greylocknews

Film, discussion on Saturday about football scholastic head injury -- Williams summarizes review process

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- Amid evidence that head-impact sports may cause lasting brain damage to players even in secondary school and college, a retired physician is staging a free feature-film showing and discussion on Saturday at the Milne Public Library in town.  Sports officials from both Williams College and Mount Greylock Regional High School say they can't attend. The reason -- prior engagements. 

However, Williams provided a statement explain its research into the head-injury question. 

"Concussion," a 2015 feature film which chronicles the discovery of chronic traumatic encephalopathy in the brain of the late Pittsburgh Steeler lineman Mike Webster -- and the National Football League's efforts to downplay its significance -- will be show at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the library free and open to the public, says Nicholas Wright, M.D., an epidemiologist and Williams College graduate. 

Wright has been working for several years since his retirement from New Jersey to Williamstown to alert Williams trustees, sports administrators and school board members at Mount Greylock to the possibility that repeated sub-concussive blows to the head common in tackle football programs may have a compounding effect on the brains of youth.  Wright wrote about his concerns in a Berkshire Eagle op-end last fall, has spoken about it to the Mount Greylock school board, and written to Williams trustees.

But so far, he has had little reaction -- appending to the bottom of another op-ed, """Williams College has denied two requests to provide a representative for interview on these issues." So he decided to show the film.  Already, some students at Williams screened it on campus. 

More than a month ago, Wright emailed and then spoke with Lindsey von Holtz, athletic coordinator at Mount Greylock, and Lisa Melendy, athletic director at Williams. But as of this writing, both had declined Wright's offer to be part of a discussion. Melendy said she has a family engagement. von Holtz is coaching a long-scheduled lacrosse game on Saturday as the film is showing.  Also, Melendy said Williams sports-medicine staff would be covering games at that time.

In an email to Greylock News, von Holtz said: "I hope the event is a success and the turnout is large." 

Williams' media-relations director Mary S. Dettloff, responded for the college on Thursday:

"The college has voluntarily participated and provided data for outside concussion studies. NESCAC has formed a Medical Aspects in Sport Committee that is gathering data, following research, and making recommendations for best practices.  This work is on-going and under constant review at every level.  (coach, sport medicine, athletic directors, and presidents, and medical directors)  The college relies most heavily upon the NCAA Sport Science Institute and the NCAA Medical Safeguards Committee to provide us with cutting-edge research and guidance."

RELATED LINKS:

• Background on the history of the National Football League's handling of brain injury
• Berkshire Eagle story on Dr. Wright's planned testimony
• iBerkshires story on Dr. Wright's testimony and school-board reaction
• WNYT-Channel 13 (Albany, N.Y.,) report on Wright's testimony
• March 1, 2017 op-ed in Berkshire Eagle by Dr. Wright 
• Earlier op/ed in Greylock Independent by Dr. Wright: 
  ""Williams College has denied two requests to provide a representative for interview on these issues.""
  
  Photo of Nick Wright, (to right) courtesy of WNYT-TV, Channel 13

 

Citing concussion danger, Williamstown physician issues "ethical" call for Massachusetts to drop tackle football in high schools

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- Calling the issue an ethical matter, a retired epidemiologist and Williams College graduate is calling for Massachusetts educators to support adoption of non-contact, non-tackle football in high-school play, citing increasing evidence about the long-term effect on concussive blows to the head.  Dr. Nicholas H. Wright, says the damage to young brains -- first discovered in the post-death brain tissue of professional football players -- is "an epidemic in slow motion" and that traumatic, long-term injury  "has been found in the brains of football players who have never played beyond the high-school level." 

Wright's comments were contained in remarks he delivered to the Mount Greylock Regional School District board on Tues., Nov. 15 in regular session.  (LINK TO FULL TEXT OF COMMENTS). 

RELATED LINKS:

• Background on the history of the National Football League's handling of brain injury
• Berkshire Eagle story on Dr. Wright's planned testimony
• iBerkshires story on Dr. Wright's testimony and school-board reaction
• WNYT-Channel 13 (Albany, N.Y.,) report on Wright's testimony
• March 1, 2017 op-ed in Berkshire Eagle by Dr. Wright 
• Earlier op/ed in Greylock Independent by Dr. Wright: 
  ""Williams College has denied two requests to provide a representative for interview on these issues.""

Volunteers Needed for Bay State Games

North Adams, MA - Volunteers are needed to help with the 2010 Bay State Winter Games January 22-24. Call Dale Waterman at 413.663.8111 or Brittany Rheault at 781.932.6555 or e-mail [email protected]

Deadline for Bay State Games Figure Skating Registration December 11

North Adams, MA - Mail-in registrations for the figure skating portion of the 2010 Bay State Games must be postmarked by December 11, 2009. On line registration will also close at 11:59 pm on December 11th. The figure skating competition will be held January 22-24, 2010.
[email protected] 

Bay State Winter Games Celebrate Silver Anniversary in January

North Adams, MA - The Bay State Winter Games celebrate their silver anniversary in Northern Berkshire County, January 22-24. To register, call 781.932.6555

MCLA Announces Hall of Fame Inductees

NORTH ADAMS, MA—The Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place Saturday, October 24, at 5:30 p.m. in the Church Street Center. 

The inductees include local residents Bill Caprari ’75, M.Ed. ’82 (baseball), Sam Gomez (cross country coach, a posthumous inductee) and Sue Plankey LeClair ’01 (softball), as well as Laurie Pecoraro ’00 (soccer), Steve Swail ’89 (baseball), Jim Hachey ’86 (soccer), Andy Marhoffer ’83 (ice hockey), and Tom Cronin ’87 (basketball). 

Bill Caprari was a standout athlete and educator at MCLA for over 30 years.  He starred as a member of the baseball team, winning MASCAC championships in 1972 and 1974.  He was the captain of the 1974 team and presented the prestigious Louis Parisien Award in 1975.  Following his playing career, Caprari became a staff member at the College, working in the Athletic Department for over 20 years. 

Sam Gomez founded the cross country program while working as a professor at MCLA.  He served as the first coach in program history. The Sam Gomez road race has been run in his honor for the last 32 years.

Sue Plankey LeClair was the only four-time MVP in softball history, winning the award from 1998 to 2001.  She was a three-time All Conference performer and earned All New England honors those same years.   Her teams won over 20 games in three of her four seasons, and she was recognized by the ECAC and the NFCA for her accomplishments.

Soccer player Laurie Pecoraro was a two-time Sue Getchell Award winner at MCLA. She was voted team MVP on three different occasions and was twice named to the All Conference team. Pecoraro was named captain for the 1999 season.

Steve Swail was a member of two MASCAC championship baseball teams. In 1989, he was named captain and led his team to a 19-9 record. Swail was also awarded the Parisien Award in 1989. During his career, the baseball team won 66 games in three seasons.

Jim Hachey was a two-time MVP during his soccer career. His teams won 46 games in his four seasons.  He was a two-time all conference performer in goals and a member of the 1983 team that advanced to the ECAC playoffs. 

Andy Marhoffer was the MVP of the hockey team in 1983.

Tom Cronin was the two-time basketball MVP.  He was a captain of the 1987 championship team that advanced to the NCAA tournament, and he was twice named to the MASCAC all conference team for his efforts.

For more information on the Hall of Fame and the induction ceremony, please contact the MCLA Athletic Office at (413) 662-5411.

Waubeeka's Practice and Driving Range Now Open

Williamstown, MA - Waubeeka's new Practice and Driving Range Facility opened September 4

After Labor Day the September Golf Special will be $45 for 18 holes, cart and lunch Monday thru Thursday.

You can also play the rest of the season for $299 and apply the $299 to next years membership, it's like playing Waubeeka for free the rest of the 2009 season!

Give Waubeeka a call at 413.458.8355  for additional info or any questions you might have.

Hope to see you practicing and playing this Labor Day weekend and into the best fall golf course at the New Waubeeka!  Mark Mills

BFAIR Mini-Golf Tournament September 12

North Adams, MA - Berkshire Family and Individual Resources (BFAIR) invites you to the Mini Golf Tournament and Community day fundraiser at the Range on the Curran Highway, Saturday, September 12 with a shotgun start at 1 pm. For more information or to register call Carol Fox at 413.664.9382 or e-mail
[email protected]

18 & under Berkshire Tennis Tournament August 1

North Adams, MA - Northern Berkshire Community Tennis Association, Inc. is hosting the annual 18 and under Berkshire Tennis Tournament on Saturday, August 1 at 10:00 am at the MCLA Courts on West Shaft Road. Pre-registration is required. Call 413.663.5380.

Final Week for Neighborhood Summer Basketball League

North Adams, MA -The Neighborhood Summer Basketball League is in its final week. On Thursday, July 29, games will be played at the court behind Berkshire Landing. For more information, call 413.663.7588.