Men’s Basketball:
Fun Fact: The Bears have captured the UAA conference crown six times in the last 15 years and own a 159-48 all-time UAA record (.768 winning percentage).
Recap of year: As Dick Vitale would say, “It was awesome, baby!” How else can you describe the best season in team history, a season that saw the Bears roll off 21 consecutive wins on their way to a 25-2 record? Although the team was tripped up in the Sweet Sixteen by DePauw University 90-87, that does not dim its accomplishments. The Bears added a sixth University Athletic Association title by going 14-0 in conference and coach Mark Edwards was named Division III coach of the year.
Outlook for next year: Excellent. All five starters return (Jariott Rook, Dustin Tylka, Matt Tabash, Joel Parrott and Chris Jefferies), so there is every reason to expect similar dominance in the UAA and another championship run.
Player of the year: Chris Jefferies
He was first team all-UAA and all-Midwest region while scoring 16.9 points a game and pulling down 8.3 rebounds.
Women’s basketball:
Fun Fact: The women’s average margin of victory this year in compiling a perfect 25-0 record was 24.1 points.
Recap of year: Okay, so they didn’t win their fifth consecutive National Championship and instead got ousted in their first game of the tournament by the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, the eventual champions. Yet that cannot diminish an undefeated regular season campaign (25-0) and a fifth consecutive UAA title.
Outlook for next year: How can you bet against them? You can’t. Despite the fact that head coach Nancy Fahey loses two seniors, Robin Lahargoue and Kristi Eller, three starters return (Hallie Hutchens, Laura Crowley, and Jennifer Rudis). There is no reason to think that a more experienced squad will not deliver another championship banner to the Hilltop.
Player of the year: Jennifer Rudis
There was no obvious pick, but Rudis gets the nod. She averaged 9.9 points a game while crashing the boards for 8.1 rebounds a contest.
Baseball:
Fun Fact: An eight-game winning streak in March and April propelled the Bears to a #22 ranking nationally.
Recap of year: Washington University baseball is back in a big way! The Bears are having their best season ever, posting a 24-8 mark though Sunday. Although the team is coming off a bad weekend in which it dropped four in a row to DePauw, things are still looking polished on the diamond.
Outlook for next year: uncertain. Losing stars like McBride, Glover, and Crume will undoubtedly hurt the Bears. On the other hand, top young hurlers Adam Cowley and Matt Knepper return. Expect somewhat of an offensive drop-off, but another winning season should be in the cards.
Player of the year: Greg Kriegler
The senior catcher is batting .351 while driving home a team high 32 RBI. Honorable mention: Reggie Crume, Mark Glover, Graham McBride and Joe Kelly.
Cross-Country
Fun Fact: Both the men’s and women’s teams place first at the Southwest Baptist University Invitational in September, the only time all year that happened.
Recap of year: New coach Jeff Stiles led the men to a third consecutive UAA title, while the women made their second consecutive NCAA meet appearance.
Outlook for next year: The men’s side loses perennial standout MacDonald and seven other seniors, while the women’s side loses only four seniors. Look for the young women’s team to impress and the men’s team to remain strong, but to fade a little without MacDonald.
Player of the year: Patrick MacDonald
MacDonald, a four-year standout, was the only runner to go to nationals, where he placed 59th.
Football:
Fun Fact: The Bears outscored the opposition, averaging 22.6 points per game while opponents scored 12.6 points per game.
Recap of year: The 8-2 record the Bears posted does not even begin to tell the story of a season that could have been much worse. With a plethora of key injuries in the first game of the season against Westminster, things were not looking good. But sophomore running back Bobby Collins, Jr., led the Bears to an inspired season of football culminating in the Bears’ second UAA title in three years. Although the Bears were snubbed by the playoff selection committee, that does not diminish the courageous effort they put in this year in the face of so many injuries.
Outlook for next year: Very good. While the Bears will lose starting quarterback Brian Tatom, almost all the key players will be around. Collins, Jr., returns with star kicker Jonathan Feig, who led the team in points scored, and linebacker Brandon Roberts, who led the team in tackles.
Player of the year: Bobby Collins, Jr.
He carried the team averaging 101.5 rushing yards a game while slamming into the endzone for seven TDs.
Softball:
Fun Fact: Freshman Victoria Ramsey leads the pitching staff with a sparkling record of 11-4.
Recap of year: The Bears have garnered an 18-14 record so far, going 4-4 in the UAA. Not bad considering this is only the third year for varsity softball at WU. However, playoff hopes are dimming: WU has to win all eleven of its remaining games to have a chance to qualify for post-season play.
Outlook for next year: There is no reason to think that the softball team will not continue to improve. They lose only one player, Emily Vambaketes, from the program, while the rest of the team returns to form a solid nucleus for years to come.
Player of the year: Elizabeth Swary
The freshman infielder is leading the way for the Bears with 6 HRs, 32 RBIs and a .438 average.
Men’s Tennis:
Fun Fact: Overall, the men’s team is 91-42 in single matches for this year.
Recap of year: The Bears are off to a 9-2 start going into the UAA championship next weekend andlook to be well on their way to a third straight post season berth. So far this year, they have racked up an 88-33 record in singles and a 30-19 record in doubles. They are pretty much a lock to participate in post-season competition for the third straight year.
Outlook for next year:
Three seniors Patrick Doyle, Chad Brand and Mike Feldman all graduate, but Brian Alvo remains along with a core nucleus of young players. Look for the Bears to make another NCAA tournament next year.
Player of the year: Brian Alvo
How can you argue with a number one ranking? He holds a 16-4 record in singles, the best on the team.
Women’s Tennis:
Fun Fact: Coach Lynn Imergoot has led WU to a winning record in each of her 25 years of coaching.
Recap of year: Up to this point, the women are ranked third in the Midwest region, dominating the competition by going an impressive 18-2. The ranking should jump since this weekend’s defeat of Kenyon College, the number one-ranked team in the region. It is not of question of whether they will get into the NCAA tournament, but if they will host a regional.
Outlook for next year: The Bears will lose only two seniors and otherwise the core of awesome youngsters like Greenberg, Kacie Cook and Jennifer Stein will be intact.
Player of the year: Laura Greenberg
So far Greenberg has gone an impressive 21-1 in singles play, which sets her apart from the other highly qualified players on the team.