The Fab Five: Team Power Rankings (February 21st)

With many teams starting theirs seasons and other hitting the championship grind, The Back Page decided to check in on how the teams are comparing with each other in this busy weekend in Harvard Athletics.

5. Men’s Tennis

The Crimson captured the ECAC title this past weekend in what has been a very strong February for Harvard, including wins over Virginia Tech and then No. 43 Vanderbilt. The team will have to wait until spring break for its next competition, when its heads to warmer climes to battle in the San Diego Tournament.

4. Women’s Swimming

After taking the HYP meet and Ivy League dual meet title two weekends ago, Harvard recently reached the summit of the CollegeSwimming.com’s Mid-Major Rankings. And after finishing second to Princeton for two consecutive years, the Crimson will look to knock the Tigers off their throne this weekend at the Ivy League Championships – because nothing is sweeter than sending Princeton on a long bus ride to New Jersey empty-handed.

3. Women’s Hockey

With the second seed in the ECAC secured, Harvard heads into the playoffs riding the momentum of a four-game win streak and the comfort of knowing it has home-ice advantage though the semifinals. And after powering 9 goals past Ivy rivals Brown and Yale this past weekend, the Crimson is looking to similarly go H.A.M. on the Tigers in the ECAC quarterfinals Friday.

2.Men’s Basketball

Brandyn Curry threw down his first career dunk over Greg Mangano as Harvard once again trounced Yale. With only four Ancient Eight games left, the Crimson are in pole position to take the Ivy League title on its way to March Madness. That is, as long as the squad doesn’t drop a home game to one of the Killer P’s as they roll through Cambridge this weekend. But considering the Lavietes win streak now stands at 27, Harvard has got to like its odds.

1. Men’s Squash

After reaching the semifinals of the CSA Team Championships this past weekend, Harvard found itself facing 13-time national champion Trinity. And despite the 6-3 loss to the Bantams, the Crimson bounced back to drop Cornell, 5-4, to win 3rd place in comeback fashion, as both junior captain Jason Michas and sophomore Brandon McLaughlin found themselves down 2-0 before battling back to 3-2 victories. And with the entire top nine rotation returning next year, things are only looking up for Harvard in 2013.