Challenge

Mary Corrigan Twyman

Field Hockey (1977-1992)

You know, it's funny. In Massachusetts I played for someone who was arguably the greatest high school girls coach in the country. I'm sure she's in record books. She had an unbelievable winning streak. She was a great coach, and a wonderful person. But she led by example. When I got to Dartmouth I realized I had never been pushed. Mary Twyman pushed me.

Mary used to use a phrase that sounded very Irish to me,especially with her lilt. Whenever somebody missed a ball, she'd yell, "Hard luck!" That was her way of saying, "OK! Getitnext time! Get on with the game!" You didn't have to be told anything more than that you knew it when you missed a ball. It was just the right amount of support.

There was a time during my senior year when everything in my life seemed to be falling apart. I was overwhelmed with everything. I went into Mary's office to quit. And I was the captain. She spent a long time talking to me. She said, "Life can be overwhelming sometimes. Butyou have to deal with it, and move on." In a way, she was saying, hard luck even there. But then she said, "I really need you on this team. I need you as the captain. I want you to give it a shot."

A couple of days later, we beat UNH the first time a Dartmouth field hockey team had ever done that. I'll never forget walking back from the locker room. Mary drove up in her car and rolled down the window. "I'm very, very proud of you," she said. We had an undefeated season and went to the nationals.

Mary didn't try to mold me into her perfect image of a player. By letting me be my own person, she allowed me to become the player she needed, to become her captain. At times, that was a tricky position to be in. One of my roles was to bridge the gap between Mary and the players who didn't get along with her. I don't know if those players couldn't get beyond the challenge, or if it was because Mary was always challenging. Part of it may have been her Irish heritage. She could be fiery and volatile. I'm sure there were times when she wasn't fair. She made quick judgments on people. From the get-go she either liked you or she didn't. I used to go to her and say, "Mary, lay off this person, would you? You're not going to get this person to perform." For some reason, though, she knew how to get me to perform. I thought she was great.

Mary Twyman gave me a chance to prove myself. She helped me reach farther within than I ever had before. She helped me excel at something. There's no greater gift from a coach.

"I'm not surehe knew howmuch strengthI got from hisfaith in me."