Spartans Honored by Michigan State President
10/15/2010 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Oct. 15, 2010
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The No. 7 Michigan State field hockey team celebrated their 2009-10 championship season Monday, Oct. 11, when they attended a dinner hosted by Michigan State University President Dr. Lou Anna K. Simon and her husband, Dr. Roy Simon. The Spartans were honored for winning both the Big Ten title and the Big Ten tournament last season.
2009 was the first time the MSU field hockey team took the title of Big Ten Champions outright and the third time they won the Big Ten Tournament. The dinner hosted at President Simon's home, honored Michigan State championship teams from last year. Also being recognized by the president was the MSU men's basketball team, which during the 2009-10 season were the Big Ten Champions and advanced to the NCAA Final Four for the sixth time in 12 seasons. In addition, the Michigan State debate team, which won the national championship title in 2010. It was the debate team's third national championship in seven years.
"It was a very enjoyable event," said head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof. "It was very special for everyone that is a part of our program. It goes to show that it doesn't matter what sport you play, you all count in representing our school. I am very proud of our girls, and it was great to see them honored with other MSU champions."
The tradition of inviting championship teams to the President's house was started by former MSU president, John Hannah. President Simon reinstated the tradition.
"It was a lot of fun and it was good to see other really good teams from the Big Ten which did well last year. We had a lot of fun just being there with all the different players," said red shirt sophomore back Chelsy Coil.
During the evening, all three teams had the chance to interact with each other. The field hockey team even taught men's basketball head coach Tom Izzo one of their team games called "ninja".
"The President had nice words to say. It was just really cool to be in the presence of Tom Izzo and the President," said senior forward Julie Mackay. "The best part of the night was when we taught Tom Izzo how to play ninja. That was pretty funny. We play that game right before practice or in the locker room."
The Spartans also got the chance to learn more about the debate team. Mackay said that she and her teammates found out that the debate team was actually very similar to an athletic squad, in that they travel on the road for contests on the weekends and they have a national tournament set up the same way as the NCAA tournament. Red shirt sophomore Christie Jones got the opportunity to challenge a debate team member to a debate on whether Texas or Pennsylvania was a better state. It wasn't clear who won, but the field hockey team overall enjoyed the experience.
"It was great to see the night which recognized all the student athletes that are here to be the best that we can be, and to see everyone show their support. It was great for MSU and our field hockey program," said freshman goaltender Molly Cassidy.
