A SISTERHOOD UNIqUE TO SPRINGFIELD Continued from previous page


thought was possible … Having that confidence shown in me helped me have more confidence in myself.”


TENNIS


One of the original four varsity sports in 1963-64, women’s tennis has had a number of shining moments. Springfield women have amassed an aggregate record of 331-230-4, including a solid 6-5 slate this season under coach Toby Coffin G’01. The tennis squad went undefeated for three straight seasons in the


early 1970s, and enjoyed a sustained period of post-Title IX success from 1984-96. During that 13-season period (seven coached by Vern Cox, one by John Choboy, and five by Judy Van Raalte), Springfield won at least two-thirds of its matches each year and posted a sparkling overall mark of 142-27. That period also involved some challenges


TRACK AND FIELD/CROSS COUNTRY


The 29 years that Jim Pennington has coached cross country and track has been an era of robust team success, including numerous All- Americans and national champions—even an Olympic bronze medalist in bobsled. (Springfield College Athletic Hall of Famer erin Pac Blumert ’03 came to the sport through a recommendation from Pennington). The team’s record on the track under Pennington has been a glittering 140-27. Many successful coaches have emerged from the track program,


around gender equity, recalls Jennifer DiPrete ’95, G’98. After her junior year, DiPrete was asked by Springfield College benefactor Louise Appleton how she enjoyed the spring break team trip to Florida that her family had financed. When DiPrete politely informed her that the money had been used just to send the men’s team, Appleton said, “Well, honey, that’s just not right. We will change that.” The next year both teams made the spring trip. DiPrete credits the coaching of Van Raalte, a professor of


Smith-King ... leaves no doubt that as a professional she got on track on the Springfield track. “For me, personally, it really laid a founda- tion. There’s nothing like it, I don’t think, as far as being prepared in this profession. Springfield provided us with such a great education and opportunity to excel.”


including former star shot putter Branwen Smith-King ’78. “It was a contentious time in the late ’70s in women’s athletics,” recalls Smith-King, who serves as the associate athletic director at Tufts, after having coached cross country and track there for 17 years. “But … I look back on those days and always appreciate it because I know Springfield was a step and a half ahead of everyone else when it came to women’s intercollegiate athletics. It was a sisterhood very unique to Springfield.” Smith-King, a Springfield College Athletic Hall of Famer who still holds the school record in shot put (the single longest standing record in


psychology, with improving her game and inspiring her to have successful coaching stints at both UMass-Boston and Bryant University. “She took from me what was a very raw talent and provided


this level of analysis that kept me very calm and very grounded, and helped me get out of my own way,” said DiPrete, now the director of wellness education at the University of South Florida. “She challenged me to think beyond what I thought my strengths were.”


women’s track) has high praise for Harry Marra, who coached here from 1978-81. “He was very vibrant. He was very experienced. He had a lot of knowledge. It was the start of something great for the track and field program.” She took those lessons not only into coaching successfully at Tufts,


but into training her two daughters, who have both excelled. Arantxa King, in fact, has represented their native Bermuda in the Olympics on two occasions. Smith-King seldom gets back to campus because of her own


responsibilities at Tufts, but leaves no doubt that as a professional she got on track on the Springfield track. “For me, personally, it really laid a foundation. There’s nothing like it, I don’t think, as far as being prepared in this profession. Springfield provided us with such a great education and opportunity to excel.”


Continued on page 37


Jim Pennington Jennifer DiPrete 20 TRIANGLE 1 Vol . 85, No.1


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