Men’s Football: Bring Back the Bell
After finishing third in the NCAC last year, it’s understandable that the Tigers come in at third for the preseason prediction—the team lost to both Wittenberg and Wabash last year, which, per usual, are topping the poll.
However, Head Coach Bill Lynch is entering his third season, and with him at the helm, the Tigers have yet to hit a peak in progress. But Lynch isn’t the only returning face on this team—the Tigers are returning 19 starters and 41 players total, including the entire offensive line, starting quarterback Matt Hunt, and eight defensive starters.
“I don’t think people will see that same third place team this year,” said returning wide-receiver Jake Hagan.
The goal for every DePauw student is to see the return of the Monon Bell—but the team is looking beyond that.
“Our number one goal this year is to win the NCAC,” said right tackle Kody Bontreger, “In order to do that, we’re going to have to come out and compete every week. If we accomplish that, it’s likely the conference championship comes down to the Bell game.”
With so many returning play makers and the constant reminder that no student on campus has ever seen the Monon Bell come to DePauw, this could be the year that DePauw football finally explodes past that third place ranking.
-Key Returning Players:
-Junior Quarterback Matt Hunt (58% pass completion and 16 TDs)
-Sophomore wide-receiver Jake Hagan (32-364-2)*
- Senior wide-receiver Connor Jeffers (19-250-2)*
- Senior running back Amen Galley (684-6)*
- Sophomore running back Jack Gruber (363-8)*
-Junior kicker Marko Adams (100% on extra points and 12-15 on field-goal attempts)
Best Case Scenario: With another year under his wide-receivers belts, Hunt exceeds his averages for TDs and pass completion from the past two seasons. The offensive and defensive lines only get stronger, and the team brings back the Monon Bell for the first time in seven years.
Worst Case Scenario: The team hovers around its third-place ranking the entire season, losing first to Wittenberg and then to Wabash at home in the final game of the season.
Women’s Volleyball- Taking Advantage of International and all-NCAC Experience
DePauw Volleyball is coming off a successful last two years that both ended in making it to the NCAA tournament. However, those two seasons—according to junior hitter Elisabeth Wilson—were just stepping stones to get where the Tigers are now.
“The team looks absolutely amazing. I think this is one of our strongest preseasons yet. My personal prediction is that we will go farther than any other DePauw Volleyball team,” said Wilson.
A bold call by Wilson, but the team is returning three all-NCAC players—including setter Faith Rowles, who also received an All-American Honorable Mention last year and spent the summer with Wilson playing volleyball in Brazil for Team USA. Libero Keely McGrath is also back for her senior season.
Sophomore Haley Bitzer, coming into her second preseason, also can feel it’s going to be a big year.
“Our main goal is to prove ourselves as a huge national competitor and to seriously challenge some of the teams that finished to a higher rank last year.”
Key Returning Players:
-Senior Setter Faith Rowles (1.41 kills/set, 9.68 assists/set, 2.18 digs/set )
-Junior Middle Hitter Elizabeth Wilson (2.47 kills/set, 0.07 assists/set, 0.64 digs/set)
-Senior Libero Keely McGrath (0.05 kills/set, 0.42 assists/set, 5.28 digs/set)
Best Case Scenario: Wilson, Rowles and McGrath compete like the all-NCAC players they are, and the team finds itself even deeper in the postseason.
Worst Case Scenario: The team returns to the NCAA Division III tournament, but doesn’t make it past the second round, where they also lost last year. Solely advancing to the tournament is no longer good enough.
Women’s Field-Hockey- A Change in Leadership
Field hockey is another program that has been consistently successful—a tradition that will continue, despite a change at the Head Coach position. Erika Dombkowski will be taking over after the departure of Gina Wills.
Though the change at head coach and the loss of a strong previous senior class might seem like trouble, the returning squad—along with eight freshman who look “fantastic” according to sophomore Reilly Bruce—are prepared to continue working hard. Some top returners include first-team all-NCAC Grace Goodbarn, and second team all NCAC Maddy Burds and Annie Wyman.
“With a new head coach and assistant coach it will be a learning process for everyone, but our team is up to the challenge and ready to work,” said Bruce.
The team is composed of smart, hard workers—as shown by their National Academic Team Award last year. “Our team is very balanced and we all have different strengths to support others weaknesses,” said Bruce.
The team plans to make it further than last year, after finishing the season in a disappointing loss to Denison in the semifinals of the NCAC tournament—a team they had beaten earlier this year.
Key Returning Players:
-Senior Grace Goodbarn (six goals, six assists)
-Senior Colleen Conway (ten goals, one assist)
-Sophomore Samantha Carlin (seven goals, zero assists)
-Sophomore Maddy Burds (Two goals, one assist,)
Best Case Scenario: Dombkowski picks up where Willis left off and shines in her first year as head coach. The team once again goes deep into the postseason, only they take the next step and win the tournament.
Worst Case Scenario: Players have trouble adjusting to Dombkowski’s coaching style. While the program has enough talent to make it to the playoffs, lack of communication leads to an early exit for the team.
Men’s Cross Country- Passing the Torch and Avoiding the Sophomore Slump
While the program lost their two top runners in Will Bond and Noah Gatwood to graduation, there’s no reason the men’s team can’t repeat last year’s performance, if not exceed it. The team will be led by senior captains Brian Mincks and Paul Watts, who was an all-region runner after placing 33rd at last year’s regional.
The men improved significantly last season, placing fourth out of ten teams at conference and eighth out of 35 teams at the regional. The team is looking to carry that momentum into this year and shorten the gap between them and rival Wabash, who has distanced themselves from the Tigers in past years. The team will also be relying on a strong sophomore class that includes Polo Burguete, Kevin Kenney and Chris Lowry. The x-factor for the Tigers will be the nine incoming freshmen, who can provide the team with serious depth, especially if injuries become a problem down the road.
“Our depth is probably as good as it’s been in a long time,” said Head Coach Kori Stroffregen. “It’s just who’s going to step up.”
Key Returning Runners: PR= personal record; men’s races were 8 kilometers
Senior Paul Watts (PR: 25:11)*
Sophomore Polo Burguete (PR 25:48)*
Sophomore Kevin Kenney (PR: 25:57)*
Sophomore Chris Lowry (PR: 26:41)*
* PR= personal record; men’s races were 8 kilometers
Best Case Scenario: Watts and Mincks don’t disappoint as team leaders, the freshmen and sophomore classes provide consistent depth and the team qualifies for nationals. Suddenly, the Tigers find themselves neck and neck with Wabash.
Worst Case Scenario: The freshmen struggle in adjusting to the collegiate level and the injury bug bites early. The absences of Bond and Gatwood are felt throughout the season.
Women’s Cross Country- Avoiding the Injury Bug
Depth and talent won’t be the issue for the women’s team. It’ll be their health. While the team was completely healthy last fall, injuries plagued both juniors Becca Conley and Lois Miller, who will also be one of the team’s captains this year. To make matters worse, the team’s top runner and senior captain, Heather O’Brien, has been dealing with feet problems during summer training.
“She just has poor feet, they’re not structurally really strong,” said Head
But injury issues aside, last year’s finish for the women was almost identical to the men’s team. After also placing fourth in conference, the women finished seventh at the regional. With having lost only one senior in Hope Jordan, the team has talent throughout. Backed by O’Brien and a strong junior class, the Tigers are looking to make match the men’s team by making it out of the regional.
Key Returning Runners:
Senior Heather O’Brien (PR: 18: 36 for 5K, 22:11 for 6K)*
Junior Lois Miller (PR: 19:15 for 5K, 23:21 for 6K)*
Becca Conley (PR: for 5k, for 6k)*
* Women’s races are run in either five kilometers or six kilometers
Best Case Scenario: The team stays healthy throughout the season, and, like the boy’s team, makes it out of the regional.
Worst Case Scenario: Injuries carry over from track season, keeping O’Brien and many of the junior class from setting PRs. The Tigers fail to build on last season’s finish, and find themselves behind the eight ball for conference and regionals.
Women’s Tennis- No Senior Swan Songs
The women’s team has quietly become one of DePauw’s most consistent sports teams. The Tigers have won the NCAC Conference tournament four years in a row.
But without any seniors this season (the team graduated six) , the team finds itself in a challenging yet manageable position. Juniors Gretchen Wilder and Maddie Lee are more than capable of stepping up as leaders. The biggest goal for the team will be developing chemistry early, as there will be eight freshmen coming into the program.
The Tigers will be looking to build off last year’s strong season, when the team went an overall 16-9. A smooth transition into DePauw tennis for the freshmen will go a long way in working to make this season no different from the last four.
“I think a lot of our competition will be wondering what kind of team we will have or the upcoming (fall and spring) seasons,” said Wilder.
If the team is able to come together this year and adjust to the changes, the tennis program should be strong for a good while.
Key Returning Players:
Junior Gretchen Wilder (7-3 at singles, 5-4 at doubles)
Junior Maddie Lee (11-7 at singles, 4-2 at doubles)
Junior Morgan Cohen (3-4 at singles, 2-5 at doubles)
Sophomore Alyssa Senevirante (4-5 at singles, 2-3 at doubles)
Best Case Scenario: Wilder and Lee play and lead like seniors and the team clicks. The Tigers make a statement and take the DePauw Invitational, their first match of the season, showing teams they’re capable of winning without their seniors.
Worse Case Scenario: Despite the players’ efforts to take on new roles, they can’t make up for the loss of six seniors. The team struggles to find their groove throughout the fall season, and their hopes of continuing their success in the NCAC tournament are thrown into doubt. The team heads into winter with a lot to work on.
Men’s Tennis- Season Just As Mental As it is Physical
By now, it’s become an issue of mentality for the men’s team. For the past three years, the team has reached the championship match of the NCAC Conference Tournament and lost. But with a strong core headed by senior Alec Kaczkowski returning this year, the Tigers have what it takes to make a run.
“We’re doing things right on and off the court,” said Kaczkowski. “We’ve always been considered an underdog going into finals against Kenyon, but this year, that’s not exactly the case. So we need to act like it and expect a win.”
Despite having had a winning record for nine of the past ten years, a successful regular season isn’t going to cut it for the program. A strong fall season will be key, as all eyes will be on the team come conference play in the spring.
Best Case Scenario: The team starts and ends the fall season with a bang, giving them the confidence they need heading into the offseason in preparation for the spring. .
Worst Case Scenario: The team struggles out of the gates, adding even more pressure to be better prepared for the postseason in the spring season.
Key Returning Players:
Senior Alec Kaczkowski (14-9 in singles, 14-8 in doubles)
Junior Patrick Farrell (14-14 in singles, 18-10 in doubles)
Junior Matt Santen (16-7 in singles, 4-2 in doubles)
Junior Dan Rodenfield (12-15 in singles, 18-11 in doubles)
Men’s Golf: The Whole is Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts
The men’s program has plenty of potential, it’s just a matter if they can put it all together. The team is returning a tournament winner in senior Drake Dunaway along with sophomore Andrew Derringer, who was all-conference last season. The group will be led by junior captain Quinn Smith
“(Quinn) is truly committed to making this a true team in every sense of the word,” said Head Coach Vince Lazar. “Already… I can sense a strong work ethic and sense of commitment (from the team).”
The Tigers will be getting four freshmen, all who can make an immediate impact if given the chance. But similar to cross country, the freshmen will have to go through a learning curve with having to play on unfamiliar courses, which could take some time getting used to.
Key Returning Players:
Sophomore Andrew Derringer (77.55 avg./ nine holes)
Drake Dunaway (78.35 avg./ nine holes)
Junior Quinn Smith (79.09 avg./ nine holes)
Sophomore Jackson Mihevc (79.39 avg./ nine holes)
Best Case Scenario: Dunaway finishes with a strong senior season, Derringer only gets better and the pressure is taken off the freshmen to perform, allowing them to ease into the program during the fall and become a valuable asset for conference play.
Worst Case Scenario: Injuries plague the varsity, the freshmen aren’t able to adjust quickly enough and the team limps to the finish.
Women’s Golf: Looking Up To A NCAA Championship Competitor
Last season, the women’s team was in the same situation women’s tennis finds themselves in now with no seniors. Surprisingly, this year is hardly different. Like the men’s program, the Tigers will have four freshmen, all who can provide depth with such a strong varsity. Junior Sheinnera Gerongay will serve an important role, as she is the only varsity golfer on the team with NCAA Championship experience.
“(Sheinnera) is excited to work as a role model in demonstrating the work ethic that is needed to be successful on a national level.”
The program finished the spring season strong, placing second in two of the team’s final three matches. There’s no reason they can’t bring that momentum into this fall.
Key Returning Players:
Best Case Scenario: Gerongay’s leadership and NCAA experience rub off on the freshmen, allowing them to go through a successful learning curve, allowing the varsity to focus on their preparation for the post season.
Worst Case Scenario: The team fails to hit its stride and loses the momentum they had last spring. The freshmen have trouble adjusting to the courses, and the team heads into winter with the spring season up in the air.