It's 2012 the last year of existence for all of us, according to the Mayans, at least. I hope all of you had a wonderful winter break and that you spent plenty of time with your family, making memories playing Scrabble with your grandmother. I sure had a great break family bonding time, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, delicious home-cooked meals, fantasy basketball and the start of the NBA season were all highlights of my break. I would venture to say the NBA offseason, with all of the player signings, smack talk and predictions, along with the opening games on Christmas Day was my favorite part of winter break, which is not to say the World of Harry Potter wasn't enjoyable, because it definitely was even the butterbeer was surprisingly tasty.
Some things, like midnight smooches, are a given around New Year's. Resolutions are another big one. Every year, people say their resolutions are something along the lines of losing weight, eating healthier, hitting the gym or being environmentally-friendly. For Dartmouth students, resolutions might be a bit different, and could deal with winning more pong games, attending that insufferable 9L class and being a better Big Green fan by going to more sporting events. I personally am making it a point to enjoy Hanover's natural beauty more often by going on more runs and/or hikes, but I'm definitely going to try to attend Dartmouth athletic events as well. So, if you want to join, I'll help you know about a couple of teams and their resolutions this term, in the hopes that they will inspire you to attend their games.Men's Hockey "Let's make some noise!"
The men's hockey team finished 2011 with a heartbreaking loss in the championship game of the Ledyard National Bank Classic to St. Lawrence University. The Big Green lost by allowing a game-tying goal in the last five minutes of regulation, and ultimately lost in a shootout. The first weekend of 2012 brought a record of 1-1, with a humbling 7-1 loss at the hands of Union College. Nevertheless, the team has the chance to make some noise in the ECAC with 14 of its last 15 games coming against conference foes.
Now that the men's hockey program has surpassed 1,000 victories which is quite the feat, so well done, gentlemen they can focus on strictly playing some great hockey. Cab Morris '14 is definitely playing the best hockey of his Dartmouth career, as he was named ECAC Hockey Goalie of the Month in December. Eric Robinson '14 and Tyler Sikura '15 will need to continue to lead the team in scoring in order to give the Big Green a fighting chance for the remainder of the season. The young talent on this team is very impressive, so be sure to attend the home games this season, as they figure to be raucous and loud, considering they're all against conference rivals.Men's and Women Swimming and Diving "Keep surprising"
The Dartmouth swimming program has seen its share of lows in recent years, but there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel. The teams captured monumental victories in their two meets of 2011-12, beating conference opponents Cornell University and Brown University. Dartmouth's victory over Cornell was its first in 35 years, which deserves a pat on the back. Captains Kelsey Pinson '12, Mickey Ahearn '12 and Matt Stumpf '12 will need to keep the team motivated this season to allow this Cinderella story in the making to continue. The hot start to the season will surely infuse the team with pride, which will hopefully carry it to a solid finish at the Ivy Championships.Tim Tebow "Don't change too much"
Alright, fine; you caught me. Tebow, the Denver Broncos quarterback, isn't a Dartmouth student if only... and he isn't on any Big Green athletic team. However, everyone on campus that knows about Tebowmania has an opinion, so that gives me a reason to write about him. I also have a huge man-crush on him, so there's that too. Anyway, Tebow's resolution, at least the one I gave for him, has to do with the fact that he's not an ordinary quarterback.
There are a lot of critics out there that say he isn't worthy of starting a playoff game because of his recent struggles and the way he plays, but that's a ridiculous argument, since they wouldn't be in the playoffs without him. Although the Broncos lost their last three games of the season, it was his play that put them in position to win the AFC West. Obviously his style of play is unconventional, but it's this same style that will lead the Broncos to the promised land, as long as the Broncos management does not try to change him too much. Trust me, if you enjoy the last five minutes of Broncos games Tebow Time, for the uninitiated you don't want Tebow to change much either.
The new year is here, so be sure to attend classes, pump vitamin C into your system and stay indoors to escape the frigid weather. And, while you're indoors, catch up on work ... or play pong, since it's a lot more fun. Happy New Year, Dartmouth, and stay safe at the Avicii concert if you were able to get a ticket.
