Amidst the homecoming excitement and activity this past weekend, the Friends of Amherst Athletics hosted Eras of Triumph: Celebrating 40 Years of women’s athletics at Amherst on Friday, Nov. 11 in Alumni Gymnasium. The 2016-2017 school year marks the 40th anniversary of women’s athletics at the college, and the event was organized in an effort to honor both the pioneers of the integration of women in athletics and the decorated athletes that have helped Amherst to become one of the most competitive NCAA Division III institutions in women’s sports.
In its final week of competition, the Amherst women’s cross country team managed to clinch seventh place out of 59 teams at the New England Regional Championship held at Westfield State University.
As had been the case all year, first-year Katherine Treanor and junior Nicky Roberts were outstanding for the purple and white. Treanor placed third overall in the 406 runner field, with a time of 21:22.37, trailing second place finisher Megan McCandless of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology by a mere six seconds and first place Brittany Bowman of Tufts by eight.
Tuesday, Nov. 1 marked the first official practice for Amherst women’s ice hockey’s 2016-2017 season. The purple and white are excited to get back on the ice and get started after an offseason of training and preparation. Last season, the women ended their 2015-2016 campaign with a tough loss to Plattsburgh State in the first round of the NCAA tournament, the team which would go on to win the championship. Nonetheless, they finished with an impressive 22-3-3 record (13-1-2 in the conference) and a NESCAC championship appearance.
In the 131st meeting of the “Biggest Little Game in America”, the Amherst football team scored 28 unanswered points to notch a 28-3 victory over archrival Williams Saturday, Nov. 12 at Pratt Field on homecoming weekend.
This win snaps Amherst football’s three-game losing streak and concludes their season at 4-4 overall. Both rival teams faced particularly disappointing seasons after losing significant talent on the field, with Williams finishing its 2016 campaign 0-8 — the first time the Ephs have gone winless in a season since 1947.
The Amherst men’s soccer team is on course to repeat as Division III national champions. After being granted a bye in the first round of the tournament, the purple and white took on Daniel Webster College in the round of 32 at home on Sunday, Nov. 13. With a commanding 3-0 win, Amherst advanced to next weekend’s Sweet 16.
This Saturday, Nov. 12, the Amherst men’s cross country team made the short trip to Stanley Park in Westfield, Massachusetts for the NCAA Division III New England Championships, hosted by Westfield State University. The team placed third in the competitive 52-team field, scoring 141 points and earning an at-large bid for the NCAA Division III National Championships.
With its third-place finish, the team earned its third consecutive berth to Division III Nationals, demonstrating the strength and consistency the program has enjoyed in recent years.
Recognized in education for her diligence and leadership, Angela Brown ’00 asks the big questions and lives through faith and compassion.
A Natural Transition
When she first made the decision to attend Amherst, Brown did not have to travel far. Though she grew up in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia, she spent three years at Phillips Academy Andover, an elite private high school near Boston, Massachusetts. After graduating from Andover, the choice to enroll at Amherst was easy.
