The seeds and sites are set. There are grudge matches and re-matches, plus plenty of star power. It's Ivy League lacrosse tournament time! With an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament at stake, men's and women's lacrosse programs from around the league will battle during the first weekend in May to determine which teams will head to the big dance. And who knows? There could be some at-large bids up for grabs, too. ESPN commentator Chris Cotter will be at Schoellkopf Field for the men's tournament, and sets the table for storylines to watch. Hosted by Brian Seltzer.
Over the last couple years, Wyatt Henseler has cemented himself as the Ivy League Home Run King. But there's more to the Penn senior third baseman than dingers. He's blasted his way into the conference record books in other impressive areas as well. Not only does he have a handful of games left to boost his resume, he's also hoping to help the Quakers get back on track for the home stretch. Henseler is no stranger to adversity. Hear how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted his baseball career, and what's made him such a good fit for Penn and the Ivy League. Hosted by Brian Seltzer.
Ivy League women's lacrosse has long set a high bar. This year, at the midway point of the season, the conference seems as strong as ever. With the second-highest collective RPI in the country, and four teams ranked in the latest top-25 national poll, the league appears set for a thrilling home stretch to the regular season. ESPN lead women's lacrosse commentator Jay Alter takes a look at the Ivy League from top to bottom, weighs in on the programs he expects to compete for positioning in the postseason, and which ones could emerge as dark horses. Hosted by Brian Seltzer.
The big stage is set for the Big Apple. For the first time since its inception, Ivy Madness is descending upon New York City, and the storylines surrounding the field couldn't be more compelling. On the women's side, will regular season co-champs Princeton and Columbia clash for a third and final time this year to determine the Ivy League's automatic qualifier in the NCAA Tournament? In the men's bracket, how will things shake out between three teams in Princeton, Yale, and Cornell that all beat each other during the regular season? Could surging Brown continue its late-season tear all the way to the big dance? ESPN college women's basketball bracketologist Charlie Creme and ESPN college basketball analyst Noah Savage preview Ivy Madness 2024. Hosted by Brian Seltzer.
Vito Arujau has been surrounded by greatness since birth. His mother was a champion kayaker, his dad a world-class wrestler. Vito's older brother wrestled at Cornell, where Vito would eventually enroll, too, and carve out a legacy of excellence all his own. As Arujau's senior season enters its final chapter, he has sights set on defending his NCAA crown at 133 pounds. But that's not all. Later this year, Arujau hopes to represent his country in the 2024 Olympics. Hear how he plans to get there, and listen to the lessons he's learned from a life on the mat. Plus, updates on tight races in Ivy League basketball, and some key early-season wins in lacrosse. Hosted by Brian Seltzer
Michael Zheng's had a racquet in his hand since he was six years old. To hone his craft, he hasn't just traveled the country, he's gone around the world, playing in junior grand slam tennis events that put him on the same court as proven pros. Now, in his second season at Columbia, Zheng has set the bar high. As a freshman, he became the first student-athlete in Ivy League men's tennis history to win conference Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, First-Team Singles, and First-Team Doubles honors. What do he and the Lions have in store for the new spring season? The New Jersey native dishes on his development, American tennis, and competition in the Ivy League. Hosted by Brian Seltzer.
Lauren Scruggs just turned 21, but she's already established herself as one of the top fencers on the planet. Ranked 13th in the world in foil, the Harvard junior has plenty of heady accomplishments on her resume - the youngest American to ever win a junior world title, NCAA champion, one of two African-Americans to become an international champ. Yet somehow, despite so much success at such a young age, Scruggs seems to keep everything in check. The pressure doesn't phase her. What's her secret? How did she, and her brother, break through in a sport that historically has lacked representation among people of color? Where do the 2024 Olympics factor into her plans? Listen to find out what makes Scruggs tick. Hosted by Brian Seltzer.
Helmets from Harvard, Columbia, Dartmouth, and Penn dot the same offensive line. Players from Brown and Princeton pose together for the camera. These are the vibes in Tokyo, Japan, where conference adversaries have become allies, preparing for the January 21st Japan National Football Association Dream Japan Bowl. For the second straight year, the Ivy League has sent a delegation of its top senior and graduate players to the other side of the world to take part in an exhibition against some of the best talent from Japan's pro league. Brown head coach James Perry is coaching this year’s Ivy contingent, and shares what the once-in-a-lifetime journey has been like so far. Hosted by Brian Seltzer.
There have been big tests, impressive performances against top-25 opponents, and encouraging signs that the best is yet to come. Now, on the heels of a rigorous non-conference schedule the past two months, the Ivy League is ready to play for keeps, and begin its march to madness. Which teams are primed to compete for the conference title? Who can you expect to see in the 2024 Ivy Madness Tournament? And why does one expert think the Ivy League has never been stronger? College Basketball on FOX broadcaster and reporter John Fanta takes a comprehensive look at the men's side of the conference ahead of the opening weekend of conference action. Hosted by Brian Seltzer.
Standout field hockey student-athlete. Active member of her community both on campus and beyond. If Ellie Shahbo didn't do it all during her time at Harvard, she came pretty close. In recognition of the well-rounded resume she put together and impact she made in her four-plus years in Cambridge, Shahbo was named one of 30 finalists for the prestigious NCAA Woman of the Year award. Within a few short weeks, the former goal keeper will find out if she's the winner. But in the year and a half that's passed since her final game for the Crimson, Shahbo has found certain aspects of her transition from college athletics challenging. Find out what she's been up to, and where she thinks outgoing student-athletes could use support. Hosted by Brian Seltzer.
Competition at the top. Star power. National recognition with multiple teams capable of clinching postseason berths. Yes, this is indeed Ivy League women's basketball. On the heels of a thrilling season a year ago, what can we expect from the Ivies in 2023-2024? Well, if the early returns are any indicator, more of the same, if not better. Associated Press national women's basketball writer Doug Feinberg previews Ivy League women's hoops storylines significant, subtle, and everything in between. Hosted by Brian Seltzer.
Heading into the final weekend of play in the Ivy League football season, title implications are at stake. What more could you ask for? Only adding to the drama is that this Saturday the Yale Bulldogs could force a tie for the championship with the archrival Harvard Crimson in the 139th edition of The Game. The Dartmouth Big Green remain in the hunt, too. When it comes to breaking down the greatness of Ivy League football present and past, few know their stuff like long-time analyst Jack Ford, who will be calling this year's Harvard-Yale matchup on ESPNU. Jack, a former Ivy League football player himself, shares his thoughts on the 2023 race, and makes selections for his all-time, all-Ivy League football team.
Charlie Baker has held a lot of high-profile, high-pressure positions in his life. He turned around one of the bigger health benefits companies in Massachusetts. He then served as Governor of Massachusetts for not one term, but two, from 2014 to 2022. His latest gig, however, is different. Last March, Baker took over as president of the NCAA. Talk about a massive undertaking. There are so many things that so many people say the NCAA needs. Now, it's up to Baker make change happen. In a conversation with Brian Seltzer, Baker discusses settling into the job, and the fond memories he has of being part of the men's basketball program at Harvard in the 1970s.
You've already won three straight championships, earned back-to-back conference player of the year honors, and been named to a national program. How do you stay hungry for your senior season? Based on the evidence so far, Brown women's soccer standout Brittany Raphino has had no problems answering these questions. She and the Bears could be on the cusp of a fourth consecutive Ivy League crown, as she continues to display match-in and match-out why she's one of the most electric student-athletes in the country. So what are Brittany's keys to success and balance? Check out her conversation with Brian Seltzer about soccer, relationships, and identity. Plus, we zoom in on some competitive races taking shape down the stretch of the Ivy League fall sports season.
From the outside, Sydney Moore looked like she was set. Terrific basketball player, probably headed for a Division I program. Then, in high school, she felt she needed to make a switch. A few years later, she found herself en route to Cornell, not for hoops, but volleyball. During her time in Ithaca, Sydney has certainly made her presence felt on the court, but as her trips to the ESPY Awards and Capitol Hill have proven, her impact goes way beyond the court. On this episode of Ivy Insights, Brian Seltzer talks with Sydney about her journey in sports and life, plus her recent selection as one of Glamour Magazine's college women of the year.
How do you stay true to who you are while continuing to evolve in a volatile environment? This is an ongoing balancing act for Robin Harris as Executive Director of the Ivy League. What does the Ivy League consider to be its core values? How can it serve as a model for other conferences? And, despite its consistent national success, is the Ivy League overlooked? Harris weighs in on these issues on the premiere episode of Ivy Insights. Plus, hear how women’s soccer is making waves nationally one month into the season, and get a roundup of the first weekend of Ivy League football. Hosted by Brian Seltzer. New episodes drop every two weeks.
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A pedigree of trailblazers and national champions. Student-athletes who rewrote records in the past, and continue to do so in the present. A proven pipeline to the pros — in and out of sports. This is what the Ivy League has always been about, and with the landscape of college athletics constantly shifting, it has no plans of changing.
On Ivy Insights, we're going to showcase the league's most important headlines. Join host Brian Seltzer and special guests as we explore the "why" behind the Ivy League's biggest happenings. New episodes drop every two weeks starting in late September.
Be sure to sign up for the Ivy Insights newsletter for weekly updates from the Ivy League. You can follow the Ivy League on Facebook, Instagram, X, and ivyleague.com.