Living a Team Dream

Although tennis is, by definition, a sport played by only two or four individuals at a time, Cyndy Austrian doesn't see it that way. At least when it comes to how she can best play the game.

"All my life and through junior tennis I've looked forward to college tennis because I've loved the team effort involved," Austrian says. "College was where I could play constantly with people around me, cheering me on."

Indeed, the Harvard tennis team has cheered this pint-sized racquetwoman to one of the best individual records in the history of Crimson tennis.

Austrian has lost only two individual matches in dual Ivy meets in four years. And if excellence doesn't impress you, consider this: she has never missed a match.

Indeed, the Cabot House resident has been a fixture on the Crimson courts. She is always visible, bouncing up and down, her red ponytail bobbing. She is always there for Harvard, and she can be counted on to win.

"I've had the greatest four years of my life here," Austrian says. "It seems like only yesterday that I was a freshman."

But with graduation, all of that will be changing. Austrian will not be wearing Harvard tennis whites the next time she sees a match. Instead, she will be wearing a business suit. And her attache case will be filled with Bear-Stearns business cards from the special investments department.

"I'll miss the competition more than anything else," Austrian says. "But I'm leaving tennis on such a great note."

Well, she's not quite leaving tennis altogether...

"I've already joined my health club," Austrian says.

And any hackers who dare challenge this redhead to a tennis match had better watch out.