Year in Sports 2011
MEN'S SWIMMING: Unbeaten in Regular Season, Harvard Falls in Ivies
After completing an undefeated regular season, including a clean sweep in the HYP meet, the Harvard men’s swimming and diving team fell short at the Ivy League Championship, finishing second to Princeton.
FOOTBALL: Injuries Hinder Crimson’s Success
Even without an Ivy League title, Harvard football and its seniors still made program history.
MALE BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR RUNNER-UP: Ortiz Neutralizes Ivy Offenses, Linemen
To an outsider, Josue Ortiz became one of the most important defensive players in Ivy League football in 2010, and one of the best. But his teammates have a simpler understanding of the senior defensive tackle.
SKIING: Middling Results Characterize Year
Depending on how you look at it, the Harvard ski team’s 2010-2011 season was either mediocre or wildly successful.
PARTING SHOT: Writer Inspired by Unlikely Moments
You would think that after nearly 250 Crimson articles over the last four years, banging out one last column would be a breeze. But when I sat down at my computer, I found myself, for nearly the first time, at a loss for words.
SAILING: Co-eds, Women Qualify for Nationals
The co-ed and women’s squads of the Harvard sailing team have enjoyed tremendous success this past spring, both finishing the season ranked in the top ten nationally. As the season quickly winds down, both hope to add one more victory to their already-impressive resumes. in the coming weeks.
TEAM OF THE YEAR RUNNER-UP: Harvard Wins the Ivy League
After sweeping the Ivy League Championship Series against Cornell, the Harvard softball team (36-16, 18-2 Ivy) earned a spot in the NCAA tournament for the fourth time in team history.
FEMALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR RUNNER-UP: Nadler has Strong First Year Despite Setbacks
In her first two weekends of skiing, Rebecca Nadler established herself as one of the best skiers in the nation and arguably the greatest alpine skier Harvard has ever had.
WOMEN'S SOCCER: Tight Losses Spoil Title Hopes
Dreams of an Ivy title three-peat were denied as the Harvard women’s soccer team (9-7-1, 4-3 Ivy) finished the 2010 season in fourth place, a disappointment in comparison to the team’s consecutive championships the past two seasons.
MEN'S SOCCER: Crimson Falters Late in Year
Harvard began its fall season with a win over then-No. 13 Stanford and ended its schedule with a victory over then-No. 18 Penn. In between, the Crimson struggled to convert its close matches into wins, finishing 5-7-5 overall and 2-3-2 in the Ivy League to tie for fifth in the Ancient Eight. But these bookend wins speak better to the spirit of the season, in which Harvard grew as a squad and competed with some of the best teams in the nation.
Playing Two Sports Poses Tough Test
Trying to balance the demands of a Division I college sports team and a top-tier academic university can understandably become difficult. But some individuals take this time-crunch to a whole new level by participating in not just one, but two varsity sports—and often excelling at both.
SOFTBALL: Crimson Avenges 2010 Loss in ILCS
Revenge is sweet. Taking the Ivy League championship and going to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2007 and the fifth time in school history makes it that much better.
WOMEN'S HOCKEY: Midseason Surge Leads Crimson to ECAC Semis
Though the Harvard women’s hockey team (17-11-4, 14-5-3 ECAC) got off to a slow, 5-6-3 start this season, the team came back rejuvenated after winter break just in time to turn things around.
COACH OF THE YEAR RUNNER-UP: Coach Plays Integral Role in Title
Behind every great team is a great coach. Jenny Allard is that coach for the Crimson, and has been for 17 seasons, making her the Ivy League’s longest-tenured softball coach.
WOMEN'S SWIMMING: Crimson Cannot Find Way to Top Tigers, Finishes Second
Despite falling short of reclaiming the Ivy League Championship title from Ancient Eight rival Princeton, the Harvard women’s swimming and diving team still finished the winter with a successful season.
