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Lexington’s Harris Rollinger, Clark athletes lend helping hand in Guatemala

Clark University student-athletes recently took a service-learning trip to Guatemala.Handout

Clark athletes expand their world view

They traveled by bus over narrow cobblestone roads high in the mountains of Central America, and played soccer with schoolchildren on a field with a sun-splashed volcano as a backdrop. Then, at the completion of their nine-day stay, they shared a tearful goodbye with their host families.

For Lexington resident Harris Rollinger and fellow varsity athletes at Clark University — including Liz Gomes of Arlington, Sudbury’s Spencer Brightman, and Dennis O’Brien of Medfield — their visit to the small town of Loma Linda, Guatemala, earlier this month was a life-changing experience.

Their stay was primarily financed and sponsored by Seven Hills Global Outreach, a Worcester-based organization that supports humanitarian efforts in developing nations, and a university program, the Clark Athletics Service-Learning Trip, established last year in collaboration with the nonprofit.

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Rollinger, a recipient of the Worcester school’s prestigious Thomas M. Dolan ’62 Award for his service and leadership, contributed the cash prize accompanying the award to help jump-start the funding.

A graduate student and two-time tennis captain at Clark, Rollinger had taken a course in social entrepreneurship from adjunct professor David Jordan, president and CEO of Seven Hills.

Both were intrigued with the idea of giving Clark’s student-athletes an opportunity to bring their skills and team concepts to the outreach program. Eleven were chosen to visit Loma Linda, whose economy is based on a coffee-growing industry that has hit hard times.

“The experience was eye-opening and inspiring,’’ said the 22-year-old Rollinger, a Lexington High graduate. “Our hosts treated us like family. I stayed with Pascual Escobar, who is head of the town’s only school, and it is a day-to-day struggle for the people there.

“But they are generous with what they have and always smiling, and that’s what impressed me the most.’’

The entourage from Clark brought soccer equipment and uniforms for the town’s elementary and middle schools, donated by Real Futbol Training in Paxton and the soccer academy’s Little Grasshoppers program.

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Gomes, an Arlington High graduate and varsity women’s soccer player at Clark, said the trip “definitely took me out of my comfort zone.

“It was pretty remarkable,” she said. “There is a lot of passion within our group to tell this town’s story and find ways to make tourism a boost to their economy.’’

At the end of each day, the Clark students met with Jordan to share their “Pearl for the Day” thoughts.

On Monday, the students and tour group leaders met with the university’s interim athletic director, Trish Cronin. They also plan to make a presentation on their journey at the spring athletic awards ceremony.

“What really struck me,’’ said Brightman, a Clark senior who captained the tennis team at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High, “was that the families couldn’t afford to buy the highest grade of coffee they produced, so we bought some for them. My house dad grew up walking five miles just to get water, but he and the people of Loma Linda are happier than most people I know.’’

Brightman and O’Brien were given soccer jerseys once worn by their host dad’s children as going-away presents.

“It was like stepping into another world,’’ said O’Brien, a junior lacrosse player and graduate of the White Mountain School in New Hampshire. “My experience makes me want to write my honors thesis on ecotourism because of the impact these people had on me.

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“On the plane ride home, I kept thinking of ways to help them.’’

Jordan said Rollinger did an “amazing’’ job of organizing the trip, adding that it would not have been possible without the financial commitment of Clark University’s president, David Angel.

“The biggest thing is that the students want to stay involved and now have a global perspective,’’ Jordan said.

Peers honor Mattson for career in coaching

Weston native Steve Mattson, a 14-year assistant hockey coach at Norwich University, is the recipient of this year’s Terry Flanagan Award presented by the American Hockey Coaches Association.

Named for a former University of New Hampshire player and Bowling Green coach, the award honors assistant coaches for their career body of work.

Mattson will be presented with the award at the association’s annual convention in Naples, Fla., in May.

During Mattson’s tenure behind the bench at his alma mater, the Cadets have won 13 straight ECAC regular-season titles and eight ECAC East tournament titles, made eight trips to the NCAA’s Division 3 Final Four, and won two NCAA titles.

Dietrick scores kudos for double-double

Former Wellesley High basketball star Blake Dietrick is racking up numbers, and plenty of honors, at Princeton University, with the junior guard named Ivy League Women’s Basketball Player of the Week for the third time this season after recording her first career double-double — 16 points and a career-high 10 rebounds — in an 84-53 win over the University of Pennsylvania.

In 38 minutes, Dietrick was 6 of 9 from the field, including 4 of 5 on three-pointers. She also had a steal and two assists for the Tigers, who started the week at 10-5 overall and 1-0 in league play.

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McGahie powers Bentley to victory

Bentley University freshman Kaitlin McGahie of Boylston (Tahanto Regional High) helped her peers on the women’s swimming team celebrate senior day Sunday at the Dana Center Pool in Waltham.

The Falcons improved to 7-1 with a 167-132 victory over the College of Saint Rose, led by McGahie capturing the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events and also anchoring two winning relays. Bentley resumes its schedule Saturday at Keene State.


Marvin Pave can be reached at marvin.pave@rcn.com.