Dear Bates Community & Friends,
This is a departure from my standard format where song lyrics or a poem usually precede the salutation, but it seems that bobcat tracks in the snow (yes, that is what those black marks above are – truly!) have a poetic quality of their own that really resonates with me as another Maine winter approaches. The tracks that lead from autumn into the colder months bring about a turnover in athletic seasons as well.
With the Hathorn Hall bells celebrating the Football team’s resounding 28-18 victory over Hamilton, the fall sports season officially ended. It was a season that featured a number of highlights including:
- Field Hockey and Men’s and Women’s Soccer all qualifying for their NESCAC Championships
- Women’s Soccer defeating #1 seeded Tufts in the 1st Round of the NESCAC Championships
- Men’s Soccer upsetting No. 5 nationally ranked Middlebury on the road
- Men’s Cross Country nationally ranked & qualifying a runner for the NCAA Championships
- Women’s Cross Country team improving on last year’s NESCAC finish
- Field Hockey upping their NESCAC and non-conference win totals over 2009
- Volleyball strengthening their schedule and their team experience with a West Coast trip
- Football defeating Tufts for the first time in over 2 decades
- Men’s &Women’s Golf continuing to play more competitively against their NESCAC foes
- Men’s & Women’s Tennis laying a solid foundation for the Spring with successful Fall events
- Men’s & Women’s Rowing outstanding performances at the Head of the Charles Regatta
The conclusion of the fall sports season also signals the commencement of our winter contests
when the nearly 300 young women and men who comprise the following teams will strive to excel in their sport while continuing to seek to distinguish themselves academically as well.
Men’s & Women’s Basketball * Men’s & Women’s Nordic Skiing * Men’s & Women’s Indoor Track Men’s & Women’s Alpine Skiing * Men’s & Women’s Squash * Men’s & Women’s Swimming/Diving
Given this lineup of sports, the Bobcats feature one of the broadest arrays of winter offerings with action that will heat things up throughout the chilly months! You can view the composite winter schedule at http://www.bates.edu/sports-schedule.xml . Additionally, many of the winter contests will be webcast and you can find a schedule of these at: http://firstteambroadcasting.com/organizations/bates-college/.
As I have noted previously, the knowledge that the campus community recognizes and values the efforts of Bates’ student-athletes in both the classroom and their sport program is reinforced by your attendance at their events. I know that they will be most appreciative of any contests that you can make. For the events that you can’t attend, please check the updates on the web site: http://www.bates.edu/sports.xml.
Thank you and best wishes as you put down your own tracks through this upcoming winter!
Kevin McHugh
Director of Athletics and Chair of Physical Education
