By
Andrew DeMarco
In the past, I have written about my “niece” Michele “Belle” Koclanes who is now the head Woman’s Basketball Coach at Dartmouth College. In her 16th year of coaching, 6 years as head coach, Belle has always espoused the values of family and leadership to all the young women that have passed through her program which have all been exceptional people. The same is true for her coaching staff over her 6 years as head coach that spirit of family and leadership runs throughout the program. It is because of these two values that I am sure anyone who goes through the Dartmouth Women’s Basketball (DWB) program will be successful.
Her success in these two areas with her team could not be more apparent than a few weekends ago when DWB swept through New York defeating both Cornell and Columbia Universities. This was the first time DWB had achieved this feat in 12 years before Belle even arrived at Dartmouth. Trailing most of the game against Columbia, it was the team leaders (DWB does not call them captains) two seniors Cy Lippold and Isalys “Ice” Quinones who led the way with Ice hitting two free throws with 4 seconds left that won the game. It was a total team effort with everyone contributing even those who did not get into the game and it was an example of the family spirit. At the end of the game, during the celebration, one player exhibited that other value called leadership.
Fittingly, it was one of the team leaders Cy Lippold. Cy has endured a lot this season. Her father, Wayne, unexpectedly passed away just 3 days after the end of last season and he was a fixture at all her games. To say that this has been an emotional season for her is probably an understatement. Cy was originally from the Bronx and with this probably being her last game in New York her whole family and it seemed like almost everyone from her old neighborhood, her extended family, was at the game. To say that they were boisterous would be another understatement since they frequently drowned out most of the Columbia fans.
John Quincy Adams once said, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more do more and become more, you are a leader.” The one aspect of this quote that I feel Mr. Adams missed was that to be a leader you must also be selfless. This selflessness was shown by Cy at the end of the game. During the celebration, after the game with all the players hugging one another and just reveling in their hard-fought victory, Cy’s personal cheering section started chanting her name. Cy stepped away and with a wave acknowledged the chant from the crowd as they continued to chant her name. It was then that Cy, all 5 foot 2 inches of her exhibited the selflessness of a leader. She looked up at her cheering section and shook a disapproving finger at them while saying, “No, no, no!”. She then tugged at her jersey and pointed to the word Dartmouth while telling the crowd it wasn’t her it was the team. Her crowd immediately started chanting “Dartmouth, Dartmouth!”
During a weekend filled with team achievements, she had the ability to show her leadership qualities which was further backed up by Cy being invited to attend the “So You Want to Be A Coach” program by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WCBA). The program will take place at the Women’s Final Four in Tampa, Florida.
I was thinking that here is a young woman that has been playing all season under some trying circumstances and has shown that she can handle the pressure and still step up and lead. Coach Belle you have done well with Cy, but I would have to say that your job was probably made much easier by the efforts of Cy’s parents. So, Jennifer Lippold listen to me and listen good as I know Wayne will hear this too and this is coming from one Bronxite to another, “Youse guys dun good.” I have no doubt that whatever Cy does in the future she will be a success and that is due to the foundation that you and Wayne (and her extended family all those crazy neighbors) provided for her and knowing this gives me that feeling that Cousin Bob would call that….Rosy Glow!
Bob's Rosy Glow 