Athletics Momentum Builds in Winter Season
Wesleyan athletic teams had several successes throughout their winter seasons, including deep post-season runs, two Little Three Championships, and several school record-setting performances.
“This winter continued the remarkable momentum across Wesleyan Athletics,” said Michael Whalen, Frank V. Sica Director of Athletics and chair of physical education. “What stands out most is the standard our teams now expect of themselves: competing for championships, supporting one another, and representing Wesleyan with pride on every stage.”
Men’s Basketball
After a record-setting 2024-25 season, the No. 17 Wesleyan men’s basketball team followed suit with another strong showing in 2025-26 despite losing their two top scorers from last season. The 21-6 Cardinals flew at the top of the NESCAC, going 9-1 in conference play and securing the No. 1 seed in the NESCAC Tournament for the second straight year. The Cardinals finished as runners up to Trinity in the NESCAC Tournament, but earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament. Men’s basketball won in each of the first two NCAA Tournament rounds against Lehman College and New York University, which were hosted at Silloway Gym for the fourth time since 2018. The team also went a perfect 12-0 at home this regular season. They will take on No. 12 Tufts in the Sweet 16 on March 14.
Wesleyan’s guard play was key to its success this season. All-NESCAC First Teamers Zach Wolinski ’28 and Sam Pohlman ’26 led the team in scoring and assists, respectively. The sure-handed Pohlman had the most assists in the conference, with 174. Wesleyan’s coaching staff was named the NESCAC Coaching Staff of the Year for the second consecutive year.
Women’s Basketball
After an uneven season, the women’s basketball team finished strong with a 66-57 win over Colby. The Cardinals played spoiler for Colby’s season, denying them a spot in the NESCAC Tournament. Olivia Quinn ’26 finished the season as the leading scorer in the NESCAC, averaging 16.9 points per game, and finished her time at Wesleyan with 1,190 career points, the seventh-most in program history. Quinn was named to the All-NESCAC Second Team.
Wrestling
The Wesleyan wrestling team will cap off a successful season with a wrestler competing at the NCAA Division III Championship in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on March 13-14. Hayden Myers ’27 rolled to a regional title in his weight class at the NCAA Region 1 Championships on March 1 and will compete for a national title for the second consecutive season. Myers was one of five Cardinals named to the All-Region team, including Ike Guttentag ’26, Chris Hong ’27, Kellen Horst ’26, Roman Martinez ’27, and Warren Little ’27. Overall, the wrestling team went 5-3 in versus competition and placed in the top half of teams at each of its five multi-school meets throughout the season.
Men’s Ice Hockey
Men’s hockey captured the program’s first outright Little Three title since the 2018-19 season, going 3-1 against Amherst and Williams to secure the crown. The Cardinals finished 9-16 with an 8-10 record in conference play, which was enough to secure the No. 5 seed in the NESCAC Tournament. Men’s hockey returned to postseason play for the first time since 2023, losing to Middlebury in the NESCAC Quarterfinal in a double-overtime heartbreaker. Patrick McDevitt ’28 set the school record for most saves in a single game and the NESCAC Championship record for saves in a game with 73 saves in the contest. Ethan Davison ’26 was the team’s top point-getter, with 17 points from two goals and 15 assists. Head Coach Chris Porter secured his 200th career win this year as well when the Cardinals took down Trinity 3-1 at home late in the season.
Women’s Ice Hockey
The women’s hockey team finished the season on a promising run of form after a difficult start to the year. The Cardinals won five of its last seven regular season games, including a senior night win over Trinity 3-1. The team went 7-16-2 overall, with a 4-11-1 record in conference play. Dylan Green ’26 and Caroline Humber ’29 were the team’s top scorers, with 22 points and 17 points, respectively.
Men’s Swimming and Diving
Wesleyan men’s swimming and diving participated in the NESCAC Championships from Feb. 19 to 22, finishing in 11th. Tomas Gonzalez ’27 had a breakout season, including a school record-breaking time in the 200-meter fly in the Consolation Final at the NESCAC Championships. He was also named the NESCAC Performer of the Week on Feb. 3 after four first-place finishes in a meet against Connecticut College.
Women’s Swimming and Diving
The women’s swimming and diving team finished the year well, with its best finish in the NESCAC Championship since 2020. The Cardinals took home eighth place with 596 total points in the competition—which was hosted at its home pool, Webster Family Natatorium—securing four school records and several personal bests along the way. During the regular season, the Cardinals went 5-5, including wins in four of its last six matchups. The coaching staff, led by Head Coach Vanessa Williamson, was named the NESCAC Co-Coaching Staff of the Year, alongside Williams.
Men’s Squash
The men’s squash team was excellent at home this year, going 7-4 at Rosenbaum Squash Center, including two wins at the Wesleyan-Conn. College Round Robin event in mid-January. The team was 8-10 overall and made it to the CSA Divisional Team Championships (C Division) in Philadelphia. Wesleyan beat Chatham 5-4 in the consolation bracket before losing to Denison 6-3 to end its season.
Women’s Squash
Women’s squash had a stellar campaign. The Cardinals were ranked No. 19 nationally and qualified for the Kurtz Cup in the CSA Divisional Team Championships held from Feb. 27 to March 1. This is the first time the Cardinals have qualified for the B Division Championship in this annual competition. Wesleyan finished 9-6 this season with an 8-2 record at home.
Men’s Track and Field
Wesleyan men’s track and field shattered school records throughout its indoor competitive season. Three relay teams set school records in events at the New England DIII Championships on March 1. The team placed 10th of 30 schools at New England’s, the highest mark for the men’s team in over a decade. Other school record times achieved thus far in the season include: the men’s 4x400 meter relay by Reese Connors ’29, Alex Hofmann ’29, Jack Park ’29, and Steve Paul ’28; the men’s weight throw by Rami Hayes-Messinger ’26; and the men’s 60-meter dash by Paul. From here, Wesleyan has the Tufts Final Qualifier and the NCAA Division III Championships remaining on the winter schedule.
Women’s Track and Field
The women’s track and field team had a strong showing this year as well. Sydni Chandler ’29 burst onto the scene in her rookie campaign—she broke the school record in the 60-meter hurdles four times this season. The squad placed 19th at the New England DIII Championships, highlighted by a third-place finish in the distance medley relay race run by Kaitlyn Connors '29, Amelia Goettsch '29, Virginia Lessner '28, and Elanora Smith '27. Wesleyan will also compete at the Tufts Final Qualifier and NCAA Division III Championships to finish the season.
