Kachmarik seeks to increase pride
Molly McVoy
Lynn Kachmarik began this week as the new athletic director for Saint Mary's full of excitement and expectations.
"This is a great time to be at Saint Mary's," Kachmarik said. "I really hope to take the Saint Mary's athletic program to a whole new level."
Kachmarik comes from Bucknell University where she served as assistant athletic director.
Her involvement in womens' sports provides the background she needs for her work at the college and the foundation for her future goals.
At Bucknell, Kachmarik set up panels of alumni which met with female student athletes and provided career information and opportunities.
She hopes to do the same at Saint Mary's.
"One of my main goals is to establish connections with past alumni, "Kachmarik said. "I'd like to touch base with Saint Mary's women from the past."
She believes that connections with other strong women is extremely important, especially in an athletic setting.
"In my career, I wish I had more women role models," Kachmarik said. "Here, at Saint Mary's, I found what I was lacking."
One result of these alumni connections which Kachmarik hopes for is increased support for Saint Mary's athletics and pride in the college. She hopes that during her time here she can encourage students, faculty and alumni to actively support Belles' athletics.
"Saint Mary's pride is very important to me," she explained. "Pride, not only in our varsity athletics, but in Saint Mary's in general. There are so many great things about being at Saint Mary's."
Kachmarik is entering Saint Mary's athletics at a very exciting and changing time as the college joins the MIAA conference. New facilities are being added and new staff is being hired.
Kachmarik recently hired a new assistant athletic director, Gretchen Hildebrandt, from Holy Cross College, a Division I college in Massachusetts. She graduated from Bucknell University where she swam under Kachmarik. Hildebrandt will also take over as head swim coach for Jini Cook who is leaving.
"I feel a loss without [Jini] already," Kachmarik commented. "But, Gretchen is a fantastic, wonderful person who the swimmers should be able to relate to immediately."
The athletic facilities are being updated and renovated, and Kachmarik feels that quality facilities are integral in a quality athletic program.
"Its difficult to recruit student athletes without good facilities," she said. "I would like to see facilities that will sustain the student athletes and the Saint Mary's community for a long time, state of the art facilities for Saint Mary's."
Of all the opportunities Saint Mary's offers Kachmarik, the people she will work with are what she is most excited about.
"I was really impressed with the quality of people I met in the interviewing process," said Kachmarik. "From the vice president to the student workers, they have all been wonderful."
All News Stories for Wednesday, September 8, 1999
