Five Minutes With ... Kait Fiore

Senior Kait Fiore

Name: Kait Fiore

Homecoming/High School: Millburn, NJ/Millburn

Insititution: Denison University

Major: Biology

Minor: Spanish

I am originally from ... Midland Park, NJ

Why did you choose to attend a NCAA Division III institution? I have been playing sports for pretty much my whole life and softball has become very important to me. I knew I wouldn’t enjoy my college career as much unless I was playing softball. However, I also believe that focusing on my academics is very important as well. Division III schools are perfect for allowing student-athletes to balance academics and athletics and I am currently getting a great education and I am also able to play my sport.

How would you describe the philosophy of NCAA Div. III? NCAA Division III aims to give student-athletes the ability to focus on academics as well as athletics. Student-athletes at the Division III level still train hard and are still competitive, but we are given the opportunity to be more than just an athlete. We truly define the term “student-athlete.”

How has your experience been in balancing athletics and academics at Denison? My experience has been great. My coach is very understanding and recognizes the importance of academics and my professors also recognize the importance of athletics in my life. At times it is difficult to manage my time, but with all of the support I receive from coaches and professors I have had a lot of success balancing athletics and academics.

How would you best describe your normal day as a student-athlete at the NCAA Div. III level? I.e. What do you do all day? All of my classes are in the morning so softball does not conflict with them as much. I wake up in the morning and go to class and then I go to work in the Varsity weight room where I coach other athletes at my school. Then I go to practice or my games. When I get home I make dinner and do my homework and then get ready for the next day.

Favorite thing about Denison? The athletic presence on campus. So many students at Denison play sports (Varsity, club, intramural, or just for fun) and many students who don’t play sports just enjoy watching them.

Favorite thing about the NCAC?  Our level of sportsmanship. The conference is very competitive, but as a conference we have a great amount of respect for the teams we play.

What do you want to be when you grow up? I would love to be a Physician Assistant.

 If you could trade places with someone for a day, who would it be and why? I would trade places with my grandma for several reasons. First of all, she is someone who I look up to and respect greatly. She has experienced tough times and has developed into a very strong person with a great head on her shoulders. I would love to learn the things that she has learned. I also would love to have more time to just enjoy my days. While I love playing softball and being a student, it would be nice to have more time to read for pleasure and to do more things that I’m not normally able to do.

What aspect of being a student-athlete at the Div. III level, do you hope to take with you into your professional life? I have learned how to interact with people better and how to be a better leader. I think these skills are very important for one’s professional life.

Do you have one coach and/or professor that has impacted your career the most at Denison? My softball coach, Tiffany Ozbun. During my years at Denison I have matured so much and I believe this is largely because of her influence on me.

What are the toughest issues facing Div. III athletes today? Respect for what we do. Many people who are not involved in the Division III community do not understand exactly what DIII student-athletes do. We practice, we lift and we condition, but we also spend a lot of time on our academics and we do it all without athletic scholarships or other aid that athletes in other divisions receive.

 If you could excel at any competitive sport (other than your own) which would you choose? Gymnastics

 What’s your favorite sports team/Who’s your favorite athlete? The NY Giants and Mario Manningham (although I’m sad that he’s no longer a Giant)

Favorite ice cream? Mint chocolate chip!

People may be surprised to know that ... I am not italian

Five Minutes With ... Molly Goolman

Kenyon College sophomore softball player Molly Goolman

Name: Molly Goolman

Hometown/High School: Lancaster, NH/St. Johnsbury Academy (VT)

Institution: Kenyon College           

Majors: Biology and History

Sport: Softball

·       I am originally from … Lancaster, NH

·       Why did you choose to attend a NCAA Division III institution? The ability to play sports while studying at a top-tier school drew me to Division III immediately. I can’t imagine college without sports.

·       How would you describe the philosophy of NCAA Div. III? Division III allows students to use sports to prepare them for life after college, in addition to the benefits gained from the classroom. The nature of Division III athletics invites students to apply lessons learned on the field or court to situations that follow graduation.

·       How has your experience been in balancing athletics and academics at Kenyon? Kenyon is an extremely strong academic setting, but I find my time management skills to be much better when I’m in-season than when I’m out of season. It helps that many of the professors here are some of our biggest fans!

·       How would you best describe your normal day as a student-athlete at the NCAA Div. III level? I.e. What do you do all day? It’s pretty simple: Class, practice, homework. It sounds monotonous, but the fact that I’m surrounded by friends and fellow student-athletes all day makes it easier.

·       Favorite thing about Kenyon? The best part about Kenyon is that it’s full of Ivy League-caliber students who don’t need the label of a more widely known institution. It also happens to be one of the most beautiful places on Earth.

·       Favorite thing about the NCAC? It’s small, so you really get to know the teams and even the individual athletes you compete against.

·       What do you want to be when you grow up? A patent lawyer for a pharmaceutical company

·       If you could trade places with someone for a day, who would it be and why? Kate Middleton. Who doesn’t want to be a princess for a day?

·       People may be surprised to know that ……I’m a black belt in Shotokan karate.

·       If you are stranded on an island, you would like to be with ……My mom. We could make each other laugh the entire time.

·       Do you have any hidden talents that very few people know about? I’m a pretty decent welder.

·       Do you have one coach and/or professor that has impacted your career the most at Kenyon? Biology professor Kathy Gillen. She’s always around to help me make decisions, or at least listen to me argue with myself about them, whether it’s about school or sports or life in general. Once I make up my mind, she’s always really supportive. She’s even made it to a few softball games!

·       if you could be a superhero which special power would you choose to have? The ability to zap myself anywhere whenever I want.

·       Which historical sporting event would you have liked to witness? The New York Mets beating the Boston Red Sox in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series. Bottom of the tenth with one strike left? That’s why we play sports.

·       What’s your favorite sports team/Who’s your favorite athlete? The Minnesota Vikings. Being a Vikings fan is a lot like breaking up with your boyfriend every week for 16 weeks, but when they pull out a win I smile all week long.

·       Any Pet Peeves? When cars don’t stop for people waiting at crosswalks. That’s just rude.

·       Favorite ice cream? Rocky Road

Concussions - Not to be Shaken Off

Ohio Wesleyan Athletic Trainer Todd Miller recently spoke on the dangers of concussions and concussion management to WOSUColumbus.

Also interviewed was OWU student-athlete Sarah Ingles, a member of the OWU golf team. Sarah was a three-sport athlete in field hockey, basketball and softball, but due to her history of seven concussions, she must not participate in contact sports. Sarah's injuries have touched other parts of her life, but she manages to find her silver lining - including having the opportunity to educate others using her situation.

NCAC Issue of Champion Magazine

The current issue of NCAA Champion magazine could be considered the NCAC issue. Not really, but the conference is featured several times throughout the magazine:

* The NCAC's 25th anniversary is highlighted in Incusive approach a stalwart of NCAC success, by Leilana McKindry

* Kenyon men's swimming's amazing 30 consecutive national championships are part Freaky Streaks by Greg Johnson. A sidebar to that story also mentions Hiram softball player Whitney Dropsey, who, as of April 1 had not struck out in her collegate career - 305 at-bats. Dropsey rang her streak up to 354 at-bats before suffering her first K in the third game of the NCAC Softball tournament. The Terriers went on to win their first league tourney title and a trip to the NCAA turnament.

* Kenyon's 2009 men's and women's swimming titles are featured as part of the winter championship wrap-up.

* Terry Schermer's touching memorium for former Kenyon athletic trainer George Christman.

Around the NCAC

* The Denison SAAC will host a free Sports and Games Clinic in celebration of National Student Athlete Day on Sunday. Kindergartners through sixth graders are invited to join Big Red student-athletes for a day of games, relay races, sportsmanship and teamwork. Children will also receive a snack and certificate of participation at the end of the day. Registration will take place on the day of the event from 1:15-1:50 pm. The clinic will begin at 2:00. Parents do not need to stay for the clinic unless they want to. Pick up is at 4:30 pm. For more information, please contact Lynn Schweizer.

** The Hiram SAAC and Baseball team are joining together to sponsor a collection drive for new and used baseball or softball equipment during all home games during this spring. SAAC reps will have a table to collect equipment and uniforms for all ages, such as helmets, bats, pants, belts, gloves, baseballs and more. All donations will be distributed directly to schools, neighborhoods and Nicaraguan Rotary clubs by Hiram College students. Please contact Joe Trela at with any questions, comments or willingness to help.

** Former Oberlin football star Chris Schubert caught a touchdown pass in his professional debut for the Mahoning Valley Thunder of af2. His fourth quarter score helped the Thunder come-from-behind to upend the Albany Firebirds 44-34 on Friday night on March 27. (boxscore)

** Sisters Rita and Sarah Cook are both members of the Ohio Wesleyan softball team. The two, both chemistry majors, also paired up to attended the American Chemical Society (ACS)’s national conference in Salt Lake City last week to present projects they have been working on since last summer. According to the ACS’s Web site, more than 10,700 scientists and exhibitors attended the event.

Rita says the conference includes an undergraduate program, but she and Sarah missed the undergraduate presentation because of a softball game. They presented their projects among what Rita calls the “big kids” of chemistry. They began their work at a 10-week research group program in Minnesota called Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU). REU is sponsored by the National Science Foundation. Rita’s project was in environmental chemistry. She studied a groundwater pollutant and its effects on water supplies. Sarah worked on synthesizing a luminescent potassium sensor, which she said can be used to measure levels of potassium in the blood to better prevent seizures and strokes.

** Former Kenyon basketball player Shaka Smart was named head coach of the men's basketball program at Virginia Commonwealth University. As a three-year captain during his days in purple and white, he set the Kenyon single-season (184) and career (542) records for assists. During his senior season he was named the team's MVP, was selected to the All-NCAC team, and was an NCAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year. He also earned a position on the 1999 USA Today All-USA Academic team and received a NCAA postgraduate scholarship. Last season, he worked for the University of Florida and helped head coach Billy Donovan guide the Gators to a 25-11 record. Before that, Smart worked at Clemson University for a couple of seasons that included a combined 49 wins and back-to-back postseason appearances. Smart also had stops at the University of Akron, Dayton University, and at California University of Pennsylvania, where he worked under former Kenyon head coach Bill Brown.

** Wittenberg has cheerleading tryouts for the 2009-2010 season on April 23 & 24. For more information, click here.

Follow Obies on Spring Break

Oberlin is on spring break and the athletic teams are sharing all of their adventures. You can follow along on their blogs:

Baseball
Location: Phoenix, Arizona

Men's Lacrosse
Location: Hilton Head, South Carolina

Women's Lacrosse
Location: Pomona, California

Softball
Location: Fort Myers, Florida

Women's Tennis
Location: Hilton Head, South Carolina

Track & Field
Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Around the NCAC

** The Denison men's 4x800 relay team broke a 41-year old record at last weekend's Denison Last Chance Meet. Ben Holder, Lex Hultquist, Ben Pendery and Chris Black won the event with a time of 7:53.49 which shattered the previous record of 7:58.64 set back in 1968.

** The Denison Sports Network returns to the air, bringing Big Red fans a handful of key baseball, softball and men's and women's lacrosse games this spring. The free service kicks off the season Tuesday, March 24th at Big Red Field as the baseball team takes on Heidelberg. See the whole schedule here.

** Former Earlham star QB Justin Rummel recently signed with the Fairbanks Grizzlies of the Indoor Football League.

** Oberlin softball is offering a one-day clinic for players in grades K-6 on Sunday, March 15 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. inside the Jesse Philips Physical Education Center. Participants will receive instruction in all phases of the game. The clinic costs $35 per athlete.

** A pair of Wittenberg programs reached new heights of success this fall and winter. Read about the Tiger women's cross country squad and the men's swimming & diving team - and even listen to the head coaches Craig Penney and Natalie Koukis comment on their accomplishments.

2008 Academic All-America Softball Team

The 2008 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Softball Teams were announced by CoSIDA, the College Sports Information Directors of America.

Second Team
IF Sarah Fetters, Wittenberg, senior

Sarah was also named to the 2007 second team.

2008 Academic All-District Softball Teams

The 2008 Academic All-District Softball Teams were announced by CoSIDA, the College Sports Information Directors of America.

District 4 winners included:

First Team
P Stephanie Hemmingson, Kenyon, senior
IF Sarah fetters, Wittenberg, senior
OF Kim Skully, Wooster, junior
OF Nicole Ottavi, Wittenberg, senior

Second Team
P Rachel Seibel, Ohio Wesleyan, sophomore
OF Whitney Dropsey, Hiram, sophomore

Busy Saturday Set for Wittenberg Softball

Wittenberg softball hosts its regular season NCAC finale Saturday at 1:00 p.m. against Allegheny. But the Tigers have more on their minds than the Gators.

Saturday they will host the program's first-ever Strike Out Cancer event at Betty Dillahunt Field to honor former Wittenberg Women's Basketball Head Coach and Associate Director of Athletics Pam Evans Smith. All money raised on Saturday will be donated to cancer research in her name.

Money is being raised through the sale of Strike Out Cancer T-shirts, which were designed by a girl from nearby Tipp City, Ohio, who lost her mother to breast cancer a year ago. Pre-ordered T-shirts were sold for $8, and they will also be on sale the day of the game for $10. Hats, totes, backpacks, wrist bands, socks and bags will also be on sale at the game, with all money raised going toward the Pam Evans Smith '82 Memorial Scholarship fund. Smith's husband, Roger, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch and both teams will be wearing special uniform shirts. The Wittenberg coaching staff plans to wear shirts with the No. 42 on the back in honor of Smith, who wore that jersey number during her collegiate basketball playing days at Wittenberg.

Admission to the game is free, but donations will be accepted on the day of the game. Saturday is also Softball Alumni Day and a Code Red event, meaning all students are encouraged to attend wearing special Wittenberg T-shirts. It will also be "dime-a-dog" day at Betty Dillahunt Field and entertainment is planned between games, including a tricycle race around the bases.

Around the NCAC

** Denison is prepping to host its first outdoor track meet in nine years. Deeds Field-Piper Stadium was recently renovated and the new turf field has seen plenty of use. The new track will see its first competitive action since 1999 tomorrow when teams compete in the Big Red Invitational.

Kenyon, Ohio Wesleyan and Wooster will also compete in the four-team meet. Field Events start at 3:45, followed by running events at 5:30.

** If you can't make it to Saturday's Denison at Ohio Wesleyan women's lacrosse game, you can watch online. The winner will host the NCAC tournament on May 2-3 as the number one seed. Saturday's opening draw is at 1 p.m.

** Ohio Wesleyan softball celebrated its new field on campus with a dedication ceremony on April 19. The new Margaret Sagan Field softball team back to campus for the first time since 2000. The ceremony included a visit by primary benefactor, and namesake, Margaret Pickett Sagan ’48 (seated).

** Wabash sophomore Brock Graham will be featured in the third issue of Champion, a magazine produced by the NCAA to share student-athlete stories. Brock has packed a lot into his two years as a Little Giants - he's traveled to Botswana with 20 of his fellow students to serve as missionaries during spring break. He's helped the Little Giants win back-to-back NCAC football titles and a berth in the 2007 NCAA Division III playoffs. He's worked so hard in the classroom as a religion major that he will be able to graduate in December, a full 17 months ahead of the remaining members of his freshmen class.

And now Brock will be featured on the cover of the summer issue of Champion, which will be sent to NCAA members in late July. You can check out the current spring issue online at www.ncaachampionmagazine.com. The Wabash Football blog has a post sharing the cover shoot experience.

** Wooster men's lacrosse topped Tri-State last night, 14-6, to improve to 10-2 overall. The 10 wins are the most for the Fighting Scots in a single season since 1996.

Follow Along on Oberlin Spring Break Trips

Fans can get a taste of what a spring break trip is really like for student-athletes thanks to Oberlin's Brian Verne, Kimiko Glynn, Michelle Zanni and Ruth Allanbrook. They have all volunteered to share stories from this year's spring trips via blogs:

Verne’s Words: Inside the 2008 spring break trip to Phoenix for the Oberlin College baseball team

Sanders Speaks: An inside look at the 2008 spring break trip for Oberlin lacrosse

Serving It Up with Kimiko Glynn: Spring break trip to Hilton Head for the Yeowomen

Outside the Box w/Michelle Zanni & Ruth Allanbrook: Oberlin College softball spring break

Kenyon Student-Athletes Organizes Refreshing Fundraiser

Before Saturday's 2 p.m. home women's basketball game against Oberlin, Kenyon Student-Athletes members will be selling 34 oz. water bottles featuring a "H2OPE" logo for seven dollars each. All the proceeds will go to the Interchurch Medical Association's Lifestraw project. Monetary donations also will be accepted, and the fundraiser will continue at Lords' and Ladies' contests on campus as long as supplies remain available.

Sophomore Rachel Goheen, a member of the women's soccer team, classmate Stephanie Caton, a Ladies softball player, were inspired to search for a way to help people in struggling areas of the world after Goheen returned from a summer abroad. They found IMA's Lifestraw emergency water purification initiative, which aims to stem the spread of cholera in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the World Health Organization states diarrheal disease kills approximately 28,000 people annually and is the leading cause of death in the country.

The Lifestraw is a portable water filter about the size of a large kazoo that can be carried easily on a string around a person's neck. According to the product's website, the straw offers relief from common diarrheal disease by effectively removing 99 percent of waterborne bacteria and viruses. Each Lifestraw is capable of filtering 185 gallons of water, enough to last a typical Congolese family the better part of a year.

Goheen and Caton hope sales warrant ordering more water bottles. Their ultimate goal is to increase awareness in the cause and make the fundraiser a regular staple at Kenyon sporting events throughout the year.

For more information on IMA's Lifestraw initiative or to make an on-line donation, visit the organization's website at www.interchurch.org. For more detailed information on the Lifestraw itself, go to www.lifestraw.com.

Around the NCAC

** Allegheny will celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day with the theme “All In,” on Saturday, Jan. 26.

The program will be divided into two: one for girls, the other for adult women. All ages are welcome and all events are free - preregistration by Jan. 16 is required. For more information, call Paula Habel, head coach of women’s lacrosse at 332-2828.

Girls will take part in clinics hosted by Allegheny’s women athletics teams in basketball, volleyball, lacrosse and soccer as well as enjoy the opportunity to spend time in the Mellon Pool. The day begins with registration from 9:15 to 9:45 a.m. and ends with the Allegheny women’s basketball game against Denison University at 2 p.m.

The women’s program begins with registration from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and ends at 2 p.m. with the women's basketball game. The program includes introductions to golf, weight training and Pilates, all led by Allegheny coaches or instructors, with participants choosing two of the three sessions.

** Oberlin will be hosting a pair of clinics in the near future. Women's Basketball will host a Youth Day Clinic before the Yeowomen take on Heidelberg on Monday, Jan. 21 - Martin Luther King Day. The day tips off at 11:45 a.m. and is open to all children. Participants will go through a fun set of drills and activities with head coach Christa Champion and assistant coach Janell Crayton. The kids will also have the opportunity to meet all of the Yeowomen and get autographs on an official team picture. The clinic will last until 1 p.m. and children in attendance are encouraged to stay for free pizza and to cheer on the Yeowomen. The game is scheduled to tip-off at 2 p.m. Click here for more info, a clinic brochure and a registration form.

The Yeowomen softball team will also host a skills clinic on Feb. 16 for all girls in grades K-6. Head coach Adrienne Davis and assistant coach Kelsey Knapp will serve as camp directors.
The girls will learn fundamentals such as hitting, fielding, throwing, catching, and more advanced skills such as specific positions and strategies. Click here for more info, a clinic brochure and a registration form.

** Wittenberg has announced ticket policies for the highly-anticipated Wooster-Wittenberg men's basketball matchup on Saturday. The Scots and Tigers are currently tied for first place in the NCAC, heading into the game. The two teams split last season's series, with each team stealing a win on the other's home court. One of the two teams has won the NCAC regular season title every year since 1989.

** Congratulations are in order for Wittenberg's Rick Gold and Oberlin's Curt Karpinski, who are being inducted into the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. They are two of this year's four inductees.

Around the NCAC

** Fans can support Earlham men's and women's basketball at tonight's pep rally. A silent auction, to support the women's soccer team, will also be a part of the weekend's festivities. For more info, click here.

** Denison men's lacrosse is hosting its second annual clinic for coaches and players on Jan. 12. Instructors will include coaches from Div. I and III. For more info, click here.

** Denison softball will also offer two half-day skill clinics, on Jan. 20. For more info, click here.

** The Kenyon Athletic Center received one of 10 Athletic Business 2007 Facility of Merit awards. The KAC also has a shot at being named the 2007 facility of the year. For more info, click here.

** Wittenberg senior Emily Bell was named to the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America College Division second team. She is only the second Tiger volleyball player to earn Academic All-America honors, following in the footsteps of Dawn Reinhardt, a third-team selection in 1998.

New Beginnings

This could be the best time of the whole school year - everything is shiny and new, people are full of hope and promise. The whole school year stretches in front of us like an empty road. I can't wait to see what's around the next corner! I'm not the only one talking about the new season:

The latest issue of Connect2 OWU features a couple of stories about the Battling Bishops. The first features a video interview with Roger Ingles, OWU athletic director, talking about the excitement of the new year, the support of loyal fans and the community, and all of the new things athletes, families, fans and coaches can expect to see this year. The Bishops are about six weeks away from the completion of their first on-campus softball field!

The second article features two of the returning football players, Dean Boylan and Steve Hymes as they begin preseason practices. The two discuss how they came to football in the past as well as what their futures might hold. They also describe what a typical day is like as an OWU student-athlete.

Finally, yesterday's Crawfordsville Journal Review visits with a "Super Sophomore" - Wabash President Patrick White - who is beginning his second year as a Little Giant. White left St. Mary's in Indiana, an all-women's college, to join Wabash last fall. As he settles into his sophomore season, he has found that his experience with the women translates quite well to the men.

As it turns out, the experience at a woman’s college really maps out to the experience here because of fierce loyalty from the students and alumni and a great deal of pride in being special and unusual and distinctive in American higher education.

Good luck to all NCAC coaches and athletes as we begin yet another season!