2008 Woodie Awards
Hounds Notebook
James Fuccione
Issue date: 2/5/05 Section: Sports
Following in the on-and-off history of the Assumption College Track and Field program, an announcement was made to discontinue the team after this spring season. Dr. Catherine Woodbrooks of Student Life and the athletic directors broke the news to the coaches and their teams who were the first to know.
"It's painful to let down students and I know this is a big let down," said Woodbrooks. "The decision [to discontinue track] was not made without a thorough review."
Men's and Women's track was made into a varsity pilot program in the 2002-2003 academic year after alumni who participated in track at AC got the ball rolling by offering to raise donations over a two year period. At that time there were 110 students who participated in the track club so there was never any question about interest or having the numbers to participate. Before that, Track and Field was only a varsity program from 1969 to 1989. From 1990 to 1999, Track and Field did not exist at Assumption in any shape or form.
The past few years have been a trial run full of challenges. The student athletes of the track program have looked past the insufficient facilities and funding. They have balanced school with meets and practices as well as any other sport. Unfortunately, not having those facilities or resources figured into the decision to terminate track as a pilot program. Dr. Catherine Woodbrooks became Vice President of Student Life during the first year of the track experiment and, after an extensive review of athletics at the college, had to break the news that the second trial year would be the last. The Track and Field members and coaches convinced her to extend the trial one more season. Ted Paulauskas, Assumption's athletic director, further extended the varsity pilot program into the current academic year.
Some issues have been raised about the Multi-Sport Stadium and why a track was not included. A track undoubtedly would have given the program proper facilities to be even more competitive. However, the inclusion of a track in the proposals would have increased fundraising 28 percent and eliminated room for a practice field, which is currently in line to be set on the far end of the football field. Ten varsity programs besides Track and Field lack locker rooms and other such amenities as well, but Track has improvised by making due with substandard facilities off campus. It was perceived that Track and Field is understaffed, cited as another reason for cutting it. This does not seem to be true because, although Cross Country is reportedly shorthanded, Track has volunteers that assist the coaches. The new rule set forth by Paulauskas and Woodbrooks after the review of athletics that appears to be the biggest obstacle is this: new protocol for all off-campus sports, namely golf, hockey, and rowing, requires travel by either school van or bus for all practices and games. Due to the size of the Track and Field teams, it is said that safe transportation cannot be conceivably arranged.
"It's painful to let down students and I know this is a big let down," said Woodbrooks. "The decision [to discontinue track] was not made without a thorough review."
Men's and Women's track was made into a varsity pilot program in the 2002-2003 academic year after alumni who participated in track at AC got the ball rolling by offering to raise donations over a two year period. At that time there were 110 students who participated in the track club so there was never any question about interest or having the numbers to participate. Before that, Track and Field was only a varsity program from 1969 to 1989. From 1990 to 1999, Track and Field did not exist at Assumption in any shape or form.
The past few years have been a trial run full of challenges. The student athletes of the track program have looked past the insufficient facilities and funding. They have balanced school with meets and practices as well as any other sport. Unfortunately, not having those facilities or resources figured into the decision to terminate track as a pilot program. Dr. Catherine Woodbrooks became Vice President of Student Life during the first year of the track experiment and, after an extensive review of athletics at the college, had to break the news that the second trial year would be the last. The Track and Field members and coaches convinced her to extend the trial one more season. Ted Paulauskas, Assumption's athletic director, further extended the varsity pilot program into the current academic year.
Some issues have been raised about the Multi-Sport Stadium and why a track was not included. A track undoubtedly would have given the program proper facilities to be even more competitive. However, the inclusion of a track in the proposals would have increased fundraising 28 percent and eliminated room for a practice field, which is currently in line to be set on the far end of the football field. Ten varsity programs besides Track and Field lack locker rooms and other such amenities as well, but Track has improvised by making due with substandard facilities off campus. It was perceived that Track and Field is understaffed, cited as another reason for cutting it. This does not seem to be true because, although Cross Country is reportedly shorthanded, Track has volunteers that assist the coaches. The new rule set forth by Paulauskas and Woodbrooks after the review of athletics that appears to be the biggest obstacle is this: new protocol for all off-campus sports, namely golf, hockey, and rowing, requires travel by either school van or bus for all practices and games. Due to the size of the Track and Field teams, it is said that safe transportation cannot be conceivably arranged.