The losses are uncharacteristic for this year’s WashU team, as they have an 18-5 record.

The Bears enjoyed some particularly strong individual performances across the meet, setting five program records and earning 15 All-American finishes.

The Bears won all four games against the Gusties on March 21 and 22, while also adding wins over the University of Wisconsin–Platteville and Westminster College to win seven consecutive games going into University Athletic Association (UAA) play. 

Unfortunately, on Friday, March 20 and Saturday, March 21, WashU fell to Case Western in their opening University Athletic Association (UAA) series. The loss left a harrowing 1-2 mark on their UAA record and pushed the Bears to 12th in their division. 

After winning their first tournament games since 2019 in the first two rounds, the Bears were eliminated by the regional top-seeded University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh 64-43 on March 13.

The loss ends WashU’s season with a 20-8 record, capping off the program’s fourth straight 20-win season and fifth consecutive NCAA tournament appearance. 

The Bears convincingly defeated SUNY Geneseo and scratched out a win against Ohio Wesleyan. For the first time since 2019, the Bears will play in the Sweet Sixteen. 

With one lap left in the 4×400 meter relay, sophomore Hailey Weir mounted an attack, surging past the anchor from Colby College to cross the line in 3:44.54. The finish not only set a new Division III record, but clinched a second-ever NCAA indoor championship for WashU’s women’s track and field team.

The No. 20 WashU men’s basketball team is headed to the Division III Sweet 16 for the third season in a row. On Friday, March 6, the Bears showed they can win games in multiple ways, advancing via a blowout win over Transylvania University featuring a balanced scoring performance in the opening round. The next night, Saturday, March 7, the Bears pulled out a tight 74-71 win over No. 21 University of Wisconsin–Whitewater led by sophomore forward Connor May’s 29 points to punch a Sweet 16 ticket.

This past weekend, they faced the same team in the semifinals of the same competition with a chance to get revenge. The Bears could not rewrite history, as they narrowly lost to the No. 5 Athenas, going on to finish third in the competition.