2011 CROSS-COUNTRY

MEDIA GUIDE

Mary Baldwin College

FIGHTING SQUIRRELS

History of Athletics at Mary Baldwin College

Mary Baldwin College has had a commitment to activity for women since its inception in 1842. The

physical health of students has been a priority for the college since its founding. Early on there were required

“promenades” in the afternoons, but in the 1870’s a structured physical education program began which was

called calisthenics. Students bowled, participated in Swedish skills and played tennis and croquet. In 1891 the

first swimming pool was added on campus.

In the early 1900’s an athletic association was organized. All students were automatically members of

the “white” and “yellow” teams which evolved into the Irish and Scots clans. This provided intramural and

class contests for field hockey, basketball, track, hiking, swimming, golf, tennis, horseback riding, archery,

softball and baseball. These sports each had a student leader and teams were chosen annually, there were also

student-faculty games.

In 1948 a Virginia Athletic Federation of Colleges for Women was formed and in 1949 the annual

sports day of the association was held in Staunton. This allowed for competition with combined teams of stu-

dents from all the women’s colleges. The intramural program continued and the clans were now called the

Irish and the Scotch.

The clan system for intramurals had been expanded to English, Welsh, Scotch, and Irish in 1962, but

by 1969 ended and intramural competition was organized by class.

By 1967 there was intercollegiate competition in Dance, Golf, Equitation, Swimming, Fencing, Basketball and

Tennis.

In 1981, as a NCAA member the college joined the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, where it

stayed until 1993. From 1993 the college was an independent member of the NCAA Division III. In 1995 a

group of women’s colleges joined to form the Atlantic Women’s Colleges Conference. All the member

schools felt that competition in the coed conferences had benefited from the changed Title IX started in the

late seventies, while athletic programs at women’s colleges had fallen behind. Mary Baldwin had a strong

tenure in the AWCC, winning eleven conference championships and appearing at four NCAA post season

tournaments. The AWCC dissolved in 2007, and Mary Baldwin joined the USA South Conference.

Information about the early years of athletics at the College was taken from To Live In Time, 1992 by Patricia Menk.

Table of Contents

History of Mary Baldwin Athletics IFC

Table of Contents and Quick Facts 3

2011 Cross-Country Schedule/Coaches Bio 4

Cross-Country Runners Profiles 5

Athletic Facilities 6

Athletic Philosophy 7

Supporting Sponsors BC

Mary Baldwin College Quick Facts

General Information

Location Staunton, Virginia

Founded 1842

Enrollment (2008) 2206

Nickname Fighting Squirrels

Colors Green, Gold

Affiliation NCAA Division III

Conference USA South

President Dr. Pamela Fox

Athletic Director Sharon Spalding

Athletic Dept Phone 540-887-7161

Athletics Website www.mbcathletics.com

Mailing Address Mary Baldwin College PAC

Staunton, VA 24401

Cross-Country

Head Coach Sharon Spalding

Phone 540-887-7217

E-mail sspalding@mbc.edu

Assistant Coach HollyBreen

Mary Baldwin College Athletics Quick Coach Info

Mary Baldwin Athletics received the USA South Conference Team Sportsmanship Award for 2008-09 and

2009-2010.

Accepting the award is Sharon Spalding (right), Director of Athletics and Wellness, which is presented by

USA South Commissioner Rita Wiggs (left).

MBC 2011-2012 Cross-Country Team

Assistant Coach Holly Breen—2nd Season

Head Coach Sharon Spalding—5th Season

2011 Cross Country Schedule

Sharon Spalding returns for her fifth season as

cross country coach. As a multi-sport high school athlete in

California, Spalding attended James Madison

Univesity. While at JMU she was a four year starter on the

Volleyball Team. During her career she was named an all

state player three times and was named to the all region

team her senior year. Spalding also ran one year of Indoor

Track at JMU. At the end of her career she was named the

Greater Madison Female Athlete of the Year.

Spalding coached volleyball at Mary Baldwin for

ten years and led the team to the first AWCC Championship

for the college. Spalding also had a one year stint as

Basketball Coach. In recent years Spalding has directed the

Physical Training program for the Virginia Women’s

Institute for Leadership. The program uses running as its

main form of aerobic exercise. While trying to keep up

with the cadets, Spalding began to compete in road races

and has completed the Shamrock, Charlottesville and Ma-

rine Corps Marathons.

Coach Breen graduated from Mary Baldwin College in

May 2010 with a BA in Communication. As a member

of the cross country team, Breen was named to the USA

South Second team All-Conference team and the USA

South All-Sportsmanship team. She was named team

Captain three years in a row and currently holds one of

the top twelve 6k times in MBC history. She has run the

Marine Corps Marathon and placed in many races in the

area since graduation.

9/3/11 Southern VA Buena Vista, VA 10:00AM

9/10/11 W & L Lexington, VA 10:00 AM

9/24/11 Maroon

Invitational

Salem, VA 10:00AM

10/1/11 Salisbury

Invitation

Salisbury, MD 9:45AM

10/15/11 Hood Invitational Frederick, MD 10:00AM

10/29/11 USA South

Championship

Greensboro, NC TBA

11/12/11 NCAA Southeast

Regional

Sequin, TX TBA

Lucy Bruno

Carolyn

Denny Kimberly

Denny

Amanda

Harrison

Erika

Goodwin

Pauline

Langston

Samantha

McNair

Sophia

Stone

Follow the Cross Country Team at

www.mbcathletics.com

marybaldwincrosscountry.blogspot.com

Twitter: @MBCAthletics

Amanda

Fadden

The Volleyball team competes at

the Physical Activities Center on

the Campus of MBC. The team

plays volleyball in an electrifying

environment where the fans are

close to the action.

The Cross Country team trains on various courses around Staunton including the local

favorite – Bells Lane. The natural rolling hills of Staunton give our runners excellent

preparation for any course they encounter.

The Soccer team competes on our home

field here on the campus of Mary

Baldwin College surrounded by the

beautiful Blue Ridge and Allegheny

Mary Baldwin Sports Facilities

MBC ATHLETIC PHILOSOPHY

Mary Baldwin College is committed to the education of today’s young

women for tomorrow’s world. The athletic program is an integral part of the over-

all educational experience. It goes beyond the mere imparting of knowledge to the

integration of knowledge and experiences from a variety of disciplines. The pursuit

of excellence and success associated with competition serves as a model for goals

set in academics and other endeavors.

Intercollegiate athletics offers athletes the opportunity to represent MBC at a

high level of competition. Faculty and staff, as well as the entire student body,

benefits from competition through the strong sense of loyalty and community that

is generated.

Top priority for the Department is the student-athlete. The direction and

administration of the program is focused on generating and maintaining a high

standard of excellence both athletically and academically for all athletes. It is the

responsibility of the entire Department to encourage and assist student-athletes in

reaching their full potentials in all their endeavors. As such, administrators and

coaches must have a strong commitment to provide them with the tools necessary

for success.

The health and physical well-being of MBC athletes is of utmost

importance. A full-time certified athletic trainer is employed by the college to

ensure the safety and health of all our participants. All concerns of this nature are

held in the strictest of confidence.

As a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the Department

subscribes fully to all guidelines, principles, and regulations thereof. The letter and

spirit of the rules and regulations as set forth by the NCAA are followed at all

times.

www.mbcathletics.com