May 01, 2008
The College Court | “Cold war” deprives fans of great rivalry
Emma Carmichael
Our worst enemies are sometimes the people we respect the most. I started thinking about this paradox last week, when I heard that the very public quarrel blowing smoke from the Volunteer State to the Constitution State and disappointing fans of women’s basketball nationwide had intensified.
Sports Briefs | Field hockey team recognized for academic achievement
Sports Briefs | Tennis court dedication ceremony to honor memory of Vassar alumnus
The new gazebo at the tennis courts behind Josselyn House will be dedicated to the memory of Eric Smith ’92, who played on the Vassar tennis team, on Saturday May 3.
Female baseball player feels at home with the boys
Acacia O’Connor
Millions of girls play competitive team softball in America today; very few play baseball. In fact, there are no collegiate women’s baseball teams.
Sports Year in Review | Varsity sports enjoy phenomenal seasons in 2007-2008
Lillian Reuman
Vassar athletic teams have had a banner year. All teams set new records, boasted high winning percentages and produced athletes who went on to win league and national titles.
April 24, 2008
A year of firsts for Vassar track and field
Kelly Capehart
A brand new athletic facility, complete with a quarter-mile track and long jump pit, has been getting lots of use from Vassar's brand new varsity track and field team.
Athlete of the Week | Tina Castellan makes lacrosse history in senior season
Lillian Reuman
The women’s lacrosse co-captain Tina Castellan ’08 made history on Saturday, April 12. Castellan earned her 163rd career goal as a Brewer, giving her the Vassar record for most career goals.
Overtime | Human rights issues at play in 2008 Olympics
Kyle Nelson
Protest the 2008 Olympics. There, I said it. I don’t know how, but please do something, and do it for the right reasons.
April 17, 2008
Ultimate clinches spot in Division III nationals
Acacia O’Connor
Vassar's Swinging Monks and Boxing Nuns move closer to snatching the ultimate title.
Fresh faces give new life to rowing teams
Kelly Capehart
Members of the Vassar men’s and women’s rowing teams train hard—at hours considered ungodly by most college students—over the course of nine long months in order to compete in fewer than a dozen regattas each year.
The College Court | Do student-athletes deserve college credit?
Emma Carmichael
The effort, dedication and rigor necessary to play varsity sports can equal the energy needed to be on one's academic A-game.
Sports Briefs | Men’s volleyball takes second at Division III Championship
Amelia Maxfield
April 10, 2008
Men’s volleyball wins NECVA Championship | Brewers to play in National tournament this weekend
Elizabeth Pacheco
For the first time in program history, the Vassar men’s volleyball team will compete in the Molten Division III National Championship Tournament.
Athlete of the Week | Mason and Nissen impressive on the rugby patch
Elizabeth Pacheco
Two players—Nick Mason ’08 and Julia Nissen ’11—have been instrumental in propeling the teams forward in the spring seasons.
Sports Briefs | Men's tennis team aces opponents in spring season
J. CarltonThe Miscellany News...Vassar athletics discusses LGBTQ
Elizabeth Anderson
Recently, men's rowing team member Nick Perry '10 created an LGBTQ athletes and allies group to work with the Athletic Department to reduce and prevent homophobia and heterosexism in athletics. The group will provide a community to students who belong to both the athletic and the LGTBQ community who may feel overlooked by belonging to both.
Overtime | Farewell Isaiah and good riddance
Kyle Nelson
After scandals and bad blood, the New York Knicks finally have new leadership and renewed hope for the future.
Teams want to go back to 'little pink shorts'
Elizabeth Pacheco
On campus tours, when tour guides cite maroon and gray as the school colors, they share the joke that men’s teams didn’t want to wear pink when the school first went co-ed. Look out tour guides, that may be changing.
April 03, 2008
Sports Briefs | Prentiss Field construction halted for the baseball team to play at home
Sports Briefs | Men’s volleyball seeded first in NECVA Championship Tournament
Sports Briefs | NCAA makes decision to not consider a split for Division III programs
A week of hard work and success for Brewer teams
Mike Murn ’08 grabs a RBI and drove in Adam Murphy ’10 in the team’s second game against No. 15 Rensselaer. The Brewers lost both games in the doubleheader....Exploring the athlete recruitment process
Rob Dauster
The competitiveness of the college application process improves the academic quality of its applicants. However, the pool of athletes talented enough to play a sport at the college level is fairly small, and becomes even smaller when academics are considered as well.
The College Court | March Madness highlights a new supestar
Emma Carmichael
Stephen Curry, Davidson College’s 20-year-old starting shooting guard and the baby-faced front man of this year’s National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) basketball tournament has single-handedly led his 10th-ranked team into the Elite Eight and almost the Final Four.
March 27, 2008
Spring Sports Preview | Brewers ready for success in upcoming spring seasons
Lillian Reuman
As the weather gets warmer, Vassar’s spring sports teams have taken their practices outside, where they are training hard in prepartion for their competitions this season.
NCAA considers taking action in splitting Divison III
Kelly Capehart
For the first time in 35 years, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is considering a divisional split. The main factor contributing to the potential split is growth.
Sports politics are worth consideration
Kyle Nelson
March 04, 2008
Web update: Prentiss Field renovations not completed by spring season
Elizabeth Pacheco
For Vassar’s spring athletes, the opportunity to play on their own “field of dreams” remains just out of reach.
February 28, 2008
Giddy up! Equestrian team gets ready for show
Caroline Dunn-Rankin
On March 1, the Vassar equestrian team will host its first horse show in three years at Valley Crest Farms in Millbrook, N.Y. The team, which is an entirely student-run club sport funded by the Vassar Student Association, competes in approximately 10 shows a year.
The College Court | Don't worry Vassar, we're only winning
Emma Carmichael
Last Friday night, Feb. 22., the Vassar men’s volleyball team beat Nazareth College, then ranked No. 1 in the country, in only three games: 30-23, 30-28, 30-24. Prior to the win, the American Volleyball Coaches Association had ranked Vassar No. 6 in the country.
Sports Briefs | Ski team frozen by more than the weather
Amelia Maxfield
By a unanimous vote on Sunday Feb. 24, the Vassar Student Association (VSA) froze Vassar ski team activites. In response to what co-captain Scott Pascal ’10 called “an accounting error,” VSA essentially rendered the team ineffective.
February 21, 2008
Fencer wins New England championship title
Amelia Maxfield
The men’s and women’s fencing teams had their debut in the New England Fencing Championships on Feb. 17 at Dartmouth College, marking the team’s official induction into the New England Intercollegiate Fencing Conference
Women’s swimming pumped for State tourney
Kelly Capehart
After long months of training and competing, the Vassar women’s swim team is nearing the pinnacle of their season. The NY State Women’s Collegiate Athletic Association Swimming and Diving Championship will take place this weekend. Vassar will be among the 17 schools competing.
Overtime | New year, same steroid story
Kyle Nelson
You’d think baseball players would learn at least one thing: Don’t use steroids. Or, if you are going to use steroids, don’t get caught. That being said, I think baseball players should learn another thing, something that most are taught at an extremely young age: Don’t lie.
Men's tennis confident after openers
Elizabeth Anderson
Caroline Dunn-Rankin
This past weekend, the men’s tennis team began their spring season with two definitive wins over Manhattanville College and Stevens Institute of Technology, victories that portend good things to come.
February 14, 2008
Men's diving makes a splash this season
Elizabeth Anderson
Six days a week the three athletes on the men’s diving team climb the few meters up to practice their aerobatic sport, breaking the surface of the cold, still water again and again. The other thing they’re breaking this season is school records.
Sports Briefs | Women's and men's fencing teams go undefeated at Wellesley Invitional
Amelia Maxfield
The Vassar women’s and men’s fencing teams had an outstanding meet last weekend, at the Wellesley Invitational on Feb. 9. Both teams went undefeated in their six rounds of play.
Sports psychology enhances mental fitness
Kelly Capehart
What aspect of athletic training is just as important as a fit cardiovascular system or a strong throwing arm, but can’t be worked on in the gym? Ask any student athlete, and they are likely to know: Mental preparedness is a vital and complicated part of playing any sport.
Athlete of the Week | Lenny Holt integral to Brewer success
Amelia Maxfield
He’s not a high scorer or an all-conference player like some of his teammates. Instead, Lenny Holt ’09 is what men’s basketball Head Coach Mike Dutton calls, “an unsung hero.”
The College Court | Who is the real Bob Knight?
Emma Carmichael
Bob Knight is done. For over 42 years he has patrolled the sidelines of Division I basketball courts, face set in his characteristic scowl.
February 07, 2008
Men's volleyball team nationally ranked ninth
Kelly Capehart
Elizabeth Pacheco
“We’re a brand new team: We’ve got new faces, a new identity,” said men’s volleyball co-captain Scott Leserman ’09. For the men’s volleyball team this season is all about change. Head Coach Jonathan Penn has returned from sabbatical, and the Brewers have finally become full members the Metro Division of the North Eastern Collegiate Volleyball Association (NECVA).
Vassar hosts "Take a Kid to the Game"
Elizabeth Anderson
Lilian Reuman
While facilitated by the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) here at Vassar, “Take A Kid to the Game&rdquo is a national program that encourages adults from the surrounding community to bring their children to football and basketball games.
DI athletes face repercussions for conduct
Rob Dauster
Despite the recent successes of the two programs, recent headlines involving the University of Connecticut’s and University of Missouri’s men’s basketball teams in the last two weeks have had more to do with suspension then shooting hoops.
February 01, 2008
Super Bowl XLII a battle for east supremacy
Rob Dauster
It’s a Super Bowl that’s guaranteed to be epic—no matter who wins. The New England Patriots, an 18-0 team led by all-star quarterback Tom Brady, are looking to make National Football League history.
The College Court | Mental motivation: More mental than inspiration
Emma Carmichael
Picture this. It’s six in the morning on a Monday and you’ve already been up for an hour. You trudged across the deserted campus, kicking through piles of snow and ignoring the fact that not even scavenging squirrels are out at this hour.
December 06, 2007
Alum to speak about athlete leadership
Lauren Sutherland
Vassar alumnus and Trustee Jim Citrin ’81 argues numerous examples—a whole book’s worth—of athletes that not only redeem the professional sports industry, but provide models to be followed.
Sports Briefs
Elisa Okusami '08 goes in for layup during the Nov. 30 game.C. Eaccarino/The Miscellany News...Fencing teams gain edge over opponents
Elizabeth Pacheco
When Vassar’s men’s and women’s fencing teams were asked to fill an empty spot at the Princeton Invitational this past Saturday, Dec. 1, Head Coach Bruce Gillman happily took the opportunity.
Athlete of the Week | Haeuser dunks on opponents
Elizabeth Pacheco
When watching a Vassar women’s basketball game, you are certain to notice Emily Haeuser ’10.
The College Court | Playing through the pain of sports: Are student-athletes masochists?
Emma Carmichael
Somewhere just outside of Hoboken, N.J. on the night of Tuesday, Nov. 27, I reached an astonishing conclusion: I, Emma Carmichael, am what I hereafter classify an “athletic masochist.”
November 29, 2007
Athlete of the Week | Swimmers and diver shine in opening meets
Joe Bubar
Despite an early 1-5 record, Vassar’s men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams have shown strong individual performances.
Squash teams encounter off-court obstacles
Elizabeth Pacheco
For Vassar’s men’s and women’s squash teams, the winter season is off to a shaky start.
Sports Briefs
Lawrence Avitabile '08 was recognized as the Co-Forward of the Week for two weeks in a row and for the 19th time in his Vassar basketball career.J. Carlton/The Miscellany NewsLenny...Taking a gamble on pro tennis
Elizabeth Pacheco
While betting on individual matches and tournament winners is common, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) is now concerned that players are being persuaded to "throw matches" to benefit gamblers.
Overtime | The controversy of an upset
Kyle Nelson
The consequences of the upset are consistent in all sports: A ranked team or a more highly regarded team loses to an unranked, lower ranked or less regarded team.
November 16, 2007
Sports Briefs
RunVassar creates site for athletes
Elizabeth Pacheco
Wanting to reach all those in the greater Poughkeepsie community, the organization RunVassar developed a Web site, which offers a variety of resources including amps of running routes, training plans, shoe reviews and a calendar of upcoming races in which runners can particpate.
Intramural sports score points with Vassar students
Joe Bubar
At a college with academics as rigorous as Vassar’s, intramurals provide an environment in which the student body can “blow off steam, help their studies, and make friends,” said intramurals director and men’s lacrosse Head Coach Joe Proud.
The College Court | Female athletes misrepresented in media
Emma Carmichael
They are not just athletes, they are female athletes, and thus we perceive them in a distorted manner.
November 07, 2007
Winter Sports Preview
Joe Bubar
As the days get shorter and the temperature drops, Vassar’s winter athletes are only just starting their seasons.
Women's volleyball set for postseason play
Elizabeth Pacheco
For the Vassar women’s volleyball team, last weekend’s Liberty League Champinships were bittersweet. Though the team lost five-game matches to Skimore and Union Colleges, resulting in a third place finish, the squad’s impressive performances were not left unrecognized.
Sports Briefs
Sports Briefs | Women's rugby advances to the semifinals of the NRU tournament
The Vassar women's rugby team gains possession of the ball during their Northeast Rugby Union quarterfinal game at home against Northeastern University on Nov. 3. With a 22-10 win, the...Overtime | Predictions for the NBA season
Kyle Nelson
It’s time for another season of the sport that is both the most and least controversial on Earth. That’s right, it’s National Basketball Association (NBA) time.
November 01, 2007
Athlete of the Week | Coogan leads on and off the course in cross country
Elizabeth Pacheco
Looking at this season’s results from Vassar’s women’s cross country meets, you’ll notice a common theme. In every race in which honorary captain Laura Coogan ’09 has competed, she has placed first for the team and no lower than 12th overall.
Sports Brief | Men's rugby falls short of a title
Omar Fayyaz '09 looks to bypass the Rutgers University attack on Sunday, Oct. 28. The team split games, losing to Rutgers 0-12 but defeating Seton Hall University 23-20, falling just...Muggles, mount your broomsticks: It's Quidditch time
Elizabeth Pacheco
If you passed by Joss Beach last Sunday afternoon, you might have been confused to see a group of Vassar students running around with brooms between their legs. These students were simply practicing Quidditch, the sport created by J.K. Rowling in the Harry Potter series.
The College Court | Division III athletics face problems
Emma Carmichael
Division III is the archetype of balance, where athletes play not for national recognition or sold-out crowds, but simply to play and to learn from their play. While over the years this model has operated well, the balance that defines Division III athletics may be toppled in the coming years, as the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) faces burgeoning membership and financial concerns.
October 26, 2007
Forsyth scores as a leader for women's soccer
Elizabeth Pacheco
From her central defensive position, Caitlin Forsyth has been a critical leader on the field as well as a source of constant guidance and support for all of her teammates.
Varsity weight room open
Joe Bubar
Vassar athletics has made another improvement, opening a new Varsity Athletics Weight Room in Kenyon Hall before October Break.
Sports Brief | Field Hockey team looks to end their fall season with a final win
Jessica Albert '09 goes to shoot as Catherine Twardy '08 shows support during the team's early season game against Smith College. The field hockey team will look to end their...Sports Briefs | Women's tennis captures their sixth state championship title
Elizabeth Pacheco
Once again, the women’s tennis team has made Vassar athletics history and by winning their sixth consecutive New York State Championship title.
Overtime | Jones disappoints with steroid use
Kyle Nelson
Last year I wrote a scathing critique of the media’s attack on Marion Jones. Well I was wrong, very wrong it seems. A couple of weeks ago, Jones admitted to having lied to a federal court about her steroid usage before her Sydney victories.
October 05, 2007
Courtside | An interview with a squash star
Elizabeth Pacheco
For the seventh time, Vassar College is hosting the Women’s International Squash Players Association (WISPA) Class of 1932 Tournament. The six-day event, held from Oct. 1-6, attracts top-ranked international players including 30-year-old Rachel Grinham, the tournament’s first seed and the third-best player in the world.
Courtside with Jenny Duncalf and Natalie Grainger
Elizabeth Pacheco
During the Vassar College Class of 1932 WISPA Tournament, The Miscellany News talked with Natalie Grainger and Jenny Duncalf, the second and third seeds, respectively.
Amaechi to speak about sexuality and athletics
Jake Berzoff-Cohen
John Amaechi, the first openly homosexual professional basketball player, will be on campus on Monday, Oct. 8 to kick off Vassar’s Coming Out Week.
Sports Brief | Freshmen duo clinches ITA title to advance to the national tournament
Elizabeth Pacheco
This past weekend, Vassar athletics made history yet again when the men’s tennis team recorded their first Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) New England Regional Championships title.
The College Court | Criticism of athletes shoud stay on field
Emma Carmichael
On Saturday, Sept. 22, the Cowboys, Oklahoma State University’s football team, took the field against the heavily favored Texas Tech University Red Raiders and came away with an impressive 49-45 win.
September 28, 2007
Sports Briefs
Vassar to host international squash tournament
Elizabeth Pacheco
Next week the Vassar men’s and women’s squash teams will open their seasons with the annual Vassar College Class of 1932 Women’s International Squash Player’s Association (WISPA) Tournament.
Women's tennis an ace at ITA
Jake Berzoff-Cohen
The Vassar women’s tennis team has started their fall season the same way for the last three years. After recording consecutive wins in their first few matches, they rose above tougher competition at their first tournament, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) New England Championships.
Overtime | Belichick receives well-deserved cheating penalty for Patriots
Kyle Nelson
Usually this column takes a fairly laid-back stance on over-sensationalized sport issues, but New England Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick’s cheating is cause for some serious contemplation. Apart from the Red Sox ending the curse of the Bambino and Luke Skywalker blowing up the Death Star, there are few moments I find to be more anticipated than the opportunity to rip Belichick apart.
September 21, 2007
Sports Briefs | Another weekend of wins for the Brewers
Women's rugby fights for the ball during their inter-squad scrimmage on Saturday.J. Carlton/The Miscellany News...Athlete of the Week | Bianchetti nets goals in opening games
Ansser Sadiq
Elizabeth Pacheco
The Vassar men’s soccer team has had a strong start this fall, posting back-to-back victories in their opening three games. While all the players have given stellar performances, center mid-fielder Brian Bianchetti ’10 has been a standout player in all three games.
Synchro skating on campus
Elizabeth Pacheco
wizzle, choctaw and mohawk may sound like the newest dance moves, but they are simply technical terms in Vassar’s newest sport on campus, synchronized ice skating.
The College Court | Male practice players an issue on court
Emma Carmichael
Last year, the women’s basketball team at Vassar practiced regularly with a group of about four or five guys who would come to practices and join scrimmages and drills. Our coach had invited the guys to our practices for a number of reasons—mainly, we just didn’t have enough healthy players to play full-court scrimmages with a handful of subs at the end of a practice.
September 14, 2007
Cross country feels the heat in the first meet
Elizabeth Pacheco
On Saturday, Sept. 8, the men’s and women’s cross country teams began their seasons by hosting the annual Vassar Invitational. Despite unbearable heat conditions, Laura Coogan ’09 and Anthony Lucero ’09 had standout performances, leading the Brewers to capture the title, the women for the fourth year in a row and the men for the fifth.
Athletes losing to an unexpected obstacle
Elizabeth Pacheco
Located in the heart of the Hudson Valley, Vassar’s campus is relatively free of serious air pollution. Athletic teams practice outside daily and students are seen at all hours biking, running and simply enjoying the beauty of the outdoors. Not far from campus, however, the air quality begins to decrease.
Czula leads Life Fitness Program
Joe Bubar
Director of Life Fitness, Roman Czula wants to be clear: “‘In the Pink’ is not a porno site,” rather the name of the Life Fitness Program at Vassar.
Golf team tees up for success
Ansser Sadiq and Elizabeth Pacheco
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.
Sports Briefs | Fall sports score in season openers
The Brewers set to spike during a match at the Vassar Invitational.D. Bruck-Segel Krista Romita '09 prepares for a backhand during her match against Union.S. Donahue...Overtime | Roll call for national scandal
Kyle Nelson
This was the summer of sports…controversies. There was backstabbing, dogfighting, lawbreaking and just about anything else you can think of.
September 08, 2007
Fall sports teams prepare to start seasons
Elizabeth Pacheco
Almost a week before classes started, amidst the stifling heat and rainy days of August, Vassar fall athletes arrived on campus to begin their pre-season training. Despite displacement due to Prentiss Field construction, the athletes have upped their intensity, with most teams holding at least two practices a day.
Growth, change and honors for Vassar athletics
Emma Carmichael
While the Vassar athletic fields and courts were deserted for the last three months and Brewer athletes trained and conditioned off-campus, the Athletic Department was as busy as ever. With a number of construction projects underway and a wealth of new coaches hired, Brewer athletes returned to a familiar, but improved Athletics Department.
Prentiss construction finally en route to the finish line
Joe Bubar
The new Prentiss Field, projected to open by the end of November or early December, will feature a turf field with an eight-lane track, a second grass field adjacent to it for soccer and lacrosse, a grass field hockey field, a baseball diamond complete with a fence and dugouts, and a practice field.
U.S. Open nears final matches
Ansser Sadiq
September is upon us and the final grand slam of the year is in full swing. The U.S. Open, a two-week tournament that began Aug. 27, has finally reached its semi-final and final stages, and it is anyone’s guess as to who will become the next women’s and men’s singles champions.
May 03, 2007
Athlete of the Week | Weishaupt and Oriol-Morway lead teams on the rugby pitch
Emma Carmichael
Although lacking varsity status, the Vassar College men’s and women’s rugby teams have established themselves at the national level since Tony Brown took over as Head Coach in 1995. This year, both teams earned top 15 national rankings and won their respective Beast of the East tournaments in April.
Re-launch of pro women’s soccer
Elizabeth Pacheco
In Fall 2003, after only three years of existence, the Women’s United Soccer Association (W.U.S.A.) folded due the lack of funds, attendance and television ratings. However, the hope of establishing a professional women’s American soccer league did not fade away, and just over a year later on December 7, 2004, the Women’s Soccer Initiative, Inc. announced the launch of a new league.
Track team sprints into spring
Elizabeth Pacheco
Since the end of the cross country season, Vassar’s club track team has been training for spring competitions. The team is currently led by James McCowan, the Head Coach for cross country and a Vassar ’99 All-American runner.
April 29, 2007
Aikido Club to enlighten campus in martial arts
Emma Carmichael
This weekend, April 28-29, the Vassar College Aikido Club will host a two-day seminar that will bring in the top martial arts instructors from the region. The lessons, according to Aikido Club President Eric Snyder ’07, “are meant to help propagate sharing and cooperation among martial artists in the region.”
Sports Briefs
Co-Captain Erik Skartvedt '07 in the championship match. "To win with this group of guys who have put in so much effort and hard work, it feels awesome to...Overtime | Showing love for basketball referees
Kyle Nelson
Ever since the first Olympics in Greece, referees have been the bane of the sports fan’s (and participant’s) existence. In Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) country, we’ve known the list of in-conference basketball referees for the past 10 years. When one cycles out, we cross them off the list.
April 19, 2007
Ultimate competes in sectionals
Emma Carmichael
The Vassar ultimate frisbee teams were recently rewarded for their hard work, with the women’s teams qualifying for regionals. The men’s team is hoping for a similar finish from their rescheduled finals game.
Athlete of the Week | Mattelson a smash in men’s tennis
Elizabeth Pacheco
For the Vassar men’s tennis team, the spring season has brought along a welcome string of successes. Although the team is led by a series of veteran players, freshman Mike Mattelson has recently emerged as a viable threat, helping the team to post an impressive 9-3 spring record.
Brewers shine in home competitions
Spring teams fight for wins in league and non-league games.
April 12, 2007
Athlete of the Week | Sharnak aces opponents during senior tennis season
Emma Carmichael
As senior co-captain of the women’s tennis team, Debbie Sharnak ’07 has done more for Vassar’s program than perhaps any player in its history. Sharnak has played at the number one singles spot for almost her entire Brewer career, and has established herself as a force on a national scale.
Rugby teams achieve national rankings
Elizabeth Pacheco
After ending their fall seasons with defeats in the semi-final rounds of the National Rugby Union Championships, the men and women’s rugby teams have both regained success in their recently achieved national rankings. Before their games this past weekend, the men’s team was ranked 18th in Division II and the women’s team was ranked seventh in Division I, a nine-place jump from their previous postion at number 16.
Overtime | Head coaches losing respectability
Kyle Nelson
Off-seasons are either a highlight or the bane of the sports fan’s existence. There are only two things for a sports fan to do: bask in the glow of a team’s success or just complain. To die-hard sports fans, many of these complaints involve changes in players and coaches, and can reach the analytic level of college theses.
April 06, 2007
March Madness shows evolution of women’s game
Emma Carmichael
Something has changed in women’s college basketball.
Prentiss construction stalled
Elizabeth Pacheco
Spring sports teams walked out to Prentiss Field last week for practice, expecting to find it under construction, but were surprised not a bulldozer in sight. The date to break ground for the Prentiss Field renovations, originally set for Nov. 1, was pushed back to Dec.1 and is now scheduled for April 19.
Sports Briefs
Steven '07 almost blocks a pass to Jon Reed '09 during Sunday's ultimate frisbee Hat Tournament.A. Neuhauser/The Miscellany NewsMen's lacrosse co-captain Vito Cataldo '07 looks to beat an Oberlin College...MLB opens regular season this week
Mathew Elias
For the 30 Major League Baseball (MLB) teams this week begins a time of hope and anticipation. Spring training is officially over and games that count toward team records have begun. As teams and fans start dreaming of play-off spots and a World Series win, there are a few top stories to keep an eye on during the 2007 season.
March 30, 2007
Overtime | Steroids prevalent in professional sports
Kyle Nelson
In baseball, random testing allows most players to get away with doping; there are enough loopholes in the process that when a guy’s muscles balloon to McGwire-size and he gets caught, the media and the public act like it’s a fluke.
March 01, 2007
Spring sports set to start their seasons
Emma Carmichael
Even in the midst of snowstorms, Vassar spring sports teams are gearing up for their upcoming seasons.
Uphill season for downhill ski team
Sports Briefs
February 22, 2007
NCAA considers expanding Division III athletics
Emma Carmichael
The National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) is facing growing problems in Division III, now its largest division with 420 active members.
Sports Brief | SAAC approves release of drug testing policy
The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) voted unanimously on Monday, Feb. 20 to release the drug testing policy that has been in process for nearly three years.
Overtime | NBA unable to accept homosexuality
Kyle Nelson
Earlier this month, John Amaechi, a retired black British basketball player, came out and became the first openly homosexual to have played in the National Basketball Association (NBA). What does this mean?
February 15, 2007
Men’s swimmers and divers are a splashing success
Emma Carmichael
The Vassar College men’s swimming and diving team made program history at home last Saturday, Feb. 10 when they captured their first-ever Sprint Invitational victory with a 59-point lead over second-place Skidmore College.
Athlete of the Week | Bisignano, Upham are all-stars on the strip
Elizabeth Pacheco
Coming off of their most successful season in years, Vassar’s men and women’s fencing teams are highly anticipating the New England Championships. With the tournament less than two weeks away, players are honing their skills on the strip in hopes of continuing their dominance over opponents.
National Sports Brief | Super Bowl loser’s apparel finds suprising home
Elizabeth Pacheco
At the end of Super Bowl XLI, when the Indianapolis Colts’ victory had become reality and Peyton Manning had finally achieved his redemptive win, a sea of emotion and coveted championship merchandise flooded Dolphins Stadium in South Florida.
February 08, 2007
U.S. welcoming to international sports stars
Josh Bleiberg
Here in the United States, sports leagues have never shied away from importing international stars in an effort to rejuvenate enthusiasm among American sport fans. One of the most recent examples is Britain’s David Beckham, who left his club team Real Madrid to sign a quarter billion dollar contract with Major League Soccer’s (MLS) Los Angeles Galaxy.
Brewers show spirit at home competitions
Sports Spread...Athlete of the Week
Emma Carmichael
The Vassar College men’s basketball team is currently enjoying its most successful season since it joined the competitive Liberty League a few seasons back, largely due to the outstanding play of forward Lawrence Avitabile ’08.
Learn to live your Best Life
Elizabeth Pacheco
In a society where thin is always in and a new diet fad is continually on the rise, Bob Greene built a successful career in the fitness business. No, he has not developed a weight-loss pill or created a five-minute ab workout; rather he has designed a life plan for Americans to follow.
February 01, 2007
Swimming and squash take second at Sisters
Elizabeth Pacheco
On Jan. 20-Jan. 21 the Vassar women’s swimming and squash teams both placed second at their annual Seven Sisters Tournaments. Although facing challenging competitors, the Brewer women still gave outstanding performances, receiving various Seven Sisters Tournament honors.
Volleyball aces in opener
Vassar men’s volleyball team opened its season with a pair of wins this past weekend on Saturday, Jan. 27.
Super Bowl XLI preview
Matthew Elias
On Sunday, Feb. 4 the Indianapolis Colts will take on the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, Fla. It is a match-up between two of the most storied franchises in the National Football League’s (NFL) history, both of which are looking to end their championship droughts.
Sports Brief | Serena Williams serves up surprises at Australian Open
Entering the tournament unseeded and from a 2006 season that was riddled with injury, few expected Serena Williams to come out on top at the 2007 Australian Open.
December 07, 2006
Squash seeks improvement
Elizabeth Pacheco
With the small number of recruits joining this year, the men’s and women’s squash squads have had to work especially hard to succeed. Coming off tough losses at the Liberty League Tournament on Nov. 18-Nov. 19, this past weekend was an opportunity to come out with a win.
Athlete of the Week
Emma Carmichael
Already having made a name for herself as one of the top swimmers on the Vassar women’s swim team as well as in Liberty League competition, Allison Koenker ’09 had little to prove in the Dec. 1-Dec. 3 the Liberty League Championships in Rochester, NY.
Seven Sisters disappearing?
Acacia O'Connor
In the world of competitive athletics, it’s not often that athletes play a hard-fought game against an opponent, sometimes even losing, and then sit down elbow-to-elbow with them for dinner.
Sports Briefs | Vassar athletes recognized by the Liberty League
This week, Dec. 4, four Vassar athletes were honored by the Liberty League for their outstanding performances
November 30, 2006
Baseball MVPs continue trend of home-run hitters
Lucas Mann
Ryan Howard, who was voted the National League’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) on Nov. 23, is a big, big man. Standing 6’4” and listed at 255 pounds (a figure that looks like it could apply to only the lower half of his body), he was Major League Baseball’s best power hitter in 2006.
Basketball shoots to score
Elizabeth Pacheco
The Vassar women’s basketball team hosted the Vassar Tip-Off Tournament from Nov. 17-Nov. 18, marking the official opening of their season. Although Mitchell College narrowly defeated the Brewers, the team played with great heart and intensity, giving fans a glimpse of their potential for the season.
November 17, 2006
Israel at Heart brings new outlook to basketball
Lucas Mann
Filing into Jewett parlor, the players from Israel at Heart were almost indistinguishable from the Vassar men’s basketball team. The two teams of tall kids with athletic gaits and hooded sweatshirts didn’t look much different from one another.
Sports Briefs
Fencing team gets the inside edge
Emma Carmichael
The Vassar College fencing teams advanced toward their season goals with a set of victories on Sunday, Nov. 12. The women won over Cleveland State University, Marist College, City College of New York, and Sacred Heart University. The men’s team swept Cleveland State, Marist, Sacred Heart and Yeshiva University.
Ultimate soars to early successes
Elizabeth Pacheco
Even as the last of the fall leaves disappear, Vassar’s men and women’s ultimate frisbee teams are continuing to practice out on Noyes Circle. Although the team practices co-ed, the men and women’s teams each competed separately in two tournaments this fall.
November 09, 2006
Rugby advances to semi-finals
Elizabeth Pacheco
“My goal for the teams this season is the same every year: to win every single game we possibly can,” said Tony Brown, head coach of the men and women’s rugby teams for the past 12 years.
Athlete of the Week | Sanders dominates in cross country
Lucas Mann
For Colin Sanders ’08, last year’s cross country season ended in personal disappointment. “I was really frustrated after my sophomore season,” said Sanders. “I felt like I hadn’t met the expectations that I had for myself.” While many of us would respond to frustration with a summer of drowning our sorrows in laziness, Sanders took a different approach.
Field of Dreams : Plan for Prentiss Field renovations finalized
Acacia O'Connor
After years of wishing and hoping, Vassar baseball players will finally be able to hit one out of the park, literally. The $7.5 million plan to reconstruct the baseball, field hockey, soccer and lacrosse pitches at Prentiss Field is gearing up, which is an exciting prospect for the athletic community.
November 03, 2006
Tennis continues dynasty with fifth state title
Emma Carmichael
Five straight Liberty League titles. Five straight New York State Championships. NCAA team qualifiers four of the past five years. With stats like in these, it seems that Vassar College’s women’s tennis team has earned the right to be considered a dynasty.
Athletes warned about Facebook
Elizabeth Pacheco
For students across the nation, The Facebook has become a common feature of both college and high school culture. What was first a simple means of communication between college students is now a widespread online community. Earlier this year, students’ eyes were opened to the site’s potential dangers when a news feed that tracked the movement of every single Facebook member was added.
October 27, 2006
Detroit Tigers score one for the proletariat
Lucas Mann
When the home run ball that won the Detroit Tigers the American League Championship on Oct. 14 flew off Maglio Ordonez’s bat, he took a few seconds, stood by home plate and watched. He looked stunned, having achieved the kind of feat that every kid who picks up a bat hopes will happen to him but doesn’t believe it will.
Athlete of the Week | Soccer captains provide leadership
Emma Carmichael
As the co-captains of the men’s varsity soccer team this year, Court Steiner ’07 and Adam Marsh ’07 have proven to be an impressive duo, combining to score 12 of the team’s 20 goals this season. The two have been playing together for the last four seasons, and coached by Andy Jennings for the past three.
Crew team eager for victories
Elizabeth Pacheco
For the Vassar crew teams, October is the most important month of the fall season. Having already dedicated numerous hours to practice, the men and women’s teams compete in four regattas in October: the Head of the Genesee, the Navy Day Regatta, the Head of the Charles, and the upcoming Head of the Fish.
October 05, 2006
Vassar hosts top players in tennis tourney
Lucas Mann
The Annual Wilson/Intercollegiate Tennis Association Championship made its 2006 home at Vassar College from Sept. 29-Oct. 1. Entries from 17 different northeastern colleges converged in Poughkeepsie.
Yoga Club provides students space to stretch out stress
Emma Carmichael
It’s often difficult for college students to find time to relax in the midst of their busy schedules. Classes, meetings, practices, and meals take up much of their days, and find ing time to unwind and slow down their bodies is a challenge. One of Vassar’s newest organizations, the Yoga Club, offers students an outlet of this sort.
September 28, 2006
Test affords loophole in Title IX
Emma Carmichael
In 1972, the U.S. Congress enacted Title IX of the Educational Amendments in an effort to prohibit sex discrimination in educational programs, with a focus on athletics. Title IX reads, “No person in the U.S. shall, on the basis of sexual be excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving federal aid.”
Line blurred between sports, life
Lucas Mann
The fervor that college football stirs up can become frightening. This fact became more than evident in the recent controversy involving college football official Gordon Riese. Is a victory for teams that the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) hastens to reiterate are amateur worth a school president degrading an official who made a mistake? Is it worth rabid fans responding to this unforgiving sentiment by threatening a man that they have never met, making his return to a job he has performed well for 28 years seem dangerous?