Volume 136 No. 21

The Springfield Student Est. 1910

scstudentmedia.com // @TheSpfldStudent

Volume 136 No. 21

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

Finally Mask Free

inside COVID Q & A with Christine Johnston, Page 3 Iron Sports and SCDM partner for a cause, Page 5 Students deal with burnout as semester winds down, Page 6 And more...

(Irene Rotondo/The Student)

April 7, 2022

April 7, 2022

Campus News

The Alden Street Review Presents

Thursday, April 21

L C F ORUM 4 :00 - 6: 00 PM

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Campus News

April 7, 2022

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Back to normal With the masking policies once again seeing an update, the Springfield College community is approaching a pre-pandemic look. ___ By Cait Kemp ___ @caitlinkemp09

Christine Johnston, Assistant Director of Alcohol and Drug Education and Health Promotion. (Photo courtesy of Springfield College)

Kemp: Where does the campus stand with COVID-19 in the past several weeks?

With the updated masking policy presenting an even more relaxed approach at combatting COVID-19, the Springfield College community has come a long way since the beginning of the pandemic. Students and staff alike are finally getting a sense of what “normal” used to be, despite the complete end of the virus still yet to come.

However, there has recently been an emergence of a new variant of COVID-19. The Springfield Student sat down with Christine Johnston, Assistant Director of Alcohol and Drug Education and Health Promotion, to discuss the pandemic and the status of the College campus.

Johnston: We were really pleasantly surprised with everything after spring break, we’ve only had a couple of cases. So with folks traveling and going everywhere, we didn’t see a big uptick in the two weeks after break which is awesome. We also didn’t see an uptick when we took masks off. That also has to do with the fact that people were already spreading it in their close friends groups, so there wasn’t a huge change.

Kemp: What can we expect from the new variant and how will it affect the campus?

Johnston: I think the answer is we don’t know.

The new variant, it’s hard to tell. We know that in some of the Northeast states, New York and Massachusetts, numbers are increasing. What we haven’t seen yet is the hospitalizations increasing. We know that the vaccines are really effective in preventing severe disease. We may see some numbers uptick, but I think it’s just still too early to tell.

Kemp: Who on campus is still in the testing protocol?

Johnston: On a consistent basis, athletes that are competing at the NEWMAC level, many of them are still testing, and anyone who has a vaccine exemption on file. Testing is still available for students as needed.

Kemp: What do the numbers look like in terms of cases on campus?

Johnston: In the last seven days we’ve done 252 tests, and we had one positive. That is a positivity rate of 0.4%. In the last month, our last 30 day positivity rate is 0.59%, so less than 1% of our tests are positive.

Obviously, we’re not testing the same number of people that we were a year ago, but that’s okay. We’re still following the guidance that vaccinated asymptomatic people don’t need to be in a testing protocol.

Kemp: Reflecting on the past year, how do you think the school community has handled the pandemic?

Johnston: I’m so proud of the community as a whole, that would be students, faculty, staff, administration. Just getting us here in September, keeping us here, having classes running in person, major events running in person all the way through Commencement happening in person. I think that really reflects upon every single member of this community.

April 7, 2022

Campus News

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Jesse McCartney to headline Spring Concert Sarah and the Sundays will open the concert scheduled for April 23.

___ By Braedan Shea ___ Staff Writer

The annual Spring Concert is back on Alden Street, and this performer isn’t just another beautiful face.

On Saturday, April 23, the weeklong Sti-Yu-Ka Palooza on campus will have its masterful send off, including a headline-worthy performance from former Disney star and singer Jesse McCartney.

McCartney came to fame in the late 1990s, when he starred on the daytime drama “All My Children” as JR Chandler. He later would join boy band Dream Street, before swifty branching out into a solo musical career. His first three albums - the Platinum Beautiful Soul [2004], Right Where You Want Me [2006], and Departure [2008] - consecutively found themselves in the Top 15 of the Billboard Top 200 with the singles “Beautiful Soul” minted Gold and “Leavin’” certified Platinum.

During this same period, McCartney built an impressive acting resume, being credited in programs such as “Chernobyl Diaries,” “Fear The Walking Dead” and “Alvin and the Chipmunks.”

The carnival begins at 1:00 p.m. in Lot 10 (located behind the PE Complex), which will have an array of food trucks and activities. The opening act, performed by Sarah and the Sundays, will take place at 2:00 p.m., and McCartney will follow. The event will conclude at 5:00 p.m.

In 2020, Fetty Wap was the anticipated headliner, but he never came to fruition due to the pandemic. This will be the first concert the College has seen since the pandemic began, with its last from 2019 when Bryce Vine and Cheat Codes performed. This year, students hope that McCartney can be an answer to something that they never got.

For those interested, the ticket sales opened on April 6. Students can purchase tickets for $25 each, and are allowed to purchase one guest ticket each for $35. Students were sent an email on April 4 with a flier attached with information on how to purchase tickets online.

Jesse McCartney. (Photo by Sam Dameshek)

Sarah and the Sundays. (Photo from euphoriazine.com)

April 7, 2022

Campus News

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Strength in numbers

Springfield College’s Iron Sports club partnered with the Dance Marathon on March 29 to help raise money for childhood cancer. ___ By Jacques St. Jean___ @jacsaintj

On Tuesday, March 29 at noon, the Team Iron Sports club partnered with the Springfield College Dance Marathon to help raise money for childhood cancer. A handful of Team Iron Sport’s strongest took to the squat racks in the wellness center and displayed some amazing feats of strength.

On the day prior to the event, members of the club advertised the event on Instagram with donation “bingo cards” on their stories, and also contacted their friends and families asking for donations.

The event welcomed everyone and anyone to come and watch, or even participate in the lifting, regardless of their membership with Team Iron Sports. Team Iron Sports’ President Cassidy Thompson was one of a few to “squat for a

cure” over a week ago.

“Our original idea was to squat the amount of money we earned,” Thompson explained, “then we realized that we could do better than that so we just tried to raise as much money as we could and then kind of have a celebration at the end where we just squatted and had fun after raising a bunch of money.”

Thompson and the rest of Team Iron Sports raised a little over $300 in only 24 hours, and now has an SC Dance Marathon team. In the fallout of this successful event, Thompson hopes to continue this tradition yearly, and get Team Iron Sports more involved in the Springfield College community.

“We hope to grow ourselves,” Thompson said, “and also grow more in the community

and help give back to other places on campus.”

The lift-off was also a great showcase of strength that Team Iron Sports has. Thompson herself tied her personal best squat of 225 pounds, and Vice Aiden Howell, a member of Team Iron Sports, lifts weights President Aiden Howell while president Cassidy Thompson looks on. (Photo Courtesy of Myah Baird) completed an overhead squat of 250 pounds, at 405 pounds.

“We’re hoping to which was the original “It was pretty close hold a meet in the comdollar amount goal of to (a personal record),” ing semester,” Frunzio the club’s fundraiser.

Frunzio added, “I don’t expressed, “like a mock Squatting that day know if it was a PR, but meet, powerlifting, alongside e-board mem- it was pretty close to weightlifting, I think bers Thompson and one. There were defithat’s the long term Howell was one of the nitely some PRs going goal.” club’s coaches, sophoon (that day).”

The promising more Carlo Frunzio.

Similar to Thompson, strength in numbers and “Obviously it’s a Frunzio is also excited bodies of Team Iron great cause,” Frunzio for the future for Team Sports will hopefully stated. “It meant a lot Iron Sports. He believes lead to future events on that a lot of people were that the lift-off with campus for them. If you willing to come out and the Springfield College or someone you know support it, and put a lot Dance Marathon helped is interested in joining of effort into it… it was get their club out there Team Iron Sports, conquite exciting.” in the eyes of the comtact President Cassidy Frunzio also community, and will bring Thompson at cthomppleted an amazing feat more events similar to son19@springfieldcolof strength as he did a this one in the future. lege.edu.

15-second pause squat

April 7, 2022

Campus News

Down but not out

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While another school year comes to a close, the Springfield community continues to deal with burnout as finals are quickly approaching.

This school year, students were finally able to be fully back in-person on campus taking classes, playing sports and participating in activities.

To be with friends and teammates again, soaking in the college experience as best possible, has been nothing short of exciting.

However, the toll of almost two years off was much more than anyone expected. The work piled up and schedules were planned out by the minute. Suddenly, the boring hours sitting in the dorms were longed for during the days when it felt like there was no break in sight. Now by the 12th week of the semester, with spring break fully in the rearview, students are beginning to feel the stress add up as finals rapidly approach.

Tired, overworked and exhausted – all words that can be used to describe the feelings students are experiencing at this time of the semester.

There is a common sense of burnout.

“The burnout just comes from the overcommitment a lot of times, and then there’s just the general exhaustion. A 15 week semester is tough,” said Brian Krylowicz,

_ By Cait Kemp _ @caitlinkemp09

Springfield College students hard at work in the Learning Commons. (Photo Courtesy of Springfield College)

Director of the Counseling Center.

Krylowicz sees a lot of students everyday, and throughout his years as a college counselor he has helped many deal with the struggles of burnout.

Burnout is not just simply due to school, but due to the demands of life. From clubs, sports, classes, and work, Springfield College students are no strangers to being well-rounded and involved in extracurriculars on campus.

The most obvious advice is to try to not put

oneself in the position of feeling burned out again: Organize a schedule to complete assignments, space out daily tasks and allot time for everything.

It seems simple enough when said, but actually being able to do that is the difficult part. So, how should this feeling of being burned out be remedied?

A piece of advice that Krylowicz would give to those struggling with this feeling is to remember why you are here and why you are doing this.

Everyone made a decision to come to Spring-

field College and study in a program that they are passionate about. Remembering that passion can help to get through the tough parts, whether it be a long class, a difficult exam or a tedious project.

Each assignment is just a step closer to accomplishing an end goal.

“I guarantee with your phone you know the exact power status or where the next power station would be to charge your phone. Burnout needs to be looked at the same way,” Krylowicz said. “You don’t want to

wait until one percent to try to find a plug in.”

He also noted that it can be important to recognize that around this time of the year students might not be able to charge back to 100%. But knowing when you’re low on energy and need to get back in the right mindset will be key to staying out of the burnout zone.

Another important factor is knowing that even the most organized and punctual people also feel burnout at some points. It’s normal. Just like a phone, people need to recharge, too.

Speaking of phones, Krylowicz acknowledges the negative effects that constant connection to the world can have on mental health. Today’s generation of college students are accustomed to having phones and other devices that can connect them to others at any moment. Krylowicz sees the issues that may arise when being connected to stressors.

“There’s a psychological cause, I would say the difference is you carry guilt with you everywhere…you have [devices] with you all the time, and it’s right there and it dings at you. That just causes burn out,” Krylo-

Campus News

April 7, 2022 wicz said.

In the past, people would disconnect for the night, or for the weekend, and not have to answer work or school emails until the next time that was necessary to log on. Krylowicz’s point: Students today

always have the ability to log on, leading to much more communication and constant stress about responsibilities.

Although there is no way to go back in time and live without mobile phones, Krylowicz suggests ditching phones

and computers so students can relax worry-free.

“I think people look at their schedules with their ‘have-tos’... put something in there where you’re going to hang out with a friend, there’s no agenda. I get better when

PAGE 7 I just know I put in my life ‘this is where I’m having fun’,” Krylowicz said.

So, as the next five weeks come with the struggles and stress of the end of the year, cramming in every last bit of information pos-

sible, remember to add fun into the schedule.

It might not make the problem disappear, but it will make the time memorable and rather than feeling like another bullet point on the to-do list, school can be fun again.

Sports and social justice symposium The seventh annual event will highlight the position Black head coaches hold as social justice figures.

Terry McConnell (Photo Courtesy of Greenfield Recorder)

On Friday, April 8, Springfield College will hold its seventh annual Sports and Social Justice Symposium. The main conversation will be about the position Black coaches hold as social justice figures.

It will feature Communications/Sports Journalism professor Martin Dobrow and Aaron Kelton, a Springfield College graduate who is currently the head coach at Savannah State University.

Prior to the event, guest speaker Terry McConnell will be giving a presentation on his book, “Breaking

through the Line: Bobby Marshall, the NFL’s First Black Player.”

McConnell, 73, is currently a part-time student studying Exercise Physiology at Springfield College. He spent time researching Bobby Marshall after finding a picture of his grandfather and Marshall. McConnell’s grandfather was the manager for one of Marshall’s football teams.

“I was looking through pictures from my aunt, who had recently passed away and I found a picture of my grandfather and Bob-

__ By Ty Coney __ @tconey_

by and I remembered he had this great black player and on the back of the picture was the name ‘Bobby Marshall.’

I was like, ‘That must be the player,’” McConnell explained.

In conversation about the history of Sports and Social Justice, names such as Jackie Robinson, Muhammad Ali and LeBron James – athletes who have broken barriers to allow all to prosper in American sports – almost always come up. One name flies under the radar: Bobby Marshall, the first Black NFL player.

Marshall, who was

Aaron Kelton (Photo Courtesy of Savannah State Athletics)

born in 1880 as the grandson of former Virginia slaves, broke color barriers in his time playing collegiate and professional sports.

He was the first Black athlete at the University of Minnesota, and was commonly regarded as one of the most athletic individuals of the early 20th century.

“He played pro football until the age of 54, he was a professional tri-sport athlete in football, baseball, and hockey. He was just one of the most gifted athletes of that time.

To the point where you wonder what he could

do if he was here now,” McConnell stated.

The presentation will allow attendees to talk with him about how the book aligns with the Symposium’s topic, along with parts of Marshall’s life. All will also have the opportunity to get a personally signed copy of McConnell’s book.

The event starts at 9:15 a.m. in the Phyllis B. Dodge Room of the Campus Union – presented by the Division of Inclusion and Community Engagement – and is free and open to the public.

April 7, 2022

Sports

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Shea Bisner-Boulay Shea Bisner-Boulay took the vote handily at 63%. The first-year jumper earned the Springfield Student Women’s Athlete of the Week after finishing first in the long jump at the American International Invitational with a distance of 4.79 meters.

Taylor Pichel also garnered a significant portion of the vote at 26%.

The senior attacker achieved a big milestone on Saturday with when she scored her 100th point against Western Connecticut. She also scored five points in that particular game.

Following Pichel was track and field team member Christa Carr. At the

Jamie Cocca When the track and field team had its first outdoor meet, Jamie Cocca showed out, and the voters recognized him by giving him the majority of the vote at 38.6%. The junior thrower finished first in the hammer throw with a distance of 43.63 meters and also first in the shot put with a distance of 14.33 meters.

Coming in tied for second at 22.7% was men’s volleyball player Brennen Brandow. The senior outside hitter totalled 25 kills in the Pride’s nine sets throughout the week, and did it in an efficient manner with a .500 hitting percentage.

Third baseman Jack Simonetty was tied with Brandow after a week in which he went 8-for-19 with five runs batted in. Included in that week was a 5-for-7 performance with three RBI in a win against Trinity.

Matt Lilley rounded out the voting with 15.9%. The graduate setter put together 67 assists during the Pride’s undefeated week.

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

American International Invitational, the junior thrower took home first place in the shot put with a distance of 11.73 meters.

Rounding out the vote was women’s lacrosse player Gianna Scialdone. The junior defender gathered four ground balls, four draw controls, and caused a pair of turnovers.

Bisner-Boulay and Carr will look to continue their success at the team’s home meet this Saturday, while Pichel and Scialdone’s next game is April 7 against WNE at Stagg Field.

April 7, 2022

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A new leader on Alden Street After playing at Trinity College and assistant coaching at Amherst College and Westfield State University, Mia Olsen was announced as the new head coach of the Springfield College field hockey team.

Olsen on Stagg Field. (Photo Courtesy of Springfield College Athletics) On Wednesday, March 30, Springfield College Director of Athletics, Craig Poisson, announced that Mia Olsen would be the new head coach of the field hockey team as well as an assistant professor of physical education. Olsen graduated from Trinity College in 2017, and previously worked as an assistant coach at Amherst College and Westfield State University.

As the fifth head coach in the program’s history, Olsen is ecstatic and eager to get going with the field hockey team on Alden Street.

“Going to Trinity, and coaching at Westfield, we played Springfield,” Olsen explained. “I’m pretty familiar with the area and I’ve been on the Springfield campus many times before I got this job.”

Olsen continued, “Knowing that the student-athletes are so driven academically but

also athletically is something that really drew me to Springfield… the sense of community from the moment I stepped on campus back a long time ago, I could feel the pride that everyone had for being a part of the Springfield College family.”

During her time at Trinity Olsen was a three-year starter, making 62 appearances, and led her team as a captain to an appearance at the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament in 2016. While obtaining her Master’s at Westfield State, Olsen served as an assistant coach and led the Owls to their second appearance in the Little East Conference Championship game. Along with this, Olsen worked as a coach and site director for HTC Field Hockey Club in Madison, Conn.

Coming to Springfield, Olsen is most excited to work

with the student-athletes on and off the team.

“I’m excited to get to know the team, make connections… and make an impact right away with some great student-athletes,” Olsen announced.

After former head coach and Springfield College graduate Melissa Sharpe announced her resignation from the Pride in November, a national search for a new head coach was conducted, and current members of the field hockey team got an opportunity to participate in the hiring process for their new coach. Student-athletes Grace Majka and Emma Robinson were two players that were involved in that process.

With the COVID-19 pandemic throwing a wrench in their experience, Majka and Robinson have not been able to have a fully “normal” year

COVID-free. “[It was] a little chaotic with COVID and everything,” Majka stated. “I think it put a dent in the experience overall.”

“I think that happened to all teams though,” Robinson added. “Coach Sharpe did all she could to keep us engaged last fall and last spring, but it was kind of hard to build team chemistry and have a bond when everyone was just in shambles.”

As a rising senior and junior, respectively, Majka and Robinson were unable to complete a full year at Springfield without COVID affecting their academic and athletic experiences. With the announcement of Olsen as their new head coach, Majka and Robinson were excited to hear the news and look forward to the positive change that she can create with their team.

“I was really excited about it,” Majka expressed. “[Olsen] interviewed very well, she spoke very fluently and asked us questions.

She gave us space to ask all the questions we wanted to. We all clicked with her very well, and from the field hockey community and other coaches, I’ve only heard good things about her.”

“She was the first person we got to interview,” Robinson noted. “We all left the meeting so excited just talking to her. She was super empowering and she seemed very motivating with

positivity and encouragement. She has a lot of high level experience. She played at Trinity which is NESCAC and she was the assistant coach at Amherst, so I think bringing that knowledge and level of playing down to us will be super beneficial for all of us.”

This Saturday at 1 p.m. will be Majka’s and Robinson’s first experience with Coach Olsen on the field as a prospect clinic will be held right after the athletics open house.

“That’s kind of going to be my first opportunity coaching on campus,” Olsen uttered, “and I think that’s going to give me a good sense of what the program will look like moving forward.”

With the clinic in mind, Majka and Robinson believe that next year’s players will know the motivating demeanor Coach Olsen possesses following it.

“I think [Olsen] was very clear that she has high expectations for us,” Robinson vocalized, “and it’s not anything that is not achievable for our team, but she’s going to hold us to a high standard and she expects us all to come in next August in shape and ready.”

Majka said, “[Olsen] wants us to be successful, she wants us to win, and she was clear about all the steps that she believed the team is capable of achieving.”

April 7, 2022

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A sidearm success Springfield pitcher Jack DeGirolamo was originally recruited as a soccer goalie, but walked on to the baseball team as a catcher before switching to being a sidearm relief pitcher. __ By Chris Gionta__ @Chris_Gionta

In the winter of his sophomore year, Jack DeGirolamo was informed that he was no longer going to be a catcher for the Springfield College baseball team. Instead, he was going to have to take on the challenge of an unfamiliar position — on the mound.

“I had thrown maybe only three competitive innings of pitching in my career at that point,” DeGirolamo said.

However, his high levels of adaptability and willingness to help the team that were developed in high school have guided him into a consistent role at Springfield. Excelling like no other Pride pitcher and now in his junior year, through 13.2 innings in the 2022 season, DeGirolamo has still yet to allow a run and has

DeGirolamo delivering a pitch against Bates College. (Photo courtesy of Gillian Dube)

struck out 20 batters with only three walks.

DeGirolamo came onto the baseball team as a catcher and is now dominating from the rubber, which demon-

strates his versatility on the diamond. Yet, baseball was not his best sport in high school, and it was not the sport he was recruited to play at

Springfield.

At Newington High School in Connecticut, he was captain of the soccer team for two years, and earned All-Conference honors

as the team’s goalie.

But as a member of the high school’s baseball team, his time with Newington was not what he wanted it to be.

“As far as baseball went, I had a lot of ups and downs, but I really didn’t play a whole lot of varsity baseball,” DeGirolamo said.

A player who went on to play Division I baseball was in his way at the catcher position in high school, so DeGirolamo had to fill in where he could.

“I usually ended up riding the bench and doing utility roles where if somebody was pitching who was playing a different position before, I’d go there,” he said. “I pride myself on being a guy who can play anywhere on the diamond and get his job done.”

With his commitment to the soccer team in the fall, DeGirolamo could not go through

April 7, 2022

the regular baseball tryout process that takes place during that time. He had the unique task of trying out with the team indoors, during the winter.

“During that fall, I had maybe two meetings with [Springfield head coach Mark Simeone] in his office just expressing interest — just saying that I did want to try out and I was wondering when or how that would happen,” DeGirolamo said.

“I jumped into a couple of team lifts during the winter after my soccer season… he had me there for a while, and when the active roster got announced, I found my name on it.”

He found excitement in his new athletic opportunity, especially since it was not something he was necessarily expecting.

“I was pretty pumped,” DeGirolamo said. “It was something kind of on the back burner that I was hoping would work out and I would get to keep playing the sport I love.”

In the winter, he not only made good impressions with the coaching staff but also with his new teammates.

“He was super flexible so he actually got

to the low pitch really well, and he was very good defensively — he had a good arm,” said junior catcher Cadin Maynard. “So, in terms of my first impressions of him, he was decent behind the dish and a good kid.”

DeGirolamo’s first year on the team — like all athletes’ 2020 spring season — ended abruptly in March, and the team was not back together until September for their fall season.

At that time, he made observations and considered his possibilities with the team.

“That fall, I kind of took inventory of what was going on, I took inventory of what I was capable of, and I took a look at the team and where we were headed as a program,” DeGirolamo said. “I looked at our catching pipeline, which is pretty deep.”

With the Pride’s solid depth chart at the catching position, he feared he may have been running into an unfortunate situation he was familiar with.

“I went into that season being very open with Simeone because I didn’t want to repeat what my high school baseball career was,” DeGirolamo said. “I wanted to be on the

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DeGirolamo has yet to allow a run in his college career after 16 innings pitched. (Photo courtesy of Jack DeGirolamo)

field. I wanted to contribute.”

No place on the diamond was going to be unwelcomed for him, and any answer that resulted in him playing was a good answer.

“I basically said, ‘I’m willing to do anything.

I will play any position.

I will be a utility guy.

I’ll be a fill-in dude. If you want me to pitch, we can try that,’” DeGirolamo said.

During fall-ball his sophomore year, he remained a catcher and got at-bats in intrasquad scrimmages.

In addition to that, he was put on the mound for a couple of innings in those scrimmages, but needed time to adjust.

“When he first started pitching — just like anyone starting a new position — there’s going to be ups and

downs,” Maynard said.

“He had trouble finding the zone.”

His growing pains carried over into the intrasquad scrimmages of the spring.

“I was pitching so bad at the beginning of that sophomore year spring,” DeGirolamo said. “I couldn’t locate.

I didn’t have feel for any of my pitches. I See DeGirolamo continued on Page 15

April 7, 2022

Sports

Game winner Springfield men’s lacrosse player Zac Schuette has not only been the team’s goals and assists leader, but he has developed into one of the team’s strongest leaders. __ By Hayden Choate__ @ChoateHayden

Schuette looking down the field during his eight-goal game against Nazareth. (Photo courtesy of Springfield College Athletics)

PAGE 12

The Springfield College men’s lacrosse team was in the midst of an overtime battle against No. 11 Amherst on March 23. Coming out of a timeout after they gained possession by winning the first faceoff, the Pride wanted to end the game immediately.

Working the ball around, junior Mason Nocito tossed the ball to senior captain Zac Schuette. Schuette decided to take a run at his defender, beginning his dodge with his right hand before quickly switching to his left while in a full sprint.

As he worked down the right side of the Amherst goalie, Schuette shot the ball on the run. It landed in the right side of the net, giving Springfield a 1514 win over the nationally-ranked Amherst team.

Even after the ball had hit the net, Schuette maintained his full sprint and ripped his helmet off after running around the goal and then back towards Springfield’s end of the field with his teammates.

“It was such a blur I was just full of excitement,” Schuette said. “A bunch of the guys joked with me that my helmet’s still in orbit right now, I just launched it, it was just an awesome

celebration with the guys and something we really needed this season.”

The goal wasn’t only special because it lifted his team to a much-needed win over a strong opponent – it was also his 100th career point.

“That was pretty cool to have it against a NESCAC team,” Schuette said. “A lot of the guys on the team have never beat a NESCAC, so it’s a pretty good step in the right direction for the program and hopefully we can keep it going the rest of the season.”

Although it was Schuette who captured the win with his shot – his fifth goal of the game – he credits his teammates for helping him get the game-winner.

“A lot of guys have stepped up in a really big way,” Schuette said.

“Like Connor Roberts, Tommy Briscoe, Connor Dubzicki, our faceoff guy Steven Betsch – they stepped up in big times when we needed it, they made stops and were able to slow that offense down.”

Four games later, Schuette has 115 points in his career – a very impressive feat since he has only played 39 games for the Pride.

“Unfortunately, missing two years, I

April 7, 2022

didn’t have the career I was hoping for here, but I’m making the best of it this season and going all in right now,” Schuette said. “The 100th point feels great, but I wouldn’t be able to do it without the guys on offense finding me in perfect spots and their finishing passes. A lot of the assists I’ve had maybe weren’t great passes but I’ve had a lot of guys catch them then finish them.”

Growing up in Ballston Spa, New York, a small town near Saratoga, Schuette played baseball in the spring until he was in fourth grade.

Trying out for a team with kids older than he was, a young Schuette had made it to the final round of the process until he was cut from the team. He was upset but it was his mother’s advice that helped him find a new game.

“My mom was like, ‘You don’t have to play baseball’ — because my brother played baseball and my sister played softball — she was like, ‘You can try something else,’” Schuette said. “So I tried lacrosse and just ran with it and never looked back.”

When Schuette joined his local lacrosse team, he became part of a group that learned and grew together playing the sport all the way

through high school.

“We had a really talented group in my class specifically,” Schuette said. “We kind of changed my high school into a pretty good team in the area.”

In his senior year, Schuette and his team made program history when they secured their first-ever sectional title.

Schuette’s high school lacrosse coach attended Springfield and played for head coach Keith Bugbee, so it was easy for him to recommend Schuette consider the school.

From the beginning, Alden Street was the place for him.

“Just the culture. I walked on campus with Coach Vin (Senatore) at the time and I was like, ‘I love it here’ and my parents were like, ‘Yeah it’s a good fit.’”

Four years later with only one full season under his belt, Schuette has tried to make the best of his time with the Pride.

“It’s definitely been a learning curve, really.

I played my freshman year but I’m a sophomore when I’m really a senior and all our guys have never been able to experience a full season and we’re the only ones who have as seniors,” Schuette said.

During Schuette’s freshman year, the team captured its 12th

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Schuette (15) getting excited during a break in the action against Nazareth. (Photo courtesy of Springfield College Athletics)

straight NEWMAC title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament.

However, that May 2019 win in the first round was Springfield’s last win until Feb. 2022. Playing only seven games the past

two springs due to COVID-19, Schuette and the team knew they needed an important part of their program back: their culture.

“We’re trying to reinvent the wheel a little bit as seniors and bring the culture a little

bit because we weren’t allowed to hang out in Cheney (Dining Hall), we weren’t able to hang out in the locker room,” Schuette said. “[We’re] a really tight-knit group now. I feel like last year See Schuette continued on Page 15

April 7, 2022

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Female dominance The women’s gymnastics team has made a statement with its all-female coaching staff.

The Springfield women’s gymnastics crowned Winter Osborne as a national champion at the end of the 2021-22 season. (Gillian Dube/The Student) __ By Carley Crain __ @carley_crain12

An all-female presence at the gym doesn’t go unnoticed. Four women stand side by side on the sidelines cheering for their student-athletes with an abundance of excitement.

The women’s gymnastics team knows that representation matters and how powerful it can be in the sport.

The success from this past winter season starts at the team’s roots: the all-female coaching staff.

Before the start of the year, head coach Jenn Najuch went on maternity leave, as she gave birth to her first child. Najuch asked volunteer assistant coach Emily Bellin to step up and take on the role of head coach for about three months during the preseason.

Najuch knew she could trust Bellin with the program when she was gone.

During her time on Alden Street, Bellin performed in the home show every year, as well as volunteered

with the team. Handing off her job wasn’t easy, but it led to one of the most successful years for the women’s gymnastics team in program history.

After the 2020 NCGA Regional Championships, which were supposed to be at Springfield College, were canceled, the team was heartbroken. But once the Pride found out that this year Springfield was hosting Regionals once again, they knew they had to take advantage of the opportunity.

They had unfinished business to tie up.

The success at Regionals wouldn’t have been possible however without the crew that was working behind the scenes.

Bellin wasn’t alone in this new undertaking as head coach. Three new graduate assistants joined the staff this year, all from different collegiate programs across the country.

Si-Si Ponder, Lou Knapp, and Keara Loughlin

brought a new, exciting energy to the gym that helped propel the overall success of the team. Each graduate assistant tended to focus on one event, which helped athletes develop more deeply in their respective events.

“It was incredible to have three graduate assistants who were so eager to learn and bring their experiences in as well since they all came from three separate programs, ‘’ said Bellin. “I think it was a seamless transition which really helped our season.”

Ponder is the first individual to earn the Moffat Fellowship position through athletics, which according to the Springfield College Athletics website, the fellowship was created to “deepen and enrich the field of diverse coaches at Springfield College and, as a result, impact all of sport.”

Ponder also was a key part of the team’s success on the floor exercise, which was one of their strongest events all year.

In true reflection of

that, this season the team tied the overall floor exercise school record of 48.600, which was set in 2019. At Regionals, Springfield had a very impressive showing on the floor as well. Senior Mackenzie MacLeod won and junior Devon Rosier took second overall right behind her teammate.

Loughlin’s expertise is with the balance beam, as she helped lead MacLeod to a new school beam record of 9.875 this year.

Once again, the Pride showed off their skills at Regionals on the beam as they swept the podium; Macleod with first, junior Tori Sipes finishing second overall, and Rosier in third.

Knapp came all the way from Alaska to be a part of the women’s gymnastics team this year, and also brought her former teammate, Winter Osborne, with her. The duo formed a close bond and ended up with a national title at the end of the season. Osborne was crowned the National Champion on the Uneven Bars.

“This was a challenging year for me as an individual adjusting to Mom life… and the four of them took ownership while embracing my coaching philosophy and made the year fun and energized and easy,” explained Najuch.

Despite all the transitions and new faces, the women’s gymnastics team showed up when it mattered the most. Bellin was awarded the NCGA East Assistant Coach of the Year Award– as her efforts leading the preseason didn’t go unnoticed.

Having an all-woman staff has served as a dominant statement for the sport, and especially on Alden Street.

“Women’s gymnastics in my mind is a very powerful sport and I think it shows that we are a very strong staff, ‘’ said Bellin.

“I think we are extremely motivated and we all bring our own special talents and ideas to the team. It is really nice to work with a team of all women who communicate so well.”

April 7, 2022 DeGirolamo continued from Page 11

was leading the team by far in hit batters — it was almost a running gag at that point that any time I went on the field I’d hit somebody.”

However, he had a trick up his sleeve that made him stand out, and was something that he was evidently more comfortable with.

Instead of going with the usual over-the-top delivery that most pitchers rely upon, DeGirolamo eventually made a permanent

change to throwing sidearm.

It was a new development for him, but something he grew confident in rather quickly.

“I threw over the summer a bit sidearm,” DeGirolamo said.

“Because I would catch bullpens for my friends in Newington who were getting ready for stuff, and if they were hanging around after or there was another catcher there, I would throw a few pitches…

It kind of became comfortable for me down

Zac Schuette moving the ball down the field against Nazareth.

(Photo courtesy of Springfield College)

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there.”

When he finally decided to throw all of his pitches with that delivery, he began to see much better results.

“Once I dropped down, it just got comfortable, felt natural, and I was hitting the zone more,” said DeGirolamo.

His sophomore season in competition consisted of two scoreless appearances, which was just the start for him.

All seven of his appearances this season have been scoreless and he has allowed only 11

base runners in 13.2 innings.

“He brings a whole different dynamic to our pitching staff,” Maynard said. “He throws from fairly sidearm, so his ball moves differently than other guys, and he understands he’s tough to hit. The way he’s been locking in every pitch is impressive because he’s been around the zone every pitch. Every pitch is competitive with him.”

No matter where or how, DeGirolamo knew he wanted to contrib-

ute. After virtually no pitching experience, and no competitive experience throwing sidearm, he has adapted into being one of Springfield’s most effective players. From goalkeeping for the soccer team to catching for the baseball team, to being a sidearm reliever, DeGirolamo has found his place.

Schuette continued from Page 11

now and your going to step up and I know you will’ and I think a lot of the guys take to that,” Schuette said.

“Off the field it’s just being there for the guys it’s a lot less of. Sometimes, we don’t need to talk about lacrosse, [but instead] how are you doing, how is class going how are you adjusting to life after COVID on campus it’s been a good experience it’s been a big learning curve for me not being able to jump in as full as I’ve want to be the last couple years but I think back to what the captains did when I was a freshman and try to emmanulate that the best I can.”

The Pride only have a handful of games left in their season but have already played more games this year than the last two seasons combined. Although their record is 5-6 they have picked up big wins over Nazareth, Amherst, Babson, Wheaton and Western New England.

“Just one game at a time, we’re really stressing one game seasons right now,” Schuette said. “We’re not trying to look too far ahead, not trying to look in the back, we’re looking through the windshield and we’ve kind of learned from our rearview mirror the things behind us.”

we were a little bit divided because of the circumstances and now it’s like, I’ll go to bat for any one of these guys on the team and I know they’ll do the same for me.”

As one of the captains of the team Schuette knows how important it is to be a role model not just on the field especially on offense but off it as well.

“Sometimes, you know, stuff doesn’t go our away and you have to set your emotions aside and just say ‘hey your going to make the next play right now and we need you right

The Springfield Student

Sports

APRIL 7, 2022

(Photo courtesy of Springfield College Athletics)

VOL. 136 NO. 21

Schuette and Score Springfield men’s lacrosse player Zac Schuette is leading the team in goals and assists, and recently scored his 100th career point in only his 35th career game.

[See Page 12]