T h e B o B c a T
Inspiring facts about our athletics program, plus
conversations with players, coache s, and alumni.
Bates
B a t e s C o l l e g eL e w i s t o n , M a i n e
T h e r e w i l l b e w i n n i n g .
Records will be broken, teammates will pile on top
of each other, trophies will be held up in front of
cheering crowds.
But when it’s all over, what stays with you isn’t just
the record or the win column. What you carry for a
lifetime is the passion, the work ethic, the willingness
to test your limits, the experience of believing, if only
for a moment, that there are no limits.
That’s called being a Bobcat. That’s called a
Bates education.
Never Stop
A f T e r w i n n i n g T h e n C A A T i T l e , w h A T C o m e s n e x T ?
What were the NCAA championships like?
“The week before the meet, I’d stay awake for hours every night,
thinking about what would happen. When I finally arrived and
practiced at the facility, my anxiety leveled off. I was still incredibly
nervous and slightly intimidated, but I realized that a lot of my
competitors were just as nervous as I was.”
Where do you go after winning the title?
“You just want to get better. It’s great to perform at such a high level,
but that’s not a stopping point. The day I got back from the meet, I
went back to the weight room to lift. My goal is to eclipse the 60-foot
barrier in the shot.”
Throwing seems like a solitary sport. Is there much team spirit?
“This sounds like a cliché, but I owe my success to my teammates.
chris Murtagh, ethan Waldman—their leadership made me the
athlete I am. They’re my motivation. When we’re successful, we’re
successful together.”
DAv i D P l e s s , sophomore, atlanta,
G eorgia, philosophy, shot put,
2011 Ncaa Division III champion
PAT C o s q u e r ’ 9 7, coach, men’s and
women’s squash
C h e r i -A n n PA r r i s , sophomore,
St . Philip, Barbados, biology, squash
All Together Now
T h e i n s P i r A T i o n b e h i n D b A T e s ’ r e D - h o T s q u A s h T e A m s
What inspires you?
Pat: “My players. I’m thinking of one guy who’s had complications
with his legs and ankles his entire life and has to fight through real
pain to play. he’s the first guy at practice and the last to leave, every
day, without fail. he joined the team as a walk-on; this year he’s our
captain. or cheri-ann. her determination has transformed the
women’s squash program. These are courageous, strong-willed
people. They’re here for a reason.”
Cheri-Ann: “I want to be an example for kids; I want to inspire them,
help them achieve as much as they can. The best way to do that is to
achieve as much as I can.”
Talk about a challenge you’ve faced and how you overcame it.
Cheri-Ann: “The Under-19 final of the 2009 caribbean Junior
championships. This was my last junior tournament, and I was
playing the finals in my home country. I was terribly tense in the
first two games, which caused me to lose both. By the third game, I
focused on each point rather than the outcome of the match. That
shift of focus improved my composure, and I won 3-2.”
Pat: “It’s a challenge to maintain a team outlook with such a diverse group
of players. There’s no room for self-doubt on a squash team. So we work
on developing a culture of trust and respect. We’re here for each other.”
n oA h ly n D (not pictured) , senior,
Meriden, New hampshire, physics,
baseball (first base and pitcher)
The
Winner’s Circle
A r e C o r D s e A s o n , A n D A T e A m o n T h e v e r g e o f s o m e T h i n g b i g How did you adjust to your new coach?
“Right from the start, coach Leonard had us focusing on the right
things: hard work and discipline. he insists that we block out what
the other team is doing or saying and focus on our own best game.”
How is baseball like life?
“You always work for success, but you have to know how to respond
to failure. The biggest challenge in baseball is to be mentally tough.
It’s easy to feel sorry for yourself when things don’t go your way,
but that’s the wrong reaction. The biggest skill I have as a result of
baseball is my ability to react positively to a negative result.”
What’s been your proudest moment at Bates?
“Being a member of this team. This year we got the most wins in the
history of the baseball program—that’s a huge achievement. We trust
each other, on and off the field, and that led to a lot of fun, and a lot of
wins. I expect that next year’s team will set the next record.”
Common Ground
l e s s o n s i n b u i l D i n g o n e o f T h e C o u n T r y ’ s l e g e n D A r y s k i P r o g r A m s
What does it take to be a great Nordic skier?
“Dedication, determination, confidence. and a good sense of humor.”
How do you build a successful program?
“It takes a balance of talent and character. You look for great student
athletes who can manage their academics and training seamlessly.
You look for people who are committed to getting better, every day,
every race. and you want to build a common ground for all your
skiers to improve and grow, as skiers and as people. Some of our
skiers go on to be olympic athletes; some don’t. But every member of
our program should have a role in our success.”
What distinguishes Bates skiers?
“I think they’re humble. They do exceptional things all the time, but if
you didn’t ask, you’d never know. I think that’s a common trait across
athletics here at Bates.”
What’s your coaching style?
“Most of the time I’m pretty laid back—but once I get on the race
course, look out. You can hear me a mile away.”
b e C k y wo o D s ’89,
coach, Nordic skiing
(with Sylvan e llefson ’ 10,
all-american)
k ev i n h e l m , junior, Norwell,
Massachusetts, history, football
(inside linebacker) and lacrosse
(defense)
The Commitment
T w o s P o r T s , n o D o w n T i m e , A l l u P s i D e
Lacrosse and football—that sounds like a serious commitment.
“There’s not a lot of down time. But when you make a commitment as
an athlete, you’re helping yourself make a commitment as a student.
If I skip a film session before a game, I can’t play at the highest level.
If I skip a reading for a class, I can’t participate at a high level. It all
works together.”
Who’s made a big impact on you as an athlete?
“of all the coaches I’ve had in my career, coach harriman—in
football—is the one I respect the most. It’s all about accountability on
his team. he wants us to focus on the things we can control—attitude
and effort—and bring them every day.”
How do you respond when you lose?
“I’ll be honest: In football, we haven’t had phenomenal success
recently. But we’re resilient. If our backs are against the wall, we push
harder. We expect a breakout season, and every day, every workout,
every game, that’s what we play for.”
The Core
A s T e l l A r T h r o w e r r e f l e C T s o n l i f e A f T e r b A T e s
How did you get involved with throwing?
“I’d never heard of the weight throw before I came to Bates. But Bates
has a long and illustrious history in the sport, and I fell in love with
it—the way it combines strength and technical coordination. The
coach at the time had coached 44 athletes to all-american awards.
he was a real inspiration to me. he’s still the voice in my head telling
me I can do anything.”
How did you balance your time at Bates?
“I was far more productive as a student when I was an in-season
athlete. I was more scheduled and focused. I would go from class to
practice to dinner to the library to study. That’s a great routine, and it
worked for most of the athletes I knew. You learn to plan ahead, try
not to procrastinate, and prioritize. That pays off in life after Bates.”
What part of your experience as an athlete at Bates do you carry
with you?
“It comes in handy each and every day. Work hard, don’t give up,
believe in yourself, respect your teammates and your competitors—
those ideas were drilled into me at Bates, and they’re still the core of
how I live my life.”
e r i k A b r i s T o l ’0 0, University of
connecticut L aw ’06, attorney,
L ewiston, Maine, weight throw
vA r s i T y T e A m s
We field 31 intercollegiate teams, nearly all of which compete in NeScac, arguably the most
competitive conference in the Ncaa’s Division III.
Men
alpine Skiing
Baseball
Basketball
cross country
Football
Golf
Indoor Track and Field
Lacrosse
Nordic Skiing
outdoor Track and Field
Rowing
Soccer
Squash
Swimming and Diving
Tennis
Women
alpine Skiing
Basketball
cross country
Field hockey
Golf
Indoor Track and Field
Lacrosse
Nordic Skiing
outdoor Track and Field
Rowing
Soccer
Softball
Squash
Swimming and Diving
Tennis
Volleyball
n e s C A C : T h e n e w e n g l A n D s m A l l C o l l e g e A T h l e T i C C o n f e r e n C e
Three things to know about Bates and NeScac:
1. We’re about balance.
NeScac member schools are committed to robust athletics programs that exist in harmony
with robust academic programs. In many cases the conference goes beyond Ncaa Division III
guidelines to maintain that harmony.
2. We’re about opportunity.
NeScac schools believe that athletic teams should be representative of the entire student body. That’s
why we don’t offer athletic scholarships, and we award financial aid solely on the basis of need.
3. We’re in good company.
Bates is a sustaining charter member of NeScac. other members include amherst, Bowdoin, colby,
connecticut college, hamilton, Middlebury, Trinity, Tufts, Wesleyan, and Williams. That’s good—and
exceptionally strong—company.
Alumni Gymnasium (basketball, volleyball)
consistently rated one of the toughest home
courts in the Ncaa.
Bates Squash Center
completed in 2004. Five international-size
courts, exercise equipment, lots of mojo.
Campus Avenue Field (field hockey)
astroTurf 12 surface, full lighting.
Davis Fitness Center
In Underhill. More than 5,000 square feet of
squat racks and platforms, free weights and
dumbbells, and a complete fitness circuit.
Garcelon Field (football, lacrosse)
Next to commons, close to the heart of campus.
Recent upgrades include a FieldTurf surface,
lights, and a new grandstand. originally built in
1899, making it one of the most historic fields in
college football.
Lafayette Street Field (softball)
enclosed dugouts, outdoor batting cage.
Leahey Baseball Field
New scoreboard, new fencing system, and one
of the best-draining fields in the region.
Merrill Gymnasium (track and field, tennis)
one of the premier indoor tracks in the
Northeast, featuring a 200-meter, six-lane
Mondo Super-X track. also includes squash
and racquetball courts, four tennis courts, a
cardiovascular fitness center, and the Marcy
Plavin Dance Studios.
Rowing Boathouse
Located in Greene, a few miles from Lewiston,
on a lovely 10-mile stretch of the androscoggin
River. home to our fleet of eight-, four-, and pair-
oared shells.
Russell Street Track and Field (soccer, outdoor
track and field)
an eight-lane bi-radial track with a 10-lane
straightaway and a Mondo Super-X surface. The
natural grass infield is home to our soccer pitch.
Tarbell Pool (swimming and diving)
In Merrill. eight lanes, 25-meter or 25-yard
configurations, and an underwater window.
Underhill Arena
Includes a 200-foot by 85-foot ice rink and the
Davis Fitness center.
Wallach Tennis Center
eight Plexicushion courts, full lighting,
stadium seating for 500 and an observation
deck for coaches.
f A C i l i T i e s
2,000 students
46 states
65 countries
33 majors
20 students in the average class
10 to 1 student to faculty ratio
100% of faculty hold highest degree in their field
100% of students complete a capstone or thesis
70% of students study abroad
31 NeScac Division III teams
110 student clubs, open to all
160 community partnerships through the
harward center
0 fraternities and sororities
5 weeks in spring Short Term
109 acres on Lewiston campus
600 acres in Bates–Morse Mountain
conservation area
$33,000 average financial aid package
24,000 alumni
A C A D e m i C s our academic program is intensive, cross-disciplinary, and hands-on, from the first-year seminar
to the required senior thesis. a few highlights: funded research opportunities, internships with
regional and national firms, community-based learning opportunities through our harward
center, and access to dozens of study abroad programs around the world.
Majors
african american
Studies
american cultural
Studies
anthropology
art and Visual culture
Biological chemistry
Biology
chemistry
chinese
classical and
Medieval Studies
Dance
east asian Studies
economics
english
environmental
Studies
French
Geology
German
history
Japanese
Mathematics
Music
Neuroscience
f A C T s
Philosophy
Physics
Politics
Psychology
Religion
Rhetoric
Russian
Sociology
Spanish
Theater
Women and
Gender Studies
C A m P u s l i f e campus life revolves around more than 100 student-run clubs and organizations,
which are open to all students. highlights: about 60 percent of our students play on an
intramural team, every student is automatically a member of the Bates outing club, our
dining hall (commons) features local produce and a global menu, and you’ll have to ask
us about the Puddle Jump.
Philosophy
Physics
Politics
Psychology
Religion
Rhetoric
Russian
Sociology
Spanish
Theater
Women and
Gender Studies
l e w i s T o n A n D m A i n e
Lewiston is the second-largest city (pop. 40,000) in Maine. It’s on the androscoggin River, about
40 miles north of Portland. Both Lewiston and its twin city, auburn, are former mill towns with
French canadian roots, a vibrant Somali community, and an entrepreneurial spirit. Maine is a big,
wild, self-determined, community-oriented Northeastern state. The rising sun touches Maine first,
because people are busy and there’s a lot to get done.
A D m i s s i o n
We’re interested in people who work hard, take intellectual risks, believe that education isn’t
confined to a classroom, and get deeply involved in their community. We were one of the first
colleges to make SaT/acT scores optional for admission.
f i n A n C i A l A i D
Nearly half of our students receive financial aid; the average annual aid package is about $33,000.
Bates meets 100 percent of demonstrated financial need, with a financial aid budget of about
$22 million.
v i s i T i n g
Visiting us is easy and eye-opening. You can talk to coaches, students, professors; you can eat at
commons; you can take a tour and talk to one of our admission counselors. We’re close to Portland
and two hours north of Boston. Directions and details at www.bates.edu/admission/visit/.
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