Views From The Hawks

Women's Lacrosse stepping into the fall

2011-09-22T13:58:00.001-07:00

It’s Tuesday, August 30^th and upperclassmen have not been allowed back to the Roger Williams’ campus until tomorrow because of Hurricane Irene. The storm seems to be coming to an end, but losing power at home is not my biggest concern; I am more worried about the condition of our new turf field! I have spoken with underclassmen that are already on campus and they can’t wait to “break in” the new turf.

The first day of classes is now Thursday, September 1^st, but I find myself looking forward to our first lacrosse meeting instead. We have a promising new coach, Kerry Hausdorf, a gorgeous new turf field and great talent coming from both our incoming freshman as well as returning players.

I was ecstatic when I found out that we were getting a turf field. After letting it sink in, I thought about how we always had that advantage of our home field being grass; most schools have turf and aren’t used to ground balls and running on the grass. Then again, we were at a disadvantage when we played at schools that had the turf field for the same reason. Now the Hawks have the best of both worlds; we have experience competing on the grass, and now we have the opportunity to get used to playing on turf on a regular basis. “You’re not going to be so excited about that turf field when you have to play outside in the winter,” some people would say to me. You know what I have to say to that? BRING IT NEW ENGLAND!

Being the only senior on the team is very exciting. Not only do I have all of these new opportunities to look forward to for my senior year, but I also get to take these underclassmen under my wing and show them our team’s confidence in them. I am speaking not only for myself, but for my team as well, when I say that we have the utmost confidence in Coach Kerry and everything she is going to do for us this year. We have seen each other’s talent and are looking forward to seeing the freshman reveal their skills. We are more a family rather than a team and we have our arms wide-open welcoming all of the new members of the Women’s Hawks Lacrosse Team 2011-2012. Get ready for a great year, ladies.

Wrestling bids farewell to Ireland

2011-06-21T12:18:00.000-07:00

Hello all, sorry for the delay in blogging but the last two days in Ireland were quite busy. Day 6 was pretty fun. We started the day by heading to the Guinness Storehouse for a tour. It was very interesting and there were several different aspects of the tour. At one point, I was able to take the challenge of making the perfect pour of a Guinness, which I clearly passed. An interesting fact I learned from the Guinness Tour was that the distillery has a lease of 9,000 years in the city of Dublin which is honored by the government. We also ate lunch at the storehouse and I enjoyed delicious seafood chowder.

From there, we hung out until dinner for the most part due to weather considering it was a rainy day. After that we ate dinner at Madigan's as a team. I ordered a meal of sausage and chips which was not very good. From there we headed out for the night and I personally checked out the Temple Bar area which was fun.

On Day 7 we had a very loose schedule. We all ate lunch at a restaurant together where I think the overall consensus was that it was the best food we had all week. From there we were free; many of us went around and picked up souvenirs and adventured around Dublin for the last time. At night we headed out to the Temple Bar area for one last time and enjoyed live music at many bars and had our last Guinnesses.

At this point I would like to throw out a special thank you to Coach Kemmy. It was difficult enough to have to prepare an overseas trip for 25 people, and then on top of that to have to supervise this group of knuckleheads is a difficult task on its own. That being said, if there was any man suited for this type of responsibility, Coach Kemmy is the guy. It was a good experience for all of us and hopefully everyone left a little bit more cultured and educated.

I would like to thank all of the parents and my teammates for your support throughout these past four years, and wish the RWU Wrestling program the best of luck in its future. Thank you and God Bless.

Signing off for the last time,

Chris O'Shea

Wrestling vs. the Celts

2011-06-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

Celts vs. USA Match – Thursday, June 16, 2011 @ the Hercules Wrestling & Weightlifting Club in Dublin, Ireland

RWU 35 - Ireland National Team 4

Results

Jon Lemoine pinned Brian Breslin (1:45)

Conor Hayes pinned James Brady (3:01)

Mike Forlenza won 4-2 over Clinton Scott

Chris O'Shea pinned Mark Nequal 1:01

Collin Crowell won 12-2 over Soslan Tue

Jack DiBurro pinned Mario Ilyucic (0:56)

Mike Monson pinned Ali Beck (3:33)

Nick Cambi won 9-2 over Marcel Ijaouk

To view pictures from the match, click here

Wrestling sees the sights and sounds of Dublin

2011-06-20T07:07:00.000-07:00

Hello all! Day 5 was an interesting day. Today we took a city tour of Dublin in a double decker bus. It was pretty cool but absolutely freezing up top in the open section. I would love to run off all the sites we saw, but in a bus I was not able to take notes and keep track of everything like I have been able to in the other sites. What I did notice was that Dublin is a very cool city with lots of pubs (O'Shea's and Fitzgerald's covering both my parents' names).

For lunch we were on our own and I ate at one of the fast food joints called "Supermac's" with Shane, Mike F, and Ryan L. Very interesting place, basically a knock off of McDonald's with both pizza and ice cream as well. Later that night we went and practiced with a team in Dublin. After practice we had a match with eight matches of some of their wrestlers vs. us and we ended up winning every match. Those of us who wrestled received medals which are pretty cool. After that we went home and ate dinner at a Chinese Buffet named Jimmy Chan's. The food was similar but a little different. From there we were given about two hours to check out the city and we got a brief taste of the night life in Dublin. Hope all is well and I will get back to you soon.

Chris O'Shea

Wrestling travels onward to Belfast

2011-06-20T07:06:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, I'm sorry it has taken me a while to write this blog but finding computers has not been easy. Day 4 was our last day in Northern Ireland, and we traveled to Belfast to check out the city. It was in Belfast where we ate lunch and were given the option to spread out around the city. I chose to eat at a small cafe with John Paul, Kevin, Nick, Frank, Dustin, and Johan and had a delicious sandwich which consisted of chicken and stuffing.

After that, we took a tour of the Belfast City Hall which was very interesting as it had a lot of history. Our tour guide was excellent and it was a good experience. There are excellent pictures from there, including Coach Kemmy in his King's seat. After that we started to make our way back home with some side stops. We first stopped at the place where the Titanic was built in Belfast. A local resident told us this joke while there "People used to ask where the Catholics were while the Protestants were building the Titanic.” The answer is, “They were all busy building the iceberg."

After that we traveled about an hour south and visited New Grange at the Boyne Palace. It is a structure that was built 5000 years ago and has been restructured to still exist today. It was literally a little tunnel you crawl into created by rocks all over the place. We then ate at a local restaurant. Joey Holbeche and I each had a delicious burger there and the food was very good. After that we traveled to Dublin and spent our first night at Paddy's Place. It is a similar hostel that is run by the same company. Hope all is well and I hope you all got to watch my Boston Bruins win the Stanley Cup in the states for me!

Chris O'Shea

Day 3 for Wrestling in Ireland

2011-06-20T07:00:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Hope all is well in the states. Today was another great day! We started off with another AM practice with the Irish and Welsh teams. Their number one stud nicknamed "Muhammed Ali" showed us some moves and was really great at wrestling freestyle. After practice we got the bagged lunches again which were yet again pretty horrible. After that we traveled an hour and a half to the Bush Mills Distillery which was pretty cool. They gave us a tour and free shots at the end. The shots were disgusting and I was not really interested as it tasted really disgusting.

After that we had a BBQ at the hostel which was excellent. After being served slop the last two nights for dinner this tasted so much better and really got our night off to a better start. Unfortunately, Coach Kemmy didn't trust us to go out past 11 PM again tonight. This was a real bummer because we never got to experience the real experience in Derry which we all looked forward to in coming to Northern Ireland. We were all real upset considering we have no wrestling tomorrow. We wrestle in Dublin on Thursday which should be fun and luckily I may have the chance to have my uncle see me wrestle since he is a professor at the University of College in Dublin! I will also be allowed the chance to meet two of my cousins for the first time in my life which should be pretty awesome. We'll let you know how it goes from there. Nice talking to you!

Chris O’Shea

Wrestling wins over Celtic Team

2011-06-13T12:33:00.000-07:00

Wrestling rolled to a 55-19 win over the Celtic Team that the Hawks faced on the third day of their trip to Ireland.

Mike Forlenza lost 4-11 to Glenn Elliott (Northern Ireland)

Chris O’Shea won 5-0 over Clinton Scott (Ireland)

Collin Crowell won 11-2 over Soslan Tuav (Ireland)

Kyle D’Urso pinned Joe Frey (Northern Ireland)

Kevin Edward won 12-0 over Damian Army (Wales)

Tom Palumbo lost 2-12 to Brett Hawthorn (Wales)

Bobby Markowski won 12-0 over Glenn Elliott (Northern Ireland)

Mike Monson pinned Ali Clean (Northern Ireland)

Tim Garlington lost 0-7 Tom Denham (Great Britain)

Phil Ernst won 13-1 over Shane Manning (Wales)

Jack DiBurro won 5-1 over Attila Marga (Ireland)

Nick Cambi won 6-2 over Dan Kennedy (Ireland)

Jon Lemoine pinned Paddy Copeland (Northern Ireland)

Ben Kissane pinned Michael Hanna (Northern Ireland)

Dillon Lawler won 8-2 over Marcell O'Reilly (Ireland)

Johann Roebelen lost 0-10 to Muhammed Haghiaghatdous (Great Britain)

Dustin Conner pinned Declan Dillon

Wrestling stays informed on Day 2

2011-06-13T08:34:00.001-07:00

Alright so here's blog number two. Sunday we got to do a tour through Derry which was absolutely awesome. Our tour Garvin was awesome and did an unbelievable job dissecting the city he grew up in. We traveled on the wall which was 1 x 1.8 miles long in the city of Derry. According to Garvin, the city of Derry came by many names including Londonderry by King James, The Wall City, as well as Legend-Derry by our tour guide Garvin. We learned a lot of history from our tour guide Garvin who was absolutely tremendous and informed us about all information possible while remaining on par informing us of the local information.

We learned that both Joseph Locke as well as the Under Tones originated from this city. This city also originated the "Parade Walk" which is known in the US as the "cat walk". We all had a blast and enjoyed it to its fullest extent. We will be wrestling tomorrow and keep you up to date. God Bless You!

Chris O'Shea

Wrestling touches down in Ireland

2011-06-13T08:04:00.000-07:00

Greetings to all in the USA! I am currently blogging to you from the hostel we are staying at in Derry. Day 1 got off to a fast start. We arrived in Dublin shortly after 10:00 a.m. local time after a smooth flight over. After going through the general airport procedures we all got on board a bus ironically nicknamed "The Paddy Wagon." From there, our driver Kevin drove us up to Northern Ireland in a long three-hour drive. Naturally, most of us were pretty jet-lagged and slept the majority of the way up.

Our first stop in Northern Ireland was at Giant's Causeway, where we spent time and ate lunch. At Giant's Causeway we were able to see first-hand the truly amazing landscape of Northern Ireland. The site is composed of 40,000 regular-shaped basalt columns packed closely together as if to form a "stepping stone" pathway stretching out to the sea. Along with that, they are right next to a very rocky area of cliffs and valleys which made for extraordinary imagery which the majority of us were able to catch on camera. It was also there where we ate our lunch/dinner. I personally enjoyed a delicious traditional Irish stew which featured beef, potatoes and carrots. Another popular dish that was eaten by Nick Herrick and Kyle D'Urso who were both at my table was the steak with Guinness pie dish, which received all positive reviews. After that, we started to venture towards Derry to our hostel.

On the way we stopped at the Dunluce Castle in Ballycastle which is a historic castle that was built in the 1500s. From there we finally traveled to our hostel in Derry. There we assembled into our rooms, and due to a room trading misconduct we were forced to have a 9:00 p.m. curfew. I am currently blogging at 9:30 and it is still bright out so we're all pretty disappointed in our actions and don't plan on letting anything like this happen again. While in Derry, we had about two hours to go around and check out the local scene. We traveled to a few pubs and I'll tell you right now, a Guinness draft beer in Ireland is the most delicious beer I have ever consumed in my life. Tomorrow we have to wake up early to practice with a team from Northern Ireland, before heading to the Bush Mills factory for a tour and hopefully some samplings. I'll keep you all updated with the events of tomorrow as well as the rest of the trip.

Over and out,

Chris O'Shea

Equestrian closes out the fall

2010-11-18T11:29:00.000-08:00

We wrapped up a successful season on Sunday, finishing second at UMass-Dartmouth. RWU was the reserve high point team with 32 points, finishing closely behind UMass Dartmouth with 36 points. The trophy and ribbon from this weekend are on display in the athletic suite in the rec center.

There were 5 personal blue ribbons won on Sunday, with Jacqui Allred taking the top spot in Intermediate Fences and Abby Hanc winning the blue in Novice Flat. Hanc also received second place in Novice Fences, qualifying her for the reserve high point ride off. Our Advanced Walk-Trot-Canter riders swept their division with Charnele Bourque, Shelby Dumond, and Kyle Alexander all receiving the blue in their classes.

Seniors Scott Pearson and Amelia Stasny received the second and third in their open fences class. Captain Alicia Levy also received the third place ribbon in her Novice Fences class, while Alexandra Pastor took the third in Intermediate Fences. Nicole McDonnell also received third place in her Novice Flat class. Lenny Carlucci received second place in Walk-Trot, a personal best for Carlucci and a great way to end the Fall season.

It has been an amazing season for our team and the coaches and riders could not be happier. We finished third in the region with 153 points. Brown and URI took the top spots. The spring season will begin on February 19 at Mystic Hunt Club.

- Cara McSoley

Women's Soccer pushing through to NCAAs

2010-11-08T13:52:00.000-08:00

After an amazing weekend for the Women’s Soccer team, we have even more to look forward to. Making it the NCAAs is such an accomplishment for our team and we could not be more excited. Being the top seed #1 in the TCCC, we were able to host the Quarterfinals, Semifinals and the Championship at home. All of our hard work paid off and we had a successful postseason. We played Gordon College at home in the Quarterfinals and won 2-0. The Semifinals was against the fourth-seeded team, University of New England, who we defeated in the first overtime period, 2-1. Noelle Marston scored in the first couple of minutes to end the game and take us into the finals. When we found out we were to play Endicott in the finals we were all excited. Endicott, being our biggest rival for the past couple years, was the team we wanted to beat. A home championship game vs. Endicott was the ideal game for us.

The final game was one of the most intense games I have ever been a part of. Going into halftime we were up 1-0 but we all knew that meant nothing. We knew the next 45 minutes of this game was going to be a constant battle. When one of their midfielders shot from 6 yards out to tie up the game, we knew this game was not going to be easy. The intensity rose when it was tied until Endicott’s most dangerous forward blasted the ball into the net. When the score was 2-1, I didn’t even know what to think looking at the scoreboard with about 18 minutes left to play. That was until Alexa Maher hit the most perfect shot right about the goalie’s hands to tie up the game. From that moment the game turned around and we were ready to win! Going into the two overtime periods both us and Endicott had opportunities to score, but none were as close as Katie Fusaro’s shot with 3 seconds left. The ball was just shy as being the game-winning goal, by nailing the crossbar to end the overtime.

Going into penalty kicks was absolutely nerve-racking, but thinking back to all of the practices when we ended with PK’s, I knew we had it. Our order went Devon Leighton, Maddy Howard, Alexa Maher and finally Laurin Pendleton. All four made their shots to win. But one person who came up huge in the shootout was keeper Kelsey McGee. When one of the toughest defenders on the Endicott team took her shot, Kelsey saved it and gave us all a sense of confidence. When the third Endicott shooter went to take her shot and McGee saved it again, I was in shock and knew we had won it! For Kelsey to save two shots in a shootout is unbelievable. Even for a goalie to save just one shot is great, but for her to save two ensured us to win! She had a great game overall and really showed it in the PK’s. Winning the 2010 TCCC Finals on our home field was one of the most amazing feelings I have ever had and I know we all won’t forget that moment! We are so grateful that all of our hard work throughout this season really paid off in the end, and we can’t wait to continue our season next weekend.

On Thursday we will be heading to Oneonta, N.Y. to play Oneonta State in the first round of the NCAAs. This will be out second appearance in the national tournament and we could not be more excited. LET’S GO HAWKS!

Sailing at the Hoyt Trophy

2010-10-28T08:11:00.001-07:00

This weekend we traveled to Brown to sail at the Sherman Hoyt Trophy. On Saturday we packed ourselves into the vans at 845, and of course had to make a ritual stop at Dunkin’s before hitting the highway for our short, twenty-minute drive. When we got to the venue it was about 10 knots with winds gusting to about 13. Division A sailed 8 complete races with all top five finishes except for the final race where Kelly and Cy finished tenth. Overall for the day that put them in second for A division. Alec and Sophie sailed six complete races along with the rest of B division. Since the race committee wasn't sure if there would be enough wind to get many races in on Sunday, they decided to let A finish the day with two extra races, so that B division could pick up the next day with two more. Overall after racing on Saturday, Alec and Sophie were in fifth in B division. For our overall final place on Saturday our team was in second place behind BC, with a three point difference between first and second. We knew that Sunday would be a crucial day if we wanted to gain back those three points.

We met at the vans at 8:30 (earlier than Saturday, because Amanda promised us we could go to Bristol Bagelworks instead Dunks for breakfast). As we sat at the vans waiting, Amanda pulled up and asked us to help her put the Rhodes in the water so that parents could sail it later in the day. So we actually ended up going to Dunks anyways, and it was very disappointing. Well, unfortunately for us, the forecast for Sunday was right on with winds at 0 knots. We rigged up our boat in hopes that the wind would pick up and B division would be able to go out and sail, but the wait turned into a five hour wait which eventually ended up in the day being called. There was no racing on Sunday and so we had to accept our second place finish behind BC. Even though this is a frustration to the team, we will have the last laugh as we are quickly working our way to the top. Even though there was no sailing on Sunday, we had a great bonding experience as a team which we will never forget. We were also left to wonder that if maybe we could have gone to Bristol Bagelworks, the day would have turned out differently…

- Sophie Bellacosa

Equestrian at the Becker Show

2010-10-27T10:17:00.001-07:00

The Roger Williams Equestrian Team competed this weekend at Becker College. Brown University came out on top with 39 points, and RWU tied for fourth with 29 points.

There were four personal first place ribbons received by Captain Shannon O’Keefe in open fences, Nicole McDonnell in novice fences, Rachel Asadorian in novice flat, and Cara McSoley in advanced walk trot canter.

Overall, the RWU equestrians had a very successful day with Erin DeMarco coming in at second place in novice flat. Scott Pearson received third place in both open fences and open flat and Abby Hanc, Rebecca Pettit, and Bridget Wright also received third place in their events.

This Saturday, October 30, the RWU Equestrian Team will be hosting a show at the Glen Farm right over the bridge in Portsmouth. Come out and support your riders and see what the equestrian team is all about!

- Cara McSoley

Equestrian starts off season 5th

2010-10-18T13:46:00.000-07:00

The Roger Williams Equestrian Team kicked off the show season with a fifth place finish at the URI show. The team did a great job with multiple first place finishes on the team. Freshman and new rider Rachel Asadorian took home two first place ribbons from her first show with the team. We can expect great things from her in upcoming shows!

Chelsea Weiner, Abby Hanc, and Alex Pastor all took home a first place ribbon as well, adding to the team total points of 27. Everyone at the show had a good time supporting each other and watching everyone’s rides.

Coming up for the team is our home show at Glen Farm on October 30, 2010. Come join us at our first show at the new barn and support our team!

- Kyle Alexander

Women’s Cross Country journey to conference

2010-10-15T07:35:00.000-07:00

The hard, long 5-10 mile practices a day continue to pay off and can be reflected in our meets. Two weekends ago, we competed at the Gordon Pop Crowell Invitational, in which we placed 6th out of 26 teams. Our top seven had some excellent performances and personal best times. Sophomore Lily Rutler pr’d (personal record and set a school record) with a time of 19:07, placing fourth out of 276 runners! Close behind, Vanessa Camiolo in 30th with 20:21, Kaitlin Crowley in 32nd with 20:25 (PR!), myself in 33rd with 20:27 (PR!), Annie Cassidy in her first collegiate race placing 36th with 20:31, Lauren Ashby 49th with 20:46 (PR!) and Katie O’Koren finishing 55th with a time of 20:55. All top seven scorers ran the 5k course in less than 21 minutes, proving our depth. Salve (our rivals) managed to win the meet, and UNE snuck by us, but I’m confident we’ll get them back at conference.

Looking toward the next few big meets, Coach made the decision to sit the top 7 runners out of the Westfield State Invitational, which would give that group of girls the chance to train harder, rest from race pace, and focus on Albany and conference. Meanwhile, other ladies stepped up big at Westfield. Nina Groseclose finished first for RWU placing 86th out of 311, followed close by Hailey Wolfe, Lauren Ricardi, Katie Wilson, Leah Seyer and Michele Needham. While those racing competed, the top runners from the previous meet ran a 50 minute run around the Westfield Campus (the previous day we ran hills, which we could all definitely feel the next day!!)

Some days our legs feel great, while other days we all feel like our legs weigh over a hundred pounds a piece. Regardless, as a competitive runner, we learn to mentally push ourselves through just about anything. Coach emailed us a quote that talked about running being symbolic to life and you have to drive yourself to overcome the obstacles even if you think you can’t. At the end of a race, which has proven to be the most difficult, it’s the inner strength that will mentally get you through the finish line (it’s all about fighting the pain, managing the pain, and accepting the pain; might sound kind of harsh but running takes a serious toll on our bodies!!). Coach has given us a mental guideline that’s brought us to the success we’ve had so far and I truly believe with this group of girls, we have the physical ability and competitive mentality to out run every team at conference (and defend our title!!!).

Despite some teams placing higher at meets up until now, the hard work and miles we’ve put in on a daily basis is what’s going to clinch us the title in that last mile. This weekend we have our first overnight at University of Albany, in which Coach has mentioned should be an extremely fast paced race (hopefully more PR’s!!). Let’s go get it ladies, “Believe!”

- Jessica Kraiza

Moving on to the Semifinals for Women’s Tennis!

2010-10-14T08:21:00.000-07:00

After a tough match against Curry, finally beating Colby Sawyer, and finishing second in the conference, I know this year the women’s tennis team can go all the way and win the conference.

Playing Curry College on October 5th, as a team, we proved we can win any match. Falling fast in the doubles, down 0-3 in the match, we knew we had our work cut out for us. Coming back in the singles, as the sun went down, we tied Curry 4-4. It was literally a sight for the deciding match of Olivia Hilton at 5th singles had to be moved to inside courts down the road. Since Curry didn’t have lights and Olivia split sets with her opponent, she had to finish the final set indoors for the match. She pulled through, beating her opponent and winning us the match, well-deserved. We worked hard through that match, refusing to loose, the whole team contributing to the win. We then knew we could do anything.

After that match, Colby-Sawyer seemed to be a breeze, for we defeated them 8-1 to clinch our 2nd spot in the conference. Just two days ago (Tuesday the 12th), we won our first playoff match against WNEC taking two of the doubles and immediately 3 of the singles for the first to 5 to win the match. We are now ready for the semifinals next Wednesday, and then moving on to the finals on October 23rd.

Our team has come such a long way, always working hard, and looking to improve. We put our hearts into the game, leaving everything we have on the court. We deserve to win the conference and have proved that we certainly can. Come support our women’s tennis! GO HAWKS!

- Sam Curran

Volleyball Swag

2010-10-13T15:46:00.001-07:00

Our goals remain unchanged as we head into the last month of our season. We continue to fight to stay in the top spot in the conference. As of now we are undefeated in the TCCC and could potentially be hosting the tournament for the championship at RWU. We can’t believe that we only have 7 regular season games left because we feel like we’re just getting started. We have improved so much this year compared to last year in basically every aspect. Serving, passing, hitting and blocking will continue to get better so that by the end of the regular season we are in tip top shape for the playoffs.

We have defeated our toughest competition thus far which includes Endicott and Colby-Sawyer both in 3 games to 1. Tonight we play WNEC which is a huge game for us being that we took the championship title from them last year. WNEC will be coming after us to try to redeem themselves, but we’re not going to let them achieve anything. In fact the opposite will happen by us further proving that the outcome of last year’s championship had nothing to do with luck. It had to do with hard work, skill, determination and heart. Our blocking is going to be on point, our defense will be unstoppable and our hitters are going to be aggressive and smart.

The RWU VB team is on its biggest winning streak of the season with 7 consecutive and this past weekend defeated RIC and JWU for the Rhode Island Championship.

We are ready to go, and to bring home another win today to be 21-3 and 7-0 in the conference. Every opposing team from here on out is going to have to bring their “A” game because we are in domination mode. We are the toughest team to beat in the conference.

Volleyball Swag.

- Jill Hurd

Keeping up with Men's Soccer

2010-10-08T13:30:00.000-07:00

The team suffered their second conference loss, falling to Nichols College on a rain-drenched night, snapping a 3-game winning streak. However, the result was not indicative of how hard-fought much of the match was played. Some stellar goalkeeping by the way of Nichols helped keep us at bay. John Pearson, Brian Swindell and Jared Falconer and others had stellar scoring opportunities. You’ll get ‘em next time guys.

Last Saturday night, we traveled to Henniker, New Hampshire to battle the New England College Pilgrims. During the course of the match, we displayed stellar possession, moving the ball about the pitch with ease. It truly was a sight to see. Then in the 60th minute defender, Kamali Webson delivered a monstrous headed blast off the cross bar, then tickling the twine, providing the game’s only goal. Webson elevated over the opposition, smiled, then punished the ball into the goal. Throughout the remainder of the match the Pilgrims failed to convert on several half chances as the Hawk “D” stymied them.

September 28th the Hawks traveled up to Paxton, MA to battle the AmCats of Anna Maria College in TCCC play. The night was dreary, but our play was not. We came out rip roaring; as Brian Swindell tapped in a poacher-esque, Ruud Van Nistelrooy-like goal in the 7th minute as he out foxed the last defender and the goalkeeper. For the remainder of the game we unfortunately found the more of the side netting rather than the back of the net. From my count, we fired 8 shots into the side netting as they went on to outshoot the AmCats 22-7.

Three days earlier, the Hawks clashed with the Chargers hailing from the arctic tundra of New London, NH. Every year this is the game that is circled on my schedule, as I attended CSC before heading to greener pastures—Roger Williams. Since I am a “co-manager” I was limited to filling water bottles, vehement cheering and partaking in celebratory chest bumps with Tim Cunningham our team scores. But I digress, Roger Williams dictated the tempo throughout the course of play, however, at times, Colby-Sawyer would create some half chances, but ultimately failed to convert. In the 21st minute, Bradley MacDonald deftly maneuvered around several members of the Charger “D” before netting the only goal of the game.

- TJ Doherty

Women's Soccer still rolling

2010-10-07T11:14:00.000-07:00

After a 4-1 win Tuesday night against Nichols College, our team continues the victorious trail with an overall record of 8-4 and 7-0 in the TCCC. Though Nichols scored the first goal of the game, we quickly retaliated with a carefully placed goal from Alexa Maher off of a rebound. Using this goal as motivation, our energy quickly picked up as we continued to dominate the pace of the game.

In the 22nd minute Laurin Pendleton tipped the ball to Noelle Marston to gain a 2-1 lead. The next goal came only four minutes into the second half when Pendleton connected with Katie Fusaro off a cross from the right, as Fusaro strategically placed the ball into the left hand corner of the net.

Maddie Howard had a spectacular game performance last night, adding to her accomplishments. Howard scored the fourth and final goal off a free kick just outside the 18 yard box. We had a strong strong the entire 90 minutes. With a sharp and consistent performance by the defense, the Bison were unable to successfully penetrate the Hawks defensive third.

Great distribution by the midfield made the course of the game fluid, fast and in the Hawks favor. We’re certainly on a roll with an exciting winning streak. We have some tough games headed our way, and we will be sure to be perfectly prepared.

- Michelle Meagher

Men’s Cross Country coming on strong

2010-10-06T08:23:00.001-07:00

Our team has really shown its strength and depth in these last two weeks. Rookie runners, Jack Ferguson, Henry Loughlin, Chase Osgood, and Jeremy Siegel, have shown a continuing presence as they join Jon Ellis, Jeff Pini, Andrew Gallant, and myself.

We competed at the UMass-Dartmouth Invite two weekends ago and at the Gordon Invite this past weekend. Dartmouth was the first 8k of the season but that didn't seem to bother us. In the words of Forrest Gump, "That day, for no particular reason, I decided to go for a little run. So I ran to the end of the road. And when I got there, I thought maybe I'd run to the end of town..." What's a couple more miles?

The big race took place this past weekend in Beverly, Massachusetts. We raced against a field of 20+ teams which included a lot of the other teams in The Commonwealth Coast Conference, such as Gordon and Endicott. We had to compete without 2 of our top 7, but when the team scores were totaled Roger Williams finished in 4th place overall, but 1st in our conference. The final team scores were, Roger Williams – 154, Gordon – 211.

So looking into the future, we seem to be on the right course as we approach the conference championship on October 30th, right here at Colt State Park.

“Life’s battles don't always go to the strongest or fastest man, But sooner or later the man who wins is the fellow who thinks he can.”

- Tom Maybury

Coming through at the Danmark Trophy

2010-10-05T06:42:00.000-07:00

This weekend, our sailing abilities, strength, and Cy Thompson's leadership skills were all put to the test on Saturday morning. Cy Thompson, Kelly Stannard, Alec Anderson, Alex Rudkin, and myself (all heading to Coast Guard Academy for the Danmark Trophy), and Andrew Tamblyn, Dan Goldman, Connor Needham, and Tyler Wilson (headed to the Conn College Invitational at Conn College), wearily piled ourselves into the van and started the journey down to Connecticut. After making a much needed dunks stop we were on our way.

When we arrived at the Danmark, there was about 5 knots of wind and we were told it would continue to die out throughout the day. Sure enough by about 3 in the afternoon the wind was beginning to die down. B Division ended up only getting in seven races, while A Division sailed eight. At the end of day one, Cy Thompson and Kelly Stannard were in sixth in A division, and Alec Anderson and Sophie Bellacosa were in fifth in B division.

We knew Sunday was going to be a tough day with the wind speeds up and the competition becoming more crucial. After a restful Saturday night, we all awoke alert and ready for Sunday's racing. When we got to Coast Guard Academy, all we really wanted to do was hide in the warm van or at least we wished that we had as many base layers and sweatshirts and sweatpants as the cool BC sailors with all their new Under Armour gear. It was about 50 degrees when we got to Coast Guard and about 10 knots, so we bundled up and headed out to the race course. Alec and I began the day with a 13 (which we slowly began to forget happened throughout the day), then got a 1, 3, 1, 4 after that.

At this point the wind was gusting at some points to about 20-25 knots so I was switched out for heavy air crew Alex Rudkin to save the day. Cy and Kelly hadn’t been handling the breeze very well (probably due to Kelly’s short stature and lack of hiking ability in the heavy winds), so I was quickly substituted back into A Division to sail with Cy. While Alec and Alex continued to struggle with their next few races, but ended the last race with a solid 6^th, Cy and I picked up our game to get a 1, 2, 1, 4 for our last four races.

Overall at the Danmark trophy, our team finished second. This was a huge accomplishment and we were all very proud of the way we conducted ourselves throughout the weekend, especially since we had to coaches to give us wonderful advice. Cy Thompson really showed his true leadership abilities as he rallied us each morning and helped wind us down at night. Also a special thank you to the freshmen Alex and Connor for performing their duties with getting lunches and cleaning the vans.

Also congratulations to Cameron Pimentel and Bianca Rom who finished an astounding six 1st place finishes on Sunday at the smith trophy at MIT, and went on to win A division. Good work Cam and Bianca!

And also congrats to our coaches Amanda Callahan and Colin Merrick for finishing first at the Hinman Trophy in Seattle, Washington!

- Sophie Bellacosa

Women's Soccer standing strong!

2010-10-05T06:33:00.000-07:00

The Women’s Soccer team is in a great spot right now being 6-0 in the CCC with an overall record of 7-3. In our last couple games we have really been able to connect as a team. The ball movement is moving much quicker, we’re making more passes to feet, creating 1-touch plays, and just overall stepping up to win games. As a team, we all know the importance every game has on our standing in the conference and we are working every game to keep an undefeated record in conference.

Our last game was up in Henniker, New Hampshire against New England College on their brand new turf field. We came out excited to play on what we called, “the perfect day for soccer”. The weather was warm with a cool fall breeze blowing. Last year we had beaten NEC 8-1 but this year they were a completely different team with many starting freshmen, so we didn’t know what to expect for the new comers. For the majority of the game it was 2-0 after Laurin Pendleton netted two goals. One came off a header from Alexa Maher and one was a hard driven shot to the far bottom corner. We held on to our 2-0 lead until about halfway through the second half when the Pilgrims earned their first point. With this goal came a lot of energy from the opposing team and we did not feel comfortable with a 2-1 score. That was until Devon Leighton scored the insurance goal with 2 minutes left in the game. The final score was 3-1.

The four games before NEC were all shutouts against Gordon, Salve Regina, Colby-Sawyer and Anna Maria. Scoring 13 goals in these games combined. We really started to come together as a team at the Salve Regina game and I think our strong play keeps continuing throughout our games. And we all know it needs to with our difficult games coming up in the next two weeks. We have our hardest competition in our next few games and we’re ready to win them all!

-Julie Moody

Volleyball getting ready for big match against Endicott!

2010-09-29T07:42:00.000-07:00

Goals: Have the best hitting percentage, service aces percentage, blocks, and most digs in the conference. Be 1st place in the conference. Host the TCCC Championship match at RWU so that we can have home court advantage and all the support from our super-fans. Win the TCCC Championship and advance to the NCAA’s and make it past the first round.

Since day one we have been focused on each individual day in order to get better and meet our goals for the end of the season. In the past few weeks we have been focusing on a wide spectrum of skills. We have been improving our serve to be one of the top serving teams in the conference along with trying to improve our blocking percentage and defensive digs. We try to think of every day as a championship and intend to work as hard as we can every day of the week. Coach videotapes some of our practices so that a few days out of the week we can all watch and review ourselves. This is helpful and contributes to our success by letting us see what we are doing wrong and how we can improve individually, but also as a team.

We are always coming up with new ways to pump ourselves up before games because it is very important to have energy and concentration. Marilu spent a few hours coming up with a rap called “Volleyball Swag” which we all know the words to and sing it before every game. You might just see us walking through campus and hear some volleyball swag words being sung, so feel free to join in. Little things like this make our team connected and creates chemistry on and off the court. We are very focused and know what we want to accomplish this year during our season.

We have significantly improved our serving and currently are 3rd out of 12 teams, which last year we were at the bottom of the list. We are leading the conference in hitting percentage along with number of kills and assists. We still need to improve our blocking as we currently hold the 8th spot out of 12. We are 3rd in the conference with service aces and 5th in digs. Our current record is 13-3 and 2-0 in the conference.

On away games our families are very united and this past weekend at Trinity we were provided with a great lunch given by our parents. Our parents brought cold cuts, fruit and so many yummy desserts such as homemade whoopee pies! We are lucky to have such great support which is something we greatly appreciate. Our fan base has significantly increased and it makes us extremely happy to hear our friends cheering us on in the stands. It gives us the confidence we need to crush our opponent, so we want to say thank you and we would love to see more and more fans!

There is still a lot of improvement to be done, but we are definitely heading in the right direction to win the TCCC Championship again this year. We play Endicott on Wednesday the 29th at 7:00 and are hoping to see a lot of support in the stands! We have been working hard in practice the past few days preparing for this huge game. We are extremely pumped and can’t wait to play! Annihilation mode!

Fast Fact: We killed Endicott once during the regular season 3-0 and then in the semi-finals killed them again 3-0 and advanced to win the TCCC Championship.

- Jill Hurd

RWU Equestrian Riding to the Top!

2010-09-28T08:53:00.001-07:00

The RWU Equestrian team is back in the saddle and settling into the new barn. With lessons in full swing, the riders are getting to know the horses and facilities and everything is going very smoothly. Ted Torrey, the Glen Farm manager, and all of the other patrons of the Glen have been so welcoming in helping the riders get comfortable with the new changes.

This weekend the season will be kicked off at the home of the URI Rams, where all members of the team will get a chance to ride. URI is one of the “teams to beat” within the region, so let’s take the blue on their own turf!

With a new region, new riders, and new horses, the Equestrian team is the strongest it’s been in years. There is so much anticipation for the start of the season and the team is really beginning to mesh. All of the coaches and riders are pumped for the start of the season and are ready to dominate the region! Let’s go Hawks!

- Cara McSoley

Determined to defend our title of 10-time Conference Champs

2010-09-23T12:48:00.001-07:00

Since day one, Coach has continuously reminded us that in order to defend our title, we’ll have to be willing to do the little things that will ultimately get each one of us to running our best races. After a long & exhausting week long preseason full of an extensive amount of miles on our feet, Coach told us we had just survived the toughest preseason in all of his years coaching here. All of the sweat, long runs every day after 8-hour work days & hard training all summer, I personally felt confident it was going to be a successful season.

Running for a 10-time Conference winning program is somewhat intimidating, and puts a feeling of pressure on each one of us, as we all want to continue the success of the program and proud fully keep the title here at RWU. Graduating around 5 scorers from last season, I think everyone was unsure who would be stepping up to fill the big shoes that left. Returning this year are senior captains Sam Buechner, Michelle Needham and Leah Sayer, as well as valuable members Lauren Ashby, Katie Crowley, Nina Groseclose, Katie O’Koren, Lauren Riccardi, Katie Wilson and All-TCCC top runner Lily Rutler. 7 New Runners: juniors myself (Jess Kraiza) & Alex Honkala, sophomore Marissa Jambor, and freshman Vanessa Camiolo, Annie Cassidy, Kristen St. Pierre, and Hailey Wolfe.

Meet #1: Bryant University Invitational. To sum it up: day of Hurricane Earl Warnings, competing after the men’s race in the pouring rain, on what’s known to be a “hilly” course against all Division 1 teams. New to Cross Country, it was my first collegiate race ever, and weighing in all the factors of the day, I was beyond nervous (I know Alex & all the freshmen were too!). Coach prepared us well, and I’d say we showed some of the Division One runners what RWU was all about. Out of the 55 runners, Lily had a strong first performance placing 18th with 21:14, alongside an impressive first performance from our freshman Kristen St. Pierre (25th) & Vanessa Camiolo (28th). Happy with my first performance, I came in next placing 30th. Rounding out the top 7 on the day, Lauren Ashby ( 34th), Sam Beuchner ( 27th),and Alex Honkala ( 38th).

Meet #2 Roger Williams Invitational. Previously winning our home meet last year, we weren’t completely satisfied with our 3rd place finish out of 7 teams, as Coach instilled in our minds that we should look to perform better on a personal level in each meet looking back to our last season. On a positive note, every girl on the team improved their times from Bryant, which is promising looking to the future. Top 7 runners of the day: leading the way Lily, who placed 7th out of 87 runners finished in 20:04, followed by Vanessa (14th), Kristen (17th), Alex (18th), myself ( 20th), Katie O’Koren (28th), and Lauren Ashby (31st).

Meet #3 UMass-Dartmouth Invitational. Continuing to improve, we had some great times on Dartmouth’s 5k, faster paced course. At the starting line there were 290 runners in the varsity race, all taking off at the same time. At the shot of the gun, a stampede took off full of extremely aggressive girls fighting for the front of the pack. Racing strong and setting an RWU time record & named TCCC Runner of the Week two times this season, Lily Rutler placed 33rd with an outstanding time of 19:17. Following with personal best records this season, Vanessa 73rd almost breaking sub-20 with 20:03, Alex placing 115th at 20:36, myself in 126th at 20:44, and Sam finishing up the scoring for our team, placing 131 with a time of 20:51. Also, Katie Crowley had an all-time personal best in the sub-varsity race with a 20:30 race time! Everyone yet again has continued to improve their times since the first race. I really think if we keep it up, and continue to practice hard, we will have another shot to win conference.

We have this next weekend off & the following weekend at Gordon. The next two weeks full of long runs (Coach mentioned around 10 miles Sunday morning practice!!) and speed workouts will be tough, but in the long run looking toward our season goals, will be worth it. We have a great, supportive group of girls, who have a lot of talent, hawk pride, and heart. I definitely think we can do this.

-Jess Kraiza

Leave it all on the court

2010-09-22T07:38:00.001-07:00

Women’s Tennis for RWU is off to a good start for our season with a 3-1 conference record. We came out of pre-season ready to work, ready for a new year. Being a freshman on the team, I was welcomed into a hard-working atmosphere and a team who knows how to work together towards one goal. After flying through our first 3 conference matches, after a tough non-conference opener against Babson, we knew that the hard work should not stop there.

Family and friends have been extremely supportive, especially during our “family weekend” match this past Saturday against Eastern Nazarene College on our home courts. Never-ending support from our coaches has made us the players we are today. We have been striving to become better as individuals and as a whole which is our main focus.

Getting pumped for our Nichols match last week, we came into some frustration with the match, letting them get the best of us. But today is a new day; we will not falter in our attitude towards working for the betterment of the team. Our challenge to us is our mentality, since everyone has the skill to win any match. Getting the mindset we need for each match ahead of us, I know we can kick butt for the rest of our season!

-Sam Curran

Sailing heading to NY for Nevin's Trophy

2010-09-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

The weekend of the Nevin's Trophy started off with a bit of a slump, as myself, Alec Anderson, Josh Saltmarsh, Alyssa Seifert, Alex, Cameron Pimental, and Colin (COACH) packed ourselves and our soaking wet gear into one of the smaller athletic vans which the school had to offer. After having an always delicious dinner from the commons, we found ourselves on a four-hour drive down to Amityville, NY. Mr. and Mrs. Rom were waiting for us at their house with brownies and cookies to warm us up before bed. Colin made sure to remind everyone several times that we would be getting up at 7 AM, in order to be on the road at 7:30.

Saturday morning we were awoken by the smell of bacon, scrambled eggs, muffins, toast and fresh coffee as we arose from our beds. When we arrived at King's Point, there was a small breeze on the water so we all rigged up our boats and got out onto the water for the first race at 9:45. A somewhat steady wind from a northern direction held for about 5 races, but by the sixth began to die down drastically. By the 7th race everyone was moving very slowly. Only A division was able to complete 7 races on Saturday, while B Division, and the laser division had their 7th races called because there was no wind. We were sent in for a postponement on shore, which quickly turned to "no more sailing today". After a nice dinner with the Rom’s and their dog, Princess, we were all just about ready for bed (except for Colin, who gets really excited after a long day on the water).

Sunday morning we awoke to a delightful breakfast of French toast and other yummy food. Unfortunately, Alec had gotten his crew–namely me –sick with his cold-like symptoms, and so we were a little unsure of the day ahead. When we got to the venue, there was the faintest hint of breeze on the water. We rigged up and got ready to sail, and then were told there was a fifteen minute postponement ashore. This turned into about 45 minutes, after which we were told to head out to the course. The race committee got about 2 minutes and 17 seconds into the first start of the day, for lasers, and that was the last whistle to be heard on the water at King's Point. The postponement flag went up, as everyone waited for the breeze to come back on. But it never came. We waited for about two hours and then were told to head in for postponement ashore. About 45 minutes into this, we were told to head home, the wind wasn't coming, and so we would not be sailing.

After a long and at times frustrating weekend, Cameron ended up with a 7th in the laser division (his first ever full-rig regatta)! Alyssa and Josh ended up with a 19th in B division, and Alec and I finished the weekend in fourth (one point behind third and second!). Overall we finished 12th at the Nevin's Trophy in Kings Point, NY.

Also, congrats to Haley Powell and Bianca Rom, who finished fourth at the Mrs. Hurst Bowel at Dartmouth. They were just a few points shy of third!

Another congrats to Tucker Blagden and Kathleen Keaveney, for their fourth place finish in B division at the Hatch Brown Trophy at MIT. They were also just a point away from second and third!

Thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Rom for being such great hosts for the sailors who traveled to the Nevin's Trophy!

- Sophie Bellacosa

Men's Cross Country back on the course

2010-09-16T12:51:00.001-07:00

The men’s cross country team is still riding off of the first place finish in last fall’s Conference Championship. The Roger Williams Hawks pulled off the win by 3 points, and they were a well deserved three points. As the 2009-2010 school year finished up the men’s Cross Country Team had to say good-bye to 6 seniors; Tim Eynatian, Todd Massari, Chris Disciullo, Michael Russo, and Stephen Leonetti. The will be missed but we wish them the best of luck.

It is now the 2010 season for the Men’s Cross Country team and we welcome 9 new hawks to the team; Jamie Goodwick (Jr.), Kyle DeMarche (Fr.), Matt Duggan (Fr.), John Ferguson (Fr.), David Fitol (Fr.), Dan Herbein (Fr.), Jeremy Kacher (Fr.), Henry Loughlin (Fr.), and Chase Osgood (Fr.). They all are very strong and have adapted well to college training as well as the races.

Just a real quick run through of how the scoring works in Cross Country, the top 5 runners places for each team are added together and, like golf, the lowest scoring team, wins. If there is a tie then the 6th and 7th runner is added to the score to determine the winner.

We have competed in 2 invites already, and have done very well in both; our first meet was at Bryant College in Smithfield, RI. Mitch Leveille (22nd), Jack Ferguson (29th), Jon Ellis (36th), Tom Maybury (37th), Jeremy Kacher (54th), Henry Loughlin (56th), Andrew Gallant (57th), and Brian Ki (74th) were the top 8 finishers. Our second invitational was a home meet at Colt State Park, where the RWU Hawks took 3rd place; Mitch Leveille (7th), John Ferguson (10th), Jon Ellis (14th), Tom Maybury (16th), Henry Loughlin (19th), Andrew Gallant (20th), Jeremy Kacher (21st), and Chase Osgood (22nd) were our top 8 runners. Jamie Goodwick and Dan Herbein were not far behind Chase.

We are excited for the rest of the season to play out because we have a lot of young potential as well as a great deal of returning talent.

Women's Soccer looking good early on

2010-09-15T10:53:00.001-07:00

We are 2-2 right now and 1-0 in the conference. We opened the season with a tough game vs. Wheaton. They always prove to be a very strong team and this year was no exception. We played much better than our 4-0 loss last season when we were still trying to work on our new formation. This year we scored first and held the game to 1-0 for the first half. The second half Wheaton was able to score 2 times while we were left with our lone goal from the first half. At the Springfield College Invitational we played the regionally ranked #5 Springfield and beat them 1-0. Freshman Hannah Noel earned her first goal by holding composure and lofting the ball right over the keeper’s hands. Also, Kelsey McGee, our starting goalkeeper, who transferred from LeMoyne, played strong in the goal for us. The next day at the Championship game of the tournament we fell short to Eastern Connecticut State. I would say this game we realized how important it is to play to feet and also to adjust to a different team's formation. Losing the game 3-1 was not the best way to leave our weekend in Springfield.

Our first conference game was against Curry this past Saturday, we won 3-2. Our next game will be our last out of conference game for almost a month. This game is Thursday at Brandeis. Since I have been a freshman our game against Brandeis has always been a fight and good game. In 2007 we lost, 2008 we won and 2009 we had a 0-0 tie. For my senior year I am looking to get the win and prove to be the better team this year. We know as a team we need to work hard through every play and not take one break with a team like Brandeis, who is also regionally ranked at #9. We need to beat them just like we beat Springfield and make people wonder why WE aren't ranked.

I am looking forward to the rest of this season. We have a great team with a lot of great returning players and the group of freshmen came in strong, as well. Our team goal is to end this season with the CCC Championship and to make it even further in the NCAAs than our 2008 season! GO HAWKS!

- Julie Moody

Volleyball off to a great start

2010-09-14T11:54:00.001-07:00

The volleyball team is off to a great start as they are currently 8-1 in their season. Starting off playing Eastern Connecticut State University and defeating them in three games, the Hawks are on a roll with very high hopes for the season. Entering the Springfield tournament the Hawks came out strong defeating Lasell, Brandeis, and Westfield State.

In the championship match against Springfield, the Hawks took the first game but fell short the next three games, losing their first match of the season. Following the weekend in Springfield the Hawks traveled to Emmanuel during the week and swept them in three games bringing the Hawks record to 5-1.

Just this past weekend the Hawks hosted the RWU Invitational with UNE, Rivier, and NYU Polytechnic. They defeated all three teams therefore winning the invitational championship advancing their record to 8-1. Each person plays a huge role on the team which is why the Lady Hawks have been so successful thus far. They will continue to improve and focus on each day at a time so that when the end of the season comes, they will be ready to dominate in the CCC tournament.

- Jill Hurd

Equestrian back in the saddle!

2010-09-13T07:52:00.000-07:00

The RWU Equestrian team is kicking off the 2010 season with six new riders and some exciting changes. The team is happy to welcome Rebecca Pettit, Charnele Bourque, Marielle Damato, Shelby Dumond, Rachael Asadorian, Chelsea Francis, and Lenny Carlucci to the RWU equestrian team roster. We are confident that they will all be a great addition to the team.

New and returning riders get the pleasure of training at the Glen Farm for the first time. The Glen is a beautiful, historic stable, located in Portsmouth. The team will be working closely with avid polo and equitation trainer, Ted Torrey, along with head coach Eliza Pyliotis, and assistant coach Michelle Greim. Another exciting change is that we have switched regions. We will now be riding with all Rhode Island and Southern Massachusetts schools. Come support your RWU equestrians on October 30 at the Glen farm. We hope to see you there!

- Cara McSoley

Men's Soccer on the Canopy Tour

2010-06-02T05:35:00.000-07:00

We started the day off with the usual breakfast at around eight thirty, then we were free to lounge around the pool and ride the waves at the beach. Kids split that time between frisbee, pool volleyball, and body surfing the eight foot waves. Then we all met to get on the bus to go to the canopy tour.

About an hour from our hotel we got to the canopy and started flying among the trees. Sometimes we were able to zip from tree to tree but other times were walking along a narrow bridge that bounced with each step at around a hundred feet from the ground. Some people teamed up with the tour guides and were able to flip upside down or fly like superman down the lines, while others posed for pictures along the way. Seeing the monkeys in the trees and some of the large native insects made the day very exciting and one sure to be remembered by all.

- Nick Malatestinic

Men's Soccer sets down in Costa Rica

2010-05-27T13:22:00.000-07:00

We arrived at San Jose Airport around 10 pm Tuesday; we had officially arrived in Costa Rica. We were all very excited to finally reach our final destination but we were also exhausted from a long day of travel, we had been traveling for nearly 12 hours. When we arrived at our hotel we had a quick meal, then went to bed to get some needed rest.

Wednesday we were up early to take a tour of the capital city, San Jose. The city has a lot of history and we learned much about the culture of the Central American nation. We also were able to buy some souvenirs in downtown. It was quite the experience; I was able to purchase a new soccer jersey for a mere $6. The women originally wanted $12 but I was able to get the price down through some bartering.

Wednesday afternoon we geared up to play our first match against Brujas FC. We played well in the first half getting to halftime tied 0-0, we were able to keep this till midway through the second half when Brujas was awarded a penalty kick. After the penalty was scored the game began to slip away, they continuously were able to attack us. The final score was 5-0 Brujas, the score really did not reflect the game. We played well for the majority of the game but we could not carry it through the complete game.

Thursday we will be traveling North to San Carlos to stay for a few nights in the mountains.

Until next time...

-Paul Arute

Wrapping it up in Florida

2010-03-24T08:43:00.000-07:00

Friday, March 19
Today was our last day of games. We went out with a bang, losing in an intense extra innings game to SUNY New Paltz. The team was definitely one of the stronger teams we faced, but we played our best game all around. The final score, 13-12, is quite a high score for a softball game. Both teams hit the ball very well and capitalized on the others' mistakes.

Despite the loss, I think the team saw it as an overall positive game. We saw our potential to overcome adversity as a team. We won our first game of the day against Fitchburg State. After the games we ate dinner at Mel's Diner and returned to the hotel to relax. Tonight has been quiet and everyone is looking forward to our beach day tomorrow at Ft Myers Beach.

- Lauren Tierney

The Last Days of Break

2010-03-24T08:33:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, March 16, 2010 Today we awoke to some dark clouds and rain. We piled into the vans and began the long drive to the waterfront. We did some drills inside the cove where we felt even more trapped by the drizzle and cold. After lunch, we went outside the cove and surprisingly did some more drills. The wind was about 10-15 knots, but we all quickly became fatigued and the weather was not helping.

Suddenly the heavens opened and a ray of sunshine came down to us like a message of hope telling us to stay strong. The sun was the first we had seen in a couple of days and really gave us a nice boost of energy to continue practice.

The juniors made a delightful dinner of pasta and pork, and it was delicious! Colin provided the entertainment in his fleece onesie, and showed of his quite professional and dangerous dance moves. Ill leave tonight with this message, "when it rains it pours, but when there is sun there is light." Thank you and goodnight…

Wednesday, March 17, 2010
This morning we awoke to bright sunlight and the promise of over fifty-degree temperatures. We were a little late arriving to the waterfront which ended up not being a sin, because there was no wind. As one van went to get sporting goods (soccer balls, wiffle bat, frisbee, etc.), the other van went to rig up the boats just in case the wind picked up, and then went to go and wait for the other group at the local park. The sun was bright and the team was ready to play a competitive game of soccer to get the blood flowing.

After soccer we had a quaint lunch and then went back to the waterfront for an afternoon session. After running some drills tempers may have run a little short (especially after Coach Merrick was seen pushing a young team member into the frigid waters of the Atlantic Ocean). After another rewarding two-hour drive home, the sophomores served up a sizzling "breakfast for dinner" meal, complete with French toast, bacon and fruit salad. After a long and tiring day we were all ready for our warm and comfy beds. It was a day well spent. Auf wiedersehen, goodnight, I hate to go and leave this pretty sight…

Thursday, March 18, 2010
This morning there was no wind but plenty of sun and fun in the air. We began our day with a competitive game of ultimate frisbee. Mr. Merrick must have been upset about his team losing the first game because he was spotted harassing a young team member (the same one from before I might add), which resulted in a short van ride out of the park, and an even quicker return with a pair of crutches.

After lunch the team went outside the cove to run some team races (A team vs. B team). Amanda and Colin both hopped into boats to try their hand at the competition. After many A team losses, everyone, including the victors, were ready to call it a day. We left a little later than usual and found ourselves in rush-hour traffic (we blamed Colin). The freshman put on a spectacular dinner of chicken parmesan which was a perfect way to end our last night in VA. As I leave tonight, always remember, "never underestimate the power of one stupid person in a large group." Goodnight friends…

- Sophie Bellacosa

Winding down in Florida

2010-03-19T12:14:00.000-07:00

With two games left to play, the team is 5-3. So far I think everyone is pretty satisfied with the way we are playing and are ready to take on the competition in The Commonwealth Coast Conference. I have had an arm injury that has kept me on the sidelines but I have enjoyed watching the team play and cheering them on and I am really proud of the way that everyone has been playing. Tomorrow is our last day and it is a bittersweet feeling being a senior, as this is the start of many lasts for the five of us.

- Alex Sera

Thursday, our fourth day of games, got off to a rough start. Losing to Salem State was a game I'm sure we'd all like to forget. However, the team overcame the difficult loss and returned to beat Stevens. Today's games were filled with ups and downs, but I think it really allowed the team to see our strengths and weaknesses. After the games, we had some time to eat lunch and relax by the pool. Erica Castro's mom provided the team with pizza and other parents provided drinks and snacks. I'm enjoying my time with the team and can't wait to see what we do back home.

- Lauren Tierney

Today was Day Four of games in sunny Florida. We were up against Salem State, a team that we knew was good. We tried our best, but unfortunately the game ended in a loss. We moved on, it was over and done with, in the bag. Next was Stevens Institute of Technology. We came out scoring early and took the advantage of back to back hits to take the lead and never looked back. We had a rough ending with Stevens threatening, but we stayed strong enough to pull out the W. After the games, we had lunch as usual and then had a team sun tanning session...that's always fun. We then got pizza to the hotel and ate in the lobby as a team; it was a good time. Tomorrow we are off to our last doubleheader in Florida against Fitchburg State and SUNY New Paltz. Hopefully we can come out strong with two wins and go into beach day and back to RWU with a solid record! GO HAWKS!

- Erica Castro

Early Mornings, Cold Days

2010-03-18T13:14:00.000-07:00

Not going to lie, but today was a little too early to be waking up. 7:30 wake up call and out the door by 8. Haven’t seen that time of day in a long time! Weather conditions were absolutely terrible. It was cold, and the wind was honking. All I could think of was sailing in big waves and getting sprayed all day. It was the type of cold where no matter what you were wearing it was cold right to the bone.

This morning’s drive was the same as any other, another hour and a half to the sailing site. Arriving there, it was blowing and the skies were dark and overcast. Luckily, our coaches allowed us tot stay inside the harbor and work on our boat handling instead of going out into the really nasty conditions.

After lunch the conditions were looking a little better, and we ventured out into the bay. The wind had gone down, and the sun was trying its hardest to poke through the thick overcast skies. The afternoon session was very productive! We set up in different team racing combinations and did mock races. We switched up the regular A and B teams so that they would be a little fairer. The best part of the situation is that the B team is not what we thought they were. They have gotten a lot better going to some of the big regattas that they attend, and really give us a good run for our money.

This is so great because it only allows us to get really good practices. Last year, they weren’t really able to keep up with us, but with the hard work between the coaches Amanda and Colin they have been able to drill them with the team racing knowledge making them all around better sailors and team racers. It was a very long day, but the afternoon conditions were perfect to practice our plays and we made some great progress.

As far as dinner goes, we decided over the past few years that the best way to save some money is to have the different grades cook each night. Last night the seniors cooked a great dinner. Tonight it was the juniors’ turn to cook, and although we were a little short in the kitchen, we made some really good food. Josh Saltmarsh and I are the only two juniors on the trip, and we stuffed some pork tenderloin with celery, mushrooms, onion and garlic. Placed two strips of bacon on top, and used Montreal steak seasoning. And then in the other dish it was diced chicken marinated in Italian dressing mixed with pasta and cherry tomatoes. Grated cheese optional. Getting to bed, and gearing up for another long day at the office.

- Cy Thompson

Bonding With The Team

2010-03-17T07:58:00.000-07:00

We had our first games of the season the past two days and our record so far is 2-2. Though we have been playing pretty well so far, there is always room for improvement. But that is what Florida is for so we can be ready to win games in our conference when we get back to the Northeast.

Our games have been in the morning which allows us to spend some time in the sun and do some fun things at night. Last night some of the team went go-carting and we had a blast.

One of my favorite things about play softball is spending time with my teammates and I will miss the time spent with the girls the most when I graduate.

- Alex Sera

On The Road To Virginia Beach

2010-03-16T08:09:00.000-07:00

We arrived in Virginia Beach around 3:30 am, where we were greeted by the friendly face of our friend and yours, Colin Merrick. Out of the kindness of their hearts, our coaches allowed us to sleep in, so that we could get more than 4 hours of sleep.

We drove about an hour and a half to the pavilion we will be sailing out of for the next week (just a casual drive to get us hyped up). It was about 50 degrees and raining when we arrived. Dan (the friendly cat man who manages the Christopher Newport sailing program), showed us around the sailing house and introduced us to his furry friends (one formed a loving relationship with Alyssa).

After learning about the amusing tricks the cat was capable of, we suited up in our gear and hit the water. The wind was 10-15 knots from the north. We did some great drills, yet sadly fatigue set in and practice ended around five.

After another two hour ride back to home base, we were all excited to shower, play shuffle board, and do many other activities not involving boats or cats. The seniors kindly provided a delightful dinner for the team, which pleased us all. After dinner, a few members of the team watched the Celtics and enjoy each others’ company.

As I end my blog tonight I would like to close with a quote I learned from my dear friend Dan today, "the team is brother, the team is sister."

Goodnight and sweet dreams,
Sophie

GAME DAY!

2010-03-16T07:25:00.000-07:00

Today was our first day of games. The team has so many little rituals that we do before the game. You learn them as you go, so freshmen were completely lost. I thought I was going to be nervous, but being surrounded by teammates that are so into the game and supportive really eased the anxiety.

We won the first game against Macalester. The team played really well together, making key plays and cheering each other on the entire game. We lost the second game, and it was a bit more of a challenge for us.

We hope to learn from today's mistakes for tomorrow's two games against Wooster and Smith. Today was an overall positive experience and I'm looking forward to the rest of the week.

- Lauren Tierney

GAME DAY is finally here, what a relief! Among all the butterflies in our stomach we took the field, freshly lined and ready to go. Waiting to hear the sound of the bat on the ball, the anxious feelings soon calmed down after the first hit, better yet the first run.

In the first game, we took the lead and never looked back. The game ended with a tally in the win column for us; it was a great start to our long season. Our second game was a little more intense. Having battled the whole game, we couldn't pull it out in the end. It was a tough loss, but we never gave up; the ball just didn't go where we wanted and the runs were in the favor of NYU-Polytechnic.

Tomorrow we will hit the field once again bright and early, even if we did arrive today in the dark. But yes, bright and early to play yet another game. Another day at the ballpark is another day to pick up some wins. It feels great to be playing again, not to mention the beautiful weather. Until tomorrow...

- Erica Castro

Softball gearing up first game

2010-03-15T08:11:00.001-07:00

This morning the team enjoyed some time by the pool in the morning before heading to our practice time in Cape Coral. We watched the end of an intense extra inning game before our three hour practice.

Sun-burnt and tired, we headed to Uno's for dinner. We returned to the hotel for some downtime before our pool side meeting. The upperclassmen went over each detail of tomorrow's game experiences to ease some of the freshmen's fears.

We returned to our rooms and some met with other teammates while others visited parents in the hotel. Tired and ready for bed, I am a mix of emotions; excited, nervous, anxious.

- Alex Sera

Perseverance for Sailing at MIT

2010-03-15T07:44:00.000-07:00

Gossip Girl here,

We began our journey to MIT Sunday morning around 8 am. Even as we left RWU, Meaghan had a rough time controlling the van over the blustery bridge with her tiny arms. The drive up in the rain was pretty standard except for our small detour to Logan Airport (courtesy of the driver, and navigator Alyssa).

The wind was a casual 15 to 20 knots from the north/northeast. We began the day with one last round robin (which we again went undefeated in). Our sail off was against Tufts. We switched from storm jibs to full jibs because the wind supposedly died a little.

Even with their big ears on, the Jumbos were unable to soar past the Hawks at the end of the sail off. The Hawks crushed the event, and proved once and for all, for all of the downtrodden people of our land, that with hard work, perseverance and a positive attitude even the mightiest of tasks can be swiftly and easily executed.

On Sunday morning, we woke up and left for MIT at around 8:30. It was rainy and cold, and as we drove on Storrow Drive, Alyssa had some colorful words to convey her feelings about sailing on the Charles. When we first arrived the wind was blowing a meager 20 knots with gusts at 25 from the northeast.

We were told to rig up with storm jibs because the wind was expected to pick up. Unfortunately we had limited time to rig because we were told the report time was 10 a.m. when it was really 9:30 (I was told to thank Amanda). Due to the wind conditions, certain safety rules were put to effect (which were later severely needed by McGill and their somewhat inappropriate westsuit/spray gear combination).

We went undefeated in the first round robin (where we were greeted by Dr. Spiller giving us a SOAR arm movement) and then took a quick lunch break. Captain McHorney saved the day with his heavy stature as Sophie was switched out to go on a much needed Dunkin’s hot chocolate run.

Alec and Ryan were quite swift and unstoppable in their 325 lbs. boat. We went undefeated again in the second round robin. Shua was protested by Tufts for a leeward mark rounding (using a rule which does not apply in team racing. As the Hawks SOARED home high and mighty, the Tufts’ elephants marched their gaggle of elephants back home as the day wrapped up.

Love,
Sophie

Softball "finally" gets to Florida

2010-03-15T07:32:00.000-07:00

My name is Erica Castro, I am a sophomore on Softball team and I'm here to journal our
experiences so you all can get an idea of how things are down here in sunny
Florida. Today at 5:30 a.m. (yes that is correct), we loaded our coach bus and
left from RWU heading for TF Green Airport in Providence.

With everybody tired, our team practically slept on the airport carpet until our
plane boarded at 8:30 for our 8:50 flight. We flew to Chicago Midway for the
first half of our long day, and after flying back in time, we then boarded
another plane bound for Fort Myers Florida! "Finally!" which I am almost
positive was everyone’s reaction.

After landing in Florida at 4 p.m., completing our long 11-hour travel day we then
headed to our hotel in Cape Coral and settled in with the team. Following our
relaxation period we went to dinner as a team, our first of many meals together
this week.

Sunday is our first day of practice in nice Florida weather and the start to our spring
training. I will continue to blog about our experiences here as the week goes
on. Enjoy the rain back up north. Until tomorrow...

On the water at St. Mary's

2010-03-15T07:18:00.000-07:00

This weekend the Roger Williams University Sailing team is competing in the St. Mary’s Team Race held down at St. Mary’s College in Maryland. Forecast today was supposed to be windy and non stop rain. So much for that! There was a consistent light drizzle, overcast skies and the wind decided to come and go as it pleased.

There are 10 teams represent at the team race, and all are very competitive. Today we started off the regatta against, our good friends, but long time rivals the Boston College Eagles. We all had great starts, and quickly worked our way into a winning combination. This winning combination was held all the way around the course until the last beat, where there was some miscommunication, costing us the victory. It was a very frustrating time for the team, but we shook it off in order to concentrate on the next race.

In the next race, we were matched up against the Naval Academy. Once again we were in a winning combination until the downwind leg. The wind was very shifty (meaning that it was oscillating back and forth from one general direction) and the puffs on the water were in patches. Rounding the leeward mark, we felt as though we were still in control, with just an easy pass-back to complete. The wind unfortunately shifted for the worse, making it almost impossible to position ourselves into a winning combination.

Now with a 0-2 record for the day, the wind completely died, and we had a lunch break, not expecting to go back out on the water. Luckily the wind filled back in after half an hour, and we went out with an renewed confidence.

Matching up against Connecticut College Camels, we had a great start, and basically held it all the way around the course. This was a nice moral booster.

Up next was the home town locals, the St. Mary’s Seahawks. Right off the start, Jon Enright and Addy White jumped the gun, and had to return to the starting line to restart. It wasn’t a good start for the Rog, but with no intention to just give up, Sean Bouchard, and Bianca Rom team up with Cy Thompson and Kelly Stannard to make an impressive comeback. With precise boathandling, the 3 were able to sail right around the Seahawks, and move into a winning combination. This was a very good note to end on because it allowed us to finish with a 2-2 record, keeping us in contention to qualify for the finals.

All in all the day had its ups and downs, and we learned from our mistakes. We as a team are just as good as any other team out there, but we need to not think as much, and do what we do best. We sometimes make it harder than it really is, and as the days go along things are only going to get better.

- Cy Thompson

Waiting For The Playoffs

2009-08-20T11:21:00.000-07:00

I would like to start off with an apology to all of my loyal readers for I know you have been anxiously anticipating the next segment of my blog. Without further ado here it is.

Since I’ve last talked to you so much has gone on, none of which included baseball. I went to Germany a couple times. The first time, I went to Cologne which was a fun time. We walked the streets and had some lunch. The waiters bring you beer without asking and just continue to refill your glass throughout the meal which was pretty cool.

We visited one of the world’s tallest cathedrals and climbed the 533 step spiral staircase to the top. Making matters worse was the girl who seemed to be afraid of heights that was stuck in front of us near the top. She was literally balling her eyes out and while I did feel bad I don’t think this was the place for her to conquer her fear.

I also visited Amsterdam during my time off. Amsterdam is like nothing else I have ever seen. It’s such a nice city with the canals and everything but it’s very strange at the same time with the coffee shops and the red light district. We tried to go to the Anne Frank House but the line was about 2 hours long. In an attempt to keep the description PG-13 the rest of the trip was rather uneventful.

We also took a team trip to an indoor water park. Unlike water parks in the US it was completely lawless. As the team we would all pile down the slides together at the same time and land on each other when we got to the bottom. It was a blast but I couldn’t really move the next day and had some battle scars to show. Not to mention, we had to wear Speedos because regular bathing suits aren’t acceptable for some strange reason.

Everything else has been pretty relaxing as I await the playoffs, which will start Saturday. I was involved in a very minor fender bender the other night but don’t worry; we came out of it unscathed. My French has progressed roughly 0% since we last chatted and I have not found a way to solve the bug problem. I still go to sleep at night with the mosquitoes but I’m getting used to it. To make sleeping worse the city has a miniature big dig construction project going on right outside my window. And by right outside my window I mean if I were to jump out of it I would land on a drill. They also feel the need to start delivering equipment and banging things around as loud as possible at 4AM which is no exaggeration. My roommate and I have continued our quest to try every Belgian beer. Keep in mind these are always consumed in moderation, unlike you college kids.

I hope all of my readers are doing well and I look forward to seeing you when I get back to the United States. Until my next addition of Bridging the World Belgium Style, take it easy and enjoy the rest of the summer.

- Brian Hurld

Baseball's Brian Hurld in Belgium

2009-07-28T09:35:00.000-07:00

Bonjour from Namur, Belgium. Yes, they speak French in Belgium and no, I didn’t know that either. Well, a little less than half the country speaks French while the other half speaks mostly Flemish, which is Dutch. I’ve been here for a little over three weeks now and it has been a blast so far. We practice on Tuesday and Thursday and coach younger kids on Wednesday and Friday. We have games on Saturday and Sunday which leaves Monday as our day off.

On the field everything is similar to baseball in the US except that they bunt a lot more. I am enjoying some initial success, winning my first two games on the mound and even hitting again which I haven’t done since sophomore year because of a flaw in my swing. Our team is currently in second place in what they call the 1st round or regular season. The top four teams advance to the 2nd round and play twelve more games. The two teams with the best records from those four play in the championship. We have already secured a spot in the next round as one of the top four teams with two games remaining in the regular season.

Off the field has definitely been a learning experience for me. The guys on the team are great and really make me and my roommate, Todd Emr (Johns Hopkins), feel very welcome. Most of them speak at least a little bit of English with a good amount being fluent. Strangely enough my teammates appear to be the only ones in the city who do speak English. If Todd and I go out alone we have develop a technique of kind of attempting French and then just pointing at what we want at a bar or restaurant. If only I had taken French in high school instead of Spanish (which I failed a couple times anyway). Todd and I have gotten along well so far, he was an applied math major at Hopkins so we really have something in common…baseball! It has been an easy adjustment living with him after spending three years with a roommate like Kevin Simpson, (which is not a shot against you Kevin because like I said, you made the adjustment easy for me). The biggest adjustment besides the language has to be the fact that they do not have window screens here. No joke. It has been a little bit hot so when we open the window, in come the bugs and they are determined to keep me up all night which they do successfully. That’s all I have for now but I will be bridging the world again at some point soon. Until then, au revoir (had to look up the spelling on freetranslations.com).

- Brian Hurld

Our Day Off

2008-12-21T21:13:00.000-08:00

ALOHA!

Today was our fifth day in Hawaii, and it was considered our “off” day. Most of us got up bright and early and headed to the beach down the street from the hotel. The weather was the best it had been all trip, and we took advantage of this by working on our Christmastime tans and taking some surfing lessons.

After spending a good amount of our day at the beach, and getting enough sun to make all of our friends and families at home in the snow storm jealous, we spent the remainder of the afternoon doing various other activities. Some people went off to the aquarium, some went shopping, and others continued the day of relaxation either poolside or napping in the hotel room.

Tonight we look forward to making the most of our last night in Hawaii before the long trek home tomorrow.

- Heather

Game Day # 2

2008-12-20T19:00:00.000-08:00

Dear Diary,

We met for breakfast at wonderful Smorgy's at ten o'clock sharp for our pregame meal. Once we ate our delicious breakfast we headed back to our rooms to get psyched for our game against University of Rio Grande. We were going into this game with nothing to lose, so we all got our jerseys on and headed to the gym for game time.

Today's game went a little better than yesterday's game. I think that we were a little bit more confident with our shot selection and breaking the press. The teams in this tournament are very good NAIA Division II teams, so this is a great learning experience for our team. There were many ups and downs throughout the game, but unfortunately we did not come up with the W.

After the game we headed back to the hotel to shower up and get ready for a team dinner at Smorgy's once again. The rest of the trip will consist of more free time to head to the beach, surf, shop, and did whatever else there is to do in Hawaii. Until next time...

Mahalo!!

- Casey

Game Day!

2008-12-19T22:36:00.000-08:00

Today we got up bright and early for team breakfast. Afterwards we had a little free time before hopping on the shuttle and heading to our first game in Hawaii.

Our game was in a Middle School gym and I’ve never seen a middle school gym this big. We played against Doane College (from somewhere in the Midwest…Nebraska, maybe?). Even though we ended up losing the game, it was a good learning experience. Not to mention, our pregame and halftime talks (which are usually in a cramped locker room), were outside in the beautiful weather.

After the game, our team decided the best plan of action was to lay outside. Half went to the beach, half to our hotel’s outdoor pool. Tonight we will be having a team dinner at Chili’s, after which we have the night to ourselves.

- Jen

Pearl Harbor

2008-12-19T00:36:00.000-08:00

Today was our first full day in Hawaii. Although the weather in the morning seemed to forecast a cloudy day, it soon cleared up on our team trip to Pearl Harbor. Although we arrived late, we were able to take a tour aof the memorial site with friends and family.

The experience was quite fulfilling as we got to go through the museum and see the remains of the USS Arizona as it lay just beneath the water. Some of the ruins peek just above the water while oil still emerges to the top from leaks that remain in the boat.

After we returned from the Pearl Harbor visit, we ran as a team along the water. Next, we all took the time to travel to the "Old Spaghetti Factory" to have a team dinner. the time was spent well as we all shared good laughs and good food.

Finally, the team was able to have a little free time before curfew, where most of us walked throughout the streets of Honolulu , finding stores to shop at, whether it was for ourselves or for Christmas gifts.

Our first game is tomorrow, wish us luck!

- Carly

We're In Hawaii!

2008-12-18T00:36:00.000-08:00

Although exhausted, we finally arrived at our destination, Honolulu, Hawaii. The long wait was well worth it when we stepped out into the eighty degree weather. Honolulu is a very festive, loud city, and we are anticipating great times to come within the next few days. The flights were the hardest obstacle to overcome together as a team; many players have a tremendous fear of flying.

Thankfully, we managed to help each other through it all. Our living set up is very accommodating; our rooms are sequential on the ninth floor. So far, the only part of the hotel we have had time to explore is the pool area. Although the pool is not too big, the surrounding area was great for dinner and watching the celebration street below. We anxiously anticipate plenty of fun and challenging events to come within the next few days here in Honolulu. We look forward to tomorrow's excursion to Pearl Harbor!

- Paige