By: Marques Phillips

Every spring break Buffalo State College sends 40 or so students down the coast to warmer cities. The college pays for the plane, the hotels and the meals. In return they give athletes a longer season to measure up to the schedules of Southern teams.

The reason for this is practical: It’s too cold in Buffalo to hold these events.

“It’s really the only chance we have to get the girls in game situations,” said head softball coach Sandra Hollander.

Softball went to Fort Meyers, Fla.; track and field flew to Atlanta, Ga.; and lacrosse traveled to West Palm Beach, Fla.

Softball finished its trip 9-1, with three of the wins coming against D’Youville College (which is about 10 minutes from Buffalo).

Track and field participated in the Emory Invitational in which the men finished fifth out of 18 teams, while the women finished 11th in a field of 19.

Lacrosse played just two games, both of them victory, including a victory over the University of Miami’s club team.

Off the field the teams are allowed some slack as to how they spend their free time, but all three teams had curfews.

“To athletes its not like we’re missing spring break because there’s no place we’d rather be,” said sprinter Corey Mabry. “We do have a lot of free time. We went to amusement parks, some people went shopping, it depends on the person.”

“There is time for fun, but at the end of the day I tell my girls it’s a business trip,” said Hollander. “The reason we’re here is to play softball.”

For the lacrosse team, the early experience has translated into results as it has won its first six contests.

As for women’s softball, Buffalo State took off to an 11-1 start following its trip.

The track and field teams had broken four school records as of April 13. The shattered records include Richard Harris in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.62, breaking the 20-year-old school record. Todd Wassinger also set a new school record in the hammer throw, throwing 47.94 meters. Jenelle Orosz set a new school record in the high jump, clearing 1.67 meters. Dana Migliorino set a record in the pole vault with a new school record of 2.15 meters.

Contact Marques Phillips @ philmj25@mail.buffalostate.edu