Volume 137 No. 22

Fan-favorite week returns to Springfield

Annual Sti-Yu-Ka week kicks off on Monday with mini golf and ice cream truck.

__ By Tucker PaqueTTe @tpaquette17

Oftentimes, in various realms of life, there is a key event on the calendar that is a highlight for everyone involved. At Springfield College, that event is a week’s worth of festivities that brings ample joy and enthusiasm to campus. This occasion is none other than Sti-YuKa, a tradition on Alden Street.

Sti-Yu-Ka was created in 1961, and has maintained popularity since its inception. There are always several events that occur annually as Sti-YuKa mainstays. However, some new programming is being introduced this year.

The 2023 edition starts on Monday, April 10, with an ice cream food truck and mini golf, which will take place on the Naismith Green at 12:30 p.m.

On Tuesday, there is a Hollywood movie night that is being coordinated with the Springfield College Film Club taking place at 8 p.m. This event is rather fitting, considering the theme of Sti-YuKa this year is none other than Hollywood.

As the week progresses, Wednesday will feature Sti-Yu-Ka bingo, a very popular event started by Springfield College Assistant Dean for Student Engagement Annie Warchol. This will happen at 9 p.m in the field house.

The theme for this

bingo is “anything but a chair,” a concept that Warchol wanted to bring back based on recent success.

“Bingo is always a huge hit, people have been very creative with what they bring in place of a chair,” Warchol said. “Students can bring things like carts and mattresses. Last year some people brought kayaks, tents that were set up, little hammocks.”

The only requirements, according to Warchol, are that people use things they have easy access to – such as items in their rooms.

Thursday will include an acapella show at 7 p.m. in the Fuller Arts Center, as well as the stepping-up day ceremony, an annual tradition on campus. In

this event, each class officer “steps up” to signal the next in line to lead their respective classes.

The school week wraps up with the ever-popular Sti-Yu-Ka games out on the Reed Green at 1 p.m. Don’t fret, though: Sti-YuKa’s events carry on into the weekend.

This year’s Sti-Yu-Ka Palooza, a concert-like event with several bands scheduled to perform and various food trucks set to be there too, will take place behind the PE Complex starting at 1 p.m. There is a charge of $10 for students to attend this event.

Springfield College

Associate Director of Student Activities Julie Koivisto, who led the planning of the Sti-Yu-Ka Palooza, is eager for the festivities to get underway.

“[It’s enjoyable] to get everybody excited and ready to have a really good time,” Koivisto said. “It was great last year, so I’m looking forward to it this year.”

Some students have voiced concerns over the artists set to perform at this year’s Sti-Yu-Ka Palooza. Warchol is aware of the gripes, and she made note of how it was challenging to get lots of

different options for bands to come play at Springfield College.

“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of performers had not decided by the time we were looking at contracts if they were going to do the college market,” Warchol said. “We have to do things [significantly] in advance, and we can’t wait.”

Warchol also mentioned how people attending Sti-Yu-Ka events makes it more feasible to get bigger-ticket bands to campus.

“It’s important that people come this year, because the money that’s raised for this year goes toward [budgeting] for next year,” Warchol said.

Overall, Sti-Yu-Ka presents people with a multitude of engaging activities to take part in, while providing an opportunity to hang around friends and classmates.

“A lot of times, [people] will be walking around campus and be like, ‘There’s a ton going on around campus, what is that?’” Warchol said. “Students get excited about the variety of things that are offered every year.”

Students competing in a Sti-Yu-Ka event. (Photo courtesy Springfield College)

Business Management program educates students on the national banking crisis

Professors from the Business Management program hosted a roundtable for students to discuss the banking crisis and what it means ethically and morally.

___ By Cait Kemp ___ @caitlinkemp09

The Business club paired up with the Women in Business club to sponsor a round-table meeting discussing the recent banking crisis that has been seen across the country. Four major banks (Silicon Valley Bank, Silvergate Bank, Signature Bank and Credit Suisse) failed in the month of March, leading to many questions about the integrity of banking and the ethical decisions being made by higher-ups in the companies.

Students from a span of business-related classes attended the meeting to learn more about the crisis and participate in conversation about the events leading up to it. Leading the meeting was chair of the business management department Laura Katz, who acted as the moderator. On the panel were professors in the business management department Prianka Musa, Mark Howard and Tim Allen. Each professor had a knowledge of different aspects and were able to offer their expertise to the conversation.

The main reason for the banking crisis was the sudden action taken by depositors to take their money out, sparking a

bank run. Bank runs happen when people begin to get word that they should be taking their money out, for a variety of reasons, and once word gets around, everyone flocks to do the same.

“This is probably one of the building blocks of the financial system,” Musa said. “If we don’t really trust it, it doesn’t run on its own. It runs on trust, and this is one of the times it was really tested.”

The cause of this for specifically Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) was the CEO and CFO sold $3.5 million and $575,000, respectively, of stock in the company.

Venture capitalist Peter Thiel sent out a tweet advising people to take out their money. This tweet ultimately sparked the

bank run that put SVB into failure.

In the instance of SVB, questions were raised about the actions of the CEO and CFO. Many are concerned that they had speculation about issues with the company, causing them to sell the stocks. If they did have prior knowledge, this could be a major problem in business ethics, as they were acting in a self-serving way rather than doing what is best for the company and the consumers.

“One thing we talk about in business ethics, which isn’t an easy term to grasp, is corporate governance – the oversight of how you make sure the companies in the process of daily life are making the right decisions and there is someone checking

it,” Allen said. “Who approves these million-dollar loans and bonuses? Does the board have a rule on that or can [the CEO] just write a check?”

Allen posed an important question. Looking at the SVB code of ethics, which consists of 21 pages of statements the company promises to abide by, it seems as though an act such as that should not have been able to slip through the cracks.

Honesty is at the heart of SVB’s code of ethics, stating to take responsibility, act with integrity and encounter situations in a fair and responsible way. The selling of the loans with prior knowledge of the bank’s potential failing is not a confirmed fact, however it is something that many believe should

be investigated as it would be a detrimental problem for the company if the higher-ups were found guilty.

Another one of the main issues that arises is the concept of regulation. During Donald Trump’s presidency, one of his first big motions was to scale back on the regulation of banks. Banks had to be of a certain size in order to be required to undergo regulation, including stress tests that helped to determine a bank’s status after different scenarios.

“You didn’t have to go to these tests unless you were 50 billion and then they raised it to 250 billion,” Allen said. “So as a result Silicon Valley Bank was not at that size so they didn’t have to go through the regulation, these tests were done on your credit, on your deposits, et cetera to see if you can handle something going wrong.”

Throughout the round table, the panel posed questions to the students, encouraging them to use their own knowledge and judgment to form opinions on the matter. It gave students the opportunity to not only learn from the discussion, but put into practice what they are taught in the classroom and use it to analyze a real-life situation.

Panelists answered questions and concerns about the banking crisis. (Photo Courtesy Springfield College)

The end of an era

Chair of the Department of Sport Management and Recreation, Kevin McAllister, is retiring after nine years at the position.

velopment of students, but also the mission of creating impact on others. McAllister is the embodiment of everything that the college stands for – and has been since the minute he stepped on campus. But as he entered year one as a professor, he didn’t want to focus on one thing.

but now it’s Recreation Industries and Therapeutic Recreation,” McAllister said, referring to his increased workload. “So now you have to quickly adapt and figure out what’s going to allow [the students] to be most successful.”

‘Make sure you have great people around you,’ and I’d say we have some pretty great people around us.”

__ By Luke Whitehouse @Lwhitehouse12

Kevin McAllister sits in his office surrounded by pictures of former students, credentials to several Hoophall Classics and Springfield College memorabilia – taking in the joy that the school has given him.

Coming into his final year at Springfield College, the longtime Sport Management professor and department chair didn’t feel downhearted, but rather relished the fact that his career had been filled with success. The people he mentored, the programs he created, the evolution

of the department of Sport Management – it all has brought him to this point.

McAllister arrived in Springfield during the 2003-2004 academic year – serving as a professor in Sport Management – a relatively new program at the time. McAllister prefaced his time on Alden Street by finishing up his doctoral degree at Boston University the year prior.

Being a professor at Springfield College is a job that not only requires teaching, inspiring and assisting in de-

“You know, I didn’t come in with any specific goal other than making the program better,” McAllister said. “I wanted to be a part of a [program] where students would say, ‘I want to come to Springfield College for Sport Management.’”

Over the first 11 years of his tenure, McAllister taught a variety of event planning and management classes – which fit right along with his previous experiences. He worked in event management with the Marriott Corporation before his time in Springfield.

In 2014, McAllister assumed the role as the chair of the Sport Management and Recreation program, also known as SMRT.

“When I transitioned into the chair it wasn’t just Sport Management,

McAllister also had to adjust to the ever-growing changes in the industry, especially with other colleges and universities always trying to evolve above the rest.

“It takes a lot of forward thinking, and a lot of being comfortable with being uncomfortable,” McAllister said. “I never wanted to be one to rest on my laurels because times change. Higher education is going through a huge shift and we never want to be [behind]. I don’t mind keeping a tradition of excellence, but with that, you have to constantly reinvest in your program and show that commitment to your students.”

But one thing stayed constant: the help of others.

“No leader, no manager does things on their own,” McAllister said. “ I always say,

During his early years, McAllister helped organize the partnership between the Basketball Hall of Fame and the Birthplace of Basketball – Springfield College. The Hall, as it is commonly referred to, hosts an annual basketball tournament here on campus during the winter called the Hoophall Classic –which showcases the top high school talent from around the country.

McAllister was looking to find opportunities for students to gain experience in the field that translated to jobs – something many students lacked at the time.

And he found it right in his backyard with the Hoophall Classic.

McAllister, along with some of his constituents, decided to enter the partnership – something McAllister cherishes to this day.

“I always saw it as a great opportunity because our students need experiences, one of the

McAllister continued on Page 7

McAllister was a professor in sport management prior to becoming the chair. (Photo Courtesy Springfield College)

Put it into practice

During their senior year, Athletic Training majors must complete a personalized research project.

___ By Patrick Fergus ___ @Fergus5Fergus

Athletic Training is a fundamental program at Springfield College. The major is a leading area of study in most graduating classes, with the student-centered focus of the curriculum leading to comprehensive growth and development.

For AT seniors, required research projects highlight their final year, with many unique topics being investigated. From eating disorders to the perception of ATs for club sports athletes, these projects include various aspects such as surveys and clinic-based assessments.

Senior Emma Slater chose her area of interest as the different eating habits of athletes and how these sustenance choices affect their preparation and

performance.

“At the core of my research, I am looking to assess how different eating habits fuel athletes’ bodies and how these choices affect injury rate and prevalence,” Slater said.

Her project, titled “The Impact of Orthorexia Nervosa on Division III Collegiate Athletes and the Associated Injuries,” has been a multi-month process.

“I have created a short survey to assess athletes’ eating behaviors and injuries that they have experienced while playing as a collegiate athlete at Springfield College, and at a DIII institution, often I feel like there are not as many considerations made for athletes’ dietary habits,” Slater said.

Slater – who previ-

ously worked for both the women’s gymnastics and women’s lacrosse teams – has had the opportunity to build genuine relationships with athletes she’s worked with. This hands-on experience has allowed Slater to gain the confidence and skills she needs for this more complex assignment.

“Working with these teams that are filled with athletes that depend on you, there is a lot of trust that is built, and you learn so much,” Slater said. “There were a lot of nuances to the eating habits.”

Another senior, Jake Hewitt, has taken an interest in one of the ascending problems in

the field: mental health in the athletic population.

“Athletic trainers are increasingly learning about treating non-physical injuries, and often, we are the first people there to talk if something happens,” Hewitt said.

Many remember gymnast Simone Biles’ courageous choice to withdraw from portions of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 to focus on her mental health, or tennis superstar Naomi Osaka’s struggle with depression and anxiety after her newfound fame.

“An athlete has to keep themselves mentally strong, or else they

can’t perform at their best,” Hewitt said.

A deeper layer of the project is the correlation in mental health between concussed and non-concussed student-athletes. Concussions have been a central talking point around player safety, especially in sports like football. Hewitt wants to explore how brain injuries might impact a player’s psychological well-being.

“I think it’s really important to dig a little deeper on this issue because mental health has become such a critical part of a healthcare worker’s job, and even AT Training

continued from Page 7

Athletic Training majors learning wound closer and suturing. (Photo Courtesy of Springfield College AT Instagram)

Mental health is a pressing issue at colleges across the country. Springfield College was recently awarded a $3.29 million grant to train counselors to help address that need.

The U.S. Department of Education awarded the grant to the Department of Counseling. Springfield was one of 60 recipients of an estimated 300 applicants. The department had an innovative plan, written by chair Allison Cumming-McCann – to partner with Americor, and the Springfield and Holyoke public schools (K-12,) – that helped its submission stand out.

“The goal is to get our students trauma- and evidence-based training, but we are also going to collaborate with these two districts to train current employees,” said school counselor Kelley Paige.

The idea was a twoway street. The first was to diversify the counsel-

Enhancing mental health care

Springfield College Department of Counseling gifted a $3.29 million grant.

___ By Sean Savage ___ @SeanSav13

ors on Alden Street and strengthen returning counselors.

“What is extremely important when you are working in a community like Springfield and Holyoke is for students who see counselors who represent themselves,” Paige said. “It is important for repertoire, trust and building a community that is really beneficial for the students and families to see.”

Secondly, the local school’s aspect is to create a pipeline by working with particular students who want to get into a helping field – from mental health inclinations to becoming a school counselor or rehab counseling.

“We will provide them with a little bit of mentorship,” Paige said. “We will show them what it will look like coming from high school to here for their masters and help them find a path to bring them back to Springfield College.”

Coupled with this, the

Department of Counseling will add Spanish courses to bring in more linguistically diverse counselors.

“A lot of the families we work with in Springfield and Holyoke are Spanish-speaking. If we can train Spanish-speaking counselors here at Springfield College, it is only going to be a benefit,” Paige said.

The grant will also aid in the department reaching out to a community of people that would otherwise not have been able to come to Springfield – for financial and other outlying reasons. The grant lets the department offer money for students to return to Springfield despite a few rocky financial years due to COVID.

“The program is incredibly strong, taught by really brilliant professors who are in the field and get the work, and getting this grant and having additional funding to reach that group of people is just super

important,” Paige said.

The grant also is a testament to the closeknit community the Department of Counseling strives to be.

Johnny Danahey, a 2021 Springfield College graduate, received funding through the grant.

“It was spectacular in providing an opportunity for our education and supporting us financially,” Danahey said. “It was not only a help from the counseling program, but also it gave us the opportunity to be set up with more success.”

Danahey was a grad fellow for the Physical Education program but then realized he wanted to become a school counselor following graduation in 2021.

“What made me want to come to the counseling program was so I could support students in a way that a normal teacher could not,” Danahey said. “One thing that is interesting about being a school counselor is the ability to be able to

advocate for students no matter where.”

Danahey also commented on the achievement of Springfield College being the only institution in Massachusetts to be awarded the grant and beyond.

“It shows that the counseling program wants to give back to the community and shows that humanics aspect that the college solely lives by,” Danahey said.”But also to show that we will have people readily available to provide that trauma and crisis-based lens to the community of Springfield and provide that special support,.”

The grant will allow the department to build a more robust, safer and diversified community.

“We were given an opportunity to be more than what we thought we could be,” Danahey said. “It is very rewarding internally as a person –it has changed me as a person in finding care for people.”

Department of Counseling posing in Learning Commons. (Photo Courtesy Springfield College)

McAllister continued from Page 4

fastest ways to get a job in sport,” McAllister said. “So I was advising the club, I was working with students, I was teaching the event management class and I was like, ‘We got to pull all this together.’”

But he knew it would come down to the students being invested. And it’s the early students who laid the foundation for what now has become a thrilling experience.

“A couple of students and I kind of slotted up a couple of ideas and then evolved them,” McAllister said. “And now it’s almost institutionalized in our depart-

AT Training

continued from Page 5

sometimes a psychological issue can be directly related to the symptoms an athlete might be experiencing,” Hewitt said.

ment. You know you’re coming in as a first-year student and you’re going to be involved in a five-day basketball tournament that’s shown on ESPN.”

Over the course of six days, more than 80 students volunteer their time to run the Hoophall Classic. The planning process starts in September, as there is a head supervisor selected by McAllister and Heather Gilmour – who is taking over as department chair next year. Then, there are 14 supervisors who start planning out the event.

And don’t just take it from McAllister himself, his students can attest to the importance

Hewitt learned a love for the training profession from his godfather, who received a degree from Springfield. Routine visits to see him at work only increased his intrigue about becoming an athletic trainer.

of working the event.

“I think it’s great because not a lot of schools get to work such a large event,” said junior Joe Manning, who worked as an advisor at the 2023 Hoophall Classic. “I think one of the main skills that you learn is being a professional –it’s one thing to say you are professional but actually learning that skill is huge because that’s what you’re gonna need in this industry.”

From the moment McAllister stepped on the campus of Springfield College, he has tried his best to make a lasting impact on students and make the sport management

Hewitt certainly wants to make his impact in mental health care, as he plans on attending graduate school to further his education in Sports Psychology here at Springfield College.

program a great experience. And now, as his final year winds down, he is content with the legacy he has left.

“I cannot thank the school enough for this opportunity,” McAllister said. “I love seeing

where we are and can’t wait to see what more they do with the program. I have absolutely no regrets.”

The importance of off-the-field health can be seen in another senior project that focuses on how much sleep each athlete gets and whether or not it affects their health and performance. Christian Sonnergren is researching a healthy night’s sleep and its numerous benefits.

Although countless studies have been done on poor sleep quality, Sonnergren adds a new facet by testing and analyzing the ramifications of an athlete’s reaction time.

“I’m testing the effects in real-time and in games. This is the best way to discover the connection between the two,” Sonnergren said.

These projects are all

examples of pioneering medical practices and knowledge in athletic training, and all three seniors praised the forward-looking direction of the program.

“Everything from the opportunities to the hands-on teaching makes the program truly special,” Sonngregren said.

With manuscripts being written and reviewed during the fall semester, the senior research projects are currently in the data collection phase. A presentation about their findings will be held on April 30.

The annual Hoophall Classic took place on Jan. 12-16. (Photo courtesy of Springfield College)

Students practice transporting a person with a spine injury. (Photo courtesy of Springfield College AT Instagram)

Jade O’Connor

Jade O’Connor won this edition’s Springfield Student Women’s Athlete of the Week with 31.9 percent of the vote. The graduate midfielder for the women’s lacrosse team combined for 14 goals in the Pride’s three victories this past week, including eight and an overtime game-winner against WestConn on Sunday.

Right behind her was Gillian Kane with 29.8 percent of the vote. The graduate pitcher for the softball team combined for 14 innings in two complete games while only allowing one run and seven hits. She also struck 13 batters out and earned the win in both games she pitched.

Gwen Anderson was the third

Nathan Kelleher-Mochak

The winner of this edition’s Springfield Student Men’s Athlete of the Week was Nathan Kelleher-Mochak with 64.8 percent of the vote. The first-year pitcher for the baseball team combined for 5.1 innings with one run and four hits allowed along with six strikeouts this past week.

Kevin Tierney was runner-up with 23.2 percent in the poll. The senior attack for the men’s lacrosse team combined for five goals and two assists in the Pride’s pair of games this past week.

Behind Tierney was Rece Gobel after a solid pair of showings over the weekend. The senior mid-distance runner for the men’s track and field team set a

personal record and finished first in the 1500-meter run with a time of 4:05.89 at the AIC Yellowjacket Invitational. He also finished first in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:56.62 on Saturday.

Daniel Criscio rounded out the vote after putting together a good weekend in field events. The junior thrower for the men’s track and field team finished first in the javelin throw with a distance of 53.54 meters at the AIC Yellowjacket Invitational. He also set a personal record in the discus throw with a distance of 33.21 meters on Saturday.

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

vote-getter with 23.4 percent in the poll. The junior sprinter for the women’s track and field team finished second in the 100-meter sprint with a time of 12.77 seconds, and was part of the 4x100 group that finished first at the AIC Yellowjacket Invitational on Saturday.

Rounding out the vote was Christa Carr after putting together a solid performance at the same event. The senior thrower for the women’s track and field team finished first in the shot put with a distance of 11.35 meters at the AIC Yellowjacket Invitational on Saturday.

Nathan Kelleher-Mochak. (Photo Courtesy of Springfield College

Jade O’Connor. (Photo Courtesy of Springfield College Athletics)

Colorful celebration

Over the course of the week, Springfield College’s Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) celebrated its annual Rainbow Fest.

Top: Pride March on Alden Street

Middle left: Pride March on Alden Street

Middle right: Drag Queen Bingo

Bottom left: Transgender Day of Visibility

Bottom right: Pride Talk: “Belonging to Myself” by Academic Advisor Kyle Higney

(Photos courtesy of Springfield College Flickr, scspirituallife and gsa Instagram)

Overtime heroics

The Springfield women’s lacrosse team came back late to defeat Western Connecticut State 15-14.

penalty.

Now positioned just 10 yards from the goal, O’Connor awaited another whistle to resume play. She took a deep breath, and got into position: her left leg forward, right leg back, hunched forward and stick positioned over her right shoulder, ready to shoot. When the blare of whistle resumed the game, O’Connor exploded forward as if she were shot out of a cannon.

This game marked the third time this season O’Connor has bested her single-game career-high in goals. She humbly accredits that success to her teammates.

“We have so many threats, that defenses aren’t just looking at me,” O’Connor said. “They have to focus on all seven of us, and it makes it a lot harder to stop us.”

As Jade O’Connor lined up for a free position shot attempt, a deafening silence hung over Stagg Field. Most in attendance were standing with interlocked hands placed on their heads. Members of the Springfield College women’s lacrosse

__ By Braedan Shea @braedan_shea

team impatiently waited on the balls of their feet along the sideline. The anticipation was thick enough to slice with a knife.

The scoreboard read 14-14, with 0:56 remaining in overtime. Seconds prior, O’Connor attempted

to bullrush through the opposing Western Connecticut College defense, but was instead met with a strong body check –enough to get O’Connor off her feet. As she hit the ground, the officials quickly blew their whistle for the

A WestConn defender tried to get in the way, but it was far too late. O’Connor launched her stick in celebration and Stagg Field erupted as her career-high eighth goal found the back of the net. The game-ending goal gave the Pride a 15-14 victory over WestConn and O’Connor not only the NEWMAC Offensive Player of the Week, but also the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) National Co-Offensive Player of the Week.

Whenever the game is on the line, O’Connor has become the focal point of the offense – dating back to her first game dawning a Pride uniform on Feb. 23, 2022, when a last-second goal gave Springfield a 10-9 victory over Roger Williams. Earlier this week, on Wednesday, O’Connor scored another overtime game-winner in a 1615 win over Westfield State.

“I think the fact that the team trusts me with the ball in my stick at the end of the game, I have to acknowledge that and

Jade O’Connor celebrating the overtime goal. (Photo Courtesy of Springfield College Athletics)

finish when I have it,” O’Connor said.

O’Connors huge performance stems back to preparing for this game earlier this week.

“We thought for sure she was going to get face guarded and we were prepping for that,” said Springfield head coach Jenn Thomas. “We were ready to go when our next opportunity was available, but they didn’t make that adjustment. So we just decided to

keep having her hammer the ball in the back of the net.”

While the offense was firing on all cylinders, the defense was what kept Springfield in the game. The physical and high energy it brings has been the identity of the Pride during the five game win-streak.

Last season’s NEWMAC Defensive Player of the Year Gianna Scialdone and junior standout Hannah Hibbert were the de-

to send the game to overtime, and got the deciding ground ball that would lead to the O’Connor game winner.

It was a move that Thomas made at the start of the fourth quarter to give Springfield some much-needed momentum after four consecutive Wolves goals, and ultimately decided the game.

“I thought Haley Moody did awesome when she went in,” Thomas said. “She actually got out of the cage and put a little bit of pressure on the players down behind the goal. It was great to see that.”

The weekend featured a very important stretch of two games for Thomas. On Satur-

day, she faced Mount Holyoke College – the first school she had ever had a coaching position at after graduating college. The following day, she was tasked with going up against an even bigger opponent: the first college she had ever been the head coach of. And Thomas beat both.

“It’s exciting, but I think what makes it the most special is that I’m here at Springfield doing it,” Thomas said. “We played three great opponents, but two teams that are close to my heart. They mean a lot to me. It’s great that we came out on top, but I’m also so proud of what both programs have done and will continue to do.”

fensive anchors of the Pride. Each grabbed four ground balls, and Scialdone caused seven turnovers. Her performance also awarded her the NEWMAC Defensive Player of the Week. But one of the most underrated players of the game was goalkeeper Haley Moody.

Although not starting the game, Moody finished the game flawlessly. She saved a last second desperation shot from WestConn

WestConn with possession. (Photo Courtesy of Springfield College Athletics)

Springfield and WestConn in a face-off. (Photo Courtesy of Springfield College Athletics)

Best of the best

Women’s gymnasts Devon Rosier and Christina Wygonik won national titles in the balance beam and floor routine respectively at the NCAA Division III National Championships on March 25.

___ By Carley Crain @carley_crain12

Heading into the season, the Springfield women’s gymnastics team did not have a permanent full-time head coach. Nobody knew what to expect. But the team was ready to tackle the year ahead. Emily Bellin stepped up from assistant coach to interim full-time head coach – and that decision certainly paid off.

For the second year in a row, the women’s gymnastics team qualified for The National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) Championships. The Pride shined bright on the big stage and had a historic competition. Springfield finished fourth overall, with a season-high

team score of 190.100 points. The Pride beat all of their competitors from the East at Nationals, as Brockport tallied 189.225 points and Ithaca with 187.925 points.

“Nationals was such an exciting experience! Getting to travel with the team and compete in a place that was completely new to us all was so special and definitely brought up the excitement,” said senior Devon Rosier. “Last nationals didn’t go exactly the way we planned, so I was definitely expecting the team to come this year with some added drive and excitement, which we definitely did.”

The Pride also had

two student-athletes earn national titles, Rosier on the balance beam, and fellow senior teammate Christina Wygonik with the floor title. This was the second time ever in program history that the team had multiple national champions at this competition. Graduate student MacKenzie MacLeod placed sixth overall in the floor exercise, which was enough to become an All-American in the event.

“Winning a national title was such a surreal experience, I’m not sure I’ve even totally processed it yet,” said Rosier with a smile. “Growing up I had a lot of mental blocks and struggled a lot with

fear in gymnastics so an accomplishment like this was really out of the cards for me before coming to Springfield. Having my team and family there with me was super emotional and I feel so grateful to be able to close out my college career with such an exciting meet, both individually and as a team.”

Sophomore Maya Belog also finished as an All-American as well, placing sixth in her best event, the balance beam.

Junior Annie Kiley, who has had an incredible season leading the Pride on the vault, finished second overall and also broke the school record for the

second time this year. Both the men’s and women’s gymnastics teams at Springfield have had some of their best seasons in program history this season. Bouncing off of each other’s success has been a huge motivator for each squad.

“There is so much talent and depth on the team and I’m extremely excited to see some new people breaking into lineups next season,” said Rosier. “I think coming in fourth at nationals was a super big accomplishment for the team as a whole that will definitely be a motivator for next season and seasons after.”

Devon Rosier (left) and Christina Wygonik (right) with their medals on stage.

Men’s lacrosse falls to Babson

Despite three-goal

performances

from

Kevin Tierney, Mason Nocito and Conor Tracy, Babson defeated Springfield men’s lacrosse 15-9 on Saturday.

__ By RiveR Mitchell @rivermitchell27

On a day where both Springfield and Babson wore pink laces on their cleats in honor of breast cancer awareness, Babson cut through the rain as they dominated Springfield from the second quarter on and pulling away with a 15-9 win.

“I just think they played with a little more urgency,” said Pride head coach Keith Bugbee. “I think they really wanted this. It’s a little cliché to say ‘They wanted it more’, but that’s what it felt like.”

Springfield came in on the season having had their fair share of struggles, which included them starting the season out 0-4 as well as losing the game prior against Middlebury. However, they also had

their spurts of excellence, beating Endicott at home 18-12 going on the road to Wheaton beating them 14-4.

Babson, meanwhile, has been a force in the NEWMAC this year, boasting an 5-2 record prior to gameplay with their most recent win coming in a 24-11 victory against Clark.

Springfield managed to put in a few early goals for their team, as Mason Nocito and Kevin Tierney each put one in the net before in just over two minutes.

Conor Tracy managed to get one in the net as well just moments after Tierney. However, goals from the Beavers’ Will Spangenberg, Jacob Tauss, Bennett Smith and Ryan Kenney in a four-minute span got

them to a 4-3 lead to close the opening quarter.

In the last three quarters, the Beavers managed to outscore Springfield 11-6 as Springfield only got one goal in the net during the second quarter, where Babson got five followed by three each in the final two frames. Spangenberg, Kenney, and Smith finished the day off with three goals a piece, with Chi Chi Price chipping in two of his own along with Tauss.

Despite Tierney, Nocito, and Tracy all

having solid games with three goals each, Babson’s all-around performance ultimately put them ahead, which is something that Bugbee recognizes.

“I don’t think we really defensively met our standard, and offensively. ” Bugbee said.

With Springfield looking to improve before going into their next game against Emerson in Springfield on Saturday, Bugbee looks forward to the preparation of facing a good Emerson team.

“Emerson is pretty good now, which is

good,” Bugbee said. “We’ll have to play another good team, and we still got Coast Guard and Clark.”

Bugbee also recognized that his team is really gonna have to kick it into high gear for the rest of the season, as the NEWMAC boasts a lot of tough competition for the Pride.

“Our league is really good right now,” said Bugbee. “Whoever wins our league is going to be a really good club. It’s going to be a good fight right down to the end.”

Riley Burgmyer looking to pass. (Photo Courtesy of Springfield College Athletics)

Double trouble

First-year athletes Kristina Kyle and Mirabel Brunell are competing in outdoor track after finishing successful soccer and indoor track seasons.

__ By Nick PaNtages __ @nick_pantages22

The demanding nature and amount of time collegiate sports take up paired with the workload of classes can make playing sports in college a very stressful situation for a first year student. However, two Springfield College students are not only playing one college sport, but are members of two sports teams on Alden Street.

Kristina Kyle and Mirabel Brunell are members of the women’s soccer team, and are on the women’s track and field team as well.

Although they both are at the same point in their athletic careers, both Kyle and Brunell took extremely different paths to get to this point.

Brunell started with a heavy focus on soccer, but then track came into the fold.

“I started soccer first when I was like five or six in rec soccer like everyone did, and then

when I got to eighth grade I started running more for soccer and I kind of liked it, so I joined the track team for my high school,” she said.

However, despite track being an afterthought when Brunell first started, it has taken on much more personal significance now.

Brunell said, “Track

is definitely more of an individual focus now though. It’s not just about soccer like when I was younger. I like them equally now.”

Kyle however, has

had a different experience with the two sports. During high school, Kyle was a three-sport athlete, competing in basketball as well as soccer and track. Although dropping basketball was hard, competing in two sports at the collegiate level is something Kyle is very comfortable with.

Kyle said, “It was something I’ve always done in my life, so I just decided to continue it.”

Due to the emphasis of stamina in both soccer and distance running, the fitness of both sports sort of overlap, making it easier to compete in both. Therefore, Kyle can use both sports as a tool to stay in shape for the other.

“Track definitely keeps me in shape for soccer, and also in soccer season we did a lot of running which kept me in shape and prepared for the track season. They are two completely different sports, but I feel like they balance each other out fitness-wise,” Kyle

Brunell (top) on the soccer field and Kyle (bottom) crossing the finish line. (Photos Courtesy of Springfeld College Athletics)

said.

Another benefit to both Kyle and Brunell is the fact that they are able to form bonds with two different teams.

“That has been probably the best part of it, because I have two big sets of friend groups,” Brunell said. “I have definitely been able to get close with a lot more people because of it.”

Kyle had a different view on it.

“It was definitely interesting seeing all the girls on the soccer team, and then never seeing them and going to a new team and being with a bunch of different people.”

However, everyone’s kindness, on both teams, made that possible for Kyle.

“Everyone was super welcoming, so it was easy.”

Despite this, it has not been easy. Kyle and Brunell are in the physical therapy and physician’s assistant programs, which are both notoriously rigorous programs. The increase in difficulty and quantity of school work, as well as adjusting to a new social environment, has not made this easy.

Kyle said, “It’s a little bit of an adjustment at the beginning, because I was trying to figure out how to navigate college and also be on

two sports teams. But as the semester went on I got more used to just following a schedule. Balancing practice with hard [chemistry] and [biology] classes was really hard, but it got easier as time went on.”

Brunell agreed. Despite the fact that athletics takes up almost all of her free time for both semesters, she sees no regrets in choosing this path.

“It’s definitely a lot of commitment. Every weekend for almost the entire year so far I’ve had either a game or a meet, and sometimes I do wish I didn’t have anything, but then I go and compete and I realize and I love doing that so it’s worth it.”

Both athletes have had a lot of success so far in their career, in both sports.

Kyle, an outside back on the soccer team, started in three games and played in six others, and racked up a goal and an assist in her first season. Brunell is a center back on the soccer team, who appeared in eight games, starting two, and scoring a goal.

On the track and field team, both Kyle and Brunell are mid-distance runners. In the first meet of the spring season at American International College, Kyle and Brunell each racked up fifth place fin-

ishes in the 1500-meter and 5K, respectively. In the indoor season, both qualified for the New England Division III Track & Field Championships.

Despite both Kyle and Brunell originally deciding to come here with a focus on playing soccer, Springfield women’s soccer head coach Kristin Cannon has been completely supportive of Kyle and Brunell also competing in track.

Kyle said, “She’s defi-

nitely in support of it, she will text me every once in a while and ask, ‘How was your race?’”

After competing in a soccer and indoor track season, and just beginning the spring track season, Kyle is proud of what she has accomplished so far, and also grateful for the chance she has received.

“I think it’s pretty cool, I don’t know too many people that do two sports in college. I’m just happy I got the opportunity to come to

Springfield and be on both of these teams.” Brunell held a similar feeling.

“I am definitely proud of the work I put in to be able to do this,” she said.

However, despite her early success on the pitch and the track, Brunell knows she can’t get too comfortable.

“I don’t take it for granted. I feel like I still have to work hard to get better in each of them.”

Kyle on the soccer field. (Photos Courtesy of Springfield College Athletics)

Sports

Dual Threats

First-year athletes Kristina Kyle and Mirabel Brunell play significant roles on both the women’s soccer and track and field teams.

[See page 14]

(Photos Courtesy of Springfield College Athletics)