Around the Herd: J-Term

In this edition of Around the Herd: exceptional performances by Women's Hockey stars, Trips to California and Puerto Rico, two Mammoths of the Month, a strong start to the Track season, and more you may have missed in Amherst sports this past January!

Men’s Basketball Wins One, Loses Two, Falling to 3-5

The men’s basketball team lost an away game against Colby-Sawyer College on Thursday, Dec. 1, and blew a 15-point halftime lead at home against Springfield College on Tuesday, Dec. 8. Now eight games into the season, the Mammoths are 3-5.

Squash Teams Beat Hamilton, Fall to Trinity

The Amherst squash teams took on NESCAC competition for the first time this past week. Both the men’s and women’s team handily defeated Hamilton on Saturday, Dec. 3, but were beaten by national powerhouse Trinity on Tuesday, Dec. 6.

Cross Country Ends Season Well at NCAA Championships

The women’s cross country team finished their season with a 12th place finish at NCAA DIII Championships. Mary Kate McGranahan ’23 finished an excellent senior campaign by earning All-America honors.

Men’s Basketball 3-3 at Season’s Quarter Mark

The men’s basketball team has had an up-and-down start to the young season. Now six games into their 24-game season, the team’s record is 3-3.

Women’s Cross Country Team, Dassin ’24 Qualify for National Championship

Competing at the Mideast Regional Championships, the women’s cross country team placed second, earning an at-large bid to the National Championships. The men’s team finished in sixth, and Theo Dassin ’24 earned an individual at-large bid to nationals.

Heartbreaking Loss Ends Field Hockey’s Tournament

A tragic loss to Williams in the final seconds of the NESCAC quarterfinals ended the field hockey team’s hopes for a conference title this past weekend.

Volleyball Secures Fourth Seed in NESCAC Tournament

The volleyball team concluded their regular season with two wins in Maine against Bates and Colby, which cemented the Mammoths as the No. 4 seed for this weekend’s NESCAC tournament.

From Intern to the Top: An MLB Scout’s Journey — Alumni Profile, Joe Katuska ’03

Joe Katuska ’03 and his journey to the peak of the scouting world embodies the hard work and dedication it takes to make it in professional baseball.

Women’s Soccer Adds Two Wins, Undefeated in Last Five

The women’s soccer team dominated New England College and defeated Connecticut College for their fifth win in a row.

Around the Herd: Oct. 13 to Oct. 18

Around the Herd provides quick updates on all the Amherst sports action you may have missed this past week. In this week’s installment: field hockey’s blowout win, cross country’s success at the Conn College Invitational, and the final tournament of men’s tennis’s season.

Second-place Finish Secures NESCAC Championship Spot for Women’s Golf

The No. 9 women’s golf team, led by the tournament’s individual champion Jessica Huang ’25, took second place at the NESCAC Fall Qualifier this past weekend, punching their ticket to the NESCAC Championship in April where they will look to defend their title from last year.

Women’s Soccer Takes Care of Business in Maine, Going 2-0

No. 11 women’s soccer took a weekend trip to Maine for two NESCAC contests and returned to Amherst with two wins. They did so in dominant fashion, outclassing both Bates and Colby throughout the stat sheet on the way to two 2-0 victories.

Around the Herd: Sept. 21 to Sept. 27

Around the Herd provides quick updates on all the Amherst sports action you may have missed in the past week. In this week’s installment: field hockey flourishes, both golf teams thrive, and women’s tennis concludes their fall season.

Around the Herd: Sept. 14 to Sept. 20

Around the Herd provides quick updates on all the Amherst sports action you may have missed in the past week. In this week’s installment: Cross country, women’s tennis, and men’s golf compete in weekend tournaments.

Jack Betts ’24E: The King of Division III NIL

In just over eight months, Mammoths wide receiver Jack Betts ’24E has accumulated over 35 NIL deals, causing many to proclaim his as the King of DIII NIL. Managing Sports Editor Alex Noga ’23 sits down with Betts to learn about his NIL journey.

Back to the Links: Golf Teams Set to Open Season

While the men’s golf team looks to build upon a fifth-place finish in the NESCAC Championship last year, the women’s team hopes to repeat last season’s NESCAC Championship and trip to the NCAA Championships with a loaded roster of returners.

Serena Williams Battles in Final Game of Historic Career

Earlier this year, Serena Williams announced that she would retire at the end of the U.S. Open. After a storied career, including 23 Major singles titles, 23 doubles titles, and an Olympic Gold Medal, the GOAT finished her career with a three-set loss in the U.S. Open’s Third Round.

German Giammattei: A Legend on and off the Pitch

Though perhaps the best player in the history of Amherst men’s soccer, German Giammattei is better described as a humble teammate and a phenomenal friend.

Baseball Sweeps Bowdoin to Advance to NESCAC Semis

In the opening round of the NESCAC tournament, the baseball team swept Bowdoin in two games to advance to the semifinals. Now entering the double-elimination Championship series, the Mammoths will open against Middlebury.

Baseball Sweeps Williams to Secure NESCAC Playoff Bid

In a must-win three-game series, the baseball team decisively swept rival Williams. The Mammoths will now travel to Maine to play Bowdoin this weekend in the quarterfinals of the NESCAC tournament.

Losses to Middlebury Set Up Crucial Series Against Williams

The baseball team won three of five games this past week but lost an important NESCAC series against Middlebury. Heading into the final week of regular season play, the upcoming weekend series against Williams will determine the final team that makes it into the playoffs from the West division.

Baseball 2-1-1 Behind 10-run Comeback, Giattino No-no

The Mammoths had two extraordinarily memorable victories in their series win against Trinity this past weekend: a 10-run ninth-inning comeback and a no-hitter thrown by Nick Giattino ’24, his second in as many years, helped the Mammoths win their first series of the year.

After 3-0 Series Loss, Baseball Snaps Losing Streak

The baseball team were swept in their second NESCAC series of the year over the weekend, bringing their conference record to 1-5. They ended the week on a high note however, picking up a resilient 6-5 win on Monday.

Softball Bests Hamilton for Second NESCAC Series Win

The softball team continued their successful start to NESCAC play, defeating Hamilton two games to one for their second series win of the year. They sit atop the NESCAC West division with a 4-2 record in conference play and a 12-5 record overall.

Softball Wins 3 of 5, Including 2 Walkoff Wins

Softball returned to the diamond this past week after a short hiatus, winning their NESCAC-opening series versus Middlebury and going to extra innings three times in five games.

Men Split, Women Sweep in Tennis’ Trip to Maine

In their second week of NESCAC competition, the men’s and women’s tennis teams played away matches against Bowdoin and Colby. The men’s team defeated Colby but lost to Bowdoin, while the women’s team achieved convincing victories in both matches.

Baseball’s Struggles Continue, Losing 5 of 6 Games

It was a hard week for Amherst baseball. Despite jumping out to multiple early leads, they dropped five of the six games they played.

Baseball Winless in Return to New England

Returning home from their spring break trip, the baseball team lost their first three games played in Massachusetts, dropping their home opener to Wheaton College and losing both games of a doubleheader against Brandeis University.

Swimmers, Divers Compete, Break Record at NCAAs

Nine different members of the women’s swim and dive team achieved All-American honors at nationals over spring break. The Mammoths brought home 13 All-America accolades, four of which were first-team finishes.

March Madness 2022: (Too) Early Predictions

The managing sports editors introduce a community-wide ESPN Bracket Challenge and present their contenders, pretenders, dark horses, and sleepers. The group name to join is Amherst Student 2022!

Women’s Dive Punches Ticket To Nationals

The women’s diving team showed out at the NCAA North/Northeast Regional Championships, taking first and second on the 1-meter board. Two divers will continue on to Nationals.

In NESCAC Quarterfinals, Men’s Hockey Falls to Ephs

In their third meeting with Williams of the season, the men’s hockey team fell to the Ephs in the quarterfinals of the NESCAC tournament, ending their season with a final record of 9-13-2.

Mammoth Memories: The Origins Of Little Threes

In this installment of Mammoth Memories, Managing Sports Editor Alex Noga ’23 details the origins of the Little Three, one of the oldest athletic conferences in the country, and the eligibility dispute that, for a time, disbanded the alliance just three years into its existence.

Mammoth Memories: The Beginning of Baseball

Join Managing Sports Editor Alex Noga ’23 as we uncover some of the fascinating details about the college's storied past in the new sports column "Mammoth Memories." Our first stop: the very first organized baseball game ever played.

Former Coach, Alleging Racism, Settles With College

After six months, the college reached an out-of-court settlement with the former lacrosse coach’s employment discrimination lawsuit.

Athletic Teams Gear Up for Winter Break and J-term

Amherst’s winter athletes will be hard at work over J-term both preparing for games and representing the college in competition across the country, and in some cases, around the world. We recap what the Mammoths will be up to during this holiday season.

Men’s Basketball Off to Dominant Start, Undefeated in First Five Games

The men’s basketball team is off to a red-hot start, handily winning their first six games by an average of 32 points per game, Alex Noga '23 writes.

The Jack Eichel Chronicles: As Told by a Disgruntled Sabres Fan

Hockey fans thought Jack Eichel was fated to be the savior of the historically awful Buffalo Sabres. But the Eichel era has officially ended — and it was simply another 21st century failure for the doomed franchise, writes Alex Noga ’23.

Shockwaves Hit the NHL After Blackhawks Sexual Assault

A former Chicago Blackhawks player filed a lawsuit against the team alleging that he and a teammate were sexually assaulted by the team's video coach Brad Aldrich in 2010. The team initially dismissed the allegation, then sought loopholes out of the situation.

Jon Gruden Resigns Following Leak of Vulgar Emails

After being one of the most recognizable names in the NFL world for years as both a coach and member of the media, (now-former) Oakland Raiders Head Coach Jon Gruden was forced to resign after emails leaked in which he used racist, homophobic and misogynistic language.

MLB Season Returns to Normalcy, but Not Without Changes

In a season that featured a return to the full slate of 162 games, Major League Baseball also experienced a number of remarkable developments — including an international, two-way MVP candidate and a hectic wild-card race.

NCAA's Long-Awaited Policy Change Allows College Athletes to Monetize Their Image

A long-awaited policy change has now allowed NCAA athletes to profit off of their name, image and likeness. Some Amherst athletes have taken advantage of this new rule, and recount their experiences in this new landscape.

The Fighting Poets: A Humorous Look at Field Hockey's Week

In the debut of “The Fighting Poets,” The Student’s first-ever humor sports column, Ethan Samuels ’23 and Alex Noga ’23 add a flare of absurdity to the field hockey team's 2-0 weekend.

Bring Out the Brooms: Amherst Volleyball Stays Undefeated

Volleyball maintained its undefeated streak to begin the season, winning against Bates and Colby over the past weekend. Stellar team play allowed the Firedogs to sweep their opponents in a dominant showing.

Volleyball Goes Undefeated in First Three Games

With impressive high-energy play, women’s volleyball started its season undefeated through its first three games, winning against Smith College, Western New England University and Emerson College.

ESPN Hornswoggled Into Nationally Televised Disaster

Controversy arose when ESPN aired a blowout high school football game between powerhouse IMG Academy and Bishop Sycamore — a high school with apparently fabricated credentials and minimal infrastructure.

Volleyball Rallies Behind New Coach Valerie Jones

Featuring a range of player experience levels as well as a new head coach, Amherst volleyball nevertheless touts team camaraderie as it makes its return to play from a nearly two-year hiatus.

“Becoming an Olympian”: A Sit-down With Silver Medalist Michael Hixon

After taking home his second silver medal in men's synchronized diving, Michael Hixon sat down with Staff Writer Alex Noga '23 to look back on his journey so far. Also there: Hixon's father, legendary Amherst men’s basketball coach Dave Hixon ’75.

Buffalo Bills at the Forefront of Vaccine Skepticism After Cole Beasley’s Comments

Following the loosening of the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) mask guidelines earlier this week in which fully vaccinated people “no longer need to wear a mask or physically distance in any setting” [https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html] unless required by specific regulations, Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley took to Twitter to voice his opinion on the matter. The thread began with Beasley responding to a CNN tweet that quoted president

Capitals' Tom Wilson Continues Controversial Play in Altercation with Rangers' Artemi Panarin

The National Hockey League (NHL) game between the Washington Capitals and the New York Rangers on May 3 had major implications for both teams. As the Capitals had already clinched a playoff berth, a win would have pushed them to first place in the highly competitive East Division with just four games remaining in the regular season. The Rangers, on the other hand, needed a win to avoid being eliminated from playoff contention. However, after a scramble in front of the Capitals’ net in the second

Amherst Baseball Sweeps Rival Williams, Secures Little Three Championship

Amherst baseball completed a three-game sweep of rival Williams College this past weekend, winning 4-0, 5-1 and 5-2 and improving their record to 7-2 overall. With their wins this weekend, the Mammoths have clinched the title of Little Three Champions for the third time in the last four seasons. Victories against Williams always taste slightly sweeter on the baseball diamond considering that Amherst and Williams participated in the first ever collegiate baseball game in 1859 — a slugfest where

Amherst Golf Returns at the Hamilton Spring Shootout

The men’s and women’s golf teams opened their 2021 seasons this past weekend at the Hamilton Spring Shootout, a one-day tournament at the Skenandoa Golf Club in Clinton, New York. In addition to Amherst, Hamilton College, Williams College, and Middlebury College also participated in the event. The women’s team finished third overall with a score of 325, 11 strokes behind Williams, the event winner. First-year Jenny Hua ’24 led the way for Amherst in her first collegiate competition, carding an

NCAA Tournament Weight Room Disparities Highlight Persisting Gender Inequities

In the world of sports, the month of March is perhaps best known for the annual NCAA Division I Basketball Tournaments, commonly referred to as March Madness. After the tournaments were canceled last year [https://www.ncaa.com/live-updates/basketball-men/d1/ncaa-cancels-mens-and-womens-basketball-championships-due] due to the emergence of Covid-19, excitement for this year’s March Madness has been incredibly high [https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/one-year-after-covid-19-cancele

Recent Mega-Contracts Heighten Pre-Existing Gender Pay Gap in Sports

It is no secret that modern day athletes are among some of the wealthiest people on the planet. This fact has only been accentuated by the recent contract extensions of San Diego Padres’ shortstop Fernando Tatís and Dallas Cowboys’ franchise quarterback Dak Prescott. The two deals are record-setting in their own ways and illuminate the rapidly increasing price tags for premium athletes in professional team sports, while simultaneously furthering the pay disparity between male and female athletes

Weather Causes Delays During NHL Lake Tahoe Games

The scene was magnificent. Sunlight shimmered off of beautiful Lake Tahoe as the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights took to a fresh sheet of ice on the shoreline of the California-Nevada state line. NBC opened their broadcast with aerial shots presenting the gorgeous lake in front of a wall of snow-capped mountains where more than a dozen kayaks dotted the water, all occupied by fans wanting to be a part of the experience. Players donned eye black and winter hats as they walked out of t

Amherst Athletics COVID-19 Update

This past month, the presidents of each of the 11 NESCAC schools reached the unfortunate, yet unanimous decision to cancel all conference competitions for fall sports this year. In an official release, the NESCAC stated that they will “continue to work together to seek creative ways to provide meaningful athletic opportunities for our students.” At Amherst, fall athletes are still permitted to practice in small groups so long that they adhere to the school’s health directives, and members of win

Men’s Basketball Wins Thrilling Contest Over Williams in NESCACs

In a packed LeFrak Gymnasium, the men’s basketball team opened its NESCAC tournament run with a thrilling overtime victory over Williams by a final score of 89-86. The Mammoths couldn’t solve the Ephs in their first two meetings during the regular season, losing both games by a combined five points, but they triumphed on Saturday in front of a raucous crowd. The game was back and forth from the opening tip and was characterized by a series of runs from both sides. Neither team found any separa

Mammoths Perform Well at Valentine Invitational

2020 has brought multiple program records for the men’s track & field team, and this past weekend was no different as Henry Buren ’22 set a new Amherst record in the indoor 200m at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational hosted by Boston University. Buren is no stranger to rewriting history, as he set three school records during last year’s track season. Going into Saturday’s meet, Buren already held the school record for the 200m with a time of 22.32, set at the same annual meet last indoor s