by Cam Carter '17 (Riding)
Sport(s): Cross Country, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track
Position: Distance runner
Major: Biochemistry
Favorite Book: Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
Fun Fact about yourself: “My feet grew a full size (from a 9 to a 10) my first year in college.”
What is your favorite activity outside of your varsity sport? “Exploring new places and eating delicious foods with my friends.”
Describe your favorite athletics related memory at Mount Holyoke. “One season on cross country my team and I went to the regional championship and did our pre-race run near the beach while the sun was setting. It was a beautiful moment that we got to share as a team and enjoy as one of the last moments of the season together. ”
What is your favorite thing about being a student-athlete at Mount Holyoke? “Probably the Kendall community I have been welcomed into. I have met so many athletes, administrators, dancers, staff, spectators, and student workers during my time there. It has truly been one of the best educations of my life to be around those people. There are so many stories in the halls of Kendall and watching them unfold has been a pleasure.”
Sport(s): Hunt Seat Equitation Team and Dressage Club Team
Position: Intermediate Fences/Novice Flat, Lower Training Level (Dressage)
Major: Anthropology
Favorite Book: Five Days at Memorial by Sheri Fink
Fun Fact about yourself: “I have bungee jumped from the Kawarau Bridge in New Zealand which is the location of the world's first commercial bungee jump.”
What is your favorite activity outside of your varsity sport? “Cooking or baking, and then eating what I make!”
Describe your favorite athletics related memory at Mount Holyoke. “My favorite memory is the same every year. I love watching our riders compete in the Collegiate Cup classes at Zone Finals. Even though I don’t ride in the classes, I still get so excited and nervous for our riders as they compete for Mount Holyoke’s spot at Nationals. Everyone is feeling the intensity and wants our team to come out on top. I love the competitive atmosphere.”
What is your favorite thing about being a student-athlete at Mount Holyoke? “My favorite part about being a student athlete at Mount Holyoke are the friendships that it has provided me. It’s nice to know that I always have someone to study or grab a meal with. Some of my closest friends and biggest supporters are my teammates.”
Sport(s): Lacrosse and Field Hockey
Position: Midfield (Lacrosse) and Forward (Field Hockey)
Major: Psychology
Favorite Book: The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Fun Fact about yourself: “I was a Friendly’s food taste tester as a child”
What is your favorite activity outside of your varsity sport? “I love to hike and try new restaurants when I’m not playing.”
Describe your favorite athletics related memory at Mount Holyoke. “My favorite memory in lacrosse was when we beat Emerson in overtime my sophomore year. We were down by one with fifteen seconds left and I won the ball off the draw. I ran the ball down and scored the goal to tie up the game. We ended up winning the game after four overtime periods. I had never been so exhausted and so excited at the same time! In field hockey, my favorite memory has to be beating Wellesley, our longtime rival, in the NEWMAC Championship after losing to them for three years.”
What is your favorite thing about being a student-athlete at Mount Holyoke? “One of my favorite things about being a student-athlete here at Mount Holyoke is that the coaches, staff, and administration really care about you. They do everything they can to make sure you will be successful on and off the field. It’s not that common in a larger school to be able to walk around your athletics facilities and call everyone by name and be able to hold meaningful conversations with each of them. Getting to know everyone in the administration has been extremely beneficial for me and has even helped me secure my plans for after graduation! It’s funny to me now to hear that a lot of athletes at other colleges don’t personally know their AD’s. Here we can always count on our AD to be cheering our names in the stands of both home and away games. The time and effort the athletics department puts into us here is incredible and I never realized how much I would appreciate it until I came to Mount Holyoke.”
Sport(s): Swimming and Diving
Position: Breaststroke and Butterfly
Major: Biochemistry
Favorite Book: Right Now, Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Fun Fact about yourself: “I love otters with all my heart!”
What is your favorite activity outside of your varsity sport? “Playing hand bells with the Mount Holyoke Choir and playing ultimate frisbee with my teammates.”
Describe your favorite athletics related memory at Mount Holyoke. “When I swam in the consolation heat of the 100m Breaststroke this year at NEWMACs. I got to see my entire team cheering me on from the other side of the pool, plus friends I have made on the Smith and Wellesley teams.”
What is your favorite thing about being a student-athlete at Mount Holyoke? “That here, I’ve been empowered but I have also empowered others. That my teammates over the years have become not only my friends but my family. And that I know I’ll carry the leadership skills and memories I’ve gained wherever the future may take me.”
Sport(s): Soccer
Position: Defense
Major: Psychology
Favorite Book: To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Fun Fact about yourself: “My middle name is Rain, after a Grateful Dead song”
What is your favorite activity outside of your varsity sport? “My favorite activity outside of Soccer is to sing! I am in an acapella group.”
Describe your favorite athletics related memory at Mount Holyoke. “My favorite athletics memory at Mount Holyoke is probably the experience of coming back for preseason my sophomore year. Preseason is a physically demanding time, but it is a really great time to bond with your teammates and not have to worry about the stress of academics yet. I wasn’t nervous returning for my sophomore year because I knew what to expect and I had a group of wonderful teammates and friends waiting for me. I was so excited to be back and to make a difference on my team.”
What is your favorite thing about being a student-athlete at Mount Holyoke? “My favorite thing about being a student-athlete is the support that you get from both your team and the athletic department. Most of my friends come from my team and I can always count on any of them to have my back. My coach is also someone who will always have my back, even now when I am no longer on the team. In my first year here, I experienced a traumatic family event that disrupted the end of my spring semester. When I returned to campus, my team and the athletic department were there waiting for me with open arms to make sure that I was okay. Their support during that time is something that I am ever thankful for. I would not have made it through the remainder of the semester if it had not been for them. That support system will always be there for me no matter what, and that is what I have loved so much about my experience as a student athlete here.”
Sport(s): Volleyball
Position: Outside Hitter
Major: Statistics
Favorite Book: The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
Fun Fact about yourself: “I’ve had over twenty pets while growing up”
What is your favorite activity outside of your varsity sport? “I love to read, listen to music, and hang out with my friends when I’m not playing volleyball.”
Describe your favorite athletics related memory at Mount Holyoke. “My favorite moment on my team was probably the day of my first game my freshman year. We were all getting ready for the game and one of my teammates noticed I was nervous. She came up to me and told me that I could do this and that she believed in me.”
What is your favorite thing about being a student-athlete at Mount Holyoke? “My favorite thing about being a part of the volleyball team at MHC is seeing all the hard work my teammates put in paying off, both in the gym and in the class room. It is really nice to see my friends working hard and supporting each other in all aspects of our lives.”