Year in Sports 2020

A Note to Readers: A Year in Sports Unlike Any Other

Seconds Ahead of Second: Felicia Pasadyn, Female Rookie of the Year

It is not normal to be winning multiple races at the Ivy League Swimming and Diving Championships by several seconds, where races are often determined by fractions of a second. Nor is it normal to win every event you swim in at a championship meet — but that’s exactly what Pasadyn did this February at the Katherine Moran Coleman Aquatics Center at Brown University in Providence, R.I.

Another Accolade: Nick Abruzzese, Male Rookie of the Year

The Crimson is not the only entity to give first-year forward Nick Abruzzese post-season accolades: his conference already has. The ECAC labeled him the rookie of the year in men’s ice hockey, thanks to a 44-point 2019-20 campaign. The conference also reserved spots for the first-year forward on the all-ECAC First Team and the ECAC All-Rookie team.

Senior Perspective: Jake Suddleson

No, this wasn’t how my time at Harvard was supposed to end.  But, with new challenges come new opportunities. And with new opportunities come new experiences.

Senior Perspective: Grace Eysenbach — Learning from Imperfect Ending

After finishing my junior spring competing on the Harvard-Radcliffe Heavyweight Crew Team, I knew I needed to take the next semester off of rowing. This is probably not how you expected a senior student-athlete reflection article to start.

Senior Perspective: Justin Bassey

My journey through Harvard and with Harvard Basketball has been the greatest adventure of my life thus far.

‘She Wouldn’t Back Down’: Inside Incoming Athletic Director Erin McDermott’s College Basketball Career

But McDermott is no stranger to Division I athletics. She brings to Harvard a background in Ivy League administration, having previously held top posts in the athletic departments at Columbia University and Princeton University. What is more, McDermott understands what it is like to be a Division I athlete because she was one herself.

‘A Unicorn Class’: Women's Soccer Welcomes Historic Recruiting Class

Harvard women’s soccer’s Class of 2024 recruiting class is arguably the best in program history, with an incoming eight-member group ranked No. 5 in the nation by TopDrawerSoccer. Among the recruits are three of the country’s top-12 prospects and six players with national team experience.

Catch Him if You Can: Aidan Borguet vs. Yale, Individual Performance of the Year

The game proceeded into near-darkness as a result of the delay and the 105-year-old Yale Bowl’s deficiency in the area of lighting fixtures. The Bulldogs overcame a 17-point deficit and completed the comeback with a victory in the second overtime. And, Harvard’s unassuming first-year running back Aidan Borguet set the rushing record and tied the scoring record for the historic rivalry.

‘This Is Why We Get Skated So Much’: Women’s Ice Hockey Outlasts Yale, Team Performance of the Year

Over 102 minutes of game-play had elapsed, and even still, a winner had not yet been crowned. Everything was on the line as the mid-afternoon crept into the evening.

Setting Her Own Pace: Abbe Goldstein, Comeback of the Year

For Harvard distance runner Abbe Goldstein, the abrupt end to her junior track and field season due to COVID-19 did little to diminish the sweeping success of her 2020 campaign. Goldstein enjoyed a breakthrough performance on the track, and her work ethic, optimism, and resiliency have led to triumph off of it as well.

Number 200: Men’s Water Polo vs. Princeton, Game of the Year

“I don’t think there was a feeling of anxiety or nervousness around the team, but I think that people definitely knew the pressure that was on us,” sophomore goalie Noah Hodge said. “Preparation-wise, everyone knew we just had to go out there and do what we’ve been doing all year.”

The Game for the Ages: Football vs. Yale, Heartbreak of the Year

With four minutes remaining in the 4th quarter, The Game was Harvard’s to lose.

Men's Hockey 2019-2020 Season Recap

The Crimson impressed with its skilled, young core but at times struggled with inconsistency. An abrupt end to the season due to COVID-19 leaves many questions unanswered.

The Conclusion of a Controversy-Riddled Tenure: Parting Shot

Every article which the Sports Board produces has an overarching question, a reason for putting the pen to paper and dedicating that precious time which might otherwise be spent in Kong eating crab rangoons.

Finding the Meaning of Sports: Parting Shot

As I leave the ranks of Crimson Sports, that is my final request: To athletes, be more than just athletes. To fans, view athletes as more than just athletes. And never just shut up and dribble.

Being a Part of Something: Parting Shot

Whether The Crimson is part of your Harvard experience or not, I urge you to be part of something. It’ll give you so much to be thankful for.