Wes Sailing Team Hosts First Inter-Collegiate Regatta

On April 30, the Wesleyan University Sailing Team hosted their first ever inter-collegiate regatta on Lake Pocotopaug in East Hampton, Conn. After a morning of little to no wind, the afternoon picked up and the students were able to sail eight races. Wesleyan seniors and co-captains Katie Walker '16, Kevin Winnie '16 and Rachel Kurlander '16 sailed their last college regatta at the event, which was sponsored by the New England Intercollegiate Sailing Association. Bates College, Sacred Heart, and Fairfield University also participated, with Bates taking first place in the regatta. Wesleyan took third. (Photos courtesy of Wesleyan Sailing Team) (more…)

(By Mike O'Brien, Director of Athletic Communication) On April 18, Chicago Cubs Executive Vice President and General Manager Jed Hoyer ’96 spoke to the news site MLB Trade Rumors about his career and his time at Wesleyan. When asked what led him to choose Wesleyan, Hoyer responded: “The over-arching goal of my college search was to combine three factors – great academics, the ability to continue playing baseball, and a campus environment that would broaden my limited horizons. I looked at a lot of different schools and the best combination of those factors was Wesleyan. In hindsight, I was less…

On April 2, in a relentless rain, 20 Artists for World Peace volunteers—including Wesleyan Football Coach Dan DiCenzo and staunch members of the football team—loaded a 20-foot shipping container with $648,000 worth of medical equipment, eyeglasses, and other items. “It was great to see our guys help such a fine organization,” said DiCenzo. Jewelry artist Wendy Black-Nasta P’07, founder and executive director of Artists for World Peace (AFWP), had contacted the coach when she realized her group needed help. She had arranged for the shipping container, which arrived in the parking lot of Ace Hardware in Middletown, at 10 a.m. She…

Baseball season is in full swing! Nick Miceli ’17 pitched 4.1 innings of scoreless relief, while Marco Baratta ’16 knocked in four runs and Matt Jeye ‘18 knocked in three as the Wesleyan Cardinals baseball team defeated the visiting U.S. Coast Guard Academy, 11-5 March 24 at Dresser Diamond. Wesleyan’s record is 10-3. The Cardinals will return to the diamond March 30 and will host Eastern Connecticut at 4 p.m. Read more about Wesleyan Athletic News here. (Photos by Jonas Powell '18 and Rebecca Goldfarb Terry ‘19) (more…)

“What Does It Take to Launch a Successful Career?” Two notable members of the Wesleyan community tackled that question in a career workshop titled Your Career Playbook, sponsored by the WESpeaker Series, the Athletics Advantage Program and the Wesleyan Career Center on Feb. 26. Julie Bennett ’00, former captain of the women’s basketball team and member of the Athletic Advisory Council and now in sales and trading in equity derivatives at Citigroup (her “dream job”) joined Wesleyan trustee Jim Citrin P’12, P’14, leader of Spencer Stuart's North American CEO Practice, and author of The Career Playbook: Essential Advice for Today’s Aspiring Young Professional in…

On Feb. 13, Wesleyan student athletes welcomed local girls to campus and recognized the courage, confidence, and character women and girls gain as they participate in sports. February marks the 30th anniversary of National Girls and Women in Sports Day, an event created to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of women and girls in sports. The Wesleyan Athletics Department celebrated by hosting a day of fun-filled sports activities for girls, ages 5-12. Participants took part in sports clinics, had lunch and discussions with Wesleyan's female student-athletes and coaches, and cheered on the women’s basketball and ice hockey teams during their home games. "In…

The Wesleyan Men’s Rugby Team, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, played Trinity College on Oct. 30 at the Long Lane field. The team, also known as the Wesleyan “Old Methodist” Rugby Football Club, now plays in a recognized New England Rugby Football Union league including the Little 3, Trinity and Connecticut College, and they can compete for both New England and National titles. In fact, Wesleyan beat both Amherst and Williams in league play this fall to win the Little Three championship! Wesleyan won 19-15 over Williams on Sept. 26 and 48-35 over Amherst on Oct. 10. Rugby is coached by Peter Velcovsky and Dennis…

Wesleyan's IntraGreek Council (IGC), in partnership with the Division of Student Affairs and the Athletics Department, is inviting Middletown families to participate in the inaugural Wesleyan Fall Harvest Festival on Oct. 10. Traditional carnival games with prizes, face painting, a crafts table and other fall activities will be offered for children 13 and younger. The ICG will collect canned food donations for the Office of Community Engagement's Thanksgiving food drive. The festival will run simultaneously with the home football game against Colby College. During half-time, children who come in costume may walk across the field in a parade, and will have a chance to win one…

In this Q&A we speak to Ben Somera Jr., adjunct associate professor of physical education, head coach of volleyball. Somera joined the faculty at Wesleyan this summer. Q: Ben, welcome to Wesleyan! You had a very successful three-year stay at New England rival Roger Williams, building the Hawks into a regional and national power in women's volleyball. What tempted you to make the move to Wesleyan? A: I have coached collegiate volleyball for almost 20 years and have had the opportunity to experience four university cultures and how they operate. It was important to me that Mike Whalen, our athletics director, wants to win…

Three key players in Wesleyan baseball’s fantastic run over the last three years have signed professional baseball contracts this summer. Gavin Pittore ’16 signed a free-agent contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers; alumnus Nick Cooney ’15 signed a contract with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks in the independent American Association; and Donnie Cimino ’15 was drafted in the 37th round by the Chicago Cubs.

In this News @ Wesleyan story, we speak with Gavin Pittore of the Class of 2016. This summer, Pittore played with the Bourne Braves of the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL), the foremost of the dozen or so wooden-bat summer collegiate baseball leagues sanctioned by Major League Baseball. A second-team all-NESCAC pick in 2015, Pittore posted a 7-2 record with a 1.54 ERA and seven complete games over his 10 starts during Wesleyan's 30-11 baseball season. Pittore had 12 relief appearances for the Braves (22-20-2 overall, playoff semifinalist), throwing 17 innings while giving up a mere eight hits and no earned runs with…

Eudice Chong '18 claimed the first-ever NCAA Division III tennis title for the Cardinals in a thrilling 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 victory in the title match of the NCAA Division III women's tennis singles championship in Mason, Ohio on May 23. Named the NESCAC Player and Rookie of the Year, as well as the ITA Division III Rookie of the Year, Chong completed the 2014-15 campaign undefeated in singles play (22-0), dropping just two sets all season, both of them 4-6 to Joulia Likhanskaia of Bowdoin, whom she played for the third time this year in the NCAA finals. Chong also earned All-America…

Wes Sailing Team Hosts First Inter-Collegiate Regatta

Chicago Cubs Executive VP, GM Jed Hoyer ’96 Discusses His Wesleyan Experience

Wesleyan Football Team Helps Artists for World Peace Pack for Health Mission in Tanzania

Spring Baseball Season is in Full Swing

Citrin P’12, P’14 and Bennett ’00 Offer Advice, Experience in Career Workshop

Wesleyan Athletics Hosts Girls, Women in Sports Day

Rugby Team Wins 2015 Little Three Championship

IntraGreek Council to Host Fall Harvest Festival Oct. 10

Somera New Head Coach of Women’s Volleyball

3 Wesleyan Baseball Players Sign Professional Contracts

Gavin Pittore ’16 is Playing in the Prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League this Summer

Chong ’18 Claims NCAA Division III Tennis Title