Second-year Head Coach Jedd Fisch’s 2025 squad welcomes you to Dawgs After Dark, the innovative Spring Game program, May 2 at 6:30 p.m.
Mark your calendars and bring your pack to this free event at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium.
Dawgs After Dark is a live-action, four quarters of purple and gold football. The event marks the end of the Huskies’ spring practice season and the Dawgs will be riding the wave of home field magic as the UW has won 20 consecutive games on Montlake dating back to 2022.
Free tickets are available now at GoHuskies.com/FBTickets! Seating is open on the 100 level on a first-come, first-served basis. You can also follow spring football news on GoHuskies.com.
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FROM THE DESK OF HEAD HUSKY BASEBALL COACH EDDIE SMITH
Hello Dawg Fans!
The season is upon us, and we are excited to build Husky Baseball into one of the top programs in the Big Ten. This team is working hard to establish the foundation and standards that show up in the habits of championship programs and people.
When I was first starting as a college head coach in my late 20s, Coach Pete was starting his tenure at UW and articulated his model for player development perfectly. In that time, I stole his theme and the goal for our program was to develop our players to be the best they could possibly be in the four pillars of our BUILT4LIFE philosophy: Athletics, academics, citizenship, and leadership.
Our coaching staff, all of whom were born and raised in Washington, works diligently each day to fulfill our vision of bringing wins to Montlake. Our recruiting will always be focused on keeping the best players from Washington home and supplementing this core with a group of players who also have pride in being a “diamonddaWg.”
In today’s era, you can impact Husky Baseball winning more than ever before by contributing to the baseball fund with Montlake Futures, which helps us supplement our scholarships and compete in the Northwest and Big Ten.
The season begins with a non-conference schedule that will prepare us for Big Ten play, which is a great opportunity for our program to establish ourselves in this new landscape. At the end of our 55-game season our team will have played games in San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York City. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the country while playing the game we love and representing the university we love.
Go Dawgs!
Eddie Smith, UW Baseball Head Coach
UW Baseball Head Coach
Eddie Smith
HUSKY HISTORY
Kelsey Plum’s No. 10 retired as the first-ever women’s basketball player to receive the accolade
Kelsey Plum, the four-year letter-winner (2013-17) guard from Poway, Calif., is now immortalized as the first-ever women’s basketball player to be given one of UW Athletics’ highest honors.
That greatness was etched in the annals of Husky history January 18, as well as stitched in the memories of hardwood fans, when Plum’s No. 10 jersey was lifted into the rafters at Alaska Airlines Arena. The Huskies capped the special day with a Big Ten Conference win, coasting to an 87-58 victory over Purdue before a sold-out crowd.
Plum joins other UW hoops legends Bob Houbregs, Brandon Roy and Isaiah Thomas as well as volleyball stars Courtney Thompson and Krista Vansant in this special club of jersey retirement.
“I really feel so blessed to share this moment with my family,” Plum shared in a press conference after the ceremony. “This is really cool but when it really happens, you’re in shock a little bit.”
At Washington, Plum became the all-time NCAA scoring leader (3,527 points, which stood until 2024) and broke the 33-year-old NCAA career free throw record (912). She broke the single-season NCAA scoring record with 1,109 points in 2016-17 (which stood until the end of the 2023-24 season). Plum became UW’s all-time three-point leader, the Pac-12’s all-time single-season scoring leader and set the Pac-12 and UW single-game scoring records (57).
Continued on page 8
HUSKY HISTORY
In 2017, Plum was named the AP, espnW, and Pac-12 Player of the Year, WBCA and USWBA All-American (also in 2016), and Seattle Sports Star of the Year. She was also unanimous AP First Team All-American, espnW First Team All-American, and All-Pac-12 selection. In 2017, Plum won the Dawn Staley, Ann Meyers Drysdale, and Nancy Lieberman Awards, and the Wade and Naismith Trophies. In 2016, among many other accolades, Plum was named Wooden Award All-American and Naismith Award Semifinalist. Plum was a four-time All-Pac-12 Team honoree, and in 2014 was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.
Plum was the No. 1 pick in the 2017 WNBA Draft, the first No. 1 overall pick in Washington basketball history, men or women. She was just the fourth Pac-12 player to be selected No. 1. In 2021, Plum was named the WNBA’s Sixth Woman of the Year.
Her 2022 season was incredible, earning a spot in the WNBA All-Star Game as a starter — and going on to record a WNBA record 30 points, as well as being named All-Star MVP. Plum capped off that season being named to the All-WNBA First Team, and ultimately, became a WNBA Champion when the Las Vegas Aces won. Plum earned a second-consecutive WNBA Championship title in 2023 with the Aces.
Internationally on Team USA, Plum won historic gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in 3 x 3 Basketball. She was also a member of the 2022 USA Women’s National Team that captured its 11th FIBA World Cup gold medal in Sydney.
Most recently, Plum won gold with Team USA Basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics, helping the USA women claim their eighth straight — and 10th overall — Olympic gold medal.
Relive the Forever 10 ceremony at Forever-10.com.
SEASON PRE VIEW
OLYMPIA NATIVE EDDIE SMITH IS NOW LEADING UW BASEBALL AND WRITING A NEW CHAPTER AS THE HUSKY HELMSMAN
BY BOB SHERWIN • FOR GO HUSKIES MAGAZINE
Washington Huskies’ first-year baseball coach Eddie Smith has a track record. He has shown he can turn a program around.
That ability played a significant role as to why the University trusts him to rebuild the Huskies’ baseball program. The Olympia, Wash., native (hired in July to replace Jason Kelly) comes to Montlake after three seasons at Utah Valley. In 2021, his first season at UVU, his team went 10-47. A year later, the Wolverines had a sparkling 34-24 record. Last season, the program set a school record with 18 WAC victories.
Smith also served at the helm of Lower Columbia College in Longview, Wash., for four seasons (2014-17). There, his teams won two NWAC Championships and were ranked 10th in the country in 2015.
Smith and his staff now face the task of rebuilding a Huskies program whose team went 19-31-1 last season. Those 19 wins were UW’s fewest in a full season since 2011 when the program went 17-37. Adding to the challenge, UW lost four top players from 2024, including one of their best all-around players, Aiva Arquette (.325, 12 HR, 36 RBI), who transferred to Oregon State. On top of that, Smith arrived just days after the Major League Draft signing period, limiting his high school recruiting connections and signings.
Continued on page 12
Much like his first season at UVU, Smith said, “we need to install the foundation.”
“That never changes,” he added. “This my third time taking over a program and every time in year one, it’s about setting those standards. That’s what this year is all about.”
Smith added that the foundation for the Husky program “can absolutely be done with the majority of the roster from the Northwest, specifically the state.”
He says that like the revenue sports (football and basketball), the key is NIL, especially in this new portal and recruiting era with the program moving to the Big Ten Conference.
“That’s the name of the game in recruiting right now. That’s something we’re working diligently on. Building that base.”
It’s first base.
The one returning player (of the aforementioned five) is left fielder A.J. Guerrero, a powerhitting righty who is projected to be among the Big Ten’s elite players this season. The senior from Fife, Wash., batted .303 last season and led the team in RBI (50), runs (39), slugging percentage (.572) and home runs (15). His 33 career home runs put him fifth in Husky history. The program’s home run record is 42, shared by Kyle Conley (2006-09) and Ed Erickson (1997-2000).
“He’s had a great career here,” Smith said. “He’s on pace to set the all-time home run record. He’s been a stalwart on offense for three years.”
Guerrero, who started 49 games in left field last season, will hold down one outfield spot. “We have three or four guys competing for the three outfield spots,” Smith says.
Three are Washington natives. Malakhi Knight, who grew up in Marysville, is a senior transfer from UCLA who likely will patrol center field.
“He went to UCLA as one of the top 100 prospects in the nation as a true freshman,” Smith said. “He got a little banged up and fought through the injury bug a lot in his three years there. He’ll get a lot of opportunities here.”
Knight was the top-ranked player in the state in 2020, playing for Marysville Getchell High School, and the No. 4-ranked outfielder in the country. He hit .250 over 25 games as a freshman at UCLA, and .285 as a sophomore. Last season, Knight missed nine games due to an injury, which contributed to a
career-low .227 batting average.
Freshman Jackson Hotchkiss, who grew up in Battle Ground, Wash., was selected in the 18th round — the 554th pick — by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the draft last June. However, Hotchkiss turned down the pros to wear a Husky uniform.
“He decided to play for us,” Smith said. “We’re excited about that. He’s a good player now and I think he has great potential.”
Senior Braeden Terry, who played at Bellevue’s Newport High followed by two seasons at Everett Community College, appeared in 22 games for the Huskies last season with 20 starts. The left-hander hit .267 with a .360 slugging percentage.
Cooper Whitton, a junior from San Diego who can play all three outfield spots, will also be part of the outfield competition.
Junior Sam DeCarlo will move over to shortstop from third base. Similar to Knight, DeCarlo’s batting average unexpectedly dipped last season, down to just .200, after a stellar freshman year which saw him hit .268 with seven home runs and 33 RBI.
“He’s really determined to have a great season,” Smith said. “He’s aware of our concepts. We’re excited to see what he brings to the table.”
Blake Wilson, who will open at third base, was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 20th round in 2023 but chose to play for the Huskies. He’s adjusting to the college game (.185) but "hopefully, he can put it all together this year,” Smith said.
The right side of the infield will be manned by transfers. Graduate senior Trevor Kole, who played 89 career games at Florida Gulf Coast, is expected to start at second. Junior Carson Crawford, who played in 108 games at Cal, will likely man first. Crawford’s best season with the Bears was two years ago, when 26 of his 43 hits went for extra bases (14 doubles and 12 home runs).
Colton Bower, a sophomore who transferred from Washington State a year ago, will start at catcher. Junior Colin Blanchard was expected to compete with Bower for the starting role, but he’s currently still recovering from a right-arm injury.
As for the pitching staff, Smith says, “we’re hopeful.” There is some uncertainty over how two of the staff’s four potential starters will perform after coming off injuries.
Continued on page 14
Colin Blanchard
Colton Bower
Tommy Brandenburg
Much like his first season at UVU, Smith said, “we need to install the foundation.”
“That never changes,” he added.
“This my third time taking over a program and every time in year one, it’s about setting those standards.
That’s what this year is all about.”
Carson Crawford
Isaac Yeager
Trevor Kole
Sam DeCarlo
A.J. Guerrero
Malakhi Knight
Braeden Terry
Dawgs DIAMOND 2025
SEASON PRE VIEW
Max Banks, a 6-foot-4, 225-pound righthander, is a transfer from NCAA Division III Chapman University. He was injured for most of last season, appearing in just six games. However, as a sophomore, Banks performed to the tune of a 3.43 ERA in 14 appearances. Equally impressive were his freshman numbers and his 3.34 ERA over 13 games. Max has been tabbed as the season-opening starter.
“His fastball is in the 92-95 (mph) range. He throws his breaking ball for strikes,” Smith said. “He’s had a nice career when he’s healthy.”
The second starter will be between two Seattle products: Junior Isaac Yeager, a 6-6, 215-pound righthander from Bishop Blanchet High School, and Reilly McAdams, a 6-6, 235-pound senior righthander from Ingraham High.
The third starter will be one of those two or right-handed junior Tommy Brandenburg, who continued to recover from Tommy John surgery during the offseason. The transfer from Oregon and Central Arizona did not play for the Huskies last season.
“He's primed and ready to go. He’ll be close, probably be on a pitch count,” Smith said of Brandenburg. “There’s an edge to him. He really understands what it takes.”
Another hurler coming off an injury-plagued season is Josh Emanuels, a senior righthander from Bellevue’s Interlake High. He made only five relief appearances last season while making 59 appearances over the previous two seasons.
Sophomore Nic Bronzini, a 6-4, 250-pound transfer from LSU (part of the Tigers 2023 National Championship team), gives the Huskies support from the left side.
Smith said there are four freshmen right-hand relievers who could have an impact this season: Lane Simonsen of Ferndale, Micah Bujacich of Steilacoom, Bradley Gilbert and Justin Tims.
“I think all of those guys have a real exciting future in our uniform,” Smith added. “They’ll be some learning along the way this year.”
Classwork started Feb. 14 against Kansas State in Conway, S.C.
Max Banks
Bradley Gilbert
Blake Wilson
Abounds Opportunity
Rylee
Legendary Head Coach Heather
Tarr’s Husky
softball
program is primed to build on her legacy of success in the Big Ten
IBY BART POTTER • FOR GO HUSKIES MAGAZINE
f there is one word to characterize University of Washington softball for the 2025 season, it is “opportunity.”
Opportunity for Coach Heather Tarr and her Huskies is there for the grabbing. The departure of eight players from the 2024 team is yesterday’s news on Montlake.
It helps that the cupboard is full of talent and potential. Washington returns four players who played varied roles on a 2024 team that won 32 games and played in the NCAA tournament for the 30th straight season. Tarr has led the Huskies throughout the last 19 of those 30 seasons.
With a roster enriched by a strong set of incoming transfers (including high-level veterans with quality experience on winning teams) plus a promising group of seven incoming freshmen, the Huskies will look this spring to carry on the program’s winning tradition under one of the nation’s most respected coaches.
Opportunity, too, is right there on the schedule. In March, the Huskies began play in the Big Ten Conference for the first time with three games against fellow former Pac-12 rival Oregon in Husky Softball Stadium.
“There’s a ton of opportunity for lots of new humans, which is great,” Tarr said. “It's what this program is designed to do – to create durable and competitive women through the process of playing at the highest level of Division I softball.”
That being said, the impact of losing eight players by transfer was not trivial. The departures included an experienced starting pitcher, and starters at key positions such as shortstop and center field.
“Why did that happen? This doesn't happen to our program,” Tarr said.
“You can wallow in it, you can take it as a gut punch, or you can take it like, ‘now what?’ How do we continue to create an opportunity for the next group of women that are going to give what they have to becoming what they can become through this process?”
“So, it's onward, moving it along.”
Continued on page 18
Rehbein
Tarr doesn’t understate the importance of the exciting returning players — Giselle Alvarez, Jadyn Glab, Jing Gardner and Haley Winckler — as a foundation for a Husky reload.
“Opportunity was like flashing, flashing big time for them,” Tarr said of the returnees.
“Just knowing we had that group to rely on, okay, this is what we’re going to build around.”
Morgan Reimer
Giselle Alvarez
DeBoer
Alexis
Tarr doesn’t understate the importance of the exciting returning players — Giselle Alvarez, Jadyn Glab, Jing Gardner and Haley Winckler — as a foundation for a Husky reload.
“Opportunity was like flashing, flashing big time for them,” Tarr said of the returnees. “Just knowing we had that group to rely on, okay, this is what we're going to build around.”
It starts with Alvarez, a sophomore from Cerritos, Calif., who platooned at the corner infield spots early in her freshman season before taking hold of a starting job at third base near midseason and never letting go. She brought a left-handed bat to the lineup for a team-leading .343 average over 36 games.
“She really earned a spot last year, and it was cool to see,” Tarr said.
Glab, a sophomore from Dubuque, Iowa, seems set to take on much of the catching duty for the Huskies. She hit .214 in 30 games last season, but sparked the Huskies from the very first pitch of the 2025 season with a lead-off home run in the season opener on Feb. 7.
Tarr will look to Glab and Alvarez to be big contributors to the Husky offense in 2025.
“They're fun players to watch, and they both did some good things for us last year.”
The other returners will be seeking larger roles in the Husky scheme. Gardner, a sophomore outfielder from Chief Sealth High School in West Seattle, had limited at-bats as a freshman and will look for chances to flash her speed in 2025. Winckler, a senior catcher from Glacier Peak High and Bellevue Community College, played in two games in 2024.
Pitching is the name of the game in major college softball, and the Huskies will be transitioning from a staff in 2024 with a definite No. 1 pitcher.
Five pitchers with a diversity of experience and spins on the ball will be looking for innings in the circle this season, with no clear No. 1 as this issue went to press. Tarr said on any pitching staff, it’s nice to have an ace.
“But I think that's kind of old-school thinking and almost not possible in this day and age, given the fact there's so much technology involved with scouting,” she said. “Information abounds on these pitchers. And you have to have a group of women that are going to bear the load. And you have to have diversity.”
Tarr welcomes in Stevie Hansen for a senior season in Seattle. The righthanded transfer won 36 games over three seasons at Oregon.
“She's a power pitcher,” Tarr said. “She uses her velocity and she’s kind of what you would call an ‘east to west’ pitcher. She uses curves and screwballs and rise balls to get people out, and she’s got a decent off-speed pitch as well.”
Madi Balk, a junior transfer from Florida State, had a highly decorated high school and summer ball career in Lancaster, N.Y. Sophia Ramuno, a junior transfer from Cal Poly, struck out 160 batters in 160.1 innings for the Mustangs in 2024.
Rylee Rehbein from Battle Ground (Wash.) High School is a sophomore transfer from Montana. She went 6-5 with four complete games and led the Grizzlies with 73 strikeouts last season. Freshman Morgan Reimer, from Langley, B.C., has no college innings but can cite international pitching experience as a member of the Canadian National Team.
Elsewhere around the diamond, transfer outfielder Alycia Flores (Colton, Calif.) brings experience and serious pop in her bat to a fifth college season. Flores, who started her career at Oklahoma, hit .325 and drove in 108 runs in 152 career games at Boise State. In 2024, she hit .335 for the Broncos with 39 RBI in 45 games.
Charity Sevaaetasi, a transfer from Oregon State, will be appreciated for her versatility and a powerful right-handed bat. She can manage both first and third base and play behind the dish. In 2022, her best season in Corvallis, the Auburn (Wash.) High School grad hit .300 with six home runs and 20 RBI for a Beavers team that played in the Women’s College World Series.
Continued on page 20
Dawgs DIAMOND
SEASON PRE VIEW
Alycia Flores
Jadyn Glab
Charity Sevaaetasi
FCoach
Heather
Tarr
reshman Alexis DeBoer, an all-state player at Bellevue (Wash.) High School, will likely be slotted to play first base. She hit a team-leading .313 with three home runs in five early-February games this season.
“At the end of the day, if you hit, you play,” Tarr says. “(And) she's a hitter. She's a right-handed power bat.”
Tarr said the 2025 schedule was crafted based on the players the team thought would be on the roster. The schedule remains challenging.
“It's tough,” Tarr said. “But it's just what this program does. We work hard and we endure a lot. But out of it, we become hopefully better from it and get to peak at the right time and make a run at a national championship. This year's no different. It's the same goal, different personnel.”
For coverage of the team's march towards postseason, visit GoHuskies.com.
Sophia Ramuno
Alexis DeBoer
QUESTIONS
BY MARK MOSCHETTI • FOR GO HUSKIES MAGAZINE
From the time he first stepped onto the tennis court for Washington at the age of 17, Cesar Bouchelaghem has been winning.
His very first contest as a collegian during that 2022 freshman season? A win.
His first postseason opportunity that same spring, playing doubles against Oregon in the Pac-12 tournament? A win.
A chance this past November to become the first Husky since 2013 to snag a victory in the NCAA singles tournament?
Once again, a win.
Then on Jan. 26, Bouchelaghem reached a milestone: He put his 100th UW victory into the book, defeating Giovanni Branchetti of Gonzaga in the No. 1 singles contest, 6-1, 6-0. Through Feb. 8, he has 55 career victories in singles and 48 in doubles.
The 20-year-old senior, who hails from Pallud, France, has plenty of tennis remaining before his college career concludes later this year, as the Huskies take aim at a berth in the NCAA team championships.
In this issue’s 10 Questions, Bouchelaghem shares some thoughts on that NCAA singles victory, coming from half a world away to play for the Huskies, and what comes next for him.
Frenchman Cesar Bouchelaghem reflects on his historic Husky career and what lies ahead
In November, you became the first Husky since 2013 to win a first-round NCAA singles match. What does it mean to you to accomplish that?
“Winning that first-round NCAA singles match was an incredible achievement for me because it showed how much my hard work and dedication have paid off. It also felt great to represent UW at such a high level and be part of the program’s history. More than anything, it motivates me to keep pushing for bigger accomplishments.’’
Was that on your mind at all when you stepped onto the court that day?
“Honestly, I was focused on playing my best tennis and executing my game plan rather than thinking about the history behind it. I knew I had prepared well and just wanted to stay in the moment. After the match, it really hit me how special the win was.’’
Your opponent served eight games, and you broke his serve six times. What was it about that aspect of your game that was working so well that day, and what else was humming along?
“My return game was on point that day, and I was seeing the ball really well, which helped me break his serve consistently. I also felt confident in my movement and decision-making, staying aggressive when I had the chance. My mental composure played a big role in keeping me focused throughout the match.”
You’ve enjoyed good success in singles during your time at UW, defeating several ranked players. What is a big factor in that success for you – is it your physical game, your mental approach, or a combination of the two?
“My success in singles comes from a combination of my physical game and mental approach. I put a lot of emphasis on my fitness and court positioning but staying mentally strong in tough moments has been key. The ability to reset after every point and trust my game makes a huge difference.”
You’ve also been very successful in doubles, including an ITA top-10 ranking with your partner, Dzianis Zharyn. What is it that you particularly enjoy about doubles as compared to singles?
“I love the energy and teamwork involved in doubles, as well as the fast-paced nature of the points. Having a partner to strategize with and rely on adds a different dynamic compared to singles. It’s also really satisfying to set up plays and finish points at the net.”
It’s often said that the best doubles teams are a fire-and-ice combo: the ‘fire’ player who goes for the winners, and the ‘ice’ player who gets everything back and sets up his partner. For you and Dzianis, who’s the ‘fire’ and who’s the ‘ice’ — and what else is it about the two of you that clicks so well?
“I think our partnership works so well because we complement each other’s styles — one of us is more aggressive, while the other keeps things solid and steady. Dzianis brings a lot of fire with his big shots, and I focus on consistency and setting up opportunities. We communicate really well, which is a huge factor in our success.”
What was it that brought you from France all the way to Seattle to go to UW and play tennis for the Huskies?
“Coming to UW was a big decision, but I wanted to challenge myself both academically and athletically. The coaching staff, the competitive tennis environment, and the chance to live in a new country all played a role. It was a tough transition at first, but I’ve grown a lot through the experience.”
Not only were you far from home, you were just 17 and dealing with a new country and a different culture. What was that adjustment like?
“Moving to the U.S. at 17 was definitely a big adjustment, especially adapting to the culture and college life. It took some time to get comfortable, but my teammates and coaches helped me a lot. Now, I feel at home and appreciate all the opportunities I have here.”
What is your ultimate tennis goal after college?
“My ultimate goal is to play professional tennis and compete at the highest level possible. I know it will take a lot of work, but I’m committed to improving every day. If that path doesn’t work out long-term, I’d love to stay involved in the sport through coaching or sports management.”
What is your academic major, and what would you like to do in life aside from tennis?
“I’m majoring in economics because I want to have options beyond tennis and possibly work in sports management one day. Tennis has given me so much, and I’d love to stay connected to the sport in some way. At the same time, I’m open to exploring different career paths as I grow.”
Huskies continue assault on school marks and draw national attention RECORDS Running Down
BY MARK MOSCHETTI • FOR GO HUSKIES MAGAZINE
It was just two years ago that eight Washington men’s milers broke the magical four-minute mark on the same night, and in the same race. It was a feat that generated headlines all around the track world.
On Jan. 18, a current group of Huskies went one better. Led by school record-setting Nathan Green, nine of them went sub-4. This time, not in the same race, but all on the same afternoon, and within just minutes of each other in the second Mile City event at Dempsey Indoor on the UW campus. Green finished his five-plus laps of the purple Dempsey oval in 3 minutes, 50.74 seconds. That was both a UW record and a Dempsey record, beating the old mark of 3:51.73 set by former Husky star Luke Houser, who was at the front of that eight-man pack on Jan. 27, 2023.
Green’s time was the fourth-fastest in college history and the eighth-fastest in American history. It was also his second school record of the season. He started out with a 7:40.09 clocking in the 3,000 meters at the season-opening Sharon Colyear-Danville meet on Dec. 7 in Boston.
Joining Green in the sub-4 club at Mile City were Ronan McMahon-Staggs (3:51.85, No. 3 in UW history), Cole Lindhorst (3:55.04, No. 9), Leo Daschbach (3:55.64, No. 12), Rhys Hammond (3:58.15, No. 14), Acer Iverson (3:58.23, No. 15), Thom Diamond (3:58.46, No. 17 ), Evan Jenkins (3:58.48, No. 18), and Jamar Distel (3:59.32, No. 24).
That was one of multiple record-setting performances for the Huskies so far this winter.
The night before Mile City, at the UW Indoor Preview, the men’s 600- and 800-meter records both went down. Bodi Ligons, a freshman, went 1:16.48 in the 600, beating Cass Elliott’s 1:16.51. It was just the second race of Ligons’ career. Kyle Reinheimer, in his first season at Washington after four years at North Carolina, finished the 800 in 1:46.45, which was .05 faster than Green’s mark from last year.
The 600 record didn’t last long. At the UW Invitational on Feb. 1, Justin O’Toole finished in 1:16.12. Ligons was right behind him in 1:16.16.
Amanda Moll broke the NCAA women's pole vault record by clearing 16 feet at the Don Kirby Elite Invitational on Feb. 15. Read about it at GoHuskies.com/Track. Moll became the first collegiate woman ever to clear 16-feet, and just the fourth American woman ever.
The Big Ten meet is Feb. 28 and March 1 in Indianapolis, followed by the NCAA nationals March 14 and 15 in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Outdoor action starts at the end of March with the Texas Relays in Austin. The Big Tens (May 1618) and NCAA Nationals (June 11-14) are at Hayward Field in Eugene. In between are the NCAA West Preliminaries from May 29 to 31 at Texas A&M in College Station.
Continued on page 26
Nathan Green
Indoor Track
A NEW WORLD RECORD!
UW men’s distance medley relay quartet makes
School records are one thing — and the Washington Huskies have set some more on the track this winter.
But on Valentine’s night at Dempsey Indoor, the UW men’s distance medley relay team went one better by setting a world record.
Yes: a world record.
The unit of senior Ronan McMahon-Staggs, freshman Bodi Ligons, senior Kyle Reinheimer, and senior Nathan Green completed their 4,000 meters in 9 minutes, 14.10 seconds on the first day of the Husky Classic. That bettered the previous world standard of 9:14.58 set last year by the Brooks Beasts at an outdoor meet in Eugene.
McMahon-Staggs ran the 1,200-meter leadoff leg in 2:50.52. Ligons had a split of 46.86 on the 400-meter leg, then Reinheimer completed his 800-meter leg in 1:46.57.
That left it up to Green to bring it home on the 1,600-meter anchor leg, and he did in 3:50.15.
The previous collegiate record of 9:16.40 was set in 2023 by Oklahoma State. The previous Washington team record was 9:16.65.
The women’s DMR of Chloe Foerster, Anna Terrell, Claire Yerby, and Amina Maatoug clocked a school record 10:40.44. That shattered the old mark of 10:43.39 (which also had been the NCAA record), set last year. But this time, Brigham Young went even faster at 10:37.58.
— Mark Moschetti
Tennis
Season Has A New LookTennis
The tennis schedule has a distinctly different twist for the Huskies this year.
The sport has long had a split-season concept, with a shorter docket in the fall and a longer one in the spring, followed by the NCAA team and individual championships.
But now, each of those seasons carries its own added significance as part of a two-year pilot program.
The individual championships were played this past November, with UW senior Cesar Bouchelaghem becoming the first Husky since 2013 to make it into the second round of the men’s tournament. Reece Carter and Alexia Jacobs were invited to the women’s doubles tournament, playing a tight three-setter in the first round before bowing out.
The spring portion of the schedule is now all about competing for a spot in the NCAA team tournament.
Through the first full week of February, Washington’s men were off to a 6-0 start in non-conference matches, shutting out all six opponents. They will play 13 Big Ten contests, with six of those at home.
The Husky women won three of their first four, with four more non-conference matches to fill out the rest of February before starting Big Ten play in March. They will also play 13 conference contests, with seven of those at home.
A big day for the Huskies will be March 16, when two of the country’s elite teams come to Seattle. The men face Ohio State, a national semifinalist last year. The women tangle with UCLA, which reached the 2024 national quarterfinals.
The men’s Big Ten Championship are April 24-27 at Ohio State in Columbus. The women’s tournament is April 23-26 in Ojai, Calif.
Looking For Even More After A Big ‘24
If there was a dual race or a full regatta to be won in 2024, the Washington men usually went out and won it. There was the showdown against California, the Sanderson Cup at the Sarasota Invitational, plus the Pac-12 Conference Championships.
Finally, there was the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) National Championship.
That trend continued during the abbreviated 2024 fall schedule, with Husky victories in the championship fours at the Head of the Charles in Boston and in all five races at the Head of the Lake in Seattle.
Washington’s women placed two boats in the championship eights in Boston, taking third and fourth. Then they took the top three spots in the championship eights, won the collegiate fours, and finally, the collegiate pairs in Seattle.
Jacobs
Alexia
The Huskies have a busy spring schedule but will get to spend a good portion of it on their familiar Montlake Cut home course. The Husky Open is set for March 9, and Class Day is March 22. Visit GoHuskies.com for news and race results.
Then it’s two major events in a span of eight days. Cal comes in on April 26, followed by the Windermere Cup and Opening Day Regatta on May 3.
The men will aim to defend their IRA championship from May 30 to June 1 in Cooper River, N.J. The women will race in the Big Ten Championships on May 17 and 18 in Indianapolis, with the ultimate goal of returning to the NCAAs, set for May 30 to June 1, in West Windsor, N.J.
Regional Veterans Back On The Course
Golf Golf
Vivian Lu, Jamie Hsieh and Carmen Lim were part of the Washington women’s team that placed seventh at the 2024 NCAA Regionals, and all three are back on the course.
During the fall season, Lu tied for fifth overall at the Stanford Invitational by shooting 6-under, then led the Huskies at the Nanea Invitational in Hawaii with a 4-under performance, including six birdies and 10 pars in the final round.
Having already played in the Collegiate Invitational at Guadalajara Country Club since the calendar flipped to 2025 (Jenny Chang led the way, tying for 30th), the Huskies have four more spring tournaments before heading to the Big Ten Championships in Maryland on April 18-20.
The men’s team will have a considerably different look. Only sophomore Finn Koelle and redshirt senior Drew Warford are back from last year’s team that placed fourth in the Pac-12s. Koelle tied for 34th in that tournament and subsequently tied for 31st at Regionals.
Jack Murphy, a freshman from Ireland, was ninth for UW at the Southwestern Invitational in Thousand Oaks, Calif., in late January. A week later at the Amer Ari Invitational in Hawaii, Murphy and Koelle tied for 37th, both at 8-under.
The Huskies have four more tournaments on the schedule before heading to Baltimore for the Big Ten tournament, which takes place April 25-27.
Continued on page 28
Jamie Hsieh
Drew Warford Lim
Carmen Koelle Finn
Vivian Lu
Beach Volleyball
Beach Volleyball
Eyeing another NCAA invitation
Coming off a 20-16 season in 2024 — with the 20th win coming in a 3-0 sweep of Utah at the Pac-12 Tournament — coach Derek Olson’s team earned its first-ever trip to the NCAAs. The Huskies headed to Gulf Shores, Ala., for their national debut, but fell to No. 4 seed Florida State in the first round, 3-1.
It was the second straight year that Washington hit the 20-win mark, reaching that milestone with a schedule that included 22 ranked opponents in 36 matches. The Huskies ranked No. 13 in the final season rankings.
Senior Lauren Wilcock and sophomore Brooke Balue are both back from the lineup that faced Florida State in the NCAA tourney last year.
With the Pac-12 gone, the Huskies will play in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) this spring. They’ll see plenty of familiar opponents, including Stanford, California, UCLA, USC and Oregon. The conference tournament is April 23-25 in Huntington Beach, Calif.
Of last year’s final top-20 teams, Washington has 12 on the schedule for this season in either MPSF or non-conference play.
Wilcock
Lauren
Katarina Pantovic
Brooke Balue
Niki Egan
Sadeiko
Jade
LIFE’S A BEACH!
Washington beach volleyball’s 2025 campaign is packed with excitement and features two home tournaments at West Seattle’s Alki Beach. This season marks the Huskies' first competing in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. The schedule includes nine teams that reached the 2024 NCAA Tournament and 12 that finished in the final NCAA top 20 poll. The UW opened the season Feb. 21-22 in Tampa, Fla., and faced Florida Atlantic, Tampa, Georgia State and FIU. Follow the bumps, sets and spikes on GoHuskies.com and dig in to the 2025 news and views there.
To purchase Husky Athletics photography, visit www.HUSKIESPHOTOSTORE.com
