MHC Gears Up for Field Hockey Championship

Posted: November 11, 2009

Mount Holyoke’s new turf field will be the site of the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship the weekend of November 21-22. Four teams will compete in the semi-finals at 11 am and 2 pm on Saturday, November 21; the championship match will take place on Sunday, November 22 at 1 pm.

"We are delighted to host the 2009 NCAA Division III Field Hockey National Championship," Athletic Director Laurie Priest said. "Three years ago, when we were advocating for a new facility, I stated to our trustees and administration that (to steal a line from the movie, Field of Dreams), 'If you build it, they will come.' I knew then, that the right facilities would not only bring top scholar-athletes to Mount Holyoke, but would allow us the opportunity to host top regional and national events."

On Friday, November 20, the eve of the championship weekend, athletes from the four championship teams and Mount Holyoke will be running programs for children at the Peck School in Holyoke and at the Mosier School in South Hadley. The programs will focus on life skills, nutrition, and sports. Rep. John Scibak (D-South Hadley) will be present at the Mosier school event.

Barbara Cassani ’82, former Mount Holyoke trustee who served as chair of London’s successful 2012 Olympic bid, will address the teams at a special dinner Friday night. She also will conduct a student leadership seminar in conjunction with the Weissman Center for Leadership and the Liberal Arts Friday afternoon at 4:15 pm.

On both days of competition, teams from local high school, club, and community recreation field hockey teams will participate in the Parade of Champions, lining the champion athletes’ walkway from the indoor warm-up space to the playing field. On Sunday, November 22, at 9:30 am, top Division III senior field hockey players will vie in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Senior All-Star Game.
   
This championship event has served as a leadership practicum for Mount Holyoke students. Under the guidance of administrative and faculty mentors, Mount Holyoke’s Field Hockey Organizing Committee, a group of 18 students, has been instrumental in preparing for the championship weekend. Students have been engaged in the strategic planning, budgeting, management, and leadership aspects of hosting a national event. To date, more than 100 students have served on committees engaged in this effort.

Athletic Director Laurie Priest is impressed with the students’ efforts. “In a time when intercollegiate athletics is often criticized as being separate or auxiliary to the mission of higher education, Mount Holyoke has embraced athletics as another learning laboratory on campus. The national championship provides the opportunity for students who are athletes and for those who are not to test their leadership skills in a real world environment."

Their goal for all involved: one of the best championships ever.

CBS will be filming the games, which will be shown via live Webcast.

Related Links:

Championship Central

Championship Blog

NCAA Promo Video

Official Championship Site

MHC Athletics
 

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