Danny Acosta, a Kirkland House junior, placed fifth at the NCAA handball championships this weekend at Lake Forest College in Illinois.
For Acosta, an All-American in the midst of handball-ignorant Harvard, the finish was a bit disappointing. As the tournament's number-one seed, he had received a first-round bye. But then Acosta lost his opening match, going to an 11-point tie-breaker in the third and decisive set. "I kinda blew it," he said last night.
Trying Harder
Acosta went on to win the consolation bracket, sweeping his final three matches in straight sets, 21-0 and 21-1, 21-9 and 21-15, and 21-14 and 21-18.
Although Harvard has no organized handball program, the Athletic Department paid for Acosta's plane fare. Acosta said that he expects to represent Harvard again next year, adding "It really helped me to lose. It gives me a little more drive. Next year I should do it."
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