Latest news with #DavidsonCollege
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kendrick Bourne hypes up promising Patriots rookie during players-only practice
It's still only July, but Patriots WR Kendrick Bourne likes what he's seeing so far from one rookie teammate this offseason. First-year receiver Kyle Williams made a difficult catch in the back of the end zone during a players-only workout recently while Bourne watched from under the goal post. Williams stretched both arms above his head, pulled the ball into his chest and tapped both feet inbound to complete the catch. 'Good catch boy!,' Bourne said to the rookie. 'You didn't even look at it.' 'You were like this,' Bourne said while throwing both arms up into the air. Bourne went on to compliment Williams on his ability to focus on where the ball was in the air while also focusing on getting his feet inbounds. Williams responded by highlighting the important of periphery vision. 'That's a good point,' Bourne said. 'That's real talk. Because sometimes you can be thinking about both (the feet and the ball). You'll either drop it or your feet won't be in.' The moment was captured in a video posted to Bourne's YouTube page on Friday. The workout took place at Davidson College in North Carolina. Second-year QB Drake Maybe was in attendance along with new receiver Stefon Diggs, Pop Douglas and more. Williams was the Mountain West Freshman of the Year at UNLV in 2020 before transferring to Washington State in 2023. Following this year's draft, analysts complimented Williams's ability to go deep, bring down the ball and beat defenses in the middle of the field. The Patriots selected Williams in the third round with the 69th overall pick and was the only receiver the team selected during the draft. More Patriots Content Patriots wideout thanks Drake Maye for 'free vacation,' hosting players-only summer session Stefon Diggs tells Drake Maye: Don't be afraid to give me the mustard Could Tom Brady make a comeback? Former Super Bowl opponent thinks he could still play if he wanted Robert Kraft explains delay in unveiling Tom Brady statue Read the original article on MassLive.
Indian Express
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Is Pilates political?
In early April, MaryBeth Monaco-Vavrik, a 24-year-old barre instructor and fitness influencer living in Washington, D.C., was sitting at the airport waiting for a flight to board when she had an idea for an Instagram Reel. Monaco-Vavrik studied political science and communications at Davidson College. It became a habit, she said in a recent interview, to 'always connect random things that don't seem to relate.' In that moment, she juxtaposed two concepts that had been on her mind: Pilates and President Donald Trump. Grinning at the camera, and lip-syncing to a popular TikTok clip about the Broadway musical 'Wicked,' Monaco-Vavrik made her case: 'Does anyone want me to explain the connection between the popularization of Pilates & running instead of strength training … and the rise of extreme American authoritarianism?' She elaborated in the caption, saying that conservatism was correlated to 'smaller bodies,' and that curves were out and heroin chic was back in. Given our current political climate, she did not think it was surprising that the trend for 'Pilates arms' among 'Pilates girlies' was surging. Monaco-Vavrik was new to content creation in the fitness space — she posted her first Instagram Reels, focused on training tips and exercise advice, in February — and this particular post was, she said, somewhat spur of the moment. 'I made that Reel in five minutes sitting at the airport, just to put it out there,' she said. 'I was just like, 'Why not?'' She was not prepared for the reaction: 2 million views in two days, and nearly 5 million as of this writing. Her idea spread widely — but not because everyone agreed. Some Pilates enthusiasts called it nonsense. Others said they just wanted to be healthy and feminine. 'I was accused of being a misogynist,' Monaco-Vavrik said. 'I was accused of hating women.' The tenor of the comments ranged from skepticism to personal affront. Many were outraged by the suggestion that they might be supporters of Trump, while others seemed irritated by the notion that a form of exercise could be described in partisan terms. 'The backlash was a lot,' Monaco-Vavrik said. 'I think it just deeply offended these wealthier white women who claim progressive alignment but just really couldn't see what I was saying.' More alarmingly, she said the backlash soon followed her offline. Other trainers at the studio where she taught barre admonished her over her remarks, and she said that the post even had consequences for her career, claiming that it was cited as a reason for her not getting a job in marketing with a fitness brand. It was the full viral experience. 'At first, it was great because it was like, 'Yay, people are seeing my page,'' she said. 'Then it was like, 'Crap, now I'm unemployed.'' Pilates was developed in Europe in the 1920s by Joseph Pilates, a German self-defense coach who originally called the fitness program 'Contrology.' While Pilates wrote books on the subject, and instructed dancers in his program from his New York City studio after World War II, it was not until the 1990s, decades after his death, that the program entered the mainstream, finding widespread purchase alongside a surge in popularity for yoga. More recently, Pilates has picked up some momentum: In 2024, the fitness platform ClassPass said Pilates was the most popular class type of the year. Pilates classes today are more accessible than ever, offered at dedicated studios, franchises like Club Pilates and gym chains like Equinox and Gold's Gym. Whether that popularity can be attributed to the current political climate, however, is slightly less clear. 'I have never heard that, nor have I ever seen any connection,' said Amy Nelms, the owner of the New York City Pilates studio Flatiron Pilates, her eyes widening in disbelief as the idea was laid out to her. 'I can't imagine Donald Trump doing Pilates.' For Monaco-Vavrik, the problem is not the exercise itself but the way it has been promoted. 'Pilates is great for your core strength, and for people who are suffering from connection tissue weakness, etc.,' she said. 'But how do we separate that from the fact that its marketing is extremely exclusionary? It's extremely whitewashed. It's based on wealth. It's based on thinness.' Still, she conceded that the nuances of her point might have been lost in what seemed like an accusation against Pilates enthusiasts. 'It's not about your personal political affiliation,' she said. 'No one goes to Pilates thinking, 'I'm going to be a fascist today.'' She said the way it was marketed was separate from the exercise itself. 'That maybe didn't come across very well,' she added, referring to the message in her post. Much of this 'marketing' is in fact an amorphous mass of social media content, produced by Pilates influencers who self-identify as 'Pilates girlies' or 'Pilates princesses.' On TikTok, content creators offer advice on how to achieve 'Pilates arms' — lean, sinewy biceps that do not appear overtly muscular — or, more broadly, a 'Pilates body,' which typically just means thin. Monaco-Vavrik worried that these were coded ways to tell women they needed to make themselves small and take up less space — that rather than building strength by lifting weights, women were being 'pushed toward just taking a Pilates class and getting a smoothie afterward,' she said. 'What does it say about our culture that these are the things being pushed?' Anita Chahaun, a Pilates fan in Toronto who has her certification in the program, said that she found Monaco-Vavrik's argument 'a bit tenuous,' but agreed that 'there is something to unpack about the aesthetics and accessibility of Pilates, especially in its current cultural moment.' From her perspective as a woman of color, Chahuan said, 'Pilates does still feel like a predominantly white and wealthier space,' with clientele and instructors who are 'overwhelmingly white, often thin and usually conforming to a very specific wellness aesthetic.' 'The broader wellness industry's obsession with control, thinness and optimization can overlap uncomfortably with exclusionary or even fascist frameworks,' she added. 'So, while I don't think Pilates is inherently authoritarian, it's definitely been packaged in ways that align with those values.' For some people who saw Monaco-Vavrik's video, the very idea of connecting politics and Pilates was objectionable, even if there was reason to believe otherwise. 'I think for a long time, there was a tendency to think that fitness isn't political, it's just working out,' said Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, a professor of history at the New School and the author of the book 'Fit Nation: The Gains and Pains of America's Exercise Obsession.' 'But fitness is always tied up with power dynamics and society, and it's often much more than just the gym.' Petrzela said there was something to the point Monaco-Vavrik had raised. 'I do think that when you look at the dominant aesthetics and messaging around Pilates princesses or Pilates girlies, it definitely upholds very traditional aesthetics of female beauty,' she said. But she was willing to concede the idea only up to a point. 'I appreciate that kind of analysis, but it kind of falls apart when you look deeply at it,' she said. 'Perhaps most foundationally because Pilates does get you very, very strong. Pilates is a really intense workout.' 'Make sure you include that I said Pilates is hard,' Petrzela added with a laugh. 'They'll come for me otherwise.' Though it has been months since her post first gained attention, Monaco-Vavrik's Reel continues to attract views and stoke debate, even if she is no longer directly engaging with it. 'I haven't looked at the comments in a while because they make me so angry,' she said. She made a follow-up video elaborating on the idea, hoping to cut down on some of the confusion, but, she said, 'a lot of people just kind of misconstrue what I said.' Of course, having whipped up the initial Reel in a few minutes, Monaco-Vavrik will be the first to admit that her argument may not be ironclad. Still, her instincts tell her that she had the right idea. 'It's like, again, I can't exactly prove it,' she said. 'I can't prove it, but like, no, I know it's there. I know that the orderliness, the gracefulness, the quietness, the minimalism — it's all just, like, connected.'
Business Wire
02-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Yamaha Rightwaters™ Sponsors Davidson College Student-Led Sustainable Marine Project
KENNESAW, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Yamaha Rightwaters joined forces with Davidson College to sponsor a student-led sustainable marine project focused on repowering and redesigning a pontoon vessel with a Torqeedo ® Cruise 6.0 R electric outboard motor. The project aimed to convert a gas-powered pontoon into a fully solar-powered vessel with minimal environment impact, aligning with Yamaha Rightwaters' initiative to support academic marine research. Davidson College, a private liberal arts school in Davidson, North Carolina, ranks among the nation's most selective institutions with a 17 percent acceptance rate. It recently placed number 10 on Forbes' ® 2025 list of top liberal arts universities and number 48 among all U.S. colleges. 'This project was a natural fit for Yamaha Rightwaters and a perfect use-case for Torqeedo and electric boating. It also reflects the importance of exploring multiple technology solutions to reduce environmental impact on the water,' said Joshua Grier, Sustainability Manager, Yamaha Rightwaters. 'Supporting students who are actively applying engineering and sustainability principles to real-world marine challenges helps us all learn more about how we improve the way we boat. It's exciting to see the next generation so engaged in innovative, low-impact boating solutions, and we look forward to seeing what they do next.' After almost a year of planning, the students set out to create a fully sustainable marine system by combining a solar charging array with a custom electric drive, resulting in a closed-loop, solar-powered boat with zero operational emissions. Starting with just a hull, the students also prioritized rebuilding the structure with renewable materials. John Yukich, Associate Professor of Physics and Pre-Engineering Advisor, Davidson College oversaw the physics independent study project, led by students Henry Russell and Phillip Mann, who are both pursuing a Bachelor of Science in physics on a pre-engineering pathway. The students built the vessel with two Torqeedo Power 48-5000 batteries on board, connected in parallel to the motor, powered by three solar panels. An additional rechargeable 12-volt battery is used for the lights, speakers and horn powered by one solar panel. 'Partnering with Yamaha Rightwaters made this project possible,' said Russell. 'Their support and the Torqeedo electric outboard were instrumental to our success. This experience has taught me so much about engineering, sustainability and collaboration, and it's truly strengthened my passion for innovative marine design.' After the students finished building and repowering the boat, they field tested it to ensure the boat met design goals for safety, efficiency and user experience. The 9.9 horsepower Torqeedo electric outboard propelled the boat to approximately nine miles per hour with one person on board. 'What's most impressive is that this project was entirely student driven,' said Yukich. 'Henry and Phillip chose to take on a sustainability-focused challenge purely out of passion and curiosity. It's inspiring to see students take initiative like this and even more so when they're tackling real-world environmental issues with innovative solutions.' Yamaha Rightwaters is a national sustainability program encompassing all of Yamaha Marine's conservation and water quality efforts. Program initiatives include habitat restoration, support for scientific research, mitigation of invasive species, reduction of marine debris, and environmental stewardship education. Yamaha Rightwaters reinforces Yamaha's long-standing history of natural resource conservation, support of sustainable recreational fishing and water resources, and the Angler Code of Ethics, which requires pro anglers to adhere to principles of stewardship for all marine resources. Yamaha's U.S. Marine Business Unit, based in Kennesaw, Ga., is responsible for the sales, marketing, and distribution of Yamaha Marine products in the U.S. including Yamaha Outboards, Yamaha WaveRunners ®, Yamaha Boats, G3 ® Boats and Skeeter ® Boats. Supporting 2,400 dealers and boat builders nationwide, Yamaha is the industry leader in reliability, performance, technology and customer service. REMEMBER to always observe all applicable boating laws. Never drink and drive. Dress properly with a USCG-approved personal floatation device and protective gear. © 2025 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved. This document contains many of Yamaha's valuable trademarks. It may also contain trademarks belonging to other companies. Any references to other companies or their products are for identification purposes only and are not intended to be an endorsement.
Irish Independent
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Michael Bree announced as new head coach of Ireland men's basketball team
The Sligo man, who succeeds Mark Keenan, will look to prepare the side for November's EuroBasket 2029 pre-qualifiers after signing a four-year contract. Bree will begin in the role on September 1 after he finishes up working as assistant coach with Denmark following their World Cup qualifying campaign this summer. 'Absolutely fantastic, I'm very proud and delighted to be part of the process again to be able to represent Ireland and obviously try to help the sport move along in the country,' he said. 'This programme has been grown over the last couple of years, so it's a testament to everyone that's been involved in it and it's gradually being improving. 'Winning the European Small Nation championship in [2021] was huge. It puts us in a different tier in terms of competition that we want to be competing against and that's the next step for us.' The 45-year-old played professionally across Europe from 2002 to 2010 and is programme director at RIG Mark Basketball in Sweden, which develops players for that country's national teams. Bree played college basketball at Davidson College in North Carolina earning MVP in his junior and senior years there – a feat only matched by four-time NBA winner Steph Curry. He will appoint a backroom team who will take charge of the side for Ireland's upcoming friendly with Norway at on July 26 at the National Basketball Arena.
Irish Examiner
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Sligo native Michael Bree named new head coach of Irish men's basketball team
Sligo native Michael Bree has been appointed head coach of the Ireland senior men's team. Bree, a former Irish captain, succeeds Mark Keenan who stepped down in April. The appointment comes ahead of the FIBA EuroBasket 2029 Pre-Qualifiers, which begin in November. Bree will take charge of the team from September 1st and has signed a four-year contract. Bree - who won over 40 caps for Ireland between 2000 and 2006 – is currently assistant with Denmark's senior men's team and will start his new role at the conclusion of their FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifying campaign. Bree has been with the Danish national team since 2023. Previously, the 45-year-old spent five years as Sweden's U16 and U18 men's head coach and worked with Gothenburg's Högsbo Basket, following an eight-year professional playing career in France, Germany, Spain, Poland and Sweden between 2002 and 2010. After leaving Sligo in 1998, Bree played college basketball at NCAA Division 1 programme Davidson College in North Carolina. He captained the team in his junior and senior season, earning MVP honours in each. Only one other person has managed to achieve this in school history - four-time NBA champion Steph Curry - who was recruited to the school at the end of Bree's time there. 'I am delighted and honoured to be taking on this new role within Basketball Ireland," said Bree. "I'm ecstatic to have the good fortune to represent our basketball nation once again on the international stage. We are an emerging nation within the international basketball community and to have the opportunity to add value to the programme is immensely motivating and makes me very proud. "Throughout my career, Irish basketball has presented me with so many wonderful experiences and opened numerous doors to new and exciting possibilities. My wish is to offer at least as much in return, as we navigate the potential challenges that high-level competitive international basketball can present.'
