Golf team tees up for success

Ansser Sadiq Guest Writer Elizabeth Pacheco Sports Editor

Five years ago the Vassar women’s golf team was non-existent. Last spring, the team finished 16th in the nation at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Invitational for Division III sports. This rapid rise to success is uncommon in collegiate athletic programs and is a testament to the work ethic and dedication of the College’s athletes and staff.

Men’s Soccer Head Coach and Vassar’s Athletic Director Andy Jennings developed the idea for a women’s golf team as a way for the Athletic Department to comply with Title IX, the law creating equal opportunities for men and women in all educational activities, including athletics. Jennings explained that there are three different ways to follow this rule. The first is “total proportionality in the number of athletic opportunities. [The second is] an equal male-to- female ratio, something Vassar still doesn’t have, but is working toward.” The last is to have a history of underrepresented sports, which the department promises to gradually expand over time.

As Athletic Director, Jennings chose to uphold Title IX by adding women’s golf to the department five years ago. “The first year we were a club sport, [we had] basically two or three athletes recruited, one of which really stayed with the program and was an important part in creating some foundation and substance,” said Jennings.

These players were able to give form to the program, so it was just a matter of how quickly the team would develop. With only five golfers necessary for competition and only four actually scoring in a tournament, the team grew over time. By last season the team had expanded to a squad of nine players. Jennings worked as head coach until this year, when he stepped down to the assistant position and was replaced by Rhett Myers.

After doing so well last season, the team is looking to keep up their winning momentum. Unfortunately, their fall season has been plagued by a host of injuries and students abroad, reducing the team to four players. Despite their low numbers, the women are optimistic about their outcomes this seasons and still have high goals for success.

“I still have very high expectations for the team,” said co-captain Marcy Levitan ’08. “The three members playing this semester are skilled and very committed to working hard and improving the program.”

The other team captain, Katie Bertel ’09, echoed Levitan’s sentiments and is pleased to have other athletes competing with her this season. “Luckily enough for us, we found three wonderful girls who said that they could help us out and compete at a few tournaments. We are so grateful to these girls, because we understand that they were not planning on playing golf and they all have busy schedules,” she said.

This past weekend the team proved their ability to perform well when three athletes competed as individuals at the St. Lawrence Invitational on Sept. 8-9. Bertel shot the lowest score for the Brewers, placing 17th in a field of 54 with a total two-day score of 174. Levitan followed close behind with a total score of 178, putting her in 22nd place, while Marissa Del Mauro ’09 finished in 46th place with a final score of 203.

Myers is encouraged by his players’ dedication and is optimistic about the program’s future. “Within four years, Vassar can realistically aim to be a top five or top 10 team in the NCAA Division III,” he said. “We just need to catch up one year in the recruiting process” in order to gain “the one or two fantastic players to transform our team from a top 20 NCAA Division III team to a top 15 team.”

Prior to the team’s NCAA appearance, Myers had received about 10 letters from possible applicants interested in the program. This fall, however, he heard from about 80 potential applicants, some of whom he described as “ringer players” who will surely help propel the team into a successful future.

The team will compete in four other invitationals this fall before gearing up for their important spring season, which will hopefully culminate in the NCAA tournament.

“Coaches can only do so much, we can only show them how to play and how not to play,” said Myers. “Ultimately the desire to practice and improve must come from within the girls and how far they are willing to go in order to attain the level they wish to.” Having already experienced success, the women’s golf team is sure to stay dedicated and continue working toward a history of victory in their upcoming year of competition.