{shortcode-69a9ed06c887cb075e6988b5c6d61980cc21c96c}ost student-athletes who put on the Crimson jersey find balancing a single varsity sport with Harvard’s rigorous academic expectations to be a full-time commitment. For a select few, however, one sport is not enough.

Meet some of the athletes who have competed on two varsity teams.

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Catherine Mignone - Rugby & Sailing

Junior Catherine Mignone began her collegiate athletic career on Harvard’s varsity rugby team, but concerns about a lingering back injury caused the Bronxville, NY, native to step away from the team after her first year.

“I love the team so so so much,” Mignone said. “But I got kind of worried about having follow-up injuries because it’s a lot on your body.”

Without the rugby team, Mignone looked to explore her passion for sports elsewhere. As a proud Dunster house resident, she became an avid athlete on the house’s intramural teams.

“I love Dunster IMs. It is my favorite part about Dunster House,” she said.

Mignone participates in intramural rowing, soccer, flag football, and badminton. She credits the intramural experience for encouraging her to continue her varsity career at Harvard.

“I realized, hey, you know what? I really miss a team environment, and I miss team culture, and I miss getting up in the morning and going out to do a sport or workout,” Mignone said.

Yearning to get involved again, the junior walked onto the varsity sailing team, despite lacking any experience. Mignone’s friends on the team were incredibly supportive, helping her earn a spot on the team.

“They were literally showing me the ropes,” Mignone said, laughing.

Harvard sailing, known for its prosperous walk-on culture, quickly prepares athletes with no prior experience to race on the national level. On April 13, Mignone competed in her first regatta, where she and her teammates, most of whom walked on, secured a 2nd place finish.

Still, Mignone missed rugby. Learning that the defending national champions were short players for the Ivy 7s Tournament on April 19, merely six days after her regatta, she jumped at the chance to get back on the pitch. She returned to the rugby program for a week of grueling practices.

“I’m not going to lie,” she said. “I was decently sore, but after that, my body acclimated.”

Mignone helped the B-side team go undefeated in the tournament, and she even scored a try. She also got to compete on the same team as her younger sister, Jojo Mignone.

“I kind of got emotional,” she said. “It felt so good.”

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Ryan Mooney - Football & Baseball

Ryan Mooney originally committed to play baseball for Notre Dame. After a stellar senior football season, he realized that he loved football, spurring him to change his commitment and join Harvard’s program as a wide receiver.

His love for baseball did not fade upon arriving in Cambridge. After two seasons on the football team, the Rochester Hills, Mich., native decided to pursue his passions for both sports by joining the baseball team.

“I just decided it would be really cool to go back and try to do both,” he said.

He talked to the football coaching staff and was met with enthusiasm.

“They were super supportive. They said that if I could handle it, then I should definitely pursue it,” he said. “To be honest, I was expecting there to maybe be a little bit of pushback, but the conversation was super easy and they were fully on board.”

With encouragement from both coaching staffs, the sophomore is now on both teams. In the fall, he will focus primarily on football, where the team will strive to defend its Ivy League Championship title and push toward the FCS playoffs. Then, in the spring semester, his sights shift towards O’Donnell Field and Harvard’s baseball team.

“I love both groups of guys,” Mooney said. “They’re both a lot of fun.”

Kayley Crawford - Ice Hockey & Rugby

Kayley Crawford was a dedicated member of the varsity hockey team. The forward from Shorewood, Minn., played in 102 collegiate games for the Crimson, recording an impressive resume within the competitive ECAC.

When her senior season concluded, she looked for another way to pursue her love for sports on Harvard’s campus.

“I was kind of going through an identity crisis,” Crawford said. “I just love being part of a team.”

Then, she saw an email from the rugby recruiters through the Dunster House email list. She tried out for rugby that week and earned a spot on the roster.

Despite hockey and rugby both requiring sharp spatial awareness, the new sport posed new challenges for Crawford.

“Hockey is pretty physical,” Crawford explained. “But then, when playing rugby, I was like, this is nothing like anything I have ever experienced before. No pads, and someone is running, sprinting at you, trying to knock you to the ground.”

Unafraid of rugby’s aggressive style, Crawford excelled on the field, securing a spot on the A-side of the team for the 7s National Championship in Indianapolis, merely a few months after learning the rules.Crawford credits her achievements to the welcoming environment of the rugby team.

“My teammates literally took the time during practice to be like, this is how you pass the ball,” she said as she reflected on her first few practices with her new team. “Everyone was just so helpful.”

The inclusivity was important for Crawford, who had never played rugby.

“The first time I played, I didn’t know you could only pass backward,” she said.

Camren Ware - Football & Track

Freshman Camren Ware came to Harvard already committed to two varsity teams. Since age 11, the Windermere, Fla., native has been both a sprinter and a wide receiver.

Despite the high expectations of both teams and academic life at Harvard, Ware seamlessly transitioned into life in Cambridge.

“Both the football and track programs have been very welcoming,” Ware wrote in a text message. “I’ve felt supported from day one. The coaches and my teammates are amazing.”

While balancing both sports, Ware’s schedule is packed. Football practice is usually in the early morning. Then, Ware spends the day in class. He heads to track training next. Ware saves his nighttimes for academics.

“It’s a demanding schedule, but I have a strong support system,” Ware wrote. “My family keeps me grounded, and my coaches check in often on my physical and mental well-being.”

The preparation for football and track is often complementary.

“Track helps me stay fast and explosive for football, while football training keeps me strong and powerful for track,” he wrote.

The coaches collaborate to ensure that Ware is not stretched too thin, helping him adapt to the rapid pace of academic and athletic life at Harvard.

“Being part of two teams has expanded my Harvard experience in every way,” he wrote. “I’ve been able to build relationships across two athletic communities, which has opened doors to a wide range of friendships, resources, and opportunities, from internships to NIL deals. It has made my first year incredibly exciting, and I’m already looking forward to what’s next.”

Mignone, Mooney, Crawford, and Ware have made efforts to get the most out of their athletic experience at Harvard. For Mignone, as well as the others, the support they received made all the difference.

“I think Harvard Athletics is such a fantastic organization,” Mignone said. “It’s the most high-class training I’ve ever seen. We have just amazing facilities. We have fantastic coaches for anything we might need or want to work on, and everyone just wants to improve you as an athlete and improve your experience.”

– Staff Writer Isabel C. Smail can be reached at isabel.smail@thecrimson.com