One Last Roar: Carol Law, Riding

One Last Roar: Carol Law, Riding

"One Last Roar" is a series that will recognize the accomplishments of the senior student-athletes at Mount Holyoke College graduating during the 2020-21 academic year. From now until May, read about our senior student-athletes as they reflect on their careers as members of Lyons Nation. Make sure to check out Mount Holyoke College Athletics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to see photos of their top memories with their teammates over the past four years.

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Senior Carol Law (Belchertown, Mass.), a Sociology major and equestrian student-athlete at Mount Holyoke College, will graduate at the completion of the Spring 2021 semester. 

As a four-year member of the varsity hunter seat team, Law earned top-five placements in numerous shows including second in the Beginning Walk-Trot-Canter at the Smith College Show and another second-place result in the Walk-Trot-Canter at the Mount Holyoke College Show in the 2018-2019 season. Law aided the team to their third-straight High Point College Title in 2020 by placing fifth in the first section of Crossrail classes which also happened to be her jumping debut. In 2020, Law earned the Joan Johnson Memorial Award which is a national scholarship in honor of Joan Johnson who was one of the founding members of the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA).

From Head Mount Holyoke Equestrian Coach, C.J. Law:

"Carol has been an asset to the team over her four years. She is a committed, dedicated team member. She can always be counted on to help with any detail concerning the team. She helps with the last-minute details no matter what. She is liked and respected by her teammates. Carol helps with the organization behind the scenes for the shows. She has been very involved with the post-season Zone Championship show by organizing all of the horse draw set up. It is always exciting to see the finished design. The collegiate riders from all over New England that compete in the IHSA Zone I Championship Equitation Finals always look forward to seeing what MHC has set up. The past two years have been difficult not to have the Zone I Finals at MHC. 
 
It has been wonderful to have my fourth child, my daughter, Carol, on the Mount Holyoke College Equestrian Team. Carol has grown up being a part of the MHC Hunter Seat Team, so it is sad that she will be leaving what she has known all of her life. She was proud to be a rider on the team and was looking forward to qualifying for the IHSA Regional Championship show and post-season competition this year. Carol has made the best out of the COVID-19 situation and has continued to give it her all. Carol has added many special touches to the team with her videos, Equestrian Center history timeline, the 100-second video for the 100 Year Celebration of Riding at Mount Holyoke. I am excited for her future and next adventure in life but I will truly miss having her on the Equestrian Team and at Mount Holyoke College."

More about Carol...

Overall, share a few sentences about your time as a student-athlete at Mount Holyoke College. How has your experience as a student-athlete helped develop you into the person you are today?

When I was in sixth grade, I became determined to attend Mount Holyoke. Six years later, when I received my acceptance letter, I shifted to my second goal of making the equestrian team. In the fall of 2017, when I made the team, I was excited to start the next chapter of my life. I had no idea how much my teammates would influence my life and help me become the best version of myself. 

Being on the Equestrian team has helped me gain the confidence to speak up for what I believe in. Having a support system of over 40 people who are cheering each other on has helped improve my public speaking. It has helped me see how important it is to cheer others on and support them, but truly understand the impact that support can have on a person. Working on our team's social media accounts helped me realize that I have a passion for digital media and design.

What were some of your favorite memories as a member of your team?

One of my best memories from the equestrian team was spending time with my big Cat Lamond '18 during my first year. She helped me to adjust and find my place on the team. Her guidance helped me love becoming a big myself and helping my littles adjust to both school and the team. 

Our first home show set up in the fall every year. Amazingly, a whole new group of people can come together to get an insane amount of work done. The best part for me is when the team comes together to move the bleachers, all of us working together.

Zones have always been a favorite time of mine; I love it when people step up to help put the theme together and get very invested. In my first year, the theme was Candyland, and I remember spending hours sitting in the jump storage room with Libby Sams while we painted wooden characters in the middle of the night.

What are your plans following graduation?

Following graduation, I am hoping to find a job in advertising or digital marketing. I am very excited to use the skills I have learned from running our team Instagram account.

Who have been some of your biggest supporters during your time at Mount Holyoke College? This can be anyone (i.e. family, friends, professors, coaches, etc.)

My best supporters have been my teammates, my closest friends who have always been by my side. 

Our assistant coaches Morgan and Tara always encouraged me to push past my fears and become a better rider. 

A special shout out to Catie LeBlanc, who has helped with an injury since my first year! Catie worked with me to find the best possible ways to ride pain-free, and I am so thankful for her support.  

My biggest supporter by far has been my coach CJ Law, and luckily, I get to call her mom. She has always encouraged me to work hard to get what I want, which led me to work hard to get into MHC and make the team, a dream since I was young. 

My siblings have always been a support system I have relied on. My two older siblings are there for me through it all, surprising me at horse shows and making me laugh even when I was so nervous. I could barely look at them before my class. Even when I told them they stressed me out at shows, they would come to support me, hiding until after my class. Even from a distance, my brother and his girlfriend would support me, watching the live stream of our home horse shows!

What is your favorite Mount Holyoke tradition?

Convocation, getting the chance to celebrate being back with my friends after the summer! 

More specific to my team, my favorite tradition by far is our Wednesday night team meetings. Getting to be with the whole team every Wednesday at 8 p.m. and knowing that there are hundreds of alums who have sat in the Equestrian Center lounge for their meetings just like we did.

Any words of advice you have for the future student-athletes of Mount Holyoke College?

Get excited and don't take any of it for granted. None of us expected we would have had our time as Lyons cut short, so enjoy all that athletics has to offer! For future riders: wear your big blue proudly and love our horses endlessly; we are so lucky to have them! Especially Cappy, he's a sweetheart! 

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