This semester, four Saints will be starting a podcast of their very own. With a socially inclusive group of four students, they will be covering many topics, including taking a deeper look into the sports world and some of the inequalities that may come along with gender differences.
Under the guidance of Mare MacDougall-Bari, the four speakers will be creating this podcast as an independent study. MacDougall-Bari is a great advisor for this podcast subject, as she teaches in the Sports Studies and Exercise Science department at St. Lawrence. After taking a class with her, it is evident that she is passionate about all that she does, but even more so about sports, equality within it, and her love for the game.
The podcast will include the voices of Claire Dudley ‘22, Tommy Benjes ‘22, Tommy Leicht ‘22, and Laura Cote ‘23. The idea to create a podcast was Dudley’s, but the other three speakers immediately decided to make it a reality. The subject of the podcast was something that took some time to decide on. As two female and two male speakers who have been heavily involved in the sports world throughout their entire lives, the group finally chose to speak about the different experiences they have had, and to compare them between their lives.
As two members of our school’s club hockey team, Benjes and Leicht used to practice with the women’s hockey team during the 2019-2020 season. Along with Trevor Diver ‘21 and Will Stack ‘23, the practice squad sparked an ongoing friendship between the two teams.
Ever since the 2019-2020 season, Benjes and Leicht have been heavily involved with the women’s hockey team. This year, they have both been working for the team alongside the video coordinator, Brennen Albert ‘24, during the home games. Due to this connection, Dudley and Cote have had many conversations with Benjes and Leicht about the differences in their experiences. The brilliant idea to make these conversations public only came this semester.
Dudley is a current senior on the women’s hockey team. As a Westwood, MA native, and coming from a sports background, she was born directly into the sports world. She excelled at most sports she played, and eventually earned her way onto the Division one hockey team here at St. Lawrence.
Benjes, from Lexington, MA, and Leicht from Mamaroneck, NY, started playing hockey at the age of six, right up until the club hockey team here at St. Lawrence. Their lives were very sports-centered from a young age, and they continue to be involved in the sports world now due to their roles on the club hockey team and their affiliation with the women’s hockey team. The club hockey team practices and plays twice a week, so it is a time commitment that most are not willing to make.
Cote, from Burlington, Ontario, is a current junior on the women’s hockey team. Also coming from a sports-centered family, she played for Canada’s women’s national under-18 ice hockey team in her senior year of high school.
These four speakers will have a lot of opinions to share and conversations to be had. This podcast will be something to look out for this semester. At a later date, it can be found on iTunes. If you are interested in sports and what goes on behind the scenes in four college student’ lives, listen in.