5 Super Athletes With Ties To Amherst

Sports have a way of teaching invaluable life lessons — building character, fostering teamwork and strengthening the bonds within a community. In the Amherst area, these values have shaped some truly remarkable athletes from different eras, whose accomplishments continue to inspire.

Patch has teamed up with T-Mobile to spotlight five standout athletes whose achievements have left a lasting mark on our community. While this list is just a snapshot, there are countless others who have helped shape the rich sports culture in our area.

1. Courtney Banghart (Basketball)

Amherst native Courtney Banghart made waves three-year starter at Dartmouth College, where she set the Ivy League record with 273 career three-pointers. After earning first-team All-Ivy honors twice and graduating with a degree in neuroscience in 2000, she embarked on a coaching career that took her from leading girls' basketball at Episcopal High School in Virginia to serving as an assistant coach at Dartmouth, where she won two Ivy League championships. In 2007, Banghart became head coach at Princeton, transforming the program with seven Ivy League titles and a 30-0 regular season in 2015, earning her Naismith National Coach of the Year honors. Since 2019, she has helmed the University of North Carolina women’s basketball team, leading the Tar Heels to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.

2. Elise Lambert (Track & Field)

Elise Lambert, an Amherst native and 2022 graduate of Bates College, earned four All-America honors in track and field. Specializing in mid-distance events and the high jump, she placed third in the 800 meters at the 2022 NCAA Indoor Championships and fifth at the 2021 Outdoor Championships. Lambert also contributed to record-breaking relay performances, including a distance medley relay that achieved Bates' best-ever national finish. A NESCAC All-Academic honoree and Senior Scholar Award recipient, Lambert balanced athletic and academic excellence, leaving a significant legacy at Bates.

3. Riley Lawhorn (Lacrosse)

Riley Lawhorn, a native of Amherst and a Souhegan High School graduate, has excelled as a midfielder for UMass Lowell’s men’s lacrosse team. Over three seasons, he has tallied 40 goals and 8 assists, with highlights including a career-best five-point game in 2023. A U.S. All-American in lacrosse and Division II Offensive Player of the Year in football during high school, Lawhorn continues to shine as a senior, contributing to his team’s success while pursuing a degree in pharmaceutical science.

4. Kyra Chen (Swimming)

Amherst’s Kyra Chen, a recent graduate of NYU and former standout at The Derryfield School, has made waves in collegiate swimming. Competing in freestyle and butterfly events, Chen set personal bests in the 1650 freestyle and 200 freestyle, earning multiple honors, including CSCAA Scholar All-American recognition and Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar First Team accolades.

5. Walter Prince (Baseball)

Amherst-born Walter Prince played professional baseball in the 1880s, including two seasons in Major League Baseball. A first baseman, he spent 1884 with teams like the Detroit Wolverines and Washington Nationals, compiling a .209 batting average over 51 games. Prince’s minor league career included a standout season in 1888 with the Salem Witches, where he hit .380.

This content is brought to our community in partnership with T-Mobile.