So I was at the basketball game on campus on Saturday, a crushing loss that sent Vermont to the NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament instead of us. I was despondent about it — I’ve posted before about how passionately I want to get over the athletic hump — but I realized that it’s just one game, just one opportunity, in a sea of red that we’ve worked so hard to build over the years here on campus. So as much as I really, really, really, really wanted our students to rush the court and dance like maniacs, we had a pretty successful weekend overall that went (largely) unnoticed:
- Lucy Van Dalen, her mantle already covered in awards, won Stony Brook’s first athletic national title on Saturday, winning the mile race at the NCAA Championships in Idaho. Here’s a link to a short video interview with Lucy after the race.
- Stony Brook Rugby, a club sport, won the Long Island Cup Saturday as well!
- And since our men’s basketball team did win the America East regular-season title for the second time in three years, their season — despite the tough day Saturday — still got a postseason invitation, and will face Seton Hall in the first round of the NIT Tuesday night.
It’s easy to get caught up in the big stuff, the sports that sell out arenas and stadiums and show up on the ESPN2 schedule a few times a year… but the fact is, I’m thrilled with what we’ve accomplished athletically, even if I don’t get to submit a bracket contest entry putting men’s basketball in the national championship game. (Which you KNOW I would have done.)
Congratulations to all our student athletes… you make us proud!