Conversations
with Past and Present Saint Michael's Athletes
Joan Wry: Class of 1979
 |
Q:
Why did you choose Saint Michael’s? Was it for academics, athletics or a
combination of the two? A: I was a faculty dependant, which meant I had free tuition at Saint Michael's. I had been accepted at Stanford (and longed to go there) but the expense would have been too much for my family. I certainly wouldn't have had any viable opportunities to play sports at Stanford, and Saint Michael's was a much better fit for me.
Q: What is the most memorable moment
you had playing sports at Saint Michael's? Q: Being a student athlete can be quite difficult, as you have to balance schoolwork with practice and games. You happened to do an incredible job juggling both as you were co-valedictorian with a 4.0 Grade Point Average your senior year. Do you think athletics helped you excel in the classroom? |
A: I think most athletes will tell you that the discipline, planning, goal-setting, and time management features of participating successfully in a sport are in many ways the same as those found in a successful approach to academics.
Q:
Vermont weather is different than
anywhere else in the country, and it affects athletes in a much different way
than most. How was it practicing/playing in those conditions? And was it a
good experience or something that you dreaded?
A:
Well,
Vermont
runners are certainly better conditioned to cold-weather running - that's a
given!
Q:
SMC is a different kind of place to play
college athletics, it is a small school environment where you know a majority
of the people on campus. How did that add or subtract from your athletic
experiences? Was it good to have everyone know who you are, or does that add
to the pressure?
A:
The small-school feature is a
clear asset to the athletic experiences here. You can always count on an
impressive level of support from the college community - then and now - although
there are many more opportunities for women athletes now.
Q:
You were
the first female member of the SMC cross country team, and also a member of
the first all-female squad. What did breaking that barrier mean to you? And
what do you think of the evolution of SMC women's athletics through the years?
A:
At the time, I just knew I wanted
to run, and there wasn't a women's team so the men's team seemed a logical
choice to me. I never thought of myself as "breaking any barriers," but I also
knew I would not have joined the men's team if I didn't think I could compete
effectively. I ran mostly in men's races when we traveled to other schools,
and occasionally I was able to run as an independent in the women's race if
the school had a women's team. But there weren't a lot of active women's
teams in the 1970's, although UVM had a very good one, and they did run in the
Vermont State Meet in those years.
I also felt I had an obligation to
run on the college level as I had received an athletic scholarship - actually,
a memorial scholarship set up in the name of one of the best female athletes
at my high school who died tragically in our junior year. She was a
phenomenal runner (as well as excelling in numerous other sports) and I guess
in part I wanted to run as a tribute to her, especially after receiving her
scholarship.
Q: What was it like to be inducted into
the SMC Athletic Hall of Fame?
A:
I was completely honored by that experience - it was one of the most memorable
events of my life.
Q: What did being an SMC athlete mean to
you? Was it an experience that helped you in future endeavors?
A:
Those years were very
significant - a lot of what I treasure about teaching and coaching came from
the wellspring of that experience as a student-athlete at Saint Michael's in the
mid 1970's.
Q:
Any advice for current/future SMC athletes?
A:
You will never forget the people
you meet and the satisfaction of knowing you have worked toward a viable goal.
And over time, you will realize how very much being a student-athlete at
Saint Michael's (in pursuit of both athletic
and academic excellence) has
taught you about life.
Memorable Moments - Interviews - A Look at the Beginning - Record Holders - Images