Rose hosts national track meet

Friday and Saturday, March 9 and 10, over 2200 people attended the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III National Track Meet here in Rose’s SRC. Matt Sinclair, Assistant Director for Recreational Sports and Athletic Facilities, said 1500 paid spectators, 400 athletes, 150 coaches, 70 meet officials and 100 staff attended the event.

Ryan Schipper, a senior civil engineer, competed in the pole vault. “I tried to prepare for the meet by letting my body rest for a few days and by getting mentally ready,” described Schipper. Schipper had a great deal of support both before and at the meet. “My parents drove down from Fort Wayne to watch the meet. Only one of my eight siblings was not able to attend because of an SAT test. The support that I got from the track team, family, and friends that came down was really a big help to motivate me.” Schipper was enthusiastic about the competition. “I think it was a great opportunity to have the best jumpers in the nation competing at the facility that I use almost every day.”

Qualifying to compete in the national meet is a feat in itself. According to Larry Cole, the Track and Field coach, “only the top 12 to 14 athletes in each event qualify for the NCAA meet.”

Photo: Christina Davis and Andrew Carlson The NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships was held this past weekend in the SRC fieldhouse. Ryan Schipper was the sole representative athlete from Rose-Hulman.

Around the middle of the week, all students that use the parking lots on either side of the SRC were required to move their vehicles to make way for the incoming guests. This affected residents in Blumberg, Mees, Scharpenberg, Deming, and the Apartments. “Finding a parking spot was awful,” exclaimed senior mechanical engineer Aaron “Monkey” Markowitz.

Set-up for the event began several days prior to the start of the meet, which consisted of several sets of bleachers as well as the beginnings of a fence.

Rose-Hulman students served as drug testers, vendors at the concession stand, and guides to campus and the SRC. Some also helped with selling tickets and resetting field events such as pole vault and long jump. Many student groups participated, included several sports teams, SRC staff, and residence hall staff. Prior to the start of events each day, the Rose-Hulman Pep Band performed the Star Spangled Banner.

Katie Frey, junior mechanical engineering, and Jessica Young, junior civil engineer, were two of many Rose students who contributed to the success of the event. “[Women’s Softball coach Brian Shearer asked the players if any of us would be interested in assisting with the event. I thought it would be fun to help out,” stated Frey. Frey was put in charge of concessions, “I had a good time and got to watch some of the events.” Young, who was also assigned concession stand duty, agreed with Frey.

Cole explained how Rose had the opportunity to host the event. “We placed the bid with the NCAA two years ago,” explained Cole. “We actually competed with MIT in Boston for the meet. We sold the NCAA committee that Boston hosts meets every weekend during the winter season: however, this would be a very special event for Rose-Hulman and the city, if we secured the bid.”

Apparently, the event was special to other teams as well. According to Cole, “Several coaches commented that this was the best indoor championship meet in the history of Division III track & field.”