the LINEUP
women’s
THIS YEAR IN ATHLETICS RAN THE GAMUT of typical collegiate athletics experiences: It was filled with ordinary, work-like days as well as the highs and lows that make athletics, athletics. Yet, in the end, another recordsetting performance was achieved, another noteworthy moment of excellence for the Generals was realized.
Most people wouldn’t choose to pour themselves into their academics while also pouring themselves into their sport to achieve such excellence. Most people aren’t willing to sacrifice that much to study and compete at the highest level, day to day, week to week, month to month, and year to year.
But here’s the thing: W&L Generals are not most people. And that’s the reason behind our student-athletes’ excellence. Most people can’t do what they do and achieve what they achieve, in part because most people aren’t willing. And most people care more about the outcome than the process. But that’s where a W&L General is not like most people, because it’s not what they do; it’s how they do it.
Every day, Generals make the conscious choice to compete the right way, with the highest of character, and represent W&L with class and distinction. And in the end, they demonstrate the highest level of competition is anything but devoid of character and integrity but is, in fact, filled with it. This is what it means to be a General, and this is why Generals are not most people.
You’re not most people, either. Help us as we support our extraordinary studentathletes set themselves apart from most people; to be a General.
With gratitude,
SOCCER
MEN’S SOCCER earned their second NCAA Final Four appearance in three seasons and concluded the year with a 15-4-6 overall record and an 8-1-1 finish in ODAC play. Seven players were named to the All-ODAC team, and four players were named to the All-Region team with junior Weyimi Agbeyegbe ’25 being named a United Soccer Coaches All-American and the ODAC’s Offensive Player of the Year. Grant McCarty ’24 and Willy Hall ’26 were named NCAA Men’s Soccer All-Tournament team selections, and Will Joseph ’26 was also honored as the NCAA Elite 90 winner.
“Being on the soccer team at W&L is something I wouldn’t trade for the world. The team has been a support system and family throughout my time here, and I will cherish those moments on and off the field forever. ”
’25
GENERALS’ CLUB
cross country
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
sprinted to second place at the 2023 ODAC Championships where first-Year standout Jackson Kodenski ’27 snagged Rookie of the Meet and Rookie of the Year honors, while Josh Fingerhut ’24 bagged his second ODAC Scholar-Athlete award. Their stellar runner-up finish at the South Regional Championships, where six Generals earned All-Region titles, earned them a spot in the NCAA National Championships for the first time since 2016.
field hockey
THE GENERALS WRAPPED UP the field hockey season with an 11-7 record and a 7-2 mark in conference play. The Blue and White advanced into the ODAC semifinals, boasting five all-conference award-winners.
Senior Jenny Lerner ’24 nabbed ODAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, while junior Maddy Duggleby ’25 and First-Year Zoe Dolfis ’27 earned NFHCA All-Region honors.
soccer
W&L’S SQUAD SCORED an at-large bid to the NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament for the second year in a row, wrapping up a stellar season with a 13-4-4 record. The Blue and White were ODAC Championship finalists, with six players earning All-ODAC citations. Sarah Zimmerman ’26 and Bryn Bissinger ’26 shined, earning United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-Region honors.
basketball
COACH CHRIS MCHUGH
’09 led the Generals to a stellar 18-10 overall record, including wins over teams receiving votes and an upset over second-ranked Randolph-Macon in the ODAC semifinals. Despite falling to eventual national finalists Hampden-Sydney in the championship game, McHugh surpassed 100 career wins. Jack d’Entremont ’24, Drew Harrell ’24 and Robert DiSibio ’24 received ODAC postseason awards, with DiSibio earning NABC All-District First Team and D3Hoops.com Second Team All-Region honors and playing in the 2024 Reese’s All-Star Game.
VOLLEYBALL
COACH BRYAN SNYDER ’95 and the volleyball team took home the 2023 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Championship title this year after entering the tournament seeded fourth, the lowest seeded victory for the 19-time ODAC winners. W&L had to upset top-seeded Virginia Wesleyan and second-seeded Randolph-Macon to earn the crown. The Generals ended their season in the first round of the NCAA tournament with a 22-11 overall record. Allie Buchholz ’25, Riley Debiec ’26 and Grace Mitchener ’27 were all named All-ODAC selections, and senior co-captain Sydney Heifner ’24 was voted W&L’s William McHenry Scholar-Athlete award winner for women’s sports.
“SYDNEY
HEIFNER ’24
I cannot imagine my time at W&L without the volleyball team, coaches and staff. Every program member positively impacted my experience and core memories. I couldn’t have asked for a more gratifying four years. ”
CLUB
outdoor track & field
THE GENERALS FINISHED
second place at the ODAC Outdoor Women’s Track & Field Championships with 140.5 team points. Ashley D’Ambrosia ’25 and Bailey Hedgemon ’26 were ODAC champions in the pole vault and hammer throw, respectively. They led the team to 11 All-ODAC honors, alongside Katelyn Gamble ’24, Elise Molinaro ’24 and others. Molinaro earned her second ODAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year award. D’Ambrosia finished 21st in her first national meet, clearing 3.56 meters in the pole vault.
lacrosse
COACH GENE MCCABE and his men’s lacrosse staff earned IMLCA Regional Coaching Staff of the Year for the second year and led the Generals to NCAA semifinals, their first since 2002. W&L ended with a 16-6 record, including an undefeated conference run and a thrilling overtime win over top-ranked Salisbury in the NCAA quarterfinals. Tyler Spano ’27 set a record with 300 face-off wins, and Alex Brown ’24 finished with 76 goals, a program-best, and was named the region’s Player of the Year and an All-American.
golf
MEN’S GOLF SEIZED SIXTH at the NCAA national championship after a third-place finish at the ODAC tournament. Rookie Jonathan McEwen ’27 had a standout season, winning ODAC Rookie of the Year, First Team All-America, and the GCAA Phil Mickelson DIII Outstanding Freshman awards. He also secured First Team All-ODAC honors, while Elias Malakoff ’25 and Walker McPhail ’24 earned spots on the second and third teams, respectively. Cannon Crane ’24 joined McEwen on the All-Tournament squad after tying for third in the conference.
swimming
W&L REELED IN THEIR 33 RD women’s swimming conference title, garnering four major awards and 16 All-ODAC honors. Molly Pennisi ’24 earned Scholar-Athlete of the Year, while Brynn Martinson ’24 and Katie Crawford ’27 were recognized as Swimmer and Rookie of the Meet, respectively. Head Coach Kami Gardner swept Coach of the Year accolades, celebrating qualifiers Martinson and Sophia Rollo ’24 for the NCAA National Championships with pride and passion.
BASEBALL
SECURING THEIR FOURTH straight trip to the ODAC tournament, the W&L baseball team finished 16-19 overall and posted a 10-12 conference finish. Three members of the Washington and Lee University baseball team earned the distinction of All-ODAC for their performances against conference opponents this season. Junior Campbell Charneco ’25 highlighted the trio, earning First Team honors behind home plate, while junior Evan Blair ’25 and sophomore Ben Sundell ’26 garnered Third Team laurels on the rubber.
“Being surrounded by like-minded individuals who excelled in the classroom and on the field was an amazing experience. Seeing others take pride in both baseball and their academics and career paths shaped me into a better player, student and young professional. ”
ETHAN
ZULUETA ’24
CLUB
to the NCAA’s quarterfinals or further
RIDING
PLACING THIRD at the ODAC championships and in regular season scoring, the Blue and White equestrian team tied for fifth at the Regional Championships and qualified five riders for the IHSA Zone Championships. Regionally, senior rider Clare O’Brien ’24 was voted as the Most Outstanding Senior and was also awarded the region’s sportsmanship award. O’Brien finished as an All-ODAC Riding Team selection and was voted the league’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year. The W&L Zone qualifiers included O’Brien, Julia Luzzio ’25, Hanna Johnson ’25, Allison Hines ’25 and Elisabeth Marek ’26. Hines qualified for Nationals and finished with All-America Honorable Mention status.
“As a student-athlete at W&L, I found a sense of belonging and purpose. Having never competed in a team setting before college, I learned the joy of camaraderie and the accomplishment that comes from succeeding as a group. ”
’24
wrestling
W&L MADE HISTORY WITH one of its best wrestling seasons yet, placing second at the Racich Rumble and third at the New Standard Invite and Budd Whitehill Duals. These achievements earned them their first-ever top-25 ranking in the NWCA Dual Coaches Poll. Sophomore Evan Lindner’s ’26 NCAA Championships qualification and a fifthplace team finish at the South Regional Championships capped off their thrilling campaign.
cross country
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY claimed second at the ODAC Championships and third at the South Regional Championships. Elise Molinaro ’24, a First Team All-ODAC and All-Region star, was named ODAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year. With four conference honorees and six All-Region finishers, the Generals shined. Molinaro and Claire Hamlet ’25 qualified for Nationals, finishing 114th and 251st, respectively.
indoor track & field swimming
THE GENERALS TOOK
second at the ODAC Women’s Indoor Track & Field Championships. W&L secured eight all-conference spots across various events. Seniors Paige Tulenko ’24 and Jordynn Palethorpe ’24, junior Amanda Romano ’25 and sophomore Jesma Evans ’26 earned USTFCCCA All-Region honors in the 4x400 meter relay, setting a record-breaking time of 4:03.77. Camille Gillum ’26 and Ashley D’Ambrosia ’25 shone in the high jump and pole vault, respectively. Sophomore Bailey Hedgemon ’26 set a new program record in the weight throw at 15.43 meters.
MEN’S SWIMMING DOMINATED with a 6-1 season finish, seizing their ninth ODAC Championship. They secured 17 All-ODAC nods, with junior Matt Fritz ’25 honored as Scholar-Athlete of the Year and Kami Gardner named Coach of the Year. Fritz and sophomore Dalton Jobe ’26 qualified for the NCAA DIII National Championships, alongside the W&L 400 and 800 freestyle relay teams. All seven team members earned All-America honors at nationals, placing 22nd overall.
TENNIS
TENTH-RANKED women’s tennis
finished 21-2 and claimed three of the four major ODAC awards, plus five allconference citations. Sophomore Lauren Long ’26 was named the league’s Player of the Year while senior Izzy Koziol ’24 was named ODAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Head Coach Erin Ness was voted Coach of the Year for the eighth time and pushed W&L to its 21st straight ODAC title and an NCAA Tournament Round of 16 finish. Gabi Moss ’24, Grace Lorenz ’26, Meagan Donovan ’25 and Kaitlyn Chalker ’24 rounded out the All-ODAC selections. Both Moss and Long earned berths to the NCAA Singles Championship, and Long finished as an All-American for the second year in a row.
“Being part of Washington and Lee’s women’s tennis team has been incredibly rewarding. Over the past four years, the lifelong friendships I’ve made through unforgettable experiences have deepened my love and loyalty for the school and its community. ”
basketball
WOMEN’S HOOPS ACHIEVED
a historic 29-3 season, reaching the women’s basketball Elite Eight for the first time. Mary Schleusner ’26, named WBCA Region 6 Player of the Year, earned First Team All-America honors from WBCA and D3Hoops.com and swept ODAC Player of the Year awards. She set an NCAA DIII Women’s Basketball Tournament rebound record. Senior Hanna Malik ’24 joined the 1,000 Point Club, earning AllODAC and All-Region honors, and Assistant Coach Erin Hughes ’21 was honored as a Thirty Under 30 by WBCA.
tennis
GENERALS MEN’S TENNIS
finished 17-8, claiming their 14th straight ODAC title and 42nd overall, securing an NCAA berth and hosting the first weekend for the first time since 2015. Junior Evan Erb ’25 earned ITA Singles All-America status and was named ODAC Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. Head Coach David Detwiler was honored as ODAC Coach of the Year and eight players earned all-conference nods alongside these accolades.
indoor track & field golf
DURING INDOOR SEASON,
men’s track & field secured a second-place finish at the ODAC Championships meet. Sophomores Leyti Ndiaye ’26 and Evan Langhammer ’26 led the results on top of the podium, part of nine All-ODAC honors, including Zach Moore’s ’24 ODAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year nod. USTFCCCA recognized Langhammer, Ndiaye, Will Knight ’26, Isaiah Mefford ’24 and Keaton Rush ’26 with All-Region accolades, highlighting their exceptional season.
IN HER DEBUT YEAR,
Coach Jane Hopkinson-Wood guided the women’s golf team to their sixth consecutive ODAC team title. All five players earned All-ODAC honors and secured an NCAA Women’s Golf Championships berth, finishing 18th overall. Marcella Mercer ’25 and Ella Wong ’27 earned First Team All-ODAC, Laetitia Roegner ’25 and An Shelmire ’25 made the second team, and Julia Haetzel ’26 was named to the third team. Wong was recognized as the department’s Outstanding FirstYear Women’s Sport Athlete and as a WGCA All-American.
WOMEN’S
FOOTBALL
GENERALS FOOTBALL wrapped up their season with an 8-3 overall record and went 6-1 in conference play to finish second in the league. Senior Peyton Pack ’24 was voted ODAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year and headlined the 13 All-ODAC selections. Nathan Unger ’24 and Jacob Romero ’25 were both named D3Football.com AllRegion selections on the second and third teams, respectively. Pack was also named the men’s sport William McHenry Scholar-Athlete of the Year to conclude his W&L career.
“I will always take pride in wearing the Blue and White and representing the Generals on and off the field. Winning championships is the standard in Lexington, thanks to the driven coaches, supportive W&L community and high-achieving student-athletes the university attracts. ”
STEPHEN MURRIN ’24
GENERALS’ CLUB
outdoor track & field lacrosse
MEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK
and field secured second place at the ODAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships with 13 Generals earning All-ODAC honors. Senior Zach Moore ’24 was named Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the third time. Individual event champions included Leyti Ndiaye ’26 in the high jump, and Evan Langhammer ’26 in the pole vault. George Mann ’27 took first in the javelin then represented W&L at nationals, finishing 19th overall. Nine additional Generals collected league honors placing second or third in their events.
THE WOMEN’S LACROSSE
team capped a dominant 18-4 season, undefeated in ODAC play for their 14th consecutive and 24th overall title. They advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals for the second time in four years. Seniors Hanna Bishop ’24 and Eugenie Rovegno ’24 both earned departmental awards and set multiple career and season records. The duo earned All-America honors alongside Walker McKnight ’24. Ginny Taylor ’24 was voted ODAC Scholar Athlete of the Year, and the team secured eight all-conference awards.
WOMEN’S
BY THE NUMBERS
WE ARE GENERALS.
YOU ARE NOT MOST PEOPLE – What sets W&L athletics
apart is its alums, family and friends and the many ways you support what we do. You make the difference in how our student-athletes become Generals.
Join us! Membership begins at $50, and you may designate your donation to a specific sport(s), if you so choose. Twenty-five percent of your gift (up to a cap of $250) will be used to support all sports at W&L. By supporting the Generals’ Club, you can help us keep writing this winning story.
Online donation form can be found at go.wlu.edu/givetothegenerals
Athletic Department, 100 Warner Drive Lexington, VA 24450-2116