T h e B o B c a T

Inspiring facts about our athletics program, plus

conversations with players, coache s, and alumni.

Bates

B a t e s C o l l e g eL e w i s t o n , M a i n e

T h e r e w i l l b e w i n n i n g .

Records will be broken, teammates will pile on top

of each other, trophies will be held up in front of

cheering crowds.

But when it’s all over, what stays with you isn’t just

the record or the win column. What you carry for a

lifetime is the passion, the work ethic, the willingness

to test your limits, the experience of believing, if only

for a moment, that there are no limits.

That’s called being a Bobcat. That’s called a

Bates education.

Never Stop

A f T e r w i n n i n g T h e n C A A T i T l e , w h A T C o m e s n e x T ?

What were the NCAA championships like?

“The week before the meet, I’d stay awake for hours every night,

thinking about what would happen. When I finally arrived and

practiced at the facility, my anxiety leveled off. I was still incredibly

nervous and slightly intimidated, but I realized that a lot of my

competitors were just as nervous as I was.”

Where do you go after winning the title?

“You just want to get better. It’s great to perform at such a high level,

but that’s not a stopping point. The day I got back from the meet, I

went back to the weight room to lift. My goal is to eclipse the 60-foot

barrier in the shot.”

Throwing seems like a solitary sport. Is there much team spirit?

“This sounds like a cliché, but I owe my success to my teammates.

chris Murtagh, ethan Waldman—their leadership made me the

athlete I am. They’re my motivation. When we’re successful, we’re

successful together.”

DAv i D P l e s s , sophomore, atlanta,

G eorgia, philosophy, shot put,

2011 Ncaa Division III champion

PAT C o s q u e r ’ 9 7, coach, men’s and

women’s squash

C h e r i -A n n PA r r i s , sophomore,

St . Philip, Barbados, biology, squash

All Together Now

T h e i n s P i r A T i o n b e h i n D b A T e s ’ r e D - h o T s q u A s h T e A m s

What inspires you?

Pat: “My players. I’m thinking of one guy who’s had complications

with his legs and ankles his entire life and has to fight through real

pain to play. he’s the first guy at practice and the last to leave, every

day, without fail. he joined the team as a walk-on; this year he’s our

captain. or cheri-ann. her determination has transformed the

women’s squash program. These are courageous, strong-willed

people. They’re here for a reason.”

Cheri-Ann: “I want to be an example for kids; I want to inspire them,

help them achieve as much as they can. The best way to do that is to

achieve as much as I can.”

Talk about a challenge you’ve faced and how you overcame it.

Cheri-Ann: “The Under-19 final of the 2009 caribbean Junior

championships. This was my last junior tournament, and I was

playing the finals in my home country. I was terribly tense in the

first two games, which caused me to lose both. By the third game, I

focused on each point rather than the outcome of the match. That

shift of focus improved my composure, and I won 3-2.”

Pat: “It’s a challenge to maintain a team outlook with such a diverse group

of players. There’s no room for self-doubt on a squash team. So we work

on developing a culture of trust and respect. We’re here for each other.”

n oA h ly n D (not pictured) , senior,

Meriden, New hampshire, physics,

baseball (first base and pitcher)

The

Winner’s Circle

A r e C o r D s e A s o n , A n D A T e A m o n T h e v e r g e o f s o m e T h i n g b i g How did you adjust to your new coach?

“Right from the start, coach Leonard had us focusing on the right

things: hard work and discipline. he insists that we block out what

the other team is doing or saying and focus on our own best game.”

How is baseball like life?

“You always work for success, but you have to know how to respond

to failure. The biggest challenge in baseball is to be mentally tough.

It’s easy to feel sorry for yourself when things don’t go your way,

but that’s the wrong reaction. The biggest skill I have as a result of

baseball is my ability to react positively to a negative result.”

What’s been your proudest moment at Bates?

“Being a member of this team. This year we got the most wins in the

history of the baseball program—that’s a huge achievement. We trust

each other, on and off the field, and that led to a lot of fun, and a lot of

wins. I expect that next year’s team will set the next record.”

Common Ground

l e s s o n s i n b u i l D i n g o n e o f T h e C o u n T r y ’ s l e g e n D A r y s k i P r o g r A m s

What does it take to be a great Nordic skier?

“Dedication, determination, confidence. and a good sense of humor.”

How do you build a successful program?

“It takes a balance of talent and character. You look for great student

athletes who can manage their academics and training seamlessly.

You look for people who are committed to getting better, every day,

every race. and you want to build a common ground for all your

skiers to improve and grow, as skiers and as people. Some of our

skiers go on to be olympic athletes; some don’t. But every member of

our program should have a role in our success.”

What distinguishes Bates skiers?

“I think they’re humble. They do exceptional things all the time, but if

you didn’t ask, you’d never know. I think that’s a common trait across

athletics here at Bates.”

What’s your coaching style?

“Most of the time I’m pretty laid back—but once I get on the race

course, look out. You can hear me a mile away.”

b e C k y wo o D s ’89,

coach, Nordic skiing

(with Sylvan e llefson ’ 10,

all-american)

k ev i n h e l m , junior, Norwell,

Massachusetts, history, football

(inside linebacker) and lacrosse

(defense)

The Commitment

T w o s P o r T s , n o D o w n T i m e , A l l u P s i D e

Lacrosse and football—that sounds like a serious commitment.

“There’s not a lot of down time. But when you make a commitment as

an athlete, you’re helping yourself make a commitment as a student.

If I skip a film session before a game, I can’t play at the highest level.

If I skip a reading for a class, I can’t participate at a high level. It all

works together.”

Who’s made a big impact on you as an athlete?

“of all the coaches I’ve had in my career, coach harriman—in

football—is the one I respect the most. It’s all about accountability on

his team. he wants us to focus on the things we can control—attitude

and effort—and bring them every day.”

How do you respond when you lose?

“I’ll be honest: In football, we haven’t had phenomenal success

recently. But we’re resilient. If our backs are against the wall, we push

harder. We expect a breakout season, and every day, every workout,

every game, that’s what we play for.”

The Core

A s T e l l A r T h r o w e r r e f l e C T s o n l i f e A f T e r b A T e s

How did you get involved with throwing?

“I’d never heard of the weight throw before I came to Bates. But Bates

has a long and illustrious history in the sport, and I fell in love with

it—the way it combines strength and technical coordination. The

coach at the time had coached 44 athletes to all-american awards.

he was a real inspiration to me. he’s still the voice in my head telling

me I can do anything.”

How did you balance your time at Bates?

“I was far more productive as a student when I was an in-season

athlete. I was more scheduled and focused. I would go from class to

practice to dinner to the library to study. That’s a great routine, and it

worked for most of the athletes I knew. You learn to plan ahead, try

not to procrastinate, and prioritize. That pays off in life after Bates.”

What part of your experience as an athlete at Bates do you carry

with you?

“It comes in handy each and every day. Work hard, don’t give up,

believe in yourself, respect your teammates and your competitors—

those ideas were drilled into me at Bates, and they’re still the core of

how I live my life.”

e r i k A b r i s T o l ’0 0, University of

connecticut L aw ’06, attorney,

L ewiston, Maine, weight throw

vA r s i T y T e A m s

We field 31 intercollegiate teams, nearly all of which compete in NeScac, arguably the most

competitive conference in the Ncaa’s Division III.

Men

alpine Skiing

Baseball

Basketball

cross country

Football

Golf

Indoor Track and Field

Lacrosse

Nordic Skiing

outdoor Track and Field

Rowing

Soccer

Squash

Swimming and Diving

Tennis

Women

alpine Skiing

Basketball

cross country

Field hockey

Golf

Indoor Track and Field

Lacrosse

Nordic Skiing

outdoor Track and Field

Rowing

Soccer

Softball

Squash

Swimming and Diving

Tennis

Volleyball

n e s C A C : T h e n e w e n g l A n D s m A l l C o l l e g e A T h l e T i C C o n f e r e n C e

Three things to know about Bates and NeScac:

1. We’re about balance.

NeScac member schools are committed to robust athletics programs that exist in harmony

with robust academic programs. In many cases the conference goes beyond Ncaa Division III

guidelines to maintain that harmony.

2. We’re about opportunity.

NeScac schools believe that athletic teams should be representative of the entire student body. That’s

why we don’t offer athletic scholarships, and we award financial aid solely on the basis of need.

3. We’re in good company.

Bates is a sustaining charter member of NeScac. other members include amherst, Bowdoin, colby,

connecticut college, hamilton, Middlebury, Trinity, Tufts, Wesleyan, and Williams. That’s good—and

exceptionally strong—company.

Alumni Gymnasium (basketball, volleyball)

consistently rated one of the toughest home

courts in the Ncaa.

Bates Squash Center

completed in 2004. Five international-size

courts, exercise equipment, lots of mojo.

Campus Avenue Field (field hockey)

astroTurf 12 surface, full lighting.

Davis Fitness Center

In Underhill. More than 5,000 square feet of

squat racks and platforms, free weights and

dumbbells, and a complete fitness circuit.

Garcelon Field (football, lacrosse)

Next to commons, close to the heart of campus.

Recent upgrades include a FieldTurf surface,

lights, and a new grandstand. originally built in

1899, making it one of the most historic fields in

college football.

Lafayette Street Field (softball)

enclosed dugouts, outdoor batting cage.

Leahey Baseball Field

New scoreboard, new fencing system, and one

of the best-draining fields in the region.

Merrill Gymnasium (track and field, tennis)

one of the premier indoor tracks in the

Northeast, featuring a 200-meter, six-lane

Mondo Super-X track. also includes squash

and racquetball courts, four tennis courts, a

cardiovascular fitness center, and the Marcy

Plavin Dance Studios.

Rowing Boathouse

Located in Greene, a few miles from Lewiston,

on a lovely 10-mile stretch of the androscoggin

River. home to our fleet of eight-, four-, and pair-

oared shells.

Russell Street Track and Field (soccer, outdoor

track and field)

an eight-lane bi-radial track with a 10-lane

straightaway and a Mondo Super-X surface. The

natural grass infield is home to our soccer pitch.

Tarbell Pool (swimming and diving)

In Merrill. eight lanes, 25-meter or 25-yard

configurations, and an underwater window.

Underhill Arena

Includes a 200-foot by 85-foot ice rink and the

Davis Fitness center.

Wallach Tennis Center

eight Plexicushion courts, full lighting,

stadium seating for 500 and an observation

deck for coaches.

f A C i l i T i e s

2,000 students

46 states

65 countries

33 majors

20 students in the average class

10 to 1 student to faculty ratio

100% of faculty hold highest degree in their field

100% of students complete a capstone or thesis

70% of students study abroad

31 NeScac Division III teams

110 student clubs, open to all

160 community partnerships through the

harward center

0 fraternities and sororities

5 weeks in spring Short Term

109 acres on Lewiston campus

600 acres in Bates–Morse Mountain

conservation area

$33,000 average financial aid package

24,000 alumni

A C A D e m i C s our academic program is intensive, cross-disciplinary, and hands-on, from the first-year seminar

to the required senior thesis. a few highlights: funded research opportunities, internships with

regional and national firms, community-based learning opportunities through our harward

center, and access to dozens of study abroad programs around the world.

Majors

african american

Studies

american cultural

Studies

anthropology

art and Visual culture

Biological chemistry

Biology

chemistry

chinese

classical and

Medieval Studies

Dance

east asian Studies

economics

english

environmental

Studies

French

Geology

German

history

Japanese

Mathematics

Music

Neuroscience

f A C T s

Philosophy

Physics

Politics

Psychology

Religion

Rhetoric

Russian

Sociology

Spanish

Theater

Women and

Gender Studies

C A m P u s l i f e campus life revolves around more than 100 student-run clubs and organizations,

which are open to all students. highlights: about 60 percent of our students play on an

intramural team, every student is automatically a member of the Bates outing club, our

dining hall (commons) features local produce and a global menu, and you’ll have to ask

us about the Puddle Jump.

Philosophy

Physics

Politics

Psychology

Religion

Rhetoric

Russian

Sociology

Spanish

Theater

Women and

Gender Studies

l e w i s T o n A n D m A i n e

Lewiston is the second-largest city (pop. 40,000) in Maine. It’s on the androscoggin River, about

40 miles north of Portland. Both Lewiston and its twin city, auburn, are former mill towns with

French canadian roots, a vibrant Somali community, and an entrepreneurial spirit. Maine is a big,

wild, self-determined, community-oriented Northeastern state. The rising sun touches Maine first,

because people are busy and there’s a lot to get done.

A D m i s s i o n

We’re interested in people who work hard, take intellectual risks, believe that education isn’t

confined to a classroom, and get deeply involved in their community. We were one of the first

colleges to make SaT/acT scores optional for admission.

f i n A n C i A l A i D

Nearly half of our students receive financial aid; the average annual aid package is about $33,000.

Bates meets 100 percent of demonstrated financial need, with a financial aid budget of about

$22 million.

v i s i T i n g

Visiting us is easy and eye-opening. You can talk to coaches, students, professors; you can eat at

commons; you can take a tour and talk to one of our admission counselors. We’re close to Portland

and two hours north of Boston. Directions and details at www.bates.edu/admission/visit/.

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