22 minute read
What to expect in the new Health Sciences Center
A new beginning
The Health Sciences Center is set to open in the fall of 2023 with plenty of new features for the community to enjoy.
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A current look at the progress of the Health Sciences Center. (Garrett Cote/The Student)
With the new Health Science Center now under construction, students have begun to ponder what the building is going to entail and when it will be open to the public.
Due to the outdated current Health Science Center – located at an inconvenient spot all the way down toward the beginning of campus on Alden Street – and the fact that the Health Science major at Springfield continues to be a popular one, a new building was necessary.
“In health sciences right now, we have a lot of outdated facilities and we’re all over campus,” said Dean of Health Sciences, Brooke Hallowell. “We have people in Locklin, departments in Blake and I’m currently in the old building. [The old building] is not conducive to interprofessional education and clinical engagement. Being in one building is going to enhance the aspects of what we do.”
Directly across Alden Street from Locklin Hall is a long stretch of red fencing that runs down the road and surrounds 76,000 square feet of emptiness – for now. It will soon be a four-floor, state of the art Health Sciences Center. Due to the Springfield College community being unable to see over the red fence, the beginning stages of the construction process of the Health Sciences Center is somewhat a secret.
Although there isn’t an exact date set for the new building to be finished by, the College expects it will be completed by the fall of 2023. Director of Facilities, Kevin Roy, is leading the construction and is pleased with the progress thus far.
“Concrete is underway for the structure, and steel will be happening soon after that. Those are kind of the first few steps,” he said. “You can’t really see it because it’s inside the red fence, but it’s almost like two projects in one. When students come back at the end of the summer, there will be a new parking lot.”
The parking lot will have 486 spots on six acres of land for students to park in while the building continues to be constructed during the next academic year. Included in that lot will be 20 Evie electric car charging stations to accommodate students who may have electric cars.
The building itself will entail several classrooms for all majors – not just Health Science majors. Though the building is home of the School of Health Sciences, multiple areas of study will find use for its facilities.
On top of the new classrooms, the Health Science Center will have plenty of new features for students to enjoy. That includes, but is not limited to: a brand new anatomy lab, high-tech clinical simulations, a conferencing center and a state-of-the-art makerspace which helps with the development of devices, adaptive toys and other things that can be used in homes to enhance independence and health (i.e. casts, splints, prosthetics).
Considering students are going to be the main beneficiaries of the new Health Sciences Center, Hallowell, Roy and company wanted to ask them for their inputs of what to include.
“Students have been involved in the design all along,” Hallowell said. “We’ve had a lot of students’ input on features of the building that they would like, what they think is missing, things they’ve noticed in other programs. There’s a lot of attention to the student experience with the design of the building.”
With summer right around the corner, even more progress will be made by the time students are welcomed back on campus next fall.
“You obviously have the building itself, but to the east of the building, toward Judd, that’s going to be all green space in there. So you’ll have a good look coming from that side of campus with shrubs and trees and the whole visual aspect of what things will transpire.”
The construction of the Health Science Center is well underway and the building is well on track to become one of the main attractions on the campus of Springfield College.
For more information regarding the Health Science Center, including its path to completion, visit https://springfield.edu/ academics/health-science-center.
___ By Garrett Cote ___ @garrett_cote
Q&A with Lauren Lemay
_ By Cait Kemp _ @caitlinkemp09
Lauren Lemay, a sophomore at Springfield College, will perform in her first dance concert this weekend. After competing in dance throughout her childhood she recently joined the dance club at Springfield to pursue her passion once again. The Springfield Student spoke with Lemay to hear her thoughts on the event, why dance is an important art, and what she has gotten out of the experience.
Kemp: How has it been preparing for the Spring Dance Concert?
Lemay: I almost have no words to describe what an experience this has been and how rewarding it is going to feel this weekend. Everybody has been willing to put in the time and effort to put on a great show for one another and the SC community. This is a busy time of year…Some members have sports like myself, other clubs, and school. Some people are finishing graduate programs. Even with all these things going on every single member has put in countless hours of their time for rehearsals and behind the scenes work.
Kemp: What is the dance community like at Springfield College?
Lemay: The members of the dance club are some of the most incredible and genuine human beings I have ever met. Being a new member to the group I have felt nothing but endless support and encouragement throughout these past few months. Everybody’s passion and love for dance shines through and it is contagious. These people and this opportunity to perform again are the reasons why I fell in love with dance all over again. The family dynamic that I have experienced from being a part of this club is truly something special.
Lemay is also a member of the Springfield College field hockey team. (Photo Courtesy of Lauren Lemay)
Kemp: What is it about dance and this performance that is important, and why should people attend?
Kemp: As a new addition to the dance team, how have you seen dance as a positive experience for your life?
Lemay: Being a part of teams and things bigger than myself has always been something that has interested me. Coming to Springfield I originally had no intention of ever dancing again. After a semester in an Intro to Dance class I reached out to Sarah Zehnder (advisor of the dance club) and Angelina Cohen (president of the dance club) and I knew I had to get back into it. My field hockey teammates have also been nothing but supportive and I feel like one of the luckiest people in the world to be able to do both of the things I love.
Lemay: The Spring Concert has all pieces choreographed by members of the SC Dance Club. These choreographers have put so much time and energy into these pieces and it is such a beautiful xperience seeing them all performed live. After seeing all of the pieces already it is so inspiring to see all of these amazing individuals create something so personal and vulnerable. That is the amazing thing about dance, it makes you feel a certain way without actually telling you with words. With the help of Sarah Zehnder, Sabrina Hamilton, and the members of the SC Dance Club this show is going to be a memorable experience for everyone who attends.
Sophie Curcio. (Photo Courtesy of Springfield College Athletics)
Sophie Curcio
Sophie Curcio claimed the top spot for the Springfield Student Women’s Athlete of the Week poll with 53.9%. This was after the sophomore mid-distance runner ran an 8-second personal best with a time of 4:52.60 in the 1500-meter at the Trinity College Invitational. Curcio’s successful race was a contributor to the Pride’s first place finish at the event. Right behind her in the poll was Katie Martel with 34.2% of the vote. The senior midfielder for the women’s lacrosse team combined for 10 goals this past week, including a career-high of seven in the team’s 20-4 victory over Wheaton on Saturday. Martel’s goal-soring this season has helped Springfield go 7-1 in conference, which is tied for first in the NEWMAC. Gillian Kane came in third place with 10.5% of the vote. The senior pitcher had a particularly remarkable performance in a 1-0 win over Coast Guard on Friday, where she threw a two-hit shutout with no walks. Rounding out the vote was Gabriella Heaney-Secord. The junior women’s tennis player won her doubles and singles matches in the Pride’s 9-0 victory over Wheaton.
Jack Cooney
In a competitive poll, Jack Cooney took first place in the Springfield Student Men’s Athlete of the Week with 35.8% of the vote. The graduate outfielder went 9-for-16 with two home runs and nine RBI along with two walks. This was highlighted by a 4-for-5 performance with two doubles and four RBI in an 11-9 victory over Clark. Right behind him in the poll was his teammate Cadin Maynard with 31.3% of the vote. The junior catcher went 11-for-21 with two home runs and nine RBI throughout the Pride’s successful week of baseball. The highlight of his week was a go-ahead 3-run home run in the 8th inning against Clark to help lift Springfield to an 11-9 win. The man in third place was Johjan Mussa Robles with 20.9% of the vote. The graduate libero for the men’s volleyball team provided excellent back row defense by compiling 36 digs in the Pride’s national semifinal and championship games. Evan Weber also received consideration with 11.9% of the vote for his performance this past week. The first-year sprinter posted his quickest time of his career in the 100-meter race at the Trinity College Invitational with a time of 10.89. This was good enough to finish second in the event. Be sure to follow The Student on Twitter @TheSpfldStudent to vote in the next poll!
Jack Cooney. (Photo courtesy of Springfield College Athletics)
Cadin Maynard swinging at a pitch against Western New England. (Photo courtesy of Springfield College Athletics)
The Swingin’ Pride
The Springfield baseball team has had a particularly excellent offensive year, as they have scored eight runs per game and sport a .317 batting average.
___ By Chris Gionta ___ @Chris_Gionta
Looking up and down the Springfield College baseball team’s lineup, not one weakness can be identified. Players at the bottom of the Pride’s order would be at the top of many other NEWMAC lineups.
Simeone is in his 26th year as head coach of the Pride, and the offensive production he has seen from the 2022 team has certainly stood out to him.
“I’ve had some good offensive clubs over the years, but this is definitely a solid one,” Simeone said.
The Springfield offense has scored 264 runs in 33 games — good for an astounding average of eight per game. The team batting average (AVG) is .317 with an on-base percentage (OBP) of .411 and a slugging percentage (SLG) of .458. It has also slugged for 20 home runs.
The archives for Springfield baseball’s team batting statistics go back to 2011, and since they have been tracked, a Pride offense has not had a higher batting average, slugging percentage nor home run total than they currently have in 2022. The only season in which they had a higher on-base percentage was in 2020, which was a season in which only five games were played.
Leading the way for the Pride is graduate first baseman Noah Bleakley. He is hitting .357 with a 1.057 on-base-plusslugging (OPS) in 147 plate appearances. He has 19 extra-base hits, which include six home runs. As far back as the statistical archives go, there has not been an individual at Springfield to hit more home runs in a season than Bleakley has this year. He also has driven in almost a run per game, with 31 runs batted in in 32 games. Bleakley leads the team in runs scored, hits, doubles, triples, home runs, and RBI.
Right behind him in hits is a fellow graduate student — coming from the opposite side of the diamond — third baseman Jack Simonetty. He is hitting .333 with an .890 OPS in 131 plate appearances, has stroked three home runs and has driven in 25 runs.
“Jack Simonetty is having a career year to this point in time,” Simeone said.
After an unideal start to his season, graduate outfielder Jack Cooney has returned to form as one of the Pride’s offensive stars. In his last 13 games, he has hit .444 with a .576 OBP, alongside 16 RBI.
The catcher position has seen some unparalleled production from the batter’s box. Ryan Sorgi and Cadin Maynard have shared time behind the plate,
with one usually being assigned the designated hitter role while the other is catching. Sorgi is hitting .367 with a .997 OPS, and his nine doubles on the year tie Bleakley for the team lead. His 29 RBI also rank second for Springfield.
Maynard, meanwhile, has a .346 AVG with a .910 OPS, three home runs and 24 RBI. He proved key against Clark on Saturday in the second game of the Pride’s doubleheader. Springfield was down 9-7 in the 8th inning with two men on, and Maynard hit a home run to take the lead.
No matter where you look in the lineup, there is an important producer. Joe Traversa has been vital with his .342 AVG and .897 OPS, and Noah Diamond has come up clutch in high-leverage situations with 24 RBI — fourth-most on the
Noah Bleakley waiting for a pitch against Elms. (Photo courtesy of Springfield College Athletics)
team.
Joe Penkala has been a spark plug at points for the offense, and that was emphasized in an April 22 game where his bunt single sparked a rally that put the Pride ahead in the game.
Even players not regularly starting have stood out in their limited time in the batter’s box. First-year players Cole Zalegowski and Luke DiMauro both have 40 or more plate appearances and an onbase percentage of at least .500. Zalegowski is also hitting above .400.
The Pride’s offense has been the heart and soul of the team, and is a large reason they are 9-4 in conference play to put them in third place in the NEWMAC. They wrap up their regular season with conference matchups against Emerson and Coast Guard, with the Pride facing the Bears three times.
Springfield superstitions
Springfield athletes discuss their pregame rituals and what goes through their mind before competition.
__ By Jacques st. Jean &
conor Mctigue __
Traditions and rituals – from the common postseason beards to the All Black’s Haka dance – have always been a common sight in sports. Springfield College athletes and teams are no different. The Springfield Student asked some Pride players to share their go-to pregame, in-game and postgame routines.
Junior wrestler Jared Swartz stays calm, cool and collected before he steps on the mat to scrap. When there’s only two or three bouts ahead of him, Swartz will put on his headphones, and head to his assigned mat with nothing but his phone, his headgear, and a standard 16oz water bottle. As he waits his turn, Swartz will begin to sip on his water, timing it so it’s all gone right before he steps on the mat. “I’ll wipe off my shoes, slap my arms a few times, and then I’m ready to go,” Swartz explained.
Lily Gould, a junior on the track and field team, prefers to start off their meet days with a breakfast consisting of scrambled eggs and bacon, and a Dunkin iced coffee (oat milk and caramel) to drink. Participating in the field side of track and field, Gould is a member of the self-proclaimed “Bomb Squad” which consists of all the throwers on the team.
“The name Bomb Squad came from a past thrower,” Gould explained.
After referring to a teammate’s throw as “a bomb”, the name Bomb Squad was born.
“It keeps us accountable to throw our best every day, no matter the case,” spoke Gould. The Clifton Park native also repeats a mantra in their head before competitions: Go out there and do your business.
“You’re not competing against everybody,”
Gould stated. “You’re competing against yourself… no one else is stopping you from doing [what you want] but you and your own body.”
With the rest of the #BombSquad, Gould and their teammates keep hold of each other’s goals on note cards, and also communicate with each other how they’d prefer to be cheered at when they go out to throw. For Gould, they prefer hearing their teammate’s encouragement loud and clear, and their team’s throwing cues as little reminders before launching their throwing object out onto the field.
“I am very much in my head when I enter the circle,” Gould shared, “so hearing my cues again like ‘back, kick’ or ‘glutes activated’ [helps].”
The men’s volleyball team’s most consistent tradition is winning, but this year’s squad has introduced a few new in-game rituals that reflect the diverse makeup of the team.
“A lot of our celebrations are in Spanish,” said junior Liam York, a native of Hawaii, “because a lot of our guys are Puerto Rican.”
When opponents hit a ball out of bounds, York and his teammates yell “Y fuera!,” which means “and out.” Other celebrations are simply fun. When a Springfield player gets an ace or a kill, players on the side will yell “ka-ka-boom” in unison, along with throwing first-year libero Nico Meija, the lightest player on the Pride, into the air.
First-year football player Amir Preston has several personal pregame superstitions. He puts on his footwear in a specific order before every game: “Right sock, left sock, right cleat, left cleat, tie right cleat, tie left cleat,” said Preston, who noted it is something that he’s been doing as long as he can remember.
He said that many of his teammates read an inspirational quote right before they put on their helmets and take the field. After a win, the Pride players celebrate by playing “Take Me Home Tonight” by Eddie Money in the locker room.
Like many pitchers, sophomore softball player Ashley Pugliese always brings a bag of rosin with her when she enters the circle in order to get a better grip on the ball. After she releases each pitch, Pugliese also does a small hop as a part of her natural motion.
“It just happens,” Pugliese said with a laugh. “After I release [the ball] I land and then I hop. I don’t know why; it’s just a little thing.”
Pugliese and her teammates get together in a circle before they take the field and start quietly chanting the phrase “Pride get ready to roll” – then follow it up with three claps. They repeat this three times and then huddle up close to each other and say their team tagline – “All In” -- on the count of three.
Gianna Niman is a freshman on the women’s track and field team. She is a physical education major from West Hartford, CT and participates in the 60-meter and the 200-meter races.
A superstition and or pre-meet ritual she has is braiding her hair before every meet. She said it’s something she did throughout high school and makes her feel faster and lighter on her feet. The team has a routine of a walkthrough type practice the day before the meet, where they all envision their events.
“For example, if I’m running the 100m, I think about needing a strong block start, high knees, and to push through.”
Jared Swartz wipes off his shoes and slaps his arms a few times to get mentally ready for a wrestling match. (Photo courtesy of Springfield College Athletics)
Perpetual victory
Springfield senior women’s tennis player Rielly Malz has transitioned from one of the best high school players in Connecticut to a great Pride contributor.
__ By Braedan Shea __ Staff Writer
Following the 19971998 collegiate year, the New England Women’s 8 Conference (NEW 8) voted to begin sponsoring conference play and championships for men, establishing itself as the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC). During this time, the conference expanded its membership to include two more colleges – the United States Coast Guard Academy and Springfield College. But since becoming a part of the NEWMAC in 1998, the Springfield College women’s tennis team has struggled to advance in the conference tournament – only ever getting as far as the quarterfinals eight times, most recently in 2019. However, this could change this season, thanks to one very impressive senior: Rielly Malz. Growing up in South Glastonbury, Conn., Malz found the passion for the sport at a young age. After trying many different athletics as a child, tennis was the one that stood out the most. “My parents just put me and my sisters in a bunch of different sports when we were little, including tennis, and I just kind of stuck with it,” Malz said. She didn’t just stick with it – she became a star. Playing for her hometown high school of Glastonbury High, Malz and her team won the Class L state singles championship during her junior year, taking down women’s tennis juggernaut Staples; who had beaten Glastonbury in the previous two state championships. Following another great season in her senior year, during which she got all the way back to the state championship before falling once again to Staples, Malz knew that she wanted to play at the collegiate level. But, academics were her main priority, more specifically going into the field of medicine. It just so happened that Springfield College could offer both. “I knew that I wanted to keep playing tennis
Malz running to hit the ball. (Photo courtesy of Springfield College Athletics)
Malz during the 2021 season. (Photo courtesy of Springfield College Athletics)
in college if it was possible,” Malz said. “But I was looking at academics first, and I knew that I wanted to go to the medical field. I talked to a lot of my family and friends and shadowed a bunch of PAs, which is what eventually got my heart set on that. I was looking at schools with PA programs that I could also play tennis at, and when I came to campus, I just fell in love with it. I felt at home. It was awesome. I knew I wanted to come here.” Even though she was very fond of the school, actually deciding to come was a little difficult at first. Malz believed that she wanted to branch out and have a school of her own – the one thing that Springfield couldn’t offer; as her mother, Kimberly, is an alumna. “I was trying to be stubborn and say I wouldn’t go to the same school as her,” Malz said. “I was determined to hate it. But I just couldn’t find something to hate.” Being an athlete while also in the PA program is easier said than done. Finding the time to balance both is not something many can do. Although she acknowledges that doing both is a challenge, Malz generally finds it quite helpful. “Some days it’s hard,” Malz said. “But overall, I think it really helps me with time management. I know that I have practice or lift at a certain time, so I have to get my assignments done before then, or I know that I’m going to be busy on the weekend. It forces me to do more work during the week. Some days it’s definitely challenging, but usually it’s kind of helpful.” While the work in the classroom may be challenging, outside of it is a different story. This season’s women’s tennis team raced to a 7-0 start. It appeared as if this could be the year they finally bring home a NEWMAC championship, something that Malz admits she wants to accomplish. “This is definitely the best team I’ve been a part of in my four years here – mobility-wise and just attitude-wise. Everyone’s really upbeat and happy and working hard every single day,” she said. “We’ve come a long way this season, and we definitely have a better shot than we’ve had in all my years here.” After its strong start, the team eventually hit a rough patch in the middle of the season, tying once and dropping four. But the Pride have completely turned back around, winning four of their last five. Malz has been great, sporting a 10-2 overall singles record. The NEWMAC women’s tennis championship tournament begins on May 3. Springfield (4-3-0 in conference with one dual match remaining) is currently seeded fourth and will likely face No. 5 seed Smith. Previously, Springfield edged out Smith at home, 5-4, on April 16.
