Volume 136 No. 16

The Springfield Student Est. 1910

February 10, 2022

scstudentmedia.com // @TheSpfldStudent

Volume 136 No. 16

Let’s Talk About Sex Springfield College has many avenues for students to learn how to practice safe sex.

See page 6

inside Springfield’s first Gilman Scholarship awardee, Page 2 ‘A Taste Around the World,’ Page 4 The story behind Alumni Hall, Page 5 KN95 masks are now available for all students, Page 8 And more...

(Photo Courtesy of Adam Skaggs/NCAA Student Immersion Program)

Winners/Finalists for five Society of Professional Journalist (SPJ) awards in 2021

Campus News

February 10, 2022

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A trip worth the wait Kacper Kisala was the first Springfield College student to study abroad since the outbreak of COVID-19 and Springfield’s first Gilman Scholarship recipient.

___ By Collin Atwood ___ @collinatwood17

Desperate to see his family and to study overseas, Kacper Kisala would not take no for an answer when Springfield College’s International Center declined his initial study abroad application in the fall of 2020. The senior studying to be a Physician Assistant jumped through hoops and faced tedious tasks in order for him to travel in a COVID-ridden world.

“It was really, truly, a miracle that he was able to go abroad,” said Heather St. Germaine, Associate Director of International Student Services at Springfield College.

Kisala is the only student from Springfield College to study abroad since the outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020. Kisala’s dedication

Springfield College senior Kacper Kisala in Prague, Czech Republic, where he studied abroad for the 2021 fall semester. (Photo Courtesy of Kacper Kisala)

and motivation, along with a dash of luck, pushed him through the necessary steps that landed him in Prague, Czechia for the 2021 fall semester.

“The application pro-

cess kind of dragged on for over a year because of COVID,” Kisala said.

“It was brutal.”

One of the main obstacles for Kisala were travel advisories. A country’s travel adviso-

ry determines how safe it is for someone to visit that destination and is measured on a scale from one to four. The higher the number, the more dangerous it is to visit that country.

Springfield College only allows students to travel to countries with a level two or lower travel advisory. This fact alone prevented every student from going abroad this past fall.

Everyone except Kisala.

“We had about six students in that set up for fall 2021, and then the Delta variant hit in the summer. We were seeing infection rates rise around the world and travel advisories rise correspondly,” Germaine said. “Somehow, some light was shining over Kacper and the Czech Republic.”

Kisala was lucky, because today, Czech Republic has a level four travel advisory. According to the U.S. Department of State, level four means “do not travel.”

A large component that made this trip possible for Kisala was

Campus News

February 10, 2022

the fact that he was awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. This is a scholarship that assists students with financial needs to study or intern abroad. About 25% of applicants get accepted to be a recipient.

This scholarship made its way to Springfield in 2020 after Germaine arrived on Alden Street in 2019. She was the Gilman Scholarship advisor at her previous job and knows how helpful it can be.

“When I realized that that program wasn’t started [at Springfield], that was one of the first things I wanted to launch because it is such a phenomenal resource for students,” Germaine said.

Kisala is the first Gilman Scholarship

Awardee at Springfield College and it is one of the things that kept him from turning back on his endeavor.

“I was on the verge of just completely giving up and then I found this scholarship,” Kisala said.

This year and half journey for Kisala was torturous. All he wanted was to see a new part of the world and more importantly, visit his family.

That’s what crushed Kisala when his initial plan to go overseas in spring 2021 was canceled. “It sucked a lot because for me, abroad was just a different thing because I have all my family there too,” Kisala said.

Kisala was born in the United States, but moved to Poland weeks

Kacper Kisala posing in front of Mt. Titlis in Switzerland.

(Photo Courtesy of Kacper Kisala)

after being born so he and his parents could be with the rest of their family. After three years of living in Poland they moved back to America permanently.

From Charles University, the college Kisala studied at in Prague, to where his family was in Poland was just an 11 hour bus ride which is much shorter than the 4,000 mile flight he took over the Atlantic Ocean.

His flight left from Newark, N.J. and made a stop at Lisbon, Portugal for three hours before finally leaving for Prague.

After about ten hours spent in the air, Kisala landed in Czechia and everything he had to do to get there had been worth it.

“Getting there and finally landing there was like, ‘Holy shit, I’m here,’” Kisala said. “It was surreal and Prague was just beautiful too.”

Kisala described Charles University as similar to Boston University. “Charles University is huge…there’s not like that campus vibe,” Kisala said. He mentions that there aren’t any ice rinks in front of dorms, but the amount of castles made up for it.

During his time in Prague, Kisala did a lot of traveling to other countries in Europe.

He visited Germany, Austria, Hungary, Poland, Scotland and Switzerland.

He also visited Bari,

Italy which was his most memorable of all.

Kisala didn’t choose this city for any other reason other than the fact that it was a cheap flight. He spontaneously booked his flight to Bari a day before he left.

He was there for two days and stayed in a hostel that was less than satisfactory. “Honestly, I was in this hostel that was just completely old, it was bad,” he said.

“There were just so many mosquitoes that I couldn’t even sleep there the whole night.”

What else can you expect for the price of $10 a night.

Despite the somewhat negative experience, Kisala never let the smile dwindle from his face. “It’s the small things that make a trip, like a cheap hostel or something that makes a cool story,” he said.

No matter what country Kisala was in, his main hobby involved walking and taking photos. He enjoyed seeing new things no matter how simple or small they were.

Kisala had time for all of this travel inside Europe because of his light school schedule.

He only had classes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. He took 12 credits at Charles University and three at Springfield College.

Thanks to the uprising of learning via Zoom, Kisala and the PA program at Spring-

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field were able to work out a schedule where Kisala would take his seminar class on zoom every Wednesday night at 9 p.m. This was necessary because this class was only offered in the fall.

“It was at 9 p.m. because of the time shift which is kind of funny because everyone was in class and I was just on the full screen.”

Before Kisala made his way back to Springfield to attend in-person classes, he was able to visit his family in Poland for three weeks.

“I went for Christmas, which was great because I actually never have been in Poland for Christmas.”

Although Kisala had to wait longer than expected and had to face some unforeseen difficulties, he was able to make the best of his time in Prague.

It may be hard, but it is possible for others to travel abroad too. The International Center is accepting applications as they continue to monitor the travel advisories for other countries.

“The challenge is just making sure that we are able to look out for the health and safety of students, but also at some point resume their ability to engage on a global level,” Germaine said.

Campus News

February 10, 2022

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A global buffet To kick off Black History Month, several groups on campus organized an event to bring people together with food. _ By Jac St. Jean _ @jacsaintj

Minutes before 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 8, waves of students and members of the Springfield College community funneled their way into the small entrance of the Dodge Room in the Campus Union to get “A Taste Around the World.”

This was the first of four events sponsored by the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion throughout February to celebrate Black History Month. Other collaborators that helped run the event included Y Relations, the International Center, Y Club, the International Student Organization, the Black Student Union and the Asian Culture Club.

Members of these organizations waited eagerly to serve the crowd of students and community members, and piled plates high with an array of food from local interna-

tional restaurants. Indian, Chinese, Lebanese/Middle Eastern, Vietnamese, Jamaican, Spanish and Mexican food was served.

Student favorites included the churros from Moctezuma’s Mexican Restaurant, sweet plantains from Yaad Food Jamaican Restaurant, chicken and beef empanadas from Mesa Buffet, and chicken curry and garlic naan from Panjabi Tadka.

All of these restaurants reside in Springfield and represent many cultures of people who live in the city and a few students who attend Springfield College.

Y-Club played a major role in the smooth running of the event. Along with serving the many varieties of international food, members of the club advertised their partnership with YMCA Peru, where Springfield College students travel

‘A Taste Around the World’ was hosted in the Dodge room. (Photo Courtesy of Springfield College)

to Lima, Peru and help the women in the country with economic development. Participants of this service program will not only learn about the historical culture of the South American country, but also help in a capacity-building service project.

Jade Kiang, the volunteer director of the Y Club, shared her perspective on organizing this event and the importance of bringing international cultures to Springfield College.

“I think a lot of different groups of people came,” Kiang explained.

“There [were] a lot of international students, because they were one of the organizations that helped to run [the event]... it just brought a lot of different types of people together which is cool.”

Kiang continued, “We have a lot of international

students on campus, and they don’t really get a lot of recognition. This is kind of a way to get to know more about them and their culture while also celebrating it at the same time.”

International students from Nepal, Ghana, and many other countries were in attendance enjoying the tastes of the many cultures that were represented in the Dodge Room. Yahya Yahya, an international student from Ethiopia, expressed his joy in attending the event with his fellow international students and being able to learn more about other cultures.

“I think it’s kind of cool because you get to taste different cuisines with different people from different backgrounds,” Yahya expressed. “It’s a good way to get to know different people. I actually liked some of the food,

like Lebanese food, and some Indian food which is my favorite because I have a lot of Indian friends.”

Yahya also shared his take on the event overall, and highlighted the aspect of food as a method of bringing people together.

“It’s important for Springfield College to do this,” Yahya stated. “I feel like people are in their own bubbles, so when you have an event like this you bring people from different cultures, backgrounds, and you get them together. Food is the common thing that brings people together.”

Yahya’s words rang true as over a hundred people came together to learn about, celebrate and enjoy the collection of cultures represented. For more information about the rest of the Black History Month events, head to Springfield College’s main website.

Campus News

February 10, 2022

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Two students walk around Alumni Hall around the 1940s. (Photo Courtesy of Springfield College)

The unique history of Alumni Hall Springfield College’s longest standing dormitory was once used as a hospital during World War II and recently became co-ed. _ By Braedan Shea _ @othafishinthes1

Tucked away in the corner of campus, standing tall above Lake Massasoit, rests Springfield College’s oldest standing student housing building Alumni Hall.

In June of 1926, contracts for the construction of a new men’s dormitory were awarded to the E.J. Pinney Company, back when the college still held the International YMCA College name. On September 22nd, the building’s cornerstone was laid.

Inside of that cornerstone resides a list of the 1,041 Springfield Alumni who contributed to the hall’s construction; hence, where the name originated.

One year after the cornerstone was laid, Alumni Hall was completed. It wasn’t until June of

1930 that the building was dedicated, however, when all the funds were officially received. According to the Springfield College Archives, at the time of the dedication, it was said, “The building will grow old in time. But the spiritual values which it symbolizes defy time and circumstance…the spirit will endure long after the ‘New Dorm’ has become old.”

Alumni Hall continued to serve its purpose as an all men’s dormitory until October of 1944, when it was, in conjunction with the Administration building, used as a US Navy Convalescent during World War II. Alumni Hall was used as a hospital and most of the patients were housed there.

One wing was equipped for bed cases. The rest of the rooms were converted into hospital rooms that could house two-to-four men. The contract was later terminated in February of 1946, with the United States flag being lowered for the last time under US Navy direction on February 28. Following this, the building became a dormitory again.

Despite being such an old building, Alumni Hall has stayed pretty much untouched since its establishment in 1926, apart from necessary renovations. The biggest change has been on the inside, and it is not just the decor.

From the beginning in 1885, Springfield College was an all-male institution, and it stayed that

way until 1950 when it was decided the best way for the school to grow was to allow women.

When women were finally allowed to attend Springfield College, the only housing option available was Abbey-Appleton Hall. Though there were other dorms available for them to live in, Alumni Hall was off limits to women for a full 67 years, until finally in 2017 the dormitory changed to coed housing.

In June of that same year, the time capsule that was placed inside of the cornerstone was opened during “Reunion Weekend.” Inside of the copper box used as the time capsule were pamphlets used in fundraising and to promote Springfield

College and the YMCA, some fundraising posters, a couple of photographs, business cards, and some newspapers. Another unique item found inside was a typed seven-page list of all the Alumni who donated to the construction.

Today, Alumni Hall remains largely unchanged.

Apart from who was living in the building, it still has stayed relatively the same. The Carlisle Foyer, donated by Mr. S. Richard Carlisle of Springfield, and the MacLean Terrace, named in recognition of Mrs. Charles F. MacLean of New York City, are still used to hold gatherings, presentations and student events for all students to enjoy, providing beautiful views of Lake Massasoit.

Campus News

February 10, 2022

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Practicing safe sex The Student Advocates for Wellness are an on-campus resource for sexual education.

A bulletin board promoting safe sex in Alumni Hall. (Photo Courtesy of Brenna Lachapelle)

__ By Carley Crain __ @carley_crain12

Colorful condoms, toys of all shapes and sizes, purple packets of lubrication and other sex products fill boxes to the brim in the Wellness Center, all for use by the Student Advocates for Wellness group to promote safe sex on campus.

Organizations and students at Springfield College recognize that being sexually active during this time is a normal part of life, instead of feeding into societal stigmas surrounding the topic. Sex education, however, can be limited or nonexistent -- or completely abstinence-focused -- across most New England states, where a majority of Springfield students are from, according to the74million.

org. In Massachusetts, for example, schools are not required to teach sex education.

However, a new law called the Healthy Youth Act was passed in Massachusetts in 2020. It states that in schools where sex education is part of the curriculum, they must “ensure the curriculum covers reproduction and sexual development, how to discuss safe sexual activity, human development changes, anatomy, the benefits of abstinence and importance of contraceptives, healthy relationships, and communication skills.” The law also mandates that different sexual identities must be covered.

States like Vermont, however, require sex edu-

cation, but topics such as consent are not mandatory, while abstinence is an obligatory topic in their sex curriculum.

Essentially, students who come to Springfield from the New England States may not be educated or informed on safe sex. Instead, they may have been steered away from being sexually active, despite it being a normal desire by young students.

The Student Advocates for Wellness, Resident Assistants and the Health Center are working hard to change this narrative and reteach students an entirely different perspective regarding sex.

“I came from a high school where I got no sex

education, and I think it is very important for sex education to be taught in classrooms or residential halls during your freshman year because some people have never heard of this,” said junior Arianna Vessicchio, who is involved with the Student Advocates. “I came from an abstinence-only education and that was all I was told to do.

People come to college and they want to explore, so we just want to keep them safe.”

The Health Center is a great resource for students on campus to discuss their sexual health with professionals in a confidential and non-judgemental setting. Students who are interested in learning

more about different contraceptive methods can reach out, as they are allowed to prescribe all types of birth control except Nexplanon and IUDs. All students on campus are required to have health insurance, and by law according to Planned Parenthood, birth control is fully covered under all health insurance plans due to the Affordable Care Act. Emergency Contraceptives, like Plan B, are also available for $20 at the Health Center, which is a fraction of the cost compared to local pharmacies, where it is retailed at $50.

Pregnancy testing is done at the Health Center and comes at no cost, which is a much more

February 10, 2022 accessible and quicker option for students who may not be able to afford pregnancy tests at the store. The Health Center also offers STI and STD testing for all students, regardless if they are showing symptoms or not.

The most common STD on campus is Chlamydia, according to Debbie Low, a nurse at the Health Center.

Chlamydia often does not present symptoms but is very treatable with antibiotics. Having an STD as a college student is fairly common, despite its negative connotations.

In fact, according to HealthSnub.org, one in four college students has had an STD. Low recommends that students get tested once a year for STDs and STI’s.

The Health Center in the past has held STI and STD clinics in the Campus Union and hopes to plan more of these events in the future.

“It was a way where we tried to de-stigmatize STI screening and get as many people as we could to send a sample in,” said Low. For students who are worried about privacy, specifically from family members, lab tests may result in billing information being sent to parents or guardians. In this case, the Health Center recommends going to Planned Parenthood in Springfield, where STD and STI testing is not billed to insurance. At Planned

News Campus

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Parenthood, patients are allowed to pay on a fee basis, so insurance is not involved at all. However, pregnancy tests at the Health Center are free and do not get billed to a student’s health insurance.

“I think when people think about Planned Parenthood, their minds go right to abortion,” said Low. “Yes, they do abortions but they do everything when it comes to women’s health, and really sexual health in general. They are an awesome resource in our area especially for those who are trying to get out The Student Advocates for Wellness. (Photo Courtesy of Springfield College Archives) of their insurance.”

Pap smears -- a test that is recommended for cation into RA programtowards freshman, “Good staff will be answering sexually active indivduals ming,” said Lachapelle. questions about sex in Vibrations,” which is who idenitfy as women at “RAs are responsible for usually catered to upper- a completly dark Fuller around 21 years of age -making a new bulletin Arts Center. The club classman about how to can be done at the Health board once a month, so use sex toys properly, and is hoping this event will Center as well. AddiI try and make a bullemake students feel more “Contactless Condoms,” tionally, medication for tin board each semester a service where different comfortable talking students who identify as regarding sex education types of condoms are de- about sex openly. men who are having inand resources.

Resident Assistant’s lievered to an individual’s tercourse with other men “For example, around (RA’s) are not required dorm room. can be prescribed PrEP Halloween-time my to talk to their residents Students who are at the Health Center or about safe sex, but many bulletin board was titled, interested in receiving at Planned Parenthood, ‘Nothing is spookier than make it a priorty to do free condoms can click which can help prevent so. Junior Brenna Lacha- unsafe sex,’ and it includthe link in the SpringHIV. ed STD statistics, tips on pelle, an RA in Alumni field Student Advocate’s “We really like when asking for consent and Instagram bio (@sc_stu- Hall, understands the students come in for this free condoms,” continued dentadvocates) to fill out benefits of promoting kind of stuff because it Lachapelle. safe sex to her residents. a quick form. gives us a chance to have Springfield College She has created multiple “It is a judgment free a good, educational conprides itself on inclubulletin boards on her program; we just drop versation,” said Low. sivity and diversity. them off and not ask any floor that help students The Student AdOrganizations like the understand what they questions for who it is vocates for Wellness Student Advocates and can do when having sex for,” said junior Rachel focus their efforts and the Health Center are to stay healthy and safe.

Perry, a student who is programming on sex putting this into prac“As an RA there are involved with the Student positivity and safety. The tice and making sure no requirments around Advocates. group’s main programs students are comfortpromoting safe sex, so it The group is hostinclude “Let’s Talk About able with their personal is really up to us as indiing their first Sex in the Sex,” which are presenhealth and sexuality. viduals to chose weather Dark event on March tations that are targeted we incorporate sex edu8th, where students and

Campus News

Feburary 10, 2022

PAGE 8

A higher level of protection Springfield College has made KN95 masks available to all students, faculty and staff in the Student Union and Learning Commons. __ By Cait Kemp __ @caitlinkemp09

Upon the arrival to campus for the new semester, there was a noticeable change among the campus community in terms of masking. No longer were the blue surgical and cloth masks, but the KN95s seemed to be much more popular.

With the spread of Omicron, the CDC recommended KN95 masks due to their higher filtration and protection.

“They use synthetic fibers that act both as mechanical and electrostatic barriers to better prevent tiny particles from getting into your nose or mouth,” said Dr. Elizabeth Morgan, Interim Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs.

According to the CDC, N95 and KN95 masks are categorized as respirators, which are specialized filtering masks. They have the highest protection, and not only keep in oneself ’s particles, it protects against letting particles in.

In regards to what type of mask the College wants people to wear, they have looked to the CDC guidelines. They encourage N95 and KN95 masks, as they have the highest protec-

tion, and have supplies of those around campus.

However, they have not set a rule stating that it is required to wear a specific type of mask, just highly encouraged.

“The College is following the CDC guidance with regard to masks for employees and students,” said Morgan.

“The CDC recommends that people wear a high quality mask that fits you well and that you will wear consistently.”

The masking rules remain the same that the College has seen since last semester. Masking for everyone despite vaccination status is required while indoors (excluding when eating, in one’s own dorm, or by themself in an office/room). Those who are vaccinated can remove their mask outdoors if social distancing is an option, but unvaccinated individuals must keep a mask on outside as well as inside.

“We take masking as one of our multiple steps we take as a College to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” said Morgan.

“This also includes

Springfield College is providing KN95 masks for students and faculty around campus. (Photo courtesy of Springfield College)

vaccination and booster requirements, encouraging social distancing and limiting large social gathering, providing optional weekly surveillance testing, making available rapid testing for anyone with symptoms, and following conservative isolation timing for those affected by COVID-19.”

The conservative isolation timing Morgan referred to is the College’s policy to still hold a 10day isolation/quarantine upon becoming infected with COVID-19, despite

recent CDC policy updates to a 5 day quarantine without symptoms.

Springfield College chose to stick with the 10-day period in order to keep cases low and remain as safe a campus as possible.

If you are in need of a KN95 mask, check out some of the buildings like the library or the Student Union to see if any are available for use. As Morgan said, they are encouraging the use of these higher filtration masks in order to contain the

virus and have as normal a semester as possible.

“We recognize that these measures can be burdensome to our students and employees, and consistently monitor the COVID-19 landscape to alter our plans to help bridge our interest in providing the best possible environment for student learning and development as well as maintaining the health and safety of our community,” said Morgan.

February 10, 2022

Sports

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Continuous success Chris Trelli has dominated competition since his sophomore year and aims to be a Division III All-American for the second time in his career.

__ By Chris Gionta __ @Chris_Gionta

Since Springfield College senior wrestler Chris Trelli got a starting role his sophomore year, he has done more than everything to maintain it. In the 2019-20 season, he put together an overall record of 23-4, qualified for nationals, and was named a Division III All-American.

Two years later, despite roadblocks, he is on the same track of excellence.

“My first year, I was a backup, and I didn’t love being a backup,” said Trelli. “But, I kind of understood my role and understood my place at that time — coming in as a first-year. So, I kind of wanted to change that.”

He came onto Alden Street with an already-impressive resumé.

At Bristol Central High School, Trelli placed in the top five in the state tournament every year he was there and ended up winning the state championship in his senior year.

Thus, a backup role was something to get used to for Trelli.

He competed in two matches in his first year at Springfield and won both.

Competition was much more frequent for Trelli in his sophomore season; however, his first tournament did not ensue in an ideal manner and he lost twice.

Trelli only lost one

Chris Trelli is currently ranked No. 7 in the 141-pound weight class. (Photo Courtesy of Springfield College Athletics)

more time in the regular season while winning 18 times in that span. At the Northeast Regional, he lost his first match and needed five consecutive victories at the event in order to qualify for nationals. He ended up doing exactly what he needed to do with those five matches.

Trelli credits a lot of his success from his sophomore year to committing himself further and shifting his mindset.

“A lot of stuff goes unnoticed,” said Trelli.

“I was getting in extra

workouts during the day. I would go in in the morning and work with coaches… my mindset changed.

My first year, I was just kind of going through the motions. I wasn’t extremely dedicated. But after that, I just hit a groove and kept riding.”

The 2019-20 All-American rode a lot of momentum into his junior year, but unfortunately, there was no competition in the 2020-21 season. It took a surplus of mental strength to maintain his level of work ethic during

that season.

“I actually talked to my coaches about this when we were going through it all,” Trelli said. “And at first, I kind of thought there was no purpose behind practicing and stuff like that — there was really no incentive to work out.

“But then, they said, ‘Yeah, we may not be competing this year, but you’re still working out, getting better, and training for next year.’ So I kind of put that in perspective and really thought, just

because we can’t compete, doesn’t mean I can’t get better.”

Inevitably, his continuous effort has led to him earning an 18-2 record so far this season. This is despite missing some competition due to testing positive for COVID-19.

He was forced to miss a meet and quarantine, but this did not halt his momentum whatsoever, as he has been undefeated since getting out of isolation.

This did not come without its challenges, however. “[The toughest challenge was] definitely cardio. I was exhausted,” said Trelli. “It was tough for me because I came back on Friday, and then we went to a competition that Saturday morning.”

Trelli knew that he had not trained in a significant amount of time, but he was still confident because of the amount of preparation he had done prior to the quarantine.

“With all the months leading up to that, I still felt confident in my talent,” he said.

Only a couple of weeks remain until regionals for Division III wrestling, which is something that is not lost on any of the top competitors like Trelli.

He finished third in the region in his weight class his sophomore year and intends to take the top spot in 2022.

February 10, 2022

Sports

PAGE 10

‘It’s never about him’

Casey Lane had to recover for 16 months from an ACL tear and another two months with an ankle injury, but it has not stopped him from being an inspiration to his teammates and coaches.

Casey Lane taking a shot in a November game against East Connecticut. (Joe Arruda/The Student) __ By Garrett Cote__ @garrett_cote

Just over three years ago, first-year Collin Lindsay planned on trying out for the men’s basketball team. He wasn’t close, yet, with anyone at Springfield College – but all of that was about to change on

one fateful day he chose to shoot around on a hoop in Dana Gymnasium.

Fellow first years – and recruits already on the men’s basketball team – Casey Lane and Daryl Costa strolled in

and asked Lindsay to join them for a workout.

Lindsay, perhaps making assumptions based on Lane’s 6’0 stature, asked him if he could dunk.

In response, Lane tossed a ball off the wall behind one of the hoops and timed his jump perfectly as it ricocheted towards him.

He soared through the air and dipped the ball below his waist before slamming down an emphatic windmill dunk.

And with that, Lindsay had the answer to his question.

Not only could Casey Lane dunk, but he could also shoot the lights out. And he was the future of the Springfield College men’s basketball team.

“I remember it perfectly, he just walked up to me and asked if I was trying out,” Lindsay said of Lane.

“It was cool of him to walk up to me and invite me to play because I was a walk-on. This kid was athletic as hell.

He was a beast. After playing with him, I was like, ‘What am I getting myself into?’ He was that good.”

After getting settled into practice and finding his place on the team for the first month and a half, Lane was in a groove. He wasn’t playing a whole lot of minutes but he felt comfortable and confident as a member of the Pride.

He was eager to earn a consistent role following winter break and acknowledged he had to stand out in practice to do so.

About 10 minutes into that first practice of intercession, he was split into a group with Jake Ross and Heath Post to perform a drill focused on defensive closeouts and driving to the basket. When Lane got the ball, he ripped through, drove baseline and came to a jump stop – a routine play he’s made a thousand times over the course of his career. Only, this time, his legs didn’t cooperate, and an odd POP sound accompanied his jump stop.

“I thought I landed fine, but my knee stayed where it was and my leg went out – and there was a pretty good POP. Jake (Ross) heard it because he was right

there, and we both kind of knew something was up,” Lane said.

A few days later, following a handful of tests and an MRI, Lane was diagnosed with a torn ACL that required surgery and caused him to miss the remainder of the season.

The feelings of devastation, frustration and anger all circulated throughout his body.

But self-pity was never an option.

Long, intensive rehab followed. The process was to take about a year to fully recover.

But after only five days post-surgery, Lane was walking again.

“It was awesome to see I had already made baby steps really early,” he said. “It was a new challenge to take on and I loved it. A lot of people would say it’s a crappy thing, but tough things only happen to people who are tough enough to handle them.

I was one of those people, and this was something I was supposed to overcome.”

Although the majority of athletes take roughly 12 months to overcome a torn ACL,

Sports

February 10, 2022 Lane took 16. Physically, he was ready by month 10. But to trust himself to move the same way he once did is what added time.

To help with that he had his younger sister, Brooke, who was training for a big track-andfield event at the time, document his recovery process to see the significant improvements he was making.

“We did a ton of training together,” Brooke said. “At the time he was recovering I was training super hard. This was also during quarantine so nobody was really doing anything, so we were running and [working on ourselves]. We ended up doing a bunch of workouts on a turf field down the road from our house and I recorded them so he could see his progress and his range of motion. It was big for him to realize and see that he was getting better.”

Support from his family throughout the entire ACL rehabilitation was encouraging for Lane, and having people who care constantly checking in on him made it even easier. His father Stephen, mother Tiffany, older brother Tyler and Brooke never allowed the injury to affect their family dynamic. If Casey wasn’t going to let it get to him, they were to follow.

“They didn’t let it

interfere with who I was as a person,” Lane said.

“I wasn’t letting much of it bother me, so they weren’t going to let it bother them. We’re a sport-oriented family, but if it didn’t need to be brought up that I wasn’t playing, it wasn’t going to be brought up.

They all supported me in different ways and had unique ways of showing it.”

Without his beaming personality and outgoingness in his Wilton, New Hampshire home during the school year, things are a bit empty in the Lane household.

“Overall, it’s a different atmosphere around him,” Brooke said of her big brother. “When he’s home, our family is in a whole different place – laughing, joking and playing games.

That’s just kind of what he brings. Without him, it’s kind of a bummer around the house. He’s just a great kid.”

With rehab halting his ability to suit up in his sophomore campaign and COVID-19 shutting down his entire junior year, Lane had academically completed three full years on Alden Street while playing in just four games.

As the time came for the start of his senior season (2021-2022), he felt the healthiest he had been since high school.

“This year, we came up on the first couple weeks of school, and I felt like the best version

PAGE 11

Lane in Springfield’s opening game against Western New England. (Photo courtesy of Springfield College Athletics)

of myself I had ever been,” Lane said. “Mentally I was ready to go and I was playing so well leading up to the season.”

On Nov. 17, Lane posted a career-high 13 points in 27 minutes of game action, the most minutes he had ever seen playing for Springfield. He was finally over the hump, and the light was bright at the end of the tunnel.

Every struggle, internal and external, was just a moment in time and he could finally move past it.

However, three days later when the Pride traveled to Keene State for their yearly matchup with the Owls, Lane came down awkwardly and rolled his ankle – an ankle he had already sprained in the past and had been wearing a brace on for every game and practice. Afraid to get it looked at knowing he would have to miss more time, Lane kept quiet and continued to play through it.

“I kind of saw a difference in his play after the ankle injury,” said Springfield head coach

Charlie Brock. “He wasn’t reacting with the speed that was typical for him and it was a product of his ankle not functioning properly.”

The more he tried playing on it, the more discomfort came with it. He needed to get this ankle checked out, so he did. The MRI came back and showed two fractures in two different spots in his ankle – an injury that required a two month recovery. Again, instead See Lane continued on Page 12

February 10, 2022

Sports

Lane preparing to return to play. (Garrett Cote/The Student) Lane continued from Page 11

of self-pity, Lane came to practice everyday and provided a positive voice on the sidelines.

“This year especially, because of the injury, he’s been like another coach,” Lindsay said of Lane. “He’s always telling me things. Him not being able to play all the time has led him to be

more vocal. His IQ of the game is incredible.”

Presently, on a Feb. 7 Monday afternoon around lunchtime – which has most people a combination of sluggish and tired, hungry and grumpy and drained of any vibrancy as yet another week is kick-started by the most dreadful of the seven days – a typically calm Blake

Arena at this time isn’t so calm.

A ball is bouncing. A JBL Charge speaker is set underneath the far basket blasting songs

by Drake. And a figure dressed in all black with two gold chains – one holding a pendant of a cross – wearing black, red and white Damian Lillard shoes is darting from one side of

PAGE 12 the floor to the other, knocking down shots from behind the arc one after another, as if Lillard himself was the one shooting.

Only it wasn’t. It was Lane putting in extra work knowing later that day would be the first time he took the court for practice in over two months.

“His story and the way he’s dealt with everything is just so inspirational to people,” said Ben Kistner, assistant coach for the Pride.

“He comes to play every single day with the same purpose and passion. There aren’t a lot of days where you see him down, he keeps his energy high, and that’s what I love about him.

He comes to practice everyday as if he never had an injury in the first place.”

On top of Lane being a standout character, he can flat out hoop – he just hasn’t had the chance to show it.

“He’s got some skills and he’s got a lot of talent,” Brock said.

“He brings intensity everyday, but it’s never about him. He always puts the team first and that’s huge. It’s a shame he’s dealt with so many setbacks.”

Whether Lane chooses to use his remaining eligibility to come back next year and give it one final shot at basketball, or he moves on from playing and tries his hand at coaching, he

will bring his perseverance and willingness to overcome any circumstance with him.

“He knows a lot about the game, and it’s going to help him to one day be a phenomenal coach,” Lindsay said. “Just his mentality and everything he’s been through. A big thing about a coach is being able to relate to your players, and any players that go through a hardship he’s going to be able to relate to them. I just know he’s going to be successful because of what he’s gone through.”

Even if Lane were to never play another second of competitive basketball at the collegiate level, it wouldn’t matter to him. He has accomplished everything through his personal battles with each injury he’s had.

“You’d think everyone who has gone through a serious injury would say it stinks,” Lane said. “But I grew so much as a person.

I was personally impressed with myself, and it gave me a whole new idea of how tough I was. This is stuff I’m going to take with me throughout my life when, if, basketball and I ever separate.”

February 10, 2022

Sports

PAGE 13

The streak continues

The Springfield College men’s volleyball team won its sixth consecutive International Volleyball Hall of Fame Morgan Classic after taking down Vassar and Endicott.

By Joe Arruda @joearruda9

Blake Arena filled twice over the weekend for the premiere Division III men’s volleyball showcase in the region, the International Volleyball Hall of Fame Morgan Classic. The event, named after William G. Morgan featured four of the best D-III programs in the country – headlined

by No. 1 Springfield College which won the event for the sixth straight time in 2022.

“It’s a great time,” Springfield head coach Charlie Sullivan said. “It just has so much history, we’re always so happy to collaborate with the Hall of Fame to make it special and it just benefits our guys so it was good for them to have this. This advantage is normalcy as we’ve been missing for so long.”

Morgan invented the game of volleyball at the Holyoke YMCA,

just over 20 minutes away from Springfield’s campus, in 1895. It was first called “Mintonette” before the first public exhibition in Judd Gymnasia at Springfield College when the now-global sport was renamed “Volley Ball.”

The first year of the Morgan Classic was in 1988 before the event found its new home at Springfield College in 1990. Since its beginnings, the only year without the annual tournament was in 2021, when it fell victim to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Springfield brought the annual classic back with a thrilling match against No. 3 Vassar on Friday, Feb. 4.

“We’re having fun out there, we have a good group and it just shows,” graduate student Johjan Mussa Robles said. “We’re work-

Liam York (10), Matt Lilley (9), and Johjan Mussa Robles (3) celebrating after a point. (Photo courtesy of Springfield College Athletics)

ing a lot, we’re working a lot on skill, but this core and the energy and the cohesion that we have is unmatchable.”

Down two sets to one entering the fourth set with a blacked-out crowd doing all they could to will the Pride some momentum, Springfield earned it in the fourth. With the set tied at 13, the Pride rattled off four straight points after kills from Nate Reynolds and Brennen Brandow along with a pair of Vassar attack errors.

There was a clear momentum shift inside Blake Arena which carried Springfield to a 25-18 win in set four, and continued to carry the Pride to a dominant 15-5 showing in the

final frame.

Jubilation filled the gym at the conclusion of the match, and that momentum carried over into the Championship Game the next day, when the Pride swept Endicott to win the tournament.

The weekend was filled with multiple standout performances from junior Jarrett Anderson, a two-time First Team All-American and the 2020 AVCA Newcomer of the Year. Anderson tallied 26 kills while hitting over .400 and added 11 aces over the two tournament matches.

“It’s funny how when he came in here, I was a senior and I’m still here. We’re still playing together and he brings the energy. He’s qui-

et, but he just brings the energy in his own way and we just love him,” Mussa Robles said. “He’s just a great volleyball player and he’s evolved as a player and a human being. We just love him and love having him around.”

The Morgan Classic victory solidifies the Pride their spot at No. 1 in the national AVCA Division III rankings for at least another week. Undefeated at 7-0 with two wins over topfive opponents under their belt as of Wednesday, Feb. 10, Springfield will fill the Mecca once again this weekend for three matches highlighted by a heavyweight clash with No. 3 Stevens to open Saturday’s tri-match at 3 p.m.

February 10, 2022

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PAGE 14

‘The brain surgeon’ Springfield College assistant women’s basketball coach Colleen O’Connell has played a vital role on the team in her four years of coaching.

O’Connell (left) beside Springfield women’s basketball coach Naomi Graves. (Photo courtesy of Springfield College Athletics) __ By Hayden Choate __ @ChoateHayden

When Colleen O’Connell was a junior on the Vassar College women’s basketball team, she was preparing for the season when it all suddenly slipped away. She went down on a wet court, causing extensive damage to half of her knee that ended her season two weeks before it had even started.

Spending the season in recovery, O’Connell, a four-year captain, became a student assistant coach. She had never thought about coaching at the college level – at least, until one game where everything changed.

At halftime, O’Connell went out of her comfort zone and made a suggestion to her

coach about adjusting a play. As the game went on, her coach called a timeout, turned to her in the huddle and said, “Colleen, come here and draw up on the board what you told me at halftime for the team.”

The team ran the play successfully and scored. It was at that moment that O’Connell knew she wanted to

coach.

“I had goosebumps,” O’Connell said. “I had never screamed so loud in my life. I got lightheaded, it was such a rush and that gave me a tremendous amount of confidence during that season to start approaching my teammates in a different way as a coach rather than as their captain or as their teammate, and that inspired me to pursue coaching.”

Now in her fourth season as a graduate assistant coach with the Springfield College women’s basketball team, O’Connell got her Master’s degree in 2020 in Athletic Administration from Springfield and is currently in the PhD program studying Physical Education with a concentration in Teaching and Administration.

Before coming to Alden Street, she was the recruiting coordinator and assistant coach at Montclair State University close to her hometown of Maywood, New Jersey. O’Connell knew one of the former graduate assistants at

Springfield and met head coach Naomi Graves at a recruiting event over four years ago.

“The mentorship that I’ve received from Coach Graves has been instrumental,” O’Connell said. “She’s someone who has helped me develop as a person, as a leader and then as a coach.”

Since she came to Springfield, O’Connell has tried to gain as much knowledge as she can from everyone around her.

“It’s been a learning process for me,” O’Connell said. “What I think Springfield has taught me is that you can learn from every experience and you should be learning from every person.”

“You don’t know it all; I learn from the players everyday, I learn from Coach Graves everyday, I learn from Carolee Pierce everyday, I learn from my professors everyday. Through learning, we’re able to coach better and be better leaders.”

In the past four years, O’Connell has made

Sports

February 10, 2022

plenty of memories with the team, but the ones that stand out the most are the little moments, day in and day out.

“It’s all the little moments and those moments happen in conversations and staff meetings,” O’Connell said.

“The way that we laugh about things, the way that we strategize about things, we get frustrated about things, those are some of my favorite moments. Being able to be with the players, little moments in practices, answering questions, helping them, making them laugh, sometimes just taking the pressure off, bumping into them on campus, just being there for each other.”

Since joining the coaching staff four years ago, O’Connell has tried to not only be a coach but be a source of support on and off the court.

“I think that’s what makes a difference, being able to have a player listen to you on the bench and look you in the eyes and trust you and believe what you’re saying to them and rely on that.”

“She’s a great friend, mentor and role model to the team,” senior Grace Dzindolet said.

“Everyone knows that they can turn to her for advice, regardless if it’s about basketball, life or school.”

In addition to the

relationships she has built, O’Connell loves to watch and study film of other teams and her own. O’Connell finds and breaks down every little detail possible when it comes to strategizing for games.

“Sometimes I forget how long I’m in front of the computer,” O’Connell said.

“I love watching film, I love breaking it down, I think that it’s incredibly valuable. It came from first having my injury in college. I started watching film really intensely then.”

“I’ve learned so much from her it’s unbelievable,” said fellow graduate assistant Carolee Pierce who is in her first season as a coach.

“We lost that game to MIT and the first thing we did was like, ‘Okay, we got to watch film,’ and she puts so much work into this too.

“When we scout, she stays up late and gets all the sets, every set, every call, any different tweak that they put in a set.

What Grace said is true; she is the brain surgeon, she’s so meticulous and so tactical.”

O’Connell graduated from Vassar with a degree in Neuroscience and Behavior. One day at practice, Dzindolet labeled O’Connell “the brain surgeon” because of her immense attention to detail.

“She mentioned how she did neuroscience for

PAGE 15

O’Connell (left) speaking at the Maroon Club ceremony for Sam Hourihan (right). (Photo courtesy of Springfield Athletics)

a little and wanted to be a brain surgeon,” Dzindolet said. “It made perfect sense, because she’s a perfectionist with her basketball plans. She does scout for us and she understands every play, every cut, sprint, or read to the basket.”

Preparation is something that O’Connell has worked hard at since she started coaching because she has seen how it can be beneficial for her team.

“Information builds confidence as a staff and our strategic plan and also in players, knowing what’s going to happen when it happens now.

That’s not to say we need to know everything, but knowing the right thing at the right time and knowing when to do the next right

thing is a skill, and I think that comes from studying your opponent and ultimately studying your own team.”

“I just think anytime she’s explaining something you can see how much work she puts into understanding and dissecting every single play and it blows my mind,” Dzindolet said.

Being able to be a part of a game she has loved since she was five years old, O’Connell is grateful for the people that have come into her life through basketball.

“It’s really about the connections,” O’Connell said. “I was talking to my old college teammate earlier; the people are the best part, hands down it’s why I do what I do.”

“Honestly, I would

trust Colleen with my life,” Pierce said. “She keeps me going a lot of the times when I come in, I struggled a lot in the first semester and I was pouring emotions and she was always like, ‘Listen, you’re smart, you’re a good person, you know basketball.’”

Having been able to play and coach basketball, O’Connell considers herself fortunate to be with people who enjoy it as much as she does.

“Love the game,” O’Connell said.

“It’s one of those things that just runs in your blood. There’s no comparison to it, and to be with a group of people that love it as much as you do is really awesome.”

SPORTS The Springfield Student

VOL. 136 NO. 16

The Comeback Kid

Senior men’s basketball player Casey Lane has not let his injuries hold him back, but instead he has learned valuable life lessons.

[See Page 10]

Women’s basketball assistant coach Colleen O’Connell plays vital role.

Springfield men’s volleyball wins sixth consecutive Morgan Classic.

Chris Trelli has been dominating competition since becoming a starter.

(Joe Arruda/The Student)

FEBRUARY 10, 2022