SINCE 1891
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016
VOLUME CLI, ISSUE 62
Brown athletes realize Olympic aspirations Gobbo ’13 becomes first American gold medalist from Brown since 1932 in women’s rowing triumph By BEN SHUMATE
By LAURA FELENSTEIN SENIOR STAFF WRITER
As Brown graduates, Jimmy Pedro ’94 and Luke McGee ’01 could have pursued any number of successful career paths. But both ended up coaching at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil this year. The U.S. judo team brought home one silver and one gold medal, and rowers in the men’s coxed eight fell just a couple minutes short of earning a bronze medal. For U.S. Olympic Judo Coach Pedro, the road to Rio was longer than for most. In fact, his judo journey has lasted as long as he can remember. “I was literally thrown into the sport of judo from a very young age,” Pedro said. “Ever since I can remember, I’ve been on a judo mat.” Pedro competed in four iterations of the Games himself, starting in 1992. Being involved in a sport for so long comes with certain expectations.
INSIDE
Etzel ’19 leads Bears to bounce-back victory
By NICHOLAS WEY SENIOR STAFF WRITER
TANEIL RUFFIN / HERALD
American women have won the eights, continuing a dynasty that has drawn comparisons to the Soviet hockey teams of the ’60s and ’70s. “It definitely feels like I am a part of something so much bigger than just the one year’s race,” Gobbo said. “It’s a bizarre and awesome feeling.” Despite all of her success at the international level, the NCAA championship team at Brown was especially memorable for Gobbo because contribution was required from every member for the team title, she said.
Alums coach American athletes at Rio Games Former Olympian Pedro ’94 returns to Rio on sidelines, leads judo team to gold, silver medals
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Loss to crosstown rival Providence College precedes shutout result against Lafayette
SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Among the over 11,000 athletes competing for their countries at the Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil were four who have called Brown their home. Representing the United States in rowing were Tessa Gobbo ’13 and Anders Weiss ’15, while Louisa Chafee ’14 competed in sailing. Swimmer Sovijja Pou ’17 was the only current Brown athlete to compete in Rio, where he represented Cambodia. Gobbo had the most successful Olympics of the four, taking home gold in the women’s eights competition. Though she is the first American gold medalist from Brown since 1932, she is no stranger to winning in this event. Gobbo was a member of the 2011 women’s NCAA championship crew team at Brown and also collected a title in the eights competition at the 2015 World Championships. The gold in Rio marked 10 straight races at the World Championships or Olympics where the
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“Judo was a way of life for me and my family. So I knew I was always going to be around the sport of judo as a coach. I didn’t know that I was ultimately going to become … the most successful Olympic judo coach (the United States) has ever had,” Pedro said. This year has been our nation’s most successful Olympic judo run in history. For U.S. Olympic Men’s Rowing Coach McGee, a future in his sport was not so set in stone. Upon being offered his first coaching job 12 years ago — which happened to be at Brown — McGee questioned if he even knew how to teach rowing. “I was scared at first. I was nervous,” he said. Pedro and McGee’s post-Brown paths bear salient similarities. Within a year of graduating, both men immediately continued their careers in athletics; Pedro went to Japan to train full time and McGee to Princeton to row professionally. Both men also had stints working with the under-23 U.S. national team for their respective sports and from there were offered the coveted coaching positions they hold today. » See COACHES, page 4
“All of the boats counted, and we had to support each other (at Brown),” she said. “Whereas on the national team, we’re all competing for the same seat, so the team atmosphere is different. It’s hard to pick the more important win for me because both were so crucial and exciting.” Considered a long shot to qualify for Rio, Weiss was cut from consideration for a spot in a larger boat but salvaged his Olympic hopes by earning a spot in the pair event, an experience » See OLYMPICS, page 3
Despite falling to Providence College 1-0 Thursday in a nail-biter, the women’s soccer team did not let its first loss of the season dampen the weekend mood. At Lafayette Sunday, the Bears (3-1-1) struck early and held strong late to top the Leopards (3-2-2) 1-0 in a game that truly tested the team’s physical and mental fortitude. “We are happy with the result today against Lafayette,” Head Coach Kia McNeill wrote in an email to The Herald. “This is our fourth shutout this season which is a huge testament to Christine (Etzel ’19), our backline and the team as a whole.” In the Bears’ Thursday evening matchup versus Providence (4-2-1), the team started off slow. At half-time the Friars had recorded seven shots to Brown’s one. Both teams had managed
to each secure two corner kicks — with midfielder Sarah Cobb ’18 sending each into the box for the Bears. But while Providence was able to convert each opportunity into a header shot on goal, Bruno could not penetrate the Friars’ set-piece defense during these moments. The first half was also highlighted by three diving saves from Brown keeper Etzel, including one especially acrobatic stop in the 14th minute. But after the first period, neither team had the lead, and there was a chance for Brown to fight back. After the second half started, the Bears came out much more aggressive. Midfielder Megan Grant ’19 recorded a shot just two minutes into play, and her team followed that with three more over the next 20 minutes. Despite Etzel’s success in the first half, she could not stop Providence forward Casey Estey in a one-one-one breakaway in the 66th minute. Estey’s goal would be the game-winner. Multiple attempts by Bruno in the final 20 minutes — two shots by co-captain Carly Gould ’17 and three corner kicks » See W. SOCCER, page 2
MEN’S SOCCER
COURTESY OF BROWN ATHLETICS
Co-captain Nate Pomeroy ’17 has been key to the Bears’ undefeated start, tallying three points in as many games. He scored the second goal in Bruno’s 2-0 win over Southern Methodist Sunday.
Chow ’19 lifts Bruno with late penalty kick Bears continue to play impenetrable defense, remain undefeated to start 2016 campaign By EMILE BAUTISTA STAFF WRITER
As a part of the Capital City Classic, the men’s soccer team collected a pair of victories in three days to stay undefeated. Friday, it came from behind to take down Georgia State in extra time on by a tally of 2-1, thanks to the late game heroics
of Matthew Chow ’19, before handily defeating Southern Methodist Sunday 2-0. The quick turnaround between games necessitated the use of the team’s depth, meaning that some players were getting more minutes than usual. Yet the Bears looked fresh and ready to rise up to the challenge. “Everyone came into the season really prepared fitness wise, which is great,” said co-captain Nate Pomeroy ’17. The Bears took on GSU on a hot and muggy Friday night. The visitors boasted a potent offense that had scored a whopping 11 goals in its trio of victories, and
they showed their prowess within two minutes. GSU’s Hannes Burmeister — the team’s leading goal scorer with six in four games — buried the team’s first shot on goal into the back of the net, giving it the 1-0 advantage. In the 23rd minute, Bruno answered. Quinn English ’18 latched onto a ball from Carl Johan Mix ’19 and made his way to the byline. He lofted a ball into the center of the box where an unmarked Nico Lozada ’18 met the pass with a first time left-footed volley. The shot darted into the bottom left corner for Lozada’s » See M. SOCCER, page 2
WEATHER
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016
SPORTS Men’s water polo ends Princeton tournament 1-2 against topranked teams, looks to rebound
SPORTS Volleyball drops three straight in West Coast tournament, team remains optimistic
COMMENTARY Johnson ’19: UCS distribution of feminine hygiene products sets example for colleges nationwide
COMMENTARY Malik ’18: Readers should weigh ‘harmful elements’ against intellectual merits of literature
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