Five lessons football fans learned from Week 1
This past Sunday was one of the most highly anticipated opening days for any sport in years, following one of the most eventful offseasons that football has ever seen. For almost five months, the NFL was gripped in a frustrating lockout that prevented players from working in team facilities until late July.
Patriots prepare for tough competition
Editor’s note: This is the second part of a series introducing Boston’s professional sports teams. With the NFL season just getting under way, here’s a look at the New England Patriots. This piece was originally published last fall, but has been updated for the 2011-2012 season.
Sailing starts season strong
The MIT sailing team kicked off its season by competing in three events this past weekend. The Engineers captured fifth place out of 20 teams at the Harry Anderson Trophy, finished ninth at the Toni Deutsch Trophy, and took third and fourth at the Harvard Invitational.
Sports Shorts
MIT football kicked off its 2011 season with a 35-13 win against Becker College, its second straight season-opening win. The 35 points MIT put on the scoreboard was the most since its 48-15 win against Western New England in 2008. John C. Wenzel ’14 passed for 224 yards, and Justin R. Wallace ’15 started his collegiate career with an impressive 170 rushing yards; the young duo created a foundation for a strong, balanced attack. Offense wasn’t the only outstanding aspect MIT displayed during the game. The Engineers shut out Becker for the first three quarters, only allowing 74 rushing yards.
Overview of this year’s Patriots
After being knocked out in the first round of the playoffs the last two seasons, the Patriots hope to return to their championship-winning mode that fans have become familiar with over the last several years. Although many of the former Patriot stars who were a vital part of their championship teams are now either retired or on other teams — defensive backs Ty Law and Asante Samuel, safety Rodney Harrison, linebackers Tedy Bruschi and Mike Vrabel, running back Corey Dillon, and wide receiver Troy Brown — the Patriots still show promise for this upcoming season.
Tennis sweeps opener MIT women easily beat Smith College, 9-0
The MIT Women’s Varsity Tennis team swept in their first meet of the fall season with a 9-0 official score against Smith College. In doubles, returning athletes Lauren C. Quisenberry ’14 and Stasey Vishnevetsky ’12 were off the court first with a speedy 8-1 victory at first doubles. Soon to follow were Julia C. Hsu ’14 and, in her first varsity match, Michelle M. Dutt ’15 with another 8-1 win at second doubles. No doubles players fell to Smith as third doubles team Vynnie J. Kong ’15 and Juana Becerra ’15 won 8-4. In unofficial doubles play, Engineers Alexandria C. Hall ’12 and Hillary E. Jenny ’12, as well as and Caitlin R. Pomeroy ’13 and Maddie B. Aby ’15, experienced victories of their own.
YOUR NEW HOME TEAM State of the Red Sox
Editor’s Note: Welcome to Boston! Since Beantown’s professional sports teams are such an integral part of its culture, we’re presenting an insider’s view — history, current state, and future expectations — of each of them. The first installment in the series, originally published last fall but updated for 2011, features … the Red Sox, of course.
SPORTS SHORTS
After helping lead the MIT field hockey team to a pair of convincing wins to open the season, Kameron L. Klauber ’12 was named NEWMAC Offensive Player of the Week on Monday. Klauber scored 11 points in two games, making four goals and assisting on three more.
Spielbauer and Schulte open fall season strong
The MIT women’s volleyball team opened its season by winning all four matches en route to a first place finish at the Regis College Pride Invitational held this past weekend. Katie K. Spielbauer ’13 was named the Tournament MVP while Kelly E. Schulte ’12 earned All-Tournament team honors.
Sports Shorts
The MIT Triathlon Club traveled to Lake George, N.Y., last weekend to compete in the first Northeast Collegiate Triathlon Conference (NECTC) race of their season. Race directors had canceled the previous weekend’s triathlon due to damage from Tropical Storm Irene. Several team members placed in the Olympic-distance race, which consisted of a 0.9-mile swim, 24.8-mile bike, and a 6.2-mile run. Shaena R. Berlin ’13 took third place in the female NECTC omnium with a time of 2 hours, 39 minutes. Samuel M. Nicaise G powered through to the finish with a speedy time of 2:25, and Zachary W. Ulissi G came in third out of 60 collegiate racers on the bike section with an impressive average of 23 mph. The club will continue to race nearly every weekend through the rest of the season, which culminates at the Mighty Man Conference Championships in Montauk, N.Y., on Oct. 1.
JAMES SERDY
Seventy-one-year-old James G. Serdy has been rowing with the MIT Rowing Club for the past four years. In addition to working at the Laboratory for Manufacturing and Productivity, he wakes up to go rowing on the Charles from 6–8 a.m. every morning. James has “always been fascinated to watch the art of rowing,” he said.
Hockey, tennis, soccer: Summer 2011 in sports
This past summer was an eventful time in professional sports. From the French Open in June to the PGA Championship in August, champions were crowned in everything from tennis to soccer to golf. Here’s a summary of some of the notable results from the past three months.
New student athletes storm the fields (and pool)
While many freshmen are out exploring the history of Boston or creating soccer playing robots with their FPOPs, new varsity sports players and the rest of their teams are putting their skills to the test and getting into serious shape for the tough season ahead of them. The Tech was able to catch a few fall season varsity sports at practice and visit with some incoming freshmen.
SPORTS SHORTS
The MIT Women’s Tennis team will begin its 2011-12 season on Sept. 10 when it travels to Smith College for a match that will also begin NEWMAC Conference play for the Engineers, who finished the 2010-11 season ranked No. 22 in Division III. It will begin a fall season for MIT that includes a full slate of NEWMAC matches as well as the Conference Championships in October.
Sports Shorts
MIT’s Jack Barry Field is under construction that is expected to be completed in the first week of August. After 12 seasons of use of the current surface, a new synthetic surface will be installed. The facility is not only used by MIT’s field hockey team, but is also used by the entire MIT community. Students, faculty, and alumni can often be found playing lacrosse, soccer, and other sports on the field in the evening. Improvements on the field will not only include the new synthetic surface, but also a new walkway, safety netting, sound system, and lighting for use in the evenings.