James Crick
Crew
Graduation Year
1988
Induction Year
2006
Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame
Harvard Athletic Achievements
Jim was a member of the first varsity heavyweight crew from 1987-88. The crews from 1987 to 1989 certainly rank among the best Harvard has ever seen and they proved that by enjoying considerable success in many major competitions at home and overseas. They were the dominant crews of those years despite some very strong competition form both traditional intercollegiate rivals and outstanding international crews. Also notable are their convincing victories over Yale in the annual Harvard-Yale four mile race.
The 1987 crew enjoyed a particularly long and successful season. The crew started with a resounding victory over west coast power Washington, then continued through a dramatic victory over a powerful Brown crew in the National Championships in Cincinnati. The season finished with outstanding races at the Victoria Boatrace in Victoria, BC, the Henley Regatta in England, and the World University Games in Zagreb, Yugoslavia.
The 1988 crew was equally successful and ended their season with victories at Worcester in the EARC Sprint Championships, over Yale in New London and in the National Championships at Cincinnati.
In 1989, the crew repeated as both EARC Sprint and National Champions and went on to row an historic race in the finals of the Ladies Plate competition at the Henley Royal Regatta.
In addition to their collective success in both intercollegiate and international competition, several members of the crews went on to significant international success as members of various U.S. Olympic and World Championship crews. They continue to maintain strong connections to Harvard and U.S. national rowing programs.
Hall of Fame
Remembering Harvard Athletics
First of all I’d like to express what a tremendous honor it is to be here tonight, not just to be recognized for our achievements on the river, but to be honored so with such an amazing group of athletes from across the Harvard athletic spectrum. For quite a bit of my post-Harvard life I’ve continued to be involved with rowing in various capacities. Often, I’ve been asked “So what was it like rowing for Harry?” or, “How’d Harvard do it, win all those big races?” My answer has always been the same: I was very lucky to be dragged up and down the Charles by an amazing group of oarsmen and to be yelled at by the very best in coaches.
There were so many great races, experiences and people to think of at a time like this. The amazing experiences at Henley and Victoria, being a Harvard Crew representing the US in Yugoslavia, beating Princeton every single time, and in particular, Red Top.
There are many people whom I’d like to thank and recognize this evening, but the person who deserves the most credit, or some might say, blame, for me being here tonight is my coach from Tabor Academy, Wiley Wakeman. He was the person to decide I should be a coxswain freshman year – up to that moment all 5’ 1” of me intended to row. My immediate thank you that first day was to slip and fall into (but luckily not through) the Varsity Schoenbrod; the crew was already overjoyed that the person steering for them that day didn’t even know what a coxswain was, let alone what to do back there. I’m glad and grateful that Coach Wakeman decided to let me try driving a few more times, and had the patience and took the time to show me how to do the job right.
I remember many things Steve Wayne taught me particularly when he stroked the JV. Some of them included learning that your face can cramp during a piece, and that apparently it’s really painful. Also, I learned that not only do three bowls of raspberry sherbet not mix well with seat racing, but also I don’t look particularly good in pink. From George Hunnewell, I learned that the true definition of savvy is, in fact, George Hunnewell. I believe Wikipedia has his picture along with its entry. And of course, I’ll always be indebted to Lionel Leventhal for teaching me the true rules of Friday Racing, in particular, that if Harry didn’t see what you did, it really didn’t happen, much like in Las Vegas.
Speaking of Harry, what more can be said. For myself, I will always be indebted to Harry for showing me what my best truly was, and how to continue to bring it out myself. Also, Harry taught me two very important lessons about racing shells. First, with the proper hand gestures and confident demeanor, it is possible to liberate a brand-new Empacher from the Yugoslav National Team, and that in order to rig one properly, “If force doesn’t work, use more force!”
And finally, to my boatmates, it was an honor and a privilege to be dragged around by all of you, and this night is made all the more perfect by us being inducted en masse.
