Volume 134 No. 10

The Springfield Student Est. 1910

November 14, 2019

[scstudentmedia.com]

Contact us: springfieldstudent@springfield.edu

Volume 134 No. 10

COSJ students, faculty, and alumni pose for a photo together. (Photo Courtesy of Springfield College Marketing & Communications)

COSJ at 20

Communications/Sports Journalism alumni returned to campus for a twenty-year celebration of the major.

By Danny Priest @dpriest3

This past Monday, th Springfield College Communications/ Sports Journalism major (COSJ) held its 20-year

anniversary reunion.

Nearly 50 alumni, some who graduated as recently as last spring to others as far back as the first graduating class of the program in 2003, returned to campus from as far as Colorado for

a day of reconnecting, sharing knowledge, and celebrating achievement.

In addition to the return of past students, all current students in COSJ were welcomed to attend, as well as prospective students of the

President Cooper receives an award - Page 3

program.

Communications/ Sports Journalism was created as a major in 1999 by longtime Professor of Communications, Dennis Gildea.

The event on Monday was primarily run by

his current colleagues Marty Dobrow, Kyle Belanger, and Laura Dubowski.

“This was just such

“The Power of Conversation” Recap - Page 7

See COSJ on Page 5

November 14, 2019

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Taking care of campus A small group of students helped clean up East Campus this past week.

By Danny Priest @dpriest3

This past week, 14 students participated in the East Campus restoration project. Organized by student Hunter Hughes and Assistant Professor of Physical Education and Health Education Steve Groccia, the group committed to cleaning up East Campus. In a three-hour span, the group removed 21 bags of trash from Lake Massasoit and the surrounding area. The Director of East Campus Ben Taylor helped with the event, and the project was funded by the Humanics in Action Grant Committee. A similar event is being planned for the spring. Check out some photos from their cleanup below:

- Announcement -

(All photos are courtesy of Huter Hughes)

Wednesday night at 8 p.m. the Springfield College Student Government Association (SGA) hosted a student community meeting with the President’s Leadership Team and other administrators. The purpose was to hold an open discussion between students and leaders of the College. Next week, The Student will provide full coverage of the event.

November 14, 2019

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A high honor Springfield College President Mary-Beth Cooper was presented with an award on behalf of the Zonta Club of Quadboag Valley.

By Springfield College Marketing & Communications

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Springfield College President MaryBeth Cooper was recognized with the Zonta Club of Quaboag Valley Founders Day Award, an award given annually to a woman in the community who not only represents a champion for women’s empowerment, but also is an influencer and mentor for equality. Cooper received the honor at Zonta International’s 100th birthday celebration on Monday, Nov. 11 at Ludlow Country Club.

“I want to say thank you so much to Zonta International, it’s truly an honor to be recognized with this very special award during this centennial celebration,” said Cooper during her acceptance speech at the award ceremony. “This award means so much to me personally because the work that Zonta International is doing around the world, and the difference its making in our communities, ties right into the Humanics philosophy and the mission of Springfield College, which is to educate students in spirit, mind, and body, for leadership

and service to others.”

Cooper became the 13th president of Springfield College in August 2013, bringing to the College her experiences from a long and distinguished career in higher education administration and community service and leadership.

With her leadership, Springfield College has experienced a rededication to the community service and civic engagement for which it is so well known, and has committed itself to building an inclusive campus that encourages engaged and diverse populations.

Locally, the Zonta Club of Quaboag Valley is working with survivors of domestic abuse and homeless women veterans, partnering in service with like-minded organizations like the YWCA of Western MA to further strengthen their missions.

“It’s that service to others that Zonta is showcasing every day, every year, that really makes receiving this award so special,” added Cooper.

The guiding forces in Cooper’s career

have been her vision for human potential and education as the answer to creating flourishing communities, as well as her own yearning for intellectual stimulation.

Cooper has conducted myriad professional presentations in a wide variety of venues, and she is frequently sought to serve as a consultant in her field. She has given numerous presentations on campus security and personal safety, management trends in higher education, time management skills, and women’s issues.

In addition, Cooper is very well respected among her peers in higher education.

“Mary-Beth has been a powerful presence in our community since her arrival as president of Springfield College,” said Bay Path University President Carol Leary.

“She is deeply committed to the success of Springfield College and unselfishly contributes her creativity, energy, and ideas to several major non-profits as well.

We are also fortunate to have her leadership and her support for the advancement of wom-

(Photo Courtesy of NASPA.org) en and the values of Zonta.”

Zonta International is a worldwide organization that has empowered women and girls through service and advocacy for 100 years.

It was founded November 8, 1919 in Buffalo, New York, by a group of forward-thinking women who envisioned a women’s service organization that would advocate for laws and policies that ensure gender equality and help every woman and girl realize her full potential. Through continuous engagement over almost 10 decades, Zonta International has become a respected and reliable agent of civil society. As a non-governmental organization with general consultative status with the Economic and Social The Zonta Club of Quaboag Valley, a member of Zonta International, was chartered in 1991. Since that time, the club has contributed

to improving women’s lives and empowering them through service and advocacy. They’ve also worked on projects to raise awareness on issues of domestic violence, homeless women veterans, trafficking of women and children, ending early marriage, and suicide prevention in Western Massachusetts.

Visit zontaqv.org or email: info@zontaqv.org to learn more.

Springfield College is an independent, nonprofit, coeducational institution founded in 1885.

Approximately 4,100 students, including 2,500 full-time undergraduate students, study at its main campus in Springfield, Mass., and at its regional campuses across the country. Springfield College inspires students through the guiding principles of its Humanics philosophy – educating in spirit, mind, and body for leadership in service to others.

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November 14, 2019

PAGE 4

By Collin Atwood catwood@springfield.edu

(Photo Courtesy of Springfield College)

Break a leg Springfield College Theater Program’s production of Illusion begins Thursday.

In the Fuller Arts Center from November 14 to November 17, the Springfield College Theater Program will present a play by Tony Kushner called Illusion.

This play was freely adapted from Pierre Corneille’s play called L’Illusion Comique.

Illusion is a play about a man who drives his son to run away from his life. After 15 long years of searching for his son, the father had run out of options.

He makes his way to a deep and dark cave, seeking the assistance of a magician who lives in the cave. The magician shows the father scenes from his son’s life and enlightens him on the son’s eventful 15 years away from home.

The play at Springfield College will be directed by Martin Shell, Professor of Theater Arts and Chair of the Department of Visual and Performing Arts.

Illusion does not give the impression that it would be a comedic play, but it is. “It’s a romantic comedy,” Shell said.

Some of the scenes that the magician makes the father aware of are of his son’s love life.

“Primarily, we’re hoping for them to be happily engaged in something kind of fantastical and playful… there’s a good deal of love,” Shell stated.

While romance and comedy make up a majority of what to expect from the play, that’s not all it has to offer. Behind all the humor and love, Illusion is “a little mysterious and magical,” according to Shell.

This play is not a tragedy, but it does touch on the suffering and danger that comes with passionate love.

“You can’t have one without the other,” Shell explained.

“There’s a lot of happiness, funny stuff and good stuff, but there’s always problems that are sort of the dark side of life.”

The magician in the cave seems to be suspicious and the scenes that are shared with the father are questioned.

“Because we have a magician who’s revealing the story we’re wondering, is this what it really seems to be?”

Shell said.

“There’s a bit of mystery, comedy and romance,” he added.

This triple threat of mystery, love, and laughter featured in Illusion will start at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

Its last showing on Sunday, November 17, will be at 2 p.m. General admission fee is $5 and students and senior citizens will be charged $2.

November 14, 2019 COSJ continued from Page 1

an extraordinary day. I felt enormous pride in being a part of this journey of COSJ,” Dobrow said of the event. “We have alums who are so accomplished, so impressive, such good people that it was just wonderful to see so many of them back.”

The day featured four different blocks of panels dedicated to various fields of journalism.

Current students had the opportunity to choose which panels they wanted to attend and hear from graduates who are now working in those areas of expertise.

The first block was divided into “The Modern Newspaper” and “Sports Information.”

Block No. 2 was “Radio,” “Magazine + Freelance,” and “Public Relations.”

Block No. 3 was “Television,” “Digital Media,” and “Professional Sports Organizations.”

The fourth and final block was a lone session called “ESPN” which was followed by a dinner in Cheney and a keynote speaker.

The keynote speaker for the event was Nick Carboni (class of ‘08) who is currently the sports anchor for WCNC-TV in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Fresh off covering the Packers-Panthers game at Lambeau Field on Sunday and traversing through snowy Milwaukee to make it back to campus, Carboni

presented on his career and the skills he learned from his time at Springfield.

“It was humbling because when I looked out in the crowd there [were] so many people that when I was here I was like, ‘that’s the most talented guy I’ve ever met,’ and there’s a lot of those people,” Carboni said. “To see them all back today and kind of be tasked with talking to them was truly kind of humbling, really.”

In addition to the panels, dinner, and keynote, a tribute was held for Gildea. Although he was unable to be there himself due to being out on medical leave, several alumni wrote notes of their fondest memories of Gildea.

The entire experience was an opportunity for current students to see where the major can take them in the future.

“Just hearing their experiences, obviously I think a lot of different forms of media and journalism have evolved over 20 years, so listening to their experiences in the different outlets and the different opportunities they had and what they learned and hearing the similarities and experiences are really an overall great feeling,” senior Tanner Jillson said.

“It means a lot to a lot of the current students in the major, especially what we’re studying and trying to do afterwards,” he added.

At the same time, the

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COSJ Professor Marty Dobrow (right) hands the microphone to keynote speaker Nick Carboni (left). (Photo Courtesy of Springfield College Marketing & Communications) event was just as meaningful for the alumni to have the chance to reconnect and pass their knowledge on to the next wave of students.

“My biggest takeaway from the whole day is just how many different alumni and undergrads have had their foot in so many different aspects of communications overall. It’s amazing that the program’s only been around for 20 years, but the way things have transitioned and the way the industry has transitioned into how it is today, everyone’s caught up and you guys have those resources here which is unbelievable,” said Josue Pavon (‘10), who is now covering the Boston Celtics for WEEI.com and CLNS

Media.

“For me, moments like this, to be able to come back here and share these moments with other alumni and other undergrads, they’re priceless. As long as I can do that, as many times as I’m invited, I will do my absolute best to come back for sure,” Pavon said.

The event was evidence of how far COSJ has come in just 20 years. “It was great to see when we were here in this program, people like myself kind of at the beginning, it was kind of like still feeling itself out,” Carboni said.

“Now I think it’s kind of caught traction and there’s a lot of people in a lot of different places that are doing really

good things that are alumni and that’s only going to help the program grow.”

Dobrow has been with the program since its inception in 1999, as his first day was the COSJ students’ first day too, so Monday’s event meant a lot to him.

“This was just a beautiful day, a very proud day, and just a tremendous, tremendous highlight in the history of this major, and personally immensely satisfying,” he said.

With 20 years having already flown by, there are no signs of COSJ slowing down in the near future.

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Fill the Bus The Springfield College community will once again have the chance to help those in need this holiday sesaon.

By Irene Rotondo @irenerrotondo

Often, students on the Springfield College campus will overlook Humanics events or not even realize when they are happening. Fill the Bus, however, is an event that should be widely known for its impact on Springfield’s surrounding community and an event in which anyone can make a difference.

On Thursday, Nov. 21, the Springfield College community will take charge in providing food for those who are homeless while continuing the school’s mission of Humanics. Last year during the Fill the Bus initiative, the College was able to conjure up 1,700 lbs of food, enough to help the 1,415 hungry neighbors that the school has located across Western Massachusetts.

The goal of this event is to fill up each of the 50 seats on the Springfield College Athletics bus with a box of donated non-perishable food items and to fill up a Springfield College Public Safety cruiser.

Michelle Lee Sce-

cina, the Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Enhancement, is excited for the new opportunity to assist those located in the Franklin, Berkshire, Hampshire, and Hampden counties in Western Massachusetts.

“We’re collaborating with a few different departments on campus - our student-athlete leadership team which is made up of about 65 student-athletes from all different teams, and they have really kind of embraced this food drive to benefit the community,” Scecina stated.

“We are also working with campus police, with the Division of Inclusion and Community Engagement,” she added.

The front entrance to the Flynn B. Campus Union, as well as the front of the Physical Education Complex, are both available places for students, staff, faculty, and administration members to drop off food they wish to donate.

There are also boxes located throughout multiple buildings on campus

A photo from a past incarnation of Fill the Bus, where a police cruiser was filled.

(Photo Courtesy of Springfield College) for collection.

After the bus and cruiser are filled, the food will be dropped off at the Springfield College food pantry on campus, German Gerena Community School in Springfield, and The Food Bank at Western Massachusetts.

Scecina said that The Food Bank completely relies on donations to serve approximately 9.6 million meals a year.

“It can help so many people across the community and all throughout Western Mass. We’re looking to help even more people than last year. We actually started this, the whole food drive, about a month ago, just kind of getting the word out,” said Scecina.

“We had a solid meeting that I just got back from where we had the director of The Food Bank, Andrew Morehouse, come to speak to

us and tell us about how Fill the Bus helps the community and how it will help. It casts a really wide net, and we’re able to help a really large number of people across Western Mass with just our food drive,” Scecina added.

However, this initiative is not only faculty and administration-led.

One of the student-athlete leaders directly involved in the program, Rachel Ahlmeyer, said that the event has really helped her grow as a person and believes that it has a large impact on everyone involved.

“I think, definitely, continuing to stay aware of all of the needs in the area will carry me in life,” said Ahlmeyer. “To always find a way to give back and keep others in mind… Every year I’ve been a part of the student-athlete leader program, we’ve had one form or the other of Fill

the Bus.” Fill the Bus will take place on November 21 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Scecina urges the student body to come help and volunteer during that time to help sort, weigh, and collect the food on the front steps of the P.E. Complex and Blake Arena.

The food needs to be loaded onto the bus at 11:30 a.m., and help will also be needed from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the actual bus to help unload and sort the food. Those interested in helping from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. need to have no other commitments during that time, as they will actually be on the bus and driving to the aforementioned locations.

For any other additional information on Fill the Bus or how to get involved, please contact Michelle Lee Scecina at mscecina@ springfield.edu.

November 14, 2019

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Healing through conversation Social Activist Loizza Aquino speaks about mental health at Springfield College.

By Carley Crain @carley_crain12

A simple text message. A quick facetime call to a friend asking how they are doing. A phone call to one’s family just to tell them how much they’re loved. The power of conversation – no matter how insignificant it may seem at the time – can transform lives.

On Thursday night at the Marsh Memorial Chapel, mental health advocate and motivational speaker Loizza Aquino gave her speech, “The Power of Conversation” to a variety of members from the Springfield College community.

Sponsored by the Y Club and the YMCA office, members of the audience left the Chapel on Thursday night with a different understanding of mental health and a new, simple approach to supporting people who struggle with mental health issues. Aqunio’s approach to mental health is not complex, as she emphasized how a simple conversation can go a long way.

“Conversation has the power to change people’s lives, but also can save people’s lives,” Aquino said. “That feeling that you get when you realize that a simple conversation you had with someone saved their life, is the greatest feeling in the world.

Honestly, sometimes you may not even notice that

you saved that person’s life.”

Aquino grew up advocating for change within her community and for her hometown environment. She and her family grew up in the Philippines and helped spread awareness about environmental issues threatening their community.

In a span of just one week, she helped raise over $600 to assist victims of a tsunami, as well as collect non-perishable food items, toiletries and clothing for the victims.

Aquino’s passion for mental health started with the unfortunate death of her best friend, Miguel. In a span of just one month, his death was one of four suicides that happened in her hometown.

Coping with his death was difficult, but Aquino decided to take action and created the non-profit organization, Peace of Mind 204 (now known as Peace of Mind Canada). Peace of Mind strives to start conversations about mental health, as well as create a safe haven for people who may be struggling with mental health issues.

Peace of Mind holds summits frequently, also known as Youth Against Mental Health and Illness Stigma (YAMHIS) events, to help youth share their experiences regarding mental health.

“The stigma sur-

rounding mental health University of Toronto members of the audiis only eradicated by and managing a nonprof- ence, and left a lasting conversation and withit organization, Aquino impact on Springfield out that conversation still makes time to be College students, faculty, there will always be heavily involved with the and staff. stigma,” Aquino said.

YMCA. Aquino currently In the fall of 2018, “One of the amazing attends the University Aquino was one of three things I have learned of Toronto, double-marecipients to receive the while being an advocate joring in mental health YMCA Peace Medal for mental health is it studies and international Award as well as became does not cost anything,” development studies, the youngest recipient Aquino said. as well as minoring in ever of the RBC Top “All you need is your urban public policy and 25 Canadian Immigrant voice and you just need governance.

Award. conversation, and so I After three individuShe speaks at confer- realized that conversaals at the University of ences worldwide alongtion leads to awareness Toronto died by suicide side the YMCA, most and awareness leads to in a span of just one recently here at Springeducation and education year, Aquino immediate- field College, about how leads to a more powerful ly took action and got she has helped hundreds and more understanding, many members of the of young adults open up empathetic approach to University involved. about their experiences mental health, which is Despite ongoing con- regarding mental health. what we really need.” flicts with mental health Aqunio’s words hit policies on her campus, close to home for many Aquino sparked a university-wide conversation to help break the stigma surrounding mental health. Her passion and dedication to helping others and spreading awareness about mental health has shown the power of how a simple conversation and being willing to talk about “it” can save lives.

Not only does Aquino emphasize the “Power of Conversation,” but she also highlights the importance of being a good listener, and becoming more understanding of people’s unique experiences. She advocates for being one’s Aquino speaking during the presentation. (Photo own support system, and Courtesy of Springfield College Marketing & Communications) taking the positives out of any situation.

While being a full-time student at the

November 14, 2019

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November 14, 2019

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By Cam Smith @_thecamsmith

Nathaniel Tejeda is in his first year at Springfield College after being diagnosed with Stage II Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

(Photo courtesy of Nathaniel Tejeda)

A different kind of opponent After defeating cancer while in high school, Nathaniel Tejeda looks to win on the college mats.

Just before competing for Nashua High School South in the Meet of Champions, a state-wide wrestling tournament in New Hampshire held during February of 2019, Nathaniel Tejeda noticed a bump, which he described to be about the size of a ping pong ball on his neck.

Tejeda took the mat the following Saturday morning with a smile as he always did, with the thought of what that bump could be lingering in the back of his mind.

After wrestling at the Meet of Champions, Tejeda would have to face his biggest opponent yet.

On Sunday morning, Tejeda and his parents met with his primary care physician in Nashua, N.H., to assess the situation. This ultimately led him to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Mass. for further testing.

After several x-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, and a biopsy, the doctors came back into the room with news that sent Tejeda and his family into a state of disbelief.

“I was more in shock than anything,” Tejeda said. “I wasn’t really scared, more like, ‘why? Of all people?’ I’m almost done with high school and I’m about to move on to bigger and better things. But now, this just comes up out of nowhere.”

The doctors informed Tejeda and his family that he had been diagnosed with Stage II Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a form of cancer found in two or more lymph node areas on the same side as the diaphragm.

When times were tough and Tejeda was at his lowest, it was positivity, determination, and a reason to smile that formed the three pieces to a complex puzzle in the battle

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Tejeda undergoing a CT scan. (Photo courtesy of Nathaniel Tejeda)

against cancer.

“I was just trying to see the light at the end of the tunnel rather than dwell on what was happening,” Tejeda said. “I’m not going to let this bump in the road stop me from accomplishing what I want to do in life. Just keep going forward and don’t look back.”

Doctors inserted a porta-cath, a small catheter connected to the superior vena cava, one of two main veins that carries deoxygenated blood back to the heart, into Tejeda’s chest in order to begin chemotherapy.

He was in for the fight of his life.

“They explained it to me and said that it was going to be a minimum of four months of chemo,” Tejeda said. “Then I ended up having to do about two months of radiation.”

For any parent, seeing a child go through something like this is heart wrenching. Tejeda’s parents had his back and supported him no matter what.

“His positive mind set that he’s got this. That is what gave us strength,” Tejeda’s father, Franklin said. “He was determined

from the first time he heard, ‘Looks like cancer.’

He was determined to beat it. He really was our anchor and still is today.

I was determined to be right by his side from beginning to end.”

The support for Tejeda only grew. His town of Nashua, N.H., rallied around him. A GoFundMe page, called #nothinbutsmiles, was set up to help with the costs of treatment. After raising $16,730, it was clear Tejeda had the backing from the entire Nashua South community.

“I had a lot of support

from my hometown of Nashua,” Tejeda mentioned. “I was just really grateful to even live in that city. I had just an amazing support group from my teachers, to random people.”

He and his mother worked together to create the motto, Nothing but Smiles.

Tejeda was a cheerful kid who ran around the football field not quite knowing exactly what he was doing, but was just happy, smiling, and enjoying the game. This led to one of his football coaches calling him “Smiley” back in fifth

grade.

The nickname has followed him to Alden Street. As a first-year student-athlete, Tejeda made his way back to the mat as a member of the Springfield College wrestling team.

After sending an email over the summer to head coach Jason Holder, Tejeda expressed his desire to get back out and compete. But, he was unsure of whether his diagnosis would hinder that.

“He emailed me right up See Smiley continued on Page 15

November 14, 2019

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Falcons won’t stop DJ Moore, Phillip Lindsay is a downgrade Looking ahead to week No. 11

By Jacob Johnson @JacobJ_7

Love:

Hate:

DJ Moore:

Phillip Lindsay:

Moore is coming off an impressive individual performance against the Packers, as through wintry conditions he hauled in nine passes for 120 yards. He was contributing all over the field for Carolina, making catches through traffic and gaining yards after the catch. The Panthers will host the Atlanta Falcons this week who are coming off a dominating win over the Super Bowl contending Saints. Atlanta racked up six sacks, 310 total yards by the offense, and gave up no touchdowns. But now they will hit the road to face their other division rival. Kyle Allen and Moore’s chemistry has greatly improved over the last few weeks, and against a defense that still gives up the sixth most passing yards per game (260) I don’t see Moore slowing down anytime soon.

Lindsay has been solid for the better part of this season, mostly sharing snaps with Royce freeman.

However, Lindsay has seen the better side of production this year and will likely get more snaps going forward, but this week will face the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings held Ezekiel Elliot in check on Sunday Night Football last week, he rushed 20 times for a mediocre 47 yards (2.3 YPC). Playing amazing run defense against one of the best offensive lines in football and an elite talent in Ezekiel Elliot on the road is impressive, and against a much worse broncos offensive line and Lindsay being a downgrade at running back, this is a game that I don’t see Lindsay producing much.

Boom or Bust?

Cooper Kupp: Hauling in zero of his four targets Sunday afternoon against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kupp left fantasy owners shocked after putting up a goose egg. The Rams offense is not the offense we’ve seen in the last few years, and time is running out on the season to regain position in the playoff hunt. Turning their offense around won’t be any easier this week as they will host the Chicago Bears who are coming off a much needed win over the Lions. With momentum on Chicago’s side, particularly Mitch Trubisky who threw three TD’s on Sunday, I could see the Bears game plan to shut down their debatably most talented player in Kupp, but he is too talented of a receiver to leave on the bench.

Novemeber 14, 2019

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Ann Simons shows off a T-shirt highlighting each of her 39 season win/loss records corresponding with the postseason accomplishments. (Photo courtesy of Evan Wheaton)

Keeping the tradition alive

Longmeadow High School field hockey’s dynasty built through Spirit, Mind and Body.

By Evan Wheaton @EvanWheaton

After closing and locking the door to her office, Ann Simons begins walking along the yellow floor down the corridor at Forest Park Middle School. As students sprint through the bustling halls, one runs up to her.

As she leans down to meet him, the boy wraps his arms around her tightly.

“Oh, I love my hugs,” Simons says affectionately.

As she calls her elevator, some kids are roughhousing at the top of the stairwell. Like the flip of a switch, the tough love comes out.

“Hey, what’s going on up there?” Simons sternly calls out to the students as she peers in their direction.

There are appropriate times for affection as well as holding people accountable.

Just ask Simons.

Once the elevator brings her to the faculty parking

lot, she moves toward her black Mercedes 350 and retrieves a black T-shirt from the back. “LONGMEADOW FIELD HOCKEY” is proudly displayed at the top in red and white lettering.

Below that are 39 season records along with the corresponding postseason accomplishments, most notably 14 sectional championships.

Below all of this is a career win/loss record.

500-130-85.

On Sept. 17, 2019,

Simons earned her 500th win as the Longmeadow High School field hockey team’s head coach.

The 4-2 victory came at Agawam High School’s expense. It put Longmeadow at 4-0 on the season, and the Lancers were already on pace to win their ninth-consecutive Western Massachusetts Championship.

The seeds to Simons’ success today were planted long ago.

A Springfield College graduate of 1981, she was

a dual-sport athlete for two years, playing softball and field hockey. During her two-year collegiate career as well as her four years of academics, she evolved through Spirit, Mind, and Body, the mantra of the institution.

Drawing inspiration from Dottie Zenaty and Diane Potter, two coaching icons and pioneers in women’s athletics at Springfield College, Simons has established a reputation for herself – one that has her slated to be inducted into

Novemeber 14, 2019 the Hall of Fame of her hometown, West Springfield, on Nov. 27.

Throughout her illustrious coaching career, she has always kept the very same values that were deeply ingrained from her time on Alden Street and instills them into her players.

“Some things never change, I mean, that’s the Triangle,” Simons said.

“I think I try to live by that model also. But it’s more mental now. In their heads, they need to figure it out; they have to come prepared. They have to want it and push for it.

Sometimes they just get a little lazy.”

Generation after generation comes and goes, and each one requires different coaching. But the one constant is the need to put in the work.

“I think the old-timers, people like me, we know what it’s like,” Simons said. “You have to be ready every single day. You have to play you’re A-game, bring your A-game to the field always.”

Currently making a deep postseason run with this year’s Longmeadow Lancers, Simons has looked back on how she’s been able to sustain the program’s dynasty.

Upon graduation in 1981, Simons was a new coach at Longmeadow High. Following a 1-8-5 season (one of only two losing seasons in Simon’s tenure), the program was rebranded from the ground up through what Springfield College prides

itself on.

“I think tradition has a lot to do with our success,” Simons said. “I think they (the Longmeadow field hockey players) don’t want to let each other down because it’s such a tight community, because we didn’t have soccer back when I started. It was just field hockey and it was all one single division.”

Once soccer began growing as a sport in the area, field hockey broke into two divisions within Western Mass. This new system gave schools a chance to grow their programs – and Longmeadow hit the ground running.

“Once we broke into Division-I and Division-II, we were just steamrolling,” Simons said. “Even then in the beginning, we were probably the top team in the area.”

Working as an on-call teacher at Forest Park Middle School during the day before coaching Longmeadow, Simon’s office is an archive of accomplishments.

Newspaper clippings detailing Longmeadow’s success decorate the walls.

A long, horizontal banner underneath team photos reads, “SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE 125 Years of Leadership in Service to Others.” Dotted in between all of these are inspirational quotes scrawled on index cards.

These decorations carry out into the conjoined locker room. Draped on the far wall hangs a blue MIAA Western Massachusetts Division I Field

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Simons’ office at Forest Park Middle School features a full wall archive of her accomplishments.

(Photo courtesy of Evan Wheaton)

Hockey Championship banner. Out of the various names scrawled across it in black sharpie, two of them stick out among the rest: “Kyra Ashe” and “Sydney Harris.”

These previous Longmeadow players now find themselves among the Springfield College field hockey team accompanied

by Taylor Low, another former Lancer.

Ashe and Harris arrived together after Low, and coming from such a dominant program, as well as a coach who has fully adopted the Springfield College mantra, the transition to the collegiate level was seamless.

“I think it was that much easier, one because she came to Springfield, she knows how this works, she prepared us for this,” Ashe said. “Also, since I already

have two teammates from high school, I know how they play. Those are two players I already have good chemistry with.”

Their fellowship on the field was crafted through four years of experience with Simons’ coaching demeanor.

“She gave us tough love and showed us that she cared about us, but she wanted to really push us to achieve the most we could and not take the easy road,” Low said.

Over the years, Simons has been able to tell the difference between fatigue and laziness.

And the latter was never tolerated.

“She always made us work our absolute hardest,” Ashe said. “She knew if you weren’t working your hardest and she’d call you out on it.”

Above all else, Simons has prioritized a focus on the mental side of Spirit, Mind, and Body. It goes well beyond endless running and working hard physically in order to endure the season mentally.

More than anything, Simons carried the tradition of mental toughness with her from Springfield.

In order to see the side of her that would accompany a hug in the hallway, a player has to earn it.

It was tough love.

“I like that she kept traditions alive,” Harris said. “We had the same pregame rituals (and) pre-postseason rituals.

After the games, she’d tell us the truth on how we played and how we were really bad or really good, which kind of helped us with mental toughness, and it kept us in check

Novemeber 14, 2019

so our heads didn’t blow up if we did get a good win, to remember to stay grounded… you needed to work hard to get her to smile at you.

“She’ll tell you like it is. You need to take what she’s saying and turn it into something positive for yourself. She creates an environment in which you need to work hard physically and learn from it mentally and put the pieces together.”

The brutal honesty was just that.

Brutal.

“I remember one Sunday morning, she called me a freight train because I couldn’t control my body, and since then, I’ve worked really hard to integrate those skills into the collegiate level, and I think it’s helped me; I run into people less,” Harris said, as Low and Ashe chuckled.

For such a dominant field hockey program, Longmeadow has a simple formula that Simons has employed over the past four decades. Players work hard physically to handle the duration of the season mentally. And when it all comes together and they get their desired results, they’re rewarded emotionally.

With this year’s field hockey season in the books for Springfield, the bonds remain stronger than ever. Like many of her former Lancers, Low, Harris, and Ashe have all forged a relationship with Simons that carries over to the collegiate level and

Sports

On the wall of the Longmeadow field hockey locker room hangs this MIAA Western Massachusetts Division I Field Hockey Championship banner. (Photo courtesy of Evan Wheaton)

beyond.

“She’ll text us before preseason and before games and be like, ‘I’m proud of all you guys, keep working hard, I know you’re capable of doing great and make us proud,’” Low said.

Ashe added, “To this day she still always checks in.

I still text her every week at least and (she’s) always checking in to see how we’re doing here. It’s nice to know that she cares.”

Next year will mark the 40th year of the Simons era at Longmeadow.

Despite claiming to have plenty of gas left in the tank, she knows that year 40 is the cutoff point.

“You have to set a number somewhere, otherwise you keep going and going,” Simons said. “And

that’s the reason why I have 13 juniors on varsity.

I’ve decided that’s my last class I’ll be with.”

On a crisp fall morning at roughly 9 a.m., Kelly Gallo looks on at the Lancers’ practice through her sunglasses at Elms College. Due to the lack of a turf field at Longmeadow, this has become a second home for the program.

Several Lancers are zipping up and down the field, passing to one another and working through drills in the light of the rising sun. The team is preparing for a big game against Minnechaug, a very strong field hockey program, which would fall to the Lancers the following day, 2-0.

The current JV coach

and head coach of the girls’ lacrosse team at Longmeadow, Gallo has been Simon’s assistant for three seasons now.

They’ll soon embark on their final ride together.

“Ann has been great to work with, I’m so fortunate to be able to coach with her every day,” Gallo said. “I learn so much every single season, so I’m looking forward to our next season as well and our last one together.”

Having graduated from Springfield College in 2014 after being a dual sport athlete in lacrosse and field hockey herself, she too plans to keep the Triangle alive in the heart of the program.

If all goes according to plan, Gallo is slated to succeed Simons after next

PAGE 14

year.

“The future looks great, a couple outstanding eighth graders, and the sixth graders are great, so hopefully Kelly takes over for me,” Simons said.

“She’s ready. It’s her time.”

Gallo is more than ready to make the transition, though Simons will still be heavily involved.

“She (Simons) said, ‘I’ll be there,’ and I said, ‘Yeah, you’re going to be sitting on the bench with us,’ and she’ll work camps throughout the summer and definitely have a presence still in the program,” Gallo said. “She (Simons) says that I’m going to be her successor, but I can only hope that I’ll be able to step in and try to fill her shoes.

“If I’m fortunate enough and the program is given to me through the interview process, then I’ll give it my heart like she’s given it the past 39-40 years.”

Not dissimilar to keeping up with her former players, Simons will be able to assist Gallo during the hard times while being just a phone call away.

And whether it’s running summer camps or attending games, Simons will never stray far from the sport.

It isn’t just the Longmeadow and Springfield College field hockey programs that have bright futures ahead of them.

It’s the players who grow in Spirit, Mind, and Body that carry with them the traditions of success beyond the sport.

November 14, 2019

Smiley continued from Page 10

front. That was one of the first things he said -- that he had been diagnosed,” Holder explained. “He said that he was still interested in coming out for the team and I said absolutely. I asked him to stay in contact with me throughout the summer just to let me know how he’s doing and that sort of stuff.”

With wrestling, many picture aggressiveness or intensity. Although

Tejeda shows that in the wrestling room and is built well, he brings out a different side of the sport.

“Well, everyone calls him Smiley, right? His name is Nathaniel and I’ve called him that,” Holder said.

“He says, ‘Nah you can just call me Smiley.’ It’s great and that’s what he is.

He’s a pleasant kid, he’s a hard worker and he enjoys the sport. But, he’s just a good kid to be around.

He’s a nice kid with a positive attitude, and I

Sports appreciate that.”

It is hard to imagine how someone can smile and keep such a positive outlook on things when faced with adversity. Though, that was easy for Tejeda, because it’s the kind of person he is.

“There’s no point in looking down on yourself when you realize there’s a lot more people in worse situations than you. I just had that mindset the whole time,” Tejeda said.

“If you just think posi-

tively and just continue to believe that good things are going to come, good things will come.”

After a long nine months of chemotherapy and radiation, good things did come for Tejeda.

As of Oct. 11, 2019, doctors told him that he is now in remission.

Cancer didn’t win. Tejeda did.

He has been an inspiration and has touched the lives of so many people along the way.

PAGE 15

“I want to be just like my son,” Tejeda’s father said. “I want to have the fighting spirit, the determination to go after what he wants, the courage and smile that comes from deep inside his heart.”

By beating his biggest opponent off the mat, Tejeda can now turn his attention to wrestling and representing Springfield College – with a smile, of course.

Nothing but Smiles

Nathaniel Tejeda’s greatest victory came away from the wrestling mat [See inside]

NOVEMBER 14, 2019

VOL. 134 NO. 10

(Photo courtesy of Nathaniel Tejeda)

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