Michelle Berthiaume
Sports Editor
After two years as a member of The Equinox editorial board, I’d like to think that I have covered some great moments in Keene State College Athletics history. Seeing athletes break records and KSC teams knock off nationally ranked opponents has been a pleasure. And with my journalism career at KSC coming to an end, I decided to narrow down some of the top moments I have witnessed.
At the top of my list, I can’t help but relive the night the Keene State College Men’s Basketball team knocked off the number one nationally ranked, Middlebury College.
Chris Palermo / File photo
Ryan Martin celebrates with KSC fans after upset over number one ranked Middlebury on Jan. 31, 2012 in the Spaulding Gymnasium.
On Jan. 31, 2012, the top ranked Middlebury College Panthers visited the Spaulding Gymnasium for a game I am sure they expected to win easily. In a game that literally went down to the wire, the Owls pulled off the unthinkable, defeating the Panthers by a score of 77-76, with Middlebury missing a last second three point shot for the win.
Watching college basketball growing up, it had always been one of my dreams to storm the court at a basketball game. Any other sports nerd can see where this desire comes from.
Being a student at a Division III college in Western New Hampshire, I never thought I would get the chance. But immediately after the game ended on Jan. 31, 2012, my dreams came true. All of the KSC students in attendance flooded the floor to celebrate with their classmates that had just pulled off the ultimately unthinkable upset. That memory will always stick out in my mind as one of the best moments with KSC Athletics.
Another one of the best moments I have witnessed as the sports editor of The Equinox also includes the triumphs of the men’s basketball team at KSC. This year, three members of the men’s basketball team notched their 1,000 point mark: Eric Fazio, Ryan Martin and Anthony Mariano. That is simply an undeniably difficult accomplishment. I don’t necessarily follow every college basketball team in the country, but I haven’t heard of any other team eclipsing the 1,000-point total three times in one season.
Coming from a high school that was not that great at sports (I won three games in high school, while competing on three varsity sports teams), it has truly been an honor to watch so many teams win Little East Conference Championships during my time at Keene State College. One of the championship teams that comes to mind is the 2012 women’s lacrosse team.
With just three seniors on their squad, not many people thought much of the women’s lacrosse team last year. But they certainly proved all the doubtful fans wrong. They were selected second in the Little East Conference poll, but not many considered them an actual contender for the LEC title.
But on that overcast day at the beginning of May, the Lady Owls proved their worth, defeating Western Connecticut State University 13-7 to capture the coveted Little East Conference trophy. The Owls had won the championship the year before but after graduating eight seniors, last season was expected to be a rebuilding year.
The seniors on this year’s squad—Christine Collins, Lindsay McManus, Nicole Curry, Lauren Brown and Kristen Schmidt–have now won an LEC championship twice during their four years, and they hope to capture their third title with the Little East playoffs beginning earlier this week.
Another fantastic Keene State College athletics moment that comes to mind as I try and rank my favorites has to be Janel Haggerty’s National Championship this season during indoor track and field.
Although I was not there to witness it, as an avid viewer of KSC athletics, it was hard for me not to stay in the loop as Haggerty, along with two other Owls (Maggie Fitter and Ryan Widzgowski) competed at the National Championships in Naperville, Ill. in early March.
While Fitter and Widzgowski raced to All-American honors racing to a fourth place finish in the 800 and a second place finish in the mile, respectively, Haggerty captured the first ever national championship for the pentathlon in Keene State College history.
Haggerty made drastic improvements throughout the season in a few of the five events she competed in at nationals to earn the title of KSC’s newest and only National Champion so far this year.
When I first came to Keene State College, I didn’t expect to be a part of such great moments in KSC athletics history, but I can’t say that I am surprised to see the true talents of these athletes shine so bright.
Michelle Berthiaume can be contacted at
mberthiaume@keene-equinox.com