Staff Writer
Brittany Baglow of the women’s gymnastics team and Josh Ernst of the men’s swimming and diving team and have earned the Springfield Student Newspaper Players of the Week award for 12/07/11 through 12/14/11.
Athletes of the Week for 12/07/11–12/14/11
Brittany Baglow
It’s under a month before the women’s gymnastics team begins its 2012 season. Jan. 8 the Pride travel to Providence, R.I. and take on Rhode Island College in the first meet of the season. The season looks to be very promising for the junior. Last season Baglow earned National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) First-Team All-Amercian Honors on the balance beam. The Amherst, Mass. native was the only SC female gymnast to represent the team at nationals. She scored a 9.500 and finished for a sixth-place tie. The top six finishers are named First-Team All-Americans. Baglow looks to return to nationals this spring, which will be held in Brockport, N.Y. Springfield has a lot to look forward to in the future as only two seniors are on the 2012 roster. Springfield doesn’t have its first home meet until Jan. 22, when they host Brockport.
Q. How has coach Raymond’s experience proved beneficial to your tenure at SC?
A. Coach Raymond has been a part of the Springfield College Gymnastics program for so long that her experience really shows in her management and handling of the team’s success.
Q. What do you look forward to the most as the season begins?
A. This season I am really looking forward to improving on our team success from last year. When it comes to pre-season, it’s hard to say how we will match up with other teams in competition, but this year I am really excited for the chance to prove how hard we have been working.
Q. How motivated will you be this year after a successful season last year?
A. I was really happy with how the season ended at Nationals last year, but this year we aren’t focusing on individual success. We’re all motivated by each other to do our best for the team, which hopefully means we qualify to go to Nationals this year as a team. night together.
Josh Ernst
The senior swimmer helped Springfield College improve its record (3-2) to over .500 this past Saturday as the Pride defeated Middlebury 154-146. Ernst, won two events last Saturday to help his team’s efforts. The West Springfield, Mass. native won the 50-yard backstroke with a time of 25.67 seconds. He also captured the 100-back in just under 55 seconds at 54.24. The Elementary Education major also had a second-place finish in the 100 individual medley in 56.48 seconds. He also took second place in the 400 medlay realy in a time of 3:38.74. This victory is coming off the heels of a third-place finish at the Ithaca Invitational. Springfield gets a much deserved break from competition for about three weeks, as the Pride don’t have another meet until Jan. 7 when they travel to Schenectady, N.Y. to take on Union.
Q.How is it competing with your brother on the same team?
A. My brother, Ben and I have been competing on the same teams since we were much younger, so it actually feels completely natural. We specialize in different events so we rarely compete head to head, but I enjoy having him around.
Q. What compels you to keep the team motivated for meets?
A. TThe swim team is like a family, so its like swimming with a big group of brothers. Watching everyone else swim well is one of the best ways to stay motivated.
Q.How do you prepare for meets?
A. I have a very specific warm up I go through at every meet no matter where we are. Besides that I listen to some music, a little rap or hardcore, and hang out with the rest of the guys on the team.
Q. Which facility has been the nicest facility in which you’ve competed?
A. The two nicest pools we’ve been at would have to be Ithaca, who just built a brand new facilty, and MIT who have the best facility in New England. They are both fast pools that I’ve always performed well in them.
Ricky Mazella may be reached at nlovett@springfieldcollege.edu