SEASON RECAP: Rookies Offer a Flurry of Potential

Last year, the Harvard skiing team overcame a particularly difficult problem. The alpine team had no coach throughout the entire season and was forced to coach itself.

This year, however, a new coach was found to lead the alpine team. An eight-year coaching veteran and former competitive skier, Tim Mitchell brought much-needed guidance to a talented but unguided team.

With a new coach at the helm for alpine skiers and familiar face Peter Graves in his fifth year as head coach of the Nordic crew, the Crimson delivered on Graves’ promise from last year: “We are going to really produce some much-improved results.”

Harvard, which has been steadily improving year to year, reached new heights this season.

Recruiting had been particularly difficult for the Crimson in years past, but this year, it saw new life as the team gained several new competitors, expanding from 16 to 29 people.

In competition, the Harvard ski team traditionally finished in 10th or worse in seasons past. However, the Crimson has seen a steady mark of improvement since last season which continued into this year.

The team recorded ninth-place finishes at the New Hampshire, Vermont, and Dartmouth Winter Carnivals.

In the last two meets of the year, Harvard faltered in its resolve and fell into familiar territory.

The Crimson claimed the infamous 10th spot in both the Williams College Winter Carnival and the Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association Championships.

Despite the misstep towards the end of the season, the Crimson has much to look forward to in the coming year. With seniors leaving, younger skiers are showing much promise as future team leaders.

In the eyes of her teammates, freshman Nordic skier Audrey Mangan has an especially bright future.

“As Harvard’s best freshman, Audrey has had several very good classic races this year and has the potential to do very well in the next three years,” senior co-captain Jennifer Harlow said in an earlier interview.

Mangan was awarded the Graham Taylor Freshman of the Year award for her performances.

And for the team as a whole, if the current trend of steady improvement continues, then next year will be better than this. Coach Mitchell already foresees the possibility.

“We ended on a good note this year,” he said. “Everyone has been making progress, and it is something to build on for next year.”

—Staff writer Vincent R. Oletu can be reached at voletu@fas.harvard.edu.