Women’s Basketball
Head Coach: KJ Krasco
Athletes to Watch: Calie Messina ’26, Brooke Collins ’26, Teagan Lind ’28
Following the loss of three key starters, including all time scoring leader Alexa Mustafaj ’25 and NESCAC-leading rebounder Augusta Dixon ’25, Middlebury women’s basketball needs to bounce back with a strong start to the season. After finishing the regular season 1–5, the Panthers lost to Colby College 100-97 in a 2OT heartbreaker during NESCAC quarterfinals. With returning senior starters Messina and Collins pacing this group, however, this team is looking promising. They must rely on the underclassmen to provide a spark this year – with forward Lind and guard Sarah Chenette ’28 expected to contribute strong minutes this year.
Key Competitions: Norwich University (Home– Nov. 18), Trinity College (Away– Jan. 9), Amherst College (Away– Feb. 13)
Men’s Basketball
Head Coach: Matt Goldsmith
Athletes to Watch: Kuba Cwalina ’27, Edward Witherington ’26, Evan Flaks ’26
As Middlebury men’s basketball prepares for the start of their season, new head coach Matt Goldsmith takes the helm – following the retirement of 28-year veteran coach Jeff Brown. On the court, the loss of defensive stalwart center David Brennan ’25 and his team-leading 11.4 rebounds per game looms large. For a group that finished 10th out of 11 in the NESCAC in defensive points allowed, playing fundamental defense is necessary. They also must improve the turnover margin, finishing last in the NESCAC with 12.6 turnovers per game, while only forcing 9.5 per game. To break into the playoffs, starting guard Cwalina — with a frame similar to Kevin Durant’s at 6’6, 200 lbs — needs to build on his three point shooting prowess to jolt this offense. Joining him in the backcourt is captain Flaks, whose leadership and experience is crucial for this young team. The question fans are asking, however, will Alex Gklaros-Stavropolous ’29 make an impact at 6’11? With that added height to the lineup, the Panthers can improve their defensive presence in the paint and create passing lanes on offense.
Key Competitions: Skidmore College (Away– Nov. 14), Trinity College (Home– Jan. 9), Amherst College (Home– Feb. 13)
Women’s Squash
Head Coach: Mark Lewis
Athletes to Watch: Sophie Calise ’29, Ying Ng ’29, and Lillian Showalter ’29
Women’s squash is poised for another strong season after posting double-digit wins for the third consecutive year and finishing 16th in the nation in the 2024-25 season. This year, the Panthers returned nine players, bolstered by three promising first-years joining the program: Sophie Calise, Ng and Showalter, who will look to make an immediate impact for the Panthers. Leading the charge are senior captains Lindsey Burnham ’26, Izzy Ronda ’26, and Abbie Peterson ’26. Burnham, who competed at the top of the ladder, made history last season by becoming just the third player in program history to earn All-NESCAC First-Team honors three times. Head coach Mark Lewis enters his 11th season just four wins shy of 100 with the women’s program. The program also welcomes back Teddy Best ’22 as its first full-time assistant coach. The Panthers open their season this Saturday at home against Cornell.
Key Competitions: Bowdoin (Home– Jan. 16), Bates (Home– Jan. 18), Colby (Home– Jan. 18)
Men’s Squash
Head Coach: Mark Lewis
Athletes to Watch: Gabe Feinstein ’28, Nico Brown ’29, David Zhao ’27
Middlebury men’s squash enters the season with 10 returners and three newcomers, led by veteran captains Caleb Boateng ’26, Kian Kardestuncer ’26, and Theo Kogan ’26. Feinstein returns at the top of the ladder, bringing athleticism, endurance and consistency to the #1 spot. Last season, Feinstein had 11 wins and helped secure the program’s first victory over then-#14 University of Rochester. Next on the ladder, #2 Zhao — finally back to full form after injuries — is a sharp, tactical player with great court awareness. Brown slots in at #5 as a well-rounded player who has yet to be tested under pressure. On the coaching side, the Panthers officially welcome assistant coach Teddy Best ’22, a Middlebury squash alum who brings recent playing experience and familiarity. He returns as the program’s first full-time assistant coach after being a volunteer last season. The team is poised to make strides in a competitive NESCAC field — cheer them on this weekend in their first match of the season, playing Cornell at home on Saturday.
Key Competitions: Dartmouth (Away– Nov. 16), Colby (Home– Jan. 18), Amherst (Away– Feb. 8)
Women’s Indoor Track & Field
Head Coach: Martin Beatty
Athletes to Watch: Julia Tulimieri ’26, Emily Rubio ’26, Annelise Jensen ’29
Although the indoor season for Middlebury’s track & field program is often a prelude to the spring, the women’s team can still enter the season with confidence after an impressive campaign last winter. The team broke three school records at the DIII New England Championship meet, and sent six athletes to the NCAA Indoor Championships. At the meet, Rubio topped her previous school record in the pentathlon and earned All-American honors. Thrower Tulimieri also posted an impressive string of results during the season, earning numerous wins in the shot put. However, with standout runner Audrey MacLean ’27 going abroad, the Panthers will need to fill in the gaps left in her absence. The talented mid-distance and distance squad can hope for some breakout performances, including from Jensen in her debut indoor season.
Key Competitions: Middlebury’s Luke Hotte Field and Track Meet (Home– Jan. 24), Middlebury’s New England Small College Invitational (Hosted in Boston– Feb. 1), DIII Indoor New England Championships (Away– Feb. 27-28)
Men’s Indoor Track & Field
Head Coach: Martin Beatty
Athletes to Watch: Donnell Harvey Jr. ’28, Zach Utz ’26, Emerson Kington ’28
Numerous school records fell for the men’s track & field team last winter, including the long jump, triple jump, high jump, 4x800 meter relay, 4x200 meter relay, 3000 meter run, 60-meter dash, shot put, pole vault, and heptathlon. With a fresh record board and numerous top-performing returners, the men’s team begins the indoor campaign with high expectations. Harvey Jr. will look to build on a slew of historic performances in the 60-meter dash— a race held exclusively during the indoor season— while Utz can ride the momentum from statement mile performances and distance medley relay contributions last year. Four hundred meter stud Kington, featured in the Panthers’ distance medley relay team, also enters the winter on the back of numerous impressive races last year.
Key Competitions: Middlebury’s Luke Hotte Field and Track Meet (Home– Jan. 24), Middlebury’s New England Small College Invitational (Hosted in Boston– Feb. 1), DIII Indoor New England Championships (Away– Feb. 27-28)
Women’s Ice Hockey
Head Coach: Bill Mandigo
Athletes to Watch: Kate Flynn ’27, Olivia McManus ’27
This season carries special significance as Middlebury women’s hockey celebrates the 50th anniversary of its program this year. The team will be looking to fill significant gaps after graduating 10 seniors from last year’s roster. Fortunately, the Panthers return key juniors in forward Flynn, and defender McManus, who ranked second and third on the team in points last season. Between the pipes, the Panthers are anchored by goaltender Sophia Will ’26, who posted an impressive 1.22 goals-against average last year, ranking third in the NESCAC. With exciting new first-year talent and one of the conference’s top goalies, the program has the pieces to reload and compete this season.
Key Competitions: Hamilton (Home– Nov. 14), Panther Cardinal Classic (Home– Nov. 29-30), Amherst (Away– Jan. 17-18)
Men’s Ice Hockey
Head Coach: Jack Ceglarski
Athletes to Watch: Luc Malkhassian ’29, Revy Mack ’27, John Burdett ’26
Ever since the 2000s, a golden decade marked by six NESCAC titles and four NCAA tournaments, the men’s hockey trophy cabinet has been collecting dust. To shake things up, the Panthers are joined by new assistant head coach, Trent Grimshaw. Grimshaw played collegiate hockey at SUNY Oswego in 2024, and spent last season playing in the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL). Another fresh face is forward Malkhassian, who has made a strong impression in practice on some of his teammates. He’ll be joined up front by Mack, who notched 21 points last season, the most from any current player. Holding down the defense is Burdett, a staple of the program since he came to Middlebury four years ago. This new blend of coaches and players will head north to Bowdoin on Saturday to begin their championship quest. Will this be the season men’s hockey reopen their trophy cabinet?
Key Competitions: Bowdoin (Away-- Nov. 14), Tufts (Away– Nov. 22) Hobart (Home– Jan. 3)
Women’s Alpine Skiing
Head Coach: Abby Copeland
Athletes to Watch: Kjersti Moritz ’28, Sophia Tozzi ’26, Henriette Borgia ’28
Over the summer, former head coach Stever Bartlett stepped down from Middlebury’s alpine ski program after 18 seasons marked by NCAA titles and carnival wins. The team will begin an exciting new chapter with head coach Abby Copeland, who has served as the associate head coach since 2016;she brings extensive knowledge of the program and the ability to build on Middlebury’s rich skiing history. For the women’s alpine team, they enter the season with even more to look forward to. Moritz, the EISA Rookie of the Year and a top-10 finisher for the U.S. Ski Team at the FIS Alpine Junior World Championships last year, returns for her second season. Borgia and Tozzi will also be key members of the women’s downhill squad, earning 24th and 27th respectively in the giant slalom at the EISA Championship.
Key Competitions: Vermont Carnival (Away– Feb. 6-7), Middlebury Carnival/EISA Championships (Home– Feb. 20-21), NCAA Skiing Championships (Away– Mar. 11-14)
Men’s Alpine Skiing
Head Coach: Abby Copeland
Athletes to Watch: Nicholas Unkovskoy ’27, Dominic Shackleton ’28, Milan Novak ’28
Following the graduation of star skier Bradshaw Underhill ’25, the men’s alpine ski team will rely on their returners and incoming talent for renewed presence at the top of the field. Unkovskoy will be crucial in their pursuit, recording 13th in the giant slalom at the NCAA Skiing Championships and earning EISA second team honors. Shackleton was also a standout performer for the Panthers last year, representing Great Britain at the FIS Alpine Junior World Ski Championships with numerous strong runs down the mountain. Finally, Novak will look to build on a strong first season, boasting a top-20 finish in the slalom at Middlebury’s home carnival. Middlebury’s home competition will also be especially exciting this year, doubling as the college’s classic winter carnival and the EISA Regional Championships.
Key Competitions: Dartmouth Carnival (Away– Jan. 30-31), Middlebury Carnival/EISA Championships (Home– Feb. 20-21), NCAA Skiing Championships (Away– Mar. 11-14)
Women’s Nordic Skiing
Head Coach: Andrew Johnson
Athletes to Watch: Shea Brams ’26, Maggie Wagner ’26, Sofia Scirica ’27
Middlebury’s women’s nordic team heads into the season fired up about returning to the snow and representing the panther logo. They enter the campaign with a roster ready to race, led by Brams in her senior season. Coming off a sixth-place individual finish at the EISA Championship and ninth in the 20k freestyle at the NCAA Championships, Brams earned All-American honors to cap off an impressive campaign. Wagner will also look to assist the Panthers towards the front, achieving fourth in the sprint at Middlebury’s home carnival and 23rd in the 20k freestyle at the NCAA Championships last year. In the same race, Scirica finished in 27th, also recording numerous strong results throughout the season. The team can look forward to Senior Nationals in early January, and hopes to carry a full squad to the NCAA Championships in Bozeman, MT to conclude the season.
Key Competitions: U.S. Cross-Country National Championships (Away– Jan. 1-9), Middlebury Carnival/EISA Championships (Home– Feb. 20-21), NCAA Skiing Championships (Away– Mar. 11-14)
Men’s Nordic Skiing
Head Coach: Andrew Johnson
Athletes to Watch: Mason Wheeler ’26, Benjamin Jenkin ’28, Peter Warner ’27
Returning five NCAA qualifiers, multiple experienced veteran skiers, and welcoming the biggest first-year class in years, the men’s Nordic skiing team has the tools to build on Middlebury’s Nordic skiing legacy this season. The squad is deep— a good day for any of the Panthers’ skiers could mean a breakout scoring performance, and their incoming class of six only adds to their versatility. Wheeler enters the season off the back of a 10th-place individual finish at the EISA Championship and sixth in the sprint at the Middlebury Carnival. Jenkin impressed at the Dartmouth Carnival, earning 35th in the 7.5k individual race. Also at the Dartmouth Carnival, Warner achieved 21st in the 20k mass start, eight spots behind Wheeler. Both of Middlebury’s Nordic skiing teams will additionally battle for spots at the variety of international races, including World Juniors, U23s, and the World Cup.
Key Competitions: U.S. Cross-Country National Championships (Away– Jan. 1-9), Middlebury Carnival/EISA Championships (Home– Feb. 20-21), NCAA Skiing Championships (Away– Mar. 11-14)
Women’s Swimming and Diving
Head Coach: Bob Rueppel
Athletes to Watch: Anna McGrew ’28, Hannah Baumgartner ’26, Emma Hall ’26
Kicking off their season this Saturday at Connecticut College, the women’s swimming and diving team begins the season with strong returners and seven incoming athletes. McGrew will be pivotal for the Panthers, entering her second year after a standout rookie season. McGrew’s highlights include 12 individual wins, school records in the 100 freestyle and 50 freestyle, and All-American honors. Co-captain Baumgartner will also be key for the Panthers, displaying her strength across the 200, 500 and 800 freestyle last season. Hall, another captain, boasts a sixth-place finish in the 200 breaststroke at the NESCAC Championship, and will help lead the team through the 2025-26 season.
Key Competitions: Connecticut College (Away–- Nov. 15), MIT Invitational (Away– Dec. 5-7), Women’s Swimming and Diving NESCAC Championship (Away– Feb. 12-15)
Men’s Swimming and Diving
Head Coach: Bob Rueppel
Athletes to Watch: Luke McNamara ’26, Andrew Dou ’26, John Masiello ’27
Also beginning their season at Connecticut College on Saturday, the men’s swimming and diving program will enter the pool with a combination of strong returning athletes and first-year talent. The team will turn to co-captain McNamara for leadership and strong performances, returns with school records in the 200 and 400 individual medley, along with All-NESCAC honors. Dou will be another important swimmer for the Panthers, displaying his speed in the butterfly as a member of a program record-setting 200 medley relay. Masiello also comes off a successful previous season, making the NCAA ‘B’ cut time in the 100 breaststroke and tallying three individual victories.
Key Competitions: Connecticut College (Away–- Nov. 15), MIT Invitational (Away– Dec. 5-7), Men’s Swimming and Diving NESCAC Championship (Away– Feb. 19-22)
Kanan Clifford '28.5 (he/him) is a Sports Editor.
Kanan is a probable Molecular Biology/Biochemistry major, with additional interests in history and politics. At Middlebury, he sails, is on the board of the South Asian Students Association, and is an avid baker!
Ting Cui '25.5 (she/her) is the Business Director.
Ting previously worked as Senior Sports Editor and Staff Writer and continues to contribute as a Sports Editor. A political science major with a history minor, she interned at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. as a policy analyst and op-ed writer. She also competed as a figure skater for Team USA and enjoys hot pilates, thrifting, and consuming copious amounts of coffee.
Simon Schmieder '26 (he/him) is a Senior Sports Editor.
Simon is an avid runner and biker and enjoys spending time outdoors. He is a philosophy and political science joint major with a minor in German, in addition to being a Philly sports fan.
