Staff Writer
Jen Kapinos of the women’s track and field team and Nick Ferry of the men’s soccer team led their teammates to NEWMAC championships over the weekend and have earned the Springfield Student Newspaper Players of the Week award for 02/09/12 through 02/15/12.
Athletes of the Week for 02/09/12–02/15/12
Jennifer Kapinos
Jennifer Kapinos, a second-year member of the women’s track and field team, had an exceptional performance at the MIT Co-ed Invitational this past weekend. Kapinos won the 600 meters in a time of 1:40.55. Kapinos, the native of nearby Agawam, Mass., also helped Springfield out in the 4×800, which finished first with a time of 10:10.39. The psychology major has already qualified for multiple post-season championships. The Springfield women’s track and field team has a big upcoming meet this Saturday as they head to the New England Division III Championships. In five scoring meets this season, the Pride have finished first in three of them.
Q. How are you going to prepare for these upcoming events?
A. The only way to really prepare is to continue working hard and really give your 100 perecent in the next several weeks. It’s also really important to eat healthy and hydrate, and it is as equally as important to have a positive attitude and confidence when competing.
Q. What will it be like to transition for the indoor aspect to the open-air atmosphere in a month’s time?
A. The transition really isn’t too difficult because track seasons have a cycle. By the end of the indoor season we start to have lighter workouts so that we can be at our full potential for championships. The outdoor season will start with lighter workouts to ease us back into routine and then eventually we start to train harder for the duration of the season.
Q. What makes the team continually succeed based on coach Pennington’s standards?
A. Coach Pennington has a tough job because he oversees so many events at practices and meets. He always finds time to see how our times were at practice or at a meet and makes sure we’re meeting our goals. We also receive a lot of support from the men’s team as well, both the coaches and the athletes.
Nick Ferry
Nick Ferry, along with his fellow SC teammates, did what no other Pride squad had done before, and that was to win the Morgan Classic. This past weekend, the Pride took down UC Santa Cruz and Lees-McRae to take home the school’s first title. Freshman outside hitter Angel Perez was elected as the tournament’s MVP, but sophomore libero Nick Ferry was just as crucial to SC’s success. Ferry had 14 digs in Springfield’s 3-1 win over UC Santa Cruz on Saturday. He followed that strong effort with 10 more digs on Sunday in the 3-0 championship match win over Lees-McRae. Ferry and the Pride have yet to lose in the month of February. Springfield has won six consecutive matches, seven of which have been clear 3-0 sweeps. The Pride are back in action against Mt. St. Vincent on Friday night at Blake Arena, which begins at 7 p.m.
Q.In 25 Seasons, this is the first Morgan Classic title for SC; how does it feel to keep the hardware home this year?
A. It truly is a honor to even participate in this tournament, let alone win it. It’s a cool feeling, but we know we have more work to put in.
Q. What makes a tournament so tedious to participate in back-to-back days compared to practice and a game in that same time frame?
A. The emotion that is involved in a game is really intense, but we like to simulate that emotion in practices as well so we are always prepared.
Q. What distinguishes collegiate competition from high school competition?
A. The level of play is so different, even incomparable. Coaching is at a higher level. A higher level of focus has to be sustained in college as well.
Q. How has coach Sullivan kept your team focused?
A. Coach Sullivan stresses our focus on every point and giving full effort and focus in practice and games. He is very good at keeping our focus in the right place.
Ricky Mazella may be reached at nlovett@springfieldcollege.edu