Sports - The Tufts Daily

Baseball

Extra Innings: It's time to change how we think about greatness

By Henry Blickenstaff | July 16

Today, I’m appealing to fans of every other team sport to explain something that baseball fans already know. Something that is so basic yet incomprehensible to many fans and, worst of all, sports media talking heads. Ready? Team championships are won by teams, not individuals.

Soccer

The pride of Cúcuta: James Rodríguez

By Bharat Singh | July 14

La Maracanã is bouncing in full force. Pockets of blue are roaring in a sea of yellow and red as the flickering lights from a thousand lenses capture a duel for the ages. The Round of 16 of the 2014 World Cup. A South American classic: Uruguay vs. Colombia. Twenty-eight minutes in, a wayward clearance from the Uruguayan box was headed back toward 22-year-old James Rodríguez, who in one motion gently caressed the ball from his left shoulder onto his left foot before striking it toward goalkeeper Fernando Muslera. A shot that swallowed a stadium for a few seconds, a collective gasp as the ball kissed the underside of the crossbar. The net rattled, Muslera was beaten and a star was born. If the dictionary had pictures, the word “volley” would have this image next to it. Rodríguez had just scored the goal of the tournament. He went on to win theGolden Boot as the World Cup’s top scorer with six goals, despite Colombia falling short to host Brazil in the quarterfinals. For context, he had outscored Lionel Messi, Neymar da Silva Santos Jr. and the two previous winners, Spain and Italy. Ten years after that magical Maracanã moment, James Rodríguez is one game away from lifting the Copa América.

Sports

Tufts women’s rowing clinches first national championship

By Rachel Liu | June 5

Making program history, the women’s rowing team won the NCAA Division III Championship on Saturday in Bethel, Ohio. Tufts’ first varsity eight rowed to a definitive victory, and the second varsity eight claimed second to secure the highest team score for the Jumbos.

Sports

Tufts men’s lacrosse wins national championship

By Zachary Myers | May 31

Tufts men’s lacrosse traveled to Philadelphia to play the Rochester Institute of Technology in the Division III National Championship on May 26. After a crushing defeat at the hands of Salisbury University in last year’s final following an undefeated season, the Jumbos returned this year with the hope of claiming a fourth title in program history. The two programs have historically been equals, with Tufts entering the matchup with a 3–4 all-time record against RIT, including a loss to the Tigers in March. This exciting rematch took place at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Philadelphia Eagles. After a successful season despite a loss in the NESCAC tournament to Hamilton College, the Jumbos regained their form in the national tournament and earned their spot in the finals. Their current form, combined with their valuable experience from last year, meant the Jumbos were ready for the championship.

Sports

A German-Spanish classic: Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund

By Bharat Singh | May 30

A lot has changed since the last time German soccer team Borussia Dortmund was in a Champions League final in 2013. Their then-manager Jürgen Klopp is now more widely known for bringing his “Gegenpressing” style to Liverpool, where he’d reignite one of England’s strongest sides. Dortmund’s lethal marksman Robert Lewandowski would also switch allegiances, joining arch-rival Bayern Munich before testing his trade in La Liga with FC Barcelona. In 2013, both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi were still at their peaks, and Kylian Mbappé was entering high school. In the same year, Dortmund’s fellow 2024 finalists, Real Madrid, or “Los Blancos,” had yet to win La Décima, referring to their iconic 10th Champions League title; however, this time around the Spanish team is aiming for their 15th. The only constants are Dortmund’s Mats Hummels and Marco Reus, German legends who will face off against the Champions League’s most feared team on June 1. This final will be Reus’ last game for Dortmund.

Sports

Biles claims all-around victory at 2024 Core Hydration Classic

By Sarah Firth | May 24

For the first time ever, three American Olympic all-around gold medalists, Sunisa Lee (2020), Simone Biles (2016) and Gabby Douglas (2012), faced off in one gymnastics competition. The trio competed in front of thousands of fans at the Core Hydration Classic in Hartford, Conn., last weekend alongside other top American gymnasts leading up to this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris.

Sports

Senior Profile: Jay Dieterle — leaving Tufts, entering a legacy

By Keriann Slayton | May 19

September 2020. An eager Jay Dieterle arrives in Medford, the lone rookie recruited to play for the Tufts Men’s Basketball team, and begins the move-in day routine. He discovers his dorm room, says goodbye to his family and walks to 62 Talbot Ave. for his mandatory COVID-19 test.

Sports

From brown and blue to red, white and blue: Jumbos in Paris Olympic Games

By Max Druckman | May 19

There is no higher honor in sports than competing in the Olympic or Paralympic Games. To hear your nation’s national anthem, to bear the blazing torch and to gaze at the interlocking rings is to be etched in athletics lore for eternity.

Sports

Senior Profile: Maggie Russell, Tufts’ ultimate women’s basketball force

By Nick Dohr | May 18

When most people think of Tufts women’s basketball in the past few years, the first name that typically comes to their mind is Maggie Russell. As a dominant 6-foot-1 forward, Russell played an important role in the Jumbos’ success throughout her career. She didn’t just play an important role on the court though; she was also impactful off the court as a role model for the younger players.

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Sports

Introducing the 2024 Tufts Athletics Hall of Fame inductees

By Henry Blickenstaff | May 18

Tufts Athletics announced on Feb. 21 that seven new athletes as well as one team will form the fifth class of the Hall of Fame. They will be inducted on June 7 in a ceremony at Gillette Stadium.

Sports

Senior Profile: Andrea DelGiudice builds success through tenacity

By Bharat Singh | May 17

It’s no surprise that head coach Tina Mattera chose “tenacious” as the word to describe senior co-captain Andrea DelGiudice. If you’ve ever attended a Tufts field hockey game, you’ve probably witnessed this tenacity on show through the finesse and speed of DelGiudice.

Sports

Senior Profile: Thalia Greenberg leaves it all on the field

By Zachary Gerson | May 17

Graduating senior midfielder Thalia Greenberg could not be more proud of her time with the Tufts women’s soccer program. A natural leader on and off the field, Greenberg’s lasting impact on the program will be felt for years to come.

Sports

Senior Profile: Emma Joyce finds community, growth on women’s lacrosse

By Tara Wirtschoreck | May 16

Tufts women’s lacrosse has been a strong program in Division III for years. Senior midfielder Emma Joyce has contributed to the team’s impressive record in her four years at Tufts. In the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Tufts won the NESCAC championship and was runner-up in the NCAA championship. Additionally, in the 2023 season, Tufts was runner-up in the NESCAC and made it to the NCAA quarterfinals. Joyce explained that being part of a team that’s been so successful has made for an exciting four years.

Sports

Senior Profile: Swimmer Tim Chou bridges athletic and civic leadership

By Madeline Mueller | May 16

Genuine kindness and care. A supportive and available presence. Character and natural leadership. These attributes are just a few ways that senior Tim Chou has been described by his teammates and coaches. As a member of the men’s swimming and diving team, Chou has become not only an exceptional student-athlete but has also served as a leader for civic engagement within the team and in the greater Tufts community.

Columns

Moments ‘til Madness: The top teams for the 2024–25 season

By Owen Short | April 29

With it being late April, it’s time for schools to start rebuilding their rosters and preparing for the next season. Teams like the University of Louisville and the University of Southern California already have full rotations of transfers coming in. The portal is still very active, but as teams stand right now, these are my current 2024 preseason rankings.

Sports

Baseball sweeps Trinity, clinches entry to NESCAC playoff tournament

By Keila McCabe | April 25

The baseball team took all three games against Trinity at home this past weekend to clinch NESCAC playoff tournament standings. Coming off a five game losing streak, the series was pivotal both to clinch and, more importantly, to build momentum as they wrapped up the regular season. Junior pitcher Jacob Lapp described the mentality heading into the weekend and significance of the series.

Columns

The Round-off Roundup: Olympic team predictions

By Sarah Firth | April 25

For my last column, I’m going to make the obligatory predictions for the U.S. women’s gymnastics Olympic team later this summer. This year, there will be five spots on the team and no individuals for the U.S. The highest-scoring all-around athlete from the combined two days of the Olympic trials automatically qualifies for the Olympic team. The remaining four athletes are chosen by the Athlete Selection Committee.

Sports

Women’s lacrosse takes down No. 13 Amherst in 17–12 victory

By Zachary Myers | April 25

On Saturday, the Tufts women’s lacrosse team traveled to Amherst, Mass. to engage in a high-stakes battle with the Amherst College Mammoths. This clash between two collegiate lacrosse powerhouses was not just a game but a testament to the Jumbos’ prowess, as they entered the field ranked No. 3 in the country, facing a formidable Amherst side ranked No. 14. Sophomore attacker Allie Zorn discussed how the team’s approach differs against highly-ranked teams.

Columns

Moments ‘til Madness: Best hires from the coaching carousel

By Owen Short | April 25

Now that we are a couple weeks out from the national championship game, the offseason is in full swing and the coaching carousel has almost completed its course. We already had what is most likely the biggest storyline of the summer with the University of Kentucky and John Calipari mutually parting ways, and the program hiring former Brigham Young University head coach Mark Pope to fill the role. We had other big high-major coaching changes like Pat Kelsey to the University of Louisville and Dusty May to the University of Michigan. Here are my favorite moves from the carousel as of now.

Sports

Softball sweeps road doubleheader at Wesleyan

By Henry Blickenstaff | April 24

Tufts softball traveled to Middletown, Conn. on Saturday to take on Wesleyan University in a NESCAC doubleheader. Riding shutdown pitching and hot bats, the Jumbos took both games in commanding fashion and improved to 26–5 on the season with a 12–2 record in NESCAC play. The latter is good for a four-game lead in the conference.