Best Men’s Team
Cross-Country
The cross-country team capped off the best season in school history with a 14th place at the NCAA Championships, higher than it had been ranked all season. Along the way, the team defeated every other team in New England, except Tufts to finish second at the Regional Meet. In addition, co-captain Owen Kiely ’06 was named the New England Region runner of the year and finished 12th in the nation to earn All-America honors, while co-captain Wes Fuhrman ’05 earned All-New England honors and just missed out on being an All-American placing 37th at NCAAs. Juniors Jon King and Mike Brady also earned All-New England honors for their 15th and 32th place finishes respectively at the Regional Meet.
Best Men’s Team
Men’s Soccer
After finishing the season with 3-4-2 NESCAC record and earning the seventh seed in the playoffs, the Cardinals knocked off the #2 seed Bowdoin in Maine on Oct. 30, after closing out the season with a loss to the Polar Bears the day before. The next weekend in Williamstown, the Cardinals pulled the biggest upset of the season and defeated #1 Williams, 1-0 to earn a spot in the finals. The following day the Cardinals defeated #3 Amherst 3-2 to win the NESCAC Championship and earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The hottest team in the tournament, the Cardinals first defeated Muhlenberg College 3-2, before falling to the eventual NESCAC Champions, Messiah College 2-1 in overtime the next day. Jared Ashe ’07 was All-NESCAC as a defender, and head coach Geoff Wheeler was the NESCAC Coach of the Year.
Best Women’s Team
Field Hockey
The field hockey team finished the season with an overall record of 11-5, including a 5-4 record in the tough NESCAC. The team reached the NESCAC semi-finals. Other highlights of the season included a 6-0 dismantling of Little Three rival Amherst and a thrilling 1-0 double overtime victory over Colby College. Courtney Tetrault ’07 was named to the All-NESCAC first team, and Molly Adams ’07 was named to the All-NESCAC second team. Tetrault was also named a third-team All-American.
Best Female Athlete
Ellen Davis ’07 – Cross-Country
After earning All-America honors in the 5,000 meters last winter, Davis finished 15th at this year’s NCAA Championships to become a two-time All-American. A three time All-NESCAC and All-New England runner in cross-country, Davis placed third at this year’s NESCAC Championship at Wesleyan and seventh at the New England Regional.
Best Male Athlete
Owen Kiely ’06 – Cross-Country
A three time All-NESCAC and All-New England performer in cross-country Kiely capped a brilliant career with a 12th place finish at the NCAA Championships, earning All-America honors, and a victory at the New England Regional Championships, defeating the eventual NCAA Champion, Neal Holtschulte of Williams. Kiely also finished second this year at the NESCAC Championships held at Wesleyan.
Best Female Rookie
Lisa Drennan ’09 – Volleyball
Earning a spot on the All-NESCAC second team, Lisa Drennan posted a team high 407 kills over 100 games and recorded a .301 hitting percentage (fourth best in the NESCAC). Over the course of the season, Drennan was named to three all-tournament teams and was named a NESCAC player of the week. Drennan’s 4.07 kills per game ranks second in the NESCAC.
Best Male Rookie
Matt Nevin ’09 – Men’s Soccer
After leading the team with nine goals (six in the post-season) and a tremendous effort in the playoffs, Matt Nevin was named the NESCAC Rookie of the Year. Nevin scored two goals in the NESCAC Championship game to lead the Cardinals past the Lord Jeffs. In the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Nevin added two more goals, including the overtime game-winner. In the second round, Nevin spotted Wesleyan a 1-0 lead over Messiah, the first time Messiah trailed another team the whole season.
Best Coach
John Crooke – Cross-Country
After taking over the reigns of Wesleyan cross-country six years ago, Coach Crooke has built powerful men’s and women’s programs in the competitive New England Region. Crooke’s women’s team qualified for NCAAs in 2002 and 2004, while his men made the trip to Nationals for the first time this year. For his accomplishments with the men’s team in 2005, Crooke was named Co-NESCAC Coach of the Year as well as the outright New England Coach of the Year.
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