SPRING 2016

Coach Ron:

Tim Leshan ('88) at VCI with the on-campus course

Ok...Hello VCXC/T&F Family!

Yes, it is the time of year when you get our update and my off the cuff, off the wall writing that attempts to remember stuff from the past!

Sooo...Justin asked me to reminisce about the 90's and in starting, I want to thank all of you (90's) for going through, what most Vassar sports teams did not have to go through, of having had a part time Head Coach and not much in the way of on campus connectivity and support. Yet, you persevered and we had individual and collective success compared to most of Vassar's teams. In part, the success we had was based on the level of maturity and tone set by each of you. You all did know, cause I told you VCXC stories, that in the 1980's we more than held our own regionally, in winning meets, and that we had 2 qualifiers for NCAA Nationals (Tracy Nichols'90 and Alex Perfido '88 (1st Male VC qualifier in all sports) with Tim Leshan being very close too!).

Anyway, the tone of a team is often directed or assisted by the leadership and upper class SA's.

I was lucky to have tone setters and people to rely upon to lead when I was not there and to pull things together.

Tera Hatfield and Emily Loose are two that spring to mind. They both were Captains; both had physical issues to overcome and both excelled at leadership & guts. Lucy Armory is a long story but is also an example of perseverance with a radiant smile.

So how do you generalize about the teams back then? The bonds formed, the misery shared, the goals achieved, the laughs, funny stories, workouts and whatever all combined to make the good memories we all had and have.

I guess, like I said, all of you, mentioned and not (my memory is fading more and this is "off the cuff"!)...

Amy Hethcoat, Susan O'Brien, Jen Toller, are some names of over achievers who strove to run faster! The bonding of the women's team led by the triple threat of MEGMOCLO (Meg Wyatt, Mo Brown and Clo Rafferty) who took their spirit lessons and funness from Kate Connor and carried it forward. Having fun, laughs and still recognizing the hard work needed is what made XC in the 90's ,and XC today too, a constant at Vassar.

Our Men's teams from the 90's also self developed themselves and pushed themselves to improve and run faster. Alexie Lownie, Adam Golub experienced the work ethic of our 1st VC women's All American Tracy Nichols, and proceeded to drive themselves hard (with sweat bandannas!).

James McCowan landed as a Frosh and hit the ground running and driven to excel. This attitude helped his teammates Dave Zuzga, Justin Ficken (XC&LAX), James Meeker (beat James at ECAC's!), Charley Stickney (started VC Comedy troupe), Carl Johnson, and_________ to not slack and to push each other and set goals. Troy Hull (our 1st League Champion), Pat Healy, Andrew Costigan (fastest 400 around Sunset Lake), Kendall Manlove, Ronan Dunphy, Jason McGlyn (XC&LAX), Jay Benson, all were infected with James's self propelling drive to run and beat their best times and have fun doing it. Steve Money and Avi Kramer, Sam Dratch, Devin Huseby, Schuyler Schuster, Robbie Fair took the baton and mentoring from these predecessors and inculcated the "Butch" mentality to better their personal and our team best performances into the 2000's( including Steve and Avi qualifying for NCAA Nationals!).

I am missing many contributors to our legacy but all of you can look back and be proud of the accomplishments we had individually and collectively. Track season is here and I still, for some sick reason, am so looking forward to watching these kids smash their times, like I enjoyed watching you guys from the 90's. 

Please remember to walk up to me at Alum gatherings and introduce yourself and then let me remember what a pleasure it was to have you on our teams! 

Thanks and please reconnect so we can continue growing and representing your proud history!

Hug, 

Ron