Dear Alumni, Parents and Eph Fans,
This is a quiet time of year in our athletic facilities, but things are far from quiet along Stetson Road behind the tennis courts. The above image shows work progressing on the new Multipurpose Recreation Center (MRC) scheduled to open in late 2025. The new building will feature a three-lane, 200-meter track, three tennis courts and practice space for Williams’ baseball and softball teams along with a 40-foot rock climbing wall. Additionally, the Athletic Department has selected Perkins&Will to conduct a comprehensive athletic facility study. Alumni and parents will be asked to submit their input as part of their study this fall. Stay tuned.
Before we turn our attention to a new season, let’s celebrate spring teams’ accomplishments including:
This summer, head Volleyball Coach Christi Kelsey, was one of four faculty to be awarded the Bushnell Prize, the college’s major award for faculty excellence in teaching and writing awarded annually since 1995 to faculty who are consistently recognized both by their colleagues and students as excellent teachers and mentors.
This spring, softball won its second straight NESCAC Championship at Tufts and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Williams won the regional competition at Husson University in Maine, going 3-0 and defeating two nationally ranked teams before falling to then-No. 2-ranked East Texas Baptist during the NCAA Super Regional in Marshall, Texas.
Baseball saw Henry Juan earn NESCAC All-Conference Second Team laurels and be named to the D3baseball.com All-Region I Third Team. Women’s lacrosse won seven of its first eight games, including defeating two ranked opponents in No. 13 Trinity and No. 12 Pomona-Pitzer.
Men’s lacrosse went 6-4 in the ultra-competitive NESCAC, defeating three ranked opponents, No. 6 Christopher Newport, No. 18 Middlebury and No. 20 Babson, on the way to qualifying for the conference tournament.
Men’s crew finished third out of 18 at the National Invitational Rowing Championships/ NESCAC Championship, and then earned silver in the First Varsity Eight and bronze in the Second Varsity Eight at the IRA National Championship.
Women’s crew took home the third-place team trophy at the NCAA Championship and earned gold in the Second Varsity Eight. The team finished second out of 20 and the Second Varsity Eight placed first out of 18 during the NIRC/NESCAC Championship.
Men’s and women’s tennis qualified for the NCAA Tournament. Erica Ekstrand made it all the way to the semifinals of the women’s singles tournament during the NCAA Individual Championship, while Ekstrand and Yuu Ishikawa reached the quarterfinals in doubles action. The men’s team reached the third round of the NCAA Tournament. Matt Kandel went to the quarterfinals in singles action during the NCAA Individual Championship, while Kandel and Nicholas Chen also reached the quarterfinal round in the doubles event.
Women’s golf won the NESCAC Championship and finished 10th in the NCAA Championship.Men’s golf finished first out of nine at the two-round Williams Spring Invite and first of three during the Little Three Championship.
Men’s track & field finished 15th out of 86 at the NCAA Outdoor Championship, while the women’s team tied for 31st of 83.
Williams had 168 student-athletes on the 2024 NESCAC Spring All-Academic Team. During the spring, the Ephs placed 28 student-athletes on the NESCAC All-Conference first team, 25 on the second team and five on the third team.
Tomas Adalsteinsson was named the conference’s Women’s Golf Coach of the Year, while Gio Kim and Emma Abramson earned Golfer and Rookie of the Year accolades, respectively (click here for more information). In softball, Sadie Leonard and Katie Blanch were named NESCAC Pitcher and Rookie of the Year, respectively.
These summer months provide our athletes with an important period of time to recharge, grow and prepare for the upcoming year while away from campus. Our coaches combine recruiting, learning, recovering, and planning with time to recharge and be with family and friends. As you enjoy the rest of your summer, consider one of the recommendations offered by our coaches for your summer reading/listening.
Go Williams!
Lisa Melendy
Director of Athletics