JACK ROONEY ’07
Men’s Baseball
After missing the team’s fall season abroad in Australia, Rooney has provided a tremendous boost to the men’s tennis team this spring. Rooney has the team’s best singles record in the spring, 4-1, losing just one set in the process. His spring season was highlighted by his hard-fought victory at fifth singles in straight sets against his opponent from a solid Rochester University squad on April 1. Rooney was well on his way to victory over his Amherst opponent on March 30, but was forced to retire due to injury, his only singles loss of the season. After a win in singles and doubles on Sunday against Vassar, Rooney continued his hot streak against Babson on Tuesday. Moving up to first singles with two players out due to injury, Rooney earned his first win at the number one position in impressive fashion with a 6-3, 6-2 drubbing of his opponent.
JEFF MAIER ’06
Baseball
Barring any setbacks, Maier will rewrite the record books for the baseball team this spring. After the team’s weekend games against Amherst, Maier needs just four hits to overtake Bill Robinson ’03, who has 168 hits, as the all-time career hits leader at Wesleyan. Maier has been the team’s leading anchor on offense, posting an impressive .379 batting average, with 25 hits and 12 RBI so far this season. Maier had his best performance of the season on March 30 against Coast Guard, recording four hits, including a triple, and driving home the game-winning run on a sacrifice fly. Look for Maier to make history at home this weekend as the baseball team plays Middlebury on Saturday, and again in a doubleheader on Sunday, all three at home.
DAVE VELARDO
Golf
In the fall, Velardo recorded one of the most impressive scores of any Wesleyan golfer in the past few decades. At the Skidmore Invitational Tournament in September, Velardo shot at 69, the lowest score by a Wesleyan golfer in 34 years. Velardo continued his torrid play early this spring season for the golf team against Williams College. Velardo notched a round of 70, two under par, on March 24 in Florida, as he led the golf team to a 319-321 victory over Williams College. Against their Little Three nemesis, Velardo’s score of 70 earned him a medal in the event. Velardo teamed up with Eli Watson ’09, Hal Tift, Jeff Sillin ’07, and Everett Tatelbaum ’07 to earn the victory against Williams.
CHARLIE CONGLETON ’07
Men’s Lacrosse
Congleton played a large role in the lacrosse team’s success a year ago, earning a spot on the 2005 All-NESCAC second team. With last season’s experience in goal under his belt, Congleton has raised his game to another level this spring, and is arguably the top goalie in the conference. He leads the NESCAC with a .720 save percentage, and has allowed just 6.07 goals per game for the Cards, ranked 12th nationally. Congleton proved to be clutch in goal in the team’s 10-7 over Middlebury, ranked fourth in the country, ending the 16-game Panther winning streak over the Cards. Congleton recorded 19 saves in the contest, including three critical saves down the stretch to keep the Cards on top. On April 3, Congleton was named the NESCAC Player of the Week, largely for his outstanding performance against Middlebury.
AMANDA BELICHICK ’07
Women’s Lacrosse
After recording 12 goals and six assists her first two years on the lacrosse team, Belichick has taken on quite an increased role in the offense this spring. Belichick leads the team in scoring with 21 goals and 12 assists for a total of 33 points. The lacrosse team, ranked 17th in the country, has relied on upperclassmen like Belichick to provide key leadership this season, with 12 of the 17 women on the roster either freshmen or sophomores. On Tuesday, Belichick scored the game winning goal in overtime to propel the Lady Cards over Connecticut College, her fifth game-winning goal of the season. In one of the team’s biggest wins of the season against Trinity at home on March 16, Belichick scored another game-winning goal in a 5-4 overtime win.
MOLLY GAEBE ’07
Softball
In her third year, Gaebe has cemented her status as one of the best pitchers in Wesleyan history. In the opening game of the season, Gaebe broke the Wesleyan record for career strikeouts with six in a 5-4 victory against Mt. St. Joseph. On March 20, in wins over Tufts University and The College of St. Catherine, Gaebe passed yet another milestone, 300 career Ks. Not only has Gaebe provided lights-out pitching this spring, but she has been a force to be reckoned with at the plate. In the team’s final six games in California over spring break, Gaebe hit .529 at the plate with nine hits, including 10 RBIs, two home runs, and two doubles. Gaebe leads the team with a .420 batting average and 13 RBI. For her efforts, Gaebe was named the NESCAC Player of the Week on March 27.
ANIA PRENETA ’09
Women’s Tennis
This spring, Preneta has not been playing like any ordinary freshman. At the number two singles and doubles spots in the second part to the women’s tennis season, Preneta has gone undefeated in singles in doubles, posting an impressive 8-0 record without dropping a set. Preneta, whose consistent ground strokes have propelled her to success her first season, teamed up with Madalina Ursu ’09 for an 8-4 win at second doubles against Mount Holyoke on Wednesday. Soon after her win, Preneta dispatched her opponent in singles by a dominating score of 6-0, 6-0. Preneta also earned wins in doubles and singles against Bentley on March 31. The team will look to Preneta and the rest of the five freshmen on the team to continue its impressive play agaisnt Salve Regina at home on Sunday.
SAM GROVER ’08
Men’s Track and Feld
Coming off basketball season in the winter, Grover returns to the track team hoping to earn another trip to NCAAs, where he placed 15th a year ago in the triple jump. The defending New England Open Champion, Grover holds a personal best jump just over 47’6.“ This season Grover easily won the triple jump at the Coastal Carolina Invite with a leap of 44’9.” He will face his toughest competition in the triple jump this season in “The Real” Fred Jones, of Tufts, All-American defending NESCAC Champion in the triple jump.
STEPH O’BRIEN ’08
Women’s Track and Field
The track team’s top sprinter, All-New England 400m specialist, O’Brien has excelled already this season, running a 1:00.4 at the Trinity Invite last weekend to place third. O’Brien also performed well at the Coastal Carolina Invite over spring break, placing 12th (1:00.6) against competition from all three NCAA divisions. The team will look for O’Brien to provide valuable points at the NECAC Championships later this month in the 200m as well as the 400m dash.