Winner Wonderland
May 06, 2010 By Steve Stoute
A look back at the remarkable accomplishments of the Princeton student-athletes in the 2010 winter season, where the Tigers brought seven Ivy League Championships back to Old Nassau.
For those of us who reside in the Northeast the arrival of winter brings with it very distinct memories, some very fond and some not so fond. There is the smell of wood burning fires, the soothing taste of apple cider and the presence of “Frosty” the snowman. Of course old man winter also brings harsh temperatures, dark days and this year in particular record setting snowfall. With all due respect to the frigid season, the Tigers were ablaze in the competitive arena; bringing seven Ivy League titles back to Old Nassau. The winter haul brings the Ivy championship total for this year to nine, one shy of an historic nineteenth year with double digit championships in the Ivy League.
In an interesting juxtaposition the men’s and women’s fencing, indoor track & field and swimming teams matched each other with dueling Ivy League championships; with women’s basketball completing the championship winning squad. Such a feat is truly an incredible accomplishment, if only that were the end of the story; but the achievement is elevated higher in the athletic pantheon by the fact that each winter championship was wrested without blemish in the Ivy League. In the competitive arena of intercollegiate athletics, a multitude of factors may be used to determine success, but ultimately wins are important, and at Princeton where excellence triumphs, going undefeated in the Ivy League is sweet sustenance especially in contrast to the bitter winter days.
The pursuit of perfection is laughable in most endeavors, but nonetheless each season begins with coaches and athletes alike filled with hope and aspirations. Coaches repeat the mantra “one at a time” and harp on their teams to remain in the present, focus their energy and preparation on the next opponent and no further. In fact, in athletic circles great teams have met their peril at the hands of lesser opponents who were overlooked, which is at once maddening and encouraging. The knowledge that regardless of what has been accomplished previously, varying levels of talent, disparate resources and any other factors that may seem to shift the balance of power; victory is not guaranteed and is earned each and every time, is indeed refreshing. This sheds even brighter light on the seven undefeated Ivy League champions who represented Princeton with such distinction this winter.
The drab dreary days of winter were not nearly enough to squelch the competitive fire emanating from within the walls of Jadwin Gym and DeNunzio Pool. Through the doldrums of winter the Tigers once again emerged atop the Ivy League, akin to a fresh blanket of pristine snow the likes of which has not been seen before at Old Nassau.
Congratulations to the Tigers of the winter for toppling your Ivy League foes and transforming our world into a winner wonderland.
