Photo Courtesy of Unsplash
As the temperatures get lower and the last leaves fall, it can only mean one thing: it’s time for winter sports! The longest of the three sports seasons, winter athletes compete from November to sometimes as late as March, many giving up part of their winter break to practice and play games in hopes of competing for a championship. This year, Conn has multiple teams hoping to match, surpass, or avenge their previous season, and we can’t wait to watch them compete!
Women’s Basketball
Coming off a tough, injury-riddled season last year, the women’s basketball team is looking to make a splash. Senior Molly Cronin says her expectation of the season is “to be the underdog team that is going to surprise a lot of people.” Senior Jaycie Rojik echoed this, saying, “There has been a noticeable shift in the energy and culture where I really expect great things this season. (…) With the roster we have, I expect to go far and graduate knowing that this team is on the up & up.” Both seniors expressed the team’s expectation is to be a contender for the NESCAC championship. The team is looking forward to facing rival Trinity twice this season. They will face Trinity in the first home game of the season on Nov. 18 and then again at Trinity on Jan. 13.
Men’s Basketball
After a historic season that led the Camels to host a NESCAC playoff game for the first time in a decade, the men’s basketball team has renewed its quest for the title. Junior Billy Whelan says the game against Bowdoin, the team who knocked them out of the playoffs last year, will be one to watch: “That game is definitely marked on the calendar for all returners.” The team hopes to match and surpass their achievement from last year, completing not only a NESCAC championship but also a spot in the NCAA tournament. They graduated two key seniors this year, but Whelan said that the team added two freshmen that have the chance to make a big impact on the court. Men’s basketball hosts their home opener on Nov. 15 vs SUNY Purchase and will face the elusive Bowdoin Bears away on Jan. 27.
Women’s Hockey
In a little over a week, the women’s hockey team will find out if an off-season commitment to creating a culture of buy-in and bonding has turned them into the team they hope to be for the upcoming season. Last season ended with a heartbreaking game that knocked the Camels out of the second round of the NESCACs. This season, senior co-captain Caroline O’Keefe says “our goal for the year is to host a playoff game.” Senior co-captain Melanie Conka agreed, adding, “We definitely started early setting our expectations for the year, and everyone’s hopped on board.” The team is looking forward to opening weekend, their 25+1 celebration which includes a bunch of alumni returning, against Wesleyan on Nov. 18 and 19. O’Keefe and Conka agree that the game at Trinity on Jan. 20 and 21 will be another to catch since the in-state rivalry is always fun.
Men’s Hockey
After losing in the NESCAC Quarterfinals last year to in-state rival Trinity, the men’s hockey team went back to the drawing board to figure out how they could make their 2022-23 campaign more successful. “We have heightened expectations from last year,” said senior Rob Radochia. “I trust that our modified strength & conditioning program and high-intensity practices will translate well to in-season competition.” Radochia added, “While we graduated several impactful players, the first-year class has been able to effectively fill those roles.” The men’s hockey team will start their season away at Wesleyan on Nov. 18 and host their first home game of the season against Manhattanville College on Nov. 26.
Women’s Squash
With the recent hiring of Coach Scott Brown, an alum of the Conn squash program, the women’s squash team is ready to hit the ground running. Although graduating three key players, the team thinks they have the talent to reach their goal of being ranked in the top 25 teams in the College Squash Association (CSA). The biggest matches to look forward to this year are against Haverford College in an away game on Jan. 15, and a game at Colby College on Dec. 3. Colby and Haverford are both responsible for the early end to last year’s season in the CSA Championship, so revenge is on the menu for those games.
Men’s Squash
With a new coach at the helm, the men’s squash team is looking to crack the top 30 in the CSA rankings. Although graduating 5 seniors last year left big shoes to be filled, a strong recruiting class brought a large group of new players that now makes up more than half of the team. “They are all very motivated players looking to push themselves and the team,” according to returning seniors on the team. The men are looking forward to games against Denison University on Jan. 14 and two shots at a rematch of last year’s final game against Haverford College on Nov. 19 and Jan. 15.
Women’s Swim & Dive
Bringing a larger team to the pool this season, the women’s swim and dive team is looking to build towards a top performance in the NESCAC tournament in February. After finishing in the top 20 teams in the country for the 5th straight season, the team is looking to a large freshman class to see what they can offer. So far, senior Abby Martin says the freshmen are “each showing much promise.” The women’s swim and dive team will host their first home match of the season against Roger Williams on Dec. 10.
Men’s Swim & Dive
After graduating almost half the team last year, the men’s swim and dive team is hoping to make a run for the title adding 3 freshmen and returning 2 NCAA Championship participants. The team was not available for comment at the time of publication. The men will start their season at Middlebury on Nov. 19.
Women’s Indoor Track & Field
While mostly an individual sport, the women’s track and field team is working together to make this season a success for all. Their goal is “to send as many athletes as possible to nationals across the program,” according to senior Julia Curran. It’s never easy to fit into the shoes of talented seniors, but it’s always fun to see how new freshmen can make an impact on a team. Junior Emma Wheeler added, “they always bring great new energy to the team.” This year, the track and field teams will have the opportunity to compete on a banked track, which allows the runners to run faster, at the NESCAC invitational on Jan. 29. They also will compete at the Division III New England Championships at the end of February.
Men’s Indoor Track & Field
The men’s track and field team is feeling confident that this will be a season to remember. Returning senior All-American Jeffery Love as well as several athletes coming off a wildly successful cross-country season, the team is hoping to contend for a top spot in the NESCAC. Sophomore Jayson Firmin says that while many of the seniors last year were key members of the team, the freshmen this year are really exciting. In terms of meets to get excited about, the indoor track and field team has no home meets as Conn doesn’t have an indoor track. However, the indoor track & field season often blends into the outdoor season in the spring, so while the team is very excited about meets like the one at the New Balance Track in the winter, it’s the outdoor NESCAC Championship in the spring that is the big ticket because Connecticut College is hosting the NESCAC Championship this year.
Best of luck to all our winter sports teams as they start their seasons! Go Camels!
