Volume 134 No 11

The Springfield Student Est. 1910

November 21, 2019

[scstudentmedia.com]

Contact us: springfieldstudent@springfield.edu

Volume 134 No. 11

Talking about change

The President’s Leadership Team at Springfield College meets with the student body face-to-face to talk about campus issues.

By Irene Rotondo @irenerrotondo

Chairs filled the Dodge room of the Flynn B. Campus Union.

Masses of students trickled in through the doors, finding their friends and their seats. A nervous energy permeated the air.

This is what the students of Springfield College have been asking for, what they have been begging the faculty, staff, and administration to do for them.

They wanted to be heard, and their requests were finally acknowledged.

On Wednesday, Nov. 13, President Mary-Beth Cooper’s leadership team and other administrators came together to both formally and informally address the student body after recent campus events. The first four topics of the discussion were a compilation of questions previously collected from the student body and shared with the leadership team prior to the event, and the last section was open to the floor.

Facing the students was another row of chairs, where Cooper sat with her team. Interim Vice President for Institutional Advancement Kathleen Martin, Title IX Director Mary Simeoli, Vice President for Inclusion and Community Engagement-

Calvin Hill addresses the crowd during Wednesday’s meeting. (Danny Priest/The Student) Calvin Hill, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Martha Potvin, Executive Director of Athletics Craig Poisson, Vice President for Finance and Administration John Mailhot, Vice President for Enrollment Management Stuart Jones, Vice President for Communications and External Affairs Stephen Roulier, and Interim Vice President for Student Affairs Patrick Love were all present. Also present were representatives of Public Safety, Cheney Dining Hall, Information Technology, and the Counseling Center.

The team members introduced themselves one by one and gave background information on why they were

present. Following the introductions, Annie Warchol, the Director of Student Activities and Campus Union, took over the microphone and explained how the hour and a half long event would work.

Felicia Lundquist, the Director of Multicultural Affairs, also spoke to tell everyone at the event to follow Springfield College’s community guidelines and be respectful of everyone, no matter what one’s personal opinions may be.

A variety of topics concerning mental health, campus safety, diversity, sexual assault and Title IX, and student life were covered and within those topics, specific questions from

the student body were answered by the leadership team and Cooper.

There were also 15 minutes reserved at the end of the discussion for the floor to be open for students to ask questions or address topics that hadn’t been answered already.

Mental Health The event started with a discussion on mental health. The first point brought up was that there is currently an extremely long wait-list in the Counseling Center for students who wish to speak to a counselor.

Love told the crowd that the number of students who actually utilize the Counseling Center has grown exponentially over the past four years, from 347 students in

one full school year, to 301 students from just the past two and a half months. However, Love reassured the crowd that there will be another counselor hired as soon as they can find one to help shorten the waitlist.

“Mental health is a vitally important aspect of our work here,” Love said. “In fact, when I got here, I worked with my staff to begin to address beyond those students who need direct counseling, other ways we can support students in their growth and development related to stress, anxiety, depression, and the challenges that [you all] face.”

The second point brought up was whether or not athletes are encouraged to visit with athletic counselors.

Poisson said that there was no “blanket policy” across the Athletics program. He said that visits to the athletic counselors are encouraged, because the counselors provided for Springfield College are enriching for students to take advantage of, concerning academics, time and stress management, study halls, and workshops. However, Poisson said that it is a highly tentative sports-related decision for a student-athlete that may change over time, See PLT Meeting on Page 4

Opinion

Detore: Defining moments

PAGE 2 (Sam Leventhal/The Student)

November 21, 2019

With football season coming to an end, Daniela Detore looks at some of the best moments of the last four years for the program.

By Daniela Detore @DanielaDetore

That’s definitely not how the story was supposed to be written. A 43-40 loss against MIT, no post season.

No bowl game.

An ugly, almost missed 36-yard field goal, with 24-seconds left, that I don’t think anyone really thought went in.

But, it did.

In a post game interview, senior quarterback, Chad Shade, hit it right on the head when he said, “We are not defined by this [loss].”

I don’t even know where I could begin to explain to team 129 how they are defined.

If there was one more game, I think the lot behind Blake Arena would pack out, trunks would unload tents and portable grills, just as they always do. Little

siblings and cousins alike would play catch with their dads and older brothers in between the rows of cars, and it would be a sea of maroon and a faint aroma of tailgating food from passing on King Street.

The townhouses would empty for one more Saturday midday football game and students would line the chain-link fence across from the stands and pressbox.

I think students, families and faculty would still show up because what defined team 129 went way beyond a win or loss.

I walked up and down the field for three years.

I spent more Saturdays in the four fall semesters of my college career on a football field taking photos and videos for the Springfield College Athletics page than anything else that could have possibly been worthwhile.

Spending time on a college football sidelinescreated some of the best memories of my college days for sure.

But, this column isn’t about me. It shouldn’t be, it’s about the moments I witnessed over the past four years.

There’s just so many I really don’t even know where I could start.

See Detore on Page 8

S

S

T

H

A

O

F

T

F

S

November 21, 2019

News

PAGE 3

This past weekend, the Springfield College Theater Program performed “The Illusion� in the Fuller Arts Center. Check out some of the best photos from their performances courtesy of Springfield College Marketing and Communications.

November 21, 2019 PLT Meeting continued from Page 1

whether or not he or she wishes to visit with the counselors. He also wanted to make it clear that though the athletic counselors are good resources for athletes and coaches, the counselors are generally graduate students who are studying for their degree in that field and are not trained mental health professionals.

The third point brought up regarding mental health was what actions students should take in the event of a tragedy on campus.

Love said in the specific case of the recent loss of Connor Neshe, the administration knew students would be utilizing the Counseling Center to grieve. So, they prioritized having extra hands over in the Center to help, and said that it is still encouraged to visit with the Counseling Center, despite the current wait-list.

Lastly came the topic of suicide. Love explained how in the past 20 years at Springfield College, there have been two instances of students dying by suicide.

He also said given the size of Springfield’s student population and the national rates of college students dying by suicide, Springfield College was doing “very well.”

There are a multitude of different organizations

set up for suicide prevention, such as Students of Concern, CARE team, and the assisting team that helps with academic issues. Love said RAs and staff are trained to aid students in crisis, and by attending events like Fresh Check Day and the Out of the Darkness Walk, students on campus can become more aware of how to help those who may be in need.

Diversity The first question asked was, “What are the policies for ways of handling racism and discrimination towards marginalized groups on campus?” Calvin Hill took the microphone and explained there are formal and informal rules and procedures set in place for Springfield College. Hill said students regularly come to his office to inform him of incidents of racism or discrimination on campus, and he guides them using the Student Code of Conduct. Sue Nowlan then said one of the most important steps to fight against racism and discrimination was for students to speak up about what they have witnessed or experienced so the proper authoritative figures can handle the situation. Nowlan also said there are investigative protocols in the Student Handbook and the Student Code of Conduct, which are taken very seriously.

(Danny Priest/The Student)

News

Diversity among the faculty on campus became the next topic.

Hill explained how part of his job is to create a welcoming environment on campus for students of all backgrounds. He added that since 2017, Springfield College has had multiple workshops and guest visitors from universities large and small, such as Cornell and Quinnipiac, to help train and inform those involved on the importance of diversifying the hiring process.

“As part of our diversity strategic plan… we’re working on a toolkit, that I hope will be out this spring, and as part of that toolkit, we’re going to have some questions, we’re going to have some processes that we’re hoping Human Resources, as well of some of our search committees, will utilize to bring about an increase in diversity,” he said.

The next topics included the issues of campus publications depicting students of color in a way that seems forced and overused, as well as the retention rate of students of color.

Roulier explained how that’s one of the most difficult parts of his job was: making sure Springfield College is transparent in the statistical sense of how many students of color are put on the pamphlets, but simultaneously display the College as an inclusive community.

“If you think about it, we are trying to promote inclusion, so we try to do that, in our publications,” Roulier said. “It is marketing, so we are trying to market to new students, so we must keep that in mind while we’re doing that.”

Hill added that for students, “having someone that looks like you is critical,” during the college selection process.

Hill said there has been an 11 percent de-

crease since 2014 for the retention rate of students of color at Springfield College. However, the reason for this was not solely because students of color were leaving the campus due to not liking the atmosphere. Springfield College had actually partnered with a program, back in 2014, in Hartford, Conn. that advocated for students of color to attend Springfield College with a financial incentive. This created a sudden increase due to the incentive. However, once on campus, some of the students involved in the program decided that the College was not the right fit due to a number of different factors, therefore resulting in a drop in retention rate.

Title IX and Sexual Violence The forum the turned to Title IX and sexual violence. The first question was, “What is the ‘affirmative yes policy’?”

Simeoli explained the “affirmative yes policy” is actually the “affirmative consent policy,” and how there is no definition for consent in Massachusetts. She then explained though there is no true definition of consent in Massachusetts, the two states that do have an “affirmative consent” law are New York and California. Simeoli said Springfield College’s Gender-Based Misconduct policy abides by the same rules as the two laws in New York and California do. When a case comes to the Title IX team at Springfield College, the team looks for “an outward demonstration of a yes.” This means the consent does not have to be verbal and even if a person is giving a verbal “yes,” if the body language is not a “yes,” he or she is not giving full consent.

Coercion and incapacitation are just two of the reasons why consent must be a complete “yes.”

PAGE 4 The process of a Title IX investigation was also covered. Nowlan explained she’d be the first person to talk to for anyone who has experienced any type of gender or sexual misconduct. From there, the student would discuss a safety plan, support resources on and off campus, and if he or she wishes to file a formal complaint, which would lead to an investigation.

Nowlan also reminded the crowd there is no timeline for issuing an investigation -- a formal complaint investigation can be launched days, months, weeks, or even years after an incident has occurred.

The topic then moved to safety, specifically regarding about the duties of campus police.

John Mailhot reminded the students about the RAVE and Guardian apps, and told them there are 24-hour safety escorts available too.

Multiple shuttles are also accessible seven days a week on campus, and general safety tips are located on the Department of Public Safety’s website. Mailhot stated there are over 20 Public Safety officers in the department, at least three of whom are on shift at any given time.

Next came safety within the resident halls on campus. Robert Yanez, the Director of Housing and Residence Life, reminded students there is nowhere they can be completely safe without the help of others. He then said there are staff members who patrol the halls of every dorm, along with RAs. Desk guard coverage is also always there at night, and the student desk guards are supported with cameras in every lobby, as well as cameras throughout the dorm hallways. The card access, Yanez said, is also an important part of safety in the residence halls, because it hinders

is particularly slow.

Mutti called those places “bottlenecks” and said as of Nov. 14, the campus should see an overall uptick in WiFi availability.

Other types of patching, including replacing old large pieces with new and migrating information from those older pieces onto the new ones, will be helpful until the team can complete its long-term goal of integrating the capacity for thousands of devices on a single network onto the new equipment.

Next came handicap accessibility, and Mailhot said every new building that Springfield College constructs is designed to meet or exceed handicap accessibility regulations.

As for existing campus buildings, renovations to include a handicap button on every main-campus building’s door have already been made, and either a wheel-chair accessible entrance or a ramp system designed by licensed architects are features of each building as well.

“Last spring, we brought in an expert on accessibility,” Mailhot said. “That expert walked around with the Director of Facilities Management, went through every single building on campus and identified accessibility issues that we need to take a hard look at.”

He also stated that $20,000 annually has been allocated for sidewalk repairs, as well as an additional $25,000 in the annual operating budget to “address accessibility improvements.”

Mailhot invited anyone with specific issues to visit his office or the Facilities Management Building to talk to the Interim Director of Facilities Management, Kevin Roy. The last question in the topic was about improved snow removal for the winter. Roy said there are three changes coming for the snow

“

PAGE 5

. ...

social media campaign launched in the spring of 2020 to help students understand what gender-inclusive housing means.

Next, was a question about the ability to serve LGBTQ+ students on the Springfield College campus through the Counseling Center, along with the specific types of training the staff at the Center have received. Brian Krylowicz, the Director of the Counseling Center, stated that the staff attempts to attend every workshop and training session that is available.

“Part of the uniqueness of the Counseling Center, probably the Health Center too, is we are licensed by the state of Massachusetts and we’re required to go through a certain amount of continued education credits each year,” Krylowicz said. “I know each of my staff is dedicated to attending, not just specifically LGBTQ+, but multicultural training as well, and we are highly connected to the campus.

We try to be as representative and informative as we can.”

The question of plans for WiFi improvements surfaced amid finger-snaps and applause from the student body.

Tony Mutti, the new Head of ITS said, “I agree with you. I’m literally sitting in the newest renovated building, using the newest equipment, and it gets slow in the afternoon.”

Mutti attributed the slow WiFi to two main causes, the first being old equipment along with outdated foundational pieces that cannot keep up with demands. To solve that problem, Mutti stated they “have a plan” that has not yet been funded. In the meantime, he tasked himself and his staff with finding specific spots on campus where the WiFi reach

As part of our diversity strategic plan… we’re working on a toolkit, that I hope will be out this spring, and as part of that toolkit, we’re going to have some questions, we’re going to have some processes that we’re hoping Human Resources, as well of some of our search committees, will utilize to bring about an increase in diversity,”

...

....

outsiders from entering the dorms. Finally, Yanez said locking dorm rooms reduces the student-on-student crime rate drastically.

Campus Life The last themed category pertained to general questions about life on campus. The first question about Cheney asked what has changed in the dining hall, regarding both food and personnel.

Mailhot said there is a new management system, as well as the three new concept restaurants in the Union. Two new chefs for Cheney and a registered dietitian have also been hired. A few other changes to Cheney and the Union include but are not limited to: an enhanced gluten-free station, the True Balance program which eliminates the seven-most common allergens, the Top 20 product kiosk that holds the top 20 selling items from the POD, a gluten-free section in the POD, a food advisory committee that meets every semester, and a brand-new allergen committee.

The second question concerned the housing process and what it would entail for LGBTQ+ students.

Yanez said the school expects to have all suite-style housing to be completely gender-inclusive by the fall of 2020, and the rest of the on-campus housing on is already gender-inclusive.

“We established a gender-inclusive housing work group, which is actually working on our staff training and development currently, as well as providing continued student support for the spring semester,” stated Yanez. “In terms of our housing plans, the planned roll-out communication is by December 9th of this semester, to give our students information on the new student housing selection changes.”

There will also be a

News

...

November 21, 2019

removal process this year. His team switched to a new product for the sidewalks that “melts better” and is “environmentally friendly.” The second change is new snow removal machinery that will help out with snow removal on the sidewalks, and the third is the hiring of an outside contractor for some of the parking lots. Roy also reminded the student body if students are snowed in for hours, it’s easiest to put in a work order, and the team will shovel them out.

Open-Floor Questions The first open-floor question began with the topic of racism: who to go to if one experienced it, and what the step-bystep process is to pursue the situation. Hill said if any student were to experience racism, he or she should find Dr. Hill or any other administrative staff member. As for the specific process, Hill said they would follow the Student Code of Conduct if it were

-.Calvin Hill

a student-based issue.

However, if it were not a student-based issue, the process would be slightly different, contacting either the office of Title IX or Human Resources.

Next was a question of neglected maintenance in dorms on campus. A student brought up how many clothing dryers do not work properly, nor do multiple vending machines. Yanez said there is an outside vendor that provides the washers and dryers, and often, there are work-orders that seem to pile up or take too long. Yanez stated the best way to ensure a machine is fixed is to contact Residence Life directly through an RA or RD. Then, a student asked, “Is there a central location that we can send someone to ask [their] problems, in case they feel that it does not fit a box?” This was in reference to the fact that Finish the story on the next page

November 21, 2019 each administrator who had answered questions so far had directed students to different offices, which can sometimes be overwhelming and confusing. Love stated there are two blanket situations that could be applied in this instance.

If there were to be any type of danger, crisis, or emergency, the student should call Public Safety.

For any other type of issue, Love said to come to the Office of Student Affairs, so they can either answer the problem or tell provide where to go for an answer.

The next question came with an air of tension, regarding the recent automobile accident involving Cooper’s house. The student asked, “What is Springfield College’s definition of safety?”

Karen Leary, the Chief of Public Safety, said in accordance to the night of that accident, they sent out a RAVE alert which ultimately failed due to technological malfunctions.

Leary stated they have a “strong partnership with the City of Springfield Police Department” and during the incident, the two forces worked together as quickly as possible to ensure the crisis was taken care of safely.

Cooper also said the situation was managed as quickly as possible, and she made the calls she felt were most important to ensure her own safety, along with communicating information to the student body as it became available.

Cooper said, “Safety, from my definition, is everything we have talked about tonight.”

The topic of undercooked food from Cheney came up, and a Cheney representative stated he remembered the particular student who asked the question coming to him last year to relay her concerns.

He stated her voice was,

“The voice of many.”

The Cheney representative said when he arrived in January, the kitchen had lacked leadership for many years and there was much retraining that had to be done. The representative essentially said if a student were to receive undercooked food at Cheney, the best way to handle the situation is to bring it to the cook’s attention, or Cheney’s management system’s attention immediately.

The Learning Commons study hours was the next topic brought up, and the student asked if it were possible for not just the first floor to stay open late, but also the second, third, and fourth floors too. The student explained she knew of others sneaking up onto the higher floors to study at night, only to be kicked out by campus security. Cooper, amid raucous applause, had just a few powerful words to answer the student’s question: “That’s the first time I’ve heard about it, and I’ll look into it.”

Cooper has already made good on her promise and sent out a formal email alongside the Student Government Association stating that the Learning Commons has undergone a furniture rearrangement, making more seating available for students, and that the first and second floors will be operating on extended schedule hours for finals week. She also said they will be working to make the second floor open 24 hours a day.

The next topic addressed the attempted suicides on campus, and how those who live on the floors of these instances this year felt they were not properly supported. The student also said she felt unsupported during the tragic passing of Connor Neshe.

Love stated, “I’m

News

“

PAGE 6

Safety, from my definition, is everything we have talked about tonight.” - President Mary-Beth Cooper

not exactly sure how to respond… we don’t advertise, obviously, when some form of tragedy or someone has a mental health concern. We take it very seriously, and we train our staff, we talk about how we can support students in the community.”

“Certainly, in the aftermath of the death that occurred on campus, that was uppermost in all of our minds,” he added. “Every unit in Student Affairs were trying to find ways which we could gather small groups of people together to provide support. We immediately, that evening, had offered a gathering together in Marsh Memorial Chapel…

“I can’t say that there aren’t more things that we could have done, but, certainly, my staff and the student leaders that we worked with worked as much as we could to support.”

Cooper stated if staff and other students were not feeling supported, it was a large concern to her. She added how she knew many felt the response from her and the College on the day Connor Neshe passed away was delayed, and that the reason was because the administration prioritized contacting the Neshe family, whom they were unable to get ahold of for several hours.

“There are some sensitivities with some of these crises that I wish we could have been better and quicker,” Cooper said. “I think for this

campus, and I’ve been here six years, it was the saddest week that I can ever remember being here.”

During the last stretch of the forum, a student asked how it could be possible to identify whether the reason why one goes to the Counseling Center was more important than another student’s issue, because everybody’s issues are of different priority to each individual. Krylowicz said at the Counseling Center, one out of every three people who comes there for help is talking about suicide to one extent or the other. He said this year, they were caught in a bad spot with the recent tragedies and were unprepared for the influx of students who would be utilizing the Center.

“Obviously, people who don’t say they’re suicidal, we’re trying to get to them as quickly as we can. We clearly need to do better,” Krylowicz said. “I can’t tell you how much our staff [is] constantly thinking about having people wait; I know it might not be suicidal, but it’s such a priority for them, and we are just in a sport where we have to make harder choices, which hopefully in the future we do not have to do.”

The final question of the evening was how hard the Counseling Center was actually trying to find new counselors for the students.

Krylowicz stated how in the beginning of the semester, they had a new

therapist who planned on coming to Springfield College to aid in the inundation of student needs. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, that person was unable to come.

Krylowicz then said he has since spoken with over 10 potential new counselors, and was unable to hire any of them, despite trying.

“We were going to everybody that we knew… We were going to prior directors of the counseling here, we went to prior counsellor directors in other places, we tried to find those who retired and would be able to come in…” Krylowicz said. “One person was supposed to call me back today and they realized they didn’t, and so I’m trying to find them at this point in time.”

Krylowicz also apologized deeply to the community and told the crowd they are doing absolutely everything in their power at the Counseling Center to do better.

After the last openfloor question, students were invited to submit any remaining questions to a basket placed at the back of the room, which would be reviewed by Cooper and her leadership team. The team and its representatives also announced this first forum would not be the last, and that Springfield College will now be holding a forum once a semester to engage the students and make their voices heard.

November 21, 2019

Opinion

Smith: Welcome to Broadway

PAGE 7

Senior Cam Smith reflects on his time as a part of Best of Broadway ahead of upcoming performance.

Cam Smith. (Photo Courtesy of Cam Smith)

By Cam Smith @_thecamsmith

Singing, dancing, acting, and having a great time. Those are just some of the many things that Best of Broadway is.

Over the years at Springfield College, I have had the time of my life as a part of this club.

When I walked onto Alden Street in Sept. of my freshman year, I wanted to strictly focus on classes and getting into the groove of the academic rigor that college would bring.

My freshman and sophomore years flew by and I came to realize that it was time for me to crawl out of my dorm room, and really find myself.

I wanted to be comfortable in my own skin.

That is what college is all about. Isn’t it?

In the fall of my junior year, I approached the Best of Broadway (B.O.B.) table at the annual club fair on the Naismith Green here on campus and discovered a

group of students smiling and singing.

Just full of life.

I told myself that this was something that I needed to get into as soon as I possibly could.

I did just that.

When I was in high school, the stage was my home away from home. I loved getting up in front of people and singing my heart out because it served as an avenue for me to truly express myself.

I found it harder than most people to fit in. Everyone else looked down on me because I was, “That theater kid.”

“Different.”

“Weird.”

I hated it.

2 p.m. would come allowing me to escape the reality of everyday high school life.

From musicals like “Rent” to “The Music Man,” I felt for once that I was a part of something bigger than just my average self. I was allowed to be so much

more than just that typical high school kid who went to class, played sports, and went home.

It was something that I never wanted to give up.

I could be so much more on the stage.

Through theater, it allowed not only me, but every single person around me to connect with one another on a level incomparable to anything else. Friendships were created, bonds that felt nearly invincible were established, and relationships were built to last a lifetime.

When I joined B.O.B., it brought all of those joys back for me. I became so close with everyone and fell in love with acting and performing again.

No matter who you are or what you bring to the table, in a theater group, you are a family.

You stand up in front of that audience after working so hard to put

“

I would not be who I am right here, right now in this moment, if it wasn’t for Best of Broadway.” -.Cam

Smith on a successful show and hold hands with your best friends.

They are a part of you. Your brothers and sisters.

Look to your left and to your right.

Smiles, laughter, happiness, and a raw emotion unlike anything you will ever experience in your life.

Now in my senior year, I often think, “What could I have done better? Could I have done more?”

Although I’ve only been in the club for two years, one thing is for

certain.

I would not be who I am right here, right now in this moment, if it wasn’t for Best of Broadway.

On Friday, Nov. 22, 2019 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 23 at both 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., make your way to Fuller Arts Center to see the Best of Broadway club perform all of your favorite Broadway numbers. Admission is free. However, donations are appreciated.

We hope to see you there!

November 21, 2019 Detore continued from Page 2

When I think of a defining moment of the football team, I think about the first ever New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Champions.

Although it was two years ago, it happened on Springfield turf, a 43-7 win over MIT. The football team was undefeated that year leading into the final game, all they had to do was squeak by and the title was theirs.

And yet they still pounded away in a “look at me now,” fashion.

Banners dropped open and celebration was so sporadic over Stagg field. Everyone started putting on those white T-shirts that everyone wants so badly.

The ones that read ‘NEWMAC CHAMPION.’ President Mary-Beth Cooper walked out the first ever NEWMAC trophy on Stagg and let me tell you, seeing the trophy up close and in person, just made it all the more surreal.

That team was, and still is, no joke.

When I think about defining moments I think about later that same year, Jordan Wilcox being a finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy, which recognizes excellence in athletics, academics and community service.

That alone is an accomplishment itself. But, when traveling down to the trophy presentation, many members of the football team traveled down with him to rally behind him and his accomplishment. He was one of the only nominees in the room to be

accompanied by members of their respective teams.

That’s brotherhood.

And speaking of showing up in the name of Brotherhood.

Luke Bradley.

Luke was drafted as a Team Impact player in the spring of 2013 after first being diagnosed with Leukemia in 2011.

And over the years, members of the Springfield football team would call Luke on their off days, in their spare time just to hear about his day.

Most would shoot him texts just to tell him to keep on fighting when he found himself in the hospital a couple years ago, clinging to life. The support went far beyond a telephone for the Brotherhood. Members of the team took a trip to Boston Children’s Hospital to see him in recovery after relapsing with leukemia in April of 2016.

And still, despite surgery, despite an almost lost battle, Luke sat on the sidelines that upcoming season to greet the seniors who played their last game this past Saturday.

That is brotherhood.

Those are defining moments.

Mr. Bradley, Luke’s father, gave the keynote address at the 2016 Team Impact Gala and he spoke on the relationship Luke has formulated with members of the Brotherhood over the seven years he’s been apart of the Pride.

Mr. Bradley opened his keynote address by saying his son, Luke, stopped breathing several days before. After being resuscitated, he soon contracted Bacterial Meningitis.

He said it’s a miracle

Opinion

he is alive.

And Luke has been on the sidelines of every season since.

In the wake of no bowl-game and no postseason, it might be easy to overlook that every year, the Springfield College football team raises hundreds of dollars towards Childhood Cancer research by shaving their heads.

That is a continuous moment that defines a program over and over again.

A defining moment was when Taylor Jackson, a member of the Springfield College Gymnastics team, took to the block ‘S’ in the middle of Stagg Field to sing the national anthem before the 2019 home opener against Kean University.

The audio kept cutting in and out, noticeably and without sugar-coating it, totally botching the national anthem as a whole.

It wasn’t Jackson’s fault at all, she was doing great, but the technical difficulties were really masking her performance.

I mostly ignored the situation and just quietly murmured the remainder of the national anthem to myself like anyone else would do.

But, my personal choir was interrupted by the soft singing of the football team.

It wasn’t loud, it wasn’t organized, but they were singing the national anthem together.

That is a testimony to the program.

That is a defining moment.

These are just a few among many.

I could start with the brotherhood challenge, the fact this program

PAGE 8

Luke Bradley watches a game from the sidelines.

(Daniela Detore/The Student) builds athletes that have potential to be future NFL prospects and earn invitations to Rookie Camps with the Saints.

This program sends their players to the XFL. A defining moment was moving the starting halfback to starting quarterback and still winning. The entire 2018 season is a testimony to what this group is really capable of. Hunter Belzo literally led team 128 to a winning season and through a New England Bowl Game.

So many memories come to mind.

However, in response to Chad Shade, his defining moment was his entire career.

And I’d like to note those aren’t words of my own, but the words of the few I’ve asked.

Emerging through the ranks his freshman year to pull a comeback victory over WPI for a 28-23 finish. Shade totaled 164 yards, two touchdowns and completed two passes for 76 yards and a score.

Junior year, Shade brought the Pynchon SAW, a cross-town rival game between Western New England and Springfield, home after a jaw-dropping performance rushing 247 yards and scoring all six of the

Prides touchdowns.

Six. That was just a couple short months after setting a new program record on the baseball diamond for runs scored in a single season with 49.

Springfield football has been defined many times through some of the memories I mentioned before. This loss, although not how the season was supposed to end, does not define a string of years that have been foundational in defining a program and those who pass through it.

I know this to be true by just being in short association with the group.

My contribution was almost nothing, other than taking pictures and videos that makes these stories come alive.

And if I never stand on the sidelines of a football game again, at least I can say the sideline I once stood on was for a class act organization with a disciplined, driven coach who absolutely breathes the Springfield College mission into his players and lets them bleed maroon onto Stagg Field on a couple Saturdays throughout their college years.

November 21, 2019

Sports

PAGE 9

By Ian Carrano @ic_sports1

Through 35 years of coaching, Avdoulos has been a part of seven national championships and coached over 100 All-Americans. (Photo courtesy of Springfield Athletics)

‘I never thought I’d be a coach’ Inside the story of Peter Avdoulos’ legendary coaching career.

Coaching a sport at any level is difficult enough, and coaching for the same program for 35 years is even tougher. Despite this challenge, Springfield College Diving Head Coach Peter Avdoulos has taken advantage of his opportunities and has significantly contributed to the college’s high level of success in diving.

Being named the NEWMAC men’s diving coach of the year 14 times, winning seven National Championships, and coaching 111 All-Americans throughout his career, Avdoulos has secretly been one of the most successful coaches on campus.

Although his career has taken off significantly since graduating from Springfield College in 1985, he had a much different experience than most transitioning into becoming the legendary coach he is today.

Following his graduation, Avdoulos has stayed close to the college’s diving program. Growing up in East Longmeadow, he still had local access to Springfield College’s athletic facilities.

Shortly after his graduation, the diving coach position was eliminated, leaving the team without one. Wanting to help out some of his former teammates, he agreed to coach the team part-time, which turned out to become the full-time job.

“It was a full-time posi-

tion and so what happened was I live locally, and I had a job locally,” Avdoulos said. “I had teammates that were still here that didn’t have a coach. So, I would come by after work and help them out. It just turned into once in a while, it turned into every day, and then they were expecting me to help them out.”

Volunteering for the early part of his career, Avdoulos didn’t initially believe he would end up becoming the full-time diving head coach until Athletics Director Edward S. Steitz decided to pay him for his contributions. However, as time progressed, he grew to enjoy coaching at the college level.

“I just kind of wanted to give back and help the teammates who were still here. I never thought I’d be a coach,” he said. “At first I was kind of skeptical coaching because I didn’t know what the heck I was doing. But then, as soon as you can help somebody get better, it’s kind of infectious. It’s like, ‘Okay maybe I’m okay at this.’”

Amidst all the success Avdoulos has found coaching diving over three decades, a lot of it can be connected to his ability to find talent.

Over the past two seasons, he’s coached eight All-American divers, including eight divers who earned Diver of the

November 21, 2019

Year awards from the 2007-2015 seasons. With the consistent amount of talent he brings in every year, Avdoulos explained what he looks for out of high-school divers.

“Basically, just the love of the sport, potential, dedication. A lot of high school divers are worried that they don’t have the repertoire to come in and dive in college,” Avdoulos said. “ I just need someone that is motivated and coachable and has potential. If they buy into the program, they’re going to get better.”

Valuing the approach to the sport rather than physical talent, his technique to scouting shows his desire to work with divers who he views has the highest potential and hard-working mentality.

“I’m looking for kind of a mentality instead of already fantastic, already really good at diving.

More potential then proven skills,” he said. “ I mean typically when somebody is already really good they’re going to go after D-I scholarships. I just try to develop from kind of the bottom up.”

With a desire to get the most out of his divers, Avdoulos’ teams stick to fundamentals within his practices. While his team spends a lot of time in the pool, they also spend some time on land. Directing dry-land activities and strength training, he has his athletes spend two days a week with strength and conditioning coaches to balance out their workouts.

Sports

Along with the strength training workouts, Avdoulos uses accessories to help his divers perfect their craft. Attaching a harness to the diving board, divers are given an opportunity to practice their tricks with a sense of security to avoid hitting the water.

Like in most sports, technology in diving has played a vital role in allowing athletes to watch their performances to fix their mistakes in practice and in meets. That’s no different with Springfield College diving, which also uses an instant replay system to see visually where their

them execute dives with his vast knowledge of the sport. Seeing first-hand his command of his divers and of the sport, senior Valmore Stewart acknowledged his strong ability to help his divers perform at the highest level.

“Coach Pete is a great coach because he understands exactly what each individual diver needs in order to execute each dive perfectly,” Stewart said.

Plus, he has a sense of humor that only divers can understand.”

Throughout his long and successful career, Avdoulos’ work with a number

dives need correcting. Understanding people grasp new concepts differently, Avdoulos has made sure to give his divers feedback prior to viewing the film.

As more of a personal coach, Avdoulos is able to get the most out of athletes. Understanding the abilities of his divers, he’s been able to build relationships with them and help

of talented divers has continued to fuel his love for coaching the sport. With a desire to see his athletes develop into better divers, coaching through the years has been a rewarding experience, which Avdoulos explains what has kept him motivated through the years.

“The success of the athletes. Making a difference

in people’s lives. It’s again rewarding. It’s fun to see them develop. I think one of the main things here is development,” he said.

“It’s not just getting kids in that are good already and managing them. I’ve had many divers come in and start diving in college, never dove before, and make it to the national level.”

While his coaching allows his divers to live up to their full potential, Avdoulos’ impact on his athletes stretches further than the diving board.

Understanding his great influence on those around him, he pointed out Avdoulos not only taught him just diving skills, but more importantly life lessons along the way.

“From my freshman season to end of Junior year, Pete has been there to teach me not only about diving, but life in general,” Stewart said. “He’s taught me to go where your heart desires and not to waste time. To be aggressive and passionate with every endeavor I choose.”

Through his scouting, management of his divers, and developing the diving program from the ground up, Avdoulos’ historic career came full circle in 2014 where he was recognized for his many accomplishments as the head diving coach.

Being inducted into the Springfield College Hall of Fame, Avdoulos’ induction was a powerful moment—celebrating his successful career. Looking back at the induction that put him in the same

PAGE 10

category as many of the former Springfield College greats with his long list of accomplishments, being selected into the Hall of Fame was a humbling experience he got to share with his family.

“It’s nice to be recognized, but it’s humbling to be put in the same group as some of those amazing people in the Hall of Fame. You have that feeling like you don’t really belong,” Avdoulos said.

“It was a little bit hard for me to accept that, look around, and see all the coaches around that were here and are here that have done amazing things.”

The greatness he’s instilled in Springfield College’s diving program has revealed many qualities that have contributed to his success as a coach and a person in general.

“He is understanding, caring, and stern when he needs to be. Great communication skills. Knows when to give you time.

The whole nine yards,” Stewart said.

Finding success at a consistent level, Avdoulos has cemented himself as one of the best coaches in Springfield College history. As people look back at his career, his greatness will not only be connected to the success of his athletes, but his impact in their lives as well. Through all his accomplishments as the head diving coach, Avdoulos will always be remembered as a great teacher, leader, and life coach for his effect on those around him.

November 21, 2019

Sports

PAGE 11

Springfield men’s basketball off to best start since 2011

By Danny Priest @dpriest3 For the first time since the 2011-2012 season, the Springfield College men’s basketball team has started their season at 5-0.

On Tuesday night, the Pride hosted Becker and behind the usual strong outings from Jake Ross and Heath Post, Springfield was able to cruise to an easy 9064 win.

The Pride played well on both ends of the court from start to finish. They ended the game shooting 53.2 percent from the field, 50 percent from three (10 makes), and they had 22 assists on 33 made field goals. Springfield also totaled eight steals and four blocks.

“I think a lot of it’s the leadership and we’ve been through things with this upper class and tonight would have been what they call a trap-game where you don’t come to play and you get in a dog-fight and somebody can come back to bite you,” Head Coach Charlie Brock said of the win that moved his team to 5-0.

“I don’t think these guys are going to let that happen, we’re not going to let a game slip away because we’re not ready to play. That’s a whole different situation than somebody comes in and beats you, then when you go to beat yourselves and I don’t think these guys are going to let that happen,” he said.

From the opening tip,

Jake Ross is just 25 points away from breaking the all-time scoring record. (Lucy Hamilton/The Student)

Springfield came out of the gates ready to play. After Heath Post drained a three to start things off, Jake Ross went on his own personal 7-0 run to force a quick timeout from Becker less than three minutes into the game.

The run to start was a good preview of what the night would be like for the Pride.

In the first half, Ross racked up a stat line that most players would dream of putting together in a single game.

The Northampton native amassed 26 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals. He also threw down a thunderous dunk cutting down the middle of the lane off a nice find from Post.

Ross slowed down in the second half (as expected),

but still went on to put together an eye-popping line of 32 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists to go with five steals.

As for Post, he continued what’s been an excellent start to the season. Coming into Tuesday night’s action, the big man had been putting up impressive averages of 20.0 points per game, 12.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists.

Perhaps more impressive than his raw numbers are the percentages Post has been shooting. He entered at 51.7 percent from the field (14.5 attempts per game), 52.6 percent from three (4.8 attempts per game) and 86.7 percent at the line.

It feels as though every time the Pride have been in

need of a bucket, Post has been there if Ross was not.

He continued that on Tuesday putting up 21 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists on 9-12 shooting (2-2 from three). ““I wouldn’t say I’m doing anything specifically, I think my teammates are doing a great job at helping me get open and finding me when I am open,” Post said of his hot shooting to start the season.

“I would just say they’re making my life really easy and they’re doing a great job passing the ball and finding me when I’m making a cut or something. So, I wouldn’t say I’m doing anything myself, I’d say they’re doing everything for me,” he added.

As mentioned, Springfield has not been 5-0 to start a season since 2011-2012. Part of what has made Springfield so successful early in the season has been their potent offense.

Through five games the team is averaging 93 points per game and they are shooting 50.3 percent from the field, 43 percent from three, and 77.1 percent at the line.

The Pride’s lowest point output so far in a game has been their 87-point performance against Emmanuel last Saturday.

A large part of that has been Ross and Post of course, but the supporting cast has been getting more and more comfortable each game.

“It might of mattered four games ago who was starting, who was doing this, who was doing that, I think everybody’s kind of gotten into a rhythm of knowing when they’re going in and for whom and just keeping things rolling,” Brock said of his team.

“We’re playing nine, maybe 10 guys typically, consistently and they know when they’re playing and how much they’re going to play.

We’re in a lot better rhythm than we were in the beginning of the season which is hopefully normal,” he added.

Springfield’s offense has been elite to begin the season, and as time goes on and chemistry improves, it should only get better.

Sports

Novemeber 21, 2019

PAGE 12

All in on Calvin Ridley, Zeke not so much Looking ahead to week No. 12

By Jacob Johnson @JacobJ_7

Love:

Hate:

Calvin Ridley

Ezekiel Elliot

Picking Ridley for a fave is the equivalent of playing Russian Roulette. One of the biggest boom or bust players in the league, Ridley was booming all over the field against the Panthers last Sunday in a dominating win that saw him match targets with Julio Jones (caught all eight targets) and rack up 143 yards with a touchdown. The Falcons have torched their NFC South rivals over the last two weeks, and the worst of the division in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is up next. While it may be too little too late for the Falcons playoff hopes, I’m all in on Ridley this week against a passing defense that is not only one of the worst in the league, but has also given up a combined 14 passing touchdowns over the last four games. At the minimum, Ridley is worth a flex spot but could potentially put up big numbers once again.

Don’t let Elliot’s two touchdowns last week against the Lions fool you; Elliot is not the same back this year as we have seen in the first three years of his career. Against a mediocre Lions front seven that ranks 23rd in rushing YPG and 17 total touchdowns to running backs this year, Elliot managed 45 yards on 16 carries. The Cowboys will be in New England this week and to me, this has the potential to be a disastrous game for Elliot as well as the Cowboys offense. With the recent surge of Dak Prescott’s performance, I fully expect Bill Belichick and the No. 1 overall Patriots defense to do everything in his power to make him uncomfortable in a hostile environment, and put the ball back into the struggling Elliot’s hands, and even if Elliot gets an increase in touches this game don’t expect anything huge.

Game of the week: Panthers @ Saints I really wanted to go with the potential game of the year in Niners vs. Packers, but that’s too easy to pick.

The Panthers-Saints game however is loaded with talent and big playoff implications on the line. With either the Packers or Niners set to take the No. 1 seed in the NFC after this week, it’s critical that the Saints perform against the second place team in their conference. On the Saints end, playmakers like Drew Brees, Michael Thomas, and Alvin Kamara round out one of the most talented offenses in football that should show up on Sunday and put up big numbers. But the Panthers are no walk in the park either as they look to keep their playoff hopes alive. McCaffrey is still the No. 1 player in fantasy, and Kyle Allen and DJ Moore have proven to be reliable starters with big numbers potential. Greg Olsen has also been reliable this year as he’s managed to stay healthy and make some huge plays for Carolina. I expect this rivalry game to put up some huge fantasy numbers.

Novemeber 21, 2019

After City Championship victory, wrestling continues to develop

By Kevin Saxe @ksaxe98

Just over a year ago on Nov. 17, 2018 the Springfield College wrestling team was crowned the Doug Parker Invitational team champions. Fast forward a year and the Pride are looking to defend their title.

With three events in the books, the Pride have steadily improved every week going from sixth to start the season in Ithaca, to third at Kings, to a dominant performance in the City Championships at AIC on Sunday. The Pride have gotten off to a hot start this year but Head Coach Jason Holder knows that this early on in the season is as much about development as it is results.

“It’s been exciting to see the development week to week. That’s something

at this point in the year we’re not really focused as much on winning and losing as far as the week to week progression of different things,” Holder said.

For the Pride entering the season, they knew that they would be without standouts Joe Fusco and Ryan Peters for a certain amount of time. Then, at Ithaca, senior Ian Tolotti was injured and that opened up another spot for other guys to step into and take advantage of the opportunity.

“The underclassmen have really stepped up.

At 133 where Ian usually wrestles we’ve got guys like Gianni Manginelli, Chase Parrott, and Chris Trelli who have all stepped up and wrestled really well,” senior Nick Almonte said.

According to Holder, it has been a steady develop-

Sports

PAGE 13

The Springfield College wrestling team is looking to defend its Doug Parker Invitational title after winning in 2018. (Photo courtesy of Springfield College Athletics)

ment amongst each class year that has contributed to the team’s early season success.

“Notably, Mike Vietri, Joe Parsons, Nick Monteleone who are juniors and have done pretty well,” Holder said. “Jacque St. Jean has wrestled really well as well as Chris Trelli has wrestled really well. I’ll tell you what this weekend Ryan Errico looked really good. It’s nice to see the development of our sophomores, juniors, and seniors and then combined with the addition of the Manginelli brothers and some other really good freshmen, it’s exciting.”

For Springfield, who have seen the development not just week-toweek this season, but an overall development from last year, it’s not just about being talented but also about being willing to do the right things.

Holder believes he has a team full of wrestlers who are constantly striving to get better.

“I like the development, I hope it does continue,” Holder said. “I’m confident it will continue, we have guys who are figuring it out, working hard and taking advantage of the opportunity they have.

We have a great group of young men who are hardworking and they understand culturally what it takes to get better.”

That development has shown each week with improving finishes that culminated with a standout performance at the City Championship against STCC, AIC and WNEU in which the Pride dominated to sweep the competition. “(The) intensity looked good,” Holder said. “We were pushing the pace, and we were getting more

physical which is something we need to do.”

The Pride are loaded at 125, 133, 141, and 149.

With wrestlers like the Manginelli brothers, Trelli, St. Jean, Parrot, and Vietri as well as Robby Hartling, the team has to feel comfortable with a number of their guys off to phenomenal starts at these weight classes.

The Manginelli’s are currently a combined 16-4 and both took individual titles at Kings as well as second and sixth in their respective weight classes at Ithaca. The other wrestlers mentioned were among guys who were listed prior to the season to watch.

For the Pride, who will have more dual meets in the second half as well as their final competition of See Wrestling Page 15

Novemeber 21, 2019

Sports

PAGE 14

Team No. 129 Springfield football stayed true to its identity at its lowest point The Springifeld College football team led all of Division III averaging 362 yards per game.

(Josh Alvarado/The Student)

By Evan Wheaton @EvanWheaton

The 129th season of Springfield College football holds a special place in Mike Cerasuolo’s heart.

At his fourth year as the head coach, he’s sending off his first four-year cycle of players under his leadership.

With 24 seniors on the team preparing for graduation, the faces will be vastly different next year.

Despite the personnel that come and go year-in and year-out, the values that have been deeply rooted into the program remain prevalent.

And it’s largely due to this particular group of seniors that are stepping away.

“We have a lot of young talent coming in and I think one of the best things about that senior group is that they built the culture,” Cerasuolo

said. “We all had a vision when they first arrived here of how we want to run the football program and how we want to build this brotherhood. And they bought in, so they kind of set a standard that we’re following now.

When you have guys like them, and they kind of teach the younger guys and develop them within the group, that’s what will stand the test of time.”

After going 1-3 at the beginning of the year, as well as dropping their first NEWMAC matchup against WPI 35-21, it was a rocky start for Springfield.

From there, however, the Pride rode a five-game winning streak in which they bolstered the No. 1 rushing attack in Division III football, averaging 362 yards per game on the ground. Their run game was also ranked third across all divisions in col-

lege football.

“Obviously it’s a great accomplishment for the entire team because it takes everybody to make that work as far as whether it’s the scout team, whether it’s the defensive look, whether it’s the offensive players and the coaching staff,” Cerasuolo said. “So it’s quite an accomplishment and I think early on in the season we were like, ‘Wow, we’re rushing for a lot, we just aren’t able to finish the drives.’

“And turnovers in the green zone and things like that, and all of a sudden things started to pick up and we started putting things together in the last half of the season and it really shows the type of offense we’re capable of having and it finally came together and clicked a little bit.”

With Hunter Belzo going down on the first offensive snap against Kean in

the second game of the season, he subsequently missed the remainder of the year. Despite this, he played a vital role in developing the younger talent as well as the personnel in the backfield that had to step up in his absence.

“Losing Hunter, obviously a tremendous kid, tremendous worker, tremendous running back, but like we say with most of our kids here, that as good a football player (as he is), he’s a better person and teammate,” Cerasuolo said. “And I think Hunter showed that. He was at everything, team-organized events and whatnot trying to help the younger guys and the guys that were ultimately replacing him.”

After taking a semester off of school, Belzo will utilize another year of eligibility to return to the field as a member of team 130.

“He did whatever we asked of him and tried to help everyone on the team so that they could continue to improve in his absence,” Cerasuolo said.

“So it’ll be great to get him back next year.”

Last year, Belzo was pivotal in the Pride’s success, taking on a foreign role of starting quarterback in Chad Shade’s place, as the latter was out for the season due to injury.

Taking the field again this year, Shade started all 10 games, in which he finished with 771 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 182 carries. He also amassed 456 yards and seven touchdowns through the air across 19 completions.

Towards the beginning of the season, David Wells was taking snaps here and there, sharing playing time with Shade.

Shade still has one year of availability, although

November 21, 2019

Sports

PAGE 15

he is weighing his options regarding a possible return. If he does step away, Wells is slated to fill his shoes next year.

“David is more than poised to take advantage of the opportunity that’s going to be presented to him,” Cerasuolo said. “We were rotating him early on in the season because both of them, they’re equally as talented.

“David is an excellent quarterback, we just wanted more gelling as an offense, we need to get one guy the majority of the reps so that they can gel and obviously get that consistency and continuity with the other guys within the team so that was the only reason we went with the one quarterback. But

David is more than ready to go.”

Before going on to win five straight games and outscoring their opponents 191-93 along the way, the Pride looked themselves over in the mirror. Entering their second NEWMAC game against Norwich, Springfield had to discover their identity.

“We talked to the kids after that 1-3 start and said we’ll find out who we really are and if our culture is real because we talk about compete, battle, finish, do everything with pride, passion, and purpose,” Cerasuolo said. “And those kids showed that. They showed who we really are as a football program and as a team.”

Regardless of the outcome of their final game against MIT, in which the Springfield fell 43-40, the Pride did what they set out to do several weeks beforehand. In a way, Cerasuolo’s first four-year cycle of players withstood their final test – holding onto who they were when their identity and culture was in question.

With the help of the upperclassmen, improved coaching, and everyone else stepping up, the team rediscovered itself and what it means to be the Brotherhood.

“They rallied to get those five-straight and it was a combination of offense performing well and defensively really understanding what we

were trying to do within the defensive schemes and tactics, and we did a better job coaching it as well,” Cerasuolo said. “We weren’t coaching it as well as we could’ve early on in the season so everything really started to come together and it was nice to see it. It was nice to see that culture does win over the games and scoreboard and things like that.”

The end of the season also marks the retirement of Defensive Coordinator Jack Holik, who spent 37 years with the program.

With so many strong members of the Brotherhood moving on, as well as Cerasuolo’s first cycle of recruits, the program will have a lot of moving pieces between now

and the start of the 2020 season in terms of scouting, recruiting, and having young talent adopt the culture of Springfield College football.

“We’re constantly building a Brotherhood,” Cerasuolo said. “It’s never, ‘We’ve arrived.’ So we have some work to do to continue to build it but we have the right people in place as far as the kids and the coaches.”

With team 130 on the horizon, there will be numerous new faces in the absence of the substantial graduating class.

Yet the values will remain the same.

Wrestling continued from Page 13

Ryan Peters. For this Pride team who have gotten contributions up and down the weight classes across all four class years, this is a team that could have numerous wrestlers competing at regionals with legitimate shots at qualifying for nationals down the road should the development continue.

For the Pride, they have three events left before their winter break. The first of those events is their defense of the Doug Parker Invitational. The second of those events, which takes place on Dec. 6 and 7, is the Messiah Petrofes Invitational where the Pride placed

fifth last season. Finally the Pride conclude their first semester on Dec. 11 when they head to Rhode Island to face Roger Williams.

Both events present unique challenges.

“It’s the same mindset it has been and that’s getting better week to week. The one test that Doug Parker is, ‘let’s keep the momentum going,’” Holder said. There’s a big test after Doug Parker, and it’s that holiday in between. Thanksgiving really makes it challenging because these guys really need to be disciplined when they go home, and not pig out on all of the

good food.

“We come back on Monday and we have to leave on Thursday to wrestle on Friday. That makes it a challenge, we’ve got a short week so we have to really be disciplined with their weight management.”

For members of the Pride like Almonte, there is not only excitement in the air to wrestle at home but also the challenge of keeping the positive momentum from the start of the season going.

“We’re really looking forward to the competition,” Almonte said. “It’s a tough tournament, it’s a big tournament for the

Northeast region. I definitely say we’re prepared.

I think the momentum carrying over from city championships and how we’ve wrestled in past tournaments will carry over into Doug Parker and we’ll be ready to take it by storm and hopefully take the trophy again.”

The Doug Parker Invitational will be held this Saturday Nov. 23 in the Field House. Matches will start at 10:30 a.m. with wrestlers from sixteen different schools throughout the New England and Mid-Atlantic region competing in their respective weight classes.

the first semester, a match at Roger Williams, having a chance to start strong in these duals at the lower weights will be beneficial for the Pride.

“At the lower weights if you normally start with some momentum in the matches, and everyone kind of feeds off of that, it’s a great energy to have,” Almonte said.

The second takeaway is the success the Pride have had without three of their best wrestlers in previous national qualifiers, Ian Tolotti and Joe Fusco, as well as one of last year’s breakout stars

SPORTS Football wraps up their 2019 season, says goodbye to seniors

JJ's Faves and Fades: Week 12 fantasy football advice

Budding with talent

S

NOVEMBER 21, 2019

Springfield wrestling just won one title, now it’s preparing for another.

[See inside] VOL. 134 NO. 11

(Photo courtesy of Springfield College Athletics)

A dive into Peter Avdoulos' legendary coaching career