FALL 2015
Coach Justin:
Since my arrival onto the Vassar campus in January 2012, I’ve been working hard to build upon what Ron and James have created and established over the past 30+ years. I’m lucky to have both of them along side of me, and at the same time to have their trust and support as we continue to develop something that hopefully will stand the test of time and last. It’s not easy but it’s worth the effort.
Effort is something we always focus on. Whether it’s putting a lot of effort into a heavy training week or taking the time to connect with a teammate who is struggling – we must always be reminded that no effort goes unrewarded. Sometimes the hardest thing in coaching is to get everyone on board with being patient with the process. We all want to see results and be rewarded immediately but it’s the commitment to a long-term goal over a long duration of time that allows us to get many of the end results we’ve had the past four years but, more importantly, throughout our lives.
Along with effort there needs to be a plan; an outline of sorts that will get us to our main objective. And that objective is to provide a student-athlete environment that allows for expression of one’s competitiveness in a manner that is cooperative and inspiring in nature. For some people that may be to compete at a conference or NCAA championship, while for others, that may be going for a personal best at the end of senior year. Whichever it is, it shouldn’t be discernable by others from the outside who can run faster, jump higher or jump or throw further; the work ethic and how one carries themselves should look the same across the board.
I’ve been very fortunate to work with a great group of student-athletes these past four years who embody all the above. When I first spoke to James about the position, he pointed out that the current athletes were ready for a full-time coach who was focused on their needs year round. I know he gave every ounce of his energy to make sure the Track team was given all the opportunities they needed to be successful and he also knew that if he brought in someone to help, that the team could really progress quickly. And I’m very happy to have been a piece of that puzzle because progression is vital.
We always can do something a little bit better; every day.
We can listen better.
We can care more.
We can commit more.
We can execute better.
We can be more patient.
And, boy, isn’t patience vital, too!?
The past two years have gone exactly the way we set out for it to go. That is, student-athletes begin training on their own in July, then transition into more of a routine come August, a two-week preseason in the Fall, a competition or two in December to see where we are at, a mini break, a short re-cycle of training, and back into the season to go after getting what we want – PRs, school records, points at conference, conference titles, ECAC and NCAA qualifications. With James, Ron and Brooksie’s schedules, it was hard to be there for all of that. And, it took us two years to get to that point.
After the 2012 Outdoor season I left all the athletes alone with summer training because I knew if I told them to train they’d probably revolt! Instead, I focused on selling the idea of training in the fall while encouraging the few who wanted to train over the summer. I gave them some advice, and let them have at it. Carrie Perkins (’13) and Harris Gordon (’15) came back and surprised everyone at our September testing, which I know sent a message to everyone that they too could make gains by being active in the summer. At the end of the 2013 Outdoor season, every athlete was asking for summer training and to me, to have the student-athletes make a choice to be successful and to take ownership of that process, has been the most inspiring and enjoying aspect of being here at Vassar.
Each season has been an assault on the record boards, conference championships, and ECAC and NCAA qualifications. When something is just starting, it’s easier to get the ball rolling sometimes, than it is to keep it moving. We’re happy to see that the momentum has carried each season. The thing as coach that I’m most proud of is the systematic success the past two seasons. In 2014, we had 25 athletes achieve 65+ personal bests, 4 conference titles – Ariel Bridges (’15) in the 100m and 200m (conference record), Heather Ingraham (’15) in the 400m (conference record), and our Women’s 4x400m relay with Molly Crowell (’17), Ariel, Lucy Balcezak (’17), and Heather (conference record). We also had numerous ECAC qualifications and an NCAA All-American in the Women’s 400m with Heather.
2015?
Even better. With 22 athletes we had 72+ personal bests, 6 conference titles – Heather in the 400m (conference record) and 200m, Morrie Lam (’15) in the 100m, Taylor Vann (’16) in the 110H, the Men’s 4x100m relay with Morrie, Joel Johnson (’18), Kyle Estrada (’18), and Dylan Manning (’15) and the Women’s 4x400m relay with Alex Gittens (’17), Lucy, Eliana Tyler (’18) and Heather (conference record). Again, we had numerous qualifications at ECACs, and a NCAA Outdoor National Champion in the Women’s 400m with Heather - Vassar College's first NCAA Champ!
And 2016?
The team has a very strong set of returners and will be lead by senior Team Captains Mollie Schear (’16) and Taylor Vann (’16). I’m really proud of the work our leaders Katy Hwang (’12), Abe Gatling III (’13), Emily Crnic (’13), Carrie Perkins (’14), Harris Gordon (’15), Nina Andersen (’15), and Heather Ingraham (’15) have done to help build this program to what it is today. They’ve put in the effort early on to make sure there is great precedent of behavior, ideals, and morals.
This year, the Women’s team will be looking for senior Mollie and juniors Saparja Nag, Molly, Samara Roman-Holba and Alex to set the tone for how we like to get after things. Helping them will be sophomore hurdler’s Karmen Hutchinson and Alain Toatley. Adding to the mix will be freshman Annelise Depman (PA), Sophie Sharp (MA), Michelle Peri (NY), and Sara DeBenedictis (MA). They have a steep learning curve but have been great at keeping an open mind and working hard so far.
The Men’s team will look for upperclassmen Taylor, Morrie, Dylan, Pete Winkeller (’16), and Louis “Scags” Scaglione (’17) to help keep the positive momentum going. Helping them will be sophomores Kyle, Joel, and Michael Walsh. Newcomers Dan Meoldy (CT) and Ilya Rozenblat (CA) have been contributing a lot as far as work ethic and buy-in and I’m excited about their prospects for improvement.
Next time, we’ll take a more detailed look into our Fall preseason and late semester competition, while also looking ahead to Outdoor Track.
-Justin
