The Muhlenberg Athletic Leadership Team (known as M.A.L.T.) is the latest student organization within athletics. The club was recently founded by Ashley Polera ‘20, women’s basketball point guard, Jordan Cimiring ‘20, and defender on the men’s soccer team.
Polera and Cimiring were inspired to create the organization because they wanted to show how athletics you can create a stronger connection between people and Muhlenberg’s community as a whole. The goal of the club is to immerse surrounding communities with our campus athletics, in order to create a fan base that is more emotionally connected with Muhlenberg’s fan base.
The club runs events, such as sports drives, that will bring organizations to our campus so that kids can participate in various sports activities. Building relationships is always a part of anyone’s college experience, but it is even more meaningful when you are able to build relationships that allow you to give back to your community.
The clubs executive board consists of 13 student athletes that come from nine different teams. Coaches from each of the nine teams recommend players from their team who will make a big impact on the community.
The idea sprouted when Polera and Cimiring took notice of how every sports team tends to sit with their respective team in the dining hall. All 22 teams mingling together is something that will bring everyone closer and would make the athletics community more connected.
One way the pair hopes to promote a tight-knit community is through hosting events where all teams can come together and volunteer. Polera and Cimiring want to motivate woman, inspire younger generations, and to help those out who cannot play college sports like we can.
On Saturday, Feb. 17, the women’s basketball team held their annual Senior Night and M.A.L.T. had its time to shine. A youth basketball team of eight and nine year olds from St. Aquinas came to cheer on the women’s team and at halftime, and the young fans were invited onto the court to participate in a game of basketball. Although small, M.A.L.T. wanted to get their name out there and encourage the athletics community to look forward to the bigger events that are to come.
In the future, the club hopes to hold one significant event every semester while hosting some smaller events in between. “The big thing is for people to look forward to the events,” said Cimiring.
The next scheduled program is going to be during DIII Week. From April 2nd-April 8th, Muhlenberg athletes are honored for their academic accomplishments, for those who became all-American athletes, and are honored for their leadership and community service accomplishments. The event is planned for Friday, April 6th.
Any athlete is eligible to join M.A.L.T. The bigger the club becomes, the more connected Muhlenberg hopes to become. An eventual goal is giving back to those who are less fortunate.
The Athletic Department has helped out greatly with planning the clubs events, as M.A.L.T. is entirely funded by Muhlenberg athletics. Department of Athletics administrators Megan Patruno, Lily Otu, and Corey Goff have all been key players in getting M.A.L.T. up and running. Polera and Cimiring recognize that Goff has been able to help connect the student organization with foundations and programs in the greater Allentown Community.
“(Goff) is a huge supporter of the club and it is going to be very difficult when he leaves,” said Polera and Cimiring.
The founders have also been advertising growing their organization like creating social media like their Instagram page: Muhlenberg_al_team. Expanding is a short term goal for the club. “We want people to be a part of this club and to be proud,” said Polera.
