Sotnikova’s performance justifies her win in Sochi
More than a week has passed since the Olympics have ended, but some complaints have yet to die down. Specifically, some remain adamant that Yuna Kim should have won the gold medal in the women’s figure skating competition rather than Adelina Sotnikova. The advocates of this position incorrectly weight measures such as the cleanliness or elegance of the skate and go so far as to accuse the judges of fixing the event so that a Russian would win first place. While the grace displayed by the performer may factor into the final score, there is a much more structured approach to awarding points. Judges don’t just watch a performance without taking any notes or arbitrarily award points based on how gracefully the skater performed.
MIT men’s volleyball team takes down No. 1 New Paltz
In a back-and-forth battle with nationally-ranked No. 1 SUNY New Paltz, the No. 6 MIT men’s volleyball team registered a 25-22, 23-25, 25-22, 17-25, 16-14 victory on Tuesday night. Kenneth M. Siebert ’14 paced the Engineers (12-2, 6-1 UVC) with a match-high 18 kills on a .536 hitting performance to go along with six digs, three blocks, and an ace. The Hawks (13-2, 5-1 UVC) saw four players reach double-digits in kills with freshman Steven Woessner and sophomore Tim Ferriter leading the way with 13 apiece.
MIT repeats title win
On Saturday, February 22, the second and final day of the New England Division III Championships, the No. 4 MIT men’s track and field team won the title for the second year in a row, wrapping up the weekend in first out of 26 teams with 121 points. No. 7 Tufts University finished in second with 74 points and Williams College was third with 58.
Women’s basketball team gets win against WPI
Despite a late surge that saw WPI come within four points with 54 seconds left to play, MIT hit four free throws down the stretch to claim a 56-48 victory on Saturday, February 22. With the win, MIT claimed the seventh and final spot in the upcoming NEWMAC Championship tournament, marking its first playoff appearance since 2008. MIT will travel to its last postseason foe, No. 2 Wheaton College, on Wednesday, February 26 for a 7:00 p.m. start.
2014 Sochi Olympic Games come to an end
Sochi 2014 came to an end on Sunday, February 23. With security threats in Sochi and a tense Russian political climate, uncertainty surrounded this Olympics. Nevertheless, the Sochi Games delivered all the expected spectacles, from the “oddities” of the Winter Games, like Jamaica’s bobsled team, to a healthy dose of Olympic spirit and sportsmanship, like Swiss Dario Cologna’s 30 minute wait at the 15km cross-country finish line to greet the injured last-place finisher.
SPORTS SHORT
Benjamin Lin ‘17 and Giulio R. Gueltrini ‘16 were selected for the NFC Men’s All-Star Team this year, while Cordelia G. Avery ‘17 and Jessica Li ‘17 were tabbed as All-Stars for the women’s team. Lin and Avery were both placed on the Sabre First Team, while Gueltrini and Li received second team honors in Epee and Foil, respectively. Lin completed two NFC competitions with the best record in the league, compiling 27 wins against 3 losses, while Gueltrini finished with a mark of 17-6. On the women’s side, Avery has a 26-5 record this season, with a 17-1 performance in NFC competition, while Li earned a 29-5 record on the year. The selection is a first for all four fencers, and they hope to see their success continue as MIT attempts to reach the postseason at the New England Championship on February 22nd.
MIT men’s, women’s track and field teams move up rankings
Already in its fourth week, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) poll released on Wednesday afternoon revealed that both the MIT men’s and women’s indoor track and field teams have moved up in the rankings. Tech’s men, who were ninth last week, are now fourth, while the women’s squad moved up from third to second.
Women’s basketball team wins in tight match
Clark University generated 10 unanswered points during the final two minutes of regulation to claim a one-point lead, but a three-point play by MIT’s Mari R. Kordell ‘15 with 24.3 seconds on the clock and another free throw by the point guard with 0.7 ticks left helped the Engineers capture a 61-58 NEWMAC women’s basketball victory on Saturday, February 15. Kordell led all players with 21 points and added two steals for MIT, which improved to 10-13 on the year and 7-11 in conference play. Ashleigh Condon paced the Cougars (9-14, 6-12 NEWMAC) with 15 points to go along with a game-high five steals and three assists.
Men’s volleyball wins in weekend matches at WIT
In a back-and-forth battle, the nationally-ranked No. 11 MIT men’s volleyball team emerged with a 22-25, 25-20, 22-25, 25-21, 15-10 victory over host Wentworth Institute of Technology on Saturday, February 15. Later on in the tri-match, the Engineers (9-2) swept City College of New York, 25-8, 25-14, 25-20.
MIT women’s basketball team works with Athletes Unlimited
It was not a typical Wednesday night for the MIT women’s basketball team, who participated in an event complete with dance parties on the sidelines with opposing players. The team took advantage of its bye from NEWMAC action to train with the Pointsetters of Athletes Unlimited in neighboring Newton.
Women’s basketball loses match to Smith College
MIT held leads early in the second half, but Smith College edged back ahead midway through the final 20 minutes and went on to take a 65-54 decision in a New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) women’s basketball game on Feb. 8. Sabrina M. Drammis ‘16 led the Engineers with 16 points and nine rebounds.
Men’s basketball snaps two-game losing streak
MIT snapped a two-game losing streak on Feb. 8 as the Engineers took a defensive-minded game at the U.S Coast Guard Academy, 45-37, in a New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) men’s basketball contest. In a game that saw the two teams combine to shoot 28 percent, MIT saw three of its players score 10 points each, including Matthew M. Redfield ‘15 who also added five blocked shots for the Engineers.
Men’s volleyball ends weekend on a winning note
Serving as host for the first United Volleyball Conference (UVC) Crossover Tournament of the season, the MIT men’s volleyball team emerged with a 2-1 ledger at the conclusion of the two-day affair. The nationally-ranked No. 13 Engineers (6-2, 3-1 UVC) opened up action with a 19-25, 25-21, 21-25, 25-20, 15-13 victory over No. 7 Elmira College but then fell to No. 6 Nazareth College, 25-23, 25-22, 25-13. MIT bounced back by blanking D’Youville College, 25-17, 25-12, 25-9, on Sunday afternoon.