Winter Wrap-Up, Delayed Spring, and Sunday at The Masters

The winter season came and went, although the winter weather decided to rear its ugly head even after the final buzzer sounded officially ending our winter sports season. For all of the trouble the weather has caused in our efforts to get our spring teams outside to practice and play, the winter season will go down as the most successful season in Miss Hall’s School history. The Alpine Ski team won its second NEPSAC championship in three years and this one just happened to come at the Class B level (the 2013 title came at Class C). The Varsity Basketball team finished with a School best 20-6 record, which bested the 14-7 mark of last year. Sophie Harcleroad and Sarah Sprague, members of our IEA Riding Team, won many awards, while qualifying for Nationals! It was a season of promise, progress, emotion, development, and triumph. Five girls, who lost their best skier from the previous year to graduation, came together, took on a new and tough challenge of moving up a Class in competition, and came away victorious. Two riders, who worked so hard to bring this program to our School (this is our first year with an IEA Riding team), left their mark on the competition and on this program with their success. A group of five senior basketball players saw the culmination of their work and dedication to the growth and development of the program as a team that was 6-14 when they were freshmen, turned into the best team in School history as seniors. This is a season that will be remembered for a long time. I hope that our student-athletes got as much out of this season as they were able to give to our School community.

Three weeks into the spring season and all but tennis are still inside! Tennis, softball, lacrosse, and golf all got outside yesterday (Saturday) for their first games, but the wet fields will keep us inside for a couple of more days. Good news is that the girls are energetic, motivated, and working to get better each day even though our time and space are limited. Hats off to our teams and coaches for conducting purposeful practices in less than ideal conditions. Tennis balls, lax balls, softballs, and practice golf balls flying all over the gym is certainly a sight to behold. Here’s to more days like we saw today! It was an absolutely gorgeous day in the Berkshires.

I just want to touch quickly on women’s sports outside of the Miss Hall’s realm. I love all sports. I love what sports can do for kids and being an athlete and a sports fan have always been important aspects of my life, but why haven’t we grown more? The NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament just concluded last week with UCONN winning their 10^th National Championship. It was an incredible tournament; probably the best I can remember. I had the pleasure of watching the Final Four with some of the girls here at MHS and I got to see first hand how much these athletes mean to these girls. They were living and dying with every dribble, shot, turnover, and steal. I attended a couple of the games in Albany as well, where I saw the same exact thing as I sat in the stands with my wife and, for a short time, members of my basketball team. From Breanna Stewart to Jewell Loyd to Moriah Jefferson, these female athletes are role models for girls and women of all ages.

Why don’t we get to see more of them? Why isn’t UCONN vs. Stanford a primetime game with primetime coverage? Why don’t we hear more about the Women’s National Soccer Team? We are considered a “growing soccer nation,” but why? Our women are the best in the World. I just finished watching the Masters. It took Augusta National until 2012 to welcome their first female member. Title IX has opened all sorts of doors for female athletes, but how can one of the most prestigious golf clubs in the country take 40 years to open their doors to women? As Jordan Spieth walked to the clubhouse after playing a terrific tournament, you see 20-30 people waiting to greet him while wearing their prestigious “Green Jackets,” but there was not one woman. Dr. Richard Lapchick does a “Racial and Gender Report Card” each year. Here is a link to the 2014 report: http://www.tidesport.org/2014%20College%20Sport%20Racial%20&%20Gender%20Report%20Card.pdf

The numbers for female coaches, administrators, and school presidents in the NCAA are staggeringly low. Recently, the NFL hired their first female referee just months after Becky Hammon became the first female coach in the NBA. We are moving forward, but it seems to be at a snails pace. The bright side is that people are noticing it, but we need more of the decision makers, those in the positions to help create a change, stop talking about it, and start doing it and believing in it.

We have 214 girls at Miss Hall’s, all from different backgrounds, and various interests. One thing that connects them all is their drive to have a positive influence on society and to find success in whatever profession they choose to pursue. I can tell you that these are amazing kids, with remarkable work ethics, and are passionate about their goals and the steps they need to take in order to achieve those goals. I know that this can be said for girls and women beyond these walls of MHS. Who are we to stand in their way?

Photo credits to: Mary Bazanchuk, Sarah Sprague, and Abby Truong

Winter Wonderland at MHS

    

It’s a beautiful day in the Berkshires today as the big storm has come and gone and the sun continues to shine. Sure, it’s a bit cold, but the sunshine makes it worth it.  It’s crazy to think that we are more than halfway through the 2014-15 School year.  Fall exams conclude at the beginning of next week, and when we return from Long Weekend, there will be only one short month remaining in the winter season. Let’s take a brief look at where we are and what has been accomplished.

Our recreational sports are alive and well. Yoga, afternoon fitness, daytime fitness, aerobics, rec. swimming, and rec. skiing have been in full force.  Rec. skiing has struggled a bit as the weather hasn’t cooperated fully this winter, but the coaches’ and kids’ spirits are high and looking forward to a fun ending to the winter season. I’ve spent the past couple of days out snowshoeing and have seen colleagues cross country skiing. In a winter season where we could use another offering or two and our girls could benefit from getting outside and getting some fresh air, those are two tremendous opportunities for our department moving forward. I know that the theater ensemble is also working extremely hard towards their production in February. I always love going to watch the shows. Jen Jordan does a great job in casting and it’s always a delight to watch.

The JV and Varsity Alpine Ski teams have battled cold, ice, cold, and ice as they’ve worked to improve each day. Honestly, the weather has been pretty brutal for this group. With the Thanksgiving snow, I thought this would be a terrific winter for them, but it’s been difficult. Thanks to great coaching and inspiring senior leadership, this group has competed and is more than ready for the NEPSAC championships in February. Coming off of a championship in 2013 and a second place finish last year, these girls and our coaches are focused and pride themselves on their performance. I’m proud of the way in which they’ve continued to improve and motivate each other during the tough weather times.  Led by three seniors, Emma, Phoebe, and Maggie, this group has made us proud and I’m looking forward to a great finish this season.

JV and V. Basketball continue plugging away in the Cross and it hasn’t been easy. An early storm forced both teams to practice elsewhere as the gym was heatless. That didn’t deter either team as they worked hard to begin the season. Jenny, our new JV coach, has her kids plying admirably right now after a difficult beginning to the season. They’ve won 3 games and continue to improve and be competitive in every game they play. They recently beat MacDuffie in a tremendous performance by our girls. Most importantly, they are learning the game!  The varsity team currently sits at 15-2 overall and 13-2 in NEPSAC, ranked 2nd in Class C behind St. Luke’s (who we play on Saturday, 2/7 at home). This mark has already bested last year’s record 14 wins and this group is working hard to improve every day and get back to the NEPSAC playoffs.  We came in 2nd in our Tip Off tourney losing to a strong New Hampton team, but followed that up with a Stoneleigh tournament win. With games against St. Luke’s (1st), Beaver Country Day (4th and beat us in last year’s tourney), as well as Suffield and Hopkins (Class B), and NMH (Class A), we will continue to be tested, which is what this team wants and thrives on.

It should be an extremely fun February. Hopefully the weather cooperates for all teams and the girls come back from break refreshed and excited for the home stretch. Before you know it, it will be time for Spring Break! And we know that is always a welcomed time for all.

Fall Athletics, Mesoamerica, and College Prep

It’s been a while! Glad to be back writing today.  At Miss Hall’s, we often talk about how the beginning of school is a spring to Fall Family Weekend. This year, it has certainly been a sprint, but the pace has been much faster than usual.  I’ve been able to keep the pace without falling behind or getting too far ahead.  Our fall sports teams are more than halfway through…I can’t believe it. It seems like preseason was no more than a week ago.  I had the pleasure of watching JV soccer play yesterday. They lost the game, but the improvement of that team, led by Coach Backer, is remarkable. Girls are understanding the game and what’s expected of them while enjoying their time out on the field. Our very young varsity soccer team is coming together well under the tutelage of Coach Whalen and Coach Eberhart following a BIG time win on Saturday, 1-0, over King and will only get better. The future looks bright for this group, which has 3 freshman defenders.  Cross Country has enjoyed it’s best season n a few years, since Megan Grace was a senior, and Coach Rutledge is pleased with his girls and their performance thus far.  A dual race with Stoneleigh-Burnham awaits this weekend.  JV Volleyball is in a familiar place at 6-1 this season. They’ve meshed very well after losing a number of girls from last year’s undefeated team to the varsity.  JV VB has really become a feeder program for the varsity and has found tremendous success under Coach Boland.  The Thirds team is improving everyday under Coach Flint. They sit at 1-3, but are learning the fundamentals and basic strategies of the game.  The Varsity VB team had a huge opening win over Marianapolis before running the gauntlet of some tough teams and games. They are back on track with two straight Class C wins. An end of season push could put them right back in the playoffs, which has become a familiar spot for this group.

Sports at Miss Hall’s can take on all aspects of life here at the school.  Last Thursday, Ms. Stevenson and Dr. Alexander, brought their World History freshmen down to the gym to partake in a reenactment of the Mesoamerican ball game.  Now, this game didn’t have near the  outcome or potential awards or punishments that they had, but the intensity was just as strong. Girls had to pass the ball around in teams and get it through a hoop on the other end using their bodies, but without using hand or feet.  Although the hands or feet rule was broken at times, Ms. Stevenson’s crew got the W. This is cross disciplinary collaboration at its finest.

The buzz has been up this year regarding time and people, students and adults alike, feeling as if there is a lack of time.  This can certainly be true, but we know and value the concept of balance and the importance of self-maintenance in our lives.  I oftentimes hear girls talking about how much work they have to do. With 5 or 6 classes along with sports, music, art, clubs, leadership positions, etc., let’s face it–these girls’ lives are packed.  What’s the point? Well, that’s a question that is sometimes asked, but one in which the answer makes it all worth it.  We are preparing girls for college and for life after college.  The adults in this community will tell you that there may be no more important skill to learn than time management.  Girls who have graduated always come back thanking the faculty, staff, and administration here for the work they expected of them. Girls often find college much easier than their peers who may not have attended a college prep school, and I always hear about the free time they have now. College prep schools are designed to do exactly that…prepare you for college. If a school isn’t doing that then it really needs to reevaluate who it is and what they want to be.

A colleague of mine from another school once told me something along the lines of, ‘if kids don’t want to be consistently challenged in the classroom, on the athletic fields, and in other areas of school life, that will prepare them for college and for life, they shouldn’t come here.’ I’m always reminded of the line from A League of Their Own, when Tom Hanks says, “If it were easy, everyone would do it. It’s the hard that makes it great.” These girls are here for specific reasons, but most notably, to obtain a high level education that prepares them for life.  That is what we strive to provide everyday. It may be tough or hard today., but these students will be better for it tomorrow.

Sophie Bellemare graduated last year as a member of the Class of 2014. Sophie was a two-sport varsity captain as a senior (Soccer and Golf). She was also an Athletic Association co-head as a junior, in which she, along with Asata Evans, instituted the Miss Hall’s Athletic Hall of Fame. The Hall inducted four tremendous members of the MHS family two years ago and will continue to select members on a bi-annual basis.  Sophie was a tremendous competitor and a terrific team player.  She played four years on the varsity soccer team and played an integral part in the growth of the program that finished last season with the best record in School history at 11-6-2.  Sophie also spearheaded the effort to add Golf as a sport; she competed on the varsity team for two years.  

Below are her thoughts on participating in athletics during her time at MHS and what she misses most about it. We miss Sophie very much and wish her the best of luck in college!

“I don’t remember a day in my life that I wasn’t playing sports. At the toddling age of 4, my parents put me on my very first soccer team.  All of my closest friends from back home are the girls I grew up playing soccer with, and the day I joined the MHS soccer team, I met the girl who would be my best friend throughout my four years at Miss Hall’s. I remember the fall of my freshman year so clearly. I remember the crisp fall leaves, the cool breeze, and all of the crazy and talented players that made up my team. I was surrounded by positive and encouraging people. Sports at MHS are so empowering and sisterly, that when I went back and played with other soccer teams during the off season, I was dumbfounded at the lack of encouragement and respect among the players. When I served as a captain my senior year, our focus was always on the bond between teammates. All three years when I went to play in the NEPSAC All-Star game, there were always fellow teammates that came on the trip simply to support the other All-Star and me. Miss Hall’s athletics offered me something very special through sports; confidence. When I found out my sister made Varsity her freshman year, I was flooded with nostalgia. Two weeks into my college career, I am ecstatic to join the club soccer team here at Elon, and I can only hope it’ll be close to the experience I had at MHS.

The spring of my freshman year, I was very surprised to learn that we did not have a golf team. All it took was some asking around, and conversations with Coach Ward until we had a golf team the spring of my junior year. Senior year when I was elected captain was a very proud moment for me. I certainly wasn’t the best golfer, I simply just wanted to play. 

Four years flew by, and sports were always something at school that made my time worthwhile. The improvement to the Athletic Program has been tremendous since I started in 2010. I miss MHS and playing sports there an indescribable amount, and I cannot wait to go back and watch a few games!”

We Didn’t Just Say It…The Success of an Extended Pre-season

Soccer participates in a Scrim Fest in North Adams, MA

The 2014-2015 Miss Hall’s athletic year officially began on Friday as soccer and volleyball players returned to begin pre-season practices. The girls and coaches will have a week and a half of practices before official varsity tryouts on Sunday. We’ve been on the fields and courts for only three days, but the progress has been tremendous and the work has been intense. After three days of double sessions the girls have today off before getting back after it on Wednesday. To say that they are happy to be back and out there is an understatement. These kids, coaches, and our trainer have worked extremely hard so far, challenged themselves in many ways, had a bunch of fun, and have all gotten better.

I’ll never forget my first pre-season as a volleyball coach in 2009. We had a good first day, but the second day didn’t go nearly as well. Practices were inefficient and I wasn’t nearly as prepared, as I should have been. I remember my dad telling me, “It’s pre-season for you too.” I certainly learned from that, but our coaches this year have brought a tremendous amount of passion, energy, and excitement to their respective sports. I’m proud of them for their work and preparation. I’ve said for a few years that I believe our School’s collection of coaches is one of the best in NEPSAC. We may be in pre-season on the athletic calendar, but our coaches are in mid-season form.

 When I started in 2009 our pre-season was only three days. We’d have two days of doubles sessions and a fifth practice on Saturday morning before opening meetings. There was so much going on during this time that we only had all of our kids for one of these practices. We then had tryouts on Sunday and our first game in less than a week. There were many discussions about extending the pre-season to not only give the girls a chance to practice more, get into game shape, and begin the team bonding process, but also to reduce injuries. Since we extended the pre-season from three days to eight days we have certainly seen a decrease in injuries, but also an increase in performance. Volleyball has been one of our most consistent programs making the tournament in 4 of the past 5 seasons, while soccer recorded its best record in program history last year.

I recently started watching Grey’s Anatomy. I figured that since I’m married to a healthcare professional I should have some idea of what goes on during the day at a hospital and, from what I’m told, Grey’s does a pretty good job of displaying what goes on. Obviously not 100% accurate, but the show is entertaining nonetheless. A great line I recently heard from the show was “Don’t just say it, do it.” We didn’t just say it…we did it. Without the support of the current administration, faculty, staff, for AD, Abbey Nyland, former Dean of Academics & Faculty, Jenny Chandler, and, of course, the student-athletes and their parents and guardians, the extended pre-season wouldn’t have happened. I’m not sure where our programs would be without it. Maybe our records would’ve ended up being the same even without the increased amount of practice time, but to be honest, I doubt that. Our school values athletics and values the experiences of our student-athletes. Our kids and coaches do what they do because they love it—they learn a number of life lessons, while always having fun. At the same time, they want to win and play to win. They’re hungry to improve and get better every single day, which in my opinion, is admirable. Our student-athletes have made us all extremely proud…we owed it to them to give them the best preparation and situation to be successful. We didn’t just say it…we did it.

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