McAndrews Fund Donors Provide New Track & Field and Cross Country Locker Rooms

Coach Don Nichter and the Karwoski family

From left: Ted Karwoski P'10, Coach Don Nichter, Nick Karwoski '10 and Donna Karwoski P'10. The Karwoskis were the lead donors on the locker room project and are big believers in Nichter's motto, "The journey is the reward," as tattooed on his forearm. Photo by Carl Socolow '77.

Coach Don Nichter’s 34 years honored by athletics community

by Tony Moore

Besides setting itself apart with years of success, Red Devils track & field and cross country now have another distinction: dedicated locker rooms for their athletes.

“Other colleges don’t have a [dedicated] locker room, so that luxury is always going to be impressive,” says Eric Herrmann ’19 (history), who was recently named to the U.S. Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association’s All-Mideast Region Team in the mile. “And it’s beautiful in here.”

Video by Joe O’Neill

With funding in place from generations of Dickinsonians, the ribbon was cut this weekend on the Coach Don Nichter Track & Field Cross Country Locker Rooms in the Kline Center, honoring Coach Nichter’s 34 years of dedication to Dickinson and his teams. And the huge turnout for the ceremony was a great indication of the love the Dickinson community has for Coach Nichter.

“Since freshman year there was an understanding that Coach was trying to make everyone the best runner/athlete that they could be,” says Nick Karwoski ’10, a lead donor on the project, along with parents Donna and Ted. “He was always going to be there trying to accomplish the goals you set and were willing to work toward, and ultimately he’s the main reason I'm still connected to the program, that my family is still connected.”

“Coach has a way of making you the best version of yourself,” says Donna Karwoski, who made the trip down from New Hampshire for the ceremony with husband Ted. “From the day we met him in 2006, I just knew, if Nick is going to go to college seven hours away, this is the place.” 

Also driving in, in this case from Maine, were locker room donors Maria and Keith Canning, whose daughter Sofia ’18 placed second overall at the 2017 NCAA Mideast Regionals in November.

“The most significant thing that motivated us to give to Dickinson in this fashion is the environment that Dickinson creates, the entire community. And it just felt really good to acknowledge an individual like Don, who creates this environment,” says Keith Canning. “We just thought that the more we could do to encourage that and recognize the individuals who are doing that—in Don’s case tirelessly over a career of 34 years—it felt really appropriate. And frankly, it's our honor to do it.” 

And the generosity of donors like the Cannings has definitely not gone unnoticed. "I just want to send out a big thank you to all our alumni, our parents and obviously the student athletes that have also been part of supporting the project," says Nichter. "It's great to know that people care about us, and we're excited about the future of track & field and cross country at Dickinson!"

Dedication Ceremony

Video by Christian Payne

To support initiatives like the new locker room, other facilities upgrades, training trips for athletes, new equipment and much more, alumni, parents and friends of the college can support Dickinson athletics by making a gift to the McAndrews Fund.

TAKE THE NEXT STEP

Published March 28, 2018