John Cole is presently working as an investment consultant at Cambridge
Associates in Boston. The essay below was
for the Senior Letter-winners Dinner. The collection of these
essays from senior captains and/or senior members of the Student Athlete
Advisory Committee help to create a written history of the experiences of
our student-athletes. You can find the remaining essays at
http://gocrimson.collegesports.com/genrel/070605aae.html
John Cole • Men's Swimming & Diving
Co-Captain • Harrington Park, N.J. • Biology • Cabot House
On October 1, 2004, the Harvard men's swimming and diving team celebrated
the first day of practice with a traditional midnight workout. A few
minutes into the official beginning of the new season, coaches
Tim Murphy and
Sean Schimmel had us list the team's
values and goals for the season. Atop our list of values were pride,
commitment, tradition and sportsmanship; and our main goal was to have an
undefeated season. This meant winning every dual meet and being
victorious at the Eastern Intercollegiate Swimming League Championship,
two feats which had not been simultaneously accomplished since the
1999-2000 season. With these goals in mind, we printed a quote on the
back of our team shirts with the final phrase of the quote reading,
"... and we will be PERFECT." Using this phrase as motivation
to push us through months of hard work and preparation, our team recorded
a perfect 8-0 season prior to winning the EISL championship in our home
pool
Making this year even more exciting, Harvard men's swimming and
diving celebrated its 75th anniversary. During a celebratory weekend in
November, current team members were privileged to meet former Harvard
swimmers, divers, coaches and family members who, since 1930, helped to
establish a tradition of success. We listened to their stories and
learned how their Harvard athletic experience shaped and even still
continues to influence their lives. While the specific details of the
alumni's stories and experiences may differ from those of current team
members and more recent graduates, each of the shared experiences
expressed a common theme of fraternity, tradition and pride - a trademark
of Harvard athletics.
Indeed, this year really could not have been more `perfect'
for me. As a senior captain, I was fortunate enough to lead this team
along with co-captain Andy Krna and fellow seniors
James Lawler, Alex Siroky,
Ryan Smith and
Brian Zingale to accomplish a goal
that we had not achieved since 2000. My experiences on the Harvard men's
swimming and diving team are ones that I will certainly value for the
rest of my life. During my four years on the team and my time as
co-captain this past year, I've learned more from coach Murphy and coach
Schimmel, my teammates and from myself than I could have ever
anticipated. It has been a fun, challenging, exciting and rewarding
experience. To be able to compete in the sport that you love and to
represent the best university in the world is truly awesome.
Thanks John for a great 4 years!!!!!!!