Following in the steps of other notable Bowdoin alumni, Edward Sweeney '03 has earned fame...as Cosmopolitan's Hottest Hunk in Massachusetts. Sweeney's friend, Laura Quinlin '03, also a Bowdoin alum, nominated him for the honor.
Sweeney said he was hesitant to agree at first. "Cosmopolitan is definitely not my type of magazine. I've never read it before," he said. "I knew I probably would get mixed reviews from family and friends. But I thought it was a good opportunity and would be a good experience."
The magazine's November issue features short profiles and pictures of the winning studs. Readers can also access the profiles online at www.cosmopolitan.com.
Sweeney's profile quotes Quinlin as saying, "Ed loves doing triathlons, surfing and just being goofy." Regarding his ideal first date, Sweeney told Cosmo, "I'm a little shy, so I'll usually invite her to go to lunch or just hang out."
More words of wisdom from the former Polar Bear's profile include, "Low-cut jeans are the hottest. They show that sliver of stomach."
Not only can women ogle over the photographs, but they can also attempt to make a love connection by emailing the sexy singles. Sweeney said he was unaware of this aspect of the contest.
He says he has already received some emails. "I was surprised. It's pretty funny." The emails are from women across the globe, including South Africa, Canada, Texas, and California. However, Sweeney said that he is "not into long-distance relationships."
Regardless, women should not expect a speedy response; "I always wait a few days before calling a woman. Of course, during that time, I'm worrying if she gave me her actual number or the number to the local pizza place as a joke!" Sweeney said in his profile.
Sweeney was unable to attend the Cosmo photo shoot because he was out on a boat for his job. "So I sent in a random picture," he said. At least he stuck by his Bowdoin roots; in the seaside photo, he dons a Maine t-shirt.
Other perks included being able to appear on The Today Show and Good Day Live. "It was pretty rad. It was awesome; I've never been on TV before. You see what goes on behind the cameras. It doesn't feel like anything's different [when you're being taped] but you know it is."
"It's funny seeing yourself on TV," he said. "Overall, it was a pretty rad experience."
News traveled quickly to Sweeney's Bowdoin friends. "They think it's pretty funny. It was unexpected. They don't see me as the type to appear in a magazine like that," Sweeney said. There was a variety of reactions. "Some people were psyched more than me and others were like, 'You sell-out.'"
Aside from being the hottest bachelor in Massachusetts, the 23-year-old is a marine geologist at the U.S. Geological Survey in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. He also plays soccer, competes in triathlons, surfs, and plays the guitar.
While at Bowdoin, Sweeney was a geology major and a Rusack Fellow. For his honors project, he and Professor Ed Laine used seismic sonar equipment to study marine sediment from the New Meadows River to Maquoit Bay as a way of charting changes in the ocean floor.
Sweeney is a proud former member of the underground group, Mohawk Slackliners. In addition, he belonged to an unofficial group called Ye Olde Ratte Isle Gentlemen's Club, along with Daniel Jefferson Miller, Hawkeye Pierce, Riem the Driem, Blanton Young, and PLV. He also sent shout-outs to The Talking Heads, Peter Venkman and Gozer the Gozarian.