February 21, 2012
Harvard's Baskind is one of a kind
Two-sport star is a rare breed on and off the field
by Sammi Gorman/
Melanie Baskind (Framingham, Mass.) has earned All-Ivy honors in lacrosse since picking up the sport again as a sophomore. (photo: Gil Talbot)
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In the city of Boston — a breeding ground for both star athletes and top students at some of the world’s best academic institutions — Melanie Baskind is different.
She’s not the only student with a 3.8 grade-point average as a neurobiology major at a top school like Harvard, and she’s not the only athlete to get league Player of the Year honors in her sport. She is the only one to do those things and be a threat to earn those kind of honors in two sports.
The Framingham, Mass., native has been an All-Ivy League soccer star since stepping on campus at Cambridge. She sat out lacrosse season her freshman year, but she got back into the sport as a sophomore and has earned All-Ivy honors there ever since.
“I have always been a student before an athlete, and there’s obviously no greater academic challenge than going here,” Baskind said.
That’s part of why she didn’t immediately play lacrosse at Harvard.
“It was not an easy decision to return to lacrosse,” Baskind said, “but in the end, I decided the worst that could happen would be that it was too much and I would drop it. I had thought about it enough at that point to know that I would always regret it if I didn’t at least try.”
As Baskind completes her senior year — her third year playing both sports at the Division 1 level — her list of accomplishments is remarkable.
In 2011, Baskind led her lacrosse team in groundballs and draw controls, was third on the team in points and fourth in goals; she was first-team All-Ivy and earned a spot on the league’s All-Tournament team. Last fall, on the soccer field, she tied for the Ivy League lead in goals, assists and points, was tabbed a Capital One Academic All-American, and was a unanimous selection as Ivy League Player of the Year.
Beyond her athletic skill, Baskind is a leader, as proven by being a co-captain in both sports.
Her coaches attribute her success to her drive and character.
“She is enthusiastic, well-conditioned, understands and masters the systems, cares about her teammates,” said Lisa Miller, Harvard’s lacrosse coach. “She would rather see the team be successful than pursue her own agenda.”
“There are a lot of great athletes out there who don’t achieve,” Miller added. “She truly believes in ‘work beats talent unless talent works.’”
Framingham High School soccer and lacrosse coach Stacey Freda agreed: “Her relentless pursuit for excellence across all aspects of her life was remarkable.”
Life as a two-sport athlete is nearly impossible at the Division 1 level, even at schools far less demanding academically than Harvard. The sacrifice to play one sport is enormous; when academics do not demand time studying, athletics demand it for training. Ivy League schools do not award athletic scholarships; at schools that do, programs typically force multitalented athletes to choose one sport.
“The culture of specialization in sport is unfortunate,” Miller said. “I am not sure she would have been able to do this in the scholarship world, but it is still a possibility in our league for those kids who can’t and/or don’t want to choose between the sports they love.”
Miller said Baskind handles the dual demands of Harvard’s academic and athletic programs “the same way she plays, with competitive enthusiasm, organization, work, and a sense of humor.”
Said Baskind: “It’s funny because, in many ways, I look back and don’t know how I did it in high school when I was trying to juggle playing both sports in a single season. Life is certainly busy here, but by keeping track of things on calendars and managing your time wisely, it is not as difficult as people assume. No time for naps or TV, but I can think of worse things.”
Miller noted that Baskind handles pressure well and bounces back from setbacks quickly, “and is so likeable that these traits rub off on the rest of the group.”
Though it all, Baskind’s commitment to both teams is unwavering.
“Both teams couldn’t have been more supportive of my decision, and it’s always so fun to see the lacrosse team at soccer games and vice versa,” she said.
This season, Baskind hopes to close her lacrosse career with an Ivy League championship.
“It hasn’t been done in a while, and with so many competitive teams in the league, it’s going to be a very exciting season,” she said. “Especially after having won the league with soccer, I would love nothing more than to graduate having done the same with lacrosse.”
Miller’s expectations are equally high, for her team and her two-sport star.
“Mel will be a top midfielder in the region and the country this season,” she said. “She is critical to our transition game and on the draw control. She zips around the field coming up with every loose ball.”
With her senior year wrapping up, Baskind is preparing for a life beyond sports, planning to take some time off before ultimately applying to medical school.
“In the meantime,” she said, “I am hoping to spend some time traveling abroad and doing some work in global health, getting used to life post-sports.”
“There is honestly nothing this kid can’t do,” said Freda, her high school coach. “She is a special person and one I feel lucky to have ever had the privilege of working with.”
This article originally appeared in the February 2012 issue of New England Lacrosse Journal.
Sammi Gorman can be reached at feedback@laxjournal.com
