Athletics Updates

As we prepare for the 2026–27 season, there is a tremendous amount of excitement surrounding Bearcat Basketball. Last year represented an important step forward for our program, and with an experienced group returning, we’re eager to see how far we can take that momentum this season.

• Building on a Breakthrough Season: Last year, we finished 16-11 overall and returned to the Northwest Conference Tournament for the first time since 2015. After defeating Puget Sound in the semifinals, we advanced to the NWC Tournament championship game for the first time since 2000.
• Experience Returns and Talented Newcomers: One of the biggest reasons for our excitement is the group we have coming back, with almost everyone returning and six talented newcomers we will be able to push each other each day in practice and build on our culture of relentlessness and togetherness.

• Bearcats Earn Individual Honors: Our student-athletes were recognized for their accomplishments both on and off the court last season. Tanner Overby was named Northwest Conference Player of the Year and First Team All-NWC after leading the conference in scoring. In the classroom, Nick Hardin, Aadem Isal and Anujan Tennathur were named to the NABC Honors Court, recognizing upperclassmen who maintained a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2. The entire team also earned the NABC Team Academic Excellence Award after posting a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• An Exciting Schedule Ahead: We won't have to wait long to test ourselves. We open the season on November 2 against Division I University of Portland at the Chiles Center before heading to Southern California for games against Whittier and Pomona-Pitzer.  We’ve put together a challenging non conference schedule that will help prepare us for the Northwest Conference schedule.
• Return to Cone for the Alumni Game: We hope you'll join us for the 2026 Willamette Men's Basketball Alumni Game on Saturday, October 24 at 1 p.m. at Cone Field House. Reconnect with former teammates and friends, meet our current players and coaches, and take the court for some friendly competition. Register for the Alumni Game here.  We also have an open door policy for practices so if you ever want to come by you are always welcome.

Thank you for your continued support of Willamette Men’s Basketball. We look forward to continuing to do our best to represent Bearcat Basketball well on and off the court.

Go Bearcats,

Coach Lenahan

As we prepare for the 2026–27 season, I wanted to reach out to share with you the excitement we have for the season to come! Toughness, togetherness, and a team-first mentality will define this group as we pursue our goal of competing for a Northwest Conference Championship and with a blend of experience, newcomers, and players ready for expanded roles we are excited to get started!

• New Faces: We added five junior transfers and two first-year players to the roster.
  • Junior point guard Kaitlen Carns, who joins Willamette from NWC foe Lewis & Clark after averaging 13 points per game. Carns will bring experience, scoring ability, and versatility to both ends of the floor.
  • Sharpshooter Sydney Chesnut (College of the Sequoias), Clare Patrick (Mesa College), Selena Espinoza (Everett Community College), and Nisa Rodriguez (Lassen Community College) complete the junior transfer class.
  • First-years Allie Carns (Oregon City HS) and Aspen Vanderveen (Monroe HS) round out an incoming class that brings energy, athleticism, and new possibilities to the Bearcats.

• Returners to Watch: 
  • As a two-year starter, junior Daisy Boling-Schmidt has established herself as one of the NWC’s top post defenders. This season, she will look to expand her impact on the offensive end.
  • Seniors Addie Hiler and Syd Shoemaker,  along with sophomores Mattie Thompson, Jordyn Reed, and Karsyn Ripplinger round out a group of returners ready to take on expanded roles.
• Bearcats on the Road: This year’s schedule gives us another opportunity to challenge ourselves from the start. We have some great road trips during our pre-season with two games in Portland against both Portland and Portland State. We also have two longer road trips - Colorado Springs on Nov 13-14 to take on Colorado College and Gustavus Adolphus, and Abilene, Texas for games against Hardin-Simmons and McMurry on Dec.19-20.

As we begin another season, we hope you’ll stay connected with the program and find an opportunity to see us play. Whether you’re back at Cone Field House or supporting us on the road, having our alumni behind us is an important part of the community surrounding Willamette Women’s Basketball.

Thank you for your continued encouragement and support of our student-athletes. We’re looking forward to getting back on the court, continuing to grow together and representing Willamette with pride throughout the season.

Go Bearcats,

Coach Swadener

As we prepare for the 2026–27 season, there is plenty to be excited about with Willamette Men’s Swimming. Last season featured impressive individual performances, continued growth across our roster and a conference championship that gives us momentum as we head back to the pool.

• A Conference Champion Returns: Trai Xiong captured the Northwest Conference championship in the 200-yard breaststroke, winning the event in 2:02.09 at the NWC Championships in Boise. Trai also earned All-NWC honors in both the 200 breaststroke and 200 individual medley, establishing himself among the conference’s top swimmers. We’re excited to see what he can accomplish this season.
• Contributions Across the Roster: Our success went well beyond one swimmer. Kevin Olmedo, Jan Beck, Ethan Barker and Lucas Cardenas were among the Bearcats who led us in events throughout last season, while our relay teams provided opportunities for the entire group to contribute. Those experiences give us a foundation to continue building upon this year.

• Contributions Across the Roster: Our success went well beyond one swimmer. Kevin Olmedo, Jan Beck, Ethan Barker and Lucas Cardenas were among the Bearcats who led us in events throughout last season, while our relay teams provided opportunities for the entire group to contribute. Those experiences give us a foundation to continue building upon this year.
• Excellence Beyond the Pool: Bearcat swimmers also represented Willamette well academically. Jan Beck, Lucas Cardenas, Ka'ōlapa Masuko and Trai Xiong were recognized as Northwest Conference Scholar-Athletes, demonstrating the commitment to academic and athletic excellence that defines the Division III experience.
• Sportsmanship and Leadership: Ka'ōlapa Masuko was selected to the Northwest Conference All-Sportsmanship Team, recognizing the character and sportsmanship he brought to competition. Those qualities are just as important to our program as what happens on the scoreboard.
• Looking Ahead to 2026–27: This season will give us another opportunity to test ourselves against strong competition throughout the Northwest Conference before returning to Boise for the NWC Championships in February. We hope you’ll follow along throughout the year and find an opportunity to cheer on the Bearcats, whether we’re competing in Salem or on the road.

Thank you for your continued support of Willamette Men’s Swimming. Our alumni are an important part of this program’s history and community, and we look forward to representing you proudly throughout the season.

Go Bearcats,

Coach Summers

As we prepare for the 2026–27 season, we’re excited to get back in the pool and continue building Willamette Women’s Swimming. Last season featured strong individual performances, conference recognition and impressive work in the classroom—all providing a great foundation for the year ahead.

• All-Conference Success: Leah Howell earned First Team All-Northwest Conference honors in the 100-yard backstroke, establishing herself among the conference’s top swimmers in the event. Performances like Leah’s at the NWC Championships reflect the hard work our student-athletes put in throughout the season and give us plenty to build on as we return to competition.
• Excellence in the Classroom: Our swimmers continue to demonstrate what it means to be a Willamette student-athlete. Ana Kaldy, Emma Noffsinger, Elisa Michels, and Emma Schauble earned Academic All-District, which recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances in the pool and in the classroom. We’re incredibly proud of their commitment to excellence.

• Experience to Build On: Last season gave our swimmers opportunities to compete against some of the best athletes in the Northwest Conference and continue developing throughout the year. We’re looking forward to carrying those experiences into a new season and seeing our returning swimmers take another step forward.
• Looking Ahead to 2026–27: Another season means another opportunity to challenge ourselves, improve throughout the year and prepare to be at our best when championship season arrives. We’re excited to see what this group can accomplish together and to represent Willamette throughout the Northwest.
• Stay Connected with Bearcat Swimming: We hope you’ll follow us throughout the season and find an opportunity to cheer us on, whether we’re competing at home or on the road. Our alumni are an important part of the history and community of Willamette Swimming, and we always appreciate having former Bearcats supporting today’s student-athletes.

Thank you for your continued encouragement and support of Willamette Women’s Swimming. We’re proud to represent the generations of Bearcats who came before us and look forward to another exciting season.

Go Bearcats,

Coach Summers