Year In Sports 2015
Bellamy's Squad
Junior forward Miye D’Oench (far left) celebrates during a 9-2 win over Boston University on Feb. 3 with three members of the Class of 2015—Hilary Crowe, Marissa Gedman, and Sarah Edney (from left to right).
Parting Shot: The Losses That Matter
March 30, 2011, was a dreary day in Winston-Salem, N.C.—cold, gray, and wet—but that didn’t stop me from getting to BB&T Ballpark early. The Class-A Winston-Salem Dash were hosting the Chicago White Sox, and I was in desperate need of a distraction.
Male Athlete of the Year, Runner-Up: Paul Stanton, Football
After a breakout sophomore season where he recorded 936 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground, junior running back Paul Stanton continued to impress, rushing for 990 yards and 11 scores in 2014.
Male Rookie of the Year: Dershwitz To Pursue Olympic Dreams
For some athletes, collegiate competition is not enough. Freshman sabre fencer Eli Dershwitz came to Harvard with the full knowledge that he would be taking a break from the team after his freshman season.
Upset Game of the Year: Women's Ice Hockey Defeats Boston College To Win the Beanpot
On Nov. 28, 2014, then-No. 1/1 Boston College handed the then-No. 7/7 Harvard women’s ice hockey team the most punishing loss it would see all season. But in the rematch at the Bright-Landry Hockey Center with a Beanpot title on the line, the Crimson delivered.
Male Athlete of the Year: Jimmy Vesey Revives Men's Ice Hockey
Junior men's ice hockey forward Jimmy Vesey notched 32 goals to top all Division I scorers, leading him to a stage inside Northeastern’s Matthews Arena as a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award at season’s end.
Female Athlete of the Year: Amanda Sobhy, a Four-Time Champion
If the life of Amanda Sobhy appears to be hectic, that is because it is. But with a packed schedule has come impressive results.
Comeback Player of the Year: Blackwell Returns for ECAC Tournament Run
During the 2012-2013 season, Blackwell sustained two major concussions within a span of four months. Returning in 2015, Blackwell scored five goals in seven games during the ECAC tournament.
Male Breakout Athlete of the Year: Ferreira Lifts Baseball's Offense
Senior catcher Ethan Ferreira was the only member of the Crimson to appear in all 42 games this year, leading the team in hits, doubles, triples, home runs, runs batted in, batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage.
Female Rookie of the Year: Enoch Crowned an Ivy Champion
Moments before her first Ivy League Championship final in late February, freshman Geordie Enoch stood behind the blocks, going through her last minute pre-race routine. Exactly 2:00.66 later, Enoch exited Blodgett Pool as the Ivy League champion in the 200 individual medley.
Male Rookie of the Year, Runner-Up: Johnson Challenges Records from the Start
Freshman Malcolm Johnson was a highly recruited sprinter coming out of high school and a centerpiece of a strong incoming recruiting class for the Harvard men’s track and field team and had little trouble finding success in his first year of collegiate competition.
The Place of Club Sports at Harvard
From aikikai to archery, water polo to wushu, Harvard club sports run the gamut of interests, experience, and athletic skill levels found across campus.
Male Performance of the Year: Steve Michalek
Fourth-year goaltender Steve Michalek did everything he could for the Harvard men's ice hockey team in its Beanpot opener, making 63 saves against then-No. 3/2 Boston University.
Team of the Year: Women's Ice Hockey
On the ice at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis, over 1,100 miles from home, the Harvard women’s ice hockey team had the program’s first NCAA title within reach. But 60 minutes of play later, that same ice was cleared smooth once again, and the Crimson watched another team, hometown favorite Minnesota, hoist the trophy in victory.
Female Athlete of the Year, Runner-Up: Bain Repeats as All-Ivy
As the setter, Bain led Harvard in assists with 602 on the season. But despite the fact that she was aiding the attack of her teammates more than anyone else, she also led the team in kills per set with 2.63.
Coach of the Year, Runner-Up: Kevin Rhoads, Men's and Women's Golf
Now in his 11th season of coaching the Harvard women’s golf team and his third season with the men's team, Kevin Rhoads has accomplished far more with both programs than his predecessors.
Coach of the Year, Runner-Up: Katey Stone, Women's Ice Hockey
After being away from the program for last season to coach the U.S. Olympic team in Sochi, Russia, Harvard women’s ice hockey coach Katey Stone returned to the Crimson for her 20th season and continued her success as the head of the program.
Coach of the Year: Murphy Pushes Football to Perfect Season
Every four-year athlete Murphy has recruited has won an Ancient Eight title. While team success may seem as consistent as a Cambridge winter, Murphy reached new heights in 2014.
No Offseason: The Lives of Two-Sport Athletes at Harvard
During their offseasons, most athletes are able to take a step back and limit their frequent treks across the river, to the Malkin Athletic Center, or to the boathouse. But that is not the case for freshman Candida Janachowski and senior Matt Brown.
Taking Their Talents to the Next Level
Following graduation, Harvard students disperse into the world on a diverse range of paths. Many pursue full-time employment. Some immediately enroll in graduate school. Others travel abroad. However, a select few follow their dreams of becoming professional athletes.
Female Breakout Athlete of the Year; Female Athlete of the Year, Runner-Up: Okwelogu the Record Breaker
First it was a school-record 15.33 meter throw, then a 16.09 mark, followed by a 16.39 meter and Ancient Eight record-setting follow-up. Then it became a weekly series of record-breaking revisions—16.51, 17.12, 17.22, and, most recently, 17.32.
Team of the Year, Runner-Up: Men's Ice Hockey
After finishing second to last in the ECAC last season, the Harvard men's ice hockey team rebounded in a big way during the 2014-2015 campaign, capturing the conference crown and reaching the NCAA tournament.
Female Rookie of the Year, Runner-Up: Lexie Laing
In her inaugural season on the women’s ice hockey team, freshman Lexie Laing took the team by storm. As one of the six freshmen to be added to this year’s squad, the 5’6” Marblehead, Mass., native was thrown into the mix of Olympians and experienced players early in the season and never looked back.
Male Athlete of the Year, Runner-Up: Saunders Wills Crimson to Ivy Title
Senior wing Wesley Saunders averaged 16.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game this season, capping his career with a 26-point performance against North Carolina in the NCAA tournament.
Making the Jump From Juniors
In a season that saw the Harvard men’s ice hockey team return to national prominence, the Crimson offense tallied 3.27 goals per game, the highest mark in the ECAC. In addition to having an eye for the back of the net, Harvard’s five highest-scoring forwards all shared another thing in common: They all played junior hockey prior to arriving in Cambridge.