Harvard Varsity Club NEWS & VIEWS of Harvard Sports

Volume 49 Issue No. 10 www.varsityclub.harvard.edu June 20, 2007 Harvard Names Class of 2007 Award-Winners Chu, Dawson and Hagamen Earn Top Honors

by Casey Hart Assistant Director of Athletic Communications

Ice hockey Olympian , record-breaking run- ning back Clifton Dawson and NCAA fencing champion Tim Hagamen were honored as Harvard’s top senior athletes at the Harvard Varsity Club’s 41st annual Senior Letterwinners Din- ner held June 6 at the Murr Center. Over 600 guests were on hand to see the Varsity Club and the Athletic Department hand out its top awards. Dawson and Hagamen were the winners of the William J. Bingham Award, given annually to Harvard’s top male athlete, while Chu took home the Radcliffe Prize as the top female athlete. Nine awards were presented overall. A two-time All-America selection, Dawson graduates as the record-holder for career rushing yards (4,841), career rushing touchdowns (60), career touchdowns (66), career points (398) and career all-purpose yards (6,138).This past fall, he earned the Boston Globe Gold Helmet Award as the top Di- vision I-AA player in New England. He joined former Bingham winner Dante Balestracci ’04 as the only players in the history of the Ivy League to be named to the All-Ivy first team four times. Dawson also became one of four Division I-AA players in history who has rushed for at least 1,000 yards in a season Clockwise from top left: Jon Medley, Brian Fiske, Charles Altchek, Carle four times. Stenmark, Katie Golden, Preethi Mukundan, Julia Kidder, Julie Chu, Hagamen’s 2007 NCAA sabre title was the culmination Clifton Dawson, Tim Hagamen. All senior dinner photos courtesty of dspics.com of a standout career for the Crimson. He earned All-America recognition three times and led Harvard’s emergence as a national the NCAA in scoring with 2.20 points per game. A three-time All- fencing power. Immediately before Hagamen joined the team, America honoree and two-time Olympic medalist, Chu graduates the Crimson had finished in last place in the Ivy League for nine in third place on Harvard’s career scoring chart with 88 goals and straight seasons. As he graduates, Harvard has now won three 196 assists for 284 points in 129 games. The 196 assists are a school Ivy championships in a row, three straight Intercollegiate Fencing record. Chu was the 2007 USA Hockey Women’s Player of the Association team championships and the 2006 NCAA national Year and the Ivy League Player of the Year, was selected unani- team championship. mously to the All-Ivy and All-ECACHL first teams and made Chu was the recipient of the Patty Kazmaier Award as the three all-academic teams. nation’s top collegiate women’s player after leading continued on page 2 Sprints Gold and Ivy Championship Highlight Men’s Heavyweight Crew Season

by Heather Palmer both freshman eight races, which included a come-from-behind Assistant Director of Athletic Communications win by the first freshman eight. After the Crimson’s win against the Bears, Harvard moved up to third in the national polls. Har- The Harvard heavyweights returned to the top of the po- vard then brought home the Compton Cup with a 1.5 second win dium at the Eastern Sprints Championship, won a silver medal over Princeton, enabling the team to retain its ranking. at the IRA National Championships and posted a 6-1 dual racing In the last dual race before Sprints, Harvard hosted local record during the 2007 campaign. Also, three trophies— the Stein rival Northeastern in the Charlie Smith Cup. For the third time in Cup, Compton Cup and the Worcester Bowl — returned to New- four tries, the Crimson swept its opponent and won the cup. The ell Boathouse after a year absence. Crimson recorded a victory in the varsity eight and second varsity The Crimson opened the season on the Charles River win- eight. The freshman eight held on for a 1.1-second win, while the ning all five races against Navy and Penn to hold onto the Adams varsity four and freshman four each won by five seconds. Cup for the seventh year in a row. Harvard rowed to an eight- The heavyweights won three gold and two silver medals to second victory, run away with the Rowe Cup for the second year in a row and Men’s Heavies celebrating their Eastern Sprints crossing the fin- fifth time in the last six years at the 62nd Sprints on Lake Quin- and Ivy Title. ish line in 6:07.0. sigamond in Worcester, Mass. It was the fourth win in five years Harvard for the varsity eight who also claimed the Ivy League title with hosted Brown in the win. The Crimson clocked in at 5:27.0, 2.4 seconds ahead of the second week second-place Yale. Harvard was also 2.45 seconds faster than the of the season 2005 Harvard varsity eight, which held the course record. and surprised The Crimson took silver medals in the second varsity and the third-ranked freshman eight. The third varsity eight and second freshman eight Bears with a both won their grand finals. five-second win Three weeks later, Harvard took its unblemished record to win the Stein to the Cooper River and returned to the medals stand after a Cup. The Crim- disappointing fourth-place showing in 2006. The Crimson, who son also won entered the IRA Regatta as the second seed, earned a spot in the Continued on page 4 Jon Chase Photo Harvard News Office Senior Awards Dinner, continued from page 1 as well as the Francis J. Toland Community Service Award. The Offensive linemanJon Medley earned the John P. Reardon two-time Ivy League Player of the Year and leader of the 2006 Ivy Award in recognition of scholarship, character, leadership and championship squad has been a leader on the Student-Athlete athletic ability. He has been a leader for Harvard on the football Advisory Committee and active in several service organizations. field and in the classroom. Medley, a chemistry/physics concen- All-New England lacrosse player Carle Stenmark accepted trator, is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and has consistently been the John P. Fadden Award, given to a senior student-athlete (ei- recognized as one of the best students in his classes, even large ther intercollegiate or intramural) who has overcome physical ad- lecture courses. versity to make a contribution to his or her team. He rebounded Rower Katie Golden accepted the Harvard-Radcliffe Foun- from a serious knee injury to become a regular in the lineup his dation for Women’s Athletics Prize, presented to the female who last two seasons. Stenmark helped the Crimson make the NCAA best combines academic and athletic excellence. As team co- tournament during his junior season and, as a senior, ranked captain, Golden led the Radcliffe heavyweights to a berth in the fourth on the team with 13 goals and 16 points. NCAA Championships. The biology concentrator has also earned a reputation as a standout scholar and scientific researcher. The Mary G. Paget Prize for outstand- ing contribution to women’s athletics goes to softball captain Julia Kidder and tennis standout Preethi Mukundan. Kidder, an All-Ivy second baseman, captained her team for the second straight year in 2007 and led the Crimson to the Ivy League title and NCAA tournament. She has also been active in leading fundraising efforts for women’s athletics. Mukundan was a two-time All-Ivy selection and helped the Crimson win three Ivy women’s tennis titles. Swimmer Brian Fiske won the Fran- cis H. Burr Fund Prize, which is presented to the senior who best combines qualities Above left: Tom Turley, Assis- of leadership, scholarship and athletic tant Women’s Volleyball Coach ability. As a co-captain, Fiske led the Crimson Christi Kelsey, Sarah Cebron to a 7-2 record and second place at the Eastern ‘07, Head Women’s Intercollegiate Swimming League Champion- Volleyball Coach Jen Weiss, ships. A biochemical sciences concentrator, he has Barbara Molony ‘71 and Katie received two Harvard College grants to work at Turley-Molony ‘07. the Bauer Center for Genomics Research. The Director’s Award was introduced this Above Right: Varsity Club year to recognize the person who, through his or Vice President Trish Brown ‘87 her pursuit of excellence and service to Harvard served as the evening’s emcee. Athletics, has displayed exceptional leadership, personal character, integrity, and commitment to Left: Bill Markus ‘60, Carole education through athletics. Men’s soccer captain Markus, Hank Keohane ‘61, Charles Altchek was the recipient of that honor Georges Peter ‘59 and John Reidy ‘61.

Crimson Commentary by Michele McLaughlin Assistant Director of the Harvard Varsity Club performance/sport psychology from Indiana. Following coaching stints at Indiana and Western Michigan, Turner joined Harvard in 1994. The Department of Harvard At Harvard, he coached three NCAA champions, includ- Athletics is mourning the loss of ing NCAA Indoor record holder Dora Gyorffy ‘01. His athletes one of our own. Paul Turner, Ph.D., earned All-America honors 13 times including this past weekend an assistant track and field coach at when Becky Christensen ‘09 accomplished that feat in the high Harvard for 13 years, passed away jump. He coached 49 Heptagonal champions, 30 NCAA qualifiers suddenly on June 12th. and 19 NCAA regional qualifiers. “The entire Harvard athletics ***** community is shaken by this sud- Traci Green has been announced as the head coach of wom- den and tragic loss,” said Nichols en’s tennis at Harvard. Green was a member of an NCAA cham- Family Director of Athletics Bob pionship team as an undergraduate at the University of Florida Scalise. “Paul was universally and has gone on to a successful Division I coaching career. adored and respected by his stu- Paul Turner “I’m thrilled about the opportunity to join the Harvard dent-athletes and coaching peers. community,” said Green. “I’m excited for the challenges that lie He lived and breathed Harvard ahead, and I’m honored to be part of the proud tradition of Har- track and field and his passion for the sport and for teaching was vard academic and athletic excellence.” evident. Paul touched the lives of hundreds of athletes. His con- Green comes to Harvard after three years ashead coach at tributions to the sport and Harvard will not soon be forgotten.” Temple, where she orchestrated a complete turnaround of a “Paul was the backbone of our program. It’s no secret that program that went 4-15 prior to her arrival. Her second season much of our recent success was a direct result of his recruiting saw the Owls register their first winning record since the 1999- and coaching efforts,” said Director of Cross Country and Track 2000 campaign, while her 2006-07 team went 16-4 overall, 8-1 in and Field Jason Saretsky. “Paul meant so much to so many the Atlantic 10 Conference and reached the championship match people. Whether they were fellow coaches, athletes, recruits or of the A-10 tournament. Temple was ranked as high as No. 85 in parents, he was able to connect with people in a way that was the NCAA/Intercollegiate Tennis As- truly inspiring. We were just at NCAA Nationals last week, and sociation ratings in 2007, marking the it seemed that every coach stopped to talk to him. Paul had a first time that the Owls had achieved profound effect on the sport of track and field, and it’s hard to a national rank. Her team defeated find the words right now to express how deeply saddened the three nationally ranked opponents and entire track and field community is at this moment.” saw five players achieve all-conference Turner served as the throwing, high jump and multi event status. Green’s head coaching record coach for the Crimson. He earned master’s degrees in clinical stands at 34-27. psychology from Middle Tennessee State and kinesiology re- Traci Green search from Indiana University, as well as a doctorate in human Temple Athletic Communications Office 2 A Sign of Good Things To Come For Women’s Lightweight Crew by Heather Palmer in its Charles River debut on April 21. The varsity eight, novice Assistant Director of Athletic Communications eight and freshman four were victorious. The following week- end, Radcliffe hosted Princeton in the The Radcliffe lightweight program Class of 1999 Cup. The Tigers held off was tested early and often during the the Black and White to take the varsity 2007 season. Even though the Black and eight in 7:03.1. Radcliffe finished in White’s varsity eight finished outside 7:14.0. Princeton won the second varsity of the medals at both Sprints and IRAs, eight and the varsity four, but Radcliffe a gold medal by the novice eight at the avoided a sweep when the novice eight Eastern Sprints — a program first —is a won by two boat lengths. sign of good things to come. At the 2007 EAWRC Sprint Cham- Radcliffe opened the season at pionships, the Black and White won a Georgetown for the Class of 2004 Cup gold and silver medal. The novice eight and then competed against heavy- was the boat to beat, and no one could weight crews the following weekend. as Radcliffe cruised to gold with an The Black and White won easily in the eight-second win. The Black and White finished as the runner up in the second second varsity, third varsity and novice Lightweight women freshman eight had an undefeated varsity eight. eight events, but it came down to the season and became the first Radcliffe lightweight boat The varsity eight finished fourth in wire against the Hoyas in the varsity to win gold in the freshman race at Sprints. race. The Black and White rowed out to Photo by dspics.com the grand final behind , Princ- a length lead by the halfway mark, but eton and Georgetown. Radcliffe clocked Georgetown came back on Radcliffe in the final 500 meters to win in at 7:14.06. The Badgers finished in 7:01.50. its first Cup against Radcliffe by one second. Radcliffe took the silver in the second varsity eight finishing The Black and White traveled to Rhode Island the follow- behind Princeton and ahead of Wisconsin. The Tigers clocked ing weekend to compete against host URI, Bucknell and Boston in at 7:12.9, while the Black and White finished in 7:32.4 and the College heavyweight boats. Both the varsity eight and the second Badgers came in at 7:35.9. varsity eight fared well against heavyweight crews in second The novice eight won easily, beating second-place Wisconsin varsity and third varsity races, respectively, but it was the novice by eight seconds and finishing the season with an unblemished eight that continued to impress, beating out the heavyweight record. It was the first win by Radcliffe in the novice eight at novice eight and second novice from Rhode Island and the Bos- Sprints. The Black and White finished in 7:07.7 and the Badgers ton College novice. The Black and White was 10 seconds faster clocked in at 7:15.5. than the second-place finisher. Several members of that undefeated boat moved into the On April 14, the Black and White traveled to the Knecht Cup varsity eight for the IRA National Championships in June. The for the first of three races on the Cooper River. The varsity eight Black and White won its trial heat and headed to the grand final and second varsity eight placed third and fourth, respectively, in with the second-fastest qualifying time. The six-boat final turned the lightweight varsity eight grand final. The novice eight contin- up the heat in the national championship race, which Bucknell ued its unbeaten streak by winning the lightweight novice eight won for the first time in program history. Princeton took second, grand final in a time of 7:02.7, 12 seconds ahead of second-place while Wisconsin, Radcliffe and Stanford battled for bronze. The Princeton. Badgers finished less than three seconds ahead of the Black and The Black and White won three of four events against MIT White who beat out Stanford and Georgetown to take fourth. It was Radcliffe’s first triumph over Georgetown this spring. Upcoming Friends and Varsity Club Events SEPTEMBER 2007 14 – Friends of Hockey Golf Tournament (1 p.m. shotgun start, Shaker Hills Golf Club) 17 – HVC Board Meeting (Murr Center Lounge, 5:15 PM) 19 – Friends of Rowing Board Meeting/Lunch (12 noon, Downtown Harvard Club of Boston)

OCTOBER 2007 15 – HVC Board Meeting (Murr Center Lounge, 5:15 PM)

NOVEMBER 2007 9 – HVC Annual Meeting (Harvard Club of Boston Main Clubhouse on Comm. Ave., 12 noon) For more information on any event contact the Varsity Club at 617-495-3535 or [email protected] Sports Updates Women’s Track Coed Sailing • Freshman Eda Karesin took sixth in the javelin at the NCAA • The Harvard coed sailing team registered top-10 finishes Regional in Gainesville, Fla., over Memorial Day weekend. in both of its national regattas, highlighted by a fourth-place Karesin’s final through of 47.83 meters (156’ 11”) was her best showing in the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association/APS Team of the day and moved her from eighth place to sixth in the fi- Race National Championship at Navy. The Crimson posted nal standings. She came close but missed automatically quali- a 6-1 record to secure a place in the final four. Harvard won fying for the NCAA Championship as the top-five placers two of its three races in the final four and finished with a 10-7 make it. Senior Julia Pederson also competed in the javelin, record for fourth in the 16-school field. finishing 17th overall with a throw of 43.21 meters (141’ 09”). • The Crimson then took 10th among 18 schools in the Sophomore Becky Christensen placed ninth in the high jump ICSA/Gill Coed Dinghy National Championship. With the aid with a clearance of 1.71 meters (5’ 7”). of crews Elyse Dolbec and Christina Cordeiro, junior Kyle • Christensen also finished 10th in the high jump at the 2007 Kovacs skippered Harvard to sixth place in the B divison. NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships and earned • Senior captain Clay Johnson wrapped up his career with his All-America honors in the process. Christensen, who earned fourth straight ICSA All-America selection. Five other Crim- an at-large spot at the NCAA Championships by clearing 1.83 son sailors were also honored: Kovacs, Dolbec, senior Chris- meters (6’)during the season, cleared 1.77 meters (5’ 9.75”) in tina Dahlman and Kristen Lynch and sophomore Megan the finals to become the third Crimson women to earn All- Watson, who received All-America honorable mention. America honors in the high jump during the outdoor season. • In the final Sailing World College Rankings the Crimson women are fifth in the nation, while the coeds are seventh. 3 HARVARD VARSITY CLUB, INC. Murr Center FIRST CLASS 65 North Harvard Street U.S. POSTAGE Boston, MA 02163-1012 PAID (617) 495-3535 BOSTON, MA Fax: (617) 496-8296 PERMIT NO. 53825

FIRST CLASS

Cornell. Princeton finished third and Navy was fifth. was Navy and third finished Princeton Cornell.

was the surprise winner, taking the race in the final strokes over over strokes final the in race the taking winner, surprise the was Cup. Visitor’s the in row

fast and very close heat, the Crimson finished fifth. Dartmouth Dartmouth fifth. finished Crimson the heat, close very and fast ‘07, Phil Kaiser ‘07, Winter Mead ‘08 and Otto Stegmaier ‘08 will will ‘08 Stegmaier Otto and ‘08 Mead Winter ‘07, Kaiser Phil ‘07,

a spot in the grand finals for an amazing 62nd straight year. In a a In year. straight 62nd amazing an for finals grand the in spot a varsity eight will complete in the Ladies Plate, while Nick Baker Baker Nick while Plate, Ladies the in complete will eight varsity

earned Crimson The grabs. for up were medals all knew everyone compete in the Henley Royal Regatta in England this July. The The July. this England in Regatta Royal Henley the in compete

Harvard earned the top seed at Sprints, but with a deep field, field, deep a with but Sprints, at seed top the earned Harvard will oarsmen Harvard seven season, rowing college the to end

weight supremacy in the HYP Regatta. HYP the in supremacy weight Even though the Harvard-Yale Regatta is the traditional traditional the is Regatta Harvard-Yale the though Even

- light overall for Cup Vogel the earn and race team the in points 19:58.0. at

32 tally to eight freshman and eight varsity third the in third in clocked who Crimson, the of ahead second half a just 19:57.5,

placed and eight freshman second the and eight varsity second cut into the Crimson lead. Yale finished the four-mile course in in course four-mile the finished Yale lead. Crimson the into cut

the in second took Crimson The third. take to 6:02.8 at in clocked marker. In the final 1,000 meters, the Bulldogs made a move and and move a made Bulldogs the meters, 1,000 final the In marker.

thwait Cup. Second-place Princeton finished in 5:55.0 and Yale Yale and 5:55.0 in finished Princeton Second-place Cup. thwait mile the by length full a held and lead its increase to continued

- Gold the win to 5:51.8 in line finish the crossing eight, varsity Crimson The marker. half-mile the before lead half-length a

the in win four-second a earned Harvard Cups. Vogel and wait before the finish line. Harvard got off the line quickly and took took and quickly line the off got Harvard line. finish the before

eled to Princeton, N.J. to face Princeton and Yale for the Goldth the for Yale and Princeton face to N.J. Princeton, to eled - to row past the Crimson and take the lead in the final strokes strokes final the in lead the take and Crimson the past row to

- trav Crimson the Sprints, to heading before test final its In Bulldogs the allowed that move a made Yale as packed action

remaining. meters 250 than less with Mids the defeat to behind The final 200 meters of the varsity eight were the most most the were eight varsity the of meters 200 final The

from came eight varsity The eight. varsity second and eight sity 15:45.0. in ished

- var the including Midshipmen the against races five of two won and row past Harvard finishing in 15:27.0, while Harvard fin Harvard while 15:27.0, in finishing Harvard past row and -

Charles River for its first home meet of the season. The Crimson Crimson The season. the of meet home first its for River Charles Crimson the catch to able were Bulldogs The course. three-mile

the on Navy hosted Crimson the season, the of week third the In the down way whole the almost counterpart Yale its by lenged

day. the on races five the of one just lost and races varsity the chal was boat Harvard favored heavily a eight, varsity second -

Dartmouth and MIT to win the Biglin Bowl. The Crimson swept swept Crimson The Bowl. Biglin the win to MIT and Dartmouth the In eight. freshman the in win open-water an with event the

defeated Harvard years 13 in time 11th the For M.I.T. rival local of edition 142nd the started Harvard waters. American on race

season, traveling to Hanover, N.H., to face Ivy foe Dartmouth and and Dartmouth foe Ivy face to N.H., Hanover, to traveling season, lege racing season, but for Harvard, the H-Y Regatta is the final final the is Regatta H-Y the Harvard, for but season, racing lege

the of week second the for road the on remained Crimson The For most crews, the IRA Regatta is the final meet of the col the of meet final the is Regatta IRA the crews, most For -

Red. Big the to up catch to petite final. final. petite

The Crimson easily defeated the Quakers, but didn’t have enough enough have didn’t but Quakers, the defeated easily Crimson The finals, while the third varsity eight won the second varsity varsity second the won eight varsity third the while finals,

in Philadelphia. Philadelphia. in grand eight freshman the and eight varsity second the in fourth

Jon Chase Photo - Harvard News Office News Harvard - Photo Chase Jon

Cornell and Penn Penn and Cornell line at 5:34.12 to share the silver medal. The Crimson finished finished Crimson The medal. silver the share to 5:34.12 at line

Harvard lightweight men’s crew men’s lightweight Harvard

champion national the crossed Crimson the and Stanford while 5:33.16, in win to

defending against on Harvard, who fell behind the Huskies. went on on went Washington Huskies. the behind fell who Harvard, on

opener season the gaining move, a made Stanford mark 1,500m the At spot. third

in was campaign behind leader Washington. Stanford and Brown battled for the the for battled Brown and Stanford Washington. leader behind

meet dual the seat a just were and push a made Crimson the meters, 750 at

during blemish and, Bears the to up caught Harvard behind. closely followed

only Harvard’s race, Washington and Brown went out early and Princeton Princeton and early out went Brown and Washington race,

Boathouse. pion in the semifinals. In the national championship championship national the In semifinals. the in California pion

Newell to trophies grand finals after finishing second to defending national cham national defending to second finishing after finals grand -

cup three all

Men’s Heavyweight Rowing, continued from page 1 page from continued Rowing, Heavyweight Men’s

returned and ship

- champion national

the at medal silver finished in 5:47.46 and Georgetown took bronze in 5:47.49. in bronze took Georgetown and 5:47.46 in finished

a won Crimson Crimson The 5:46.34. of time a with won Red Big The silver. the

the Overall continued to battle and Harvard made a strong final push to earn earn to push final strong a made Harvard and battle to continued

Championships. Georgetown and Harvard title. national second-straight its to

IRA the at silver the take to rallied Crimson the years, National route en course the down frontrunner the remained and ahead

two in time second the for But row. a in year second the for als ahead before Harvard and Dartmouth joined in. Cornell pulled pulled Cornell in. joined Dartmouth and Harvard before ahead

- med the of out lightweights the left Mass., Worcester, in Crimson far get didn’t they but pack, the from away pulled that boats two

No. 1 seed at the Eastern Sprints, but an off-day of racing for the the for racing of off-day an but Sprints, Eastern the at seed 1 No. the were Georgetown and Cornell River. Cooper the down ing

a lightweights Harvard the earned record meet dual 6-1 A final. For the first 500 meters all six crews remained level com level remained crews six all meters 500 first the For final. -

Harvard won its morning trial to earn a spot in the six- boat grand grand boat six- the in spot a earn to trial morning its won Harvard

Assistant Director of Athletic Communications Athletic of Director Assistant IRA the at stand medal the to back way Championships. National

by Heather Palmer Heather by its making itself redeemed Crimson the later, weeks Three Men’s Lightweight Crew Ends Season With IRA Silver IRA With Season Ends Crew Lightweight Men’s