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Rugby connects Mitchell alums.

Jul 15, 2021 | Stories

Andrew (Drew) Castagna ’14, Michael Genovese ’14, David Shoemaker ’18, Dan Prior ’11 and Rob Mullin ‘10 all speak highly of the academic and extracurricular activities afforded them at Mitchell College and credit its foundation with where they are today.

Although they work in a range of fields professionally, rugby ties the five men together. They are all former players on the Mitchell College Rugby Club team and now make up the governing board of Shoreline Mitchell Old Boys (MOB), an alumni rugby club with non-profit status that hosts tournaments, networking and social events, holds fundraisers and partners with Connecticut youth and high school co-ed rugby programs. One of its annual tournaments raises money for the Smiles 4 Michael: The Michael Cody DiZenzo Foundation, named for former Mitchell rugby player Michael DiZenzo, who died of myocarditis in 2015.

Castagna, the president of MOB, says, “We are continually growing upon each graduation. I am excited to reconnect our members to Mitchell, and we all look forward to watching the current Mitchell College Rugby Club play on the new turf athletic fields!”

MOB’s corresponding secretary Genovese adds, “Something about the rugby club has always stuck with me. The camaraderie in the sport of rugby is unlike anything else I have ever experienced. It is a very welcoming environment to be in. MOB is a group of mainly former Mitchell alumni members who have played or currently play rugby. We create events that keep alumni connected, as well as creating a welcoming atmosphere for all former Mitchell students and other individuals, who wish to learn and play rugby or even just socialize.”

Shoemaker, the current team captain, echoes those sentiments.

“Playing rugby allowed me to fulfill my love of sport and competition. MOB has allowed me to continue the friendships I made while attending school. Mitchell College was and is a great place to be. I still enjoy returning to campus to watch rugby matches and cannot wait to get to watch and hopefully play on the new turf field one day.”

Mullin, game day operations auxiliary for the team, says, “I can’t say enough about the game of rugby and what it’s done for me on a social and personal level. I hope to be a part of this game for years to come.”

Prior, founder of Mitchell’s rugby club team and current MOB treasurer, met his wife Stephanie (Myette) Prior and lifelong friends at Mitchell.

He sums it up by saying, “Life after Mitchell wasn’t the easiest, as we were going through a recession, but I used the same determination from starting the rugby club and succeeding in the classroom to land a job I love doing. All of the victories I have post-graduation, I owe to Mitchell College.”     

For information on how to join the MOB, contact https://mobrugby.com/.

Mitchell College and Thames at Mitchell students interested in learning more about our club rugby program should contact Joe Pardee at pardee_j@mitchell.edu or 860-701-5076.

Goodman Named Head Volleyball Coach

Jul 13, 2021 | News

NEW LONDON, Conn. – Kelsey Goodman has been named head coach of the Mitchell College women’s volleyball program, as announced by Director of Athletics Matt Finlayson on Monday.

Goodman will make her collegiate head coaching debut with the Mariners. She most recently served as an assistant coach at Randolph College in Lynchburg, Va. 

“We are excited to add Kelsey to our coaching staff,” said Finlayson. “Her coaching background and playing experience make her a good fit for Mitchell, and she is ready to lead her own program. With a talented roster returning for the fall, I think she’ll be in a good position to hit the ground running.” 

Goodman inherits a team that posted a school record 14 wins and advanced to the semifinals of the New England Collegiate Conference Championship in 2019. The Mariners return the nucleus of that group for the 2021 season. 

“I would like to thank Athletic Director Matt Finlayson, Assistant AD Casie Runksmeier and Assistant AD Todd Peretz for giving me this amazing opportunity to be the head volleyball coach at Mitchell College,” said Goodman. “I am excited for the future of the program and making an impact on the student-athletes’ lives.”

Goodman began her coaching career in 2019 as an assistant coach under Kara Matthews at Randolph. In her first season the WildCats posted 13 wins—the most since 2014—and earned a berth in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Tournament.   

Goodman assisted with all aspects of the Randolph program, including scheduling, budgeting, strength training and recruiting. In addition to her coaching duties, she also taught a physical education class at the college.

Prior to joining the staff at Randolph, Goodman worked summer camps at Midlothian High School, Richmond Volleyball Club, and STAR Volleyball Camps with head coach Tom Houser. Since 2018, she has also given private lessons to high school volleyball players.

A native of Chesterfield, Va., Goodman was a four-year letter winner in women’s volleyball at Roanoke College, where she played right side and was a captain in her senior year. She was also a member of Roanoke’s SAAC all four years. She graduated with a degree in health and physical education and went on to earn a master’s in sports management at Liberty University.

Mitchell Golfers earn MASCAC academic honors

Jul 10, 2021 | News

WESTFIELD Mass. – A pair of Mitchell College golfers were honored by the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference on Wednesday. 

Senior Jared Hoover (Milford, Conn./Milford) and sophomore Shamus McLean (Groton, Conn./Fitch)were among the 881 student-athletes selected to the 2021 MASCAC Winter/Spring All-Academic Team. Hoover received honors for the second time in his career while McLean was a first-time recipient. 

Student-athletes must maintain a 3.20 cumulative or semester-based grade point average during the semester to be eligible for selection.  

“Congratulations to the 881 student-athletes who were named to the 2021 MASCAC Winter/Spring All-Academic Team,” said Commissioner Angela Baumann. “Despite the challenges of this year, our student-athletes persevered through the adversity, and the number of honorees is a testament to that.” 

The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference, the nation’s oldest Division III men’s and women’s playing conference, has a rich and storied tradition of competitive success while celebrating excellence in the classroom. MASCAC member schools include Bridgewater State University, Fitchburg State University, Framingham State University, MCLA, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Salem State University, Westfield State University and Worcester State University. Two other institutions, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and Plymouth State University, are affiliate members of the conference in the sports of football and men’s ice hockey, while Western Connecticut State University joined the conference as a football affiliate member in 2013. Dean College, Eastern Nazarene College, Elms College, Mitchell College and Springfield College joined as men’s golf affiliates. 

Mitchell Duo Named to FCBL All-Star Game

Jul 7, 2021 | News

WEYMOUTH, Mass. — Two members of the Mitchell College baseball team were selected for the 2021 Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL) All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 13 in New Britain, Conn.

Senior outfielder Hunter Yaworski and junior pitcher Kenny Heon will represent the Mariners at the FCBL’s “midsummer classic.” The two have spent the summer playing for the Norwich Sea Unicorns, which placed a total of seven players on the all-star roster.

Yaworski, an all-conference performer this past spring with the Mariners, has played in 20 games with Norwich and is batting .295 with nine RBI. He is also tied for the team lead with five doubles. Heon has made five relief appearances and is 2-0 with a 0.96 ERA. He has struck out 15 batters while issuing only one walk in 9.1 innings of work.

Featuring an East-West format, rosters were announced on Wednesday in anticipation of the league’s first All-Star Game since 2019. The West roster includes players from the New Britain Bees, league-leading Pittsfield Suns, Vermont Lake Monsters and Westfield Starfires, while the East side includes the first-place Brockton Rox, defending champion Nashua Silver Knights, Norwich Sea Unicorns and Worcester Bravehearts.

Tickets for Tuesday’s All-Star Game can be purchased through the New Britain Bees by clicking here. Gates open at 5 p.m. while first pitch is slated for 6:35 p.m. Admission to Monday’s Home Run Derby is free of charge, with the night’s festivities including batting practices and autograph sessions with both teams.

A passion for teaching.

Jun 30, 2021 | Stories

For senior Grace Burns, the desire to be a preschool teacher started at home and has carried through to her years at Mitchell College.

“My family has fostered a lot of younger children over the years, which is what gave me the passion for working with young children.”

On campus, she participated in a practicum at the Children’s Learning Center, one of Mitchell’s on-campus career labs. There, her coursework in Early Childhood Studies was brought to life. Although cut short by the pandemic, the time spent in her practicum made an impression.

“At the Children’s Learning Center, I helped with the routine throughout the day and developed lesson plans to implement in the classroom. I enjoyed every second of it until the pandemic hit. It made me sad to leave campus and not see the children anymore.” 

Happily, Grace looks forward to another opportunity to work in the classroom this fall when she completes her senior practicum at the Friendship School in Waterford.

A Dean’s List student who earned her associate’s degree in early childhood education at Mitchell in 2020, Grace credits her time at Thames at Mitchell for her success as a Mitchell College student. Thames at Mitchell is the only college transition program in the nation fully integrated on a college campus.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today if it hadn’t been for my experience at Thames at Mitchell. My challenge was finding the right support to overcome my learning difference and transition to Mitchell College for my freshman year. My advisors Karen Sweeney and Natalie Sabino, tutor Gill Castangna and Bentsen Learning Center specialist Laura Beplat also helped me do that.”

In addition, she counts among her successes her participation on the Women’s Cross Country team, including making second team all-conference, her induction into the Chi Alpha Sigma honor society for student-athletes who maintain a minimum 3.4 GPA during their junior and senior years, and serving as a student ambassador.

Grace has already secured a position at a childcare facility for when she wraps up her requirements for her bachelor’s degree in December.

“Mitchell’s small-knit community, individualized learning and support and unique learning experience are all standouts to me that have helped me be successful in working toward my goals. I am excited for the future!”