The Tech’s preseason predictions
Rare is the day when I see more students wearing hometown baseball merchandise than the ubiquitous “E/c^2sqrt(-1)PV/nR” shirts, “EngiNERD” sweatshirts, and “God said ...[Maxwell’s equations here]..., and there was light” apparel. Wednesday, the first day of the 2010 MLB playoffs, was one of those days. Picking up breakfast, I chatted with a Braves fan wearing a Brian McCann jersey and the guy behind the sandwich counter at LaVerde’s about the Phillies’ dominant rotation and just how well veteran ace Roy Halladay will adjust to the pressure of the postseason. (After my predictions were documented, this question was closed; Halladay no-hit the Reds on Wednesday night in his first postseason start.) Walking down the Infinite, I came across a Rays fan decked out in a navy blue jersey and a Giants fan with the classic, black-and-orange, interlocking “SF” logo. Even to a fan whose team missed out on the postseason, it was heartening to see signs of baseball passion at MIT. Let’s take a look at the prospects of each of the postseason contestants.
Field hockey in high spirits after win over Smith
This past Saturday, the MIT field hockey team routed Smith College 6-1, earning its tenth win of the season and securing its third win in a row in conference play. The team, now 10-1, has just five games left in the regular season, including three at home.
MIT splits match vs. Wentworth
The MIT rifle team had its first match of the season this past weekend, taking on friendly area rival Wentworth Institute of Technology.
Upcoming Home Events
Saturday, October 9 Sailing: Brass Rat/Sir Ian MacFarlane 8 a.m, Charles River Women’s soccer vs. Wheaton College 11 a.m, Steinbrenner Stadium Men’s tennis vs. Williams College 1 p.m., duPont Courts Football vs. Plymouth State University 2 p.m., Steinbrenner Stadium Sunday, October 10 Sailing : Brass Rat/Sir Ian MacFarlane 8 a.m, Charles River
MIT alums to row for Team USA
Two MIT alumni, Skip Dise ’03 and Stephen F. Young ’09, will be headed to the 2010 World Rowing Championships in New Zealand later this month as members of the United States National Team. Young will cox the men’s lightweight eight, and Dise will row in the bow seat of that boat. Dise and Young were both selected to the lightweight eight as a result of their performance in the selection camp in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Water polo falls short against Brown Fourth-quarter comeback not enough as MIT loses at home, 5-4
On a rainy, windy Friday night, the MIT men’s water polo team faced Brown University in the Z-Center pool. Although the Engineers failed to extend their winning streak to four games, falling 5-4, the match was filled with excitement.
Upcoming Home Events
Tuesday, October 5 Women’s soccer vs. Worcester Polytechnic Institute 4 p.m., Steinbrenner Stadium Thursday, October 7 Men’s tennis vs. Bentley University 4 p.m., DuPont Courts
Women’s tennis loses to Tufts, but beats Mt. Holyoke 7-2
This past Thursday, MIT women’s tennis visited Tufts. They put up a good effort, but were overwhelmed by their opponents, losing by an overall score of 8-1.
Women’s tennis wins 8-1 vs Clark
his past Saturday, the MIT women’s tennis team visited Clark University, and left with a dominating 8-1 victory. The Engineers’ doubles teams started strong. Both the number one team of Lauren C. Quisenberry ’14 and Julia C. Hsu ’14 and the number two team of Melissa aA. Diskin ’11 and Katharine A. O’Neal ’14 won their sets 8-2, giving MIT a quick 2-0 overall lead. Then, the doubles exhibition match of Hillary E. Jenny ’12 and Caitlin R. Pomeroy ’13, who won of 8-3. Next off was the third doubles team of Jenny C. Dohlman ’11 and Jennifer A. Rees ’11, who came back from a 2-4 deficit to win the match 8-6. This sweep in doubles gave MIT 3-0 lead going into the singles matches.
Upcoming Home Events
Friday, October 1 Men’s water polo vs. Brown University 8 p.m., Z-Center Pool Saturday, October 2 Men’s heavyweight crew Alumni Race 8 a.m, Charles River Rifle vs. Wentworth Institute of Technology 9 a.m, duPont Gym Sailing: Smith Trophy 9:30 a.m., Charles River Women’s tennis vs. Mount Holyoke College 1 p.m., duPont Courts Field hockey vs. Smith College 1 p.m., Jack Barry Field Football vs. UMass-Dartmouth 1 p.m., Steinbrenner Stadium
Women’s volleyball falls in close sets
In a hard-fought NEWMAC women’s volleyball match on Tuesday night, visiting Springfield College emerged with a 23-25, 26-24, 25-22, 25-19 victory over MIT. The loss lowered the Engineers’ record to 10-7 on the year and 2-2 in conference play while the Pride improved to 14-2 overall and 4-0 in the NEWMAC.
Sports Shorts
Coming off a weekend sweep that saw the MIT water polo team improve to 2-0 in league play, junior goalkeeper Columbus Leonard has been named the Northern Division Defensive Player of the Week by the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA). Leonard helped anchor the MIT defense in a pair of wins over Fordham University, 13-10, and Iona College, 11-8.
Squash at Symphony Hall shows off world’s top players
Egypt's Ramy Ashour, the world's top-ranked player, triumphed last Wednesday night as the global game of squash made a splash in Boston at Symphony Hall. Dubbed "Showdown@Symphony," the exhibition tournament sought to promote squash in a country where it is but a niche sport. Four of the world's best competed in a single-elimination format on the stage of Symphony Hall for the Sharif Khan Trophy as diners on the orchestra floor and spectators from the balconies took in the action. While the organizers pulled out all the stops to keep the audience entertained with their choice of venue and assorted gimmicks, the game itself needs no embellishment.
Women’s rugby take second place in Sept. Beantown Classic
This summer was an exciting period for rugby both globally and locally. The sport was announced as an event in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. The U.S. men's national team had a strong showing in the Churchill Cup, an invitational tournament with England, Canada, and other countries. The U.S. women's national team finished fifth at the Women's Rugby World Cup.
MIT is 4th in NCSA Power Rankings
MIT’s athletic program was recently ranked number four overall in the nation — its highest ever ranking — by the National Collegiate Scouting Association (NCSA). The NCSA Power Rankings, a system first implemented by the NCAA in 2004, report on both the academic and athletic performance of each college’s athletic program.
Sports Shorts
The women’s tennis pair of Lauren C. Quisenberry ’14 and Julia C. Hsu ’14 became the first repeat winners of the conference award this year for MIT, earning the honor for the second straight week after a strong performance at the ITA New England Regional Tournament. Quisenberry and Hsu advanced to the quarterfinals before falling to the first-seeded pair in the tournament from Middlebury.
At MIT, the quirky marching band steals the show
Student life at MIT can only be described as, well, different. So much about our campus cannot be found at any place else: East and West Campus dorm dynamics, the notion of “IHTFP”, and the famous hacks are just a few examples.
Upcoming Home Events
Saturday, September 25 Sailing: Commonwealth Invite 9:30 a.m., Charles River Women’s Soccer vs. Springfield College 1 p.m., Steinbrenner Stadium Men’s Soccer vs. WPI 4 p.m., Steinbrenner Stadium Men’s Water Polo vs. Fordham University 7 p.m., Z-Center Pool Sunday, September 26 Sailing: Commonwealth Invite 9:30 a.m., Charles River Men’s Water Polo vs. Fordham University 11 a.m., Z-Center Pool
The Boston Celtics
The seventeen-time world champions are the most accomplished team in New England sports and appear primed for another title run. Here’s a look at the past, present, and future of the Celtics.
Urban gymnastics is concrete + chutzpah
Twenty of the world’s best free-runners and parkour athletes gathered for the Red Bull Art of Motion competition held at City Hall Plaza in downtown Boston on Friday.