Their counterparts on the hardwood, the women’s team, was simply unbeatable. The combined power of forwards Hana Peljto and freshman Reka Cserny was too much for any Ivy team to take, and the Crimson took a 13-1 conference record to the NCAA tournament, where it was making its first appearance since 1998 (when it had upset Stanford).

Individual performances also stood out in those cold months. Sophomore swimmer John Cole continued to prove that he was a recruiting coup with a great appearance at the NCAA tournament. Wrestler Jesse Jantzen went to Albany, N.Y. and brought home the bronze in his weight class at the national championships—the highest finish for a Harvard wrestler since 1953. And 149 lbs was probably a heavyweight back in those days.

The winter culminated for Harvard on the first day of spring, March 23, when the school’s “prestige” sport, men’s hockey, lost to Maine in overtime in the first round of the NCAA tournament. That hockey had gone that far in the first place was a miracle of sorts. Picked by preseason polls to finish in the top ten teams nationally, the Crimson had sputtered towards the end of its ECAC season. But then came Dom Moore’s loop-de-loop goal in double-OT versus Brown; next was Tom Cavanagh’s overtime winner against Clarkson in the ECAC semis; and finally the amazing run was capped by Harvard’s double-OT upset of Cornell, capped by Tyler Kolarik’s game-winner. The Crimson entered the NCAAs for only the first time since 1994, albeit on very, very worn skates.

Which brings me back to the Beren Tennis Center on a lazy Saturday afternoon. Harvard’s still going strong on the athletic side of the Charles River, no matter what ridiculous things are happening with Cornel West, ROTC or the PSLM. Freshman Jonathan Chu and junior Oli Choo will represent Harvard next week in the tennis NCAA tournament, along with women’s player Courtney Bergmann. Track and field studs Chris Lambert and Nicky Grant continue to set records well into reading period. The baseball team’s seniors will compete in the NCAA tournament for the University, even after receiving their diplomas.

So fair Harvard, don’t forget the past as we move quickly to summer and then the next school year. Football will eventually lose and not every athlete will get a championship ring, but in 2001-2002, I wouldn’t blame you if you thought differently.