All of this has left recruiters and coaches at former squash powerhouses scratching their heads. Is there anyway to compete? Or is it now reduced to a fight for second every year?
“It is an uneven playing field,” Whitman said. “In most other sports the goal is to win the Ivy. Why? Because it’s absolutely ridiculous for Harvard football to compete with Florida State for example…Trinity always had this advantage but only in the past 10 years did they begin to exploit it.”
Even with this disadvantage, Harvard believes it is beginning to stabilize the playing field by increasing its international recruiting. This year’s freshman class certainly reflects that—with Siddharth Suchde from Switzerland and Ilan Oren from Israel filling the No. 2 and 3 spots on the Crimson’s ladder.
Whether Harvard’s enhanced international flavor will be enough to stop Trinity anytime soon is anyone’s guess. But if that doesn’t work, maybe the key is a mandate from the President. Larry, any thoughts?
—Staff writer David H. Stearns can be reached at stearns@fas.harvard.edu.