By wpengine
Denial. That is definitely the word I will use to describe my next month here in Ithaca. In fact, I’ve already started. This is not my last column. And this cannot be the last week of school, and I definitely cannot be graduating in a few weeks. I mean honestly, who needs the real world? I hear it’s highly overrated. To fully succumb to this ailment I’ve been contemplating not writing this week — Scott Jones will threaten not to run it anyway — just to prolong the inevitable. Why would I want to give this up? Not only do I get to speak with great coaches and athletes, but also with the wide array of individuals that read the paper. How else could I get a bunch of slightly inebriated random readers at any of Collegetown’s drinking establishments to walk up to me say, “I liked your column,” and then stumble back to the bar? Unbelievably that really means a lot; I used to think only my parents read this! Seriously though, last week I was asked by an athlete if I was going to be sentimental and reflective, but I really don’t think that’s my style. In truth, I’ve never been good at good-byes. So it has been difficult to sit and write this — remember I’m suffering from a strong case of denial — because it does mean so much more than a final moniker. These last few key strokes signify one last sports event, one last press conference, one last run to campus, one last drink at the Palms and one last three-hour conversation about nothing, yet everything. These key strokes are not only ending my column, but also my Cornell career. When I transferred here three years ago, I could never have imagined how much I would change. It was not only a geographic move that occurred when I took a right on 81 as opposed to following the familiar left. These three years have been a learning experience, as has writing this column. Which leads me to my moniker; there are a few people who have been wondering about its meaning since August. Surprisingly enough it was the one person whom the title came from that questioned its underlying meaning the most. My favorite times in high school were Sunday evenings when my dad and I would play lacrosse way past daylight on deserted fields. We would challenge each other, beating imaginary defenders and goalkeepers, always hitting the game winner at just the last moment. It was during those times that my dad always reminded me, “Shoot Early and Often.” It was this advice that I took with me to Geneseo where Early and Often became my lacrosse mantra. Without fail, those were the last words I would hear from my father before the start of every game. It was those words that mean more than he will ever know. So although it got a few raised eyebrows followed by a standing ovation over beers at Lindy’s one Saturday night, it inevitably won over its biggest doubters. Like I said, I’m miserable at good-byes, so I’m going to settle for thank yous, starting with the two most important people. Mom and Dad, you are the best parents anyone could ask for and I know you have become surrogates to quite a few friends. The sacrifices and stress you have put up with, this semester alone, are amazing. I don’t know any other parents that would drive six hours every weekend to some random field in miserable upstate weather, so as not to miss a game, and without fail have enough goodies and inspiration to go around. Not to mention the stacks of columns that can be produced at a moments notice. You really are the best, and I could not express in these few lines how much you both mean to me! As far as older brothers go, I lucked out with you Chip. You will never know how amazing I think you are, and how much you have taught me. I am so proud of you and all of your accomplishments. “Bro,” thank you — Deirdre too! Unk … these columns haven’t gotten me expelled yet … in fact I think they might actually let me graduate from this fine institution. I’m so glad that I’ll be able to share that day with you. Thanks for being the best “Unk” any girl could ask for. Thank you to everyone at Geneseo. Denise, I honestly don’t know what I would do without you. Thanks for being my partner in crime, in the CIA, in lacrosse, and being my best friend. Oh and the brain is doing OK! Gonnella, thank you for being my big sister and always making sure I get in just enough trouble and always being there to bail me out! Meg, you are definitely my co-conspirator and there is no one I would rather share a sloe gin fizz with. Just remember, “There are two rules tonight …” Too bad they never lasted, well, maybe not! Thank you to everyone in Pi Phi. You have made my three years here so much fun and I couldn’t imagine Cornell without any of you. Everyday I am so amazed at how different and spectacular you all are. There is no one else I could imagine going out with on Saturday, Friday, Thursday, Wednesday — I should stop now — night. Molly, your Hawaiian flair is unbelievable. You are so genuine, and definitely my favorite person to get in trouble with. If I tried to write about all of the crazy times we’ve had, I’d go on for pages. Karoke to CMT’s Top Ten … enough said. Alyssa, what a roommate! I can’t believe after our semester in the house, you would want to take me back. You’re by far the kindest, most sincere person I know. Never change. Victoria, I honestly don’t think I would have been able to get through this semester without your phone calls, cards, and trips to Syracuse airport. You’re the best! Thank you also to Brian and Jeremy in Athletic Communications, to Professor Brian Earle, who has been the greatest professor and advisor. I probably wouldn’t even be at Cornell if it weren’t for you. Thank you to my roommates, to my favorite Syosset alums, to the Non Danglers, to Amy, and to everyone else that I have shared these past four years with. Also thank you to the wonderful coaches I was lucky enough to cover, especially the men’s lacrosse staff, Coach Dick Blood, Coach Steve Donahue and Coach Bryan Scales. You will never be able to imagine how enjoyable your conversations have been. The amount of time you give us is unbelievable, and your enthusiasm and willingness amazing. A huge thank you to all of the great athletes that make this job so much fun; with special thanks to Ryan McClay and the rest of the men’s lacrosse team. Thanks also to Jacques Vigneualt, Eric Taylor, Liam Hoban, and every other athlete I have been fortunate enough to write about and cheer on. Thank you also to everyone in the Sports corner. I couldn’t imagine playing hockey, football, soccer, or whatever type of equipment we could get our hands on, with anyone else. Thank yous abound to Amanda, Alex, Alex, Scott, Owen, and Janiga. The amount of time you devote to this paper, and the enthusiasm you do it with, amazes me! Lacrosse next week, anyone? Although I’d like to write something witty or memorable, I’m in denial. And that would be the first step to admitting I was leaving this place. Instead, have a great summer. Early and Often will be appearing every other Wednesday next semester — just not in the Daily Sun — if Jones agrees to print it. — Kristen Haunss is a Sun staff writer. Early and Often has appeared every other Wednesday this semester.Archived article by Kristen Haunss
By wpengine
On May 25, roughly 3,000 seniors will say good-bye to Cornell for the last time at commencement as they move on to find jobs, travel the world, or head to grad school. Many of these graduates will take with them fond memories of friends, parties, sporting events, choral performances, or academic honors. Few, however, will leave knowing that they helped build a program and bring the Red national recognition. For the 20 seniors on the men’s and women’s track teams, however, this is exactly the legacy they will leave behind when they receive their diplomas. When these senior athletes arrived at Cornell as freshmen in the fall of 1999, they had high hopes, but relatively few credentials. “My first year here, I hadn’t recruited any of the freshmen and I was doubtful that they would amount to much of anything,” said men’s head coach Nathan Taylor. “They had some fair performances in high school but nothing truly outstanding and, as with most freshmen, it was a very difficult transition, and many of them struggled for their entire first year.” Perhaps these struggles and the frustration of initially losing to Ivy League and Heptagonal rivals early in their careers inspired these seniors to work harder than their competition to make it to the top. Or perhaps they were just diamonds in the rough. Whatever the reason, this year’s graduating class of track athletes has done more to lead their teams, produce league championships, and bring the Red into the national spotlight than virtually any class before them. “Working with this class, I’ve seen them get better every year as athletes,” said Taylor. “They have become more serious about themselves as athletes. They have sacrificed more each year in an effort to become as good as they can be.” During their first seasons as Cornell athletes, these seniors saw the women’s team take third, and the men, seventh place at the indoor Heptagonal championships. In the meet, then-freshmen Katy Jay and Natalie Whelan got their first tastes of championship competition. Jay, a state champion from Mitchell, Nebraska, ran as a member of the third place 4x400m relay, and Whelan held a spot on the second-place 4x800m team. None of this year’s senior men placed at the meet. Since, seniors on both teams have devoted themselves year-round to improving themselves and their teams. Over the next three years, both teams steadily improved as they strove to reach their ultimate goals of winning the Ivy League and Heptagonal championships. As sophomores, Travis Offner recorded a fourth place finish in the pole vault and Brett Coffing took third in the shot put to help the men move up two spots into fifth place overall at the indoor Heps championships. Jay, Whelan, Caitlin Ramsey, and other classmates on the women’s team contributed top times on the track and marks in the field to beat Ivy foes in league competition and place in national meets at the University of California Irvine and at the Long Beach Invitational. These successes whetted the appetites of the athletes in this class and coming into their junior year, they were hungrier than ever to finally capture the Heps and titles which had eluded them since starting at Cornell. That year, the women finally broke through, winning both the indoor and outdoor Heps titles — their first since 1997. And, though the men did not emerge as champions, they were on the cusp of victory, placing fourth in the outdoor championship by a slim margin. Powering their teams throughout that season were members of the junior class. Jay led the women by setting seven individual school records and anchoring five more record-breaking relay teams. For her outstanding performances, she also earned the USTCA’s North East Regional Athlete of the Year and Ivy League MVP. Jay alone did not win these championships, however; the entire women’s team was bolstered by record-setting juniors. Tina Davis, Carlan Gray, Sarah Herskee, Conniel Arnold, and Whelan all ended up in the Red record books that year. Junior men also gave everything they had to lead their team to its best Heps finish in years. Travis Offner set a new all-time Cornell record in the pole vault, and Quinton Carew, Mike Kiselycnyk, Barry Kahn, Offner, Scott Benowicz, Coffing, Derek Kingrey, Daryn Johnson, Mike Harbeck, Geoff Van Fleet, and Dan Dombroski all led the team in their respective events. During the tough practices, victories, and losses that both teams experienced in their first three years together, a tight bond had formed among teammates. “Some of my favorite memories are just of spending time with teammates at practice and traveling to competitions,” said Harbeck. Jay said similarly, “My favorite memories are always road trips with my team. The two that stick in my mind the most are the California spring trips and the trip to England with the University of Pennsylvania’s men’s and women’s teams.” The friendships members of this class formed drove them to help one another improve in practice and give their best in meets. At no time was their camaraderie more evident than during this, their senior year. During the past indoor season and so far this spring, both teams have built winning streaks unparalleled in Cornell history. In finishes befitting only such a class, the seniors led both the men’s and women’s teams to dual indoor Heptagonal championships and unprecedented success at the ECACs and at the prestigious Sea Ray Relays and Penn Relays. For the first time since 1978, the men’s team won Heps, and the women repeated as Heps champions along with placing a record-high fifth place at ECACs. Additionally, the accomplishments of Cornell’s teams under the leadership of the seniors gained national recognition as the USTCA Power Rankings placed the women’s team as high as 18th, and the men 24th in the country. Crediting his seniors with leading their team to victory and national prominence, Taylor said, “Their biggest accomplishment was the evolution of their leadership. Without this evolution, the synergism that is needed to develop a successful team never materializes. The crowning glory to this was the Heps championship, Cornell’s first in 25 years.” In the coming weeks, these seniors will lead their teams for the last time into the outdoor Heps championships, ECACs, IC4As, and NCAAs. The outlook for championship performances is high, and as they have done for the past four years, these seniors will give everything they have to come home victorious. But regardless of how well it does, this class can leave Ithaca with a sense of accomplishment knowing that it helped take their teams and Cornell to the top.Archived article by Everett Hullverson