After the end of a great fall season, some Sharks are saying goodbye to their school and their teams. Each fall sport has at least one senior who is graduating.
While this is bittersweet, these women have fond memories of being a Simmons Shark.
“I truly am living my favorite memory right now. As a four year Simmons athlete, I could not have asked for a more memorable senior year,” said soccer player Justine Beauchamp, a physical therapy major. “I knew from preseason that this group of girls and coaches had the determination and compassion necessary to compete.”
“My favorite memories during volleyball would be the overnight tournament trips,” said Kelly Last, a physical therapy major.
“My favorite memory would preseason because we come two weeks before school starts in the summer and our team really gets to bond together,” said Melissa Rowe, a nutrition major and soccer player. “It’s nice weather with a great team and playing the sport that we love for two weeks straight.”
“Simmons volleyball had never beat Emmanuel until we did twice this year,” said Rachel Dufault, a nursing major. “The second time was during our quarter final match of the conference tournament.”
“My favorite memory is hearing our captains recite the speech from Miracle and making it about volleyball,” said Caroline Boyd, a public health major.
Soccer is graduating seven athletes: Michaela Schilling, Jennifer Prescott, Ally Ayotte, Alma-Lynn Dupont, Sara Heitkamp, Rowe, and Beauchamp.
Volleyball is sending off three athletes, Last, Dufault, and Boyd. Last will get to compete in the spring for her fourth season of lacrosse as goalie.
Michaela Sangillo is the only athlete leaving the field hockey team.
Four members of cross country are departing: Nicole Chao, Megan Coffey, Shannon Deady, and Keriann McLoughlin. Coffey will also play lacrosse in the spring as a mid-fielder.
With such a huge milestone looming, the graduating student athletes remember their younger teammates and what it felt like to be in their shoes. They had some words of wisdom for the younger athletes.
“Playing for Simmons is so much fun. I am from North Carolina and having a team to support me and become my family here at Simmons has helped me adjust to my new life,” said Rowe. “My team is my family and I love all of them and hope to always keep in touch.”
“Playing a sport for Simmons is one of the best choices I have made here,” said Dufault. “Work hard and really enjoy the time you have to play with your team. We are only given the opportunity to play college athletics for four years, so always give it your best effort.”
“Simmons is a blast and a privilege because the second you make the team you just gained a new group of friends and a second family,” said Boyd.
“Not playing in college would have been the greatest mistake I could have made. I have had the pleasure of playing with my best friends, honorable coaches, and have shared unforgettable experiences along the way,” said Beauchamp. “They are, and will always be, a part of my family.”
Being a Simmons Shark is something that many of the graduating student athletes have cherished, and will take with them as they go forward in life.
“Being part of a team and working successfully as a member of a team is one lesson that you just can’t learn in a classroom. I have learned to be a positive leader and most importantly to be confident in whatever I decide to do,” said Dufault. “Half of the battle with anything you decide to do in life is in what you believe you can do, not just your physical ability.”
“I am going to take away great friendships from my teammates and a great coach I know will always be there for me, to support and guide,” said Rowe.
“I am going to take away many qualities that most student athletes acquire such as time management, commitment, accountability, and leadership skills,” said Last.
“My Simmons athletics experience has provided me with four years of challenges, defeats, and triumphs, all which have equally prepared me to succeed post-graduation,” said Beauchamp.
“Simmons Athletics really influenced me to be strong in every aspect of my life – I’ll be taking away strength, belief that I can always push myself further and pride to always call myself a Shark,” said Boyd.
Good luck ladies.