Harvard Varsity Club Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction class of 2020

Harvard Athletic Achievements

• Earned All-America honors in both singles and doubles as a senior by reaching the semifinals of the NCAA Championships in both events
• 7-time NCAA Championships qualifier in singles (2005, 2004, 2003, 2002) and doubles (2005, 2004, 2002)
• Region I ITA Senior Player of the Year and Ivy League Player of the Year (2005)
• Region I ITA Rookie of the Year and Ivy League Rookie of the Year (2002)
• 7-time All-Ivy League first team in singles (2005, 2004, 2003, 2002) and doubles (2005, 2004, 2002), 1-time All-Ivy League second team in doubles (2003)
• Led Harvard to 2 Ivy League Championships (2004, 2003) and 3 NCAA Championships appearances (2004, 2003, 2002)
• Team captain (2005)

Remembering Harvard Athletics

Words cannot adequately describe how integral a part Harvard Athletics played in my overall college experience and subsequently in my life. Ironically, as I reflect back on those four years that flew by in the blink of an eye, I have countless unforgettable memories and recall the building blocks and solidification of numerous lifelong friendships and relationships. It is no secret: the scholar athlete’s path to success is paved with incredible hard work, discipline, commitment and sacrifice. It is an investment in one’s self and ability with no immediate guarantees other than putting in the time and hard work increases the probability of a positive outcome. For me, I gave my all to Harvard Athletics, and I loved every bit of it. As it turns out, and unbeknownst to us all at the time, all that hard work and sacrifice continues to pay dividends and be rewarding even today.

Unlike most of the 42 sports and teams Harvard boasts, tennis is a very individual sport. I grew up in New York City and we could barely field a full tennis team and did not even have our own home tennis courts in high school. It was only by the time I arrived at Harvard that I really learned what it really took and meant to be on a team, and infinitely more importantly what exactly it meant to be the best teammate, and eventual leader and captain. Through countless practices and multi-practice days, fitness and weight training sessions at the Murr Center, team dinners in the dining halls and on the road, and extensive travel and competition, my teammates became my brothers. Suiting up in the same Crimson uniforms and sweating, bleeding and celebrating the highs and lows on the same courts forged a brotherhood that will forever bond us. I have always played hard for myself and my partners but I found gears I never knew existed when I was beside my teammates in doubles and singles action. Playing for the “Big H” was one thing; battling beside and on behalf of my brothers was another. I thrived in the pressure of wanting to perform and succeed for my team. What a sense of exhilaration! The pressure that cracks the fainthearted challenged me to dig deeper to find an extra boost to get across the finish line victoriously. I lived our victories and took our defeats on the chin as well. The loyal and steadfast commitment to one another is the foundation for many friendships that remain as strong today as they did so many years ago.

Competition reveals much about athletes and competitors. How they handle victories and more importantly how they handle defeat. In my younger days I never fully appreciated the significance of how each day was part of a process and served as a building block and piece of the mosaic that is my life today. Success is built upon many things and there is no shortage of literature or philosophy on what it takes to be “great” or “successful” on and off the court.

The Harvard scholar-athlete is a distinction and honor. Balancing the demands and rigors of both academics and athletics requires the extreme focus, commitment, dedication, prioritization, compartmentalization and of course resilience. Legendary Coach Dave Fish always preached that we needed to learn how to shift our mindset and focus whenever we crossed the Charles River. The ability to change gears and maintain the consistent commitment to excellence yielded the ultimate outcome which was to “go to the showers clean.” Perhaps the most important lessons a coach can teach you are off the court and outside the arenas. The athlete’s character, integrity, and honesty are absolute necessities to achieve scholarly excellence as well as athletic achievement. We are scholar-athletes from Harvard, and the triumphs and tragedies of those precious four years mold us all in countless ways and perhaps most importantly shape who we are as people and for the rest of our lives. It is ultimately a gift that lasts a lifetime and for that I am eternally grateful.

Harvard Athletic Achievements

• 2-time Patty Kazmaier Award Top-10 finalist (2005, 2004)
• 3-time All-America second team (2005, 2004, 2002)
• ECAC Hockey Player of the Year (2005) and Rookie of the Year (2002)
• Sarah Devens Award Winner (2005) as the ECAC Hockey student-athlete who best demonstrates leadership and commitment both on- and off-the-ice
• 3-time All-ECAC Hockey selection (2005 first team, 2004 first team, 2002 second team) and 2-time All-ECAC Hockey All-Tournament Team (2005, 2004)
• 2-time All-Ivy League first team (2005, 2004)
• Beanpot Hall of Fame (2012) inductee and Beanpot MVP (2005)
• Mary G. Paget Prize recipient as the member of the Class of 2005 who contributed the most to women’s athletics
• Ranks third in career goals (150), fourth in points (265), and seventh in assists (115)
• Ranks first in program history for points (12) and goals (8) scored in the NCAA Tournament, and third in assists (4)
• Owns NCAA records for goals in a game (6), points in a game (10), goals in a season (59), goals per game average (1.64), and power play goals in a season (24)
• Led Harvard to 3-consecutive NCAA Championship Game appearances (2005, 2004, 2003)
• 2-time ECAC Tournament champion (2005, 2004), 3-time ECAC regular season champion (2005, 2004, 2003), 2-time Ivy League champion (2005, 2003), and 4-time Beanpot champion (2005, 2004, 2003, 2002)
• Team captain (2005)

Remembering Harvard Athletics

It’s an honour to be inducted into the Harvard Varsity Club Hall of Fame, especially in the company of the other incredible members of the Class of 2005, as well as the many accomplished individuals that preceded us. I am in awe of the people I had the privilege of sharing my time at Harvard with and have consistently been inspired by them since the moment I stepped on campus.

Growing up, I always wanted to go to Harvard. I will never forget the feeling I felt in High School, when I had the chance to visit the school and tour the campus, of how strongly I wanted this dream to come true, while simultaneously feeling it was next to impossible. The day I got my acceptance letter was one of the happiest days of my life.

As it turns out, everything I had dreamed my Harvard experience to be, paled in comparison to the incredible 4 years that I spent here. The people I met, the memories we shared, the opportunities I had, represented some of the best years of my life that I will cherish forever. I was 17 years old when I first stepped on campus, turning 18 a few months later. I was young, impressionable and naïve. If I thrived, it was because of the people I was so blessed to be surrounded by, whose influence helped me strive to be the best version of myself.

I am forever grateful to Coach Stone, who recruited me, believed in me, challenged me, and above all else, fostered the incredible culture and family dynamic within the Harvard Hockey program. Coach Stone recruited people, not hockey players, and she helped us develop not just as athletes but as human beings. To this day, I speak regularly with my Harvard Hockey family, including women that I never played with, but who are still some of my dearest friends. The values that she impressed on us were so important to me at the time and still serve me today.

My Harvard Hockey family is comprised of some of the most incredible women I have ever had the chance to encounter, in my life (and I come from a family of strong and formidable women!) I remember my recruiting trip and how almost instantly, I felt at home with the team. As a freshman, I was so intimidated when I first got to Harvard, worried I wasn’t smart enough or talented enough to be there. I missed my family, and was adjusting to living so far away from them. Once I met my teammates, almost instantly, my fears and doubts subsided.

On the ice, my teammates pushed me to develop into a better hockey player, whether it was competing in practice or in the weight room, doing extra training, talking me through some slumps and ruts, and being the best hype squad during the high moments.

Off the ice, each person was brilliant in her own unique way. My teammates were also some of the funniest people I have ever met. I think fondly of our little inside jokes, the long bus trips back from road games, late night skates, our fine sessions, making any excuse to have a celebration, and the long list of ‘Stonerisms’ and other sayings that only we found funny. Beyond our time at Harvard, however, I am so blessed to have my teammates continue to be so actively in my life and I in theirs. I love that we can continue our friendships, and to share life with one another. It is a testament to this school and this Hockey Program and the wonderful community that it cultivates.

I had 4 incredible roommates at Harvard (and Sproulie). Living with Ashley, Kat, Kelly and Kate – (and Sproulie) was such a joy. I am so grateful for the laughter and support of each of you. I think fondly of our nights at the Kong, Monday nights watching 24, hosting team gatherings in our dorm, long lunches at Levs dining hall, and lazy days lounging in DHAs. You are all so special and the only thing better than the time we spent together is continuing to share a wonderful friendship with each of you today.

I am so blessed to have supportive family. My Uncle Rocky has been a mentor and supporter of me since I was young. I started working at his law firm at the age of 16 and he inspired me to be a lawyer. He was a big reason I could go to Harvard, My Aunt Adrianna was with me on the first weekend I moved into my freshman dorm, and came out to visit several times a year thereafter. Their visits to Boston to watch me play were always so memorable, and everyone on the team always knew when they were in town, by the group of loud Italians dressed in all black, screaming every time I touched the puck.

My sister Jennifer was my hero growing up. She was a perfect student, incredible athlete, popular at school. She set a high bar for me and our brother Joseph. I wanted to be like her in so many ways (which is why I would always steal her clothes without telling her). She inspired me when I was young and still inspires me to this day with the woman she is.

My brother Joseph has always been my best friend. Growing up we did everything together (partially by choice, partially for the convenience of our mother). His unconditional support meant everything to me. We shot pucks together, worked out together, played hockey together and always looked out for one another. Even now, though we live on other sides of the country, nothing has changed, and it means so much to that love and support, no matter how far apart we are.

Most of all, I am forever grateful for my incredible parents. Everything I’ve been able to achieve has been the direct result of the support, sacrifice, (tough) love and guidance of Nick and Mary Jo Corriero. I was taught by them, from a very young age, that I could do anything and be anything, so long as I was prepared to put in the necessary work. I was entitled to nothing, but capable of earning anything. I look back at the countless times this was reinforced by them over my life and am overwhelmed with gratitude to them for this.

My mother was, and is, the rock of our family and the engine that propels all of us forward. When I was 10 years old, my mom bought me a Harvard T-Shirt, and put the idea in my head that maybe I could go to this school. Many people around me told me that I wasn’t smart enough, that I had no chance of getting in. My mother never let me believe those people. Instead she pushed me to challenge myself academically and get the best grades I could.

My dad instilled the values of hard work and the power of persistence. He put plywood up over the walls in the basement and set up a mini shooting range so we could shoot pucks every morning (including Christmas morning). He would practice with me for hours on end, even after a long day at work. If I told him about a goal of mine that to most, seemed unreachable, he would sit down with me and help me figure out what I could best do to achieve that goal.

As an adult, I have even a greater appreciation for what my parents had to do to allow me to live my dreams. Mom and Dad, thank you for all you have done, and all you continue to do, for me and for all of your children. Words cannot describe how much I love you both and how thankful I am for you.

For the rest of my life I will always think fondly of the years I spent here at Harvard and the people I had the chance to spend it with. It means so much to me to be included in the HVC Hall of Fame Class of 2020, and to have the chance to spend some time with and express my gratitude to the people that helped shape not only those four years, but the person I am today. I am humbled by the honour and grateful to everyone who was such a large part in making it happen. Thank you to the Harvard Varsity Club, including Bob and Taryn, for ensuring we had an in person event and not some lame zoom ceremony, and for being so forgiving with your due dates for this essay. Most of all, thank you for giving all of us old washed up athletes a chance to relive our glory days with the people we love.

Harvard Athletic Achievements

• Ivy League Player of the Year (2005) and Rookie of the Year (2002)
• 4-time All-Ivy League first team (2005, 2004, 2003, 2002)
• Ivy League All-Rookie Team (2002)
• Earned Team MVP (2005) and Best Defensive Player (2003) honors
• Harvard-Radcliffe Foundation for Women’s Athletics Prize recipient as the top female scholar-athlete in the Class of 2005
• Ranks second in career steals (234), third in points (1,863), scoring average (17.4), field goals (610), free throws (427), and steals per game (2.4), fifth in blocks (122) and blocks per game (1.2), eighth in rebounds (769) and offensive rebounds (206), ninth in defensive rebounds (486) and rebounds per game (7.2)
• Academic All-American (2005) and 3-time Academic All-District (2005 first team, 2004 first team, 2003 second team)Led Harvard to 3 Ivy League Championships (2005, 2003, 2002) and back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances (2003, 2002)
• Team captain (2005)
• Played 4 seasons professionally in Europe where she was a 2-time Hungarian champion and Hungarian Cup winner (2013, 2007), EuroLeague Women’s All-Star (2007), and Player of the Year in Hungary (2007)
• 53-time member of the Hungarian National Team

Remembering Harvard Athletics

It is a great honor to be inducted into the Harvard Varsity Club Hall of Fame. I am grateful for this occasion because it has given me the opportunity to slow down and go back in time a bit and reflect on my time with Harvard Basketball and how I got there.

I am forever grateful to my family, my coaches, my teammates and my mentors, without whom I would not be receiving this award. My Mom always worked hard to support me in all aspects of life and taught me to set high standards. My brother was always there for me to support and protect his little sister. My coaches saw my dedication and the hard work I put in every practice and did everything they could to make me a better player. And my teammates: they are the reason I fell in love with basketball, because without them I would not have had the opportunity to be in the flow every time I stepped on the court.

When I was a sophomore in high school, I started thinking about applying to college in the United States. The reason was simple: I wanted to study in a high quality educational system while still playing basketball competitively. This was not possible in Hungary, where the educational and athletic systems are not aligned. When I decided to move to the United States for college, I had one goal in mind: to get into the best possible institution of higher education. That's how I got in touch with Kathy Delaney-Smith, who fortunately wasn't afraid of the challenges of international recruitment. By the time I had to fill out the application forms, I felt Harvard would be a good fit for me and ended up just applying here. In hindsight, it was a very risky decision and I would do things differently today, but I didn't think about it then. In fact, I knew very little at the time about the American college system in general, and Ivy League basketball in particular. This is reflected in what I wrote in my first introductory email to my prospective freshman roommate: "I will be a member of the college basketball team. I hope I will play."

I learned a lot playing basketball at Harvard. These things still shape my personality and my everyday life. The supportive environment helped me to build my confidence and to be myself. It became ingrained in me that you can have fun even while working hard – in fact, it's really the only way to do it. I was shaped daily by the competitive atmosphere of the practices, where my coaches and teammates did everything to force me do my best every single day, and we had fun in the process. I can still remember the 12-in-12’s we ran in the first practice after Christmas every year, the fear of it before and the good feeling afterwards. I loved the early morning individual training sessions with Stacey Connors, who managed to put a smile on my face no matter how tired I was. And during the conversations with my teammates in the locker room, we often discussed what we had learned in class that day – it opened up the world to me because I could learn about things that were far from my chosen subjects.

Overall, my experience with Harvard Basketball has shaped my life in ways I never expected. I can only hope that my son Andris and my nieces Anna and Kata will have the opportunity to find a place like Harvard has been for me: a place where they feel at home, where the world opens up to them, and where they can grow and develop.

Harvard Athletic Achievements

• Hobey Baker Award finalist (2005)
• All-American (2005 second team)
• All-ECAC Hockey (2005 second team)
• All-District (2005 first team)
• John Tudor Memorial Cup (2005) winner as the most valuable member of the Harvard hockey team, determined not by ability alone, but by the qualities of sportsmanship, leadership and team cooperation
• Ranks first in career save percentage (.924), saves (3,081), shutouts (11), games (114), and minutes (6,811), second in wins (63), and third in goals against average (2.25)
• Helped Harvard to 2 ECAC Hockey Tournament Championships (2004, 2002) and 4-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances (2005, 2004, 2003, 2002)
• Academic All-American (2005 third team)

Remembering Harvard Athletics

The two foundational elements of who I am as a person are athletics and education. Harvard allowed me to pursue both, at the highest level, and to tap into the amazing resources the university has to offer. But aside from this, my time at Harvard taught me humility and service. The remarkable individuals in the classroom and on the playing field humbled me every day. Their talent and passion for academics, sports, and life was truly inspiring. The cornerstone of Harvard athletics is service to your teammates to accomplish a common goal. My time at school hammered into me the pride in wearing the uniform and the need to support my fellow players on and off the ice.

As any Harvard athlete will tell you, your experience is defined by your teammates. I was fortunate to have teammates and friends who made coming to the rink every day worthwhile. There were bad days, hard days, and days after losses that were difficult to overcome. Your teammates were the ones who helped you through those challenging times. Competing on the Men’s Ice Hockey team made winning that much better because we accomplished it together and it made losing just a bit more tolerable because we were there to pick each other up off the mat. Camaraderie and service to each other is at the core of Harvard hockey

Which brings us to today. I will never be able to give back what my teammates and the program have given me and I am so thankful for all the experiences, opportunities, and friendships that Harvard Athletics has given me.

Harvard Athletic Achievements

• 3-time All-American (2005 first team, 2004 first team, 2003 second team)
• 3-time All-Ivy League (2005 first team, 2004 first team, 2003 second team)
• Ranks second in career home runs (27), third in RBI (132), and ninth in hits (170)
• Led Harvard to 2 Ivy League championships (2005, 2002), 3 Rolfe Division championships (2005, 2003, 2002), and 2 NCAA Tournament appearances (2005, 2002)
• Team captain (2005)

Remembering Harvard Athletics

When I was in high school and playing American Legion baseball during the summer before senior year, I received the first few of my college recruiting letters, including one from Dartmouth. I had never considered myself Ivy League material, and I was even more skeptical when Coach Barbarotta told me that before long, I’d be hearing from other Ivies including Harvard. For someone I looked up to quite a bit, I was beginning to seriously question his judgment.

By the Fall of senior year of high school, not only was my coach correct, but I also found myself with the opportunity to play a baseball game at my home field of Trumbull High School in Trumbull, Connecticut (Go Eagles!), with Harvard Head Coach Joe Walsh and Assistant Coach Matt Hyde in the stands. It was a good day, and enough to make an impression on my soon-to-be new coaches. Toward the end of my Harvard career, Coach Walsh asked if I remembered that Fall day and shared that he knew he had found his new starting catcher for the next four years. I’m not sure how true that was, but I’m pretty sure I had a great game after he told me that.

To those coaches, my parents and friends who believed in me and invested themselves in my success, I am eternally thankful. You opened the doors to the most amazing of all opportunities – to be a Harvard graduate. To this day it’s an experience I carry with me, that shapes who I am and what I believe myself capable of. I am so honored to be able to include this induction into the Harvard Varsity Club Hall of Fame as part of my story, am humbled by the recognition and want to thank all those influential forces and friends along the way.

Thank you, first, to my Harvard Coaches. The late Joe Walsh had a passion for the game that I will always admire and will continue to pursue in my own endeavors. Coach Hyde’s concern for hustle, hard work and showing up on time with maximum effort has stayed with me. Thank you to Coach Donovan for the juiciest batting practice pitches and confidence boost ahead of our biggest games. Thanks also to Brad Quigley and the Harvard training staff for keeping us healthy and for the fun and calming presence in our dugout.

From the days leading to Harvard, I’d like to thank my hitting coach, Joe Benanto. Thanks to Bob Sorrentino for my first job (which resembled my professional baseball career, sadly) of catching pitching lessons and bullpens. Thank you to Trumbull High School’s late Coach Jerry MacDougall, who was the reason my parents picked Trumbull as our new hometown when we moved East in 8th grade. I can still see him down the third base line, guiding me through deep breaths ahead of important at-bats. It worked so well I try to do the same with my kids now, and I owe him for many lifelong friends I am fortunate enough to golf with annually to this day. Thank you also to Team Connecticut AAU baseball and the coaches and teammates who first taught me the hard work and sweat that would be required to uncover your best.

I’m thankful for my Harvard summers spent playing baseball and getting to see new areas and make friends all over this great country. Thanks to my teammates and friends from Youngstown, Ohio and the Great Lakes League. While it was cut short by injury, my favorite summer was spent in Kenai, Alaska playing for the Oilers and fishing for King Salmon after the games. Thank you to Karen Kester and the Ping family, some great hosts. Thank you to the Keene (NH) Swamp Bat family and to Bob and Gerry Merchant. I am still trying to make a batch of beef jerky as good as Bob’s.

Thank you to my Harvard teammates, who became my best friends and were the source of the most fun and laughs I’ve ever had.

Thank you to a great senior class that set the bar high when I was a freshman. To the best pitcher (it was close, Frank) I ever caught, Ben Crockett ’02, thanks for allowing me the honor to catch you as a freshman. To Faiz Shakir ’02, Mark Mager ’02, Justin Nywiede ’02, Josh San Salvador ’02, Nick Carter ’02, Chaney Sheffield ’02, and Javy Lopez ’02, bringing home the Ivy League Championship as freshmen truly inspired the class of 2005.

Thanks to Barry Wahlberg ’03 for your leadership and competitiveness, and to Matt Self ’03, Bryan Lentz’ 03, Kenon Ronz ’03, Nick Seminara ’03, Brendan Reed ’03, TJ Sevier and Ryan Tsujikawa ‘03 for a great sophomore season. Madhu Satyanarayana ’03, your laugh and big smile at future reunions will be sorely missed.

Thanks to Trey Hendricks ’04, whose talents on the mound and in the batter’s box gave us a shot competing with teams from any conference. (Thanks also for a nice format to your HVC HOF essay!) Thank you, Bryan Hale ’04, Mickey Kropf ’04, Jason Brown ’04, and Marc Hordon ’04 for a great locker room, especially with Kangaroo Court.

To my best boys from day one: Javier Arteaga ’05 thanks for your friendship and figuring out this Harvard experience through the highs and lows, and for standing with me on my wedding day. Rob Wheeler ’05, our road trips and odd-couple rooming situation will be cherished forever. Ian Wallace ’05, I wish I had someone in my life still who could make me laugh as hard as you did. AJ Solomine ’05, our sophomore year room was epic and holds some of my favorite memories. Thank you also to Mike Morgalis ’05 for your good humor and full repertoire of pitches, Curtis Miller ‘05 for your intensity, Jeff Friedman ’05 for your hustle like no other, and Pat Griffin ’05 for keeping it fun.

Thank you to Zak Farkes ’06 for your dedication and inspiring work ethic; to Morgan Brown ’06 for your good character; to almost classmate Chris Mackey ’06 for your kindness and friendship; to Frank Herrmann ’06 for your nicknames and proving Ivy boys can make it; to Lance Salsgiver ’06 for your free spirit; to Mike Dukovich ’06 for your hot mop; to fishing buddy, Matt Brunnig ’06; to Javy Castellanos ’06 for bringing heat; to Josh Klimkiewicz ’06 for padding the HR/RBI stat line; and to Wes Cosgriff ’06 for your strength; to Brendan Byrne ’07 for your toughness and loyalty; to Jake Bruton ’07, Andrew Casey ’07, and John Wolff ‘07 for an amazing run in 2004 when we missed our Ivy Championship, but hit a lot of dingers and had a blast.

There was another particularly talented group of people that deserves special thanks for the gift of documenting Harvard Baseball’s endeavors from 2002 to 2005. To Martin Bell, Lande Spottswood, Alex McPhillips and Pablo Torre, I honestly do not think we deserved the high quality, creative and beautiful things you wrote about us in the Harvard Crimson over the years. But I can assure you that future generations will be impressed thanks to your telling.

Thank you to my favorite Sociology professors, Peter Marsden and David Ager, who permitted me to be a baseball player in academia and gave me the chance to do some really fun projects while also understanding the challenges for a student-athlete and his schedule.

Thank you to my good friend, Takin Khorram, for making my childhood dream of professional baseball a reality when he guided me through signing as a free agent with the New York Yankees in 2005, and then guided me through my wedding ceremony years later.

Finally, thank you to my parents, Mark and Lainie Mann. Whenever faced with a family decision, you sacrificed yourselves to prioritize my wellbeing and to give me every available opportunity to succeed. You taught me hard work, self-sufficiency, and always doing what’s right, no matter the effort or discomfort it may cause. You avoided shortcuts, never sacrificed function for form, and inspired creativity and problem solving. Most importantly, you showed me the importance of family and unconditional love, and I only hope I can give as much to my kids as you gave to me. I love you both and thank you.

While you came along after my playing days, thank you to my beautiful wife Erin, and three amazing children, Sawyer, Rhys and Teagan. You provide me with the greatest gifts of my life and are the inspiration to continue working hard and competing for better every day.

Thank you to everyone who gave me the opportunity to add to one of the richest legacies in the history of education and our country. What a blessing! It’s a special family to be a part of, and to be further recognized as a member of the Harvard Varsity Club Hall of Fame holds a special place in my heart. Veritas!

Harvard Athletic Achievements

• 2-time All-American (2004 second team, 2003 third team)
• 3-time All-Region first team (2004, 2003, 2002)
• Ivy League Player of the Year (2004)
• 4-time All-Ivy League (2004 first team, 2003 first team, 2002 second team, 2001 second team)
• Ranks first in career game-winning goals (17), fourth in career points (86) and goals (33), sixth in points per game (1.32), and seventh in assists (20) and goals per game (0.51)
• Helped Harvard to the 2004 Ivy League championship and 2 NCAA Tournament appearances (2004, 2002)

Remembering Harvard Athletics

Arriving at Harvard for preseason back in August 2001 was quite a culture shock for me. I'm Zimbabwean, born and raised, so I was a long way from home. However, the culture shock was not quite as extreme as the Harvard Crimson put it in one of their articles...which began with

Watching her plane touch down and Boston slip into view before her freshman year, the Harvard field hockey team’s Shelley Maasdorp had no idea what to expect. Alone in a brand-new country with her family stranded halfway around the globe, Maasdorp had left behind all that she had known and loved and now only saw empty tarmac.

That was a bit on the dramatic side, my parents weren’t exactly stranded, they were at home, and in terms of leaving behind all I had known and loved…my brother was a junior in Dunster House!

But arriving for preseason was the first time I’d met any of the team or coaches. I had been recruited long distance. Again, given the Zimbabwean thing. During the application process I was asked to submit video footage of myself playing field hockey. But I’d snapped my ACL at the start of my senior year of high school, so I wasn’t actually playing any field hockey at the time of applying. I had to stitch together a collage of random video clips that I happened to have from my parents videoing some of my games from the year before. And submit that video with my application along with a note that basically said ‘I promise I’m decent’….

Anyway, I arrive on campus on day one of pre season. A bit nervous, a lot shy. And I meet My coach, Sue Caples, for the first time, she walks over to me and the first thing she says to me is ‘Huh, I thought you were taller’ ….. okkkk

I had quite a different playing style to the rest of the team when I first arrived so Coach Caples had her hands full with me at the beginning. She summed it up quite nicely when asked to give a comment to the Crimson about this new player she had. She said “she’s a great surprise asset …the opposition never know what she’s gonna do …. But actually then again neither do we”

Thank you to my parents who were such amazing fans and consistent supporters of mine since I picked up a hockey stick at a young age. They were so consistent in their support in fact that I’ve got the moment that I snapped my ACL on video — Best home video ever, thanks mum.

But also, it is thanks to my mum being so disciplined with making me do my Physiotherapy and rehab back in 2000 that I was able to walk onto Jordan field in 2001 with absolutely no knee issues and give it everything i had.

My brother insisted that he be included in my speech and to thank him …. For what I’m not entirely sure but, thank you to my brother?

The family that I left stranded half way around the globe were always with me in spirit during my years at Harvard, but the Harvard field hockey team became my family on campus. I loved every minute of being part of that team and have life long friends and amazing memories from it. It was and always will have a very special place in my heart.

I thank the Varsity Club for the true honour that it is to be inducted into the Hall of Fame tonight. I will carry that with pride my whole life.

Thank you.

Harvard Athletic Achievements

• Remains the only student-athlete in program history to earn AVCA All-America (2005 honorable mention) and Ivy League Player of the Year (2004, 2002) honors
• 2-time AVCA All-Region (2004, 2002)
• Ivy League Rookie of the Year (2001)
• 3-time All-Ivy League (2004 first team, 2002 first team, 2001 honorable mention)
• Led Harvard to the program’s first Ivy League Championship (2004)
• Ranks first in career kills per set (3.95), second in solo blocks (109), fourth in kills (1,154), fifth in total blocks (33), seventh in block assists (221), and eighth in attack attempts (2,583)
• Team captain (2004)

Remembering Harvard Athletics

I am tremendously honored to be inducted to the Harvard Varsity Club Hall of Fame. Congratulations to all of my fellow inductees — I admire and respect each of you, both back then and now. Thank you to my mother and father — Henrietta Omo Ogbechie and Dr. Lawrence Odiaka Ogbechie — for your unwavering lesson that “anything worth doing is worth doing well.” To my three brothers, thank you for your tireless support. And to my husband, Ash, I am overjoyed that I get to walk down memory lane with you while continuing to make our own memories. Thank you to my teammates and assistant coaches who were beacons of light during the hardest days on and off the court. And of course, thank you Coach Jen Weiss, you are truly the beating heart of Harvard Volleyball and have been for three decades.

Some of my fondest memories of Harvard Volleyball and Coach Weiss were also the most physically daunting. At the start of my Freshman year, we arrived on campus weeks early ahead of the student body, to prepare for the season in the blistering heat. I had never been faced with double-day practices in the past and I had never experienced true exhaustion like that before.

I remember Coach looking at our depleted faces, taking a breath, and calmly stating “We’re a family…we play up and we play together.” It was such a simple thought that resonated throughout my entire volleyball career: we could endure pain together and make each other better. This sentiment echoed within me every single game, every single practice, and during the journey we took to win Harvard’s first ever Ivy League Championship in volleyball my senior year. Coach had distilled decades of her experience into just a few words, as she often did.

Coming from a family with three brothers, I learned in all the best ways how to stay resilient, remain nimble, and, of course, consistently fight back. Yet, my time with Harvard Volleyball was completely new and equally important — I found I could learn from and lean on so many exceptional women — a group that was frequently held together by Coach's words.

The mantra of togetherness that Harvard Volleyball installed in me has had such a vast influence on my life, from my greatest successes to my deepest challenges. I learned to withstand loss, win graciously, and demonstrate resolve to protect the things that I love. I know I am far from alone when I highlight the impression this time had on me, and I will always be grateful to Harvard Volleyball as the second “family” that made me the woman I am today.

Harvard Athletic Achievements

• 2-time All-American (2005 first team, 2003 second team)
• 2-time All-ECAC Hockey (2005 first team, 2003 second team), ECAC Hockey All-Rookie Team (2002), and ECAC Hockey All-Decade first team
• 2-time All-Ivy League first team (2005, 2003)
• George Percy Award (2002) winner as the member of the freshman class who most closely displays the characteristics of George Percy ’18; enthusiasm, sportsmanship, team spirit and loyalty
• Ranks first in career penalties (131), second in penalty minutes (270), and 10th in games (129)
• Helped Harvard to 2 ECAC Hockey Tournament Championships (2004, 2002) and 4-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances (2005, 2004, 2003, 2002)
• Team captain (2005)
• Enjoyed a 13-year professional career playing in the NHL, AHL, and SHL
• 2018 Olympian for the United States

Remembering Harvard Athletics

I was sitting in my office during a Covid shutdown when Teddy Donato called me. I always enjoy talking with Teddy but this phone call I’ll never forget. He told me I was going to be inducted into the Harvard University Athletics Hall of Fame. I was surprised. This has never crossed my mind. The closest I got to thinking about this was my freshman year in the “bike/training room” in between the locker room and the Zamboni bay before the renovations at the Bright. In this room was a caricature drawing of the All-Decade team for Men’s Hockey for the 90’s I believe. There were some great players on this drawing, some of whom I grew up watching, and I remember thinking “what do I need to do to make this list one day?” That drawing was extra motivation for me. I have no idea who hung it up, but I’m thankful they did.

The biggest motivation however was winning. I had just won a Prep School Championship at St. Sebastian’s and wanted to win another championship. Ron Rolston, Nate Leaman, and Mark Mazzoleni recruited me to go to Harvard and told me I’d have to earn it, but I’d have a chance to play as a freshman. I loved our team that year. It was a great balance of older players and two large younger classes, and that team wanted to win badly.

We ended up winning the ECAC Championship that season, and as a result got a seat in the NCAA tournament. It was a big deal for Harvard Hockey at the time and it motivated all of us to put in more work and win another one. Winning comes at a cost and I had a group of teammates willing to sacrifice to win a championship every year. For this I’m grateful. We played in the ECAC championship game all 4 years and won two of the four. We played in the NCAA tournament all four years. These are accomplishments I’m very proud of.

I promised my mom I’d get my degree. I busted my butt in high school as a student athlete to open up the door to go to Harvard, but my main priority at Harvard was playing hockey. My hockey goal was to help Harvard win and then turn pro and bust my butt in hopes of playing in the NHL one day.

Every single teammate, coach, team manager, trainer, and rink staff during my four years helped me accomplish these goals and I’m grateful for them all. I’m a local kid from Brighton that grew up in a broken home without really knowing it was that broken. My mom did everything she could to allow me to play sports and in many ways that kept me out of a lot of trouble. Many kids I grew up with in Boston are dead or in jail because of drugs and bad decisions that come from using them. My drug was hockey so to speak, and it took me down a path that led me to one of the most recognized Universities in the world.

Growing up in Brighton, in many ways I already knew Harvard, at least the athletic side of campus. My best buddy CJ and I would sneak into the field house and jump on the track and field mats. Chet Stone would call Mark Manning and let him know when the ice was open. We would rollerblade to the Bright and skate for hours. When I was younger Jack would flood the ice for us and allow us to watch games in the Zamboni bay next to the band. When I got older Edzo was our guy. I love those guys. They are “shirt of their back” Bostonians that did so much for me as a young local hockey player with big dreams.

I had an interview with Bill Fitzsimmons in Admissions and after it Chetty called and told me it went well. I’m pretty sure Chetty and Mark offered Bill several Neil’s Choice steaks at The Stockyard if he accepted me to Harvard. He did and the financial aid department helped my mom out a lot so we could afford for me to attend Harvard. My older brother Kethe helped my mom out and paid for my tuition and for all of this I’m very grateful.

My four years at Harvard were some of my most enjoyable hockey seasons of my career. I enjoyed playing with all my teammates, and I was especially thankful for my class and the class of 2004. There are some older classmates that had a massive impact on me as a person and player. Graham Morell, Pete Capouch, and Dominic Moore were older classmates that really poured into me from day one. I learned a lot from those three guys and I’m thankful for the help they gave me.

The 2004 class was legendary. There was a bunch of them, and they were character guys that could play. Our class came in after and in many ways, they had paved the way for us to be successful. I knew having 3 years with them would be special and it was. We won a lot of games, two championships, had a lot of fun on and off the ice, and grew close like brothers. I can’t help but think what those three years would have been like if they weren’t in the quads! I guess we will never know.

My class was a great great class. 4 of us were from Boston or just outside and played with or against each other in high school. It was fun reuniting in college with Lanno and becoming teammates with Tommy and Flynny for the first time after playing against them. Bernie, Ledsy, and Dov completed our class, and we all embraced the challenge of trying to get in and stay in the lineup as freshman.

Over the years coaches came and went. Every single coach I had at Harvard made me a better player. Some more than others but every single one of them helped me develop and I’m thankful for them all. They knew I wanted to win at Harvard and play in the NHL and they wanted the same for me and my teammates.

It was a privilege to put on the Harvard Jersey for four years and to be team Captain my senior year. So many great players have worn that jersey before me and after me and I’m proud to be a Harvard Hockey Alumni. I’m thankful to the Friends of Harvard Hockey and all they did for me and my teammates and continue to do now for the program. It still blows my mind that the Friends need to raise the money they do every year with the endowment Harvard has, but they do it and the players benefit from it.

Since graduating from Harvard, a lot has changed for me. I was able to play in the NHL for a bit, played overseas in Sweden, and then played in the 2018 Olympics. I had a solid 13-year professional career and the 4 years at Harvard prepared me for my pro career. One thing I was not expecting was becoming a Christian. I used to make fun of those people. God used a fight at center ice against the Montreal Canadians to draw me to Him in faith and repentance. I was the golden boy, the rags to riches story coming out of inner-city Boston. I was told I was “good” my entire life, and my god was my hockey career. God took that from me temporarily when I blew out my shoulder in the fight and missed the entire season for The Florida Panthers, which was the biggest opportunity of my career after signing a two-year one-way contract. Looking back, I’m so thankful God allowed this to happen and I see how He used this for my good and His glory. I might have missed an NHL opportunity, but through it I know and follow Jesus.

At Harvard the only thing I knew about the history of the school was that a guy named John Harvard had something to do with the university starting. The only thing I knew about John Harvard was to not touch the foot of the statue of him (it’s not him), because students pee on it. I also learned the hard way that the chicken tenders and draft beer from the John Harvard’s pub the night before, will get you the next day. After graduating it was cool to learn that John Harvard, one of the founders, was a Puritan minister who immigrated from England. His passion was to teach and train church leaders, and he donated his entire library to Harvard when he died. Harvard today, is certainly not a Christian University that trains up church leaders. In a way, where Harvard started and where it has gone is like the United States. Some say we are making progress in both instances, I do not.

Hockey is a great game that God has used to bless me tremendously. It has taken me to different parts of the world, but most importantly, through hockey I have met some amazing people, the most important one being my wife Alissa. My four years playing hockey at Harvard were some of the best years in my career. I had great teammates, great coaches, great trainers, great team staff, great alumni support, great friends and family support, great facilities, and I am thankful for all of this.

The list of thank you’s to all those who have helped me in my career could be the size of Mass Ave. If I played with you, thank you. If you coached me, thank you. If you ever helped my mom, get me to a practice or game, thank you.

Mom, thank you. I understand more now as a dad of four with an amazing wife, the sacrifice you made as a single parent with a younger son who loved to play sports.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to play hockey, if you do not make this happen, I do not get this award. God gets the glory, I love you and thank you.

Dad, I’m pretty sure you have no idea what a one-timer is, but I know you are proud of me and always managed to get updates on my career. I love you and thank you.

Kethe, thank you for your support and encouragement all throughout my career. Thank you for working to help mom pay for my college tuition. Thank you for playing hockey for Brighton High. I wanted to do what you did. You were the original #5 in our family.

Uncle Guy, thank you for all your support throughout my career. After coming to faith you helped me put hockey in its proper category in my life amongst many other things.

Uncle Dick, thank you for traveling all over New England to watch me play. That meant more to me than you may ever know.

Mark, Liz, CJ, Rory, Charlotte, and Emmett- I do not believe in luck. I believe in a sovereign God and He is good. It wasn’t luck that we moved to Mapleton St. six houses down from you. When I think of the Manning family, I thank God for providing me with a second home and family that loved and sacrificed for me and my mom.

Danny Cuddy- you are one of my favorite coaches I have ever had. Now you are a dear friend. Thank you for all the support and encouragement over the years.

Neil Shea- Thank you for believing in me and helping me and my mom figure out competitive hockey. You opened many doors for me and without your help, I don’t have the career I had.

Paul Vincent- You are an amazing coach. I went from being a slow-footed D man to a big guy that could skate. I remember you screaming at me at times, you might have the loudest most unique voice I have ever heard. I never once questioned if you cared about me and that is what makes you a great coach. You truly care about your players. You for sure will give them a kick in the ass, but it will be followed by a hug and a “you know I believe in you right?” Thank you.

Mike Boyle- I’m thankful for Body by Boyle. Between you and Vinny I was in good hands. Thank you for teaching me how to workout and what hard work looks like.

Bobby Orr and Pau Krepelka- Thank you both for everything you did for me in high school, college, and pro. I should have listened to you both in Florida and asked for a trade, but I was too stubborn to think I could win over my coach.

Bill Burke- Thank you for believing in me and encouraging me to pursue my dreams of college and professional hockey. You are a special man that God used at a particular time in my life. Thank you.

Chetty, Edzo, Odie, and Emmo- Thank you for spoiling me.

Nate, Ron, and Mazz- you three believed in me from day one. The first letter I got was from you. Thank you for all you have done for me.

Teddy, Gene, Sean, Bobby J, and Bruce- Thank you all for believing in me and helping me get to the next level.

To all my friends outside of the hockey rink at Harvard, thank you for your support and friendship. It was fun journeying with you and playing in front of you.

I could go on and on with more thank you’s and I know I am leaving so many out right now, but this like almost every assignment at Harvard has been done last minute and is now late.

This is an award that has been achieved because I got so much help, encouragement, and support throughout my career by so many people. I am very grateful for this award and all the glory goes to God.

Varsity Eight: Courtney Brown ’03, Sarah Marvel ’03, Anna Brock Faust ’03, Tasha Pasternack ’03, Caryn Davies ’04-05, Lis Lambert ’04, Caroline Fisher ’04, Heather Schofield ’05, Julie Gluck ’05

Harvard Athletic Achievements

• NCAA Champions
• EAWRC Sprints Champions
• Completed the season with a 10-1 record, the program’s best since 1989

Remembering Harvard Athletics

Nineteen years ago, we were the fastest collegiate women’s 8+ in the country. Julie, Marvel, Courtney, Caryn, Anna, Heather, Caroline, Tasha and me.

Nineteen years ago, we lined up for an early-season race against Princeton knowing something the rest of the rowing world hadn’t learned yet: we were fast. Nineteen years ago, in that Princeton race, we unleashed for the first time what would become our signature race plan that season. We came off the start deliberate, confident, but a boat length behind—and then, like a freight train, we built momentum and kept building it, the whole way down the course, rumbling inexorably past them seat by seat to finish with open water.

Nineteen years ago, we met in hotel rooms on away-race eves to mentally rehearse the next day’s performance. Our magnificent coach, Liz O, would narrate it for us—the second 500, the third 500, kicking, swinging, sprinting, winning—and we’d feel rising in us a fierce, focused, joyful, adrenaline-charged buzz, because we knew that the beautiful thing Liz was describing was the exact thing we’d do in the morning. Not only that, we knew we’d do it full-heartedly, knew that we would cherish it as one of the most meaningful things we’d ever do. We all felt that buzz of envisioning and knowing; we could see it in each other's faces.

Nineteen years ago, our charter bus driver played “We Will Rock You” in the bus to psyche us up on the way to races. Nineteen years ago, we surged under bridges with crowds roaring overhead—crowds that grew bigger as the season progressed. Nineteen years ago, Radcliffe alumnae started sending emails and letters of support to Weld: they were watching us with so much joy and pride. Nineteen years ago, we returned from our Saturday wins to rest on Sunday and dive back into training on Monday. Our training was crisp, purposeful, professional, fun. Mornings in the weightroom. Midweek morning race pieces with 4 or 5 Harvard/Radcliffe boats lined up in the basin. Sometimes that season we lined up against the men’s varsity lightweights and the men’s freshman heavies, and held our own.

It was a beautiful season, and, again like a freight train, it built speed and momentum all the way to its final climactic moments. Nineteen years ago, we won Sprints—the V8+ and the team trophy. Nineteen years ago, we went to Nationals. At Eagle Creek Reservoir, in Indianapolis, Indiana, we took second in our heat, and then won our semi in a blazing tailwind, and then we won it all.

What does it mean now?

It's hard to express. It’s so formative. I know it’s shaped every day of my life since it happened, though usually not as conscious recollection. Occasionally I meet someone who’s interested and I tell the story of this team and the 2003 season. I tell the story with love and joy and pride, but it’s hard to escape the whiff of glory-days nostalgia.

The real way that this experience lives on for me is as something like a muscle memory of greatness. I’ve walked through my life for the past nineteen years knowing how it feels to set goals, to commit, to connect, to perform, to achieve. I know what a real team feels like. I know what authentic pride feels like. I know how it feels when discipline and professionalism are animated by confidence and joy. And because I’ve moved that way before, I’ve been able to move that way again. I can reach inside and feel it.

I think that was the genius of this team, and of the way Liz O coached us. All season long we practiced greatness, with absolute belief in ourselves and each other. As we built our bodies through training we also built our capacity for greatness. The season ended, but the greatness we built in ourselves and each other has endured—for nineteen years now. What a gift.

2003 Harvard Varsity 8: Jonathan Durham ’04, Jordan Sagalowsky ’04, Malcolm Howard ’05, Cameron Winklevoss ’04, Aaron Holzapfel ’05, Michael Blomquist ’03, Justin Bosley ’03, Kip McDaniel ’04, Jesse Oberst ’04

2004 Varsity 8: Jonathan Durham ’04, Jordan Sagalowsky ’04, Malcolm Howard ’05, Jonathan Lehe ’04, Tyler Winklevoss ’04, Cameron Winklevoss ’04, Aaron Holzapfel ’05, Kip McDaniel ’04, Jesse Oberst ’04

2005 Varsity 8: Nick Baker ’07, Andrew Boston ’07, Toby Medaris ’07, Morgan Henderson ’06, Aaron Holzapfel ’05, Brodie Buckland ’06, Malcolm Howard ’05, Adam Kosmicki ’05, Kit Ulrich ’05

Remembering Harvard Athletics

Jonathan Durham '04

Thank you to the Harvard Varsity Club and to my teammates for this high honor! To be honored for what was one of my life’s greatest privileges, is a most unexpected joy. I am forever grateful to our Freshman Coach Bill Manning and to Harvard Admissions for curating such a special group of student athletes and for my good fortune to be included in the mix. It’s a true pleasure to reminisce, express gratitude, and count my blessings that I was able to hang on to the bow seat for two years and contribute to yet another of Harry Parker’s fast boats!

I owe my earliest appreciation to my parents and big brother, Trevor (“Bobber”), who charted an educational path from West Texas to Groton, Massachusetts. Were it not for my parents finding Groton School for both me and Trevor, and his trying and excelling at rowing there, I wouldn’t be here. Thank you, Bobber, for breaking new ground and providing an inkling that I too could be a good rower; you changed my life in innumerable ways.

Henry Nuzum was six years ahead of me at Groton and Harvard and a beacon for what I might accomplish. He was also a southern boy, from North Carolina, who found rowing at boarding school. He was captain of HUBC in 1998, Navy ROTC, and a future Olympian - i.e. a stud! His humility and work ethic were an inspiration from afar. I always felt Henry had been wronged when his strong 1998 crew lost Sprints in a wind-impacted race, with underdog Penn winning from the edge. When we won Sprints in 2003, I hope it offered some measure of redemption for the 1998 crew. I share this honor with Henry, one of the many truly outstanding HUBC oarsmen over the years who deserve to be in all of our Halls of Fame.

As a big fish in a small pond at Groton and then one of the stronger members of the 2000 U.S. Junior National team, it occurred to me then that if, someday, I could be the weakest guy in the boat instead of the strongest, that would be a fast crew. Little did I know that a few years later in the Harvard Varsity that’s exactly the situation I would find. On the other hand, my two best friends, Justin Webb and Alex Chastain-Chapman, stern pair of the JV, were believably the first two to miss making the boat. In most eras they certainly would have been in the Varsity. Will Riffelmacher was another classmate who outworked me every day but was set back with injuries. Had Justin, Alex, Will, or many others had my seat in the Varsity, the results would have been likely very good. That’s rowing and life, and I was just lucky. I wish to share our success and this honor with all three of these most deserving teammates.

There’s little doubt that many of us would not have made it to Harvard, nor had so much success collectively, but for Bill Manning. The exception is Jordan Sagalowsky, my bow pair partner, and fellow Texan. As the last walk-on I’m aware of to make the Harvard Varsity, Jordan’s story is, perhaps, my favorite of everyone’s in the boat. It took him two full years of toiling to figure out how to row effectively, but once it clicked, he was tough to beat! In one legendary week of seat racing, he tore through the entire port side of the boathouse. Jordan, I loved being your pair partner.

I was fortunate too that almost all of my racing at Harvard was with Kip McDaniel in stroke and Jesse Oberst as cox. Years later, the idea of rowing without them up in stern is still unappealing. Thank you, Kip, for your tenacity and, Jesse, for your wit. And to Aaron Holzapfel, thank you for lifting our spirits with your prayers and the entire boat with your superhuman strength. You are the number one reason we were called the “God Squad!”

Many words have been shared about Harry Parker, and yet all of us revere him at a level that, well, escapes words. For me, the great gift Harry gave all of us was his encouragement to always reach for more resilience - while leaving it an open question to individually discover how far we could go. His singular focus on boat speed cleared away all the distractions. Thank you, Harry. Rest in peace.

Of all the gifts my Harvard experience afforded me, the greatest gift - by far - is meeting my wife, Alexis. A top US Junior Tennis player and All-Ivy at Harvard, she is an elite athlete who triumphed in an intensely competitive sport. The way she supported and cheered me at Harvard was a foreshadowing of our lives together. She came to early morning duals on the Charles where less than a dozen spectators showed up, watched me get sick into a can after Crash-Bs, and famously paid a Boston Yellow Cab to drive her to Worcester to see our boat win Sprints in 2003. She is thoughtful and caring, above and beyond. I’m so blessed that she’s still my biggest fan and “life coach.” Thanks a thousand times over, Love, you’re forever in my Hall of Fame.

Kip McDaniel '04

When I passed through the gates of Harvard Yard in September of 2000, it was by taxi. I didn’t know a soul east of the Colorado river, let alone in Massachusetts.

But once beyond those gates, passed, in large part, due to the privileges of my upbringing, there was another set of gates that no amount of privilege would help clear: Those of Harry Parker and the Harvard University Boat Club.

With Harry, hard work was paramount. Your parents’ wealth, your high school alma mater, your charm or lack thereof: None of it mattered in Newell boathouse.

It was in Newell that, for the first time in my life, I felt completely at home — a master of my fate to a degree I’d never felt before.

Day after day, week after week, month after month, morning hours spent on the erg next to Wayne Pommen and Will Riffelmacher improved stamina; stadiums climbed next to Justin Bosley and Artour Samsanov seared the lungs; basin shots across from Alex Chastain-Chapman and Malcolm Howard seasoned the hands and body.

The competition for seats was brutal — much more brutal than any race against Yale or Princeton. To this day I still awake some nights fearful, not of losing to UW or Wisconsin, but of failing to make the varsity. Friendships were strained when boats were announced. Yet without exception, we knew that the winners of those seat races won fairly, because the man running those races cared only about making the fastest boat possible.

It is easy to remember our unbeaten run as a long, straight road littered with green lights, but that obscures reality.

For each win there were, collectively, thousands of hours of monotonous mornings, early bedtimes (for some of us), and mountains of self-doubt. For each boat made, there were friends of ours facing extreme disappointment. And for every exceptional practice session, there was another where we knew that we hadn’t lived up to Harry’s standards – a fate worse than losing.

But, of course, there were many green lights. I remember the first one well: A win against Northeastern, on a calm Saturday evening in April 2003, by what was then an unbelievable 11-second margin.

After we crossed the line, I looked down at my hands, then up at Jesse Oberst, thinking, “What just happened?”

The answer: Hard work, and nothing more.

Jordan Sagalowsky '04

I first encountered rowing in a crowded room at the Malkin Athletic Center during freshmen orientation week. Bill Manning invited all students interested in rowing to attend. At that point, I had never heard of Harry Parker or Henley or Eastern Sprints. I just knew that I wanted to find a challenge and a team.

Bill instructed everyone to write simple personal information on an index card—name, hometown, high school, and rowing experience. Where my card read “none,” those to my left, right, and front each read “Junior National Team.” Those three words were all that I knew about these guys. I felt awed and hopelessly out of place. Two decades later, I know these guys better than anyone save my own family, but I continue to marvel at their strength and the incredible program we joined.

For most of undergrad, I struggled to see myself as a Harvard varsity rower. In fact, when Harry placed me in the 1V at the start of the 2003 season, I called my mom to tell her that she should fly in for the season opener—rather than Eastern Sprints—if she ever wanted to see me race in the 1V. But, while my faith in myself wavered, the program, like my loved ones, never stopped supporting and challenging me. Long before I could row a full piece without catching a crab, Bill projected confidence that I could succeed in rowing. Harry constantly reinforced the social contract of Newell Boathouse—that everyone who demonstrated commitment and persistence, from spares to future Olympians, deserved his respect and attention. And even the Olympians in the boathouse, like Adam Holland and Henry Nuzum, always cared enough to treat me like an important part of the program before I ever saw myself that way.

Somewhere between the unexpected success of the 2003 season and the confirmation of 2004, I embraced the notion that I was a real factor in the success that surrounded me. I felt that I had earned a place in our all-conquering eight. Then I recall crossing the IRA finish line in 2004 sitting in bow pair with open water on the field. Knowing we had won, Jonathan Durham and I dropped the pressure as the other six oarsmen went full-power for one more stroke. The sheer force of that stroke threw me back, and for a moment I felt the sense of awe that overcame me as a freshman in the MAC.

In a narrow sense, my Harvard Rowing experience feels unique. Sadly, for now, I’m the last novice to race in the 1V. My crew won Harvard’s first IRA, beat Olympians at Lucerne, dominated Cambridge at Henley, and reminded everyone that Harry never stopped being the best.

At the same time, it all strikes me as typical of so many Harvard successes. First I questioned whether I should be there at all. I encountered preternaturally gifted, driven classmates who later became my closest friends. I worked incredibly hard just trying to keep up. I enjoyed success beyond anything I dreamt in high school. And while I hope that some measure of my success reflects just rewards for my efforts, I also know that I was carried along by the immense forces around me.

Tyler Winklevoss '04

There is a lot of mythology around Harvard Rowing and especially Harry Parker. For those of us fortunate enough to row at Harvard and for Harry, we were able to witness and experience this legend first-hand. It is often said that the most intelligent among us are able to explain and break down things into an elegant simplicity. They don’t get mired in the symptoms, they know how to cut straight to the core issue, the root cause, and the key drivers. They find the signal in the sea of noise. Harry was one of those rare people who had this ability and was able to apply it to his crews, perhaps better than anyone in the history of the sport of rowing.

Harvard rowing was simple. Harry made it that way. If you showed up to the boathouse, gave your full effort, made the few changes Harry told you to make, you would improve. If you didn’t follow these simple steps day in and day out, you would not.

The greatest advantage we had over athletes at other colleges was knowing that the few changes Harry told us to make were always the right ones. He didn’t tell us to do ten things in practice, three of which were important and seven of which were not. He kept it simple. He only told us to do the important things. We never had to guess; Harry took that burden off of our plates. His supreme clarity gave us the freedom to focus only on what we needed to focus on in order to improve and move faster down the river. That is a huge luxury for any athlete. A real gift that athletes in other programs did not have.

How do you make the boat? Simple, become the fastest oarsman for one of its seats. What’s the race plan? Simple. Often just two words: “Be Persistent!” What qualities will make you successful as a Harvard oarsman? Simple: Hard work. Accountability. Grit. Persistence. Day in and day out, rain, shine, snow, or ice.

Harry didn’t discover these simple, universal truths, he just never abandoned them. And as oarsmen, we didn’t either. That is the magic of Harvard rowing; that there is no magic. No silver bullets, only good old fashioned lead bullets. And since I left the Harvard boathouse almost two decades ago, I’ve tried my best never to forget or lose sight of this simple lesson. For it leads to growth and success on the river, in the classroom, in business, or in whatever sphere or field you choose to apply it. So, with that said, here’s to keeping it simple and being persistent!

Cameron Winklevoss '04

Some of the best lessons in life I learned while rowing under Harry Parker and they had little, if anything, to do with rowing. The arena may have been the sport, but the subject was universal life lessons. While we often refer to Harry as a coach, he was ultimately a teacher. His classroom was the boathouse and his laboratory was the Charles River. I was fortunate enough to be one of his students. I often reflect on his teachings and what made Harry and Harvard rowing so special. I will share a few that I’ve carried with me beyond those formative years.

We raced to win, not to not lose. Everyone says they are racing to win, but most are really playing not to lose. The difference lies at the threshold of full responsibility and accountability for the result. Are you willing to leave everything out there on the racecourse in a way that offers no excuse if you lose? It’s a very vulnerable act that requires much courage. If you lose, it simply means you weren’t good enough. Most people, whether in the sport of rowing, or game of life, are not willing to risk it all. It’s just too painful and scary if you come up short. So you hedge. Instead of going to the well, you tiptoe around it. Instead of going out offensively, you race defensively. Instead of rowing through the line, you start looking for the line. Learning how to leave it all out on the field is a necessary skill to learn and fear to conquer, for there is no chance of greatness without it.

We refused to have expectations. Expectations, even implicit ones, are incredibly dangerous. They change your approach to everything. You start speculating on how fast you think you need to be as opposed to how fast you can be. Rather than focusing on developing your unbounded potential, you create an artificial ceiling — a complacency. It's easy to fall into this trap. You begin to think that winning last time will have some bearing on winning this time. Who doesn’t want to believe that? As a team starts racking up wins, the gravitational pull of expectations grows stronger with each victory. This is why it is a universally held belief that the hardest thing to do in sports is to repeat a championship. The Harvard Men’s Varsity crews of 2003, 2004, and 2005 did a three-peat. The last time a professional sports team in North America achieved a three-peat was when the Los Angeles Lakers won championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002 — 20 years ago. When you expect to win, it’s hard to win. Harry never let expectations creep in. That made a big difference.

A religion of winning built on fairness. The only people who made Harvard crews were the fastest rowers for the boat. This sounds obvious, but proves much more difficult to implement in practice. It requires building a culture that celebrates hard work and rewards athletes entirely on their objective results. It requires sticking to the numbers no matter how much they surprise you or defy common assumptions held throughout the boathouse. It requires taking risks on athletes that aren’t the obvious choice, but on closer inspection get the job done better than the rest. It requires removing emotion from the decision-making process. And it requires that the only guarantee is that there is no guarantee. Every athlete — even the very best — had to earn their seat day in and day out. Just because you made the boat for one race didn’t mean you would be in it for the next. We knew this. And it pushed us to always be at our best. To bring it each and every day. This was the culture that Harry built and this is why we won. And I am forever grateful to have been a part of it.

Kit Ulrich '05

For me, this moment is filled with gratitude – because, unlike the men who earned this award through an unbelievable amount of physical exertion and mental fortitude, I am here due to divine timing. I have been asked many times why I wanted to be on the men’s team and my answer was simple - if was going to cox, I wanted to be on the fastest boat. Wow, was this crew fast and I was lucky to have joined this team at the rare moment when some of the best rowers in the world came together and for that I will be forever grateful.

When I look back now on my time as a part of HUBC and this team, I am most grateful for the hardest moments, the hardest lessons. The wins have faded into a more singular memory of being undefeated national champions. But the tougher moments are the ones I learned from and that have created echos into my adult life. The lesson that unless you push yourself to a point of failure, you will never know how far you can go. That out of your darkest times come the most brilliant gifts. And, the difference as a coxswain between making noise and making impact – I could certainly make a lot of noise over the mic and by my senior year, I finally learned how to speak for impact.

I am grateful for our time with Harry, his bellow to “be persistent”, and the silence he provided to provoke us each to step up. I am grateful for Bill Manning recruiting the best and being clear that if we didn’t perform, we would lose our seats. I am grateful for being told to “Man up! We’re going backwards so whatever f—ing call you make, make it confidently”. I am grateful for all the ways I learned not to coach someone – as evidenced with gestures over the side and shirts stuffed into speakers. Grateful for being told some of my power 10 calls were terrible - I still get well-deserved grief about “as a weapon!” Grateful for those freezing cold mornings when ice would crackle as I got out of the bow-loaded four. I am grateful for being able to witness the talent of this entire team, and the sacrifices made by Malcolm and others to be the best in the world.

At one of our final dinners with Harry in New York, he said ‘you all thought it was about you, and it wasn’t, it was about the rowing’. Of course, he was right. It was about the rowing because this is a sport that pushes you not only to your physical limits, but also your mental and spiritual limits. It pushed those on this team to their perceived failure points only to find out they had more. I was a witness to those moments and will be forever thankful.

Brodie Buckland '06

I would like to dedicate this award to my late father, who always supported me in my rowing.

Morgan Henderson '06

It turns out that writing a reflective essay on my time at Harvard isn’t easy. What was my time at Harvard? Nick and I arrived on campus in September 2002 and left in June 2006. In those four years, I lived in Canaday, Winthrop, and then Currier; I took 32 classes and had – presumably – 32 world-famous professors, almost none of whom I remember; and I rowed. This, the rowing, completely shaped my time at Harvard, as I suspect is the case for many of us. So, it’s on this topic that I will reflect.

I knew very little about HUBC before stepping foot into Newell on my first day of the freshman fall season. Bill Manning had coached Nick and I in the Junior National Team coxed four that summer (along with Ben Niles and Brian Freund, both future HUBC rowers), but in typical Bill fashion, he focused on the task at hand. I recall trying to ask him about various HUBC-related matters, and I recall him steadfastly avoiding giving straight answers. Fair enough – I’d find out soon enough.

The freshman fall was a blur. I found my legs on the erg and managed to knock off a couple club distances – the 10k and the 5k – culminating in a respectable performance at the Foot of the Charles (I think we beat Brown, but I don’t quite recall). I knew several of the guys in my year from various summer rowing programs – Adam Kosmicki, Mike Collins, Peter Brooks, Ben Niles, Jonah Todd-Geddes, Zander Gardiner – and really enjoyed getting to know the rest: Jonno Tompson, Dan Reid, Evan Wilson, Dave Reynolds, Thomas Wright, Amanda Caplan, Mike Stoll, and more. I can’t say I got to know many of the varsity guys in that first season – many of whom are here tonight – but I learned much about rowing, training, and racing by observing and quietly imitating. That spring, the 1F raced to silver and bronze medals at Sprints and IRAs, respectively, and beat Yale. Needless to say, Red Top was awesome.

Sophomore year (2003-2004) was a challenge. There were 14 seniors in the top two eights – I could name them off the top of my head, but I think I’d hit the 500 word limit sooner than I’d like – and the sophomores (perhaps rightly so) felt like the low men on the totem pole. Plus, it turns out that rowing at HUBC in the early-mid 2000s meant training in incredibly heavy Pococks, with incredibly heavy oars. Total learning curve. I – along with Nick and many of the other sophomores – raced in the 3v that spring, winning Sprints and beating Yale in the combi race. Blocker – that was for you.

Junior year (2004-2005) was terrific. We had a smaller team – the 14 seniors having graduated – and I felt things starting to come together for myself, both on and off the water. Aaron and Malcolm displayed stellar leadership, and, come the first day of practice after spring break, I found myself sitting in bow of the varsity 8 (to be transferred later in the season to 4 seat). The crew – Kit, Kosmo, Malcolm, Brodie, Holzy, Toby, Boston, and Nick Baker – were a great group of individuals, and I can recall almost every race as if it happened yesterday. Nick, you may have almost killed a goose during the Adams Cup, but I’ve never been in a boat that felt better than our eight did on that day.

Senior year (2005-2006) was a send-off. I found myself in the JV in the spring, and rowed with a great group of guys. We went to Henley and raced in the Ladies, and were beaten in the second round by a strong Stanford 8.

There’s one person on whom I haven’t reflected yet: Harry. To me, this reflects Harry’s role on the team. He was in total control, but he didn’t make it about himself. He let the rowers row, and race, and guided it all from the other end of the megaphone. I very often think of Harry’s favorite exhortation: to be persistent. At the time – for example, when six minutes into the fifth basin shot of the day – it didn’t resonate much with me. Where was the fire and brimstone? But now, almost 20 years later, I see the tremendous wisdom in it. Persistence – and the attendant inexorable accrual of improvement and gain – is the only sure path to success. I’ve tried to take this with me into my post-HUBC professional life, and I believe that it has served me well. So, for that, and for everything – thank you, Harry.

Nick Baker '07

In retrospect, I think rowing at Harvard was, for me, much less about the rivals, records, and races won. It was more about the role models with whom I got to row. The idols I got to look up to and emulate. The heroes I got to call teammates and friends. They’ve been in my own hall of fame right from the start, and always will be.

Andrew Boston '07

I still remember the finish line beep at IRAs in 2005.

Looking next to us, I couldn't see exactly where the other boats were. Everything was blurry. Since Aaron & Malcolm were pulling us to victory, as evidenced by the three-peat, this temporary vision loss clearly wasn't exhaustion. It was largely a combination of my comically long hair in my face and having not changed my contacts in months.

One of my fondest memories was when I, a tall, lanky guy, and our slightly shorter, stockier teammate Paul decided to demonstrate what a "new tanks challenge" was to the freshman. For those of you who did not suffer on the iron rule of Kip, this involves climbing out the window of the showers on the second floor, running across the roof of the tanks, completing a set of calisthenics, and running back to the showers.

After we had all dressed and left, the police came to the boathouse. They had received several distressed calls from concerned parents at a lacrosse game across Soldiers Field Road that we had accidentally also taught them how to complete a "New Tanks Challenge."

When the door opened for the police, we had long left, but the police were greeted by Harry & Charlie.

I only heard this story years later when Harry was reminiscing about when the Boston police were convinced that he and Charlie had been running around nude on the rooftop.

I'm incredibly grateful to the Harvard Rowing community, the coaches, and the university for supporting this strange and rare addiction. Most importantly, I'm thankful for my teammates for earning me this award and to my parents for getting this comically large Tennessee kid out of the house and onto the water. The lessons of being even-keeled and persistence are used nearly every day and often get me through bathtime.

And if you're still looking for further instruction on how to complete a "New Tanks Challange", just ask the rower in your life, I'm sure the muscle memory will come right back.