Megan Cover
Holding a steady pace at the Oct. 19 Pomona-Pitzer Invitational, Megan Cover (junior) placed 23rd out of 80 in the 6K, earning a personal record with a time of 23:21.4. Cover said that even though it is a big personal accomplishment she is proud of, her teammates are what made the race memorable.
“One thing [I try] to emphasize is running for the team. Even if you’re going through pain, you have to have the idea that the race is bigger than yourself,” Cover said.
According to Cover, she is satisfied with the cross country season so far, despite a recent mental block.
“The biggest challenge for me has been mental prep before races — prepping how it’s going to feel, what’s it going to look like and who I’m going to be racing next to,” Cover said.
According to Cross Country Assistant Coach Demi Marine, Cover is a strong and dependable runner.
“[Cover] thinks she’s only a track girl and doesn’t have it in her for cross country, but she has so much endurance, [and] she doesn’t even realize it,” Marine said.
Marine said Cover’s optimism and confidence are some of her biggest strengths.
“If Megan is having a bad day, she still continues to be positive and channels that energy toward the team to propel it forward,” Marine said.
Teammate MeiMei Bayman (senior) said she admires Cover’s determination and commitment to the team.
“Even as a senior, I definitely look up to her,” Bayman said. “She’s really fast. She’s had some injuries in the past but does not let those set her back.”
Bayman said that even away from athletics, Cover is someone you can depend on and is a person who cares for everyone.
“[Cover] is super busy, but she will still drop things to be there for you,” Bayman said. “She is so genuine and happy all the time and that affects our team dynamic in a positive way.”
According to Cover, having a good mindset while running is key to having a successful race.
“Being optimistic from the beginning before a race starts is important. It’s hard to turn a negative mindset into a positive one while in the moment,” Cover said.
Cover said she is looking forward to the rest of the season and maintaining the tight-knit team bonds.
“I really want to keep up the momentum [the team] has had the past races,” Cover said. “With SCIAC [Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference] Championships coming up, I think we have a really good chance of scoring higher than at the last conferences.”
Travis Hughes
Occidental men’s water polo played against University of Redlands Oct. 23, where Travis Hughes (junior) scored two goals.
According to Hughes, water polo seasons are always a roller coaster, but this year has been enjoyable with all the newcomers on the team.
“It’s been a really good experience to be a part of [this team],” Hughes said. “The team has been the biggest contributor of the season being a positive experience for me.”
Hughes said he has his eye on making the SCIAC Tournament. He said this goal helps motivate him and builds trust within the team.
“We know we have each other’s backs — it’s really important to,” Hughes said.
According to teammate Kevin Castellanos (first year), the team has played many successful games this season and is constantly learning from each one.
“The thing I like about [our] team most is that we never give up,” Castellanos said via email.
Hughes is a vital part of creating tight team bonds and is always willing to help people out, according to Castellanos.
“[Hughes] is like a big brother to all of us,” Castellanos said via email. “He keeps everyone in check and always ensures that we do everything right.”
Castellanos said Hughes is a great leader and someone you can rely on.
“He [has] taught me so much in such a little time,” Castellanos said via email. “He’s one of the best captains I’ve ever had.”
Hughes said he is excited to finish the season on a strong note and looks forward to playing his last games with the seniors.
“I’m trying to spend as much time as possible with [the seniors] and finish strong with them,” Hughes said. “We have such a good team culture. It’s been fun this year.”
Contact Anna Beatty at beatty@oxy.edu
