SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. -- Thirtieth-year head coach Aldo Santiago couldn't help but express some skepticism about taking his Mount Holyoke College tennis team in a northerly direction on its spring break trip.
"It seems a little crazy, right? Normally you'd think we'd go somewhere... warmer!" he laughed.
And yes, the Lyons did encounter a snowstorm. But Santiago and his team graciously took advantage of the opportunity to stay in a player's relative's home, built the trip around a match at Bates College, and voila: a spring break trip not to warmer climes but instead to the famed Down East region of Maine. A trip which became a certain highlight for everyone in the program.
"It was a really great opportunity to bond with the whole team -- you learn a lot about each other when you're all cooking and sleeping together!" said sophomore captain Annika Chai (London, England). "It was also great because we were able to get match ready for the season."
Even the snowstorm that nobody asked for, which hit a wide swath of the United States, somehow seemed to enhance the team experience.
"The snowstorm while we were there was funny," Chai said. "Luckily, we were able to have a lazy morning but still went to training in the evening. Aldo skilfully drove us all through the storm, but it was amusing how slowly we had to travel!"
The Lyons of tennis, lacrosse and rowing all entered spring break at different stages of their respective athletic seasons, and together they spread a wide geographic net. But with a common denominator of strengthened team bonds, all three programs seemed to benefit significantly from their trips.
Rowing in South Carolina
An assistant coach at the start of the academic year, Cara Murphy '14 was promoted to head coach after the team's short fall regatta season.
And with the Lyons' primary competition season set to begin April 1, Murphy wanted to ensure that along with enjoying the warmer weather and fun team traditions, the team got as much on-water training in as possible.
Clemson University's well-known home rowing facility, Lake Hartwell, provided well-timed preparation, particularly for the team's relative newcomers and coxswains. The Lyons were able to scrimmage against Purdue University's crew while there.
"Our spring training trip is integral to our preparation for racing in the spring," said Murphy, a four-year rower with the team she now coaches less than a decade ago. "We took our last strokes on the water as a team on Oct. 23, and the Connecticut River can be an intimidating or unsafe environment to take the first strokes back in the spring.
"We had a productive trip, getting lots of important strokes on the water. We enjoyed good weather most days and embraced the wind when it did blow, since we don't get many opportunities at home to row in bumpy water. We're grateful to all who make it possible for us to take this trip every year."
Lacrosse in Texas
The Lyons of Mount Holyoke lacrosse got two games under their belts in New England this season before they flew to Austin last week for a trip that included games against two out-of-region opponents in Sewanee (Tenn.) and North Central (Ill.).
A young team with no seniors and another first-year alum head coach in Annie O'Byrne '13, the Lyons had a blast, not only due to their 18-4 victory over North Central.
"Austin, Texas, was a first time visit for many of us," said sophomore captain Madison Millyan (Winchester, Mass.). "Through the early departure from Logan Airport and the practices in heat that we weren't quite use to, each team member entered it with a smile on their face. Texas allowed our new and young team to come together not only on the field but also off the field by doing activities such as riding a zip line, shopping in downtown Austin, karaoke night, and walking through caverns. Spring break in Texas will be a forever memory!"
