Engineers rack up impressive 2010 victories
MIT Athletics once again had an outstanding year in 2010. Several teams ended their years nationally ranked, and many others earned NEWMAC Championships and went on to compete for national championships. Here’s a look at some of the notable achievements of MIT’s teams from the past year.
Men’s Basketball
The MIT Men’s Basketball team had a fantastic season in ’09–’10, becoming NEWMAC conference regular season champions and winning a record 22 games before a heartbreaking overtime loss to DeSales University in the first round of the Men’s Division III NCAA tournament. The Engineers reached No. 8 in the nation in the D3Hoops.com Top 25 rankings, and numerous players received both athletic and academic awards. Noel Hollingsworth ’12 was named a second-team All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches, and was also named NEWMAC Athlete of the Year, while Mitchell H. Kates ’13 was named NEWMAC Rookie of the Year. The Engineers began their ’10–’11 campaign in November, achieving a 9-2 record by the end of the year and are on their way towards what looks like another promising season for the team.
Cross Country
The MIT cross country teams had another solid year, with both teams winning the NEWMAC title. This represents the 13th consecutive conference championship for the men, and fourth straight for the women. The men’s team went on to win the New England Regional Championship for the first time in program history, and the women finished fourth in that meet. Both teams earned sports in the national championships, where the women finished third and the men twelfth. Alina Gatowski ’11 earned All-America honors with her 24th place finish at nationals; Roy A. Wedge ’14 and Martina A. de Geus ’14 were both named NEWMAC Rookie of the Year. Paul D. Welle ’11, Richard J. Prevost ’11, Daniel E. Harper ’12, Gihan S. Amarasiriwardena ’11 and Joseph A. Christopher ’12 joined Wedge on the men’s All-Conference team. Gatowski, Katherine J. Eve ’12, Tania K. Morimoto ’12, Claire E. O’Connell ’14 and Sarah L. Sprague ’13 were also selected for the women. Halston Taylor, coach of both teams, was named New England Men’s Coach of the Year as well as NEWMAC Women’s Coach of the Year.
Women’s Soccer
The MIT Women’s Soccer Team (13-3-3, 6-2-1) had one of its most successful seasons in program history in 2010. Both its overall record and conference record are new highs for the program, and the team finished tied for second place in the NEWMAC conference, its highest finish ever.
In the regular season, MIT led the NEWMAC in nearly every offensive and defensive statistic, including shutting out 14 of 19 opponents and allowing just seven goals on the year. Five players were named NEWMAC All-Conference, the most in one season for MIT. Lauren R. Hernley ’11, Meghan S. Wright ’13, Emily Kuo ’13 and Alisha D. Lussiez ’12 were named to the First Team and Andrea Y. Park ’13 was named to the Second Team.
Hernley was also named NEWMAC Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, MIT’s first ever repeat player of the year and the second back-to-back selection in conference history. She was also named to the Academic All-America First Team, MIT’s first ever First Team selection. Hernley, Lussiez, Wright and Kuo also received all-region honors.
Men’s Tennis
The MIT Men’s Tennis Team had a strong season. They went 12-1 during the regular season, with their only loss coming against Bowdoin College. This earned them a top seed in the NEWMAC Tournament, where they defeated Babson and Wheaton to capture their 12th straight conference title. In the NCAA National Tournament, they advanced to the round of sixteen before losing to top-seeded Middlebury College.
Kevin Pang ’11, Larry Pang ’13, Samuel Harmatz ’12, and Brian K. Oldfield ’13 earned All-Conference honors, and Kevin Pang was name NEWMAC Player of the Year.
Women’ Tennis
MIT Women’s Tennis finished strong last season. In the NEWMAC tournament, MIT made it to the semifinals before barely losing to their rival, Wellesley College. “Overall the team was strong and competed well,” according to Coach Carol Matsuzaki, “and they worked as a team all season.”
Lauren C. Quisenberry ’14 finished the season without losing a set in singles at the number one spot, and was named NEWMAC Women’s Tennis Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year. Quisenberry also earned a spot on the All- Conference First team. Julia C. Hsu ’14 was also recognized for a great season, earning a spot on the All-Conference Second Team for both second singles and for number one doubles with her partner Quisenberry.
Field Hockey
MIT Field Hockey had another exceptional season this past fall, going 15-4 and making it to the championship game of the NEWMAC Tournament before losing to Babson College. The Engineers opened the 2010 season with a 13-1 run, and were ranked at the top of the conference before losing at Mount Holyoke in overtime — their first conference loss in 12 matches. Heading into the NEWMAC Tournament with a 14-3 record and ranked second with a bye in the first round, MIT defeated Wheaton College 6-1 in the semi-final, only to lose to Babson in the final game.
Several team members were recognized for their outstanding efforts during the season: Kameron L. Klauber ’12 and Molly E. McShane ’13 were selected to the NEWMAC First Team. For the second consecutive season, McShane earned All-American honors from the NFHCA, as she was named to the National Third Team. She becomes just the sixth All-America selection in MIT history and the first player ever to earn multiple accolades. In addition, five players earned Academic All Conference recognition. The team also received the NEWMAC Sportsmanship Award.
Men’s Lacrosse
After losing four of the top five scorers from the 2009 team, 2010 projected to be a rebuilding year for the MIT Men’s Lacrosse team. However, the combination of a stronger defense and returning offensive players stepping up their game helped lead the team to a winning season with a final record of 8-6. The Engineers made it into the conference tournament as the No. 4 seed, but lost to Springfield, 12-4, in the semifinal.
Highlights on the season included a season-opening win against Curry College, a dominating 5-1 win over favored Lasell College in one of the greatest defensive performances in team history and a 8-7 overtime victory over Norwich College.
Bryan M. Beller ’12 earned Conference First Team honors; Eric S. Zuk ’11 and CME student Carl J. Tilbury ’12 were named to the Second Team. Nine players earned Academic All-Conference honors as well.
Men’s Volleyball
MIT finished the year with a ledger of 31-8, marking the program’s first 30-win season, and finished the year ranked No. 9 in the AVCA national poll after climbing up to No. 6, the highest placement in the program’s history.
Matthew P. Hohenberger ’13 earned NECVA Rookie of the Year, All-Conference Second Team, Division Rookie of the Year, and All-Division First Team plaudits. Michael Demyttenaere ’10 earned spots on the All-Conference Second Team and the All-Division First Team. Eric R. Reuland ’10 was voted to the All-Division First Team while Timothy R. Lee ’11 and David R. Thomas ’12 were tabbed to the All-Division Second Team. The Engineers picked up the NECVA Academic Team Award for the fifth time as Benson M. George ’12, Demyttenaere, and Reuland received individual All-Academic Team accolades.
At the NECVA Championship Tournament, the Engineers swept Newbury College in the opening round before dismissing D’Youville College. MIT’s run came to an end when it fell to eventual champion, Nazareth College, in the semifinals. Hohenberger and Reuland represented the Cardinal and Gray on the All-Tournament First Team.
Women’s Volleyball
For the 10th year in a row, the Engineers received multiple NEWMAC All-Conference selections after Jenny Li ’11 and Kelly E. Schulte ’12 were tabbed to the Second Team. The duo, along with Kate Kelly and Katie Spielbauer ’13, earned spots on the league’s Academic All-Conference Team.
MIT reached the NEWMAC tournament semifinal for the 13th straight year, but fell to host and top seeded Springfield College.
Jenny Li became the 10th player at MIT to record 1,000 career kills during a 25-19, 25-13, 25-14 win at Babson College. One of the highlights of the season was their fifth MIT Quad Tournament title; against Lebanon Valley College, MIT compiled 16 blocks, led by Kristine A. Bunker ’14 with 12, both Institute records.
Swimming and Diving
Both the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams had strong seasons. The men were undefeated on the year while winning their second straight NEWMAC title, and placed 8th at the national championship. The women’s team took second in the conference and also made it to the national tournament, placing 14th. Anna S. Kokensparger ’13 was named NEWMAC rookie of the year. For the men, Jeffrey Y. Zhou ’10 was named an Academic All-American and Coach Dawn Dill earned Coach of the Year honors.
This year, although their seasons are still underway, both the Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving teams are undefeated going into the end of January. The 5th ranked Men’s team has handily won every meet so far, cruising past Tufts 200-98 this past weekend in the last home meet of the season. Similarly, the Women’s team (ranked 6th) has remained undefeated throughout the season so far. Both teams are expected to continue their streaks heading into the last month and the into NEWMAC and NCAA finals.
Women’s Rugby
The MIT Women’s Rugby began seeking to repeat as national champions, but the team fell just short, losing to Bentley in the New England Regional Championship game. Before the loss to Bentley, had been undefeated on the year, with only one tie, and seemed to be steadily improving as the season went on. They showed great promise throughout the season, and it can be expected that they will come back next year with even more drive to take back their title.