Alumna Reflection: Tara Lonergan

Tara Longergan graduated from the Mount in May 2013 with a degree in History as a four-year letterwinner in women's basketball. Behind the ARCC recently caught up with the former forward to see what she has been up to since graduation.

            Since graduating from The Mount last year, I have become a full-time nanny for a two- and four-year-old who live in the same town as me. It’s tiring and stressful at times, but mostly it is a blast to get to hang out with two kids all day that love to laugh and play. I also work once a week at ValeU Group, which is an unclaimed property and asset recovery agency, as an asset investigator. Here, we find people's and company’s lost money that was recovered and never claimed by the individual. My boss is extremely laid back, and I’m just learning the in's and out's of the business for now.
 
          After playing basketball for four years away at school, I missed out on a lot of my other siblings’ sporting events. It was awesome getting to watch my sister play college basketball at Molloy for the first time (She’s a junior.) and along with a former teammate of mine. I was also able to watch my younger brother play on the JV basketball team for his high school and be the first team to go undefeated. I also tried out coaching for the first time and coached my sister’s 8^th grade town team, which was definitely an experience in itself.



Tara with two of her siblings, Paul and Paige.

            Looking back at my time at The Mount I would have to say I miss my teammates the most. I am still very close to many of my former teammates, but its different when you don’t get to see and play with them everyday. Living in New York, I was able to attend some of the games up here this past season, and I missed the team atmosphere that took place during the game. My favorite memory would have to be beating Seton Hall, which was the first time The Mount ever beat a BCS school, and beat Monmouth in the first round of playoffs during my senior year. I had my up's and down's while being at The Mount and after looking back at it this past year, I would definitely do it all over again.


Tara with (L to R) fellow 2013 alumna Selina Mann, 2014 grad Jessie Kaufman and current junior Jody Chickey.

Senior Reflections: Jessica Kaufman

You know how everyone tells you that college will be the fastest four years of your life??? Well they’re not lying! Recently, I strutted across the graduation stage, snapped a selfie, accepted my diploma, and here I am: Jessie Kaufman – Mount Alum.

 

The Mount was great to me all four years.  From coaches, teammates, classmates, roommates, staff, teachers and friends, everyone welcomed me with open arms.  The community here at the Mount is one unlike any other.  It is unique, and it is something that I will truly always appreciate. This community makes this mountain a home to all that come to visit, and the lucky ones who decide to stay.

 

For as long as I can remember, my life has revolved around sports.  Playing basketball at the Mount has been a long, but extremely rewarding journey.  The memories I’ve made, relationships I’ve built, and goals I have accomplished are ones that will never be forgotten.  I am thankful to Coach Whit for giving me the opportunity to be a part of his program.  I thank all the coaches who I was able to play for here at the Mount, for all their guidance throughout my career. I am forever indebted to my teammates who became lifelong friends, and my family for their endless amount of love, support, dedication and confidence that they supplied me with throughout my entire career.  The Mount will forever be my home, and for that I am eternally grateful.

Senior Reflections: Rachel Mathews

My experience at The Mount and on the women's basketball team there is one that I will never forget and will cherish for the rest of my life. As most high school student-athletes, I had my hopes set on playing at the big Division I schools. To be honest, my dream school was UNC. It didn't take long for reality to set in though, and I realized that that was not exactly possible for me. I was lucky enough for The Mount to find me. Little did I know, I was about to embark upon a journey that would leave me with a second family, a new appreciation on life, and another place to call home.

 

I was only 3 and a half hours from my family, but since I always had to be at school due to basketball, it sometimes felt as if I was so much further away. That never fazed me though. My teammates (my sisters) have been one of the best support systems out there. Most people don't understand the bond that is created among a college team after having spent so much time together with workouts, traveling, and summer school. I guess the best way to describe it is like a sorority of athletes. I could go on and on and tell certain stories that I'm sure will embarrass some of my teammates, but I think that I should probably just end by saying that it is crazy how someone can bring in strangers from all over the world, and then we became teammates, then friends, and now we're a family. Go Mount!

Senior Reflections: Ashley Christie

My college experience at the Mount was so exciting!! Over the past four years I spent the majority of my time running (many times literally) from class to basketball, basketball to the library, library to the cafeteria, and then to my bed. However, those memories are mostly blurred images now, and the memories that are most vivid are those I spent with my friends. In order to give you an insight into my college experience, I’ll give you one of my top memorable and appropriate, memories of me and my friends

 

Jessie, me, Syd and Jody at this year's Team Banquet.

 It was a beautiful cloudy and muggy thirsty Thursday at a Hagerstown Suns game.  My friends and teammates, Jessie, Jody, and I had really splurged and bought the $12 VIP seats, which placed us on the front row of the third baseline.  We were enjoying heckling the other team’s third basemen and making friends with the loyal sun’s fans.   All was going smoothly until the 6^th inning, when we became the envy of the surrounding crowd by obtaining two foul balls. Jessie received the second of these foul balls and within minutes of receiving it had popcorn thrown at the back of her head.  The fighting instinct in her kicked in and she immediately started making a minor scene.  She wanted to know who threw the popcorn and why Jody and I weren’t trying to fight them for her.  Jody and I looked at her blankly and then continued to watch the game.   Jessie wasn’t giving up though, after another 5 minutes of complaining about the popcorn hitting her head so forcefully, a young lady comes and taps her on the shoulder.  As Jessie turned around the woman started apologizing immediately, saying that her 4 year old daughter had thrown the popcorn because she wanted the foul ball.  At this point Jody and I turned around and saw a small girl crying in the stands.  After the woman had left, Jody and I turned to Jessie and asked her if she wanted to beat up the little girl now or later for her.  Needless to say, Jessie said there was no need for Jody and I to beat anyone up for her now. 

This is just one of the many memories that I cherish from my college experience at the Mount. 

Senior Reflection: Sydney Henderson

My experience at The Mount has been a great five years. Long ago before I knew about this school, my mother used to tell me that I would end up at this school. I would constantly tell her, “No I'm not; I don't even know what school that is.” What do you know? I ended up here for a wonderful college career.

Me (top) with friends and teammates Jody and Jessie.

 

    Being given the opportunity to play college basketball and to be so healthy after an ACL surgery is truly a blessing. I have met many people and have made life-long friends. Everyone that has walked into my life has made an impact in some way that has helped me grow as a person. My injury has also helped me grow as a person. Seeing things, not only on the basketball court, but off the court in a different perspective has molded me into the woman I'm becoming today. Having the ability to complete two degrees (Bachelor’s Degree in  Sports Management and Master’s of Business Administration) is something that I will be forever grateful for. I want to thank Coach Whitt for giving me the opportunity to play for him and develop into the player and person I am today.

    It has begun to hit me that I'm really graduating and leaving behind a place that I called home for five years. I can say that if I had the chance to do it all over again, I would choose The Mount.

Thank you God, family, coaches and teammates for supporting me through it all.

BLOB, Box Set

Here is a baseline out-of-bounds play we use to get a shot for a guard:

 

The Northeast Conference

Currently, Mount St. Mary's is 5-3 in Northeast Conference play, with a homecoming match-up on Saturday against league-leading Robert Morris. Continue reading for a perspective on conference play from seniors Kayla Grossett and Jessie Kaufman.

     Conference play is like going into battle. Conference play requires preparation, focus and an attention to detail. From game to game, the things that are required of you change; however, the one thing that remains constant is effort and a tenacious mindset. Playing in the NEC now is like a fight against yourself. In the 2013-2014 season, players and teams are so closely matched for skills and talent; it all comes down to who wants it more in the end. Games are always close, it's always a fight. Conference play is being part of that 5 that your coach calls on in the last seconds of the game to bring a W back to the Mount. Blood, sweat and tears isn't just a saying - it's reality.

     For me conference play requires a lot of mental strength when your body wants to do differently. Conference play requires extra hours in the gym, alone. Doing whatever it takes to ensure that you have the upper hand on your opponent. Conference play is the bittersweet moment of my life right now. Super sad that it is coming to an end, but so happy and proud that I could be part of such a fun and enjoyable program. Lastly, NEC play is rewarding, exhilarating and worth the long bus rides, as well as shared loving and fun experiences with teammates and coaches. It's worth that gut-wrenching feeling you get before games because of the anxiety that overcomes my body. NEC is home, it's what I know!   -#20 Kayla Grossett

Kayla scored 20 points agaist conference foe Wagner on January 18.

     Playing in the NEC for the past 4 years has been extremely fun. Since the beginning, the teams I have been a part of here at the Mount have always shown to be great competitors in this conference.  We have continued to make a name for ourselves in this conference by showing that we are here to win. Since my freshman year, we have always battled with Bryant.  I can’t remember if there was a game that we played against them, that wasn’t a dogfight.  Since we do not have a rival in the conference based on territory, we pretty much make everyone our rivals!  Quinnipiac (who recently left to join the MAAC) was always a great game as well.  Last year’s game was especially a competitive, and high-energy game.  We faced the undefeated team in the semi-finals, losing by just 6 points.  I think the best thing about this conference, is that anyone can win on any given day. The NEC Championship is anyone’s to take this season, and this is one of the main reasons I love playing in the NEC.  This team, this year, has put in so much hard work, effort and passion, I know that we can and will be winning the Conference Championship.    -#32 Jessie Kaufman

 

Jessie scored 19 points against St. Francis Brooklyn on January 13.