Early mornings and late evenings. Long practices and rigorous academic courses. Team bonding and unforgettable moments. These are just a few of the hallmarks of the student-athlete experience at Simmons, according to field hockey player Sydney Gonyea ’25 and softball pitcher Piper Kinney ’26.
Being a student-athlete has been a core part of Gonyea and Kinney’s identities for well over a decade. They first picked up their respective hockey stick and softball in elementary school. Their love of sport has only increased and it’s a major reason why they chose Simmons.
“I’ve been so lucky to have the best teams,” Gonyea says. “I’ve had great coaches and found my best friends through the sport. You go through the same challenges. You succeed together and there’s nothing else like it.”
Throughout their time at Simmons, Kinney and Gonyea have shined on and off the field. Kinney has played an integral role in the team’s back-to-back Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Softball championship titles. Those wins earned them a spot in the NCAA Division III Softball Championships, where they played the eventual NCAA III champion. In 2024, she ranked third in the nation in strikeouts with 200. Gonyea, meanwhile, was named the 2024 GNAC Offensive Player of the Year, earned a spot on the ALL-GNAC First Team, and finished the season with an impressive 15 multiple point games.
“Sydney and Piper are two excellent examples of our over 150 student-athletes here at Simmons,” says Erica Schuling ’13MS, ’18MS, Director of Athletics and Recreation. “I’m constantly inspired by the profound impact sports have on shaping our student-athletes into leaders, teammates, and agents of positive change.”
Gonyea and Kinney’s athletic prowess comes with a host of responsibilities. Time management is critical. Kinney is a neuroscience major and public health minor on the pre-med track. On a normal weekday, she is awake by 6 am and sometimes doesn’t return home until 10 pm. Her training schedule includes a mix of lifting, conditioning, and softball practices. A SURPASs scholar, she also works in the Simmons labs doing cell culture research. She credits the team with helping to balance it all.
“I’m really close with my team,” Kinney says. “We hold each other accountable. It’s one of the most important things I’ve learned.”
Gonyea’s training regimen also includes a combination of weightlifting, conditioning, and practices. During the season, the field hockey team trains in the evenings at Daly Field. Gonyea enjoys the bus ride there, which she views as a welcome time to transition from student mode to athlete. As a social work major who plans to pursue a master’s degree after graduating this spring, she’s thinking about what’s next. An internship working with middle school students has made her realize she might be able to pursue two of her biggest passions: social work and sports.
“If I was a school social worker, I might also have the opportunity to coach field hockey,” Gonyea says. “I’ve been thinking about that and keeping my options open.”
Their love of athletics doesn’t end on the field. Gonyea and Kinney are part of the Simmons Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and Gonyea currently serves as the committee president. One of the goals of the group, which is made up of nearly 50 students, is to strengthen the ties between the athlete and non-athlete community at Simmons. And it’s working. Both women have seen an increase in attendance at games and competitions across a variety of sports in recent seasons. “It’s been super exciting to help bridge that gap,” says Kinney. “We’ve been able to get a lot of people to games this year.”
While being a student-athlete can be challenging at times, the many memorable moments—from team breakfasts and dinners to hanging out during murder mystery parties—are what will stick with them. And when asked about the most difficult part of being a student-athlete, Gonyea didn’t hesitate.
“The fact that it’s ending,” she says. “Field hockey is a major part of my identity. It’s made me who I am, and I’m so proud to be a student-athlete at Simmons.”