 "Photo: Image courtesy of Sports Information")
Athletics have become a fundamental aspect of College life for Vassar students; with 25 varsity teams, a series of club teams and various recreational activities offered throughout the year, Vassar students can find plenty opportunities to be up and active around campus.
Below is a guide to Vassar varsity sports and a several other recognized club teams. Intramural sports leagues are also offered in volleyball, basketball, tennis and indoor and outdoor soccer. There are also one-day events offered throughout the year, such as games of touch football and squash.
Students looking for more information on Vassar athletics, can search the Miscellany News sports section archives, check out the athletics page in the Vassar Encyclopedia for a more historical perspective or travel to the Vassar Athletics website.
Jump to a sport: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Fencing, Field Hockey, Golf, Lacrosse, Rowing, Rugby, Soccer, Squash, Swimming & Diving, Tennis, Track & Field, Volleyball, Non-Varsity Sports
Season: Spring
Head Coach:Jon Martin spent two years as assistant coach before he was named head coach in 2005. A former pitcher at Lynchburg College, Martin has experience as a player and coach.
Assistant Coach: Andrew Kiriakedes came to the team in 2007 after spending a season coaching for his alma mater Marist College.
Volunteer Assistant Coach: Blayne Fuke joined the Vassar coaching staff last season, after a four-year career at the University of Rochester.
Where they play: One of the teams that has really benefited from the renovations at Prentiss, baseball now plays on a home field that boasts dugouts, a scoreboard and a press box.
2011 Season Highlights:Last year's 14-20 record produced the most wins for the Brewers since the 2005 season. Vassar also produced a program-high seven wins in the Liberty League and was led by Dave Robbins'14 and Brett Zaziski'14, both of whom earned a spot on the All-Liberty League Second Team.
Support your Brewers: There is currently no spring schedule up yet for the team, but there will be plenty of opportunities to see the Brewers in action with just about all their homes games being doubleheaders.
Season:Winter
Men's Head Coach: Del Harris will begin his fourth year as head coach (third year full-time). Harris came to Vassar after working as an assistant coach for Morgan State University, Virginia Military Institute, and the University of Richmond.
Volunteer Assistant: Sean Rigothi, who in high school earned Poughkeepsie Journal All-League Honorable Mention honors before attending the University of South Carolina, will enter his second season with the Brewers.
Women's Head Coach: Candice Brown enters her third season as the Brewers head coach after leading the Brewers to their first-ever Liberty League Championship and first NCAA tournament appearance. Last season she was selected as the D3hoops.com East Coach of the Year as well as Coaching Staff of the Year with assistant coach Melissa Kraft.
Assistant Coach: Melissa Kraft came to Vassar after serving a year as an assistant coach at SUNY Plattsburgh and a year at Drew University.
Where they play: The men's and women's teams split time playing in the gym at the Athletics and Fitness Center.
2010-11 Season Highlights: The men's team struggled with their difficult Liberty League schedule last year, winning just three games. The women's team, on the other hand, produced the most successful season in program history, winning the Liberty League Championship and earning an NCAA Championship berth. The squad was led by Brittany Parks '12 and Cyndi Matsuoka '14, whose performances earned numerous accolades. Parks was selected as a D3hoops.com Fourth-Team All-American, first-team All-East selection and the Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year, while Matsuoka earned league, regional and national Rookie of the Year honors.
Support your Brewers: The men's basketball team opens with five of their first eight games at home, including a contest against local rival Culinary Institute of America. Last year, Vassar topped their cross-town foes 88-42. The women's basketball team also plays a majority of their games at home, including the Vassar Tip-Off Tournament on Nov. 19 and 20.
Men's and Women's Cross Country
Season: Fall
Head Coach:James McCowan '95, Vassar alum and former All-American runner, has coached the team since 2005.
Associate Head Coach: Ron Stonitsch has been with the team since 1982 and was an eight-time All-American and three-time National College Cross Country and Track Champion at C.W. Post.
Where they play:Practicing wherever there's room to run, the men's and women's teams are often seen over at the Vassar Farm, which serves as their home course.
2010 Season Highlights: The men's team finished 10th of 39 teams in the NCAA Regional Championship and second out of six teams in the Liberty League Championship, also earning victories in two meets. Sam Wagner '13 earned All-Atlantic Region honors. The women's squad also had a memorable year, finishing sixth of 33 teams at the NCAA Regional Championship, one spot shy of national qualification. The team did capture the program's first Seven Sisters Championship by one point over rival Wellesley College, while, like their male counterparts, finishing second in the Liberty League. Two Vassar runners, Elizabeth Forbes '12 and Johanna Spangler '12, qualified individually for the NCAA Championship race.
Support your Brewers:While the teams spend just about their entire season on the road, both the men's and women's teams will kick off their season on Sept. 3, hosting the Vassar Invitational. Both teams will return home Oct. 29to host the Liberty League Championships.
Season:Winter
Head Coach: Bruce Gillman spent time coaching and refereeing before joining the Brewers in 2005. In 2008-09, he was named Coach of the Year for his work with the men's team. An accomplishment he duplicated this past year, he earned the honor unanimously in the Northeast Conference for the 2010-2011 campaign
Assistant Coach: Eric Soyka
Where they play: The fencing teams call the last bays of Walker Field House home, but they claim the entire Field House for their series of all-day fencing matches in November through February.
2010-11 Season Highlights:Last season was without a doubt the most successful one in Vassar fencing history. For the first time in program history, multiple Brewers earned a trip to the National Championship event, as Andrew Fischl '11 and Brian Rouse '12 both traveled to Ohio State University for the event. The men's team finished second in the Northeastern Conference, which when combined with the women's team's first-ever conference championship, earned Vassar the combined conference championship. Sophie Courser '11 led the way for the women, using a 33-1 conference record to garner Northeastern Conference Women's Fencer of the Year honors. She was joined by six teammates as conference all-stars.
Support your Brewers: This winter, look for triple-header weekends, when Walker Field House will host the fencing teams in action alongside the swimming and diving and the basketball squads.
Season: Fall
Head Coach:Cara Dunn enters her third season as the head coach of Vassar College field hockey, after spending four years as an assistant coach under current assistant Judy Finerghty. Finerghty spent 15 years as the Vassar head coach and currently retains the position of women's lacrosse head coach.
Assistant Coach: Judy Finerghty served 15 years as the field hockey head coach, leading the Brewers to three appearances in the New York State championship.
Part-time Assistant Coach: Erika Dombkowski
Where they play: After its instillation last year, the Weinburg Turf Field is host to the field hockey team's practices and games.
2010 Season Highlights:For the first time since 1995, the Brewers conquered their annual tournament, the Betty Richey Invitational. Vassar defeated Manhattanville College and Smith College to take home the trophy.
Support your Brewers: Opportunity abounds to see the Brewers, who play six of their first seven games at home. Perhaps no opportunity will be as good as when Vassar takes on Smith in the opening round of the Betty Richey Invitational, in a rematch of last year's championship game, Friday, Sept. 9 at 5:00 pm.
Season: Fall and Spring
Head Coach:Rhett Myers became the assistant coach to the women's golf team in 2004 and moved to head coach in spring 2007. He is the head pro and manager of the Vassar Golf Course.
Assistant Coach: Andy Jennings began the program in 2003 and served as head coach until 2007. Jennings also serves as the men's soccer coach.
Where they play:The team practices on the ever-convenient Vassar Golf Course, located next to Walker Field House.
2010-11 Season Highlights:A small but strong program, the women's golf team rebounded from a challenging fall season to launch a successful spring campaign. The Brewers finished third of 12 teams in the annual Vassar College Invitational and second of seven squads at the William College Spring Invitational.
Support your Brewers:Even though the team practices on the Vassar Golf Course, the team only plays one competition at home, the Vassar Invitational during their spring season.
Season:Spring
Men's Head Coach:Joe Proud came to the Brewers in 2005 with All-American status and experience coaching for a number of collegiate programs across the country.
Men's Interim Head Coach: Last season, Drew Bezek, a 2010 graduate of Division II Le Moyne and a Tewaarton Award nominee as one of the top-26 collegiate lacrosse players in the country, served as the Interim Head Coach.
Men's Assistant Coach: John Nicol became part of the Brewer's staff in 2008 after spending previous years at a variety of collegiate and high school programs.
Women's Head Coach: Judy Finerghty came to Vassar in 1994 to fill the head coaching positions for the lacrosse and field hockey teams. Named Liberty League Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2007, Finerghty is a tenured faculty member. She is also the assistant field hockey coach.
Women's Assistant Coach: Cara Dunn has worked as women's lacrosse assistant coach since 2006 after graduating from Salve Regina College, where she played both field hockey and lacrosse. She is also the head coach of the field hockey team.
Where they play: The 2008 construction of Prentiss Field has given the Brewers a high-quality turf field on which to practice and play. The teams also make use of the adjacent grass field for weekends when both the men's and women's teams are home.
2011 Season Highlights:Sarah Warner '11 finished her Vassar career on a very strong note. Finishing second in the Liberty League with 53 goals, Warner's offense reached historic levels on March 28, when she set a single-game record with nine goals against Farmingdale State. She earned her second straight First-Team All-Liberty League selection, was honored with the Matthew Vassar Outstanding Career Award and is presently a finalist for the NCAA Woman of the Year award. The men's team garnered their long-awaited first Liberty League victory on April 16 against St. Lawrence University. Defenseman Zach Beauchamp '11 earned his fourth straight All-Liberty League honors, being named to the Second-Team All-Liberty League.
Support your Brewers:Spring schedules aren't out with either team, but keep on the lookout for a possible night game under the lights or a weekend when both teams play at home.
Season: Fall and Spring
Head Coach: Stephanie Ricker enters her third season as the head coach of the Vassar rowing team. An accomplished rower in her own right, Ricker also brings 10 years of coaching experience to the task.
Assistant Coach: Janet Mathes
Where They Play: The rowing team utilizes a boathouse on the Hudson River, taking full advantage of the campus' proximity to the historic waterway.
2011 Highlights: Both the men's and women's rowing teams competed at the Dad Vail Regatta at the end of the season. The women's Novice 4+ and Varsity 4+ crews each made it to the semifinals. None of the men's crews reached the semifinals except for the Exhibition Collegiate Men's 1x, which consisted of only one rower, freshman Justin Neshlewat.
Support Your Brewers: While the spring schedule has yet to be released, the team will compete in five regattas this fall. Also, look for the team to take over the first floor of the College Center, as they fundraise through semi-annual Erg-a-thons.
Season:Fall and Spring
Head Coach: Tony Brown, Vassar's first full-time rugby coach, came in 1995 with experience as a top-level player and coach and has lead the team to a long series of NRU playoffs, Met. NY Championships, national tournament qualifications and spring tournament titles.
Assistant Coach: Mark Griffiths
Where they play: The Vassar Farm is known on campus as Brewer rugby territory.
2010-11 Season Highlights:A strong spring season catapulted the men's team to a winning record as they triumphed in four of their final six contests. The women's squad turned in another of their typically strong seasons, going 14-4 on the year and winning the Division II Metropolitan New York Championship, defeating rival SUNY New Paltz 25-12 in the championship game.
Support your Brewers:Both teams play three games at home during the fall, but perhaps the best chance to catch them both in action is Sept. 18, when the men and women from Hofstra University visit Poughkeepsie in the women's first game of the year.
Season:Fall
Men's Head Coach:Andy Jennings, a Vassar athletics staff member since 1981, served as head coach and first Athletics Director before returning to full-time coaching in 2004.
Men's Assistant Coach: Tony Flores enters his first year as full-time assistant at Vassar, bringing with him four years of coaching experience and numerous accolades from his playing career.
Men's Volunteer Assistant Coach: Charles Wilder brings with him a litany of coaching and playing experience with local, regional and national teams.
Women's Head Coach: Richard Moller, former All-American player with Towson University, has been with the Brewers since 2006 after a series of coaching jobs across the East Coast.
Where they play: Located next to the turf fields, Gordon Field is the home of both the men's and women's soccer teams.
2010 Season Highlights:The women's team boasted undoubtedly their most successful season to date, earning the team's first playoff berth with a 5-2 record in the Liberty League. After winning their first playoff game, the Brewers were downed in penalty kicks by then No. 10 nationally ranked William Smith College after playing 110 minutes of scoreless soccer. Carolyn Demougeot '11 scored 11 goals and four assists on the year in earning First-Team All-Liberty League honors. On the men's side, Zander Mrlik '13 earned Liberty League co-Defensive Player of the Year honors after anchoring the Brewers backline.
Support your Brewers: Both teams host numerous home games, presenting fans many opportunities to enjoy a game. On the men's side, the games against cross-river rival SUNY New Paltz on Sept.13 and, new to the Liberty League, Bard College on Oct. 29 should be entertaining affairs. The must-see women's game will be on Oct. 15 when William Smith visits in a rematch of last year's championship game.
Season:Winter
Head Coach:Jane Parker came to Vassar in 2000 to coach both the men's and women's squash teams after spending time on the pro-circuit and coaching national teams in Bermuda and her native England. She is a four-time Liberty League Coach of the Year (2004, 2008-2010).
Assistant Coach: Robert McDavid has been named the new assistant head coach for the men's and women's squash teams. A 2011 graduate of the University of Rochester, McDavid played four years for Rochester's varsity team and has coached at a variety of levels for seven years. A native of Guyana, McDavid played for the national team from 2007-2010 and was ranked as high as No. 2.
Volunteer Assistant: Stephanie Rider
Where they play:Like the volleyball teams, the squash teams benefit from the 2006 renovations to Kenyon, which include nine squash courts—six international and three hardball.
2010-2011 Season Highlights: The women's team faced a tough schedule and finished 6-10 on the year. They did, however, send Kristine Bell '11 to the College Squash Association (CSA) Individual Championships, where she advanced into the Round of 32. The men's team struggled as well, finishing 5-15, but they managed a third place finish in the CSA Team Championships Serues Cup. Jake Harris '13 was sent to the CSA Individual Championships but dropped his only two matches.
Support your Brewers:With a season stretching from November to February, there are lots of chances to see your Brewers at home, but for a weekend full of squash, hang out in Kenyon Hall in February when both teams will host their annual Vassar Team Challenge.
Season: Winter
Head Coach: Lisl Prater-Lee, who came to Vassar as men's and women's coach in 1993, coached at Oberlin College and assisted at the University of Iowa prior to arriving in Poughkeepsie.
Assistant Coach: Dan Decker, a 2009 graduate of Ohio University, coached a year at his alma mater before arriving at Vassar.
Diving Coach: Tom Albright, who joined the Brewers in 2003, brings 34 years of experience coaching diving.
Where they play: Indoors at Walker, Kresge Pool is home to the Brewers.
2010-11 Season Highlights: The men's team finished first of four teams at the annual Sprint Invitational. The women's squad finished seventh of 14 teams at the New York state meet.
Support your Brewers: There are plenty of opportunities to catch league and non- league meets for both teams at Kresge, a perfect place to warm up during those cold winter months.
Season: Fall and Spring
Men's Head Coach: John Cox is entering his second year as the men's tennis head coach. Prior to coming to Vassar, Cox had 12 years of coaching experience spread across three collegiate levels. He twice helped bring the Kenyon College men's and women's tennis teams to the NCAA Elite Eight, which was a first for the programs.
Men's Assistant Coach: Mike Mattelson was the most accomplished tennis player in program history during his four years at Vassar. In addition to his countless individual accolades, Mattelson captained the men's team to a program-best 14-3 record during his senior season and its second Liberty League Championship in four years. After graduating in 2010, Mike was brought on as the assistant coach under former head coach Ki Kroll.
Women's Head Coach: Kathy Campbell, a tenured faculty member as well as Director of Physical Education, was named Liberty League Coach of the Year five times, New York State Coach of the Year three times and has seen three All-Americans during her tenure.
Assistant Coach: Steve Guernsey
Volunteer Assistant Coach: Mark Chace
Where they play:During the warmer months, both teams can be found practicing and playing over at Joss Courts; in the cold months, however, the teams switch over to the indoor courts in Walker Field House.
2010-11 Season Highlights: Both the women's and men's teams are considered to be two of Vassar's strongest. The men's team qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight year and narrowly missed winning their second straight Liberty League Championship, losing the finals to Skidmore College 5-4. Three players earned end-of-season honors from the Liberty League. Andrew Guzick '13 was named the Liberty League Player of the Year and a unanimous All-Conference Singles selection. Brother Ben Guzick '12 was also a unanimous selection for Liberty League All-Conference Singles. The elder Guzick and Josh Jasso '11 together earned All-Conference Doubles honors. Andrew Guzick also qualified for the singles competition at the NCAA Division III Championships and made program history, becoming the first Vassar player to ever reach the quarterfinals. The women's team had an impressive season themselves, making it to the finals of the Liberty League Championship for the ninth consecutive year. They did not finish the job this time however, and lost to Skidmore in the championship. They also finished second in the Seven Sisters Championship. The team finished with a national ranking of 26 with several individual recognitions as well. Jennifer Beckerman '12 and Joy Backer '12 each earned Liberty League All-Conference Singles honors. Beckerman and Alyssa Roush '11 also earned All-Conference Doubles, while the doubles team of Backer and Nicole Block'12 earned an Honorable Mention.
Support your Brewers:There are few opportunities to catch the tennis teams at home in their fall seasons, but look for them in the spring when they compete in tough Liberty League schedules.
Men's and Women's Track & Field
Season:Spring
Head Coach:James McCowan, 1995 Vassar grad and former All-American cross country runner, came back to Vassar in 2004 to coach cross country and the club track teams, which recently became varsity sports.
Assistant Coach: Meghan Young joined the Brewers in the fall of 2009, after a successful career at Springfield College, where she was named an All-American in cross country in 2005.
Volunteer Assistant Coach: John Brooks
Volunteer Assistant Coach:Ron Stonitsch has been with the cross-country team since 1982 and helped found the track club in 1985. He was an eight-time All-American and three-time National College Cross Country and Track Champion at C.W. Post.
Where they play: The construction of the eight-lane, lighted track at Prentiss Field has given the track team a real home, boosting them from club to varsity-team status.
2011 Season Highlights: The Brewers track program, still in its infancy, joined many of its peer teams in posting one of the strongest seasons in memory. Three Vassar runners qualified for the NCAA championship meet, all in the 800 meter as Sam Wagner '13, Jon Erickson '11 and Kelly Holmes '13 all earned the honor to represent the Brewers on a national stage.
Support your Brewers:There likely won't be too many opportunities to see your Brewers at home this spring, so keep on the lookout for their Matthew Vassar Invitational toward the end of the second semester.
Season:
Men:Winter and Spring
Women: Fall
Men's Team Head Coach: Robert Wolter will enter his first season at Vassar after recently being named the 11th head coach in program history. Wolter comes to Vassar after a successful career in the Midwest, most recently as an assistant coach at Carthage College, where he helped lead the team to two consecutive third place finishes in Division III.
Women's Team Head Coach: Jonathan Penn, beginning his Vassar career as women's head coach in 1996, coached the men's team as well, becoming the most successful volleyball coach in program history.
Women's Team Assistant Coach: Lauren Gass-Goncalves
Where they play: Renovations to Kenyon Hall in 2006 gave both teams a beautiful new volleyball gym in which they can both practice and compete.
2010-11 Season Highlights:Behind First-Team All-Liberty League selection Amy Bavosa '12, the women's team finished with an 18-15 record as well as a .500 record in the Liberty League. The men's squad followed the hitting arm of Evan Fredericksen '11 into the new United Volleyball Conference, where the Brewers earned a No. 10 seed in the North East Collegiate Volleyball Association tournament. Despite taking seventh seeded Medaille College to five sets, the Brewers were ultimately knocked out in the first round.
Support your Brewers:Besides the number of home games each team hosts throughout their season, look out for the Vassar Invitational, a competition hosted by the women's team Sept. 9 and 10 and by the men in February.
Cycling Team:Best recognized on campus by their bright pink racing jerseys, the cycling team offers a chance for students to train and compete at the intercollegiate level. A member of United States Cycling Federation's (USCF) National Collegiate Cycling Association, the team races in both the spring and fall.
Polo:The season runs from November to April with practices occurring two to three times a week at Gardnertown Polo in Newburgh. Throughout the season, the team prepares for matches against other varsity-level schools, such as Yale University, University of Connecticut and Skidmore College. Opportunities to play more often at the club level are also available. No experience is necessary, and instruction and coaching are provided by Duncan Huyler.
2010-2011 Highlights: Gardnertown Polo hosted the USPA Northeast pre-Regionals. Vassar won its first round game before losing to eventual champion Skidmore.
Learn more: http://www.miscellanynews.com/2.1580/polo-continues-to-grow-while-searching-for-recognition-1.2462806
Quidditch:One of Vassar's most unusual teams, the Butterbeer Broooers host an annual tournament (sometimes twice) that brings cheer to the campus. The club was formed in Fall 2007 to mimic the infamous sport played by Harry Potter characters. The quidditch team is one of the most established in the country, finishing second in the first two World Cups as one of only two schools to compete in all four World Cups. For more information about the Quidditch team, see The Miscellany News guide to student organizations.
2010-2011 Highlights:Vassar reached the semifinals of the Quidditch World Cup, where they lost to four-time champion Middlebury College in one of the most anticipated matches of the tournament. Vassar also hosted the first-ever intercontinental Quidditch match in February against the University of Vaasa Centaurs—the only Quidditch team in Finland.
Learn more:http://www.miscellanynews.com/2.1580/quidditch-prepares-for-world-cup-1.2400965
Sailing Team:Not much is heard from the sailing team, but there are watercrafts available for use as well as a series of competitions sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association. These take place in the fall and spring and are open to student participation.
Ski Team: Vassar has a ski team and a Nordic team, both of which are members of the United States Collegiate Skiing Association (USCSA). Students of any experience level can compete in collegiate-level races in the northeast area.
2011 Highlights: Each ski club made a special training trip during the start of the season (the beginning of Winter Break). The Ski Team went to Sugarbush, Vt. for a weeklong session complete with practicing and team bonding. The Nordic Team traveled to Lake Placid—at the Olympic Training Center—for their training trip.
Synchronized Skating:Known as Iced Brew, the synchronized skating team formed in 2007 and practices at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center with competitions in the Open Collegiate level at local and regional arenas. Iced Brew is coached by Deirdre Bonanno. The season runs from September to early February.
2011 Highlights: Iced Brew finished 11th at the Eastern Sectionals held in Lake Placid.
Learn More: http://www.miscellanynews.com/2.1580/club-offers-vassar-skaters-new-opportunities-on-rink-1.2526739
Ultimate Frisbee:An entirely student-run team open to both men and women, Ultimate Frisbee runs just about all year with the teams practicing on any open field and in the bays during colder months. They are known for the fun they have and for their official team names—the Swinging Monks (men's A), B-Love (men's B) and the Boxing Nuns (women). No experience is necessary.
2011 Highlights: The team competed in the High Tide tournament in Savannah, Ga. during the first week of Spring Break.
Learn More: http://www.miscellanynews.com/2.1580/frisbee-relishes-athletic-independence-1.2478973
Resources
• New web site created spring 2009, providing up-to-date coverage of the teams, their schedules, histories, information on facilities and much more
• Provides league standings and weekly honors for member teams.
• League web site for the rugby teams.
• League website for the men's volleyball team.
• Information on the club teams.
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