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A View from College Hill

Athletics

By President Joan Hinde Stewart

One of the joys of serving as Hamilton's president is sharing in the successes of our students, faculty and alumni. Presenting a teaching award to a faculty member, attending the senior recital of a music major, witnessing the ­satisfaction of the beneficiary of a newly established scholarship fund — these are privileges that bring great satisfaction. And meeting the members of the women's lacrosse team when they stepped off their charter flight in Syracuse less than six hours after winning the national championship is an experience I will not soon forget.

Winning, naturally, gives us pleasure. But these wins were much more than pride in besting other colleges. Our students worked hard, sacrificed for the good of the team, held each other accountable, and went into the final four as underdogs. In short, they displayed the perseverance, balance, determination and teamwork that characterize the best student-athletes. Their performance reflected the habits, hard work and integrity of their coach, a first-rate teacher. And they had fun.

The national championship in women's lacrosse was one highlight of many for the Continentals this year. Three of the women's lacrosse players also competed on the soccer team that came within one win of advancing to the NCAA final four last fall. That team lost to Western Connecticut State University after defeating host and previously unbeaten Williams College a day earlier. Meanwhile, the men's soccer team was building on its own proud tradition. Despite returning only five players from the previous year, the Continentals competed in the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive year, beating New York University before losing in the second round to New Jersey City University.

In individual competition, sophomore distance runner Peter Kosgei successfully defended the NCAA Division III national championship he won a year ago in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and added titles in the indoor 800 meters, indoor mile and outdoor 5,000 meters. A future chemistry major from the Rift Valley of Kenya, Peter has rewritten the College's record books in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track. I had the pleasure of watching him win the 800 meters and 1,500 meters at the NESCAC outdoor track and field championships, which Hamilton hosted. He displays impressive talent on the track and a warm and unassuming personality on campus.

Athletic success was not ­limited to varsity teams. Men's rugby, a club sport at Hamilton, went undefeated in claiming its second consecutive state championship and won the National Rugby Union Collegiate Division III Eastern Regional. Hamilton hosted the Rugby Division III final four, but our team fell to two powerhouse clubs. Nevertheless, the success of this squad points to revitalized club and intramural sports programs that provide outlets for the competitive drive of our students.

And then there are those on campus — employees and students alike — who just want to stay fit. From early morning to late night, and from individual fitness routines and weightlifting regimens to conditioning and aerobic classes, the range and extent of activity in the Charlean and ­Wayland Blood Fitness and Dance Center are remarkable. Access to such a facility provides more than just a break or a distraction from the rigors of the classroom. As a residential campus, we seek to educate students about healthy lifestyles and to make available resources and programs to facilitate personal growth, since students retain throughout their lives many of the habits formed in college.

Ultimately, we view athletics in all its forms — varsity, club, intramural, recreational — as
an extension of the classroom, where coaches and trainers are teachers providing students with opportunities for growth and fulfillment, as well as an understanding of health maintenance for a lifetime. The women's lacrosse team is an example of just how successful that model can be.

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