Harvard boasts 42 nation-leading Division I intercollegiate sports teams. Roughly one-fifth of undergraduates are varsity athletes, and almost 80% participate in some form of athletics on campus. This fall, after 17 months without Ivy League athletics, The Crimson will once again participate in competitions. Despite the prolonged absence of competition and on-campus training, many student-athletes have developed a heightened appreciation for their sports and are eager to get back to playing.
“I think teams have done a terrific job in supporting each other through the pandemic and they have been connected and productive in many ways,” said Harvard Athletic Director Erin McDermott. “I’m proud of how they pulled together and adapted, as athletes must at all times to excel and thrive, when facing change and challenge.”
Difficulties will doubtlessly emerge for Crimson teams this fall. Players must return to what they call “game shape,” a level of endurance and overall fitness that enables competing at a high level.
“Preparation for competition will need to be managed more gradually,” said McDermott. “Student-athletes will need to physically acclimate back into muscle memory, endurance, strength and conditioning levels that are appropriate and optimal for competition.”
Though some student-athletes lived on campus during parts of last year and were able to access Harvard trainers and facilities, the majority remained at home. “Most have not been able to engage in strength and conditioning or sport training with coaches for all this time,” said McDermott. “Even if able to train individually last year, there is nothing that can simulate team activity or competition.”
However, the significant amount of time student-athletes spent away from their tight-knit teams has not undermined their commitment to them. Virtual activities were not as conducive to the formation of team connections as in-person engagements, but they did enable students to retain a semblance of contact with one another last year.
“The pandemic definitely affected the Harvard Athletics community in unforeseen ways,” said Taylor Fasnacht ’24. “Luckily the women’s soccer team was able to be proactive through [virtual] weekly team meetings where we analyzed film, established our team values, and formed strong relationships with one another through a wide variety of activities.”
Women’s lacrosse player Chloe Provenzano ’24 also echoed a spirit of camaraderie. She says she is “excited to build our team culture and to get to know the incoming class of girls on the team.”
Most of all, student-athletes are resolute in their desire to represent Harvard once again.
“Although the team has been away from Cambridge over the last calendar year, the camaraderie amongst the group has strengthened, as well as the group’s desire to claim an Ivy League pennant,” said Fernando Docters ’21, a member of the men’s soccer team. “It won’t be an easy feat, but the group is excited to take the Ivy League by storm, because for us, we know we can do it.”
“I’m most looking forward to playing in games again,” said Provenzano. Fasnacht agrees: “We are all super excited to compete this fall and could not be more ready to fight for the Ivy League title,” she said.
Last year’s circumstances certainly weighed on Crimson athletes; sports are, of course, communal endeavors. Meanwhile, the current surge of the Delta variant of COVID-19 is prompting questions about the future of The Crimson. But with the University’s plans for athletic competition still in place, the 2021-2022 school year rings out with an air of hopefulness and dynamism—and at last, a little normalcy.
Will Goldsmith ’24 (willgoldsmith@college.harvard.edu) writes for the Independent.