Greetings Blue Nation!

After a successful winter, I'm delighted to be outside cheering on our spring teams! Since I last wrote, our Fencing team wrapped up it's season with 20 wins for the first time since 2010-11, while Maura Sticco-Ivins '18 successfully closed out her stellar career at the NCAA Championships in March. Additionally, our student-athletes continue to impress, earning coveted opportunities to partake in NCAA programmin g.

Our focus for students this year has been centered around BLUE; Believing in their teammates and themselves, Learning from every situation, Utilizing their campus resources and Engaging with each other in our diverse community. Our LeadBLUE programming and thoughtful conversations with student-athlete leaders only confirms that we're headed in the right direction.

Below, you'll read more about our talented student-athletes; I hope you are as moved by their accomplishments as I am. Lastly, please join me in supporting the Wellesley Marathon Monday Challenge. When you give to Friends of Wellesley College Athletics by April 16th, I'll donate $15 for each gift—of any amount— up to 250 gifts, in honor of Wellesley’s nearly 250 varsity student-athletes. Let's cross the finish line together, Blue Nation!

Yours in Blue Pride,

Director of Athletics
Chair of Physical Education and Recreation

NEWS FROM CAMPUS

MARATHON MONDAY CHALLENGE:
Belgiovine Matches Gifts made to FOWCA

Chair/Athletic Director Bridget Belgiovine has officially challenged Blue Nation to give during Wellesley's Marathon Monday Challenge. Belgiovine will match every gift with $15 up to 250 donations up through Marathon Monday, on April 16th. Can we count you in?

Wellesley Places Ten on NEWMAC Winter Academic All-Conference Teams

A total of ten Wellesley College student-athletes representing the Blue basketball and swimming & diving teams have been recognized by the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) with 2017-18 NEWMAC Winter Academic All-Conference Team honors. Review the full list of student-athlete honorees here.

Wellesley College Athletics Celebrates NCAA Division III Week 2018

Annually during NCAA Division III Week, colleges across the country engage in a week-long celebration of Division III student-athletes and the impact they have on Division III campuses and in their surrounding communities. This year, NCAA Division III Week was held from April 2nd through April 8th. Below, click on the photos to read more about our featured stories.

Last summer, the Blue field hockey team traveled to the Netherlands and Greece on a trip that combined the intellectual and athletic pursuits that are the hallmark of the Division III experience. Haley Chrobock ’19 and Arielle Mitropoulos ’19 described teaching field hockey to a Special Olympics soccer team.

As a four-year starter, senior Jenny Gubner has been a strong presence on the lacrosse field for the Blue. In her first three seasons for the Blue, Gubner recorded 35 goals and 17 assists, tallying an impressive 52 points. In addition to her successes on the field, Jenny has also excelled in the classroom.

This winter, cross country/track & field student-athlete Sophie Dolan '20 (pictured, left) and volleyball student-athlete Meghan Shoop '20 joined a group of Wellesley students as volunteers for Wellesley Global Medical Brigades.

A member of the Wellesley College Swimming & Diving program, Patricia Chen '18 is a Psychology major and an aspiring collegiate athletic administrator.

The Friends of Wellesley College Athletics (FOWCA) National Committee is made up of current and former student-athletes who remain dedicated to the continued excellence and growth of Wellesley College's athletic and recreational programs. Below three recent graduates highlight memorable moments in their collegiate athletic careers and why they chose to continue to stay involved with Wellesley Athletics after their four years of competition came to a conclusion.

Club Sports and Recreation Update

Students and the Wellesley community have been greeted by a newly equipped Keohane Sports Center upon their return to campus! New Matrix cardio machines which include 15 treadmills, 7 Ascent trainers (elliptical/stepper cross-trainer), 2 climbmills, 6 bikes (3 upright, 3 recumbent) and 2 rowers are available for use in the fitness center on the second floor. In addition to the new fitness equipment in the fitness center, the LifeFitness Spin Studio bikes were upgraded to the newest 2018 model! Parents are always welcome as guests of their students to enjoy the fitness center, pool and indoor/outdoor facilities. Equipment upgrades were supported by the Butler Fund.

The Wellesley College Nordic Ski Club kicked off the Spring semester with the New England Nordic Ski Association Women's Day Retreat on January 26th - 28th. The team sent 24 women to Woodstock, Vt. for a weekend of education, fitness and fun!

Additionally, as the winter olympics happened in Korea, our students have been tackling mountains of their own! Recreation and the Office of Student Involvement sponsored a night tubing trip at Nashoba Valley ski area for fun in the snow on February 8th. Nearly 30 students made the trip and are already looking forward for another trip.

SARA JOHNSON '73 GIVES BACK

As a rower, Sara Johnson '73 has always understood the close connection between individual effort and its relation to team success. In celebration of today's current rowers and the dedication they have to excellence, Sara has chosen give back to the Wellesley College crew team for which she competed. Sara's gift of an eight-person crew shell will give Wellesley's crew team an edge as they continue to build an historic, championship program. Gifts like Sara's are essential to the growth and development of Wellesley's programs; each individual effort pushes us forward. Thank you, Sara! Sara hopes that you, too, will be inspired to support Wellesley; give to FOWCA today at www.wellesley.edu/give.