sports and fitness archive

MIT cyclists win Division II national championship - The MIT Cycling Team won the 2008 Division II national road racing championships after a weekend of exceptional performances by its men's and women's teams. May 12, 2008

'Cycle-logical' bonding for students, professor - It's not unusual for MIT professors and their students to socialize outside the laboratory. But here's a word of warning to would-be members of Jeff Tester's lab: You might want to think about getting in shape. February 13, 2008

Sports, innovation share stage at Sloan event - A love of sports can lead to exultation and heartbreak. But it can also lead to technical innovation, a point emphasized in one of the panels during the second annual MIT Sloan Sports Business Conference, held Feb. 9. February 13, 2008

Profiles in excellence at MIT - MIT is known for bringing out the best in its students academically, but that ambition also applies to athletics. MIT's volleyball teams have achieved stellar success, and much of the credit goes to Coach Paul Dill, who will receive a 2008 Excellence Award for Bringing Out the Best. February 13, 2008

Sports business conference to be held Feb. 9 - On Feb. 9, the second annual MIT Sloan Sports Business Conference will explore the role of analytics in managing successful professional teams and leagues. February 6, 2008

Making a splash - Senior Doria Holbrook flies skyward as she practices diving at the Zesiger Center. Holbrook, a mechanical engineering major, was a top high school pole-vaulter, but foot problems led her to choose diving instead when she arrived at MIT. January 28, 2008

Hockey outfits go hi-tech with MIT help - Testing done at MIT is helping players in the National Hockey League (NHL) improve their game, and possibly their image. Dr. Kim Blair subjected three prototypes and the old uniform to wind-resistance testing in MIT's powerful wind tunnel. July 2, 2007

Julie Soriero is new director of athletics - Julie Soriero, director of athletics at Colorado College, has been named MIT's new department head and director of athletics, physical education and recreation, Dean Larry G. Benedict has announced. March 20, 2007

Silver skates - Freshmen Darren Yin (left), Tracy Li (center) and Dina Kachintseva (right) are on the ice at Johnson Athletic Center, trying out a skating class on the first day of IAP. January 10, 2007

Cycling team peddling Nobel jerseys - MIT cycling team members have found a way to combine the scientific excellence in the halls of MIT with their athletic pursuits. To raise money for the team, they asked four Nobel laureates to autograph two official cycling team jerseys. August 25, 2006

Zesiger Center makes A-List for great facilities - In the heat of the summer, it is good to know the best swimming pool in the Boston area is right here at MIT. In an Internet poll, the Al and Barrie Zesiger Sports and Fitness Center took home the title for "Best Swimming Pool" and "Best Cardio Gym" in the Boston metro area. July 20, 2006

MIT runners step up for Boston Marathon - Running both officially and as "bandits," dozens of MIT affiliates were among the 20,000 people who trekked 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Boston during the Boston Marathon on Monday, April 17. April 20, 2006

Royer named senior associate dean in Division of Student Life - Candace L. Royer, head of MIT's Department of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation /director of athletics, has been named senior associate dean in the Division of Student Life. April 18, 2006

Wellness Week message: Sleep and eat - Wellness Week kicked off the morning of April 10 with a host of events focusing on mental health, fitness and nutrition that will end Sunday, just in time for the Boston Marathon on April 17. April 12, 2006

Basketball star reflects on great season - The highlight of this year's record-breaking men's basketball season was the Feb. 25 game against the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, said senior guard Mike D'Auria. For that game in Worcester, a busload of MIT students came to support the team. March 8, 2006

Brains, not brawn, takes alumnus to Olympics - MIT alumnus Patrick Antaki '84, a self-employed engineer and entrepreneur living in Texas, represented his birth country of Lebanon in the Winter Olympics in the sled racing sport called skeleton. February 27, 2006

A stroke for team spirit - Members of MIT's women's crew team held a row-a-thon in front of the Stratton Student Center to raise money on Friday, Feb. 10. Ten percent of the proceeds were to be donated to the MIT branch of Habitat for Humanity. February 14, 2006

Cool research centers on Olympic skates - A pair of MIT students spent the year leading up to the 2006 Winter Olympics testing a new ice skate design that may help Olympic speed skaters break world records someday. February 10, 2006

They've got game - J. Kim Vandiver, dean for undergraduate research, is one of several faculty members who helps build a bridge between the academic and athletic lives of athlete students through MIT's year-old Varsity Sport Faculty Mentor Program. February 1, 2006

MIT community challenged to 'get fit' - Last year, nearly 1,300 participants stepped up to the getfit@mit challenge, an effort to get MIT community members up and exercising. This year, the sponsors are hoping for 2,000. December 29, 2005

Many take winter break in distant lands - Senior music lecturer George Ruckert, several MIT Sloan School of Management students and the MIT crew team are some of the many in the MIT community who plan to use their winter breaks for more than just unwinding from the first semester. December 23, 2005

Magic eights - MIT's men's eight crew, wearing red and black, compete in the Head of the Charles Regatta on Sunday, Oct. 23, as women's crews from other schools line up for their start. October 26, 2005

Alumnus leads crew to victory in Israel - An MIT alumnus made a splash in Israel this summer, coaching the U.S. crew team to 10 medals at the 17th Maccabiah Games, an international competition sometimes called the "Jewish Olympics." August 18, 2005

Moore named new phys ed director - MIT's Department of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation named Carrie Moore director of physical education on Monday, July 18. August 1, 2005

Looks like smooth sailing - Freshman Abby Carey and Alicia diFrancesca take a boat out on the Charles in what sailing master Fran Charles described as very windy conditions. April 27, 2005

Team effort helps 1,000 get fit - A little healthy competition spurred almost 1,000 people to join in the first MIT getfit@mit challenge, which wrapped up this month. Participants together logged more than 4 million workout minutes. April 21, 2005

Lacing up for 24,795-Smoot race - Thanks to "Smoot Smart," MIT's web site for members of the Institute community involved in the Boston Marathon, you'll know whose names to yell during the race on April 18. April 13, 2005

Water, water everywhere - The MIT freshman lightweight crew team heads out to battle Army on April 2. April 13, 2005

Student drafted for basketball flick - When Daniel Kanamori took more than a year off school to move to Los Angeles, he never expected to wind up sharing screen time with Samuel L. Jackson, but that is exactly what happened. March 9, 2005

In the swim of things - Members of the MIT men's varsity swim team follow tradition and run down the Infinite Corridor, whooping it up prior to the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference championships. February 25, 2005

A win at the Head of the Charles - A boat half-filled with MIT affiliates came in first place ahead of 43 other boats in the Club Fours Men's Race Saturday at the 40th Head of the Charles Regatta. October 26, 2004

Boathouse plays central role in celebrated regatta - Long before the World Series hits Fenway Park this weekend, rowers will hit the river for the Head of the Charles Regatta which begins at 9 a.m. Saturday morning, Oct. 23. October 22, 2004

MIT brains and brawn light up Athens - MIT mathematician Nate Ackerman offers proof that scientists can combine brain and brawn as he competes in Athens with the top wrestlers in the world. He joins an assortment of MIT alumni and faculty at the 2004 Olympics. August 17, 2004

Students pedal exercise - The key to success with exercise has little to do with your fitness goals, say MIT students who have created a motivational video exercise game. May 5, 2004

The Boston Marathon isn't so tough - A lot of runners wanted a piece of the action last Monday. But for at least one MIT runner, the marathon is just that -- a piece of the action, not the whole show. April 28, 2004

The Boston Marathon ain't so tough - A lot of runners want a piece of the action Monday. But for at least one MIT runner, the marathon is just that -- a piece of the action, not the whole show. April 20, 2004

Alum goes to 'show' - Jason Szuminski is the first MIT alumnus to graduate to baseball's major leagues. April 6, 2004

Alum pitcher trying to catch on with Padres - Fans at MIT can now follow one of their own--Jason Szuminski (S.B. 2000)--as he tries to make the major-league roster of the San Diego Padres. March 3, 2004

IAP in pictures - Various pictures of MIT happenings. January 28, 2004

Show time for MIT pitcher - MIT graduate Jason Szuminski received an early Christmas gift that he's been dreaming of since Little League--a shot at the majors. January 14, 2004

Show time for MIT pitcher - MIT graduate Jason Szuminski received an early Christmas gift that he's been dreaming of since Little League--a shot at the majors. December 23, 2003

Zesiger Center wins national award - This month the Zesiger Center received national recognition by the sports and fitness industry. December 19, 2003

MIT harrier takes Division III championship - Benjamin A. Schmeckpeper won the New England Division III Regional Cross Country Championship race on Saturday, Nov. 15, becoming the first MIT harrier to take the title in 22 years. November 19, 2003

One-day sail - James Modisette, a junior in aeronautics and astronautics, and Daniel Bercovici, a senior in chemistry, handle a 20-foot Olympic Star boat in the White Trophy Regatta. October 29, 2003

Chess champ joins crew - Senior Elina Groberman joined the MIT crew after she was captivated by the sport as a spectator at the Head of the Charles regatta. October 22, 2003

Z first anniversary - The Department of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation celebrated the first anniversary of the Zesiger Athletic Center with a cake and demonstrations. October 1, 2003

Cancer cyclists raise $18K - With his fraternity brothers Greg Mahowald (S.M. 2003) and senior Taku Iida, Rattray biked from Boston to Seattle, concluding with an emotional celebration in his hometown in WA. September 8, 2003

Student to swim English Channel - MIT junior Nicholas Sidelnik overcame six-foot waves to accomplish "the Everest of swimming"--crossing the English Channel. August 5, 2003

MIT swimmer takes Manhattan - MIT junior Nick Sidelnik battled East River garbage and a persistent South African in the unofficial Manhattan Island Marathon Swim on Saturday, June 14. June 18, 2003

Where the rubber meets the road - Three students hit the road on June 10 for a 3,500-mile cross-country cycling trip, hoping to raise $25,000 for the American Cancer Society. June 12, 2003

Taekwondo sponsors kick in $3,029 - The MIT Sport Taekwondo Club raised $3,029 at a Kick-a-Thon on May 10. May 30, 2003

MIT runners breathless after marathon - Rixman and Duncan, both first-time participants in the Boston Marathon on April 21, savored the experience of running in the Boston Marathon. April 25, 2003

Picower administrator runs - Hatch, 59, an administrator at the Picower Center for Learning and Memory, will be competing in the Boston Marathon for the 26th consecutive year on Monday, April 21. April 16, 2003

Marathon participant - Greg Raposa of MIT Libraries ran the Boston Marathon on a lark a year ago, crashing the race as a "bandit" without a number. March 19, 2003

West Coast alums train - Members of the MIT Community Running Club are preparing for the club's third annual pilgrimage back east to run in the Boston Marathon. March 12, 2003

Storm shuts down tennis courts - MIT's indoor tennis courts were shut down Tuesday morning as a result of damage suffered during Monday's 27.5-inch snowstorm. February 20, 2003

Cross Court - Skiers on Killian Court enjoyed the unexpectedly heavy snowfall on Friday, Feb. 7. February 12, 2003

Zesiger "Games" Installation - Funded through MIT's Percent-for-Art Program, "Games of Chance and Skill," the new art installation in the Zesiger Center, was created specifically for the Zesiger corridor. November 20, 2002

25 years of MIT football - Seventy-five former players were introduced at halftime of last Saturday's Homecoming game against Curry College in ceremonies to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the modern era of MIT football. October 11, 2002

Z Center makes splash - The Zesiger Sports and Fitness Center was dedicated Friday in a ceremony beside the larger of the new center's two pools. October 9, 2002

Zesiger Pool design promotes speed - The Olympic-class Zesiger Pool was built to accommodate the MIT swimming, diving and water polo teams in a well-lit natatorium that soars five stories high. October 9, 2002

Competition in Johnson Games - It was a bright and sunny day made even brighter by the 1,000-plus flashy T-shirts swarming Steinbrenner Stadium and the Jack Barry Field at Saturday's Johnson Games. October 2, 2002

Residence dedicated at Games - A dedication ceremony took place for the new residence hall and the opening ceremony of the Johnson Games held in its honor. October 2, 2002

Johnson Games are colorful - This year the Johnson Games were held in honor of the opening of the new graduate residence at 70 Pacific St., known to the residents as Sidney-Pacific. September 30, 2002

Bikes for a buck - Residents of 70 Pacific St. can add bicycles to the dwindling list of things they can get for a buck. September 25, 2002

Johnson Games honor dorm - Organizers expect more than 1,600 people from 40 teams to participate in the 2002 MIT Johnson Games on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 1:50 p.m. September 18, 2002

MIT sailors cruise to victory - An international crew from MIT beat the Naval Academy, Boston College and seven others in the Corinthian 200 College Cup, a 145-nautical-mile race held July 5-7. September 11, 2002

Zesiger Center enhances life - The Z-Center is scheduled to open Sept. 23; grand opening ceremonies are set for Oct. 4. August 28, 2002

Zesiger Center to open - The MIT community will be able to exercise new freedom in pursuit of fitness starting in September, when the Zesiger Sports and Fitness Center opens its doors. July 17, 2002

Z Center to open in fall - The Zesiger Sports and Fitness Center will offer MIT students, staff, and faculty new, state-of-the-art opportunities for sports and general vigor when its doors open in September 2002. July 5, 2002

Sports awards handed out - Students have been recognized for their athletic achievements with Institute-wide awards as well as honors in several individual sports. June 5, 2002

Women experience ultimate success - Thirteen MIT undergraduates and graduate students reeled off 26 consecutive ultimate Frisbee victories before losing to the eventual winner in the National Women's Championships in Spokane, Wash. June 5, 2002

MIT women experience success - Thirteen MIT undergraduates and graduate students reeled off 26 consecutive ultimate Frisbee victories before losing to the eventual winner in the National Women's Championships. May 30, 2002

Johnson Games sets deadline - The 2002 Johnson Games will be held on Saturday, Sept. 28 in celebration of the opening of the new graduate residence at 70 Pacific St. May 1, 2002

Senior finishes 32nd in marathon - Listing of MIT students, alumni and staff who ran the Boston Marathon, including senior Daniel Feldman who finished 32nd. April 24, 2002

Campus workers to run marathon - David Barber, wearing cargo pants and a garish wide tie, and Brian Foti in his tattered Pittsburgh Steeler jacket are familiar figures on campus. March 13, 2002

MIT coach competes in Olympics - MIT women's hockey coach will play on the Russian national team in the Olympics. February 13, 2002

Basketball players design team web site - MIT varsity basketball players Neal Brenner, Kyle Doherty and Andrew Tsai designed a snazzy web site for their team. January 9, 2002

B-ball players excel online, on court - MIT varsity basketball players designed a snazzy web site for their team, featuring a bouncing basketball, photos of players, and game action videos. December 26, 2001

Sailing coach wins major regatta - An MIT sailing coach won a major regatta last week, with an undergraduate as his crew in a boat built by the MIT sailing master. December 12, 2001

MIT sailors' competition - An MIT sailing coach won a major regatta last week, with an undergraduate student as his crew in a boat built by the MIT sailing master. December 7, 2001

Senior wins national gold - Christina Park was 10 years old when her parents introduced her to tae kwon do. Now, 11 years later, they can introduce her as a national collegiate champion in the sport. November 28, 2001

Women should lift weights - Dr. Miriam Nelson has written four books claiming that strong women stay young and slim, eat well and have strong bones. November 14, 2001

Miriam Nelson to give talk - Dr. Miriam E. Nelson, a nutrition and exercise expert, will lecture on "Strong Women" Monday, Nov. 5 in Wong Auditorium. October 31, 2001

Athletics dept. seeks input - The latest draft of the Department of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation's strategic plan has been posted on the department web site, along with an online survey. October 24, 2001

Grad chases baseball dreams - Mike McCarroll was among dozens of members of MIT's Class of 1999 to head for the Silicon Valley in search of professional growth. July 18, 2001

Alum in baseball business - Unlike his classmates, Mike McCarroll was not lured by the promise of dot.com lucre. For him, the attraction was sjgiants.com and the financially challenged world of minor-league baseball. July 11, 2001

1st MIT alum enters Academic Hall of Fame - Jennifer Harris Trosper will to be inducted into the Verizon Academic All-America Hall of Fame. June 24, 2001

Professor's swim record broken - Three of the MIT swim records Professor Karen Klincewicz Gleason set her sophomore year stood for 20 years until freshman Georgene Hilb finally broke them this season. May 9, 2001

Who's Hu at the Marathon - Roger and Stanley Hu, both graduate students in electrical engineering and computer science, reversed roles at the Boston Marathon this year. April 25, 2001

Royer named MIT athletic director - Candace L. Royer, a professor of physical education, has been named director of athletics and head of the Department of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation. January 25, 2001

Royer is athletics director - Candace L. Royer has been named director of athletics and head of the Department of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation. January 24, 2001