Mount Holyoke Athletics Eliminates Golf Team

Pictured Lahela Delaney ‘21. Photo courtesy of Mount Holyoke Athletics.

By Gigi Picard ’22

Staff Writer

On Sept. 10, Director of Athletics Lori Hendricks announced the elimination of the Mount Holyoke Golf varsity team in a statement published on the Mount Holyoke athletics department website. 

Hendricks cited the decision as coming “after an extensive review of many factors, including student interest, indoor practice needs, competitive season, coaching support and conference alignment.” According to her, “This decision will allow the Department of Physical Education and Athletics to reallocate the resources from the program to support the broader-reaching priorities of the departmental strategic plan, enhancing the overall student-athlete experience at Mount Holyoke.”

 In its 2019-2020 season, the golf team competed in five tournaments between September and October. Their final tournament, the NYU Invitational, took place on Oct. 5, 2019, at the Forest Hill Field Club in Bloomfield, New Jersey. The Lyons placed fifth overall out of nine teams, with a finish of 690 strokes. Mount Holyoke Golf was expected to participate in more tournaments last April; however, the cancellation of Mount Holyoke varsity sports due to COVID-19 regulations prevented the team from competing. 

 Further in the announcement, Hendricks shared more information about the golf team’s history. “The program’s history dates back to the 1975-76 academic year and will be remembered through the student-athletes that have excelled among the nation’s top competition and multiple appearances at the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament,” Hendricks wrote. “Mount Holyoke College will continue to honor the history of the program, its tremendous golf alums and committed coaches.”

With regard to the Mount Holyoke Golf home course, The Orchards Golf Club, Mount Holyoke students, staff and alumni will still be able to use the course even after the discontinuation of the golf team. 

 Hendricks sent an email regarding the decision to all members within Mount Holyoke Athletics, including student-athletes, on Sept. 17. The College also officially released the same information to the public on Sept. 17, in an announcement which alluded to the possibility of further changes in the athletic department. The statement read, “As a direct follow-up to the strategic plan for Athletics, we will also be undertaking a comprehensive review of our Equestrian Center and initiating an academic program review of physical education.”

The Latest With Mount Holyoke Athletics

By Gigi Picard ’22

Sports Editor

Despite a national trend of cutting athletic programs due to COVID-19, Mount Holyoke College Athletics has not eliminated any varsity or club sports teams. During the spring 2019 semester, seasons were cut short and the final game played by student-athletes was a lacrosse scrimmage between Mount Holyoke and Smith colleges, which occurred just before both colleges closed for the academic year. 

In late August, athletes and coaches were reunited over Zoom for their traditional student-athlete barbecue. Led by Director of Athletics Lori Hendricks, the virtual Zoom event tried to bring back the lively spirit felt at barbecues from years past. One effort to bring the athletic community together was the unforgettable “Y-O-K-E” cheer. 

For Mount Holyoke Athletics, there are no in-person practices or competitions this semester. The College’s athletic programs this year will focus more on holistic community building rather than only the physical aspects of sports. 

Hendricks worked on the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) COVID-19 working group this summer, alongside several colleagues, directors of athletics, team physicians and athletic trainers. The purpose of the group was to develop plans and protocols for fall practices and competitions. Decisions were made at the conference level to host conference-only contests in the fall. Winter sport contests would be delayed until January.

For Hendricks, the future of the Mount Holyoke athletics department was a main consideration while working with the group. 

Hendricks explained that the department’s priorities and strategic plan lie with “competitive success, recruitment and retention, diversity and inclusion, student well-being, community integration and physical education.” Hendricks highlighted the importance of student-athlete safety during this time, as well as trying to find ways for fall sports to potentially compete in the spring. 

According to Hendricks, the current plan is to work with the NEWMAC conference — Mount Holyoke’s athletic conference — and the NCAA. “We are working with the NEWMAC and the NCAA to prepare a proposed competitive schedule for our fall, winter and spring teams in the spring semester. For squash and equestrian, who have different governing organizations, we are looking to their national leadership to provide guidance on spring schedules.” 

According to Associate Director of Athletics Erica Lemm, the Student Athletic Advisory Committee met during the summer to talk about the challenges presented by COVID-19 and other questions raised by the Black Lives Matter movement.  

“SAAC just added a Diversity and Inclusion subcommittee as well as [a] Diversity and Inclusion representative to [the] E-Board,” Lemm said. “Most importantly, they're laying the groundwork for important diversity, equity, and inclusion conversations to continue by creating a book club and discussing how best to have team dialogues,” she added.  

Mount Holyoke Athletics has plans to address NCAA legislation, host a virtual version of  the annual toy drive and continue to engage with Girl Inc., with whom they formed a partnership last year. The department also plans to recognize “teams of the week,” replacing last year’s regular “game of the week.” 

“Soon I'll be releasing programming for mental wellness, diversity and inclusion and leadership in conjunction with the NEWMAC,” Lemm said. “Additionally, we're continuing with the Student-Athlete Leadership Team and our newest group, the First-Generation and Ethnic Minority Student-Athlete Group.”

The future continues to remain uncertain for spring sports. Any further updates will be provided by the Mount Holyoke athletics department and the Mount Holyoke News.

Team of the Week: Mount Holyoke Basketball

Photo courtesy of Mount Holyoke College Athletics

By Gigi Picard ’22

Sports Editor

Instead of highlighting a game of the week, this semester Mount Holyoke News is going to highlight a team of the week in the Sports section. 

Up first is Mount Holyoke Basketball. Captain Ireland Clare Kennedy ’21 and Head Coach Jackie Ward talked to the Mount Holyoke News about what Basketball has been up to. 

According to Kennedy, Mount Holyoke Basketball has recently focused on team bonding. “We had a few fun ‘get to know you’ sessions, played games online like Pictionary and Taboo and were even introduced to a cool ball-handling app that we encourage one another to get involved in,” Kennedy said. 

Other basketball captains include Maria Delgado ’21, Kelly Lynch ’22 and Mikayla McEwen ’22. 

“Now that preseason has started, we've been focused more on workouts and voluntary team lifts over Zoom,” Kennedy added. “We've continued our birthday TikToks and hope to kick team bonding into a higher gear.” 

Ward stated that, starting on Oct. 1, coaching staff will be able to work with the players through virtual team practices which will consist of mental training, individual workouts and strength and conditioning, among others. 

Moreover, Ward is hopeful for a basketball spring season. “It may not be the most ideal situation, but our coaching staff is determined to give our team (especially the seniors) the best experience we can.”

Stay tuned for the next team of the week: Mount Holyoke Cross Country. 

COVID-19 Changes the Game for College Athletics

Photo courtesy of Pixy.org

By Gigi Picard ’22

Sports Editor

After the onset of COVID-19 last spring, colleges across the U.S. canceled end-of-the-season athletic competitions. The three divisions within the NCAA had to reevaluate plans for future seasons across all sports. 

The future of football remained questionable because it is a contact-heavy sport. The Big Ten and PAC-12 NCAA Division I conferences originally canceled their football fall seasons. This sparked controversy and outrage among players and coaches. There has been pressure by the ACC, Big 12 and SEC conferences, all of which have begun their football season, for the Big Ten to play. The Big Ten recently considered revoting and starting a season. The return of other sports, whether they are played on the field, court or in the water is questionable as well.

Another decision colleges had to make concerned their own athletic departments. Some colleges in all NCAA divisions cut at least three varsity teams due to financial trouble as a result of COVID-19. Schools such as Stanford University, the University of Connecticut and the University of Minnesota were among those who had to cut athletic programs. Some sports that faced the chopping block included swimming and diving, tennis, golf, lacrosse, soccer, cross country, field hockey, rowing, squash, track and field and equestrian. These changes will take place after their 2020-2021 seasons.

Tennis seasons opens versus Vassar

BY GIGI PICARD ’22

Mount Holyoke Tennis picked up where they left off from the fall season as they hosted Vassar College in their spring season opener on Saturday, Feb. 22. 

“We are having a great start to our season,” Ching-Ching Huang ’20 said. “We started really strong against Vassar on Saturday, which means we have a lot to look forward to in the next few months. It was especially exciting because this was our first time playing Vassar using the six singles, three doubles match up.” 

In doubles play, duo Hannah Middleton ’22 and Shweta Kiran Cavale ’23 bested their opponents 8-1. 

“This season I am focusing on the mental aspect of my game,” Cavale said. We are following the [motto], ‘I am not going to lose, and currently this is what I am building upon.’” 

“It feels great being back on the court.” Middleton added. “I definitely think I’m still working on getting back to how I played before but so far, so good.” 

Doubles teams Huang and Annissa Aamoum ’22 and Catherine Peabody ’20 and Anya Gerasimova ’21 both fell to their opponents. 

In singles play, Huang edged out nationally-ranked Miriam Gandham 6-3. “I played especially well this weekend and was able to pull off a big upset against a nationally ranked player,” Huang said. Gandham was ranked number 12 in all of Division III women’s tennis and number six in the Northeast Region. 

Aamoum, Middleton, Gerasimova, Cavale and Peabody fell to their opponents in the singles matches. 

The Lyons’ record is now 2-1 as they fell 7-2 against Vassar. “The rest of the team fought hard both in singles and doubles,” Huang said. “Our overall score doesn’t reflect how well we competed.” 

Mount Holyoke College will host Bates College at the Mount Holyoke Field House on Saturday, Feb. 29.