The Guilfordian
February 13, 2015 | 11
SPORTS
WWW.GUIlFORDIAN.COM/SPORTS
GUILFORDIAN@GUILFORD.EOU
Fernandes brings personal
passion to Quakers athletics
Having Jane up in the stands is always great...
As a team, we know that there is always one
true Quaker fan out there to support us.
JoRDYN Brown, first-year
BYLESLYVASQUEZ
Staff Writer
“Guilford has a wonderful athletic
department, and I’m always impressed with
all of the athletes,” said Guilford College
President Jane Fernandes.
The president has always been a sports
fan, having grown up with four brothers ,
all of them athletes. As a young girl, the
first sport that Fernandes took part in was
figure skating. She soon learned that this
sport was not for her.
When she got older, she found her
athletic prowess in fencing.
As a fencer, Fernandes went on to compete
at Division III Trinity College in Hartford,
Connecticut. In her time at Trinity, she
showed both sportsmanship and leadership
qualities that would lead her to become a
captain her senior year.
But competing and observing are
two different things. Take basketball for
example, which is Fernandes’ favorite sport
to watch, despite not being as familiar with
what happens on the hardwood.
“Having Jane up in the stands is always
great,” said first-year women’s basketball
player Jordyn Brown. “As a team, we know
that there is always one true Quaker fan out
there to support us.”
Being in the stands gives Fernandes a
much different perspective and an added
interest to athletics. This interest led her
to get involved with the Guilford College
football team in her first semester on
campus.
On Nov. 15, Fernandes had to walk into
the middle of Emory and Henry’s football
field wearing the Wasps’ blue and gold.
Why? Because Emory and Henry president
Jake Schrum and Fernandes bumped into
each other in New York after a meeting
and decided to put a friendly wager on
the football season finale between the two
schools.
This challenge was to see which alumni
could donate more for their respective
school.
“It was a great opportunity to engage
alumni and ask for their support through
competition off the field,” said head
football coach Christopher Rusiewicz.
The stakes for this game were high with
the alumni challenge and the football team
playing for position atop the conference.
While Guilford did not win the challenge,
on the field the Quaker’s football team
dominated 52-28.
One thing Fernandes wants to stress is
how positive an opportunity Division III
athletics provide. She herself has always
seen that having wonderful support through
coaches and teammates is a way of life that
provides great physical health and success.
Fernandes believes that being an athlete
develops the mind, the spirit, the heart and
also the body. She is truly impressed and
proud of all the teams in general and hopes
to see greater success in the future.
“Knowing we have the support from
President Fernandes is great for our players
and program,” said Rusiewicz. “If we know
that she is supporting and is proud of our
achievements, then our student-athletes feel
proud to represent the college positively.”
Join Guilford’s
rugby clubs
Pradicu:
Haworth Fields
Monday
Wednesday
Friday
4-6 p.m.
For more information,
please contact:
BnmdonWagstaff
wagstaffbt@guilford.edu
Men's Rugby Club
President
Sports Calendar
February
WWmVR 9 VMrlilllllll^^
V. Old Dominion Athletic Conference Championships
@ Greensboro Aquatic Center (Greensboro)
Feb. 13
Women's BosIcoIIhiII
V. Va. Wesleyan
Ragan-Brown Field House
Feb. 14 @ 2 p.m.
V. Bluefield St.
McBane Field
Feb. 14 @ 12 p.m.
Mm^s Btfsicoibdi
V. Bridgewater
Ragan-Brown Field House
Feb. 14 @ 4:30 p.m.