For MCLA’s softball team, excitement has been in the air: a new season with a new coach is approaching.
Unfortunately, the team had a set-back this week when their newly appointed coach, Todd Galownia, suddenly resigned from the position before practices could begin.
This was a sudden development for the team. Galownia had planned on moving both himself and his fiancé from Ohio to the Berkshires and was scheduled to start coaching on August 5th. Due to his honeymoon, he postponed the girl’s first practice session, until suddenly resigning the position altogether.
There was confusion and disappointment from both the team, as well as MCLA administration, as this news came unexpectedly. Leaving the girls now without a coach, their “fallball” season has been postponed until further notice.
Though fallball isn’t the girl’s main focus, it provides them time to train as a team and prep themselves for their big spring season. Thus, it is an important part of development for girls who may be out of practice, or incoming freshmen. The news of Galownia’s departure has been a disappointment for the team, who have been looking forward to getting back into the swing of things.
Hannah Mitchem ‘27, a junior outfielder for the Trailblazers, expressed her thoughts on the news of Galownia’s exit, saying, “It was super frustrating for everyone, more specifically for the seniors.”
Mitchem said this has been an ongoing issue for the girls’ softball team. Every year, there have been only quick fixes to the overarching problem of finding a permanent coach. Much of the team specifically chose MCLA for its softball program and feel robbed of their potential growth this season.
Despite not having faith in the coach, all the girls seem to have faith in each other. Mitchem optimistically mentioned “Having to work together and not against each other is going to be the hardest part, but it will make us both better athletes and better people in the end.”
Aside from Galownia’s unexpected resignation, another mystery is why he would have wanted to make the move from Ohio in the first place. Perhaps it was the New England air that made this decision for him. Or, perhaps, it was the paycheck that drew him.
The listing for the position of ‘Head Softball Coach’ here at MCLA proposes a yearly salary of $47,434 on Indeed. This might not seem like a lot at first glance, but it is actually within the higher bracket of what a D3 college coach is paid.
The school had specifically picked Galownia for the job, out of good faith in his abilities. As Laura Mooney, the director of MCLA’s athletics, explains it, he was chosen because “Todd stood out with his ability to build a strong championship culture as well as his passion for the sport. He brings the positive energy, technical acumen, and motivation needed to continue advancing the softball program.”
Despite Todd not yet being involved with the MCLA community, both the administration and the team are feeling an upsetting loss from his resignation. The girls were eager to see the reforms that Coach Galownia was proposing he would make to the team. In his initial statement to MCLA athletics upon taking the job, Galownia explained: “I am extremely excited to work with the student-athletes to help them achieve their goals and excel in the classroom, on the field, and throughout the community.”
Galownia has not responded to efforts to submit a more current comment at this time.
While the girls do not yet have a coach of their own, other MCLA coaches have stepped up to the plate. Volleyball coach Amanda Beckwith and women’s ice hockey coach Heath Isaacson have taken it upon themselves to help the softball girls whenever they can.
Despite having a postponed fallball season, the softball team still sees a bright future ahead of them for their upcoming spring season. The batting cages are available for use in the school gym, and the team is determined to keep up their crafted skills, despite the setbacks they’ve faced.
For such success to happen, Mitchem explains “Communication is going to be super big this season.”
The girls have determined that there will be no captains named to the team, so it does seem that communication will be the most valuable part the team needs to progress their success. Mitchem showed a hint of the team’s adaptability however, saying, “We were looking forward to it, but things change, and you can’t really control it. So, we’re going to control what we can and we’re going to work through it.”
Trailblazers are going to want to keep an eye on this team. With the way they have faced so many setbacks, they are sure to continue to meet any challenges that are set before them.
It takes a certain type of athlete to excel in softball. One’s determination, grit, and perseverance are what sets them apart, and with the school’s community showing for their upcoming games, there seems to be nothing these girls can’t accomplish.
