All college athletes have a significant responsibility to their teams and their classes. But for captains, the job is even greater: they set a positive example for those around them on top of excelling at athletics. The Spectator sat down with two newly-minted captains for the fall 2021 season, Deirdre Corrigan ’23 and Nick Lyon ’22. With a new season ahead, Corrigan and Lyon look to help build a positive team environment as their respective teams charge forward.

Deirdre Corrigan ’23

Corrigan has ascended to the role of captain on the volleyball team as junior, speaking volumes about her team spirit and prowess at her sport. During her freshman year, Corrigan took part in every single game and racked up 226 kills, which was the second-most on the squad.

After missing last season due to the pandemic, what is it like having so many new faces on the team?

It is extremely exciting having so many new faces on our team this year. I am one of five upperclassmen, meaning there are nine first-years and sophomores. This provides us with a unique opportunity to build a team culture and compete essentially as an entirely new team this season.

You start your season at Babson this weekend. What are your expectations and what do you hope to learn from your opening matches?

Yes! We are very excited to get after it this weekend against Babson, Salve Regina, and NVU-Lyndon. My expectation is that we will learn more about ourselves as a cohesive unit and continue to improve our team chemistry and playing level!

What do you personally hope to bring to the team as a captain this year?

As a captain, I hope to help foster an environment where we are successful as a group on and off the court. It is such a privilege to be in this leadership position, and my goal is to just make a positive impact on my teammates and the program as a whole.

Nick Lyon ’22

A senior this year, Lyon boasts an 8K personal best of 26:53, an average of about five minutes and 23 seconds per mile. He sees the current team of runners as especially promising and aims to help them make the NCAA Championships at the end of the season.

After missing last cross-country season due to the pandemic, what is it like readjusting to a real preseason with competition on the horizon?

Now that we have concrete goals with a specific timeline, the general atmosphere on the team is more focused. Last year, we were constantly wondering when/if we would have competition again, and it often felt like we were running just to run, and not for a common goal. This year, we are back to having that shared goal, and it has really allowed us to train well.

You start your season at home this weekend with the Hamilton Short Course Invitation. What can you say to potential fans hoping to support the team on Saturday?

That this is one of, if not the most, promising team that Hamilton has ever had (and certainly since I have been here). The depth and level of commitment I have seen this year are so exciting to watch and feels like the culmination of a lot of hard work on the part of myself and the other seniors.

What do you personally hope to bring to the team as a captain this year?

More than anything, I try to lead by example. I was running every day last fall without a season and — when we eventually got the chance to compete — it paid off, for which I am very grateful. Our captain’s attitudes help keep the team motivated and establish a precedent for the newcomers. My goal and expectation for myself have always been to get this team to the NCAA championships in November. We are consistently underrepresented in preseason regional rankings, and it will be very exciting to prove a lot of our doubters wrong.

Favorite event of the Summer Olympics?

DC: Women’s Indoor and Beach Volleyball! One of the players on the Indoor team, Haley Washington, actually coached me for two summers at camp in high school!

NL: Track and field (of course). Other than that, fencing! Best movie you’ve seen recently? DC: The new He’s All That starring THE Addison Rae. NL: Mississippi Burning.

Best thing you ate this week?

DC: Tuscan sandwich from Diner in a wrap.

NL: My standard breakfast of buttered toast and honey.

Thing you missed most about being in season?

DC: Team dinners!

NL: The feeling of standing on the start line before the gun goes off. Nothing like it!

If you could play any sport at Hamilton (other than your current sport), what would it be and why?

DC: I’d wanna be a part of squash gang!

NL: I’d be a linebacker on the football team, obviously. I’m built like a semi-truck.