Being on a sports team has a number of obvious benefits for when students are here on campus: as an incoming freshman it means instant friends, but later, your teammates are also there to eat with you in the dining halls, can help with problem sets and studying, and are always ready to offer a shoulder to cry on or overzealous celebration when something exciting happens in your life.
Luckily, the benefits of being on a sports team last long after graduation, and, at the University of Rochester, include some unexpected pay-offs. Senior members of the cross country and track and field teams have reflected upon their experiences.
Support at meets and games
Typically the loudest people cheering at sporting events are the athletes’ parents, but alumni definitely take a close second. “Alumni are really engaging and encouraging when it comes to championship meets especially,” said senior Victoria Stepanova, noting a particular instance a few years ago when the cross country teams held the NCAA Atlantic Regional at Genesee Valley Park. A handful of alumni drove up to Rochester for the day, dressing up in blue and yellow and cheering extra loud. “They give you something to run for,” added senior and captain Mark Rollfs, “It makes me feel good to run well and let them know that the team is doing well since they left.”
Other current members noted that camaraderie extends beyond what is typically expected. “Alumni that I’ve never even known have come out and cheered for us,” said senior Andrew Zeccola. “Regardless of where we are, there always seem to be alumni in that city or area that stop by just to show their support.” He noted a particular meet this past outdoor track season where four local alumni came to the meet even though the weather was less than ideal –20 degrees Farenheight.
In many cases, the support extends far beyond the playing field. Said senior Connie Mistler- Ferguson, “UR alumni as a whole have a unique ability to empathize and support us as current student athletes, pushing us to dream and achieve bigger goals on the track, in the classroom, and out in the real world.” Mistler-Ferguson is a four-year member of the track and field team, and added that alumni are genuinely invested in the track program and its continued success.
Donations to UR Athletics and sports teams
Sometimes, support comes in other forms, such as a monetary gift to the athletic department or toward a certain sports team. Generous gifts from athletic alumni have helped fund a number of projects over the years. Most recently, Brian F. Prince ‘86, ‘89 (MBA) made a gift to the university to update UR athletic facilities including Fauver Stadium, the baseball field, the outdoor tennis courts, and team practice areas. Prince was a member of the men’s soccer team and hoped with his donation to help Rochester Athletics “evolve into one of the elite Division III programs in the country.” Other alumni donations that are designated for a single team help to fund special trips. For the past few years, the track and field team has traveled to compete at a Division I meet in the early outdoor season. This opportunity for athletes to get top-notch competition in their events often times pushes them towards qualifing marks for championship season.
For the varsity cross country and track teams, this year was a special occasion in particular because long-time cross country coach John Izzo retired after 15 years of service to the University of Rochester. Senior Ethan Pacheck was one of many current and past team members who helped orchestrate an effort to raise money from alumni for a special retirement gift. “The alumni were very approachable, even some of whom I haven’t talked to in years or wasn’t even on the team with,” said Pacheck. “Some donated but others were just really invested in what gift we chose for coach. Even if they couldn’t make a monetary contribution they were still interested in the process of picking something out for him.” Coaches within the department
Another enormous advantage to students within the athletic department is the large number of alumni who come back to coach. Thirteen of the varsity athletic coaches are also undergraduate alumni from UR. Alumni coaches understand the challenge of being a student athlete at the University of Rochester, having practiced the delicate balance in their own years as an undergraduate. “[Director of Track and Field Sam Albert] understands the academic pressure that students experience,” said Stepanova, “It also helps because he knows what’s best for the team and he’s easy to talk to in terms of planning.”
The large number of alumni
coaches attest to the passion that UR athletes feel for the school and the athletic department as a whole. Their passion for their respective teams and the school is truly inspiring.
Overall, all those interviewed acknowledged one commonality– the feeling that being part of a sports team meant much more than they originally expected.
Being a member of a team means joining an expansive network of people. “So many alumni travel to see us compete at meets, return for alumni events, and meet up outside of the academic year,” said Mistler-Ferguson. “It really has made me feel like I’m part of something really special.”
Arre is a member of the class of 2015.
