Seven Sisters in jeopardy

Rachel Pittenger Guest Writer

The recent celebration of the 25-year anniversary of Title IX is proof that women’s sports have come a long way. However, the threats facing the Seven Sisters Tournament could mean eliminating a stage on which female athletes are able to celebrate this progress and pride every year. Although Vassar is now a co-educational institution, its women’s athletic teams still honor the College’s all-female roots by participating in the annual Seven Sisters Tournament.

A gathering of eight schools in a variety of women’s sports, this tournament has served as a way to celebrate women’s athletics’ advancement over time. Athletes share in an important tradition, meeting with other players from all over the East Coast. However, this tradition, which has become an integral part of so many Vassar athletic seasons is currently in danger of demise. Coaches and administrators are contemplating a motion that would signal an end to a long-revered legacy.

Eight historically women’s colleges compete in the Seven Sisters Tournament: Vassar, Bryn Mawr, Haverford, Smith, Wellesley, Mount Holyoke, St. Joseph, and Swarthmore.
Head Coach of the women’s field hockey and lacrosse teams Judy Finerghty describes the special connection that Vassar women have been able to make with those at other schools. “Not only do they develop rivalries, but they develop friendships,” said Finerghty.

The tournament often packs two or three games into one weekend, but the value of the gathering extends beyond these few match-ups. The showcase also features a banquet which all players attend, and at which they have a chance to meet athletes from other Seven Sisters colleges as they collectively listen to a featured speaker.

Recently, different teams have run into varied obstacles regarding the tournament. For both field hockey and lacrosse programs at several schools, time and money shortages are threatening to change the tournament’s format. According to Finerghty, it has become increasingly difficult for teams from areas like Philadelphia and Boston to afford the trip to the Seven Sisters Tournament.

Because few coaches wish to completely do-away with the historic tournament, there have been proposals to shorten it. Other suggestions include the possibility of permanently holding the field hockey tournament in Boston and the lacrosse tournament in Philadelphia, instead of the usual rotation from one school to another. Both Vassar teams have had success at this tournament in the past, including a lacrosse championship in 2005.

There are other teams at Vassar whose inclusion in the tournament is threatened as well. The Vassar women’s soccer team has already removed the tournament from its schedule next year. Though the women’s basketball team will travel to Haverford for the 2006-2007 tournament, this could be the team’s last run.

Assistant Coach Christine Wegner ’03 played basketball for Vassar when they won the Seven Sisters Tournament in 2000. Of it’s possible end, she said, “It’s a shame that coaches don’t want to honor the tradition.”

Wegner also noted the irony of the situation: at the most recent tournament, the banquet was held upstairs to honor the progress of women’s sports, while downstairs people were discussing the Seven Sisters’ end.

The roadblocks that the women’s basketball programs are encountering concern the difficulty of scheduling three games in three days. This has been especially tough for teams who participate in leagues with many teams. These teams are typically only afforded three non-conference games per season and the Seven Sisters Tournament uses all three. Other concerns include the toll that the tournament can take on academics, as the basketball tournament typically falls right before final exams.

One proposed solution has been idea to have two smaller tournaments, each with four teams instead of eight. However, this setup would not bring the pride and honor that comes with competing in a winner-takes-all tournament, and vying for the title of Seven Sisters Champion.

The Seven Sisters Tournament has been a unique stronghold of women’s athletics for 25 years. Unfortunately, the tournament, which has shown many student-athletes how far women’s athletics have come, may not survive to teach the next generation.