated the support he received from people in the Loomis community, including Eric LaForest, Keller Family Director of the Norton Family Center for the Common Good, who helped him work though ideas and make community connections; his faculty advisor, Joe Cleary, who helped him persevere; boys varsity soccer coach David Malloy, who lent his expertise; faculty members Lilian and Andrew Hutchinson, who connected him with local youth soccer organizations; and faculty member Andris Briga, who works in the Information Technology Department and allowed him to use one the school’s video cameras. When the videos were complete, Eamon reached out to local organizations that he thought might be interested in the videos for their clientele and sent them a link to the “Footy at Home” website. Several responded with positive feedback. Lynn Pantuosco-Hensch, a licensed soccer coach with United Soccer Coaches who works with youth leagues, wrote to Eamon in an email, which he shared: “… [Y]our instruction and demonstrations are spot on. And the scope and length of each video are very appropriate for youth players. A lot of nice touches with the technology skills as well. I really appreciate seeing high school students take the initiative to create something, as well as learn to coach.” Eric commented on Eamon’s patience and determination in working to make lemonade out of lemons throughout the project. “Even the most straightforward community engagement project necessitates a full measure of flexibility and patience, but, wow, Eamon took on a project that required a great deal of both,” he said. Connect to the “Footy at Home” website page.

NEPSAC News | Summer 2021 | 33

ST. LUKE’S SCHOOL | NEW CANAAN, CONNECTICUT

Arnold Wins NYRR Mile by Daniel Clarke

t. Luke’s junior Thomas Arnold took first place in the New York Road Runners race in Washington Heights, New York, on Sunday, March 7. The NYRR One Mile Series, a monthly series of one-mile races, takes place between March and August, with one race held in each of the five boroughs, as well as one race in Jersey City. All races, including the recent Washington Heights race, will follow the NYRR Return to Racing guidelines, which require masks, health screenings, and strict social distancing for all runners. On a hilly course with staggered starts, Arnold beat a field of more than 300 runners in his first race of the spring, with a time of 4:52. The New Canaan native hopes to build on this success: “There aren’t too many races right now because of COVID, but if I can find some one-mile races, I will compete in them. Also, I’m not sure yet if the USATF Junior Olympics will take place this summer. If it does, one of my goals is to race in it. I am also looking to improve my personal best for the mile and hopefully run sub 4:30.”

Arnold trains six days a week combining some shorter runs with one longer run and two track workouts. Arnold ran for St. Luke’s varsity cross country team in eighth grade before switching in high school to soccer, his other passion. He continues to run outside of the fall season, because of his love for the sport, and sees the benefits on the soccer field: “I think that my training helps a lot with soccer. Since I run throughout the year, I go into preseason in pretty good shape and my fitness helps towards the end of games when the other kids are getting tired.” The New Canaan native thinks it works both ways and that playing soccer helps his running, too: “Running day in and day out can get very tiring, so the soccer season gives me a good break from running every single day. I have broken a number of personal bests and had some of my quickest races just after the soccer season. Soccer keeps me fit and fresh.”

34 | NEPSAC News | Summer 2021

www.nepsac.org

www.bondsports.co

Contact sales@bondsports.co

BOND SPORTS MAKES IT EASY FOR SCHOOLS TO BETTER MANAGE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL ACCESS TO THEIR ATHLETIC SPACES

BOND RENTAL MODULE

SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE RENTAL AND ADMISSIONS REVENUE

BOND FACILITY MANAGEMENT

ELIMINATE ADMINSTRATIVE COMPLEXITY AND REDUCE COST

BOND SPORTS MAKES` M A N A G E M E N T O F AT H L E T I C S PA C E S E A S Y M

DIGITIJE ACCESS REQUESTS, COVID WAIVERS, CONTRACTS AND PAYMENTS DITCH THE PAPERWORK, NO INCREASE RENTAL REVENUE CALLS, NO SPREADSHEETS WITH ROBUST ANALYTICS www.nepsac.org

NEPSAC News | Summer 2021 | 35

“ PLAYSIGHT IS A VEHICLE THAT ALLOWS US TO BE THE BEST THAT WE CAN BE AS STUDENTATHLETES, COACHES AND EDUCATORS.”

William Taylor

HEADMASTER TRINITY-PAWLING SCHOOL

THE SMARTCOURT MULTI-ANGLE VIDEO REPLAY & RECORDING FULL HD LIVE STREAMING 4K SMARTTRACKER TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATES WITH SCOREBOARDS, TAGGING PLATFORMS & SENSORS CLOUD-BASED SPORTS VIDEO MANAGEMENT PLATFORM COACHING & PLAYER DEVELOPMENT TOOLS CREATE AND SHARE VIDEO CLIPS

36 | NEPSAC News | Summer 2021

PLAYSIGHT.COM

INFO@PLAYSIGHT.COM

@PLAYSIGHT

www.nepsac.org

DANA HALL SCHOOL | WELLESLEY, MASSACHUSETTS

Run Your Own Race

n April, S. Shi ’23 and J. Du ’23 completed their first half marathon—the Suzhou Jinji Lake Half Marathon in Suzhou, Jiangsu, China—and ran the race together. The 10th grade boarding students are both distance learning from Shanghai this school year. The students are members of the varsity cross country team and used the pandemic as an opportunity to get more invested in their sport. “I always wanted to try the half marathon and see my potential, especially after I started running regularly this year at home,” Du said. “One of the silver linings of learning remote is I got to spend more time on my hobbies [like running].” Upper School Learning Specialist Jillian DeBusk is Shi’s advisor, and since DeBusk herself is a runner with two marathons under her belt, the two spent a lot of time talking about running. When Shi and Du decided to tackle the half marathon, Shi asked her advisor to help her create a training plan. “Each time we met during advisory,” DeBusk said, “we would check in on how it was going and how she felt. At our last meeting before her race, I gave her advice on how to do a shake-out run, her hydration plan and what she should eat the night before. We also talked about the importance of not trying anything new on race day and running your own race.” That phrase in particular motivated Shi on race day, she said. “[Ms. DeBusk] talked about pacing and told me to run my own race no matter how fast people around me might be running,” Shi said. “Throughout my whole race, her words ‘run your own race’ really encouraged me to keep running.” “The running bug has certainly bitten her,” DeBusk said, “so I can’t wait to see what she does next.”

Experience is everything.

NESTMA members advance professionalism in sports turf management and athletic field safety through education, research, and advocacy.

NESTMA.org

S. Shi and J. Du ran a half marathon in Suzhou, Jiangsu, China while studying remotely during the 2020–2021 school year.

www.nepsac.org

NEPSAC News | Summer 2021 | 37

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT POMFRET SCHOOL | POMFRET, CONNECTICUT

A Cool Pandemic Project for Pomfret

he rink reno is coming along nicely. New mechanicals, including a new state-of-the-art chiller, will extend the ice season by several months. How cool is that?

38 | NEPSAC News | Summer 2021

www.nepsac.org

NEPSAC News | Summer 2021 | 39

REVIVE RECRUIT REBRAND

413.525.2244

www.gographix.com

Transform Your Athletic Facility • Wall Murals & Wallcoverings • Signs & Displays (Custom Dimensional, Illuminated)

• Window Films • Digital Message Boards Approved Vendor Contract # MC12-G-24

40 | NEPSAC News | Summer 2021

www.nepsac.org

4 Questions to Help Change a Young Athlete’s Negative Thought Process by TrueSport

s a coach for young athletes, whether they’re in elementary school or high school, you’re going to deal with the emotional rollercoasters that young people experience. A fight with a friend over the weekend can translate to feelings of despair on game day, and stress over a championship game can leave an athlete feeling paralyzed. But as a coach, you can teach your athletes how to examine their feelings and move on from negative moments.

“Coaches care about athletes, which means we tend to give them reassurance when they have a negative thought,” says TrueSport Expert Kevin Chapman, PhD, clinical psychologist and founder of The Kentucky Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders. “That works for maybe 30 minutes, but it’s ultimately going to backfire because now you have to keep reassuring them. The way to get out of that is to teach an athlete to think flexibly by asking the right questions.” According to Chapman, “The whole point of these questions is to get the athlete to look objectively at situations and not rely on emotional experiences. As the coach, you know the answers to the questions that you’re asking, but it’s going to be much better for the athlete if they work it out for themselves rather than you spoon-feeding them the answer.” Here, Chapman offers some of the best questions to ask when your athlete is having a tough time or a negative moment on or off the field. And remember, these are also questions that you can teach athletes to ask themselves so that they learn how to question their behaviors and solve problems for themselves.

QUESTION: What’s the evidence that this thought is true?

“This is one of my favorite questions to start with,” says Chapman. “If a kid were to say, ‘I know we’re going to get blown out at the next game,’ I would ask, ‘Well, what’s the evidence that this thought is true?’” “He might answer something like, ‘They beat us by about 20 in the last game.’ Now we’re starting to think evidence, not emotion.”

QUESTION: What’s happened in the past? Could there be another explanation?

“To change an athlete’s thought process, we’re asking evidence-based questions, not emotionbased questions,” Chapman says. Your job here is to take the emotion out of the equation and force your athlete to come at a question logically, looking at only objective facts. Often, athletes will realize that their emotional argument isn’t based in logic, which allows them to change their conclusion.

QUESTION: Does blank have to mean blank?

Being flexible is being able to generate other

About TrueSport TrueSport®, a movement powered by the experience and values of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, champions the positive values and life lessons learned through youth sport. TrueSport inspires athletes, coaches, parents, and administrators to change the culture of youth sport through active engagement and thoughtful curriculum based on cornerstone lessons of sportsmanship, characterbuilding, and clean and healthy performance, while also creating leaders across communities through sport. For more expert-driven articles and materials, visit TrueSport’s comprehensive library of resources. This content was reproduced in partnership with TrueSport. Any content copied or reproduced without TrueSport and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency’s express written permission would be in violation of our copyright, and subject to legal recourse. To learn more or request permission to reproduce content, click here.

www.nepsac.org

possible outcomes that are based on evidence, which means being able to say, “It could be ______. But then again, it could be ______.” For example, getting beat in the last game sounds like a pretty good argument for getting beat this time. But follow that up with these questions: ‘Does them beating us by 20 mean that they will automatically beat us by 20 again?’ ‘Are you 100 percent sure that this outcome will occur? Are you certain that this thought is true?’ In math class, students are told that they need to show their work on a test to get full credit. Make them do the same as athletes: What is the incontrovertible evidence that this is going to be the outcome?

QUESTION: What’s the worst that can happen? can you cope with that?

It sounds counter-intuitive to force an athlete to go even deeper into a negative thought. But leading the athlete through the worst-case scenario often helps them understand that the ‘worst case’ really isn’t so bad. “This one is what I call the catastrophizing question,” Chapman says. “Because catastrophizing is thinking the worst. It’s actually great to make an athlete think through the worst thing that can happen. Once they decide what that is, ask: ‘Can you cope with that?’ The answer is almost always yes.” The easiest example is a playoff game. The worst thing that could happen is the team could lose because of a fumble made by the athlete. But can the athlete survive that? Of course. He won’t be kicked off the team, his teammates will understand, and his coach will support him.

Takeaway

Many coaches wonder how to help their athletes overcome negative thoughts that impact performance and enjoyment of the sport. Use these questions to help your athletes change a negative thought process in their sport and beyond.

NEPSAC News | Summer 2021 | 41

#ICYMI #NEPSAC

Don’t forget to use #nepsac in your social media posts!

42 | NEPSAC News | Summer 2021

www.nepsac.org

NEPSAC News | Summer 2021 | 43

Supplier of

NEPSAC

Championship Trophies for over 10 years • CHAMPIONSHIP RINGS • CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHIES • AWARD PLAQUES • GLASS & ACRYLIC AWARDS • CHAMPIONSHIP BANNERS • RECORD BOARDS • MEDALS & RIBBONS • AND MUCH MORE AWARD-GUYS.COM PHONE: 508-695-8133 EMAIL: CUSTOMERSERVICE@AWARD-GUYS.COM