This past weekend, the Houghton College Athletic Department hosted its first Alumni Weekend for four fall sports teams: women’s volleyball, women’s and men’s soccer, and women’s field hockey. The women’s volleyball had five alumni attend while the men’s soccer team had about twenty alumni. The women’s soccer team had fourteen alumni players return to campus, among which there were four former All-American players. Although the weather was not ideal, it was a good turnout for the first combined sport alumni event. “Saturday was a lot of fun. Always great to have our alumni back and get a chance to catch up” said Head Women’s Volleyball Coach Nancy Cole. “Wish we could see them more often. ”
Most of the alumni came in on Friday or early Saturday morning to campus for this special weekend. Some stayed in the community or at some of the current players’ houses where they had the chance to reconnect with old teammates. The events started on Saturday with games taking place around noon. At Nielsen, the women’s volleyball team played against their alumni, then the women’s field hockey played against their alumni immediately right after at 1:30pm. While the women’s and men’s soccer games were scheduled to play outside on Burke Field, a snow covered field caused them to relocate to the Kerr-Pegula Field House. They followed the same time schedule as the teams at Nielsen with the women playing at noon and the men going right after. Once the men’s soccer game ended, everyone was invited to a reception where there was food served and a couple speeches given. “The play was fast-paced and the alumni showed that they still have their touch and can play a quality game” said Head Women’s Soccer Coach David Lewis. “Overall, it was a great opportunity to catch up on player’s families, jobs, and grad schools.” Head Men’s Soccer Coach Matthew Webb added, “Seeing the alumni back on the field playing with each other is always so fun to see. Seeing the relationships that were formed while at Houghton sustained over the years is so rewarding.”
Throughout the years, athletic teams have always had alumni games where they played against other alumni, the junior varsity team, or the varsity team. These were more separate events that each team was in charge of coordinating and were held on different dates during the year. Often, the women’s soccer team would co-host an alumni event with the men’s soccer team but have two single events. However, the combined alumni event was a very relaxed occasion where everyone from different aspects of the college and alumni can reunite and have some fun together. “Opportunity to bring everyone back on the same day and the various departments of the college can support everyone in their competitions and talk with the alumni” commented Athletic Director Skip Lord. “It’s almost like a family reunion seeing a bunch of people that you haven’t seen in awhile.” A lot of athletes have relationships outside of their own teams and having a combined event where they can all reconnect and network helps to build that sense of community.
Sometimes alumni will drop by a visit or make a phone call, but for everyone to be in the same place at one time is definitely something that is very special for coaches, players, and the school. One person who has only missed one women’s soccer alumni event, due to just giving birth, is a 1999 graduate and former All-American Jennifer Ricard. Webb said, “It is always great to have our alumni come back to campus…not only to see them and catch up with what they are doing, but also for our current players to be able to meet and interact with players who came before them and helped lay the foundation and traditions of our program.”
Patrick Hager was named head coach for both men’s and women’s cross-country and track and field programs. Hager previously served as graduate-assistant coach at Messiah College for the past two years. Prior to his role at Messiah, Hager worked as the first ever head cross-country coach at Rosemont College for two years.