Vassar Today

Sports

Season Stats

Women’s Basketball
(15-10 overall, 5-10 UCAA)

Vassar began its inaugural season in the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association (UCAA) by winning eight games, including a match with then nationally ranked Wellesley College during the Seven Sisters basketball tournament, resulting in the Brewers’ first Seven Sisters championship title.

lisacarleen
lisacarleen

Lisa Ercolano '02 in defensive play, and Carleen Aubee '03
earned UCAA second-team selection.

Women’s Squash
(9-12 overall)

Under head coach Jane Parker’s guidance, Vassar qualified for the Howe Cup Division C Championship. The Brewers’ improved season play landed them in the more competitive division C. Despite their best efforts, however, victory eluded them at the three-day, four-game tournament. At the Womens Intercollegiate Squash Association’s (WISA) individual championship, Pam Schoenberg ’01 and Tiffany Yajima ’01 made strong showings with Yajima advancing to the consolation quarterfinals.

Men’s Squash
(9-12 overall)

Vassar returned to the Summers Division of the Marsh Team Tournament, sanctioned by the National Intercollegiate Squash Racquets Association, and finished fifth. At NISRA’s individual championship Andrew Schmidt ’01 advanced to the consolation quarterfinals.

Men’s Basketball
(8-17 overall, 3-11 UCAA)

With the Brewers facing tough competitors, including several NCAA qualifiers, Tirek Gayle ’01 ended a glorious Vassar career by becoming only the fifth player in school history to eclipse the 1,000-point mark.

Men’s Swimming and Diving
(6-5 dual meets, fifth out of eight teams at UCAA)

Vassar broke four school records, two of which were smashed by Ben Chung ’03, who set marks in 200 breaststroke and the 800 free relay. Chris Norkun ’01 gave a surprise performance at the final meet of the season with a school best in the 100 breaststroke. A 2001 record setting performance by Steve Rouch ’02 in the 200 fly was later bested by Alex Kuczynski ’04, who set a new mark in the event less than three months later.

benchung
benchung

Ben Chung '03 set Vassar records in the 200 breastroke and 800 free relay.

Women’s Swimming, Diving
(2-7 dual meets)

Devon Chen ’03 was named all-meet at the Seven Sisters Championship after winning the 50 free and 100 fly events. At the UCAA Championship, she placed fourth in the 100 fly and 100 free and fifth in the 50 free. At the New York Championship, she placed second in the 50 free and 100 fly and third in the 100 free.

Men’s Fencing
(9-10 overall, 0-9 IFA)

Thomas Creeley ’03 had a solid season, taking second in foil at the New England Collegiate Fall Open. Kieran Boyle ’01 led the team in wins with 29 in sabre. Matt Mitchell ’01 took fourth at the New England Intercollegiate Fencing Association Championship, where Vassar finished 13th.

Women’s Fencing
(8-15, 1-8 IFA)

Team captain Gwen Fischer ’02 enjoyed a successful junior year, opening the season with second in sabre at the New England Collegiate Fall Open and taking sixth at the New England Intercollegiate Fencing Association at the end of the year, while winning a Brewer-best 37 bouts.

Fencing Coach Retires after Two Decades at Vassar

Matt Lampell announced his retirement at the beginning of the mens and womens season, effective at the end of the year. He has served more than 20 years at Vassar, first as an assistant and, for the past six years, as head coach. Lampell was named the Middle Atlantic Fencing Association Coach of the Year in 1996. In the 1998–99 season, Lampell guided Vassar fencing when it began competing in the Intercollegiate Fencing Association. “This was great tribute to our fencing program and facilities,” Lampell said of the switch. The IFA is the country’s oldest athletic conference. It requires all members to field both mens and womens programs and consists of only 14 schools, including all varsity Ivy League programs and fencing power St. John’s University.

Lampell was also the guiding force behind the establishment of the Matthew Vassar Award, which is given to the IFA’s top female sabre athlete.

Heather Whitefield, who has served as the associate coach for the past six years, will take over for Lampell. Besides recruiting new students and working with current members, Whitefield will begin preparing for the 2002 IFA Championship, which Vassar will host.