Kale Tornwini ’25 drives to the basket.
Ladies’s Basketball
Head Coach: KJ Krasco
Athletes to look at: Alexa Mustafaj ’25, Augusta Dixon ’25, Calie Messina ’26
The ladies’s basketball workforce appears to construct on their sturdy 17–9 season final 12 months and qualify for the NCAA match. Final season, the workforce performed properly, and made all of it the way in which to the NESCAC semifinals, however a 64–51 loss to Bowdoin Faculty ended their season prematurely. This 12 months the ladies’s basketball workforce is already off to a fantastic 5–1 begin and appears poised to equal or higher final season’s success. Mustfaj is ready to guide the Panthers in her last season with this system. In her three years on the workforce, she has develop into the packages all time main scorer, earned All-NESCAC honors 3 times and has averaged 21.8 factors per sport. Exterior of Mustafaj, the workforce has a robust supporting solid, serving to them contend for a NESCAC title. Dixon was on the NESCAC all second workforce final season and averaged 11.6 rebounds per sport. Messina was a vital contributor final season, main the workforce in assists and steals.
Key Competitions: Trinity Faculty (Residence–Jan. 10), Bowdoin (Away–Feb. 7), Amherst Faculty (Residence–Feb. 14).
Males’s Basketball
Head Coach: Jeff Brown
Athletes to look at: Sam Stevens ’25, David Brennan ’25, Tristan Joseph ’26
The lads’s basketball workforce is seeking to bounce again after an 11–14 marketing campaign final 12 months the place they confronted an early exit within the NESCAC match. Two seasons in the past, the workforce was 20–6 and received a sport within the NCAA match. The workforce will look to recreate their success from that season this 12 months. Stevens ought to be main the cost offensively for the Panthers. In his rookie season at Middlebury, Stevens averaged 18 factors per sport, however he did not equal that mark in his sophomore and junior seasons. In 5 video games this 12 months, Stevens has exceeded his rookie scoring totals, averaging 20 factors per sport to date. He’s supported by numerous gamers together with Brennan, who averaged 10.3 rebounds per sport final season, and Evan Flaks ’24 who shared the workforce lead in assists with 68.
Key Competitions: Tufts College (Residence–Jan. 18), Williams Faculty (Away–Jan. 25), Colby Faculty (Residence–Feb. 8).
Alpine Snowboarding
Head Coach: Steve Bartlett
Athletes to Watch: Kjersti Moritz ’28, Bradshaw Underhill ’25, Mika-Anne Reha ’25
After ending in third place out of the 14 rivals ultimately 12 months’s EISA Championships, the Middlebury Alpine ski workforce is in place to have one other good season and win carnivals. Two of the workforce’s standout performers from final season will likely be returning this 12 months. Underhill, the runner-up for the enormous slalom on the EISA Championships final 12 months will cleared the path for the boys, and Reha, who got here in sixth place within the slalom on the NCAA Championships final 12 months, will cleared the path for the ladies. Moritz can also be a promising rookie that may add to the workforce’s roster of proficient skiers. Along with snowboarding at Middlebury, Moritz was lately named to the Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Group. Moritz was named to the U.S. improvement workforce which is on the high of the junior developmental pipeline.
Key Competitions: Bates Carnival (Newry, ME–Jan. 10–11), Middlebury Carnival (Snowbowl–Feb. 14–15), EISA Championship (Franconia, NH–Feb. 21–22).
Nordic Snowboarding
Head Coach: Andrew Johnson
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Athletes to Watch: Jack Christner ’25, Logan Moore ’25, Shea Brams ’26
Middlebury’s nordic snowboarding workforce is seeking to construct on their sturdy season from final 12 months. Final season, numerous skiers had sturdy performances within the NCAA championship. Within the ladies’s 20 kilometer mass begin portion of the NCAA Championships, Brams got here in twenty second place and Maggie Wagner ’26 got here in thirty seventh place. For the boys’s portion of the occasion, Moore got here in thirteenth place and Christner got here in thirty fifth place. With one other 12 months of expertise beneath their belt, all of those returning athletes are set to proceed to make Middlebury Nordic workforce a formidable squad.
Key Competitions: Bates Carnival (Newry, ME–Jan. 10–11), Middlebury Carnival (Snowbowl–Feb. 14–15), EISA Championship (Franconia, NH–Feb. 21–22).
Ladies’s Hockey
Head Coach: Invoice Mandigo
Captains: Cat Appleyard ’24.5, Sophia Merageas ’24.5
Athletes to Watch: Kate Flynn ’27, Olivia McManus ’27, Sophia Will ’26
The Middlebury Ladies’s Hockey workforce appears to construct on final season’s success, which noticed them end 18–7–4 and seize the NESCAC championship. Their season ended within the NCAA match semifinals with a loss towards Elmira Faculty (0–1). Below the steerage of Mandigo, the winningest ice hockey coach throughout all NCAA divisions, the Panthers stay a perennial powerhouse within the NESCAC. This 12 months, they purpose to defend their league title and compete for a fifth NCAA championship. Rising abilities like Flynn and McManus are poised to step into bigger roles, whereas goalie Will returns as a vital defensive part after a record-setting sophomore marketing campaign. The Panthers have began the season undefeated with 7 straight wins, together with a 4–0 shutout towards Plattsburgh State this previous weekend, showcasing their championship potential.
Key Video games: Utica Faculty (Residence – Dec. 4), Amherst (Residence – Jan. 17-18).
Males’s Hockey
Head Coach: Jack Ceglarski
Captains: Jin Lee ’25, Jake Oblak ’25
Athletes to Watch: Lee, John Burdett ’26, Andrew Heinze ’27, Jack Silverman ‘28
Ceglarski begins his first season as head coach of Middlebury males’s hockey after a profitable tenure as interim coach final 12 months. Below his steerage final season, the Panthers reached the NESCAC Semifinals for the primary time since 2016 and achieved their highest win complete because the 2019–20 season, although their run ended with a loss to Trinity. This 12 months, the workforce goals to construct on that progress and compete for the convention crown. The Panthers have began the present season with sturdy momentum, posting a 4–2 report, highlighted by a decisive 2–0 victory over Norwich to say the twenty sixth Annual LayerEight Shootout title. The Panthers’ roster combines veteran management and rising expertise, with captain Lee offering dynamic playmaking alongside first-year ahead Silverman. On the defensive finish, Burdett instructions the blue line, and goaltender Heinze has emerged as a key determine with standout performances early within the season.
Key Video games: Hamilton Faculty (Away – Dec. 7), Trinity (Residence – Jan. 10), Tufts (Residence – Jan 31), Williams (Residence – Feb. 15).
Ladies’s Squash
Head Coach: Mark Lewis
Captain: Abby Holding ’25
Athletes to Watch: Lucy Ronda ’28, Caroline Didden ’28, Aanvi Anand ’28, Mariana Reedich ’27
The Middlebury ladies’s squash program enters the 2024-25 season seeking to construct upon final 12 months’s spectacular 14–5 marketing campaign, which noticed the workforce advance to the semifinals of the Kurtz Cup and safe a Fifteenth-place nationwide rating. The Panthers have opened their present season with a commanding 9–0 sweep towards Connecticut Faculty of their Nov. 16 opener. Whereas the workforce confronted a setback towards #2 Trinity, they rapidly rebounded with a victory over William Smith Faculty on November 23, establishing a stable 2–1 report. The Panthers function a promising mixture of veteran management and rising expertise, with Holding on the helm and a robust contingent of first-year gamers, together with Ronda, Didden and Anand making fast contributions to the lineup. Reedich is one other participant to look at after a stable rookie marketing campaign final season, posting the second-most wins on the workforce at 17. The workforce appears to take care of their momentum as they put together to host Vassar of their house match this weekend.
Key Competitions: Williams (Away – Jan. 22), Amherst (Residence – Feb. 1).
Males’s Squash
Head Coach: Mark Lewis
Captains: Alexis Ballo ’25, Nathan Feinstein ’25
Athletes to Watch: Kian Kardestuncer ’26, Charlie Clifford ’27, Gabe Feinstein ’28
The Middlebury males’s squash workforce has opened their 2024-25 marketing campaign with a 2–1 report, securing victories towards Connecticut Faculty (7–2) and Hobart Faculty (8–1) whereas falling to fourth-ranked Trinity (2–7). This system returns a robust core of skilled gamers whereas integrating 5 promising first-year additions to deepen their roster. Senior management and skilled juniors, like Kardestuncer, are fostering an atmosphere centered on steady enchancment. First 12 months Feinstein who has performed in all three tournaments to date this season is a participant to look at this season (2–1), together with sophomore Clifford. The workforce’s collective drive for excellence positions them properly for the challenges forward in a aggressive season.
Key Competitions: Colby (Away – Jan. 19), Amherst (Residence – Feb. 1), MIT (Residence – Feb. 21)
Ladies’s Observe and Subject
Head Coach: Martin Beatty
Athletes to Watch: Audrey MacLean ’27, Macy Daggitt ’25, Zoe Wang ’25
Contemporary off their third straight NESCAC title final April, the Middlebury ladies’s monitor and area workforce appears to construct on final season’s success. The workforce additionally discovered success within the better New England space, inserting sixth of 27 on the Division III Indoor New England Championships and second of 36 on the Division III Out of doors New England Championships. On the nationwide degree, Middlebury’s 4×400-meter relay competed on the NCAA Championships within the winter and within the spring, lengthy jumper Daggitt earned All-American honors and MacLean positioned sixth nationally within the 3,000-meter steeplechase, claiming All-American honors as properly. Wang broke her personal pole vault report final winter and appears to enhance on her stellar efficiency.
Key Competitions: Middlebury Winter Invitational (Residence – Jan. 17–18), Division III Indoor New England Championships (Away – Feb. 28–Mar. 1), Open New England Indoor Championships (Away – Mar. 7–8)
Males’s Observe and Subject
Head Coach: Martin Beatty
Athletes to Watch: Caleb Smith ’27, Marco Motroni ’25, Dave Filias ’25
The Middlebury Males’s Observe and Subject workforce will look to enhance on final 12 months’s efficiency. The Panthers positioned fifth on the NESCAC Championship and tied for ninth on the Division III Indoor New England Championships, the place Smith and Motroni each broke college data. On the NESCAC Championship, Filias positioned first for the second time, and can look to defend his title. He and Smith each competed on the NCAA championships final 12 months and can hope to requalify once more. With their 200m indoor monitor at Advantage Subject Home, the workforce will host 4 occasions this season and journey to a number of others.
Key Competitions: Middlebury Winter Invitational (Residence – Jan. 17–18), Division III Indoor New England Championships (Away – Feb. 28–Mar. 1), Open New England Indoor Championships (Away – Mar. 7–8)
Ladies’s Swimming and Diving
Head Coach: Bob Rueppel and Bradley Schott
Athletes to Watch: Chloe Katz ’25, Pai Easterbrook ’26, Anna McGrew ’28
Final 12 months, the ladies’s swimming and diving workforce went 5–2 and positioned third on the NESCAC Championship. Final 12 months, Katz positioned ninth on the NCAA championships and earned All-American honors. The workforce’s season has already began, having already crushed Connecticut Faculty’s camels in a shocking 196–92 victory (their fourth straight win towards this system). Easterbrook contributed to the victory, inserting first within the 1-meter and 3-meter diving occasions. The workforce fell brief to Amherst 113–187, who’s nationally ranked at #22. In opposition to Amherst, McGrew stood out for profitable the 200-yard medley relay, 50 freestyle, and 100 free.
Key Competitions: Bomber Invitational (Away – Dec. 6–8), Middlebury Invitational (Residence – Jan. 31–Feb. 1), NESCAC Championship (Away – Feb. 13–16)
Males’s Swimming and Diving
Head Coach: Bob Rueppel and Bradley Schott
Athletes to Watch: Sam Hughes ’25, Owen White ’26
After going 3–4 final season, the Middlebury males’s swimming and diving workforce is off to a 0–2 begin early this season. Final 12 months, the workforce positioned seventh on the NESCAC championship and have been victorious in head-to-head meets towards Bowdoin, Union and Hamilton. Schott, the workforce’s diving coach, was named NESCAC Diving Co-Coach of the 12 months, seemingly as a result of Middlebury divers positioned fourth, fifth and seventh on the NESCAC Championship. Hughes was named All-NESCAC, ending second within the 200 backstroke and has already begun to seek out success this season. Ending seventh on the NESCAC Championship final 12 months, White has been sturdy within the 1-meter diving occasion.
Key Competitions: Bomber Invitational (Away – Dec. 6–8), Middlebury Invitational (Residence – Jan. 31–Feb. 1), NESCAC Championship (Away – Feb. 20–23)
Jonathan Buchholz (he/him) is a Sports activities Editor.
Jonathan is learning Worldwide Politics & Economics, with a concentrate on Mandarin. He’s a member of the membership rowing workforce, Treasurer of the Middlebury InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, is a Residential Assistant, and has a neighborhood pal. He hopes to work in public service or consulting sooner or later.
Ting Cui (she/her) is a Sports activities Editor.
Ting has beforehand contributed as a sports activities author and spent the previous 12 months in Washington, D.C., the place she interned on the Nationwide Press Membership as a coverage analyst and politics author. She additionally interned as an Editor at Honest Observer this previous summer season, specializing in tales associated to worldwide politics and safety.
Ting is majoring in Political Science and minoring in Historical past. She can also be aggressive determine skater for Group USA and enjoys mountain climbing, thrifting, and consuming copious quantities of espresso.
Jack McGuire (he/him) is a Senior Sports activities Editor.
Jack beforehand served as a Sports activities Editor and as a Workers Author. He additionally spent this previous summer season working as a Information Reporting Intern for Seven Days.
Jack can also be majoring in economics with minors in political science and movie and media tradition.
