Swat isn’t known in college guidebooks for its passion for athletics. We’re never described as a jock school, and on most Sunday afternoons library-goers outnumber football junkies by 20 to 1. But as a jock, a tomboy, whatever you want to call me, I’ve managed to experience my share of memorable, emotional and sometimes just crazy sports moments, proving that the wonderful world of sports can permeate even as intense an academic environment as Swarthmore in subtle yet significant ways. It doesn’t matter that most of these events never made the paper, they will always have a firm place in my heart, and for that, I would like to thank the people who made them possible – and The Phoenix, for giving into my last demand to be as sappy and nostalgic as possible in one column. Without further ado, the ten greatest sports moments in my Swarthmore tenure:
10. Watching the Eagles vs. Patriots Superbowl freshman year in a dorm room filled with Philadelphians, a few months after my New Yorker roommate and I agreed not to speak for a week following game 7 of the ALCS. Yes, I’m a gloating sports fan, but I’m a New Englander. I’ve had it rough, now I have it good. Give me a break.
9. Perpetually lifting 15 pound dumbbells (and occasionally making in to 20!) in the gym while surrounded by lacrosse and basketball players. Maybe if I grunt you’ll think I’m tougher?
8. Being in the bathroom when Swat scored the winning goal in overtime against Frostburg State this Fall. Wondering why fans were running onto the field before the extra time had started.
7. Forcing Worth courtyard naked laps and claiming matchmaking prowess because of it. (Can I also take this space to point out that it’s a bad idea to try to strip while running and that I’ve seen the abrasions to prove it?) I’m going take the liberty to combine this with another non-alcoholic Beirut moment. Taking Swarthmore men’s basketball all-time scoring leader Matt Gustafson ’05 and general crazy person Chris Rose ’05 into overtime in my first game of Beirut ever. It was totally legit that I was sober and thus may have a had the slight advantage in hand-eye coordination. That second round of cups was the most beautiful pyramid I will ever see in my life.
6. Playing a spontaneous game of Red Rover on Parrish Beach with my freshman year hall the first week of classes and again the last. Sorry, here’s the sappy part. Nothing like starting out your Swarthmore career with a clotheslining from two senior guys twice your size.
5. Watching my roommate sink a half-court shot at the halftime buzzer in a Swarthmore basketball game freshman year. Wishing I had athletic skill.
4. Sporting underwear with “SWAT” written across the backside to a women’s soccer game junior year. Not minding that I looked like a fool because, hey, it’s Swarthmore. Taking that same attitude to my appearance and behavior most other days of the year.
3. Inventing, with the help of my sophomore year block, a truly epic game, Competitive Bra Unhooking (CBU). It’s challenging, it’s violent, and it’s amazing. No nudity involved, I promise. Look for more information during Senior Week.
2. Watching both the men’s and women’s swim teams beat F&M at home last year. Along with everyone else in attendance, I went hoarse. I may have gotten just a little teary-eyed at the end. And again writing the article. Frampton, don’t laugh.
1. Mercilessly heckling opposing soccer players and their haircuts, making the most obscure sports metaphors possible, arguing over the best NFL quarterback to the point of rage, eating as much Key Lime Pie as the human stomach can hold (a sport, if you’ve never tried it), and discussing the meaning of life on the rugby sideline with the best co-editor and friend I could ever have asked for.
A few months remain before I have to say goodbye to this school, but it’s not too early to say, thank you Swat. Thanks athletes, hallmates and partners in random acts of foolery. It’s been so good I’ve occasionally forgotten that I don’t have a football team to root for.
Genevra is a senior. You can reach her at gpittma1@swarthmore.edu.
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