The last week of the NBA season is always brutal, unless you're the relative of a benchwarmer. The starters for most of the teams that have clinched playoff seeds are benched for precautionary reasons and the "scrubs" of the teams play. I believe the term "let the kids play" fits here, since it's mostly inexperienced youngsters that rack up minutes during this garbage time.
Still, if you think about it, young people are taking over everywhere, including here at Dartmouth. Unfortunately, this trend has also occurred when it comes to pong, with freshmen occupying places in line, only to be beaten terribly by brothers (or sisters, KDE, what's up?), in a matter of minutes.
Seriously though, younger student-athletes have taken over the spotlight in several Spring and Winter sports. It isn't to say that the older Dartmouth athletes aren't loved anymore. While their veteran presence is surely appreciated, younger athletes that excel their first year on the College stage bring excitement to the game similar to the feeling pledges bring to the Greek scene. The new blood in the house obviously I'm speaking figuratively here makes you giddy and energized.
Exhibit A: Ennis Coble '13 and Chris O'Dowd '13
The race for Ivy League rookie of the year is going on between these two. These youngsters have been playing lights out this season for Dartmouth's baseball team. With roughly half of the season in the books, these two have been able to excel in tight spots for the Big Green.
Coble, the starting third-baseman for the team, holds the second highest batting average on the squad, posting a .356 average in 24 games played. He also leads the team in runs scored and triples, trailing only Jeff Onstott '11 in hits. Talk about the Big Green baseball team's version of the perfect diaper dandy.
Although I had suggested keeping an eye on Coble as an Ivy League Rookie of the Year candidate earlier in the season ("Curious Jorge," March 8), Baseball America chose O'Dowd, the Oakland A's 40th round pick in the 2009 draft, as the Preseason Rookie of the Year. Clearly, the pressure put on him by this selection has not distracted O'Dowd, as he has battled for the starting gig at catcher all season, while putting up a batting average of .340.
Exhibit B: Connor Reilly '13
Reilly can fly. Okay, maybe he can't, but he can run extremely fast. He holds the record for the fastest 60-meter dash in Dartmouth history, with a time of 6.86 seconds. According to Wikipedia, if Reilly, who earned first-team All-Ivy honors this season, shaves half a second off his time, he would hold the world record for the fastest 60-meter dash in the history of the world. It's necessary to note that Reilly already broke his own record of 6.88, so what's another half second? Reilly, keep practicing.
Exhibit C: Chris Hanson '13
Hanson, who is ranked No. 2 in the U-19 age group, is said to be the Dartmouth squash team's "main man" ("Hanson '13 leading men's squash", Dec. 1, 2009). He was named a first-team All-American earlier this month, obviously getting the attention of many voters as he "squashed" his competition. Get it?
Anyways, he was also named All-Ivy this season. Even more impressive is that he was the first Dartmouth freshman to earn the All-America title in squash since Ryan Donegan '05 in 2002. Coming to Dartmouth with such lofty expectations, Hanson was able to compete at the highest level without letting his team down. Don't let me down either and please at least giggle a little at my joke about Hanson "squashing" his opponents.
As you can see, the freshmen have done pretty well for themselves in sports this year. There are many more that I didn't name, but you know who you are. Congratulations to all the rookies who have fared particularly well this year and made this list. I have a question to all of these super athletes, however.
Why didn't you touch the fire during Homecoming?
Damn, never mind whatever I just wrote in this column. Thirteens, you're still the worst class ever.
