Year in Sports 2025
A New Milestone: Ben Abercrombie to Graduate Eight Years After Injury
Ben Abercrombie faced a life-altering injury eight years ago. Now he's preparing to graduate and start life off-campus while leaving a strong legacy behind.
Bulldog Beatdown: Harvard Shocks Yale
Harvard men's basketball team stunning upset of Yale is the Game of the Year.
Sam King Crowned Male Athlete Of The Year
Senior Sam King is the Harvard's first lacrosse player to earn First-Team All American Honors in 63 years. His commitment to the game and his team has also earned his the title of Male Athlete of the Year.
Golden Dreams: Seniors Reflect on Olympic Games
Graham Blanks and Lauren Scruggs both achieved remarkable feats at the 2024 Olympics. Now, as they prepare to graduate, they reflect on their experiences and what lies ahead.
Making a Splash: Ted Minnis Wins Coach of the Year
Ted Minnis has had the rare opportunity to build not one, but two strong programs at Harvard. Coaching both the men's and women's water polo teams, Minnis led both teams to successful seasons.
Ice, Ice, Baby: Thompson is Men’s Hockey’s Youngest Star
Freshman Mick Thompson might not have been at Harvard for long, but he's already made his mark in rebuilding the Men's Ice Hockey program — winning himself the title of Male Rookie of the Year in the process.
Ace in the Hole: Vanessa Zhang, Female Rookie of the Year
From Vancouver to Cambridge, women’s golf freshman Vanessa Zhang has driven and putted her way to success on Harvard’s team this past year. Coming off a breakout season, Zhang is the Female Rookie of the Year and is teed up for a historic career for the Crimson.
Ice in Their Veins: Men’s Hockey Nets Win Over Clarkson
Even though Harvard ultimately fell to Clarkson in three close matches, the team managed to avoid being swept with a comeback performance that secured it the Comeback of the Year.
Bears Claw Out Harvard’s Heart
A botched snap and a second-half collapse led to Harvard's Heartbreak of the Year . But after the loss against Brown, Harvard football refused to give up.
The Callahan Brothers, Paul Callahan, and Sail to Prevail
The Callahan family has taken the sailing world by storm. Not only have they contributed to the sport at Harvard, they also are bringing sailing to everyone.
Need for Speed: Track and Field’s Runaway Season
After yet another historic season in which multiple school and conference records were broken in both individual and team events, the Harvard track and field team ran away with this year’s Team of the Year.
Dill with It: Harvard’s Pickleball Club Is Here To Stay
Three years ago, if you wanted to play pickleball at Harvard, you’d have been fresh out of luck. Now, only a few years later and following the explosion of the sport nation-wide, the Harvard Pickleball club — which hosts 50 active members, three weekly practices, and a competitive squad — is changing the game for the Harvard pickleball scene.
Twice the Grit: Meet Harvard’s Dual Sport Athletes
Playing a varsity sport at Harvard requires dedication, time commitment, and a strong work ethic. Some athletes are able to take it to the next level and balance playing two sports with their academics.
Letter From The Chairs: Harvard On Top
In the past few years, college sports has been turned on its head. New name, image, and likeness money poured in as transferring became easier than ever and an NCAA settlement is poised to alter the makeup of collegiate athletics programs across the nation. With all the uncertainty, one thing has remained constant: Harvard athletes are still landing on top.
In Photos: A Year of Crimson Sports
This year, Harvard Athletics gave us no shortage of unforgettable moments and Crimson photographers are proud to have been there to capture them. From the 140th playing of The Game between Harvard and Yale at Harvard Stadium, to the return of women’s basketball to March Madness for the first time since 2007, the Multimedia Board had the chance to photograph some of the biggest moments of the year. Between the Ivy League championships, record-breaking performances, and quiet moments before the whistle blew, our photographers aimed to tell the story of the Crimson through every frame. These photos are just a snapshot of the energy, effort, and emotion that defined Harvard sports this year.
Parting Shot: Bringing Communities to Life
My dad tells me that sports bring a community together — that today more than ever two people living in the same town, state, or region might only have sports to connect them.
Parting Shot: It’s the People, Stupid
As I leave Harvard and The Crimson behind, I’ll always look back fondly on the stories we wrote, the supplements we painstakingly curated, and the 150+ articles we edited.
Parting Shot: Creating the “Big Beat”
Choosing to not pursue lacrosse at Harvard was one of the most difficult decisions I have ever made, yet I can’t help but think that it was simultaneously one of the smartest. It allowed me to fully immerse myself in the Sports Board, and dedicate my time to sharing our athletes’ stories.
Parting Shot: Why Do People Love Sports?
As someone who spent far more time in college writing and editing sports stories than watching games, I began to understand something deeper about why people love sports: it’s a true love of a good story.