athletics – Page 8

This month, Wesleyan's men's basketball team was crowned NESCAC champs and played in the NCAA Division III Championship for the first time in history. However, the team came up short at Nationals after losing to Skidmore in a first-round game March 6. The field of 62 teams in the NCAA championship was announced March 2. Wesleyan’s team claimed the NESCAC title after defeating Amherst 74-70 in overtime on March 1. Wesleyan led most of the game but had to fend off several Lord Jeff rallies to secure an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship. In that game, Jack Mackey ’16 broke…

Wesleyan men's tennis will have ample opportunity this spring to test its mettle. Head coach Mike Fried, who set up a challenging schedule for his young Cardinals, is hoping it will achieve the desired effect. "When trying to bring the program up to the top national mix, we needed to do something more competitive with our spring training trip," he said. In past years, the Cardinals traveled to Orlando, Fla. during March break, playing 4-6 matches against high-level Divisions I, II, III and NAIA opponents, but not the top teams in Division III. Breaking from tradition, (more…)

Michael Whalen '83, who returned to his alma mater as head football coach and associate athletics director in 2010, has stepped down as head football coach, effective Feb. 1, to devote his full attention to his post as athletics director. He assumed that position in July 2012. Dan DiCenzo, who has been associate head football coach and defensive coordinator at Wesleyan the last five years, is taking over the head coaching position, succeeding Whalen. “Coach Whalen has dramatically improved Wesleyan’s football program,” said Wesleyan President Michael S. Roth, “and I am grateful for his remarkable service as coach. Now it’s…

In November, the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston named Associate Head Football Coach Dan DiCenzo the Division III assistant coach of the year. In addition, NESCAC Defensive Player of the Year Jake Bussani '14 received a Joe Zabilski Award for being the top Division III defensive player in New England. The honor is annually awarded to New England's best collegiate players in Divisions II and III. Bussani was one of four NESCAC players chosen for the New England Football Writers Division II/III all-star team. The last Cardinal to grace the NEFW all-star squad was Shea Dwyer '10 during the 2010 season. Bussani is currently enrolled…

Placekicker Ike Fuchs '17 (#10) accounted for 16 of the Cardinals' 22 points during a 22-0 football victory at Williams College Nov. 1, raising Wesleyan's record on the season to 6-1. For his performance, Fuchs received three regional awards and one national honor. Fuchs was named NESCAC Special Teams Player of the Week as well as ECAC Division III Northeast Special Teams Player of the Week. He also was the recipient of the New England Football Writers' Association weekly Gold Helmet Award for the top effort by a regional Division II/III player during the week. He is the first Cardinal to earn…

During Homecoming, men's soccer highlighted the day with a 2-1 overtime win against Amherst College to gain a share of the Little Three title. Adam Cowie-Haskell '18 delivered the golden goal as Wesleyan handed Amherst, ranked 10th nationally, its first loss against a NESCAC rival in three years, spanning 37 games. Also scoring his third goal of the year in the game was Matt Lynch ’15, as he spotted the Cardinals a 1-0 lead in the second half. Goalie Emmett McConnell ’15 posted seven saves, five in the second half, in holding Amherst to a lone goal. Watch a video of the men's winning…

It's a long rivalry. Wesleyan and Amherst have played nearly every year since 1913, missing just three seasons during World War II. They first met on the gridiron in 1882, with Wesleyan prevailing. The teams will battle for the 120th time during Wesleyan’s Homecoming, Oct. 18. A webcast of the game is available here. One aspect of the game is unmistaken. It represents the second straight year both teams bring identical 4-0 records into the encounter. A Wesleyan triumph would add significant historical perspective to the proceedings. Having ended an 10-year skid versus Amherst last season with a 20-14 road…

Wesleyan head women's volleyball coach Gale Lackey, the senior athletics department member with 37 years of service, will retire in June. In her 30th year coaching volleyball, Lackey is also the senior woman administrator in athletics and an associate athletics director. Lackey began coaching at Wesleyan in 1978, handling both field hockey and women’s lacrosse and leading the field hockey squad to its only undefeated campaign — and a subsequent berth in the Wes Athletics Hall of Fame — in 1980. She took over as volleyball coach in 1985. “The time is right,” Lackey said. "Coaching and teaching here has…

Wesleyan women's ice hockey coach Jodi McKenna was among the coaches charged with selecting the team members for the USA Hockey National U22 squad that competed in a three-game series with Canada Aug. 21-24. The U.S. team won all three contests. The games were considered a friendly series that begins the next ramp up to the 2018 Olympics, which will be held in South Korea in February of that year. McKenna has been involved in Team USA coaching since the first call came in 2008. "It's an honor to be chosen and tremendous for my professional development but it can't be…

Phil Carney, head coach of men's crew, taught nine staff members and community members how to row on June 24. The group launched from Wesleyan's Macomber Boat House and rowed north on the Connecticut River. The group meets every Tuesday and Thursday throughout the summer, weather permitting, and welcomes new rowers. On this day, the following people rowed: Sharon Belden Castonguay, director of the Wesleyan Career Center; Sarah Hopkins, employer relations coordinator; Lisa LaPlant, assistant to the president; Lauren Rubenstein, associate manager of media and public relations; Carol Scully, director of corporate, foundation and government grants; Brittany Richard, assistant director of The…

The second annual Cardinal Golf Outing to benefit Wesleyan women’s athletics will be held May 12 at Lyman Orchards Golf Club. This year, there’s a twist: in conjunction with the tourney, which celebrates Wes women of the 1980s, alumnae will be on hand to offer advice and support to current students. The two-hour mentoring session in Daniel Family Commons will match alumnae with current Cardinals to discuss careers, academics and athletics. “We started the Cardinal Golf Outing to raise money for women’s sports at Wesleyan,” said Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Mike Whalen ’83. “This year we’re adding the…

NESCAC Win Sends Cardinals to NCAA Championship

Men’s Tennis to Participate in Challenging Stag-Hen Invitational in California

Whalen ’83 to Devote Full Attention to Athletic Director Position; DiCenzo Becomes Head Football Coach

Gridiron Club Honors Assistant Coach DiCenzo, Bussani ’14

Wesleyan Dedicates Citrin Field in Honor of the Men’s Lacrosse Team

Football’s Fuchs ’17 Receives Regional Honors, Gold Helmet Award

Men’s Soccer Victory Highlight of Wesleyan Homecoming Sporting Events

Wesleyan Battles for Homecoming Victory Against Amherst Oct. 18

Volleyball Coach Lackey to Retire After 37 Years, Hundreds of Victories

Coach McKenna Selected Members of USA Hockey National U22 Squad

Wesleyan Staff Row the Connecticut River

Cardinal Golf Outing to Benefit Women’s Athletics May 12