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of the situation – or lack thereof – was being handled very differently.
Although this had massive implications on a community, it seemed as if the media did not want it out. When something like this happens, the more people that know about it, the more likely it is that aid can be sent, which is needed.
Colangelo agreed: “There was obviously some suppression in the media of the situation,” he said. “When people need those kinds of resources, the company is worried about covering themselves up.”
And Colangelo isn’t the only one who feels this way.
According to the same New York Times article, “residents of East Palestine lost trust in officials and in Norfolk Southern, saying that no one has clearly communicated the scale of the disaster and the public health threats.”
On Feb. 3, a train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio.
No one was hurt in the Feb. 3 derailment, but half of the roughly 5,000 residents of East Palestine had to evacuate.
According to a New York Times report, authorities did not want an explosion to occur and so they took those chemicals and moved them to a controlled burning site. But even with this decision, the train was still set ablaze due to the derailment.
As the chemicals lit a flame, they began to fill
the air with toxins, creating a situation where the air was highly polluted, and concerns began to rise over the effect it had on the soil in the ground and the water supply. This left many residents questioning if it was safe to even remain in the area.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, up to 20 rail cars were carrying hazardous materials including vinyl chloride, butyl acrylate, ethylhexyl acrylate and ethylene glycol monobutyl ethers, and they were released into the air, surface soil and surface
waters.
Residents began to raise concerns about all of this, as it directly affected the small town of East Palestine, as well as surrounding areas, and aid was needed quickly.
The impact of the derailment was felt all the way to Springfield College.
Springfield College student Dylan Colangelo is from Youngstown, Ohio, which is about 25 minutes away from where the train derailed. Even though he is here in Springfield, the incident concerned him, as he began to hear reports of an
explosion through social media.
“My family was my first thought,” Colangelo said, referring to the moment he had realized what had happened. “Especially being so close to East Palestine. ”
When Colangelo knew his family was safe and began to get details about what had happened, he began to shift his concern.
“I was especially worried about the air pollution and water supply, ” Colangelo said.
His mom told him details of what had occurred, the coverage
Although Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has said that tests conducted by the E.P.A. showed no contaminants in the municipal water supply, the federal E.P.A Administrator Michael S. Regan advised residents to continue to only drink bottled water.
There are also concerns over the long-term effects of the explosion.
There are still ongoing investigations and lawsuits surrounding the explosion.
field College President Mary-Beth Cooper, along with multiple other texts from various colleagues. From there, she quickly got in contact with Public Safety.
“I’m glad that we took very swift actions,” Dieujuste said.
Once Public Safety was notified, it proceeded with an investigation of the incident, which is still a work in progress.
“[During an investigation], you just try to meet with people that were there when it happened,” Tiraboschi said. “You try to gather all the facts you possibly can, you speak to both parties that were involved.”
priority for us,” Tiraboschi said. “We don’t want anyone to suffer any pain or suffering because of someone else’s actions. It can be absolutely avoided.”
“We can’t really do our work as employees and students can’t focus on their studies and can’t focus on being students, if they’re not physically or psychologically safe here,” Dieujuste said. “We work hard and very closely with Public Safety and all others to make sure that our community is a safe one that students can thrive here, and that they feel this is home.”
At approximately 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 7, an incident occurred in the Campus Union cafe involving Spirit (the Pride’s mascot) and a Harvest Table employee.
Springfield College
Chief of Police Joe Tiraboschi sent an email at 4:32 p.m. on Tuesday. The email stated that Spirit was struck by the worker while the mascot was greeting students and handing out can-
__ By RiveR Mitchell @rivermitchell27dy. No students were harmed or involved in the incident, and Spirit was unharmed as well. The Harvest Table employee was promptly removed from the campus.
“We want to make sure you’re all aware of what happened,” Tiraboschi said. “But also know that, ‘Hey, we don’t tolerate violence.’”
Other faculty members, including Vice President of Student
Affairs Slandie Dieujuste, were in full support of the email and had a similar outlook to Tiraboschi on the situation.
“[The email was sent] to assure students that everybody is okay, and safe,” Dieujuste said. “But also, we don’t take these sorts of incidents lightly. We have no tolerance at all for any acts of violence.”
Dieujuste was notified of the incident via a text message sent by Spring-
Tiraboschi received an email from a worker in the Union, and also talked to a few eyewitnesses to get more facts about the situation. They were even able to collect video footage of what transpired as well as talk to both parties about the incident. The mascot was also offered medical attention. Public Safety is currently working with Harvest Table as they continue to investigate the incident.
On top of all of this, Public Safety and the Office of Student Affairs are making sure that students and faculty remain safe on campus.
“It’s the number one
If anyone is in need of any support at all, or is feeling stressed or anxious because of the incident, the Counseling Center, Student Affairs office, and even your residence assistants are here to help you through this and give you support. If you see an incident on campus that you feel needs to be reported, contact Public Safety by phone at (413) 748-5555 as well as by email at publicsafety@ springfieldcollege.edu.
The RAVE guardian app is a valuable resource as well, as you can file reports through the app, anonymously or not.
Springfield College is home to students from across the world. International students frequent Alden Street, and many west coast states are represented as well. However, the majority of students that attend Springfield College are from the New England region.
Massachusetts comes in at number one. Out of 2,258 undergraduate students attending Springfield College, 612 of them are from the Bay State – just under 38%.
Not surprisingly, due to Springfield’s location near the southern border of Massachusetts, the next state with the highest percentage of stu-
Tucker PaquetteMassachusetts: Massachusetts has a lot working in its favor. From tourist destinations to popular vacation spots to some of the best sports teams in the country, the Bay State can offer something for everyone.
It wouldn’t be right to begin with anything
dents is Connecticut (27%). These two states are probably the most obvious, due to the location of the College.
However, next up on the list come New York (294, 13%) and New Jersey (98, 4%), both of which are higher than that of the other New England states.
To round out the bunch with New Hampshire (66, 2.9%) , Rhode Island (61, 2.7%), Maine (47, 2%) and Vermont (24, 1%), only a handful of students in each class are making the trek to Springfield College.
With that, there is always high debate on what
__ Staff RepoRtS @thespfldstudentother than the city of Boston when talking about Massachusetts. Whether someone is a tourist from far away or simply a resident of the state (or city), there is plenty to do around the area. Some options include going to a quality local restaurant (of which there are many options to choose from) or
attending a sporting event (more on that later).
Also, Cape Cod is a fan favorite place to go on vacation for people in the region – and across the world – and for good reason: Cape Cod was named one of the “best beach destinations in the world” by travel experts. There are also a variety
state is the best. Massachusetts and Connecticut both have an abundance of defenders. However, those who hail from the others feel strongly about why their state is better.
Sports teams, historical events and activities are some of the aspects that spark debate over the credibility of each state. What makes a state special?
The Springfield Student asked writers – who each hail from one of the six New England states – to defend their home turf and explain why it is the best.
of dining options and fun activities – including the Cape Cod League, the collegiate summer league that has sent more than 1,000 former players on to play in the major leagues – available around the Cape, so it is safe to say that visitors aren’t lacking when it comes to options.
The sports teams from
Boston are yet another highlight of the state. While there are a few decent collegiate teams, much of Massachusetts’ sports fame stems from the four main professional franchises – the Bruins, Celtics and Red Sox, as well as the Patriots (while technically representing all of New England,
the Patriots are based in Foxborough, Mass., and the favorite team of many Massachusetts residents). The success that each of these teams have had over the past 20-or-so years is a common point of pride around the state, and their winning ways (a combined 12 titles since 2001) have a unique way of bringing residents of the Commonwealth together.
When factoring in all that the state brings to the table – world-class cities, vacation destinations and sports franchises – it is apparent that Massachusetts reigns supreme.
Nick PantagesRhode Island: The smallest state in America, Rhode Island is home to a plethora of neat things to do. The Ocean State has beautiful beaches, fun cities, beautiful colleges and much more. The main attraction is the beautiful neighborhood of Newport.
The best spot to check out is the massive mansions that line the coast of Newport, the greatest of which is the Breakers. The Breakers was built by the legendary Vanderbilt family and organized by Cornelius Vanderbilt, who had it constructed as a summer vacation getaway, as well as a powerful showing of his fortune.
There is also much to do in Newport, such as the beautiful beachside walking and biking paths, as well as the restaurants in the downtown area,
most of them featuring delicious seafood.
The International Tennis Hall of Fame is also in Newport, where legends of the game as well as other contributors are enshrined.
If you haven’t gotten your mansion fix in Newport you can head down to Westerly, on the Connecticut border, and enjoy Misquamicut Beach, the best beach I have ever been to. The big waves and great atmosphere, including a DJ, arcade and food trucks make it a great attraction. If your time at the beach is up, there are more mansions right around the corner, notably housing Taylor Swift and Conan O’Brien.
Providence, the capital and most populated city of Rhode Island, also has a lot to do. The food on Federal Hill is to die for. The Hill hosts many bustling Italian restaurants and bakeries, with classic Italian-American staple dishes being served across the Hill.
From pasta dishes to chicken and veal cutlets and delicious seafood bars, Federal Hill has the best food in the state if you are a lover of Italian-American cuisine like myself.
Providence is also home to a variety of great schools. Yankees ace reliever Michael King, Colts
First-Round pick Kwity
er Rocco Baldelli as well as the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets head coaches, Joe Mazzulla and Michael Malone are Ocean State products.
Rhode Island is also home to the beautiful campus of Brown, a prestigious and picturesque Ivy League school.
The Providence Friars men’s basketball team consistently has the best student sections and atmosphere in all of college basketball.
Although the state – which is the home of George Washington’s second-hand man, Nathanael Greene, and where the legendary sit-com Family Guy took place – is very small, there is definitely plenty to do in Rhode Island, and more than enough to make it the most superior state in New England.
Patrick Fergus - Connecticut: Connecticut has always seemed to possess a reputation of irrelevancy. It is often referred to as simply a highway from one state to another, and while it doesn’t have any major sports teams or bustling metropolises, there is undoubtedly much more to the Constitution State.
houses are truly one of a kind.
Connecticut has the perfect fusion of urban and rural areas, with peaceful towns never too far from a larger metropolitan area, bursting with a preponderance of different cultures and people. I live in the small town of New Milford, a mere 20 minutes away from Danbury, one of the larger cities in the state. Major cities like New Haven and Stamford are not too far out of the way.
New Haven, the second largest city according to population, is very well known for its Arts scene, with world-class theaters like the Schubert and many other museums, galleries and music venues. Visitors and locals alike flock to Wooster Street, home of the famous New-Haven style pizza.
Frank Pepe’s, Sally’s Apizza, and Modern Pizza are consistently ranked among the top pizzerias in the entire country. If you swing by, you’ll see lines around the block of people eager to try Pepe’s White Clam or Sally’s Tomato Pie.
between the men’s and women’s teams, who have both secured their spot in the Sweet 16 in this year’s tournament.
Connecticut is full of its fair share of tourist attractions. By far the most popular, though, is the Mystic Seaport, a historic village full of museums, a shipyard, delectable restaurants, and the Mystic Aquarium. Historical landmarks are more or less commonplace in New England, and Connecticut is no different.
The state’s natural beauty is notable whether it’s fall, spring, spring or summer. From its idyllic waterfront state parks to the quaint farms in the countryside, there is something for everyone. The picturesque scenic waterside views and light-
Several blocks away is the prestigious Yale University, boasting academic excellence and first-class research. Connecticut College, Wesleyan, and UConn are just a few of the state’s other top-notch schools. UConn boasts one of the most successful Division I basketball programs, with a combined 15 national titles
The Mark Twain house in the capital city of Hartford offers tours yearround of the legendary author’s home and Gillette Castle in East Haddam, a gorgeous stone mansion with unique decor and a medieval-style facade. Only some entertainment avenues are historical, though, such as the XL Center, which holds various events. It serves as the second home for the UConn Huskies and numerous concerts and other events. Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort also have a special place in the nightlife scene. Not to mention that ESPN’s headquarters are located in Bristol, just down the road from the oldest amusement park in the U.S., Lake Compounce.
For me, Connecticut is far from the perfect state but has always been unfairly labeled as boring, bland and forgettable. There is plenty to do whether you’re visiting
Paye and reigning World Series MVP Jeremy Peña all graduated from Rhode Island high schools, and Minnesota Twins manag- See States
Six Springfield Student staff members attended the Associated Collegiate Press conference in San Francisco on March 9-11. At the conference, Pride Sports Journal, the annual athletics publication produced by students in the Communications/Sports Journalism program, was honored as one of the top five Feature Magazines among four-year colleges. The 2022 edition of PSJ showcased work from current staff members (pictured) as well as alumni, including Joe Arruda, Irene Rotondo, Collin Atwood and Hayden Choate.
States continued from Page 5
or calling the state your home. The beautiful scenery, great restaurants and plenty of opportunities for a great time are simply a few reasons why Connecticut is the best state in New England.
Carley Crain - New Hampshire: The Live Free or Die state is the place I have called home my entire life. And I believe it is the best state in New England. First off, there is no sales tax
As a college student in a lot of student debt, this is great! Alcohol is also a lot cheaper and is actually sold inside grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations and Walmarts, which is very convenient and practical for a 21-year-old.
My favorite part of NH? The mountains and scenery. The White Mountains are a region of the state that I call home. I have hiked hundreds of miles and have seen the most beautiful views as a New Hampshire resident. The White Mountains were even named the most scenic place in the United States by a group of travel photographers on Enjoytravel.com.
The White Mountains beat out places like White Sands National Park and Oahu, Hawaii, according to MassLive. The fall foliage during the autumn months has also been recognized by visitors worldwide. The rich colors that spread all over are a sight worth seeing. Additionally, I love to ski, and NH has a long list of impeccable mountains, including the biggest mountain in the Northeast, Mount Washington! (which is almost
7,000’ in elevation)
The seacoast and the lakes region are also very underrated parts of New Hampshire. The state parks of Hampton Beach are incredible – very well maintained, clean and private. The waves are always fun to body surf on and the rocks along the water are great to climb.
The lakes region, specifically Lake Winnipesaukee, is a beautiful spot to spend a summer day. From paddleboarding, kayaking, jet skiing and barbequing, there is something for everyone to do. The sunsets over the lake are like a scene out of a movie.
On the other hand, in New Hampshire, getting a license is a much easier process than in other states. There is no such thing as a permit. Someone can get their license the day they turn 16. And… we have much better drivers than in Massachusetts! Also, not as many tolls.
New Hampshire doesn’t often come up in discussions when speaking about what is the “best state in New England.” But it easily should, because to put it simply –the 603 is by far the best.
Reese MerrittMaine: Recall the time you were driving or someone else was driving behind lanes of traffic, and that unusual license plate caught your eye. Not because the plate number was particularly hilarious, but because the design was dissimilar to the others around you. Perhaps it was the one from Alaska, or Texas or Idaho. Still, if you are from the Northeast, Vermont is easy to identify. All one has to do
is look for the color green because the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles, associated with the Vermont Agency of Transportation, could not think of a more appropriate plate design in 1967.
Unlike Vermont, one of the other New England states developed a greater complementary plate design. Perched upon a pine cone and tassel, a black-capped chickadee sits in the top left corner. But more importantly, at the very bottom in large, black lettering, the word “Vacationland” appears.
Maine, the country’s “vacationland,” offers a unique setting that has lured tourists and vacationers for decades, thanks to its inevitable tranquility. It is not terribly difficult to find a rural area, lay down flat or sit on a bench, and listen to crystal-clear waves crash, hear the crickets chirp in the neverending, pristine woods, and perceive the plain, yet rare, silence.
While visiting New England’s only national park, Acadia National Park – which to be clear, is in Maine – watching the sun rise across the Atlantic Ocean and set along the skiable mountains is breathtaking. At four million visits a year, Acadia is one of the top 10 most visited national parks in the U.S., according to the National Park Service.
Even if rural life is not for you, there are still plenty of other urban attractions that in fact draw so many tourists that the state’s population triples in size during the summer season. Yes, the population triples. I’m sure you or a friend of yours has visited Ogunquit, mean-
ing “beautiful place by the sea,” or potentially downtown Portland, or maybe the famous L.L. Bean boot in Freeport. Either way, a stroll through the vibrant neighborhood scene has been walked, a club in a mini golf course has been swung, an item in a glowing, tourist-attracting, upscale store has been bought, a drop of Maine maple syrup has been tasted, and of course, a fresh red lobster has been eaten.
For those who have only experienced Maine’s 3,478 miles of coastline – which is more than California’s – in the summer, winter is equally as nice. White Christmases, skiing and snowboarding, or at least an attempt at doing so, and ice fishing are all completely possible and easy to pursue in Maine. In general, snow for the lower three New England states is unfortunately difficult to persistently keep.
Vacationland is geographically larger than all of the other five New England states combined, and is equally more appealing and pleasing than all of the other five New England states combined. And no, not every Mainer has seen a moose.
River MitchellVermont: Vermont is a beautiful state filled with mountains, lakes and much more. It has a lot of really nice benefits for its residents.
Skiing and hiking are a massive part of the lifestyle that many Vermonters live. Vermont has the best skiing in the Northeast, with multiple big resorts such as Stowe, Sugarbush, Killington and Jay Peak. The hiking scenery is also phenomenal in
Vermont, with prominent mountains such as Mount Mansfield and Camels Hump.
The underpopulation of Vermont also makes for a very relaxing environment. You’ll almost never be stuck in any sort of traffic, even in the more populated part of Vermont. You also get to enjoy the peace and serenity that comes with it, as all you’ll hear at night is the wind blowing in the trees – not the sound of cars rumbling by.
Vermont also has Lake Champlain, which runs along the Vermont-New York border, with breathtaking views of the Adirondack Mountains. Not only this, but Lake Champlain is also the biggest lake in the U.S. that is not a Great Lake. Burlington, the major city in Vermont, is also perched right on the shore of Lake Champlain.
This allows for beautiful summer walks down by the waterfront, and allows people to take their boats out on the big body of water. Burlington also has Church Street, which is a pedestrian-only thoroughfare that features a bunch of different stores, restaurants, a Ben and Jerrys and more.
Vermont is also the leading producer of maple syrup across the whole country, as well as the birthplace of Ben and Jerry’s.
Overall, Vermont is a beautiful state with a lot to offer. The peaceful lifestyle alongside the phenomenal skiing are the main reasons why Vermont is the best state in New England.
Mikaili Charlemagne won this week’s Springfield Student Women’s Athlete of the Week with 42.1 percent of the vote after earning national recognition. The senior swimmer earned First Team All-America honors in the 50 freestyle to become the first Springfield women’s swimmer since 2017 to be an All-American.
Closely following Charlemagne in the poll was Amelia DeRosa with 34.7 percent of the vote, as she dominated the diamond in multiple ways. The first-year pitcher/first baseman for the softball team went 16-for-31 for a .516 batting average at the plate, and also threw 20.2 innings with only
The winner of this edition’s Men’s Athlete of the Week was Connor Caverly with 48.9 percent of the vote. The junior pitcher for the baseball team combined to throw eight innings with three earned runs allowed and 11 strikeouts this past week, and that included a four-inning, one-run, seven-strikeout performance to earn the win against Hamilton on Monday.
Conor Tracy finished second in the poll after a great week on the field. The graduate attacker for the men’s lacrosse team combined for eight goals and three assists in Springfield’s pair of games this past week.
The third vote-getter was Ethan Gomulka with 9.6 percent in the poll. The first-year tennis player won both his singles matches in two sets this past week.
Owen Carney rounded out the poll after a couple solid performances.
The first-year gymnast finished in first place in the vault with a score of 14.450 in the Pride’s meet against Army on Saturday. He also finished third in the floor exercise.
Be sure to follow @TheSpfldStudent on Twitter to vote in the next poll!
one run allowed in the Pride’s eight games last week.
Mackenzie Doyle also provided a lot of contributions at the plate and received 15.7 percent of the vote for Athlete of the Week. The senior outfielder for the softball team went 13-for-27 with six walks for a .481 batting average and .576 on-base percentage in Springfield’s eight games last week.
Rounding out the poll was Jade O’Connor after putting a few past the goalie. The graduate midfielder for the women’s lacrosse team scored three goals in the Pride’s game against Babson on Saturday.
Four Springfield College alumni from the past two decades shared their career journeys in athletic training as part of the ongoing Charles J. Redmond Alumni Lecture Series.
al,” Delude said.
Delude also was quick to stress the importance of leadership, especially without being told.
“It’s about a sense of urgency and showing initiative,” Delude said. ”If I were in a leadership role, I’d feel much more comfortable giving you further responsibility if I knew I don’t have to ask you to refill the water or get more tape
during the presentation, discussing her experience as an athletic trainer in the NBA for the last seven years.
As a member of the Memphis Grizzlies and now the Utah Jazz, Farrell was adamant about building relationships with players and coaches and how it makes it more enjoyable to go to work every day.
The presentation room in Judd Gymnasia was packed on Tuesday, March 21 with current and former athletic training students as a part of the ongoing Charles J. Redmond Alumni Lecture Series.
The panel, which consisted of alumni from the past two decades, shared their career journeys, and later opened the floor to a Q&A from the audience. This year’s lecture, which included Katie Delude ‘11, Kristin Farrell ‘06, LaToya Franklin ‘07 and Amanda Kelley ‘10, coincided with the 50th anniversary of Title IX and served to spotlight the alums who have broken barriers.
Since the passing of Title IX, women have become the leading faction
__ By Patrick Fergus @Fergus5Fergusin athletic training, with about 52% of all athletic trainers being female.
One of the essential ingredients of being an athletic trainer is the relationships they can build with their athletes, coaches and co-workers.
“Communication is huge for building respect… it’s the tried-andtrue way for me to build valuable relationships,” said Amanda Kelley, the associate head athletic trainer at the College of the Holy Cross.
Kelley, who has worked at Holy Cross since 2012, advised students in attendance to find what they love about the profession.
“There will be days where you ask yourself why you do what you do, but a simple thank you from a coach or player, or
the difference you make in a player’s physical or mental recovery will remind you of the impact you can have,” Kelley said.
Mental health has become a newer aspect of the job, with players getting more comfortable sharing their struggles. Katie Delude has had some experience dealing with the mental well-being of athletes.
As the head athletic trainer at Northeastern University, Delude emphasized that while physical health is crucial for an athlete’s success, they can only perform when their mind is right.
“I’ve had to handle many panic and anxiety attacks, and the way to handle those situations isn’t found in a textbook because they’re so person-
Kristin Farrell and LaToya Franklin also detailed their experiences, with Franklin being the only panel member not to be currently working in sports. Franklin is an injury prevention specialist for Amazon in Charlotte, N.C..
She described it as a “boys club” when she first arrived, with many suggestions from women lacking acknowledgement.
“It was tough to get my voice heard when I first arrived there, but I was able to build my relationships and break down those barriers because I think they were afraid I was going to change how things were done,” Franklin said.
Working in injury prevention for a company like Amazon represents the wide variety of opportunities available for an athletic trainer and why the panel members repeatedly praised the profession’s variation throughout the night.
Kristin Farrell was one of the prominent voices of encouragement
“We see them at their highest highs and their lowest lows, and our athletes sometimes spend more time with us than their coaches, teammates, and even their own families,” Farrell said. “You’re in the foxhole with them, so you become very close, and it’s important to be there with them.”
She also commented on the drastic drop off of women working as ATs after they turn 30.
“Personally, I see a lot of people in this field that use it as a way to become a personal trainer, for example, but I believe that those positions truly limit you,” Farrell said. “The next generation of ATs should know it’s the best choice.”
What was most notable was the absolute joy and excitement they showed as they shared their experiences and passion for the profession with current athletic training students.
When the panel was asked what they were most proud of, after a brief silence, Amanda Kelley picked up a mic and replied, “Tonight.”
When the NEWMAC Preseason Coaches Poll was released on Feb. 17, the Springfield College men’s tennis program felt that its ranking was far too low – bordering on being disrespectful.
Although the Pride are coming off of a less-than-ideal 3-11 spring season a year ago, and began the fall season without a head coach after Mike Louis resigned in September, they still believe that they are better than the No. 6 ranking in the seven-team conference.
But being listed that low may be a blessing in disguise, as it has brought a newfound motivation to Springfield.
“We saw the preseason rankings, and we were voted pretty low,” senior David Kilburn said. “But that just fuels the fire for us. We’re ready to prove a lot of people wrong,
and play some great tennis.”
The foundation to proving others wrong was already laid out during the unofficial fall season,
as Springfield cruised to a 5-2 record, including a three-match win streak. The Pride shutout Western New England 9-0, defeated Colby-Sawyer 6-3, and
crushed St. Joseph’s (Conn.) 8-1.
Following that strong fall stint, Springfield also filled the void at the head coach’s position, bring-
ing in former player and graduate Tanner DeVarennes to coach both the men’s and women’s teams in December. During his time playing on Alden Street, DeVarennes was the 2014 NEWMAC Rookie of the Year, as well as earning two all-conference honors.
With the addition of DeVarennes, Kilburn believes that the men’s team is headed for something special.
“(DeVarennes) has changed this team,” Kilburn said. “He’s really been emphasizing making it a lot more successful than what it used to be. Coach has done a great job implementing new standards into this team, and we’re living by those. I think he’s doing a great job, and I can’t wait to see what he’s got next.”
In the Pride’s opening matches to the spring taking place in Orlando, Fla., they may have gone just 1-3 overall, but the experience and veter-
The men’s tennis team intends to avenge a low preseason ranking this spring, while the women’s squad is aiming to continue last season’s success that led the Pride to the NEWMAC semifinals.
‘We’re ready to prove a lot of people wrong’Eric Nicander at practice. (Photo Courtesy of Instagram/@daveykilburnmedia)
an leadership to the underclassmen goes beyond just a record.
“I thought all the veterans really helped teach the young guys a lot of things, especially how to stay calm and poise throughout the tough parts of a match,” Kilburn said. “We played a lot of opponents who had a really raw and aggressive style of play, and their intentions were to get under our skin. But all of our players did a great job staying composed, and we’re gonna try to continue to do that.”
With 10 underclassmen, seven of which are first-year students, the lack of experience within the team is something that Springfield believes helps add to that motivation to prove its doubters wrong.
“The men’s team is really, really young,” DeVarennes said. “But we’re really hungry and motivated to get better each day. Whether it’s the freshmen or the seniors, I think each person is motivated by that youth and by that hunger. The whole group is really ready to go out and show that to the NEWMAC.”
The women’s program is in an entirely different situation. With a roster com-
prised of just three first-years, and a year removed from a NEWMAC Championship Semifinal appearance, the Pride strive to stay at the same level of competitiveness in recent years.
“We’re a little bit more experienced,” DeVarennes said. “We’ve kind of been there and done that in the conference. I think we’re looking to improve on our doubles play, on the depth of our lineup and really just look to continue to build off the success we’ve had the last couple of years.”
The women’s team had a solid showing in Florida, going 2-2 overall to open the season. It is led by a great senior and sophomore duo of Gabby Heaney-Secord and Ramida Manataweewat whose performance earned them the NEWMAC Women’s Tennis Doubles Team of the Week.
During Springfield’s four matches in Florida, the tandem picked up four victories in doubles play while competing at the top spot for the Pride against Ithaca, Ohio Northern, Wisconsin-La Crosse and St. Scholastica.
To make another deep run in the NEWMAC tournament,
Springfield will need strong showings from the doubles.
“We need to trust each other,” DeVarennes said. “Trust in our coaches and preparation, and continue to work hard on the practice court. And then the last thing it just starts with doubles. I think if we play really good solid doubles, we’re gonna give ourselves a chance to
win in every match.”
For the men, the path to winning the conference tournament also relies on good doubles performances, but also using their youth to its advantage.
“On the men’s side, we’re really young and we can use that to our advantage,” DeVarennes said. “We don’t know any better. You need to come out each match and play our
game. If we do that, I know we’re gonna be a really, really hard team to beat and compete with. Additionally, it goes on to doubles. We got to play good, solid doubles. If we can start the match on a good note, whether it’s 2-1 or 3-0, we’re going to put us in a really good position to get a lot of W’s.”
what it meant to be a catalyst for the team.
“If I play badly over the summer, that is just on me,” DeMaio said. “But if I play badly for the school, I am letting down my teammates.”
Additionally, DeMaio understands the concept of playing for something bigger than yourself.
“You are on the course by yourself, but you are playing for the guys around you,” DeMaio said. “They take the four best scores, so you always think you are playing for the team, not just yourself.”
schedule – every swing, practice, and match leads to their eventual fall 2023 season, where they will seek vengeance.
Although this time around, Eadie plans to take a different approach.
“We started training for our last fall tournament during spring break, and I felt we played too much. We could not stay amped up for three months,” he said.
__ By Sean Savage @SeanSav13As the grass turns greener, flowers bud and the temperature rises, the 2023 spring season begins. Additionally, it signals a new beginning for the Springfield College men’s golf team, as it prepares for its upcoming season, which starts on April 7.
Before the season begins, however, the team took its annual trip to Florida, providing an opportunity to improve both on and off the
course.
“It was a great bonding experience,” head coach Joe Eadie said. “We got to get up every morning and hit balls and just go out there and play.”
Senior Nick DeMaio also had a chance to reflect on the trip and how the Pride tried to replicate the competitiveness of actual matches.
“You can go out on the golf course and just hit it around and not
really care about the score,” DeMaio said. “And then when you get to a tournament, it just gets flipped upside down, it’s a completely different atmosphere. So we tried to recreate that while playing, which was the biggest thing.”
The Pride comprises 13 players, but they know to keep the individual aspect of golf from impacting team morale. Through previous seasons, DeMaio learned
When it comes to recruiting, Eadie credits the attraction of golfers to the school itself.
“It is not hard to recruit players; the school speaks for itself,” he said. “All the programs –Sports Management and Business – are here. It is not me; it is the school.”
However, only five of the 13 players can play in each match.
“I am not a basketball coach or a baseball coach where I say ‘You are in,’” Eadie said. Instead, as he explained, the five players with the best scores from training get to go.
“I tell them if you are not picked, just go work on your game and swing, and then show up for the next one,” Eadie said.
The team’s competitive nature took the Pride far in its 2022 fall season, but they just fell short of winning the MASCAC Championships. The Pride finished second of the eight teams.
“We have a chip on our shoulder for next fall,” DeMaio said.
Looking ahead on the
Eadie and his players know they have a fire lit beneath the surface as they fell short last season, but Eadie does not want to overwork them leading up to the 2023 MASCAC tournament.
A focal point for the Pride for their spring season is to focus on the final four of 18 holes. Eadie is in the process of becoming a PGA Professional, so he knows after playing for upward of three hours, the last holes are bound to be harder.
“I do not want to coach my guys on how to swing – all of them have their swing coaches back at home. My job is just to keep the mental part of the game,” he said.
Eadie has been at the helm for more than 30 years, and still the part he cherishes the most is watching his guys grow as players.
“I love to see kids come in as first-year students and watch them grow until they are seniors,” he said.” It is just as good for me as it is for them to watch them grow into amazing people, even for the ones who do not play in all the matches.”
The Springfield golf team went to Florida to prepare for its spring season, which will start on April 7.Nick DeMaio on a chip shot. (Photo Courtesy of Springfield College Athletics)
the women’s
clinched a spot at the national championships.
__ By Chris Gionta __ @Chris_GiontaDuring Springfield’s annual spring break, multiple Pride athletes earned All-America honors, and a team punched its ticket to the national championships.
Wrestlers Jacob Deguire and Chase Parrott took the sojourn to Roanoke, Va. to compete at the Division III National Championships on March 10 and 11. Competing in the 157-pound weight class, Deguire won six of his seven matches, with all of the victories coming via pin. That got him to 30 pins on the year, which are the most in all of college
wrestling, and tied for most in Division III history since the NCAA began tracking the statistic. Deguire finished third in the country in his weight class.
Parrott received seventh place nationally in the 149-pound weight class after a spectacular 29-5 season. In Roanoke, he won three of his five matches. The second of his victories was a gritty comeback performance that earned him All-American prowess.
Mikaili Charlemagne earned national recognition for her efforts in the pool
on March 15, as she finished seventh in the country in the 50-yard freestyle. She became the first Springfield women’s swimmer to earn All-American honors since 2017. She finished her two races at the Division III National Championships in Greensboro, N.Y. with times of 23.34 and 23.41 seconds respectively.
Kay Shen also competed in the 50-yard freestyle at the event, and her, Charlemagne, Erin Kelaher, Lefteri Roba and Natalie Chamberlin swam numerous relays. On the men’s side, Luca
Brashear competed on the one-meter and three-meter boards and finished in the top 25 in both.
While those athletes were wrapping up their seasons on the biggest stage, spring seasons were just beginning. The baseball, softball, and men’s and women’s tennis teams had many games and matches in Florida.
On March 11, the women’s gymnastics team earned its second consecutive trip to the NCAA Division III National Championships. This was after it placed second in the National Collegiate Gymnastics
Association East Regional Championships. It is the first time the Pride have qualified in back-to-back seasons since they did it in 1999 and 2000.
Individually at the meet, Annie Kelly broke a school record in the vault with a score of 9.750. MacKenzie MacLeod, Devon Rosier and Stacy Taylor each scored a 9.700 in the floor routine, which made for Springfield’s best event.
The Pride will be in Winona, Minn. for the national championships on March 25.
Springfield baseball and softball played eight and 10 games, respectively, in Florida, with softball going 9-1 and baseball breaking even at 4-4.
the players are comfortable in those situations.
“Eight games in seven days is strenuous, but we did nine in seven games last year so we get used to it,” senior baseball player Cadin Maynard said.
First-year Amelia DeRosa on the softball team said, “A lot of us have experience playing a lot of games in a short span of time.”
seventh inning, but a DeRosa RBI single followed by a single to drive her in by Breannah McCann gave the Pride a 5-3 victory.
“There were multiple instances where we started a rally late or with two outs and didn’t let the pressure affect us,” DeRosa said. “We didn’t let previous mistakes happen again.”
The Springfield College baseball and softball teams made their annual trips to Florida over spring break this year.
In eight games, the baseball team went 4-4, however the softball team had a blazing
___ By Nick PaNtages @nick_pantages22start, winning nine of 10, with two by mercy rule. The Pride won their first six games of the season in Florida, then bounced back with three more wins in a row after a loss against Simpson College.
The stress of play-
ing such a large amount of games in a short amount of time can be strenuous to some. The baseball team played eight games in seven days, while the softball team played 10 in six days. Despite the quick turnarounds, many of
The softball team was led by dominant pitching, allowing just over three runs per game, combined with three shutouts, against Fredonia, Genoso, and Wis. Lutheran. DeRosa started two of the shutouts, one of them being a complete game, with fellow first-year Lily McCauliffe finishing the last two innings of the other one. Graduate student Gillian Kane pitched the third complete game.
There was also clutching hitting for the Pride. In their opening game against Carroll, the score was 3-3 in the top of the
In a game against Franklin & Marshall, Springfield was at the plate in the bottom half of the decisive seventh inning in a 2-2 ballgame. First-year Kate Katsetos came to the plate and delivered a leadoff double. After two outs, Katsetos advanced to third on a passed ball. Doyle came to the plate, and hit a walk off infield single, narrowly beating out the throw.
Springfield did some damage with the bat. The Pride scored almost 6 runs per game, and had 3 players rack up double digit hits. Senior Mackenzie Doyle had 16 hits and led the
team with 4 stolen bases, while junior Michaela Ponticello had 12 hits, including a home run and team leading nine runs batted in.
However, they were both topped by DeRosa at the plate, who had a whopping 19 hits.
In total, DeRosa threw 20.2 innings on the mound and allowed just a single run, while simultaneously leading the Pride in batting average, where she collected 19 hits in 38 at bats.
“My goal as a teammate is to contribute in any way possible, whether that’s with the bat, my pitching, or cheering from the dugout. I was definitely a little nervous coming in this week but I just stayed confident in my abilities,” DeRosa said. “I definitely surprised myself though.”
The baseball team also had a successful spring break. Coach Mark Simeone’s squad went 4-4 in Florida, alternating wins and losses throughout the course of eight games. The Pride scored over four runs per game.
In their opening game in Florida against Muhlenberg, senior Blake Roberge threw four shutout innings, and consecutive RBI singles in the second inning by Andrew McCarty and Noah
Diamond was all the offense the Pride needed to secure a 2-1 win, the first of the season.
In their second win against Hamilton, strong pitching by Connor Caverly and the Pride’s bullpen was key in the win, and Cadin Maynard helped deliver the offense, scoring a run in the third inning and collecting an RBI in the seventh inning to give the Pride a 3-2 victory.
At-bats in a clutch situation might be stressful to some, but it is almost second nature to Maynard.
“A lot of it has to do with self-talk. I like telling myself that there’s no other person I’d want up in that moment than myself,” Maynard said. “It may be a big clutch at-bat, but I’ve had thousands and thousands of at bats in my life.”
Win number three was a 12-1 mercy rule victory against Utica. The Pride scored six runs in the first inning and that was more than enough support for first-year Ryan Baker, who delivered in his first career start, pitching four innings and not allowing a single hit.
“The pitching has been great, all of those guys are out there competing,” Maynard said.
In their last win, Bowdoin led 8-3 after the end of the second inning, but the Pride responded with eight runs in the third frame to take the lead for good, and the game was capped off with home runs by Cole Zalegowski in the fifth inning and Ryan Sorgi in the eighth inning to complete a 13-9 win
for Springfield, with a strong, four-inning one-run outing for Kelleher-Mochak out of the bullpen.
To date, the Pride sit with a record of 4-6-1, something that Maynard believes should be higher.
“Right now, as a team and myself, we aren’t hitting the way we should. We had a
great offense last year, and we haven’t been anywhere near that,” Maynard said.
Although they have struggled at the plate so far, Maynard sees a lot of upside for the squad.
“I have full faith in us as a team and myself.”
Mikaili Charlemagne, Jacob Deguire and Chase Parrott all earned national recognition after spectacular performances at the NCAA Division III Championships.
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