Former Dartmouth High athletes disappointed in UMass cuts

Jul 15, 2020

Eight former Dartmouth High School students are among the 94 student-athletes affected by UMass Dartmouth’s shock decision to drop eight sports programs earlier this month.

Of those eight, five residents were on just one team: men’s tennis. The Dartmouth High graduates made up a full third of the 15-player team.

Outgoing chancellor Robert Johnson made the announcement canceling the programs — which included sailing, swimming and diving, tennis, and men’s lacrosse, along with men’s golf and women’s equestrian — on July 1. 

And according to coaches and players, it took many by surprise.

I was never notified that this was going to be an official decision,” said men’s tennis coach Karsten Rathlev. “I actually found out later than all my students.”

Rathlev said he found out when he was teaching tennis at a Cape Cod country club when he saw dozens of missed calls and messages from players, family, friends, and colleagues.

But after going from UMass Dartmouth student-athlete to five-year coach of a successful tennis program  “We had never had a losing conference record,” he stated proudly — there are no hard feelings.

“I have a lot of good memories there,” he said. “They gave me the opportunity to do my dream job. I loved every second of it, and I appreciate all they did. They really helped me.”

Former Dartmouth High student and tennis player Kyle Noseworthy said the decision took him by surprise as well, as the team believed they had a “solid chance” at winning this year’s conference. 

“We had also just received brand new uniforms and other team attire, so no one would have thought the team would be cut for the season,” he noted. 

The sophomore was studying business administration at UMass Dartmouth. 

While unhappy with the decision, he stated, is not upset with the university. “I’m sure there are reasons why the teams would be cut,” he said, describing himself as more “disappointed” than anything.

And although Noseworthy said that he enjoyed attending UMass, he is now not sure what to do next.

I have teammates at UMass that have been teammates since high school, so it feels hard to make a change,” he said. “At the same time everyone on the team had invested hours of hard work to make the team as good as it was for this season. So to just stop playing tennis feels wrong as well.”

“Currently, I am weighing my options and waiting to hear more on other schools’ plans for sports before I make any decisions,” Noseworthy added.

According to UMass Dartmouth Director of Athletic Communications Jim Seavey, “There are a lot of raw emotions that these kids are feeling right now.”

He added that the university is committed to supporting the student-athletes as they decide on next steps.

The list of former Dartmouth High School students affected by the university’s decision is as follows:

 

Men’s Tennis

Colton Almeida (Freshman) - Helped team advance to Division 2 South semifinals at Dartmouth High as part of veteran 2019 team

Sean Manny (Sophomore) - posted singles victory in 2019

Kyle Noseworthy (Sophomore) - Team captain and two-year letter winner at Dartmouth High, with 18 total victories over last two seasons (10 singles, eight doubles). Helped lead team to 2019 Little East semifinals

Sean Sebastiao (Freshman) - Helped team advance to Division 2 South semifinals at Dartmouth High as part of veteran 2019 team

Trevor Schwarzmann (Freshman) - Transfer from Division I Bryant University. Set school career record for singles wins at Dartmouth High School as one of top ranked players in Massachusetts, without dropping a set during senior regular season competition

 

Men’s Lacrosse

Charlie Gamache (Freshman) - Goalie started in February 2020 season opener at Salve Regina, making nine saves in three quarters of play. Featured in June 2020 edition of New England Lacrosse Journal

 

Co-ed Sailing

Liam Harkins (Freshman) - Skippered Corsair “B” entry in three events, including 13th place finish at October 2019 Massachusetts Maritime Chuck Fontaine Invitational. Placed 15th at Harvard Invitational in September 2019.

 

Men’s swimming and diving

Max Boyle (Freshman) - Competed in freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke as a freshman. Also played football at Dartmouth High