Volume 137 No. 21

The Good of Gambling

The Springfield Student’s editor Luke Whitehouse navigates the pros and cons of sports betting, and shares what colleges can do to help their students make intelligent choices.

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Dance concert helps with three seniors’ career dreams

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Andrew Kozikowski has found his passion teaching at Springfield

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Ski and snowboard club gives students unique opportunities

‘Chasing Furtherance’

Three Springfield College seniors hosted a dance concert to help with their professional aspirations.

finally time to perform.

The three dancers each had different themes prioritized during the dance. To help her prepare to be a professional dancer, Cohen worked with three choreographers, David Dorfman, Sarah Zehnder and Cynthia Duran, who all created completely new works for her. Therefore, Cohen was able to work with the trio to help them research what worked best for their new projects.

Henkel’s goal was to spread her powerful messages of intensity and strength through a variety of forms of dance, including contemporary and tap dance.

Schwartz was able to accomplish this was through a playing of news clips from June and July of 2020, when the Black Lives Matter protests were taking place. The end result of all this complex planning, practicing and performing was an elegant dance concert, in which each of the three dancers, along with their team of choreographers, accomplished all their goals. At least for Cohen, the end result was more than worth all the hard work.

Three Springfield College seniors held a dance concert on Friday night, March 22, in Judd Gymnasia. Angelina Cohen, Nicole Henkel and Sydney Schwartz collaborated with a team of choreographers to perform “Chasing Furtherance.”

For the three dancers, organizing this event was no easy task.

“Syd, Nicole, and myself began planning and organizing this event at the end of our junior year with the help

___ By Nick PaNtages ___ @nick_pantages22

of our advisor, Sarah Zehnder,” Cohen said.

Once they figured out their idea for the concert, the three seniors held auditions for the choreographers to collect their whole team for the event.

After that, they began to prepare for the concert, which was a very stressful task.

“It required constant communication and planning throughout the last two semesters,” Cohen said. “There are just many moving parts

that take place behind the scenes.”

However looking back at it, the experience was a positive one for Cohen and her crew.

“As three seniors, learning how to organize an event like this was a new experience for us, and an amazing learning process that’s given us many skills for our future dance careers,” Cohen said.

After all the planning had been completed and Judd had been turned into a theater, it was

Schwartz’s message during her concert was to spread the complexities of birth, life and death. One of the ways

“I was pushed in so many ways, mentally, physically, and emotionally,” Cohen said. “It was truly a pleasure to work with everyone, and I’m incredibly grateful that they all dedicated so much time and effort to help support my growth as a dancer.”

Dancers and choreographers perform in Judd Gymnasia. (Photo Courtesy of Springfield College)

(Photo Courtesy of Springfield College)

Light will always prevail

Springfield College Counseling Center hosted its seventh annual ‘Out of the Darkness Walk’ in honor of suicide

___ By Liam ReiLLy ___ @liampreilly852

On Tuesday night, March 28, at 6:55 p.m., the sunset soared across the sky over Springfield College. The beautiful image of bright colors painted together showed that light will always prevail.

Five minutes later, the Springfield College Counseling Center hosted its seventh annual “Out of the Darkness Walk” – an event to promote awareness about suicide prevention.

“We realized we had quite an outpouring of students that have been affected by suicide and are always worried,” said Associate Director of the Springfield College Counseling Center Gary Enright. “I like to think we’re much better than lucky to have a caring community. It really means a lot for people to reach out to friends that are struggling. Prevention is the key, and it’s also about getting the word out.”

As students walked into Judd Gymnasia they were greeted with a blue bead that represented support for suicide prevention, and a white sticky card to write the name of someone they lost to suicide. There were several tables containing different colored beads. Each bead represented the kinds of connections someone can

prevention.

have to suicide.

Before students and staff walked around the table, Pride women’s lacrosse senior Arielle Johnson gave a speech on the mental health struggles that student-athletes face, and how she’s looking forward to her role as an ambassador for suicide prevention.

“I’m very grateful for the opportunity, and it’s something I take a lot of pride in because my teammates and my family are what inspired me to become an ambassador,” Johnson said.

After Johnson’s speech, students and staff rose from their seats and moved around to each table. The room was silent, as players from the women’s lacrosse team alongside Enright spoke about what each color bead meant. While doing so, they encouraged those walking by to take a bead they connected with, and to tell the name of a person in their life who was lost to suicide.

Everyone then sat down to listen to former Springfield College student Ky Schroeher talk about how she lost her former teammate Kristina Krull to suicide.

Krull was a student-athlete on the women’s lacrosse team

and field hockey teams. Schroeher described her as “passionate, loving and crazy hardworking. She was the best sister and greatest teammate we could ever ask for.”

However, two years after Krull graduated, Schroeher received a text from a former teammate saying “Kristina is gone.” She was hit by a shock of confusion. “Kristina can’t be gone.”

Schroeher spoke about the guilt she had faced about Krull’s passing. The questions of what if she reached out more, what could’ve she done

to prevent it began to hit her. She spoke of how she learned to get past that guilt, and gave advice to handle that guilt of losing a loved one to suicide.

“You do not need to put that kind of pressure on yourself,” Schroeher said. “You did everything that you could’ve.”

Krull is remembered through Schroeher, the women’s lacrosse and field hockey teams and many, many members of her family and friends.

“Although we didn’t know her personally, the team is here to support her legacy and to continue

our culture of showing up for each other in all aspects – on and off the field,” Johnson said.

The counseling center hopes that events like this and other forms of awareness will help bring light on a topic that has been kept in the dark for too long.

If you or someone you know is in need of help, the Springfield Counseling Center can be reached at (413) 748-3345. The National Suicide Prevention Hotline’s number is 988.

A drawing completed for the suicide awarness walk. (Liam Reilly/The Student)

The entertainer

Springfield College Professor of English Andrew Kozikowski uses his glowing personality and contagious energy to impact his students in and out of the classroom.

One day, he’s hopping up and down from chairs preaching the virtues of Gothic Literature. The next class, he reads a ghost story and asks: “Are you scared?” He even brings his guitar into work and serenades students with the opening riff of “Enter Sandman” by Metallica.

English professor Andrew Kozikowski’s classroom brims with an unmatched spirit; you would never know he is 64 years old and has been teaching for 43 years.

“He brings so much energy. It is clear he is beyond passionate,” first-year Sebastian Perez-Jimenez said. “He always stands up and waves his arms around; he definitely knows what he is doing. He is so detail-oriented, and that is what makes him great.”

English professor Andrew Kozikowski returned “home” to Springfield College after graduating more than 40 years prior (1980) and has enlightened Alden Street ever since.

“It is so admirable that he is still taking time out of his life for

the college community,” Perez-Jimenez said.

The list goes on about how Kozikowski has the ability to light up a room, but he shared one of many favorite examples.

In his Gothic Literature class, Kozikowski wanted to show how Gothicness influenced music.

“And it does, heavily, with this thing called the tritone, but you had to hear it. For me to talk

about it abstractly just would not sink in,” he said.

In order for students to fully understand, he brought in his guitar, which he has been playing since he was 14, to have the lesson hit home.

“I showed them what the tritone is, how you get to it, and what it sounds like,” Kozikowski said. “I think it is important to do that because it will stick

with them a heck of a lot longer.”

Professor of English Mike Spry sat in the class, and was blown away by his colleague’s energy.

“What amazed me is I could tell how prepared he was, but at no point was it rehearsed –it was all conversational and organic,” Spry said. “I was amazed at how quickly the students were focused on him. It was so humbling.”

Spry also praised Kozikowski’s ability to connect right out of college in 1980.

“He is a completely different generation than his students, but he has such a good way of identifying with them,” Spry said.

Outside of the classroom, Kozikowski carried on the legacy of being a tri-sport athlete at Monson High School.

“As a kid, I always wanted to be a professional hockey player,” he said.

Today, he participates in two hockey leagues. Every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, he plays in a leisurely game for two hours in the morning.

After play at the rink wraps up, Kozikowski heads to Alden Street to teach.

“Man, I do not know how he does it,” Spry said.”I finish teaching one class, and I am ready for a nap,” he said.

Spry continued, “I mean, dude, if I could have that much energy at his age, I would be blessed. I do not know how he does it.”

The second league is a group of players who compete in tournaments

Professor Kozikowski outside Weiser Hall. (Photo Courtesy Andrew Kozikowski)

___ By Sean Savage @SeanSav13

without practice.

“These are all guys who at least played in high school, and some have played professionally,” he said.

Kozikowski is one of four defensemen on the team.

“It gets really exciting and nasty, but that is the thrill of it,” he said.

As if teaching and hockey were not enough, he also bikes three times a week. “If it is a climbing day, it is 25-30 miles. If it is on the flat, it is 35-55 miles,” Kozikowski said. “My younger self would be proud; I found happiness and peace in what I am doing.”

In the classroom, Kozikowski carries a stack of yellow pages. He uses this to critique his own work, as he still finds that his potential as a teacher has not been reached.

“I always feel like my best work is in front of me,” he said. “I tend to think as I get older where you can sit and think, ‘I am doing pretty good,’ but I am just not there yet.”

As each class ends, Kozikowski kicks his feet up on the desk, takes a deep breath and reflects on the day’s

“Not to sound cliche or anything, but [Kozikowski] definitely has that ‘Mamba Mentality.’ He just keeps going and tries to perfect his class,” he said.

Spry also realizes the uphill battle Kozikowski has at a health science-based school as an English professor.

a day in your life.”

His goal is to catalyze his students to find that same passion.

“I hope my students will find a job or profession that they absolutely love,” Kozikowski said.

A former student and now teacher, Kozikowski still relishes the genuineness of the campus community.

lesson.

“After each class, I am taking notes: this worked, this did not work, I need to change this. I try never to teach quite the same class again,” Kozikowski said.

Through years of experience, Kozikowski found the most effective way to teach a class was to take a tactical approach as a coach would to its team.

“I want to make sure I am a person who is encouraging them,” Kozikowski said. “The students are the most important person in the classroom, hands down, no question.”

He drew an analogy to baseball to describe his goal of teaching: “I am kind of like a pitching coach. There is a mechanically perfect way to pitch, but nobody pitches that way. So, I am taking this pitcher who may show potential and to help that pitcher get better whatever way they throw the ball. Rather than say, ‘stop that and do this.’”

Perez-Jimenez also noticed how Kozikowski tries to hone his craft, just as much as each one of the students in the room.

“Andy [Kozikowski] has that challenge of teaching students who do not see literature as an exciting part of their life. And he turns that around, quickly,” Spry said.

If you take a class with Kozikowski, you will realize the connection he builds with those he is teaching.

“I am not a teacher of 25 students. I am a teacher of 25 individual students,” Kozikowski said.

Perez-Jimenez also highlighted Kozikowski’s genuine nature in the classroom.

“It does not feel like a class. We are just convening; he brings out the human experience,” he said.

Kozikowski sticks to the age-old Confucius motto: “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work

If you stay for a while in his class, you will notice it is not only about learning material. But instead, there is more meaning to the class.

“There is not anything I would not do to help the students I have become better at whatever it is I can help them with, whether it is helping them write a sentence or listening to their terrible weekend,” Kozikowski said.

As Perez-Jimenez is going through his first year, he has quickly picked up on just how much Kozikowski cares for his students.

“I think he is just the most whole person on this campus. He will give you the best advice, and he will also follow it – he does not just preach it,” Perez-Jimenez said. “He exemplifies all that he preaches, and he is just so open-minded. He just does everything. It is insane to think about.”

“Coming back here was like coming home. I mean, I loved going here. I find the students to be bright, engaging, and thoughtful. I love working with them,” he said.

Spry added to how Kozikowski has steadily helped build the college community due to his heartfelt persona.

“He is not just an automated personality-less professor in the front of the room,” he said. “Building community is so important in the classroom, and Andy builds community better than anyone I have ever met.”

Through all of this, there is one more factor that has kept him going through all these years.

“My wife [Carrie] is so supportive of me, and she hates English. But she is my best friend. I would regret it if I did not mention my lovely, beautiful wife,” Kozikowski said.

Professor Kozikowski teaching his Introduction to Literature class (Emily Zambarano/The Student)

[Kozikowski] definitely has that ‘Mamba Mentality.’ He just keeps going.

- Sebastian Perez-Jimenez -

“ ”

Whitehouse: ‘Sports betting is here to stay’

Springfield Student editor Luke Whitehouse explores the legalization of sports betting in Massachusetts, and how it can impact the daily lives of college students.

__ By Luke Whitehouse __ @Lwhitehouse12

Sports betting has gained steam over the past several years, especially among the younger generation. If you walk on any college campus, you’ll hear the words “parlay,” or “betting lines” being discussed. On Jan. 31, sports betting for anyone over the age of 21 became officially legal in Massachusetts, and online betting followed in March. The amount of gambling has only increased.

With March marking the start of the Division I NCAA men’s and women’s March Madness tournaments, the timing for betting companies was perfect.

DraftKings and FanDuel – the most-frequented mobile betting sites – took full advantage, offering their new customers “bonus bets” and “free plays,” giving new bettors a certain amount of “no-risk” betting opportunities in hopes of getting them to download their apps. And it worked; according to NBC Boston, more than 400,000 mobile betting accounts were created in the first three days, along with more than $8 million in transactions.

During spring break, my friends and I watched the tournament games, cheering for our favorite teams

and against their rivals. Another theme of this year, though, was the amount of betting going on. Whether it was a $5 or $10 wager, it became a game within the game, which made for an intense watching experience.

For example, when No. 16 Fairleigh Dickenson pulled off an improbable upset over No. 1 Purdue, many of my friends struck gold – resulting in huge profits. The room was ecstatic, and even the ones who didn’t have any wagers on the game were happy. A few days later, No. 8 Arkansas knocked off No. 1 Kansas by one point in one of the most

exciting games of the tournament – providing many bettors who took Arkansas a thrilling victory.

These are the types of games that sports betting can affect. The games in which fan interest only lies with those who have a connection to the team may expand due to sports bets being placed. And with sports betting expanding to almost every major American sport, as well as some global matches, it’s well-positioned to attract different groups of fans. It can create a thrill for viewers from all over the country – whether it be a game in March

Madness, or a typical Tuesday night regular-season hockey game. Now, with all of this momentum surrounding sports betting, there is something we should be reminded about: it is still gambling. And gambling itself can cause a financial burden if you don’t win – which happens quite a bit – as well as a possible addiction. About 6% of U.S. college students say they have a serious problem gambling, according to the nonprofit International Center for Responsible Gambling.

This is a real concern among full-time college students because of their lack of income,

Sports betting officially became legal in Massachusetts on Jan. 31. (Photo Courtesy of MassLive)

and the financial implications it may cause in the future due to addiction.

Another thing to consider is how easy it is to place a bet. In just a couple taps of a button, individuals have the opportunity to place bets from anywhere. According to Front Office Sports, money bets on sports ballooned to 7.5 billion dollars in 2022, soaring above 2021’s record of 4.3 billion. Betting is now legal in 33 states and the Dis-

trict of Columbia.

One thing is for certain: sports betting is here to stay.

I still believe betting has a place, especially young adults with a passion and love for sports. It adds an exhilarating experience to almost every game or match, and can add another dimension to watching. If done right, you can even make a profit.

Colleges are getting in on the sports betting game. At least eight universities have deals

with sports gambling companies, although a new responsible marketing code could ban college betting partnerships.

In the Bay State, betting on college sports is allowed – but not on teams from Massachusetts schools, unless the local team is participating in a tournament like March Madness.

So how could colleges improve the betting experience, especially for the younger audience? Institutions

could create classes that inform their students about the risks that surround sports betting –but also address ways to build intelligent habits.

It’s a phenomenon that’s not slowing down.

So with that, we – as a society – have to adjust. As a college student, I think the best thing we can do is healthily balance the risks and rewards.

Rainbow Fest returns to Alden Street

crimed or killed.”

___ By Carley Crain ___ @carley_crain12

Rainbow flags flying around, honks from cars driving by, colorful posters, smiles of pride, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, allies, and pure joy kicked off GSA’s annual Rainbow Fest week at Springfield College on Monday afternoon during the Pride Parade. The week of celebrations always starts off with the parade and the raising of

the progressive pride flag, as the event encompasses the main mission of Rainbow Fest: queer joy.

“I think it is so important for people to remember, yes, pride is a protest and we should be fighting,” said GSA president Wyatt de Friesse. “However, there is also an aspect of people just wanting to live and be themselves without fear of being hate

GSA has a full list of events planned for the week, all meant to highlight the LGBTQIA+ community on campus. On Tuesday, the second day of Rainbow Fest, students visited the resource fair, which provided the campus with information on numerous programs, clubs, and organizations that support the LGBTQIA+ community. For GSA, this was important to include in the week of Rainbow Fest because, for many queer individuals, this support is crucial for their overall well-being.

That night, the DEI office hosted an LGBTQIA+ trivia night, which was a fun, uplifting event for those who wanted to test their queer knowledge.

Wednesday was arguably one of the bigger events of the week: drag bingo. Bingo is always a

largely-attended event on the Springfield College campus, but drag bingo specifically is extra special for students. This year students enjoyed and cheered on Zelda Vox, the queen who performed during Wednesday night’s bingo.

At a time when drag is being banned across the nation, this year’s bingo was very important. Students felt and fully embraced the queer joy that was evident during the show. For queer students at Springfield College, drag bingo isn’t just entertaining. It is a reminder of how important representation is.

“Springfield College loves their bingo, but it also represents LGBTQ+ pride,” de Friesse said. “Especially nowadays with all the bans on drag happening, it is nice to have that sort of representation.”

Thursday is a historic

day for Rainbow Fest. The college is welcoming transgender poet Stephanie Burt to campus. Burt is a well-established writer who has been referred to by The New York Times as “One of the most influential poetry critics of her generation.”

On Friday, a gathering commemorating Trans Day of Visibility will take place at 2:30 p.m. in Marsh. Every year, this day is celebrated on March 31 to honor transgender and non-binary individuals, as well as raising awareness about the discrimination transgender people face.

Additionally, The DEI office is hosting a Salsa/ Bachata Night with Rosby at 6 p.m. that evening.

The last day of Rainbow Fest concludes with an evening of reflection behind Alumni Hall at 4 p.m. Students can expect a bonfire, smores and reflective discussions.

Gamblers can place bets anywhere from casinos to their phones (Photo Courtesy of MassLive)

Students and staff raised the LGTBQ+ flag over the Admin Green (Photo Courtesy of Springfield College)

Emily McDermott

Emily McDermott won this edition’s Springfield Student Women’s Athlete of the Week﹣receiving 40.6 percent of the vote after holding it down in front of the net last week. The senior goalkeeper for the women’s lacrosse team combined for 20 saves with only seven goals allowed in the Pride’s two victories this past week.

The second vote getter was Devon Rosier with 21.9 percent of the vote after shining on the big stage. The senior gymnast earned a 9.825 score on the balance beam to earn a national title in the event at the NCAA Divi sion III National Championships on

Ryan Sorgi

The winner of the Springfield Stu dent Men’s Athlete of the Week was Ryan Sorgi﹣garnering 47.8 percent of the vote after a great week swinging the bat. The junior catcher for the baseball team combined to go 6 for 9 with three walks, a triple and six runs batted in in Springfield’s three games this past week.

Michael Barrett got the second most votes with 28.4 percent in the poll. The senior shortstop for the baseball team combined to go 5 for 12 with two walks, a double, triple, stolen base, and five runs batted in in the Pride’s three games this past week.

In third place was Jakarie Williams

with 16.4 percent of the vote. The senior gymnast earned a 14.150 score in the floor routine for first place at the USA Gymnastics Men’s College National Championships on Saturday.

David Handron rounded out the vote after excelling alongside Wil liams. The junior gymnast earned a 13.250 score on the rings for first place at the USA Gymnastics Men’s College National Championships on Saturday.

Be sure to follow @TheSpfldStu dent on Twitter to vote in the next poll!

Saturday.

Christina Wygonik and Emily Gell tied for third place in the poll with 18.8 percent of the vote respec tively. Wygonik, a senior gymnast, earned a 9.825 score in the floor routine to earn a national title in the event at the NCAA Division III National Championships on Saturday. Gell, a junior pitcher for the softball team, combined for five shutout innings across two appear ances with only two hits and one walk allowed alongside seven strike outs.

Ryan Sorgi. (Photo Courtesy of Springfield College Athletics)

Emily McDermott. (Photo Courtesy of Springfield College Athletics)

‘It can be tough to get the respect and trust we deserve’

player engagement for the NFL, commented on the different barriers that women face. Buglione recounted a specific incident when she overheard a few male coworkers discussing their pay. She was shocked that despite the men being several ranks below her, they received better payment.

“It was very surprising, and also confusing, that they would be receiving more than me despite the gap in standing,” Buglione said.

As a mother of two, Buglione also observed the contrasting treatment from her coworkers after she had returned from maternity leave a second time.

were turned over to the audience, the panelists offered advice for women entering male-dominated fields. Their experiences shaped their perception of what it meant to be in the minority in their industry. Still, a similar message prevailed throughout the different career journeys to keep breaking barriers.

Multiple panelists echoed that businesses controlled mainly by a single gender will look out for their own and won’t do the other any favors.

“Speak up and advocate for yourself, because no one else will,” Buglione said. “For me, it’s a driving force and motivator to do that much better than what is expected.”

The school-wide celebration of the 50th anniversary of Title IX continued in Judd Gymnasia last Wednesday, March 22, with a lecture titled “Title IX Across the Professions.” A panel of Springfield graduates detailed their experiences as women in male-dominated fields such as engineering, sales and cybersecurity.

The panel consisted of Linda Cruse Moffat ’73, Elizabeth Ruggiero ’93, Carla Lide-Buglione G’11, and Megan Baildon ’17, and was moderated by Assistant Professor of

@Fergus5Fergus

Communications Aimee Crawford.

Gender equity in the workplace and the many areas that still demand improvement were the main themes of the presentation. Although present through a zoom call, Linda Cruse Moffat still captivated the audience.

Now retired, Moffat is the former Vice President for Northeast Region and Sales Development at Turner Broadcasting. Sales, a historically male-dominated industry, certainly had saleswomen few and far between when

she began her career.

“There was usually one or two women in the room, and it was quite hard to get your voice heard,” Moffat said.

Even after her successful career, Moffat advocates for drastic changes in women’s job selection.

“I don’t think we will ever see gender equity in the workplace until we see more women at the executive levels, who get more women seriously considered in the selection process,” she said.

Carla Lide-Buglione, the senior manager of

“I had a lot of people telling me before I went back that it was going to be different,” Buglione said. “It was their thinking that I couldn’t handle the same workload or responsibilities just because I had kids at home.”

For Elizabeth Ruggiero, it isn’t just about seeing more women in the workplace, but about the respect they should receive. As a cybersecurity engineer, her job revolves around helping people who don’t understand what’s wrong.

“As a woman in a field that typically sees men fixing the problems, it can be tough to get the respect and trust that we deserve,” Ruggiero said.

After the questions

An additional aspect the panelists all agree on is the importance of patient persistence. Gaining the confidence to speak up or putting in the work to stand out all comes with time.

“I want young women to see myself and others like me and understand that women can do it in a man’s world, and be really good at it,” Buglione said.

None of the four guest speakers let their gender define them in the workplace, and have carved out successful careers despite any unjust treatment or roadblocks they may have faced.

Their stories incorporate the primary purpose of Title IX.

Four Springfield College alumna spanning several generations and professions shared their experiences of what it’s like to work and succeed in male-dominated environments.

__ By Patrick Fergus

Left to right: Kathy Mangaon, Aimee Crawford, Elizabeth Ruggiero, Carla Buglione, Megan Baildon, Erin Leeper. Linda Moffat on Zoom screen. (Photo Courtesy of Springfield College)

__ By Braedan Shea __ @braedan_shea

As the scoreboard ticked down in the final round of Chase Parrott’s match against No. 5-seeded Kristian Rumph at the 2023 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships, one thing ran through his head.

“‘Just don’t choke,’” said Parrott, a Springfield College senior wrestler . “But I was really focused. I wasn’t thinking about all the outside stuff. I was just thinking, ‘Don’t get taken out.’”

Holding a 5-4 lead, all Parrott needed to do was not get taken down. A take-down would result in a two-point swing, giving Rumph the lead with almost no time for Parrott to respond. So, with time running down, and desperately trying to hold onto his lead, Parrott decided to change his gameplan.

Instead of going at Rumph, and building upon his lead, Parrott

took a more defensive approach. All Parrott needed to do was stall, and time would run out, granting Parrott a victory.

By winning, Parrott

would automatically cement himself as a top-eight finisher in the 149-pound weight class. Any college wrestler who finishes top eight in their respective weight

class at a national tournament is honored as an All-American.

With 0:11 left, and still holding on to a one-point lead, Rumph lurched at Parrott and

latched on to his right leg. Rumph was trying to get a hold on Parrott, setting himself up for a pivotal take down. But Parrott read Rumph’s intent perfectly.

By pressing his left hand into the right elbow of Rumph, and keeping both feet on the ground, Parrott completely shut him down. Rumph had nowhere else to go but to get up, and reset, and try again. But that opportunity never came, as Parrott bodylocked Rumph until the buzzer sounded.

As the match finished, Parrott thrust both arms in the air in celebration, spinning around completely and acknowledging the crowd. Once the referee raised his hand, signaling the biggest win of his life, Parrott walked directly over to his coaches and wrapped them in a hug – reminiscent of the match-ending hug he had just given seconds before.

“That moment allowed me to be very appreciative,” Parrott said. “It was probably

First-year wrestling assistant coach Joel “JoJo” Gonzalez goes to the mat for his athletes, and helped senior Chase Parrott become an All-American.

Gonzalez coaching at the NCAA Division III Championships. (Garrett Cote/The Student)

the most appreciative I’ve been of the coaches right after that. I was just super excited and happy to be in the moment with them.”

But he saved an extra hug for one person who played a big role in helping him get to the All-American level: graduate assistant Joel “JoJo” Gonzalez.

“JoJo has been really helpful,” Parrott said. “He’s been a great coach and he’s been a great friend. He’s been just a great teammate at the end of the day.”

Growing up in Willimantic, Conn., Gonzalez was first introduced to the sport of wrestling through his father, when he brought him to Silverback Wrestling Club, a nonprofit organization that provides training to youth wrestlers in the area. A wrestler himself in high school after his football coach made him compete to work on his strength, Gonzalez’s father wanted to share the sport with him.

It didn’t take much time for JoJo to fall in love with wrestling.

“I love contact sports – I did play football –but once I got into high school, I realized that I’m not going to be a giant,” said the 5-foot-6 Gonzalez. “So I started focusing on wrestling a lot more, and it just took off from there.”

And take off he did.

During his tenure at Harvard Ellis Technical High School in Danielson, Conn., Gonzalez completely dominated. In just four years, he became the face of Ellis Tech wrestling, helping propel the program to unprecedented heights. He was a key contributor in the team’s first state championship victory during the 2016-17 season, being the first tech school to ever win a wrestling state title.

His junior and senior years, Gonzalez was unstoppable on the mat. In that span, wrestling at 132 pounds, he was a two-time Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) State Open title winner, a two-time New England title champion and did not lose a single match. He finished his high school career with 97 consecutive victories.

Gonzalez’s high level of play didn’t go unnoticed, either. He considered several Division I schools, including Army, Yale and Harvard . But competing at the that level was not a priority for Gonzalez

“I knew what I wanted to go to college for,” Gonzalez said. “And I also wanted my parents not to pay anything. So I had to make a decision on really buckling down and focusing, and making sure that I got

money to go somewhere where I could cut my debt in half.”

Ultimately, Gonzalez decided to completely bypass competing at a D-I level, opting instead for the Division II American International College in Springfield.

“Going to AIC was probably one of the best decisions I made,” Gonzalez said. “I was looking at a bunch of those (D-I) schools too, but I knew AIC was the

place for me because it was family oriented and the coach wanted me. That was a big sell.”

Gonzalez’s high school success carried over well to AIC. By time he had wrestled his final collegiate competition, he had won two NCAA Super Regional I Championships at 157 pounds and 165 pounds respectively, and two All-American honors, his second coming in a runner-up finish at

165 pounds. Gonzalez also won more than 100 collegiate matches.

But the path to success was not easy. For one, he lost the end of his junior season, and the opportunity to compete at nationals, because of COVID. His senior year consisted of just one week of practice, then straight into competition.

One of his biggest See Gonzalez continued on Page 12

Gonzalez wrestling at American International College (Photo Courtesy of Joel Gonzalez)

battles, however, was his weight. Gonzalez was recruited to wrestle at 141 pounds. After coming into AIC slightly heavier, he was moved to the 149-pound slot, where he would stay for the rest of the season. Still, staying at 149 pounds was not easy.

During his recruiting visit, Gonzalez was met by a roster of almost 15 wrestlers. By the time his first season concluded, it had dwindled to four. This meant that his drilling partner, instead of being a fellow teammate, was a 197-pound graduate assistant. Keeping his weight low while practicing every day with someone of that size is

tough.

With help of a nutritionist, Gonzalez was able to stay at the 149-pound weight class throughout his sophomore year. But by junior year, things changed.

“I had a nutritionist and was doing well –really well,” Gonzalez said. “I was eating every day. I felt good. I was feeling awesome. I had started off the season rippin’, and then my nutritionist left to go to East Stroudsburg University, because she’s a wrestler as well. Then my weight started to fluctuate.”

Ultimately, the change in weight classes wasn’t much of a problem. A large reason for that is the drive and passion that Gonzalez

coming a police officer after his schooling. And he knew exactly where he wanted to go next.

His coach at AIC, Rich Hasenfus, was a Springfield College alum who knows current Pride head coach Jason Holden. Before the season,Gonzalez was named as a graduate assistant coach. Holder brought Gonzalez in not only for his expertise and motivation, but also for his intensity.

and he’s been a great friend. He’s been just a great teammate at the end of the day.”

Without those practices and help from Gonzalez, Parrott believes that he wouldn’t be the same wrestler he is today.

had for the sport, something that he acknowledges he adopted from his father.

“Seeing (my father) from a young age and then seeing him coming up is where [my work ethic comes from],” Gonzalez said. “He’d wake up at 4-4:30 a.m., get ready, go to work by 5-5:30 a.m., work all day, come home, shower, then shoot up to Mass. He’d practice with me for an hour to an hour and a half, go home, and then do the same thing over and over again.”

When his collegiate career came to an end, Gonzalez decided that he wasn’t done with his education quite yet. He wanted to earn a masters degree in Criminal Justice, in hopes of be-

“[Gonzalez] brings a lot of energy to the program and to the wrestling room,” Holder said. “He’s passionate about the sport he loves, and loves being in the room helping the guys.”

One of the athletes that Gonzalez spent a lot of time with was Parrott. Every Monday, Parrott was unable to get to the team practice because he had class during that time from 4:15-6:15 p.m. So, Parrott would text Gonzalez, asking him to meet in the room at 3 p.m., getting work in before practice.

“He sacrifices a lot for the team,” Parrott said. “He always puts the team in front of himself, and that’s what makes him a great teammate and great asset to the team.

“JoJo has been really helpful,” Parrott said. “He’s been a great coach

“A lot of times you psych yourself up for a match,” Parrott said. “I just try to tell myself, if you just wrestle like you’re wrestling JoJo, you’re never gonna lose. With him, you have got to have a perfect position and do everything perfectly. He’s just elevated my game to where everything I do is more intentional. Everything I do is more well thought out.”

Gonzalez tackles coaching the same way he did competing, and the same way he tackles life: all-in on effort, just like his dad.

“You don’t want to be at work every day. You don’t want to be in school every day. You don’t want to be in a classroom every day, right? Nobody does. But if you show effort, you’re gonna get something out of it,” Gonzalez said. “That’s what I always strive for. I want to get better every day. It doesn’t have to be a huge jump from yesterday, just be 1% every day.”

Gonzalez after a high school wrestling win. (Photo Courtesy of Joel Gonzalez)

Gonzalez continued from Page 11

All hands on deck

The Springfield men’s volleyball team used its depth to sweep Elms with respective scores of 25-19, 25-18, and 25-11.

__ By RiveR Mitchell @rivermitchell27

It has been nothing but three-set wins for the Springfield College men’s volleyball team lately, and Tuesday night was no different. Springfield picked up win No. 21 on the season against Elms College- winning by the scores of 25-19, 25-18, and 25-11.

Elms came into Blake Arena that year with a less-than-stellar 3-19 record, which prompted Sullivan to take a different approach to the game, allowing players who have not seen the court as much get more ingame reps.

“Experience is so valuable,” said head coach Charlie Sullivan. “They did a nice job.”

Talon Kohler was the main catalyst for

the Pride on Tuesday evening, racking up a whopping 14 kills alongside six digs. Players such Matt Van Dusen, Ryan Roller, and Reed Bonkovsky capitalized on the extra playing time, collecting nine, eight, and six kills respectively with two, six, and four digs respectively. Paolo Mondini got in on the action as well, with a team-high nine digs along with two kills of his own.

“I’m proud of them,” Sullivan said. “They’re just getting better.”

Despite Elms having a lot of struggles over the course of the year, they showed several moments where they were able to hang in there with the Pride. The Blazers got start-

ed right from the jump, as they were able to snag a quick lead early on in the first set, leading by 11-7 at one point and keeping the set tied late at 18-18. The unexpected Elms surge early on forced Sullivan to call two early timeouts.

“[We were] just trying to find a solution”, Sullivan said. “It’s a game of momentum, so we were losing momentum, but I thought we could get it back.”

Following the second break in action, Springfield pulled away

thanks to a few attack errors from Elms.

Elms was up early again in the second frame, with a 7-5 lead at one point, and still in it later on in the set at 11-11. Yet, Springfield pulled away late yet again, as Roller, Van Dusen, and Kohler helped chip away for another set win for the Pride.

The third set did not live up to the competitiveness of the first two, as Springfield bulldozed Elms en route to their third straight set win, something that Sullivan’s

Pride is no stranger to.

“It was good,” Sullivan said. “They [the team] did a nice job.”

With the end of the regular season approaching and D-III championships right around the corner, Sullivan is locked in, with tunnel vision on getting his team ready for the tourney.

“[We’ll be] working hard. Hard as possible. Harder than anyone else,” he said.

The next game for the Pride will be in Blake Arena against Vassar on Friday at 6 p.m.

The Pride in a pre-game huddle. (Photo Courtesy of Springfield College Athletics)

At Springfield College, there are a wide variety of clubs and organizations. Whether it be student leadership, sports teams or anywhere in between, there is something for everyone on Alden Street.

Some clubs operate in

saw

___ By Tucker PaqueTTe @tpaquette17

a more typical manner, while others have a unique setup. The Springfield College Ski and Snowboard club most definitely falls into the latter category, as they compete on the weekends at locations all across New England.

said.

The majority of the team had no experience competing in skiing or snowboarding before starting college, and Reetz considered that while discussing the team’s performance.

“Stepping out on these mountains and competition venues with zero experience… was a [sizeable] task to ask,” Reetz said. “Most of [the returning members] came back this season with experience under their belt and more passion for the sport.”

Reetz also views being able to introduce the team’s members to a multitude of unfamiliar spots while competing as a positive feature of the club.

“The ability to get off campus and go experience new places in New England is probably the biggest thing [that most members of this club enjoy about it],” said Jack Reetz, a graduate student and founder of the club.

“[Lots of our members] come from different backgrounds and different regions where they’ve grown up skiing, and we get to see a lot of mountains that none of us have seen before,” Reetz added.

exciting possibility that they will bond and grow closer with each other. As it turns out, this exact dynamic unfolded with the Ski and Snowboard Club.

“[There were] a lot of new faces we got to meet and become friends with,” Reetz said. “So, getting to know those new people was definitely one of my favorite aspects of this season.”

Enjoying all that the outdoors has to offer, while experiencing a brief change of scenery, is something that strikes Reetz as another factor the group has working in its favor.

“Being outside and being on a mountain all weekend, and getting away from this city, which can be dreary in the winter season, is something that is enticing for new members,” Reetz said.

In terms of the cost of being on the team, Reetz acknowledges it is more than the standard club. However, it’s a topic that he and the team’s other leaders are ready to discuss, as are potential reservations about not having enough skiing or snowboarding experience.

Jack Reetz, a graduate student and founder of the club, believes the team’s members excelled in this season’s competitions.

“The growth I saw in the returning members was incredible,” Reetz

Moving along, Reetz made note of how far the group has come in terms of people who have joined. While there were between 12 and 15 members last year, that total spiked to a notable 35 members for the current season.

“The sheer growth we saw [in the number of club members] was [very nice to see],” Reetz said.

Anytime people spend a string of weekends together, there is always the

“If money or experience level is a concern, that’s something [a prospective member] can talk to one of our captains [about one-on-one] and something we’re very happy to guide [them] through,” Reetz said.

While the club’s season just recently concluded, it is already looking forward to what next year’s competitions throughout New England have to offer.

The Ski and Snowboard Club wrapped up a season that featured a rise in the group’s skill and size.

‘The growth I

was incredible’

(Photo Courtesy of Instagram/@sc_skiandsnowboard)

The men’s gymnastics team is coming off a historic weekend at the USA Gymnastics Men’s Collegiate Championships, which was hosted at Springfield College in Blake Arena. The team came away with a thirdplace finish, which was its best performance since 2011. Additionally, 11 student-athletes earned All-American honors and the duo of junior David Handron and senior Jakarie Williams won national titles in the still rings and the floor exercise respectively.

“We have pretty much used every gymnast on the roster this

National honors

year at some point in the lineup,” head coach Matt Davis said. “That is something we are big on. Everyone needs to be ready. Everybody has a role, and when your name is called you have to be ready to help the team.”

Not only did the team excel, but the coaching staff was also recognized for their efforts on and off the mat.

Head coach Matthew Davis was named the National Co-Coach of the Year, and the trio of assistant coaches Christian Wilkey Jr., Victoria Gendreau and Norm Boulerice was chosen as the USAG National As-

__ By Carley Crain __ @carley_crain12

sistant Coaching Staff of the Year.

Handron made a statement from the start, as he was the first athlete to compete on the still rings. Handron made sure the judges remembered his performance, which earned him a score of 13.250 and his first national title – the first national title in the still rings at Springfield College since 2012.

Williams also was the first men’s Springfield gymnast since 2012 to win the floor exercise. Not only did Williams end his Springfield gymnastics career with a national

title, he also came away with a career-best of 14.150.

Ramalho was another senior who dominated the meet, as he earned All-American honors in not just one event, but four: parallel bars, all around, vault and floor.

First-year Owen Carney also became an All-American in the high bar at his first collegiate national meet.

The underclassmen continued to dominate as the meet progressed. As a first-year, Sam Kaplan has had a historic season as a young collegiate athlete. Kaplan placed fourth overall on the first day of compe-

tition in the all-around, finished second in the parallel bars, and third overall on the still rings.

“As a coaching staff, we don’t want to just rely on the freshmen, but every year we do in key moments,” Davis said. “They have been stepping up every time. The freshman class is a very focused and motivated group.”

The Pride will travel to the ECAC Championships this upcoming weekend and are eyeing to qualify as a team for the NCAA D-I Championships.

“We have the talent to actually win the conference,” Davis said.

Eleven Springfield men’s gymnasts earned All-American recogition at the USA Gymnastics Men’s Gymnastics Collegiate Championships.

(Photo Courtesy of Springfield College Athletics)

Sports

Commanding the Circle

Springfield assistant wrestling coach uses experience from successful playing career to influence and connect to his athletes.

[See page 10]

The Springfield Student

(Photo Courtesy of Springfield College Athletics)