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A look back at the year in Bulldog sports: the 2000-01 varsity wrap-up
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FALL Cross Country
Men's Coach: Dan Ireland
Men's Captain: Alexis Surovov, SM '02
The Elis finished a a disappointing eighth place under the helm of Ireland in his first year as coach. The 2001 season will be difficult without the presence of star runner Rob Doyle, DC '01, who ended his career finishing eighth at the Ivy League Championships, earning second-team All-Ivy honors, and leading the Bulldogs to a victory in the Harvard-Yale-Princeton (HYP) meet. Ireland will have to rely on next year's sophomores and a strong recruiting class to rebuild the program.
Women's Coach: Mark Young, ES '68
Women's Captain: Milligan Grinstead, TC '02
The Bulldogs avenged their disappointing finish last year in fashion, winning the HYP meet, placing first in the Ivy League, and finishing seventh at the NCAA Championships. Laura O'Neill, TC '03, capped off an impressive season earning first-team All-Ivy status. Returning runners and a strong recruiting class will further improve the team.
FIeld Hockey
Coach: Ainslee Press-Lamb
Captain: Caroline Thompson, CC '02
Women's field hockey struggled at the beginning of the season, opening with a 10-game losing streak, although two of their losses came at the hands of powerhouses Virginia and Duke. Late in the season, the Bulldogs bounced back with two crucial wins against Columbia and Penn, earning them a seventh place finish in the Ivy League. Anne Rippetoe, TD '01, ended her career with second-team All-Ivy honors and a total of 21 assists, ranking her third all-time at Yale. Despite the loss of Rippetoe, the Bulldogs will have Goalie Krissy Nesburg, SM '04, who led the league in saves and is an alternate on the under-21 national team. The Elis will try to rebound next year with a more experienced coach and new recruits.
Football
Coach: Jack Siedlecki
Captain: Tim Penna, BK '02
The 2000 Bulldogs, after a 1999 victory in the HYP contest and a share of the Ivy Title, could not match their incredible run this year, finishing third in the Ivy League with a record of 7-3 (4-3 Ivy). Nevertheless, the Bulldogs triumphed over Harvard in The Game. Nine players received All-Ivy honors and two received Academic All-american status. Siedlecki, however, will need to rely on incoming captain Penna to lead a young squad of underclassmen to a strong finish because the Bulldogs will be losing 24 seniors. Among these players are the all-time leading placekicker, a receiver who broke the Ivy League's single game record for receptions, and the school's all-time interception leader.
Soccer
Men's Coach: Brian Tompkins
Men's Captain: Brian Lavin, PC '02
Men's soccer finished 9-7-1 (4-3-0 Ivy), and avenged last year's loss to Princeton to earn the Bulldogs a fourth place finish in the Ivy League. The Bulldogs placed three members on the All-Ivy team: Jay Alberts, SY '03, Brian Lavin, PC '02, and Stuart Yingst, BK '03. However, the Bulldogs will lose Captain Danny Moss, MC '01, the goalie and team leader. Coach Tompkins will be relying on his three All-Ivies to lead the team next year.
Women's Coach: Rudy Meredith
Women's Captain: Sara Ruiz, DC '02
The women's team began the season with high hopes and goals of an NCAA berth, exploding to a 3-0-1 record, only to follow with three consecutive, dream-crushing losses. The team struggled through the remainder of the season and ended with a 9-7-1 (3-4-0 Ivy) record, placing fifth in the Ivy League. The Bulldogs will be losing five seniors, including Captain Jennifer Mendoza, BR '01, a stalwart defender whom Coach Meredith cited as an incredible leader for her younger teammates. Next year, Meredith will look to Ruiz to lead a young team as well as rely upon the Chandra King, TD '03, the Bulldogs' leading scorer and a member of the All-Ivy first team.
Volleyball
Coach: Peg Scofield
Captain: Carissa Abbott, SM '02
Peg Scofield, the winningest coach in Yale history, returned for her 17th year with the volleyball team. After a mediocre start to the 2000 season, the daughters of Eli exploded with nine straight shutout wins. The Bulldogs later followed this feat with a five-game winning streak heading into the Ivy championships, before falling to Princeton in the semifinals and placing fourth in the Ivy League. Stephanie McMahon, TC '01, ended her illustrious career earning a spot on the All-Ivy first team.
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WINTER
Basketball
Men's Coach: James Jones
Men's Captain: Ime Archibong, TD '03
The men's basketball team finished 10-17 (7-7 Ivy) in its second year under Head Coach James Jones. Entering the final weekend of the season, the Bulldogs had an outside chance of winning the Ivy title, raising fans' hopes for some tournament action, but consecutive losses to league rivals Penn, Princeton, and Brown ended their NCAA dreams. Even with the loss of second team All-Ivy selection Neil Yanke, MC '01, the 2002 Bulldogs should contend for the Ivy title under the leadership of Archibong and 2001 leading scorer Chris Leanza, SY '03.
Women's Coach: Amy Backus
Women's Captain: Meg Simpson, SY '02
After vast improvement in their first season under Head Coach Amy Backus, the Bulldogs took a step back in 2001, finishing 9-18 (4-10 Ivy). Despite seven consecutive losses to open their Ivy campaign, the team rebounded to finish an impressive 4-3 in its final seven league games, and hopes to parlay its late season success into a strong 2002 season. The Elis return their two leading scorers in Maria Smear, SM '03, and Helene Schutrumpf, BK '03, and Captain Simpson should step up in the absence of front court starters Alyson Miller, JE '01, and Lily Glick, ES '01.
Fencing
Coach: Henry Harutunian
Men's Captain: Cameron Hill, TD '02
Women's Captain: Zane Selkirk, PC '04
The men's team suffered from a lack of experience this season, with only two seniors on a fairly large squad. Young fencers were forced to step up, and Daniel Senft, PC '03, performed brilliantly in the foil, finishing in the top eight at the NCAA championships. With more exposure to tournament competition and with the return of Peter Cellini, DC '04, from illness, Yale's male fencers should be far more competitive next season.
The women's team was also dominated by youth, but the green female fencers adjusted far more quickly to college competition. The Elis finished second in the Ivy League, dropping the deciding match to Princeton in the last week of the season. Sada Jacobson, MC '04, won the women's sabre at the NCAAs in her rookie season at Yale. Sophie Jones, DC '03, Jacobson and Selkirk will lead a very competitive team next season.
Gymnastics
Coach: Barbara Tonry
Captain: Caroline Pignatelli, DC '02
Yale enjoyed its most successful season in recent memory, as the team destroyed archrival Penn en route to the Ivy championship. Yale's gymnasts also claimed the first place trophy in the ECAC championships, only to lose it three weeks later when officials discovered a scoring error in favor of second place William and Mary. Yale sent a school record three gymnasts to the NCAA regionals, as Andrea Wolf, JE '03, Jennifer Gold, TD '03, and Jamie Green,TD '04, competed individually in the all-around competition. With nearly all of its talent returning next season, the Bulldogs should again be a force in the Ivy League.
Hockey
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Men's Captain: Luke Earl, JE '02
The Bulldogs opened their season with unexpected victories against nationally ranked Boston College and University of New Hampshire, but failed to meet early season expectations, finishing a disappointing 14-16-1. The team claimed eighth in the ECAC regular season and was eliminated by Harvard in the quarter-finals of the conference tournament. Jeff Hamilton, SM '01, returned from an injury to lead the team in scoring, and garnered first team All-America honors. With the loss of Hamilton and 2000-'01 captain Ben Stafford, BR '01, the Bulldogs must look for new scorers to step up in 2002.
Women's Coach: John Marchetti
Women's Captain: Kathleen Hirte, SM '02
The Lady Bulldogs struggled through this season, finishing 3-23-2 and an abysmal 12th in the ECAC. Lisa Meyers, SY '01, leaves as the third leading goal scorer in Yale history with a remarkable 40 in her career. Another bumper crop of incoming freshman should help the Bulldogs to improve on their performance in 2001.
Squash
Men's Coach: David Talbott
Men's Captain: Peter Grote, SM '02
With its first victory against rival Princeton in over two years, the men's squash team claimed third place at the national championships. The Elis' three regular season losses came at the hands of Trinity, Harvard, and Princeton, the nation's three highest rated teams. The win against Princeton was an ideal end for the team's seven departing seniors, and Yale hopes to rebuild quickly under Grote.
Women's Coach: Mark Talbott
Women's Captain: Miriam Fishman, MC '02
Under the leadership of captain and honorable mention All-American Catherine Fiederowicz, DC '01, women's squash finished seventh at the national championship Howe Cup. Lopsided losses to rivals Harvard, Princeton, and Trinity tainted an otherwise strong season for the Bulldogs, who should again challenge for a championship in 2002.
Swimming and Diving
Coach: Frank Keefe
Men's Captain: Patrick Dennis, BK '02
Women's Captain: Emily Fain, DC '02
The men's team rode the coattails of captain George Gleason, TC '01, a 2000 Olympian who garnered All-American honors with his 11th place finish in the 200-meter backstroke. The Bulldogs finished the regular season 9-3, but lost to both Harvard and Princeton and claimed only sixth at the ECAC championships. With the loss of Gleason, the Bulldogs must rely exclusively on young talent next season.
The women's team finished third in the Ivy League and compiled a 10-2 regular season record. Meredith Bryarly, BR '01, was named the outstanding swimmer of the ECAC meet with victories in both the 50- and 100-meter freestyle. Though Bryarly will graduate, Yale will look to diver Bates Gregory, BR '03, and captain Fain to lead next year's team.
SPRING
Baseball
Coach: John Stuper
Captain: Craig Breslow, CC '02
The Bulldogs improved significantly from last season but still struggled, finishing 12-22 (6-14 Ivy). Pitchers Breslow and John Steitz, CC '02, were named the team's co-MVPs, as both were ranked in the NCAA top 20 in strikeouts per nine innings. Though Steitz will be drafted this summer and may turn pro, Breslow will return to anchor a team that should improve through experience.
Crew
Men's Heavyweight Coach: David Vogel
Men's Heavyweight Captain: TBA
The Bulldogs started their season with a strong showing at the President's Cup Regatta. In the home opener, the rowers cruised to victory over Dartmouth. The team's most impressive finish came when it beat Boston University by 18 seconds in a race. Overall, the Elis finished 4-2 (3-2 Ivy) and earned a sixth place finish at the EARC Sprints.
Men's Lightweight Coach: Andrew Card
Men's Lightweight Captain: Ian Malloch, SM '02
As defending 2000 national and Henley Regatta champions, the men's lightweight crew team had a tough act to follow at the start of its spring 2001 season. However, the Bulldogs continued to dominate their opponents on the water, capturing five cups and finishing with a record of 9-0 (6-0 Ivy). Near the end of the season, the team finished first at the EARC Sprints where it beat Dartmouth by two seconds in the final heat.
Women's Coach: Will Porter
Women's Captain: TBA
With a record of 6-3 (5-2 Ivy), the women's crew team managed to capture various cups during the spring season. Yale took home the Connell Cup with victories over Penn and Columbia. The Bulldogs also captured the Yale Class of 1985 Cup after beating Boston University and Dartmouth and the Case Cup after beating Radcliffe. At the EAWRC Sprints in May, the Elis finished in sixth place.
Golf
Men's Coach: David Paterson
Men's Captain: Chris Eckerle, BR '02
The men's team took 3rd in the Ivy League Championships and 2nd in the New England Championships to earn its fifth bid to the NCAA Regionals in six seasons. The team will lose Louis Aurelio, MC '01, who won the individual title at the Ivies, but will rely on Eckerle and Nate Mickelson, SY '02, to fill the void. Eckerle claimed first place at the New Englands and took home the Ivy title as a freshman, while Mickelson garnered third place at the Yale Spring Opener.
Women's Coach: Mary Moan
Women's Captain: TBA
Yale capped its fall season by finishing second in the ECAC Championship. In the spring, four Bulldog golfers finished in the top 10 as Yale claimed second in the Ivy League Championship. The favored Elis fell nine strokes short of eventual champion Princeton. Jenny Schriefer, DC '02, and Sarah Seo, TD '02, who finished third and fifth, respectively, will lead a team that returns most of its talent and will seek to reclaim the Ivy title next season.
Lacrosse
Men's Coach: Mike Waldvogel
Men's Captain: Tucker Foote, TC '02
Even with the nation's most difficult schedule, the Bulldogs failed to meet preseason expectations, finishing 6-7 overall and 3-3 in the Ivy League. A devastating overtime loss to Brown early in the season dashed the team's NCAA hopes. Brian Hunt, TD '02, whose 4.46 points per game ranked him third in the NCAA, claimed New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Player of the Year. With the return of most of their scoring power, the Bulldogs should challenge for the conference crown next season.
Women's Coach: Amanda O'Leary
Women's Captain: TBA
The Elis, ranked in the top 10 nationally for much of the season, finishing 10-6 (5-2 Ivy). Miles Whitman, BK '04, claimed Ivy League Rookie of the Year after a 35-goal, 40- point freshman season. With Whitman and two-time All-Ivy selection Megan Strenski, MC '02, leading the way, Yale will only improve from last season's solid performance.
Softball
Coach: Andy Van Etten
Captain: Laura Beckert, TC '03
After playing in a competitive Ivy League Conference, softball finished its season with a record of 7-7, including key wins over Brown and Columbia. Overall, the team finished 24-21 in non-conference play, with wins over Army and Holy Cross. Third baseman Jesseka Bartholomew, ES '03, led the team in batting with an average of 3.26. Pitcher Cara Denver, SM '02, maintained a 2.35 ERA to finish the season 9-10 on the mound.
Tennis
Men's Coach: Alex Dorato
Men's Captain: TBA
With the return of Gabe Goldstein, DC '02, from injury and Steve Berke, MC '03, from the professional circuit, the men's tennis team set their sights for the Ivy title. After exploding to a 10-game winning streak to begin their season, including a spectacular 4-3 win over New Mexico State, injuries and crucial Ivy losses ended the Bulldogs hope for an Ivy title. The Bulldogs' finished seventh in the Ivy League with a 9-12 (2-5 Ivy) record. The Bulldogs will be losing captain Greg Royce, SY '01, a second team All-Ivy pick, and two other seniors, putting added pressure on Berke, Yale's number-one player.
Women's Coach: Meghan McMahon
Women's Captain: TBA
Women's tennis finished 15-8 (3-4 Ivy), placing sixth in the Ivy league. After a close finish with Cornell last year, the Bulldogs swept every match against the Big Red this season, pulling off an impressive 7-0 win. The women's team will only be losing two seniors next year. However, they must find a way to replace Cynthia Obstinik, ES '01, a pivotal player on this year's team. Nonetheless, with the bulk of the 2001 squad returning and a fresh crop of recruits, the future looks bright for the women's team.
Track
Men's Coach: Mark Young, ES '68
Men's Captain: TBA
During the indoor season, men's track finished a disappointing seventh place. In a bright moment, Rob Doyle, DC '01, broke the school record in the 5,000-meter race. Under the direction of the new men's track coach, Mark Young, ES '68, who took the position after David Shoehalter stepped down last year, the team looked to avenge their disappointing indoor season. In a century-old rivalry, the Bulldogs teamed up with Harvard to defeat a combined Oxford/Cambridge squad. At the Heptagonal Championships, Yale finished fifth out of nine teams behind Princeton, Penn, Cornell, and Brown. Jason Rife, SM '01, won the 400-meter sprint and Thomas Hocker, PC '02, won the 400-meter hurdles.
Women's Coach: Mark Young, ES '68
Women's Captain: TBA
Women's track had a successful spring regular season, coming from behind to place second at the Heptagonal Championships, only five points behind Brown. The Bulldogs avenged an earlier, substantial defeat to Harvard. Kate O'Neill, TD '03, won the 5,000-meter race and placed second in the 3,000-meter race. In the 10,000-meter race, Laura O'Neill, TC '03, was victorious at the Heps. The team finished ninth at the ECAC championships.
Compiled by Kenny Hammond, Rachel Luberda, and Kevin Tran.
All materials © 2001 The Yale Herald, Inc., and its staff.
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