Cross Country looks forward to season ahead at UMass Dartmouth Invitational

Photo courtesy of Mount Holyoke Athletics.
Lauren Selkin ’23 won the Women’s Varsity 5K at the Sept. 17 UMass Dartmouth Invitational.

By Lauren Leese ’23

Staff Writer

Mount Holyoke Cross Country, led by Lauren Selkin ’23, rallied to 10th place overall out of 38 teams at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Cross Country Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 17.

Selkin, who qualified for the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III Cross Country National Championship in 2021, took first place in the Women’s Varsity 5K with a time of 17:49.3. Following an overall victory at the Wellesley College Invitational on Sept. 2, this race marked Selkin’s second-consecutive win of the year and the fourth first-place title of Selkin’s collegiate cross country career. On Sept. 19, Selkin was named the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week.

“I managed to stick to my game plan and felt very confident and comfortable throughout the entire race,” Selkin said. “I love competing and always look forward to each of the races throughout the season.” Looking to the future, Selkin hopes to qualify for the NCAA National Championship again in 2022 and garner NCAA All-American athlete honors.

Tessa Lancaster ’25 was the second Mount Holyoke runner over the line, taking 35th place overall with a time of 18:54.1. Next for the Lyons, Bridget Hall ’24 ran a time of 19:33.6, placing 73rd. Greta Trapp ’25 took 102nd with a time of 19:59.9 and Kim Beaver ’25 earned a time of 20:37.5 and placed 149th.

This relatively large group of Mount Holyoke athletes competing in the varsity 5K was notable for the team. “Only [Selkin] and [Lancaster] had run the varsity race before,” Head Track and Field and Cross Country Coach Jennifer “Jay” Hartshorn said. “Given the fact that it was a new experience [for] so many athletes on the team, they stepped up.”

In the Women’s 5K Junior Varsity race, Amanda Kearney ’23 finished the course with a time of 22:42.2, taking 66th place. Emma Quirk ’26 came 82nd with a time of 23:39.0 and Eliza Butler ’23 ran a 24:20.50 to place 93rd.

“I felt pretty controlled during my race,” Butler said. Speaking of the season to come, she added, “I’m most looking forward to our future races. … I’d love the team to qualify for regionals again.”

Hartshorn also indicated that the team already has its sights on the NCAA Championship. “The season is really about building to the end of the year. Hopefully we can gain confidence through the season and feel ready going into the championships,” she said.

This meet followed a change of coach for the cross country team. “We have been just getting to know each other for the past month,” Hartshorn said. “Having a new coach can be hard for a team, so I appreciate their ability to adapt to my style. I feel really excited and blessed to be a part of this community. “

Next, the Lyons will head to Williamstown to compete in the Purple Valley Classic on Oct. 1, 2022.

Editor’s Note: Emma Quirk ’26 is a staff member of the Mount Holyoke News.

Jodi Canfield enters role as director of athletics and chair of physical education

Photo courtesy of Bob Blanchard.
Dr. Jodi Canfield is the new director of athletics and chair of physical education at Mount Holyoke.

By Emily Tarinelli ’25

Sports Editor

After almost a year and a half without a permanent director of athletics and chair of physical education, Mount Holyoke College named Dr. Jodi Canfield to the role in June 2022. She officially stepped into the position on Aug. 1, 2022.

Canfield succeeded Lori Hendricks ’92, who retired from the position on Feb. 28, 2021 after 14 years with the College. From March 2021 through July 2022, Senior Associate Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator Erica Lemm served as interim director of athletics, while Mount Holyoke Lacrosse Head Coach Miriam Esber served as interim chair of physical education.

Originally from Canton, N.Y., Canfield grew up surrounded by sports. Her mother was a physical education instructor, and her father was a collegiate skiing coach. She later attended St. Lawrence University — where she played lacrosse and tennis — and graduated cum laude with her bachelor’s degree.

From there, she entered the business industry at a ski and sporting goods company. However, when a lacrosse coaching position opened up at St. Lawrence, she knew she had to take the role.

“It was the best thing I had ever done,” Canfield said.

She remained the St. Lawrence lacrosse coach for 15 years, and was involved in several campus committees including the Diversity Commission, the Middle States Review, the Insititutional Strategies and Assessment Committee, the Sexual Violence Advisory Board and the Academic Advising Team. Additionally, she participated in several National Collegiate Athletic Association organizations, such as the Empire All-Region and All-America Committee and the Regional Ranking Committee. During this time, she obtained her master’s degree in counseling from St. Lawrence and her doctorate in child and family studies from Syracuse University.

After coaching at St. Lawrence, Canfield transitioned to athletics administration and served another five years as the University’s assistant athletics director. When the position of athletics director became available at Sweet Briar College, a small historically women’s college in central Virginia, she decided to pursue the opportunity.

“I’d never be the [athletics director] of St. Lawrence,” Canfield said. “[The current St. Lawrence athletics director] was going to stay. He’s still there. So I made a significant decision to leave and become the A.D. at Sweet Briar College.”

At Sweet Briar, Canfield was a member of the president’s cabinet and directed seven NCAA Division III varsity teams, in addition to an equestrian program.

Canfield said that while she embraced the single-gender sports program at Sweet Briar, “the gender diversity, inclusivity and … holistic viewpoint of gender” at Mount Holyoke was “much more appealing.”

“It was a no-brainer,” Canfield said. “I love the people at Sweet Briar, … but this [position at Mount Holyoke] was an opportunity to step into a very similar role, [with] more sports, more students [and] more going on.”

One of Canfield’s goals for this academic year is to understand the culture of Mount Holyoke and its athletics department. She has already started getting to know the student-athletes and coaches by learning about their visions and motivations in sports.

“I’m really focused on what I call the ‘student-athlete experience,’” Canfield said, noting her interest in expanding programs available to student-athletes. She stated that this year, she aims to continue building up the strength and conditioning program, which started in April 2022 with the hiring of strength coach Jay Mendoza. Additionally, she revealed that the department is in the process of hiring a third athletic trainer.

Canfield also emphasized that interacting with student-athletes and coaches is highly important to her.

“I have a very open door policy,” Canfield said. “If a coach has something that is of concern to them, they don’t need to make an appointment. If the door is open, I can multitask. … I really want to …[be] a coach’s coach, versus this A.D. administrator.” She added that because her office is somewhat detached from the main sections of Kendall Sports and Dance Complex, she makes concerted efforts to visit coaches down the hallway to say hello or congratulate them on their games.

“So far, I have not missed a home contest, [and] I won’t be able to keep that streak up forever, but it’s something that’s really important to me early on in the season,” Canfield said. “[It’s important] to just make sure the coaches know that I’m there.”

“[The students] who know me are now coming in and saying hey,” Canfield said. “Mount Holyoke has been such a welcoming community. I can’t express gratitude enough.”

Game of the Week: Soccer holds its own against Wentworth Institute of Technology

Courtesy of Mount Holyoke College Athletics.
Goalkeeper Clarissa Govea ’26 made six saves in their first ever Mount Holyoke soccer game versus Wentworth Institute of Technology on Sept. 10.

By Emily Tarinelli ’25

Sports Editor

Mount Holyoke College Soccer was defeated 3-2 as they took on Wentworth Institute of Technology at a home game on Saturday, Sept. 10.

The matchup was the academic year’s first Game of the Week — a spotlight event during which Mount Holyoke varsity teams rally to maximize spectator attendance and encourage community support. Mount Holyoke Track and Field celebrated the soccer team by creating personalized posters for each player. In addition, Track and Field chalked vibrant, colorful artwork on the paved walkways throughout campus, using arrows to guide students from Blanchard Hall to the soccer field outside Kendall Sports & Dance Complex.

The Wentworth Leopards scored three goals in the first period, but in the 29th minute, Jane Harmon ’26 assisted Hannah Keochakian ’25 to score the Lyons’ first goal. Keochakian later secured another goal in the second period, assisted by Posy Labombard ’23.

“In the second half, we didn’t let [Wentworth] score and were able to make an opportunity of our own,” forward Orion Griesmer ’24 said. “We weren’t able to tie it up or win the game, but we were able to be the stronger team who [is] learning the dynamic of playing with each other.” They also expressed confidence in the team winning future games, citing the strength of the team’s “grit and perseverance.”

The Lyons made 10 shots and eight shots on goal, with three shots on goal from Keochakian, two from Sonia McCollum ’25, one from Ada Siepmann ’26, Anna Kennedy ’26 and Jessica Drent ’26 individually. Goalie Clarissa Govea ’26 deflected the opponent’s shots three times in each half, totaling six saves overall.

Next up, the Lyons will play Springfield College in Springfield on Saturday, Sept. 17, in its first New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference game of the season. The Lyons’ season record is 1-3 overall.

“I’m very excited for the rest of the season,” Griesmer said. “I think we have a very good chance of winning a lot of games … being an underestimated team who can do big things.”

Athletics Kickoff opens new turf, highlights student-athlete organizations

Courtesy of Sophia Anderson ’22.
From left to right: Phoebe Aaronson ’23, Mollee Malboeuf ’23, Caroline Thompson ’24, Hannah Bisson ’25 and Lucy Sternberg ’23 perform the ribbon cutting ceremony, officially opening the new turf.

By Lauren Leese ’23

Staff Writer

Mount Holyoke Athletics hosted an Athletics Kickoff and Track & Turf Ribbon Cutting Ceremony event on Thursday, Sept. 8. The kickoff officially opened the new outdoor track and turf. The ceremony highlighted student-athlete organizations, with two student representatives speaking on behalf of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the Athlete Empowerment Coalition.

The event began with an address from Director of Athletics and Chair of Physical Education Jodi Canfield. Following a land acknowledgement, Canfield discussed Mount Holyoke Athletics’ successes. She highlighted the student-athletes’ overall cumulative GPA of 3.6 and the 89 students who were recognized by the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference for All-Academic Conference Team status last year. Carrying on the theme of student-athlete academic achievement, Canfield noted that both of the Mount Holyoke students who have been named Rhodes Scholars were also student-athletes, most recently Elena Frogameni ’22 of the squash team.

Canfield described the new turf as a “recruiting magnet and one that our student-athletes will look fondly upon in their remembrance of their playing days.” To her, the field is a concrete example of Mount Holyoke’s commitment to the Athletics Department. “Continued investment in our facilities signals … our alignment with the mission and the goals of the College,” Canfield said.

Following Canfield’s address, student speaker Anais Magner ’23, the chair of the SAAC, introduced the members of the SAAC Executive Board: Vice Chair Caroline Thompson ’24, Secretary Emily Mock ’24, Treasurer Piper LaPointe ’23 and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Representative Janiqua Davis ’23. Canfield then described a selection of the SAAC’s achievements from the past year and its ongoing plans to improve student-athlete experiences.

In Fall 2021, the SAAC worked with Mount Holyoke Dining Services to convert the Blanchard Hall Grab ’n Go station into a student-athlete Grab ’n Go stocked with a wide selection of food for away games. Currently, the SAAC is focused on creating a Mount Holyoke chapter of Athlete Ally, “an organization focused on creating an inclusive and supportive environment within athletics across the country, as well as advocating for the LGBTQ+ cause,” Magner said.

“We are thrilled for the opportunity to interact with such an active organization pushing for change in an area so important to us as Mount Holyoke students,” Magner continued. 

“We are thrilled for the opportunity to interact with such an active organization pushing for change in an area so important to us as Mount Holyoke students.”

— Anais Magner ’23

Finally, Magner detailed the Game of the Week initiative — a SAAC initiative that allows varsity teams to pick a home game to highlight each season. During GOTW, the selected team is paired with a buddy team which cheers them on alongside other Mount Holyoke students.

“I enjoy being part of SAAC because it allows me to be involved in the decision-making process. As a member of SAAC, my voice gets heard when I raise concerns about my team or my identity … as an international student-athlete,” Magner said. She closed by encouraging students interested in getting involved with SAAC to speak to her, their team SAAC reps or any of the SAAC E-Board members.

The second student speaker, Soccer Team Captain and President of the AEC Lo Jean-Jacques ’23, spoke about what the AEC offers students at Mount Holyoke.

“We’re here to create a safe space for … both club and varsity athletes on campus. We believe that certain groups of athletes on campus need safe spaces, [and] also need [their] voices to be heard,” Jean-Jacques said. Members of these groups — student-athletes of color and first-generation student-athletes — are “often the only student-athlete of color or first generation student-athlete on their team,” as noted on the AEC’s Embark page.

Students outside of these groups can also contribute to the AEC’s mission.

“We need allies,” Jean-Jacques said. Students looking to get involved are invited to contact Jean-Jacques, Head Squash Coach Erin Robson or Head Volleyball Coach Iris Carpio for more information.

The evening concluded with the ribbon cutting, performed by five student-athletes who will be using the turf: Phoebe Aaronson ’23 and Mollee Malboeuf ’23 of Field Hockey, Caroline Thompson ’24 of Field Hockey and Lacrosse, Hannah Bisson ’24 of Lacrosse and Lucy Sternberg ’23 of Track and Field. Each athlete used their own pair of scissors in unison to complete the ceremony, officially opening the new facility.

The Sports Bra opens in Portland, centers women’s sports

By Tai Owen ’24

Staff Writer

The Sports Bra opened its doors on April 1, 2022, the 50th anniversary year of Title IX. Located in Portland, Oregon, the bar challenges tradition with its dedication to solely streaming and supporting women’s sports. According to Oregon Live, founder and Portland native Jenny Nguyen believes the Sports Bra might be the first bar in the world to be focused only on women’s sports.

Oregon Live reported that Nguyen had the idea for The Sports Bra after watching a women’s basketball championship game on a tiny TV with no sound in a sports bar.

“It was Notre Dame against Mississippi State [in the 2018 NCAA women’s finals]. And Notre Dame was down by like 23 or something, came back from behind, and Arike hit a last-second three-pointer. And we just lost it in this bar. It was incredible,” Nguyen said in an interview with Shireen Ahmed for the podcast Burn It All Down.

According to the bar’s Instagram page, Nguyen listed The Sports Bra as a Kickstarter project on Feb. 14, 2022 after being denied funding from several financial institutions and rejected for two types of small business. Ultimately, the Kickstarter generated $105,135 in donations from 635 people, exceeding the $48,000 that Nguyen calculated needing. 

According to the Kickstarter, Nguyen was an avid basketball player growing up and saw her calling for uplifting women’s sports. 

According to The Sports Bra’s website, to get the name of the bar, Nguyen “ took your regular sports bar, switched around the two letters and got The Sports Bra.”

After searching for locations that would serve the community well, and decorating the bar with women’s sports memorabilia, Nguyen opened her establishment to the public. According to Portland Monthly, the opening was a big success, with people lining up outside to get in.

The Sports Bra will be an official Portland Thorns viewing location, but it plays everything from women’s collegiate level sports to Women’s National Basketball Association games to professional soccer games to gymnastics. When women’s games are not playing, the Sports Bra remains dedicated to its goal of putting women at the forefront by playing podcasts, interviews and documentaries about women’s sports and players, according to its website.

The Sports Bra’s website stated that, in addition to prioritizing women’s sports, the bar uses the women-owned Freeland Spirits for its signature cocktails. Women-owned vineyards and breweries are also featured, furthering the bar’s commitment to “support, promote and invest in the women who are changing the game.” 

Inclusivity is a pillar of the Sports Bra’s guiding ideology. Accordingly, minors are welcome in the bar to allow parents and/or guardians the flexibility of bringing children to enjoy the games and expose them to women’s sports in a community setting. Vegan, vegetarian, gluten and dairy-free folks are also welcome, as the bar features an array of foods accommodating dietary restrictions.

“Our mission [is] to … provide a space that supports, empowers, and promotes girls and women in sports and in the community,” The Sports Bra’s website states. Fostering a culture of appreciation using women’s sports as a vessel for community building is critical to the bar’s staff and broadening base of supporters. According to Portland Monthly, televised sports coverage is overwhelmingly dominated by men’s games, with women’s sports — if played at all — saddled to a secondary status. The Sports Bra aims to fundamentally change that dynamic. By placing women at the forefront, the bar challenges the status quo of sports bars and sports consumption in public settings. According to The Sports Bra website, Nguyen believed tackling representation in sports by utilizing the traditional venue of a sports bar is a simple and effective way to challenge the lack of representation in sports broadcasting.

With community, representation and investment in women’s sports as the bar’s main priorities, Nguyen hopes The Sports Bra is the first step in a movement for better representation and investment in women’s sports and viewership. With women’s sports only constituting four percent of broadcasting, as reported by Portland Monthly, the Sports Bra is a venue for balancing out the discrepancy in accessibility to viewing women’s sports.

The bar’s website states, “The Sports Bra is not a sports bar for women, but a bar for women’s sports.” While the bar’s identity is grounded in its dedication to showcasing women’s sports, the Sports Bra’s true priority is simply creating a venue for people to view women’s sports the same way they view men’s sports.