“We’ve had some ups and downs this season,” Power says. “At nationals, we played the best we could and lost a tough one to Trinity, a team I think was the best in the nation this year.... Going forward with such a young team, the future looks good.”
Sophomore Ali Farag led the young Crimson team from the No. 1 spot, finishing his rookie season at Harvard undefeated and with a CSA Individual National Championship under his belt.
“[Farag] puts in more hours than anyone I’ve seen,” Hopcroft says. “As you can see from the results, his hard work has paid off.”
Farag and classmate Brandon McLaughlin received All-American honors, earning spots on the first and second teams, respectively.
Harvard’s lineup at the end of the season featured seven underclassmen in its top nine, including Hopcroft and fellow freshman Tyler Olson. The Crimson also boasts one of the strongest sophomore classes in the nation, with Farag, McLaughlin, Power, Nigel Koh, and Tommy Mullaney all playing in the top nine.
“We’re a very young team,” Hopcroft says. “We only lose one senior, [co-captain Will Ahmed], and the experience we’ve gained this year can only be helpful.... Next year, we’ll come back stronger.”
—Staff writer Catherine E. Coppinger can be reached at ccoppinger@college.harvard.edu.