2008 Woodie Awards
Fall Sports Preview Part Two: Smith teams set to triumph
Erin Quinn
Issue date: 9/14/06 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
Last week, the volleyball, soccer and tennis teams were previewed. Additionally, the preseason practice routines of these fall athletes were examined. This week, the Sophian offers previews of the crew, cross country and field hockey teams.
Crew
Michelle Wong '08 explains that the primary difference between the fall and the spring seasons is the style of racing. "To make an analogy, fall crew is like cross country, and the spring season is like [track]. Fall crew is called head racing; [you] send one boat, then five seconds later another boat, five seconds later another boat, etc. You try to beat the clock by catching boats that are ahead of you and holding the others off. Fall races are longer, usually about 5K. Spring races are 2K, everybody starts at the same time, and it's the boat that crosses the line first. This is the type of racing most people are more familiar with; it's the type in the Summer Olympics."
Looking Back:
Last spring, the Pioneers' ended their season in style with a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Division III Rowing National Championships. Earlier in the season, they captured the NEWMAC title for the third year in a row.
2006: Although the team lost 11 seniors due to graduation, the returning rowers are eager to replicate the success of last year's team. Fall competition does not start until Oct. 1, when the team travels to Hartford, Conn. for the Riverfront Recapture Regatta. Later in October, they host the Pumpkin Novice Regatta and will compete in the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston. They will finish the season by hosting the Seven Sisters Championship on Oct. 28.
Cross Country
Looking Back:
In 2005, the team placed second at Seven Sisters and finished third in the NEWMAC. Nora Youngs '09 participated in the NCAA Division III Championships at the end of the season. She also earned All-Conference and All-Region honors.
2006: Although Maria Gonchoroff '07 is the only senior on the team, the talented young runners on the roster give us reason to be excited about the potential of this team. In the first race of the year, Anna Cressotti '10 won the Smith Invitational in a time of 19:23.10. Additionally, Nora Youngs '09, Meredith Jones '10, Alison Cloutier '08 and Megan Kiefer '10 placed in the top 12.
High Expectations: "Our ultimate goal would be to place in the top 10 at [the NCAAs], but taking it to the next level and qualifying for nationals would be more than amazing. I expect that the team will only get stronger as the season progresses." -- Alison Cloutier '08
Field Hockey
Looking Back: In 2005, the team finished third at the Seven Sisters tournament, eighth in the regular season NEWMAC standings and was a quarterfinalist at the NEWMAC post-season tournament.
2006: Returning seniors Linnea Michaels, Trudi Cloyd and Lauren Pierce will captain a very youthful squad that includes 10 first-year players. If these young players are able to step up to the challenge of replacing last year's seniors, look for the team to be successful this year and in the years to come.
Crew
Michelle Wong '08 explains that the primary difference between the fall and the spring seasons is the style of racing. "To make an analogy, fall crew is like cross country, and the spring season is like [track]. Fall crew is called head racing; [you] send one boat, then five seconds later another boat, five seconds later another boat, etc. You try to beat the clock by catching boats that are ahead of you and holding the others off. Fall races are longer, usually about 5K. Spring races are 2K, everybody starts at the same time, and it's the boat that crosses the line first. This is the type of racing most people are more familiar with; it's the type in the Summer Olympics."
Looking Back:
Last spring, the Pioneers' ended their season in style with a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Division III Rowing National Championships. Earlier in the season, they captured the NEWMAC title for the third year in a row.
2006: Although the team lost 11 seniors due to graduation, the returning rowers are eager to replicate the success of last year's team. Fall competition does not start until Oct. 1, when the team travels to Hartford, Conn. for the Riverfront Recapture Regatta. Later in October, they host the Pumpkin Novice Regatta and will compete in the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston. They will finish the season by hosting the Seven Sisters Championship on Oct. 28.
Cross Country
Looking Back:
In 2005, the team placed second at Seven Sisters and finished third in the NEWMAC. Nora Youngs '09 participated in the NCAA Division III Championships at the end of the season. She also earned All-Conference and All-Region honors.
2006: Although Maria Gonchoroff '07 is the only senior on the team, the talented young runners on the roster give us reason to be excited about the potential of this team. In the first race of the year, Anna Cressotti '10 won the Smith Invitational in a time of 19:23.10. Additionally, Nora Youngs '09, Meredith Jones '10, Alison Cloutier '08 and Megan Kiefer '10 placed in the top 12.
High Expectations: "Our ultimate goal would be to place in the top 10 at [the NCAAs], but taking it to the next level and qualifying for nationals would be more than amazing. I expect that the team will only get stronger as the season progresses." -- Alison Cloutier '08
Field Hockey
Looking Back: In 2005, the team finished third at the Seven Sisters tournament, eighth in the regular season NEWMAC standings and was a quarterfinalist at the NEWMAC post-season tournament.
2006: Returning seniors Linnea Michaels, Trudi Cloyd and Lauren Pierce will captain a very youthful squad that includes 10 first-year players. If these young players are able to step up to the challenge of replacing last year's seniors, look for the team to be successful this year and in the years to come.
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