The men's cross country team traveled to Terre Haute, Ind. this weekend for the National Championship, arriving with high expectations after what has been one of their most successful seasons on record.
Yesterday, baseball commissioner Bud Selig officially approved the Miami Marlins' latest fire sale, a monster deal which sent Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson and three others to the Toronto Blue Jays.
For a men's squash program that has experienced some upheaval in recent months, including a search late in the offseason for a new coach, getting off to a good start was more important than ever. And against the University of Vermont, Boston University and Boston College, Tufts easily took care of its competition, winning 9?0, 7?2 and 8?1, respectively.
After winning the Charlie Ryan Invitational to start last season and only losing one game in its first seven contests, the men's basketball team wanted to get this year off to a similarly strong start. However, after splitting their first two games of the season at the John K. Adams Tip?Off, the Jumbos will be looking to regroup, as going 1?1 was not the opening weekend they were hoping for.
One game into the 2012 season, it looked like it would be a long fall for the 0?1 Jumbos, as Tufts traveled to play national No. 1 Middlebury and gave up five straight goals to their conference rivals in a 5?2 loss. But ironically, in the end their season was the longest of any Div. III field hockey team's. On Sept. 8, they got blown out, but on Nov. 18, they claimed that No. 1 spot for themselves.
If the ice hockey team performs in all of its games like it did in its first two, it will not be surprising to see the team back in the playoffs come February. And while the Jumbos were not perfect in their opening weekend - settling for a tie against Trinity before capturing a major conference win against Wesleyan - their offensive power and commanding play are promising signs for the future.
Last year, the women's basketball team dropped its first two contests before going on to have one of its best seasons in recent memory, winning 23 games and advancing to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament.
When talking about their goals for the upcoming season, most teams say they would like to "pick up where they left off." In the case of the men's basketball team, they would like to pick up from the middle of last season, before they lost their last 4 games, including an upset loss to Bates in the first round of the NESCAC tournament.
Last year, the ice hockey team achieved not only its team goals for the season, but also something it had never done before: hosting a NESCAC tournament game.
We are living in the Golden Age of sports. Their popularity in this country has never been as evident, and American sports have been picking up steam internationally, as well. We have the privilege of watching the likes of Brady, Manning, Kobe, LeBron and Jeter. All of these athletes have transcended their sport and will be shoo?in Hall of Famers.
The women's swimming and diving team had a successful season last year, with a third?placeNESCAC finish and an impressive depth of talent. But this year, that depth will be put to the test, as upperclassmen and a large freshman class fill the spots of both last year's strong senior class and those swimmers who are abroad or injured.
