Mount Holyoke’s rugby team ties 15-15 with Connecticut College

Photo courtesy of Mount Holyoke Rugby

Mount Holyoke’s rugby team discusses community, practice, team bonding, and rugby with MHN.

By Bei Jia Viggiano ’28

Publisher

While Mount Holyoke rugby has only played one game so far this season, the team’s practices have maintained their dedication to preparing for the North Atlantic Collegiate Rugby Women’s D4 10s Finals Tournament, scheduled for early November. Rugby President Esther McCarrie ’29 and Forwards Captain Nora Schumacher ’28 spoke with Mount Holyoke News over email to discuss the team’s successes, challenges, preparation for the Finals Tournament and their personal experience on the team.

“What stands out about our success is how well we work together,” McCarrie said. “When we practice, the community is always welcoming. Everyone, no matter their skill level, [is] encouraged to play and practice. We want people to try different positions and techniques to see what fits best for them.”

“One of the biggest successes our team has had is the consistent, deeply impressive progress I see every semester,” Schumacher said. “We are constantly getting new players with little to no rugby experience, and it’s always amazing to see how fast they learn the sport, and how willing returning players are to support their progress.”

On Sunday, Sept. 27, the Lyons faced Connecticut College on the Coast Guard Academy’s pitch field. The final score was tied 15-15, with three tries each and no conversions.

“Our challenges come on the field,” McCarrie explained. “When we play, we are occasionally met with a tough scrum or hard tackle. When these occur, I notice that the rest of the team rallies behind the players with cheers and support. That really helps get us through tough moments.”

“A major challenge we have been facing over the past year has been our lack of a home pitch,” Schumacher noted. “Our school has an incredible rugby pitch, which has been under construction as part of the geothermal project. We have been holding practice behind Creighton or at the athletic fields of a nearby school, but this change has added complications.”

“Neither of these pitches [has] the regulation rugby pitch size and markings,” Schumacher continued. “Creighton is often flooded [or] muddy, and going to an off-campus field requires extra organization in terms of vans and drivers, as well as taking time out of practice for transit. Even at Creighton, the increased distance from our equipment room adds an extra layer of planning every day. However, through a lot of planning and teamwork, we have been able to make this setup work! I am very impressed with the way all of my teammates have consistently volunteered to help drive fleet vans, carry equipment, and work with me to set up and maintain these new (luckily temporary!) practice systems.”

In regard to the impending Finals Tournament, McCarrie and Schumacher spoke on team practices and games.

“We prepare by committing ourselves to practice,” McCarrie said. “When we have our contact practices, we do drills going over safe tackles and scrums. We also practice by playing unopposed games, where we play as if we were in an actual game, just without any opponents tackling us.”

“Our preparation has been largely centered on building strength and technique for maximum player safety before each game,” Schumacher said. “This continues to be true for the finals tournament. I’ve seen incredible progress from spending most of practice on drills and perfecting all the different pieces of the game, and pulling it together with scrimmages for the last 30 minutes or so.”

Regarding their personal experiences on the team, McCarrie and Schumacher had nothing but love for the rugby community on campus.

“I have loved every moment playing on this team,” McCarrie stated. “I find the people and overall community so welcoming. I joined my first semester of my first year and have been committed ever since. I played a little rugby when I was younger, so I knew the very basics, but even if I didn’t, the team made it incredibly easy to learn. I never felt bad for not knowing how to throw the ball correctly or not knowing the different positions. I could always ask questions without feeling embarrassed.”

“I joined this team my first semester at MHC,” Schumacher began, “and over the past two years, I’ve felt incredibly lucky to be a part of this community. The support I’ve received from my teammates has meant the world to me, and the friendships I have made through rugby will always be a defining part of my college experience.”

“Above all,” Schumacher concluded, “I appreciate the opportunity to try a new thing without judgement, and feel like a part of this community through every part of my process.”

Mount Holyoke rugby is planning to hold a joint practice with Amherst College soon in place of a game.

Whitney White ’28 contributed fact-checking.

Mount Holyoke Athletics set to finish 2025-26 season

By Bei Jia Viggiano ’28

Sports Editor

As the spring semester comes to an end, many of the Mount Holyoke College athletics teams have been busy for the final month of the academic year. Throughout May, the hunt seat, track & field and rowing teams have been participating in national competitions and outdoor championships.

On Friday, May 1, the hunt seat team attended the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association Nationals held at Tryon International in Mill Spring, N.C. The event ran through Sunday, May 3, and resulted in Mount Holyoke placing sixteenth overall. The Savannah College of Art and Design placed first, with Skidmore College and Centenary College following in second and third, respectively.

Yet the competition saw numerous individual achievements made by Lyons, including honorable mentions for Emi Graf ’28, Grace Neumuth ’27 and Lili Evans ’26. Evans was awarded the title of Reserve Overall High Point Rider as a Western rider and received the Champion Versatility Award for her involvement in both hunt seat and Western riding.

The track & field team participated in the New England Division III Outdoor Championships, also on Friday, May 1, at Springfield College in Springfield, Mass. There was no score recorded. The remainder of the 2025-26 season observes the New England Intercollegiate Amateur Athletic Association Outdoor Championships held at Stonehill College in Easton, Mass., on both Friday, May 8, and Saturday, May 9; the MIT Final Qualifier held at MIT in Cambridge, Mass., on Thursday, May 14, at 4:00 p.m.; and the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III Outdoor Championships, scheduled at Veterans Memorial Field in La Crosse, Wis., from Thursday, May 21, to Saturday, May 23.

The rowing team competed in two events this month. On Saturday, May 2, the Lyons attended the New England Rowing Championships in Worcester. On Sunday, May 10, Mount Holyoke participated in the National Invitational Rowing Championships, also held in Worcester, Mass.

Mount Holyoke College has since competed at the National Invitational Rowing Championships on Saturday, May 10, in Worcester. The College will next attend the MIT Final Qualifier held at MIT in Cambridge, on Thursday, May 14, at 4 p.m.

Quill Nishi-Leonard ’27 contributed fact-checking.

Mount Holyoke Hunt Seat to attend IHSA Nationals in North Carolina

By Bei Jia Viggiano ’28

Sports Editor

As the 2026 Spring semester comes to a close, the Mount Holyoke College hunt seat team has been preparing for the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association Nationals, held from Thursday, April 30, to Sunday, May 3, at Tryon International in Mill Spring, N.C.

The team’s talent was showcased prominently at the beginning of the academic year during the month of October. At the Williams College Show on Saturday, Oct. 4, at Bonnie Lea Farm in Williamstown, Mass., the Lyons placed first out of eight teams. Two weeks later, on Saturday, Oct. 18, Mount Holyoke secured a second first-place rank at the UMass-Smith Show, hosted at Muddy Brook Farm in Amherst, Mass. There were nine teams in attendance. For the last event of the month, on Saturday, Oct. 25, the Lyons finished first of ten teams in a home show.

“The two things that I think do the most heavy-lifting, in terms of our successes, are that we work hard and play hard,” Charlie May ’26 said in an email to Mount Holyoke News. “It’s certainly cliché, but there's absolutely some truth in the saying. Every one of our teammates put in an incredible amount of work. Between giving it their all during PEs and practices, helping put on a 150+ person event twice a semester, helping take care of the horses, or doing work around the barn, every team member gives an immense amount of their time and energy to keep it all running. And we have an incredible time while doing so.”

“Blasting music while setting up jumps, giving each other gifts before shows, having fun while on horseback — the work is hard, but the payoff is so unbelievably worth it,” May continued. “The community and joy that comes out of it is what makes us so successful and special.”

The return from winter break saw only one show in February for the hunt seat team. The Springfield College Show on Saturday, Feb. 28, was held at Light House Hill Stables in East Windsor, Connecticut. The final ranking placed Mount Holyoke at second place of the eleven teams present.

The winning streak returned in March, with the first of the month being another Williams College Show hosted at Bonnie Lea Farm in Williamstown, Mass. The Lyons secured first place among the eleven teams competing. A few days later, on Saturday, March 7, Mount Holyoke’s hunt seat team emerged triumphant in first at a home show, also out of eleven teams.

In response to how the team has been preparing for Nationals, May answered, “Practice, practice, practice!” The IHSA Nationals occur over the course of four days. This season, it is held in North Carolina, and is the hunt seat team’s final event of the season and postseason.

“[My overall experience on the team has been] incredibly positive,” May said. “From the moment that I stepped onto campus as a prospective rider, I was welcomed with open arms into one of the most supportive and wonderful communities I have ever encountered.”

“The team culture is one that has encouraged me to push myself further than I thought was possible and to be the best that I can be, both as a rider and as a person,” May added. “But even more so, the culture of the team is one that is so intrinsically based in lifting each other up and celebrating each other's successes, that never once does it feel like we are each other's competitors, only each other's supporters and friends.”

“In a sport where you quite literally compete against your own teammates in the same event,” May concluded, “a culture like ours is incredibly rare and special.”

Mount Holyoke’s hunt seat team has since competed at the IHSA Zone 1 Championships on Saturday, April 4, at the Mount Holyoke College Equestrian Center. They will next attend the IHSA Nationals from Thursday, April 30, to Sunday, May 3, at Tryon International in Mill Spring, N.C.

Angelina Godinez ’28 contributed to fact checking.

Rowing will be in Worcester for the majority of remaining 2025-26 season

By Bei Jia Viggiano ’28

Sports Editor

As the sun begins to emerge from behind the clouds, the Mount Holyoke College rowing team is continuing its 2025-26 season. The first half took place in Oct. 2025, with three events spread across the month. The second half will be completed through April and May 2026, beginning on April 11.

“I’ve been on the team for 4 years now,” Holly Wrampelmeier ’26 began in an email to Mount Holyoke News. “I walked onto the team my freshman year and, despite never seeing a racing shell before in my life, made it on the team.”

The first event of the season was the Head of the Snake on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Shrewsbury, Mass. The Mount Holyoke varsity four finished in ninth place out of 16 boats in 18:42.4. For the women’s collegiate eights, the Lyons finished in 20th out of 25 boats in 16:55.1.

Next, on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, Mount Holyoke competed in the Head of the Charles, held in Boston, Mass. They placed 29th out of 40 boats with a time of 20:53.185.

The final event of the month was on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. The Wormtown Chase took place in Shrewsbury, Mass. The Mount Holyoke first varsity eights took eighth place in 18:34, while the Lyons second varsity eights finished in 18th with 20:01, of the 22 boats present. Lastly, the Mount Holyoke novice eight rounded fifth place of the five boats with a time of 24:19.

“The team had a very successful spring break training trip in Clemson, South Carolina,” Team Captain Elsa Kulatunga ’26 said in an email to Mount Holyoke News. “We trained intensively the whole week with great energy and focus, so we’re set up for a great spring season. As of today, we are transitioning from indoor to on-the-water practice here on the Connecticut River. We had a chilly morning row, but we’re looking forward to our first race [at Worcester Polytechnic Institute] this weekend!”

“We recently came back from our annual spring break training trip down in Clemson, [South Carolina],” Wrampelmeier said. “While the weather wasn’t quite as nice and sunny as we would have liked, we still got in some incredibly valuable meters and strokes together.”

Two days ago, on Saturday, April 11, the Lyons competed at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Mass. They will next travel on Saturday, April 18, to the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn. The final event of this month is on Saturday, April 25, when the Lyons will attend the NEWMAC Championship in Shrewsbury, Mass.

“The team is going into the season with a killer drive and focus on the championship season,” Kulatunga continued. “We’re working hard and going fast! Our goal this season is to move up one or two spots within the conference. The team is in a transition period, with a relatively small roster. The small size of our team makes for a very tight-knit group, so the team culture is great. We’re pretty focused on recruiting for upcoming classes to expand the roster.”

“One of the rowing [team’s] biggest strengths has always been our team culture,” Wrampelmeier continued. “It’s why I keep coming back every year. I have made lifelong friends on this team, and they make every practice fun. You can come in wherever you are at, and everyone will be encouraging you to reach your next goal.”

To round off the 2025-26 season, Mount Holyoke rowing will compete at the New England Rowing Championships on Saturday, May 2, in Worcester, Mass, and the National Invitational Rowing Championships on Sunday, May 10, also in Worcester, Mass.

“We’re super excited to be back on [the] water and be racing soon,” Wrampelmeier finished. “Spring racing is where our season really ramps up, but I find that it is also the most rewarding. I know this team will always have my back, and we’re [going to] do our best to go as fast as we can together.”

“We’ll continue to get lots of meters in on the water and lots of heavy lifting done in the weight room,” Kulatunga concluded. “It’s going to be a fun racing season!”

Emelin Chuquimarca '28 contributed fact-checking.

Track and Field ends its March at UMass

Image courtesy of Mount Holyoke Athletics

Mount Holyoke’s track and field team tied with Wellesley College and Johnson & Wales University at 32nd place out of 34 competing teams March 1.

BY BEI JIA VIGGIANO ’28

SPORTS EDITOR

March has been quite an eventful month for Mount Holyoke College’s track and field team. In the fourth month of the 2025-26 season, the Lyons have faced their busiest one yet. Totalling five events, with four completed so far, the track and field team is only warming up for April and May, which promise to be even busier.

On March 1, Mount Holyoke competed at the New England Division III Indoor Championships in Boston, Mass. They tied at 32nd place with Wellesley College and Johnson & Wales University out of the total 34 teams in attendance.

Next, the Lyons competed at the NEICAAA Indoor Championships on Friday, March 6, at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston, Mass. There was no score recorded.

The following day, they attended the Tufts Final Qualifier, which was non-scored.

Mount Holyoke’s track and field team has since competed at the Elmer Swanson Classic on Saturday, March 21, in Middleton, Conn. They will next attend an event at the University of Massachusetts Amherst on Saturday, March 28, at 10 a.m., in Amherst, Mass.

Cat McKenna contributed fact-checking.

Senior Spotlight: Elle Mader ’26 reflects on 2026 lacrosse season

By Bei Jia Viggiano ’28

Sports Editor

Elle Mader ’26 entered Mount Holyoke College in fall 2022, continuing her academic and athletic career. A long-time lacrosse player and current second-year captain playing attack, Mader felt that she was not done with the sport.

Mader has played lacrosse since she was eight years old. Raised in a family of athletes, it was not a question of whether or not to play sports, but rather which sport to play. Eventually, she chose lacrosse; as well as cross country, which she used to stay active for lacrosse, her primary focus. When she arrived at Mount Holyoke, she joined the Lyons’ lacrosse team with the intention of having a set group of people to know in her first year on campus and push herself to be more extroverted.

Nearly three and a half years later, Mader described her personal experience on the team as “great,” though she admitted that she was initially apprehensive about playing lacrosse in college. However, according to Mader, it was “the best decision [she had] ever made.” She quickly made friends within and outside of the sport, stayed active and practiced good time management.

In Mader’s opinion, the team’s greatest strength is perseverance. Since her first year, there has been much growth, and the team acquired a new coach. Over the last three years, Mader said, they have been building upon a great foundation, which the first years and sophomores have been supporting with their hard work. She added that mindset is another strength that the team possesses: having the headspace to know what needs to be done and how to execute it.

Playing highly ranked teams like Babson College and MIT presents challenges, but for the Lyons, the challenge of matching their opponents’ skill level is welcome. Other obstacles include student-athletes coming back from injuries to play fully as a team. Mader’s past four years on the team have been spent building fundamentals and innate intangibles such as attitude and effort, which she said is another team strength.

Aside from matches, the lacrosse team has various traditions that promote team bonding and make the experience of being a college athlete a unique one. One such tradition is Bigs and Littles, where underclassmen are paired with upperclassmen to encourage team bonding and a network of support. Mader mentioned that she still speaks with her Big. Mader also noted another tradition, Secret Psych, where, at the start of every season, each player is assigned a teammate, and before each game they write encouraging notes for their person. Other traditions, according to Mader, include pre-game rituals, an annual spring break trip, talent shows, trivia games, crafts and PowerPoint nights.

To prepare for the 2026 season, the lacrosse team has been working hard through practice and lifting. Scrimmages with colleges such as the American International College, a Division II college in Springfield, Massachusetts, have allowed the Lyons to test out their plays. Additionally, new rule changes in lacrosse have gone into effect, and the scrimmages are a good opportunity for the team to test how it feels to play an official game.

The first game of this year’s lacrosse season was on Wednesday, Feb. 25, against Elms College on Mount Holyoke turf. The team, according to Mader, finds home games more fun due to the crowd, as well as events such as Level Up Lyons. However, Mader added that it is fun for the team to travel to other colleges and see their home turf.

In her final thoughts as the season kicks off, Mader stated, “I’m just really excited to get into it. I think we have a great coaching staff. Coach Libby Morrison is joining us this year in her first season with us, and then we have an alum, Hannah Bisson ’24, who’s joining us as well. So I think we have a really strong leadership.

“I just think the whole team as a collective is really ready to get into the season,” she continued. “The [preparation] we’ve done throughout preseason … I think [it] will really carry us far this season.” Mader also expressed that she is hopeful for a NEWMACS postseason run.

“[I] want to emphasize how far we’ve come since my freshman year to now. I’m really happy, and I’m really proud of everyone [for] all the work they’ve put in. I’m really excited to see where the season takes us, and excited for Elms [College].”

Mount Holyoke’s lacrosse team has since competed against Suffolk University on Wednesday, March 4, at Mount Holyoke College. They will next face Gordon College on Monday, March 9, at 6:00 p.m., in a home game once again.

Quill Nishi-Leonard ’27 contributed fact-checking.

Mount Holyoke basketball’s 2025-26 season approaches its end

Photo courtesy of MHC Athletics

By Bei Jia Viggiano ’28

Sports Editor

Low temperatures and sunny skies have watched over the final month of games for the Lyons’ basketball team in their 2025-26 season. Mount Holyoke College carries a few victories and a handful of challenges, as well as close scores. Despite many obstacles, the team has prevailed throughout the season with at least one win per month since the start of the season.

November began with a defeat to Sarah Lawrence College with a narrow margin of 75-68 on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025, in Bronxville, New York. The Lyons closed the month with a victory against Lesley University in a home game on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025, standing 45-43.

In early December, Mount Holyoke competed in three games within the span of a week, two of which were held at Mount Holyoke College. On Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, New England College prevailed with 60-49. Three days later, Anna Maria College secured a win of 63-51 over the weekend. The Lyons came to play in the final game of 2025 at Chicopee, Massachusetts, emerging triumphant by 55-46 over Elms College.

The second half of the season kicked off with a home game against Elms College on Monday, Jan. 5. where The Blazers narrowly won by 50-49. Mount Holyoke then earned back-to-back victories against Holyoke Community College and Bard College in home games on Saturday, Jan. 10, and Tuesday, Jan. 13, respectively. The final scores were 66-47 against Holyoke and 60-51 against Bard.

The Lyons met with Worcester Polytechnic Institute for the first game of February on Wednesday, Feb. 4, at Mount Holyoke College. The final score was 60-49 in favor of WPI. Mount Holyoke next competed against MIT on Saturday, Feb. 7, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, just barely falling short at 62-51 in favor of MIT.

Mount Holyoke’s basketball team has since competed against Emerson College on Saturday, Feb. 14, in Boston, Massachusetts. They will next meet with Salve Regina University on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, at 7:00 p.m., in Newport, Rhode Island.

The final game of the season will be on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 1:00 p.m., at Mount Holyoke College, where the Lyons will face the United States Coast Guard Academy.

Cross country wraps up 2025 season with NCAA Championships

Photo courtesy of Mount Holyoke Athletics

Mount Holyoke’s cross country team closed out their 2025 season with the NCAA Championships.

BY BEI JIA VIGGIANO ‘28

SPORTS EDITOR

As November comes to a close and Fall Break begins, Mount Holyoke College’s cross country team has finished its 2025 season.

The Lyons’ cross country season kicked off at a Wellesley Invitational on Friday, Aug. 29, on the Nehoiden Golf Course in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Mount Holyoke placed third out of four teams, behind winner Wellesley College and runner-up Brandeis University. Simmons University followed Mount Holyoke in fourth place. Mount Holyoke’s total time was 1:45:47, with the average time being 21:09.

The first and only invitational event in September took place in the latter half of the month. The UMass-Dartmouth Invitational was held on Saturday, Sept. 20, in Dartmouth, Massachusetts. The Lyons placed 22nd out of 36 teams, including the winner, Boston University, and runner-up, Brown University. Mount Holyoke’s total time was 2:05:26, and the Lyons’ average time was 25:05.

In October, Mount Holyoke participated in the Keene State Invitational at Owl Athletic Complex on Saturday, Oct. 4, in Keene, New Hampshire. The Lyons placed 12th out of 26 teams, which included Williams College, the winner, and Tufts University, the runner-up. The Lyons’ total and average times were 2:05:07 and 25:01, respectively. At the Connecticut College Invitational at Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford, Connecticut, on Saturday, Oct. 18, Mount Holyoke placed 27th out of 33 teams. Once again the roster included Williams and Tufts, who earned first and second place. Mount Holyoke’s total time was 2:06:34, while the average time was 25:18.

The month of November featured several postseason events, beginning with the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference Championships at Highland Park in Attleboro, Massachusetts, on Saturday, Nov. 1. The Lyons emerged 10th out of 12 competing teams. MIT and the United States Coast Guard Academy placed first and second, respectively, while Mount Holyoke was behind Salve Regina University and followed by Emerson College. The Lyons’ total time was 2:10:39, and the average time was 26:08.

Halfway through November, Mount Holyoke participated in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Regionals, held at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York, on Saturday, Nov. 15. The Lyons placed 18th out of 25 teams, closely behind SUNY New Paltz and followed by Hartford University. Williams College emerged triumphant, with Middlebury College as the runner-up.

The final cross country event of the 2025 season was the NCAA Division III Championships, organized at the Roger Milliken Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina, on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 12 p.m.

Karishma Ramkarran ’27 contributed fact-checking. 

Mount Holyoke basketball participates in Halloween scrimmage

By Bei Jia Viggiano ’28

Sports Editor

As mid-November nears, Mount Holyoke’s basketball team has been preparing for the beginning of the 2025-26 season.

On Friday, Oct. 31, the Lyons competed in a scrimmage against Russell Sage College on Mount Holyoke turf in South Hadley, Massachusetts. Though the results of the scrimmage were not officially recorded due to the score resetting after each quarter, the match served as a warm-up for the season. Student-athletes on the basketball team had much to say regarding their preparation for the season, which began on Sunday, Nov. 9.

“We have mainly been going over offensive movement and defensive expectations,” Ashtyn DiRienzo ’29 said in an email to Mount Holyoke News. “Our practices typically involve reinforcing these ideas and oftentimes adding to them. I believe this repetition and gradual additions to the existing framework [have] been a helpful tool.”

The first game of the season was against Sarah Lawrence College on Sunday, Nov. 9, in Bronxville, New York. The season will run from November 2025 to February 2026, ending with a home game against the United States Coast Guard Academy on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at 1 p.m.

“When challenges arise in practice, such as a lack of energy or hustle or not meeting shooting goals, the team always stands up to the challenge and often bounces back better than before,” DiRienzo explained. “We work harder each attempt until we get it right, building on communication and strategy each time.”

This season will include matches against Plattsburgh State University of New York, Fitchburg State University, Lesley University, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, Babson College, MIT, Springfield College and more.

“I think the team has really become close with one another, and many of the first years feel at home,” DiRienzo continued. “It’s a lot of work and takes a lot of time out of our days, but we find a way to push through and make it work.”

“Personally, I’m still trying to find my place and confidence, but I think with time I’ll reach a good spot,” DiRienzo said. “I’ve greatly enjoyed the practices and how we are held accountable during the sessions. We are always encouraged to strive higher and play hard.”

Though the outcome of the team’s season has yet to be determined, the basketball team is committed to giving each game its all.

“I think my favorite philosophy of Coach’s is that, if you make a mistake, go with it 100%,” DiRienzo concluded. “If you make the wrong cut, cut hard and fast. If you’re in the wrong spot, hustle to the right place. Don’t second-guess yourself, just make the most of what you’re doing.”

Mount Holyoke’s basketball team will next face the University of Massachusetts Boston on Wednesday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m. in Boston, Massachusetts.

Jillian Stammely ’28 contributed fact-checking.

Mount Holyoke Soccer experiences a series of challenges and draws

Photo Courtesy of Mount Holyoke Athletics

By Bei Jia Viggiano ’28

Sports Editor

As Halloween approaches and the student body prepares for the highlight of the spooky season, Mount Holyoke College’s soccer team has been working hard. The past two months have witnessed a strong start, followed by a series of challenges and draws.

The kickoff to the season was a home game against Anna Maria College on Sunday, Aug. 31. The Lyons emerged victorious 4-0.

“At practice, we plan for the next opponent, capitalizing on their play-style weaknesses and our strengths. I think this type of game prep, combined with our drive to always do better and work as hard as we can on that field, led to our success,” Amelia Taylor ’29 said in an email to Mount Holyoke News. “Personally, I think what was really successful for me was allowing myself to make mistakes. Sometimes I get really hard on myself when I mess up, and it affects my playing afterward. I think before the kickoff game, I found peace with myself, and I felt confident enough in my ability, and that made a world of difference.”

The start of September saw a match against Albertus Magnus College on Wednesday, Sept. 3, in New Haven, Connecticut. Despite their best efforts, Mount Holyoke lost 1-0.

“I think our main response [to losses], no matter the outcome, is always to work harder. Soccer is as much a physical game as it is mental. No matter what the score is after, we always try to capitalize on holding each other accountable. Did you put your 100% effort in? Are you happy with how you played? These are the types of questions that we ask ourselves after every game, and that answer dictates how you move forward,” Taylor continued. “I think we always just try to look to the future, we don’t dwell on the past. A big part of our program is hard work and determination. No matter the outcome, we can always move forward. When we encounter a specific issue, we try to isolate it, and then work on [it] until we see improvement. At the end of the day, the most successful teams are the ones that can overcome losses and difficulties with their heads held high.”

The next two games concluded with a draw; The first against DeSales University on Sunday, Sept. 7, in South Hadley, Massachusetts, and the second against the Wentworth Institute of Technology on Wednesday, Sept. 10, in another home game. The match against DeSales had a tie of 1-1, while neither Wentworth nor Mount Holyoke scored a point in their game, leaving the score 0-0.

“Personally, [a tie] depends on the opponent. Sometimes a tie can come as a relief, while other times it’s frustrating,” Taylor explained. “For example, for our Babson game, we held them off for most of the match, and Babson is one of the best teams in the league. If anything, we were hoping for a tie. It’s when you tie a team that you know you have the potential to beat that’s frustrating.”

The Lyons next competed against Salve Regina University on Saturday, Sept. 20, where the visiting Seahawks earned a victory of 1-0 over the hosting Lyons. Four days later, Mount Holyoke attended a match against Westfield State University on Wednesday, Sept. 24, in Westfield, Massachusetts. The game ended in a tie of 0-0.

“I’ve had a great season this semester. I’m a freshman, so this is my first time playing at the collegiate level,” Taylor remarked. “There were bumps during this season for sure. I got an ankle injury halfway through, and we lost quite frequently. That doesn’t matter to me, though. To me, this team is so special because we all get along so well. Outside of soccer, we are all friends, and that’s a bond that can’t be broken.”

The following six games saw challenges for the Lyons. Despite their hard work, Mount Holyoke was defeated by Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Wheaton College, Smith College, Babson College, Coast Guard Academy and Emerson College.

“The culture of the team is so positive and supportive, I never felt uncomfortable once,” Taylor concluded. “Most importantly, I just loved being able to play soccer. I am so grateful that I was given the opportunity to continue playing and that I was able to play heavy minutes in many games. There’s a lot of love on this team, so at the end of the day, I never really care about the scoreboard.”

Now, the Lyons are preparing for their last two games before the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference — abbreviated as NEWMAC — post-season tournament. Over the course of four days, NEWMAC will be holding its Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Championship. The final match for Mount Holyoke will be against Wellesley College on Saturday, Nov. 1, at 12 p.m., in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

Mount Holyoke’s soccer team has since competed in a game against MIT on Saturday, Oct. 25, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. They will next face Springfield College on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, at 7 p.m. at Mount Holyoke College.

Karishma Ramkarran ’27 contributed fact-checking.

Mount Holyoke Volleyball maintains balance of wins and loses

Photo courtesy of Mount Holyoke Athletics

Mount Holyoke Volleyball has had a pattern of wins and losses throughout the beginning of the season, with their longest winning streak being three.

By Bei Jia Viggiano ’28

Sports Editor

As the fall season dawns and students return from the break, Mount Holyoke’s volleyball team has been busy. The months of September and October have been a series of wins and losses that hang in a precarious balance.

The first match of the season was against the University of Saint Joseph on Saturday, Aug. 30, in West Hartford, Connecticut. The Lyons emerged victorious 3-0. They later competed against Eastern Connecticut State University on the same date and location, where they lost 3-1.

“This season, some of our players have moved around positions, which has allowed us to spread out our offense and become a less predictable team,” Sadie Duffrin ’26 said in an email to Mount Holyoke News.

September kicked off with a game against Amherst College on Friday, Sept. 5, in Amherst, Massachusetts. Despite the team’s valiant efforts, the Lyons lost 3-1 again. The following day, Mount Holyoke competed in a match against Fitchburg State University in West Hartford, Connecticut, and prevailed 3-0. Later that same day, the Lyons triumphed against their host, the University of Hartford, with a victory of 3-1.

“We’ve also been trying to have the mentality of adjustment and how to exploit what the other team is doing instead of focusing on what we’re doing,” Duffrin continued.

A third consecutive win for Mount Holyoke was earned on Friday, Sept. 12, in Poughkeepsie, New York. In a match against Mount Saint Mary College, the Lyons won 3-0. Later that day, the streak was ended by a defeat to the host, Vassar College, with a loss of 3-0.

With these alternating wins and losses throughout September and October, the team's win-loss record is in an oscillating pattern.

“It’s been a great season so far, and we hope to keep improving and win more conference games as it goes on,” Duffrin concluded.

Mount Holyoke’s volleyball team has since competed in a game against Wellesley College on Tuesday, Oct. 14, in Wellesley, Massachusetts. They will next face Babson College on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, at 1 p.m. at Mount Holyoke College.

Quill Nishi-Leonard ’27 contributed fact-checking.

Mount Holyoke Field Hockey team secures a four-game winning streak

Photo courtesy of Mount Holyoke Athletics

The field hockey team maintained a four-game streak, their largest margin being 8-0 against Elms.

By Bei Jia Viggiano ’28

Sports Editor

As incoming and returning students moved into their dorms in late August, Mount Holyoke’s field hockey team kicked off the 2025 season. With both wins and losses, the season has been a steady rise to success for the team.

The first game of the season was on Saturday, Aug. 30, against the University of Southern Maine in Gorham, Maine, where the Lyons lost 2-0. The next day, they competed against Thomas College in Waterville, Maine, and once again lost 2-0.

Their first September match was on Tuesday, Sept. 9. The Lyons faced the University of Saint Joseph in a home game. Mount Holyoke scored two goals early on, holding a lead of 2-1 by the end of the first period. A score by Saint Joseph in the fourth period and a comeback shot in overtime resulted in a loss for the Lyons, leaving the final score 3-2.

“Our biggest struggle was ultimately putting the ball in the net,” Rory Bernardo ’29 said in an email to Mount Holyoke News. “Our first three games, we dominated but failed to execute on goals early on, so it has been made a priority of every player to score early and often.”

The first season win for the Lyons was at a home game against Dean College. On Thursday, Sept. 11, the field hockey team triumphed with a 4-0 victory. This was only the beginning of a series of victories for the Lyons.

“We have always been a tight-knit group,” Ashley Scott ’27 said in an email to Mount Holyoke News. “But recently, we have really started learning each other’s playing styles and tuning into each other’s strengths, which has helped us catapult our season in the right direction.”

Over the next week, the Lyons continued to prevail. Their next match was against Albertus Magnus College on Saturday, Sept. 13, in New Haven, Connecticut. Mount Holyoke secured its second win of the season with a score of 6-0.

Three days later, in Chicopee, Massachusetts, the Lyons faced Elms College on Tuesday, Sept. 16. The Lyons were victorious with a score of 8-0 the largest margin of success the team has had this season so far.

“We’ve really gained some much-deserved confidence,” Bernardo continued. “A lot of people are playing new positions, so it was tough to find our rhythm. That said, once we started to learn more about each other’s playing styles, we were able to succeed.”

The winning streak didn’t end on Thursday, Sept. 18, when Mount Holyoke competed against Nichols College. The home game resulted in a score of 4-0, marking a fourth consecutive win for the Lyons.

“We’ve been having great energy throughout the game, scoring early, and giving it our all every quarter,” Scott continued. “It’s been so fun to be back out on the field with the team. We’re a family, we have great chemistry, and we are always pushing each other to be better than the day before.”

On Saturday, Sept. 20, Mount Holyoke faced the Massachusetts Institute of Technology  at a conference in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT was in the lead with a goal in the first period. The Lyons tied the score in the second period, but MIT prevailed with a shot in the fourth period, making the final score 2-1.

“After a challenging game, we keep our heads up, try new strategies in practice, hype each other up, and watch film in order to better ourselves for next time,” Scott explained. “We come prepared to take on the next challenge together.”

“This team has really felt like a home to me,” Bernardo said. “Being a freshman, I was super nervous to meet new people and make a good impression, but my teammates immediately welcomed me with open arms and showed me that this is where I’m meant to be.”

Mount Holyoke’s field hockey team has since competed in a home game against Babson College on Saturday, Sept. 27. They will next face Wheaton College on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, at 1 p.m. at Mount Holyoke College.

Karishma Ramkarran ’27 contributed fact checking. 

Mount Holyoke alum van Dijk hired as team president of Boston Legacy Football Club

Courtesy of the Boston Legacy Football Club

By Bei Jia Viggiano ’28

Sports Editor

As the opening season approaches for the Boston Legacy Football Club, Mount Holyoke College alum Jennifer van Dijk ’98 has been selected as the club’s first team president. Boston Legacy Football Club is a professional women’s soccer club founded in 2023. The club will be joining the National Women’s Soccer League in 2026, kicking off the season at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Van Dijk is stepping into the role as the club prepares for operations in 2026, bringing nearly two decades of experience in leadership, digital media and sports marketing.

Van Dijk’s past experience includes serving as vice president of IMG Media in both digital strategy and consulting, as well as vice president of team marketing and business operations for the NBA. She was the digital and marketing groups and account manager to the Cleveland Cavaliers and LA Clippers, the latter of whom van Dijk subsequently served as chief strategy officer and vice president. Her experience as a leader is also noted in her position as chief executive officer for HOONIGAN, a company that appeals to car enthusiasts and automobile lifestyle, and SUPERPLASTIC, a company that creates animated characters for entertainment on digital platforms and merchandise.

As team president, van Dijk is responsible for managing the business operations and vision for the club. She also plays a key role in community growth and developing its facilities. For the role, van Dijk has moved to Boston, Massachusetts, approximately a two-hour drive from her alma mater, Mount Holyoke College.

Van Dijk attended Mount Holyoke College from 1994 to 1998. She was captain of the Division III Intercollegiate Golf Team and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science.

Karishma Ramkarran ’27 provided fact-checking

Mount Holyoke Track and Field prepares to finish off season

Photo courtesy of Mount Holyoke Athletics

Mount Holyoke College tied with Smith College for second place at their final meet of the season with Smith and Wellesley College, held on April 19.

By Bei Jia Viggiano ’28

Sports Editor

Mount Holyoke track and field is preparing to round out its season.

Their final meet was with Smith College and Wellesley College on April 19 at Wellesley in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Wellesley won with 80 points, while Mount Holyoke tied with Smith for second place with 58 points.

Mount Holyoke placed first in the 4x100 relay squad as Ioanna Tsoni ’27, Dalia Luckhardt ’27, Aria Mallare ’25 and Elle Rimando ’26 prevailed with 49.22 seconds.

Sachi Robinson ’28 won first place in the 400 hurdles race with a time of 1:08.18, earning her a number four spot on Mount Holyoke’s all-time fastest hurdlers list.

Tsoni made team history at the tri-meet by breaking three records, all within 75 minutes. Tsoni completed the 100 hurdles in 15.43 seconds, just 0.03 seconds less than her team record last year; secured a mark of 11.57 meters, besting her previous record in the triple jump by 0.29 meters; and set a new team record of 5.72 meters in the long jump, surpassing her previous best by 31 centimeters.

On April 25-26, the Lyons hosted the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference Championships at home.

The team will travel to New London, Connecticut, to compete at the New England Division III Outdoor Championships hosted by the Coast Guard Academy on May 2-3. The following weekend, the Lyons will compete at the University of Massachusetts Amherst to participate in the New England Intercollegiate Amateur Athletic Association Outdoor Championships. The team will return to Amherst on May 15 for a final chance at qualifying for the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III Outdoor Championships, which will be held on May 22-24 in Geneva, Ohio.

Sofia Ramon ’27 contributed fact-checking.

Mount Holyoke Rowing prepares for upcoming NEWMAC championship

Photo courtesy of Mount Holyoke Athletics

Mount Holyoke Rowing’s next competittion will be held on April 26 in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts; many student-atheletes have expressed excitement.

By Bei Jia Viggiano ’28

Sports Editor

April has been a busy month for the Mount Holyoke Rowing team, with the season coming to a close and the team looking ahead to post-season championships. Late March saw the Lyons in their first regatta of the spring at Amherst College against Amherst and Bryant University. The Lyons’ second varsity eight team prevailed against Amherst’s Mammoths with a 00:19.50 lead. Mount Holyoke College placed third in the varsity eight race.

“Our race at Amherst marked the countdown until NEWMACs, and since then, we’ve been putting in the work to build up our intensity,” Jen Butler ’25 said in an email to Mount Holyoke News. “This past month has been a busy one for my team, and it’s about to get busier as racing picks up. During spring break, we went to Clemson, [South Carolina] to start our water training while we waited for the water up at school to thaw.”

“[Clemson] was an amazing experience full of hard work, laughter, team bonding, and of course lots of sunscreen,” Lilje Stratton ’25 said in an email to Mount Holyoke News. “Since returning from Clemson, we’ve been working hard in preparation for the final races of the season. It’s been really nice to be back on the water after winter training indoors. Completing our first 2K race of the season at Amherst was exciting!”

“Our scrimmage at Amherst really gave us a reminder for what being on water and rowing a 2k feels like,” Holly Wrampelmeier ’26 said in an email to Mount Holyoke News. “I feel like our team has a really strong potential this year. Especially with the help of our new assistant coach, Jeff Collett, our novices have been building up very well to join us in races.”

On April 5, the Lyons raced Assumption University, Bryant University and the Mass Maritime Academy at Lake Quinsigamond. Mount Holyoke placed fourth in the varsity four race with a time of 10:04.42. In the varsity eight race against Bryant University, Mount Holyoke 1V8 and Mount Holyoke 2V8 placed second and third with a result of 08:13.60 and 08:32.99, respectively.

Since then, Mount Holyoke Rowing has competed at Clark University on April 12, Now, the Lyons are post-season and preparing to race in the NEWMAC Championship.

“We’re hoping to get some solid strokes in before showing up in force for NEWMACs,” Wrampelmeier said. “Even if we don’t win, the races up to NEWMACs give us good practice and let us know what to work on next.”

“April can be a tricky month; it’s when the majority of our racing takes place, on top of having to meet schoolwork deadlines,” Butler explained. “In addition, April can be incredibly unforgiving weather-wise. More rain and wind means more indoor practices for us, but the crew is doing well keeping spirits high and the pressure on even when we aren’t on the water.”

“The strong sense of teamwork and camaraderie in pushing hard together toward the finish line was exhilarating,” Stratton said. “I’m looking forward to the rest of our season.”

“We are so lucky to have a great roster of rowers and coxswains this season, and I’m excited to finish out my last season here at Mount Holyoke with this crew!” Butler added.

Mount Holyoke Rowing will next compete in the NEWMAC Championship on April 26,at the Donahue Rowing Center in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts.

Gemma Golovner ’25 contributed fact-checking.

Kendall Complex renovations underway and set to be complete in 2026

Photo courtesy of Juster Pope Frazier Architects

By Bei Jia Viggiano ’28

Sports Editor

Major Kendall Sports and Dance Complex renovations are underway at Mount Holyoke College. Following President Danielle Holley’s message to the community last May, this year will see Kendall undergo major redesigns and renovations of the gymnasium and locker room. Additionally, there are plans to renew and introduce equipment that will improve the experience of student-athletes.

Director of Athletics Andrea Ricketts-Preston said in an interview with Mount Holyoke News that the idea for the project pre-dated her employment at the College, but “at that time, it was in concept, it wasn’t in process.” This allowed time to consider the long-term effects of the project and revise the process for a greater impact.

The $6 million investment has been outlined in three phases: Phase 1A, Phase 1B and Phase 2. The process began on January 27, when some locker rooms and offices were closed and relocated for the purposes of renovation. Phase 1A commenced with construction impacting the men’s locker room, all-gender locker room, women’s staff locker room, basement offices, ergometer room and Kendall Multipurpose Room. During Phase 1B, which began in late February and will conclude in June, the upstairs gymnasium will be closed until completion. Phase 2 is scheduled from June 2025 to January 2026, when the varsity and women’s locker room, as well as the Field House Lounge, will be closed. In August 2025, the basement suite of locker rooms, the Multipurpose Room and the ergometer room will open. The project is set to be completed by January 2026.

“The original project didn't include a gym renovation,” Ricketts-Preston said. “It included some relocation of facilities here that at the end of the day, just didn’t really make sense from an accessibility standpoint.” Ricketts-Preston and Associate Vice President for Facilities Management Karla Youngblood FP ’99 reviewed the original plan and made revisions that resulted in “maximum impact across all of our sports and came in at a much cheaper price tag than the original plan, with a greater building impact,” Ricketts-Preston said. The gymnasium became a focal point of the project, with plans to have it completely renovated. Ricketts-Preston explained that the gymnasium has an “outdated, archaic setup” due to the nature of the courts and bleachers, and it was a “no-brainer” to include it in the project.

“It’s a 78-working days project to do the gym renovation. We’ll have bleachers on both sides, the basketball court will be centered, all the colors and branding will be on par, in alignment with all of our branding initiatives as it relates to Mount Holyoke in our athletic department.”

The locker room and offices in Kendall are also set for extensive renovations and redesign. “The entire space downstairs is being renovated to include three locker rooms, two offices and a new, updated rowing room, which will be really exciting,” Ricketts-Preston said. “And then upstairs, we’ll have faculty, staff locker rooms. We’ll have community space. We’ll have varsity locker rooms for all of our teams, and then we’ll also have an all-gender locker room for our Varsity student athletes, and we’ll have an all-gender locker room for our community members.” Ricketts-Preston added that she was especially proud of Mount Holyoke’s commitment to maintaining that aspect of the plan and “staying true to our mission, vision and values.”

While athletic equipment is set to be renewed to improve the student-athlete experience, Ricketts-Preston remarked on another significant piece of equipment that would be added to the gymnasium infrastructure. “This project is allowing us to put air conditioning in as part of the geothermal project, which is going to be very exciting,” Ricketts-Preston said. “From a community impact perspective, that will have a significant positive impact in our opportunity to hold camps and clinics in the summer, not only for the Mount Holyoke community, but for also the South Hadley and Pioneer Valley community.”

“So whether you're taking a beginning swimming class or you're taking Walking for Fitness, or you're taking an advanced level weight training class, our facilities will be improved for our community members to use,” Ricketts-Preston said. “That will mean that people [also] have a better experience when they're coming in and using our facility.”

Alayna Khan '27 contributed fact-checking.