“The hottest team right now is the Giants, but I would love New England to
win.” – Chef Mike, Blanchard Cafe

“I want the Giants to win. New York (my hometown) is awesome.” – Alex Flores ’12

“I think the Giants will win. They’re my team.” – Laurel Balcomoff ’14

“Giants! (Patriots suck.)” – Jessica Michel ’13

“Patriots!”- Hannah Yee ’15

“I would like the Patriots to win, but the Giants are stronger defensively, so we’ll see.” – Sally Rizzoli ’12

Going out to catch the game?
Besides being one of the biggest national sports events of the year, this Super
Bowl features a premier regional matchup – New York vs. New England, so the
local bars are sure to be high energy (and probably packed with Pats fans).
If you have the urge to get off campus, consider checking out one of these
local sports bar and grilles:
Hangar Pub & Grille, 55 University Dr., Amherst
Amherst Brewing Company, 10 University Dr., Amherst
Stackers Pub, 57 North Pleasant St., Amherst
Packard’s Restaurant and Bar, 14 Masonic St., Northampton
Tully’s O’Reilly’s Pub, 1 Pearl St., Northampton

Related posts:

1. Super Bowl Preview: Patriots vs. Giants
2. Box Score: Super Bowl goes beyond sports
3. Super Bowl ads show no sign of recession

Coming off of two consecutive wins against Wheaton College and Simmons College in mid-January, the Mount Holyoke Swimming and Diving team turned in another strong performance in the Seven Sisters Championship held at Smith on Jan. 21 and 22. The Lyons racked up 637 points en route to a third place finish in the five team competition. The Championship title went to Wellesley for the fifteenth straight year. Vassar came in second place, while Smith and Bryn Mawr finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Mount Holyoke received a boost with outstanding performances by Lydia Bowers ’12 and Maya Lazarovich ’15. Bowers and Lazarovich each claimed two wins and a second place finish in individual events. Bowers dominated in the freestyle, touching the wall first in the 50-yard and 200-yard races and swimming to a second-place finish in the 100-yard event. Lazarovich placed first in the 100-yard and 200-yard breaststroke races and came in second place in the 200-yard individual medley.

The duo also contributed to victories in the 200-yard freestyle relay and the 200-yard medley relay. Their teammates for the freestyle relay were Lauren Williams ’14 and Rachel Boynton ’15. Joselyn Auxer ’14 joined Williams, Bowers and Lazarovich for the medley relay.

In their final regular season home meet last weekend the Lyons took on Wellesley and, despite a strong effort, ultimately fell to the Blue 141-104, as Wellesley came out on top in all fourteen events. Wellesley First year Tiffany Chen turned in three individual victories, finishing first in both the 50-yard and 100-yard backstroke and in the 200-yard individual medley. Sophomore Keelin Nave swam her way to first in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle races, while classmate Mariam Amirkhanashvili claimed victories in the 50-yard breaststroke and 100-yard butterfly. Nave and Amirkhanashvili were also each part of a winning relay team.

Bowers paced the Lyons with second place finishes in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle. She also figured in on second place finishes in the 800-yard medley relay and the 800-yard freestyle relay, and Rui Nozaki ’15, Williams and Lazarovich joined Bowers for the medley relay. For the freestyle relay Bowers teamed up with Williams, Lazarovich and Rachel Boynton ’15. Boynton also was the second swimmer to touch the wall in the 50-yard butterfly.

Before the meet the team’s five seniors – Bowers, Claire Gregg, Morgan Herrell, Sarah Rooney and Isa Wismann-Horther – were honored for their contributions to the Mount Holyoke swimming program. With Senior Day behind them, the Lyons round out their regular season slate at Smith on Saturday.

Related posts:

1. Lyons swimming & diving team hosts invitational
2. Swimming and Diving Compete at NEWMACs
3. Swim and Dive Teams Stay Strong In Post Season

The highly anticipated Super Bowl XLVI will take place Sunday, Feb. 5 in Indiana for what is sure to be an unforgettable match-up between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants.

In 2008, the Giants and the Patriots played in Super Bowl XLII in Arizona. It was a very close game, but the Giants won 17-14. Quarterback Eli Manning earned MVP with the completion of 19 out of 34 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns. Manning gave an impressive performance, with David Tyree catching the winning touchdown. Led by Justin Tuck, the Giants’ defense successfully sacked Tom Brady five times. The Giants kept consistent pressure on Brady for the entirety of the game, which made it extremely difficult for him to find a focused rhythm.

The Patriots had a perfect season up until the Giants upset, but this year’s Super Bowl is more than just a re-match. It is a chance for the Patriots to take back what some fans see as rightfully theirs; however, some are looking forward to another surprising victory by the underdog Giants, who, led by Manning, have been able to pull it together up to this point.

Although many are referring to the upcoming Super Bowl as the Patriots’ chance to avenge the 2008 loss, NFL’s Greg Cosell speculates that Super Bowl XLVI will be more like that of the recent 2011 Week 9 game of the season, when the Giants triumphed 24-20. In both games, the Giants utilized their gift of effective blitzing. Despite Brady’s 2011 rating of AFC best passer versus blitz, the Giants’ sheer hustle, tenacity, and proactiveness enabled them to keep him off his rhythm. With Manning’s regular pass completions, the Giants successfully relied on an offense based on big-play passing.

Facing his fifth Super Bowl appearance, Patriots Coach Bill Belichick has seemed upbeat and enthusiastic in recent news conferences. The Patriots average 428 yards per game, while the Giants  hold down an average of 385 yards. The Patriots also lead the numbers in passing yards per game and rushing. However, the real challenge will be for the Patriots’ defense line to provide enough protection for Brady from the Giants.

Since the start of the season, the Patriots have been the favorite pick. Although it appears the Patriots seem likely for victory based on logic and numbers, many hold favor for the Giants in their hearts and want to see another underdog win. Despite the odds, it’s nearly impossible to predict a likely outcome with the Giants’ wild card spirit. One thing is for sure, football fans everywhere are in for a charged and exciting match that could likely result in the making of more Super Bowl history.

NBC will also feature a star-studded NFL Honors Awards premiere on Saturday Feb. 4 at 8 p.m., hosted by Alec Baldwin.
The NFL Honors are an opportunity to see outstanding players and plays recognized for their performance during the 2011 season. This is a great chance to get a peek at some of the big contenders that will play on Sunday.

Related posts:

1. Q: Who do you think should win the Super Bowl?
2. Box Score: Super Bowl goes beyond sports
3. Super Bowl ads show no sign of recession

For many, the elliptical is a gym go-to. It’s a great way to work your entire body, plus it is the only machine you can safely backpedal on to employ other hidden leg muscles. I guarantee your thighs will be burning in minutes! The elliptical, however, is one of the easier, low-impact machines in the gym. Therefore, crank the resistance way up and haul ass! Don’t get stuck in the routine of moving slower than your normal walking pace. If you stay focused and give it your all, you will definitely see and feel the results.

The stationary bike is what I what I consider to be the lazy machine. It’s the machine you go to when you want to be able to sit back and slowly move your legs while you watch the Kardashians.  Unless your at a drop in class with a teacher yelling at you to move faster, it’s very hard to stay focused on a stationary bike. My solution is to bypass the bikes with the TVs, and instead use the bikes in the Mezzanine. Come armed with an upbeat, fist pumping playlist to keep you energized and motivated. A great way to kick your spin workout into high gear is to pick your butt up off the seat and ride. Your legs will feel pain like nothing you ever experienced (but in a good way, obviously!). I recommend taking a spin class first so you can learn how to adjust and ride the bike properly.

Treadmills are great! They are one my favorite machines in the gym. I almost prefer running on a treadmill to running on a track, because it regulates your speed so you can’t unconsciously slow down (and if you do you’ll find yourself embarrassingly on the floor). With a treadmill, it’s all you. There are no pedals or elliptical legs that are helping you move. For beginners or the out of shape, any treadmill workout will be challenging until you can build up endurance. As for those more fit, try running or jogging at an incline; your butt will thank you when you are strutting the beach in that cute bikini you’ve had your eyes on all winter.

The last two machines are the forgotten heroes of the gym. I’m talking about the ergometer and the stair climber. Both these machines can be very intimidating because of their difficulty; however, if you suppress the cowardly lion in you, they can be seriously beneficial. Within seconds on the stair climber, you can feel the burn in your legs, especially if you keep your hands off the railing and pump your arms. If you’re looking to tone those legs, definitely opt for this one. Keep turning up the resistance to increase the difficulty as you get more comfortable. As for the erg, this machine works everything! However, if you are not familiar with the proper way to row on an erg, then this machine is not for you. Rowing incorrectly can seriously injure your back, so watch this quick tutorial before jumping aboard.

With all of these great choices, it’s hard to know which machine you should steer towards. I personally recommend the treadmill, as it works your entire body, especially if you stand up nice and tall. For those with injuries, the elliptical is a great choice for it’s low-impact benefits. Either way, mix it up and keep it interesting. Just remember, you’ll never know your limits if you don’t try and push them. Good luck and see you around the gym!

Related posts:

1. Get your beach body by spring break
2. Students organize bicycle event for Pangy day
3. Stay in shape while enjoying the summer months

The allegations against Syracuse Assistant Coach Bernie Fine have been found true; however, the physical evidence has surfaced past the statute of limitations, making the case too old to prosecute. Fine has since been fired from his position, but Head Coach Jim Boeheim remains. Victim advocates and sympathizers have called for the Hall of Fame coach’s resignation, but he insists that the he was completely unaware of the sexual abuse. It wasn’t until a 2002 recording of a phone call between Fine’s wife, Laurie, and victim Bobby Davis was released on ESPN’s Outside the Lines that the allegations have become credible. In the recording, Laurie Fine admits to knowing about the long-term abuse to Davis, as well as the abuse of other boys. So far, three alleged victims have come forward against Fine, but solid evidence has only been found to legitimize Davis’ claims.

Unlike Penn State who acted only after judiciary measures were taken, the penal results for those involved at SU occurred when the allegations became credible. Boeheim was blamed for being publicly insensitive, originally insisting that the victims were just seeking money; however, there were no attempts to cover up the abuses by university staff or the police, as there were in the Penn State scandal.

The aftermath of the Penn State scandal resulted in the firing of perpetrator Jerry Sandusky and the once idolized longtime head coach Joe Paterno, as well as the removal of the president of the college. In a recent episode of NPR’s This American Life, Ira Glass conducts in-depth interviews with dozens of Penn State locals on how the scandal affected the community. Almost all revealed that it had deeply rocked the foundation of the community’s rituals and traditions, and left many feeling confused and disturbed. Many Penn State fans have pictures of Paterno in their homes, and the city of Syracuse has long revered Boeheim as a well-loved hero for his success with the team. Although there are many circumstantial differences between the Penn State and Syracuse scandals, similar sentiments have poured out of the Syracuse University community.

It’s indisputable that the sexual abuse that occurred at both universities is abhorrent and inexcusable. However, it is important to look at the surrounding factors that may have influenced the decisions made by those offending staff members. Unfortunately, one of those factors is the substantial financial reliance on the team revenues. Universities are first a business and secondly an educational institution. According to Forbes Magazine, the most profitable university sports program in the country is the University of Texas Longhorns football team, bringing in profits of $59 million a season. The Pennsylvania State Nittany Lions ranks third with a profit of $50 million. Their Beaver Stadium has been recorded to hold 111,000 fans on a game day, making it the largest in college football. According to the 2010 Business of College Sports list of most profitable college sports programs, the Syracuse University basketball program comes in at number 41 on the list, with a profit of $10,233,000. These massive revenues are crucial to maintaining the athletic and academic departments of the university.

This, coupled with the cultural iconification of coaches like Paterno and Boeheim, puts these individuals in a pressure-cooker­— one in which devastatingly poor decisions have been made. Despite these pressures, those involved must still be held responsible for such decisions, and accept the responsibility of the pain they have caused the victims and fans. Amends to the abused victims and crushed fans can only begin to be made through the careful and judicious punitory decisions made by university officials, and drastically heightened efforts to prevent something like this from happening again.

Related posts:

1. The Politics of: “Sex Scandals”
2. Penn State and Joe Paterno’s removal: The right choice
3. Are Mount Holyoke sports regionalized?

The Mount Holyoke Swimming & Diving team has splashed into its season with a strong start, winning three of its first four scoring meets. After returning from Thanksgiving break, the Lyons sprang back into action on Dec. 3, hosting Wellesley and Smith at their home invitational. In this non-scoring meet, events were timed but no points awarded. Additionally, the meet featured an “Iron Women” category in which 13 swimmers took part in all 19 events. Mount Holyoke’s Maya Lazarovich ’15 placed second overall in this category with a combined time for all events of 29:30.81. The top Iron Women spot went to Wellesley’s Tiffany Chen, who finished with a combined time of 29:29.84, only about a second faster than Lazarovich. Mount Holyoke swimmers Rachel Boynton ’15, Isa Wismann-Horther ’12 and Victoria Gavin ’13 also competed in the Iron Women category.

Wellesley came out on top in 15 of the 22 events, while Mount Holyoke swimmers placed first in six events and Smith finished with a win in one event. Lazarovich and teammate Nora Cunningham ’13 led the Lyons, with Lazarovich claiming the top spot in the 200-yard butterfly, 400-yard individual medley and 200-yard freestyle and Cunningham finishing first in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyles. The duo teamed up with Lydia Bowers ’12 and Lauren Williams ’14 in the 200-yard freestyle relay, placing first in this event with a time of 1:43.00.

Mount Holyoke will next travel to Clark University for a meet scheduled for Jan. 13.

Related posts:

1. Swimming & Diving recap: Seven Sisters and Senior Day
2. Track & Field hosts spring invitational
3. Swimming and Diving Compete at NEWMACs

Where is your hometown?
Mackinac Island, Michigan

What is your major/minor?
Major: International Relations. Minor: Chinese

What division* do you compete in?
My division is Intermediate II.
[*In the IHSA riders are divided into divisions based on their competition history.]

Why did you join the Western team?
I have been blessed to have spent my entire life around horses. I have ridden in many different disciplines (from the jumpers, to foxhunting, to gymkhana). However, my only Western riding experience was some trail riding and barrel racing in northern Michigan. Last year I competed on the Mount Holyoke College Equestrian Team as a freshman. After not making it on the team this year I decided to give Western a try. I think college is all about trying new things, and I’m really enjoying learning about Western horsemanship!

Who is your favorite professional rider?
I have so many: Calvin Borel and Mike Smith (on the racing scene), Robin Walker, Beezie Madden and George Morris.

What do you do during the off season?
The riding teams compete during the entire academic year. However, I spent my summer boxing and I ran cross country for years. When not at MHC I ride on our family farm and teach 4-H lessons. I’m also a barista at a local coffee shop!

If you could visit anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?
I spent my summer learning Mandarin Chinese in Beijing. It was an amazing experience, but I have not seen my family since June. So right now I’d really like to be able to go home and see my family and horses! I also really want to see Cape Town, South Africa.

What super power would you like to have and why?
There’s a popular saying, “horses lend us the wings we lack.” With that being said, I still would really love to be able to fly!

Related posts:

1. Western riding club works to expand future horizons
2. Riding team bound for Nationals in Kentucky
3. Riding competes at nationals

At the age of 15, Ellaha Sharifi ’14 started a basketball team at her high school in Kabul, Afghanistan equipped with “just a ring” in the center of a court and one basketball. Sharifi was first introduced to the sport during a year in Missouri as a high school foreign exchange student. Although she had always been interested in sports, she explained that she was never given an opportunity to play because she was “just a female.” However, the experience in Missouri inspired her to realize that when she went back to Kabul, she “shouldn’t wait for someone to make a team” and decided to start one herself.

Ellaha Sharifi '14

Sharifi used YouTube as a tool to learn the techniques of the game. Working out of internet cafes that were predominately filled with men, she would search for videos using phrases such as “basketball drills,” “how to defend,” “how to dribble” and “how to shoot.” Through the videos she was able to learn the game, and in turn teach her teammates the fundamentals. Sharifi took on the challenging roles of coach as well as player, and gained valuable leadership experience as a result. The team wanted to hire a trainer, but couldn’t because “the trainers were all male” and prohibited by the all-girl’s high school she attended.

The road to building a basketball team at Al-Fatah High School was not an easy one. Sharifi and the other players received backlash from the community and even their own families. It was often dangerous for Sharifi to make the 6 a.m. walk to school for practice. Sharifi recalls one particular time when she was confronted while on her way to a game. A woman yelled “go back to school, the Taliban are coming,” and although it was a false alarm, it was nonetheless unnerving. If there was a recent fight or suicide bomb in the area, the team struggled to get players to show up because their families were fearful for their safety and refused to let them attend practices or games.

Sharifi was lucky to have supportive parents who agreed to escort her to basketball activities in times of danger. She explained that they realized that since she was so passionate about the sport, they could not stop her from going. There were two teams at Sharifi’s high school, so in the event of a shortage of A-team players, they could borrow players from the B-team. In some instances though, too many players were unable to travel to the games and this left their teammates with no choice but to play the entire game with just five players, making for an exhausting experience on the court.

Sharifi worked hard to perfect her basketball skills, and her hard work paid off when she was selected to be a player on the Afghan Women’s National Basketball Team. She played for two years and competed in the Afghanistan Olympics in Kabul. Recently, the Afghan Women’s National Basketball team picked up a win when they traveled for the first time outside of Afghanistan to the bordering country Tajikistan.

Sharifi celebrates the championship win with her team. Photos by Ellaha Sharifi

When asked if she would do it all over again, Sharifi said, “I would, but I would be scared.” Looking back and carefully considering the experience, she explained that it was frightening to realize that she did put herself in danger. However, it was the unwavering passion she had for basketball, and still has to this day, that empowered her to forge ahead. Ultimately, her passion allowed her to create unique opportunities for other girls at her school to enjoy the game as much as she does and give opportunities to girls who might not have had the chance to play team sports.

Related posts:

1. Basketball Falls in NEWMAC Final
2. Basketball Wins ECAC Championship
3. Basketball falls to Bowdoin in First Round

Field Hockey captains Tricia Chase '12, Annie Butts '12 and Taylor Hedges '12 with the ECAC championship plaque. Photo Courtesy of Mike Raposo

Shara Robertson ’12 led the Lyons to a dramatic 2-1 double overtime win against the University of New England in the tournament semifinals last Saturday. After tying the score at 1-1 late in regulation, Robertson knocked in the winning goal in the second overtime period to send the Lyons to the finals against the tournament hosts and top-seed Plymouth State.

In this championship match, midfielder Kristen Kilburn ’15 put Mount Holyoke on the board first with a goal off a Robertson assist ten minutes into play. Plymouth State answered five minutes later to knot the score 1-1. It took the Lyons less than a minute to reclaim their lead, as forward Stephanie Slysz ’14 received a pass from Angelica Pascual ’13 and fired a shot into the net.

The hosts tied the score once again in the 31st minute, but from that point on Lyon goalkeeper Katie Gibson ’12 refused to allow her opponents any more goals. On the offensive end, Mount Holyoke added two more tallies in the second half. Slyz put the Lyons ahead 3-2 just four minutes into the half, and Robertson provided an insurance goal in the 50th minute. With the win, the Lyons closed out the seasons as champions, finishing with an impressive overall record of 16-5.

Related posts:

1. Lyons Field Hockey drops NEWMAC Championship to MIT in overtime, but successful season continues
2. Lyons vs. Cougars: Field Hockey shuts out Clark 2-0, Soccer falls in double overtime
3. Soccer, Field Hockey prevail against Smith

Led by captains Charlotta Jornlid ’12 and Emma Hinkins ’12, the team made a consistent number of shots on goal throughout the game. In the beginning of the second period, a Westfield State player heightened the level of contact by punching MHC player Aune Mitchell ’15 in the face in front of the goal after play had already been whistled to stop. This resulted in two Westfield State players being sent to the penalty box for general roughness and hooking. Offensive play improved greatly by the third period, led by Julia Karron ’15 and Bryn Hartenstein ’14.

The Ice Hockey team is Five College friendly, with players from Hampshire and is in the process of adding another player from University of Massachusetts. A good portion of the team does not have prior experience, and encourages players of all levels to participate. Although the club team is a member of USA Hockey, they are not technically part of a league, allowing for a more flexible inclusion of players and pool of competitors to play.

Although home games are played down the road in Holyoke at the Henry J. Fitzpatrick Ice Skating Rink, about 20 or more MHC students turned out to support the team with excitement and enthusiasm. Keep your eye out for an exciting photo gallery of recent games to be posted soon on the News website.

Related posts:

1. Ice Hockey plays in Viper’s Tournament
2. Seniors lead Lyons to 3rd Place at Westfield State meet
3. Soccer hosts 7v7 tournament