Spring has sprung. As I write this column, which Jordan and I decided would serve to both to gain valuable facetime for our respective sports, as well as to preview the NCAA basketball championships, I am sitting on a bus driving back from our first race of the season. As far as rowing goes, Dartmouth is off to a great start to the spring. The women's team beat the University of Rhode Island, Northeastern University and Boston College on the Charles River Saturday. Also on Saturday, the lightweight team traveled to Worcester, Mass., to race the Holy Cross and University of Delaware lightweight squads. Much like the women, the lightweights came away victorious. On Sunday, the Dartmouth heavyweight team swept the Holy Cross Crusaders in three races. And now, for part one of my column, the top three reasons to go watch a Dartmouth crew race this year.
- Tradition
Rowing is the oldest sport at the College. Simply walk into the boathouse, and you will be surrounded by the history and rich tradition of Dartmouth rowing. Photographs that go back to the mid to late 1800s are framed on the walls, depicting the first crews to race for Dartmouth. These crews, incidentally, were also the first teams to compete in intercollegiate athletics at Dartmouth, period. Tradition is a huge part of Dartmouth, and rowing has perhaps the richest tradition of any sport at Dartmouth.
- Free food
After every race, the parents of the rowers put out a huge spread of food for the rowers once they return from the race. Assuming that any and all spectators go back to the boathouse after the race, they will surely be in for a treat. No DASH needed, just be sure to get to the table before the rowers do, or there might not be anything left!
- Scenery
The Connecticut River is the best place to row in America, with miles of flat water and a great race course. The rolling hills make a serene backdrop for the intense racing that goes on below in the river valley. Also, let's be honest, where else will Dartmouth sports fans be able to see as many tall, tan, muscular men clad in only in spandex?
The rowing teams aren't the only members of the Big Green athletic department to start off the spring on the right foot, however.
The softball team swept Princeton to take sole possession of first place in the Ivy League North Division. Our Big Green baseballers also swept the hated Tigers, thanks to a Herculean effort by hurler Robert Young '10, who let up just four hits in seven innings of work. In the second game of the weekend, Dartmouth prevailed in an 8-5 decision thanks to clutch two-out hitting. The wins kept Dartmouth baseball undefeated in conference play. The Dartmouth women's lacrosse team has risen to No. 15 nationally, and bested No. 19 Cornell this weekend. Our women laxers have yet to be beaten in the Ivy League, and are looking to continue their dominance next weekend at Penn.
It is also important to extend a congratulations to fellow senior (and former trippee!) Emily Daly '09, who crushed the previous school record in the hammer throw by a whopping six feet.
And now, the moment you've all been waiting for -- my NCAA basketball predictions. On the women's side of things, I would have to be a fool to pick against the powerhouse University of Connecticut. The Lady Huskies have not trailed by more than eight points all season, and have won every game by double digits. I love their head coach Geno Auriemma, and would love to see them pull off the improbable undefeated season.
As for the men, I am very torn. My heart is telling me to pick Michigan State. I love the fact that they're playing what essentially amounts to a home game in a city (Detroit) that desperately needs a win. I'm also a huge Big Ten fan, and that conference really could use some credibility. On the other hand, my head tells be to go with the University of North Carolina. The Tar Heels have been the best squad all season. They have all of the talent in the world, including arguably the best point guard (Ty Lawson), and one of the best big men (Tyler Hansbrough) in the country. Wayne Ellington and Dennis Green have proven themselves to be clutch three point shooters. To be completely honest, I have no reason to pick Michigan State other than the fact that I really don't want to see UNC win the game. I couldn't live with myself if I picked the soulless Tar Heels. The following words may make my father (who bleeds the maize and blue of his beloved Michigan Wolverines) cringe, but: GO GREEN, GO WHITE! LET'S GO STATE!
