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In Review

SCOUTING REPORTWhat’s the outlook for the Yellowjackets? A preview of the 2015–16 athletic seasons. By Dennis O’Donnell
sportsTOP TACKLE: Academic All-American Matthew Mender ’16 will help anchor the Yellowjackets from his position as defensive tackle on a football team that returns the majority of its starters for the fall season. (Photo: Athletics and Recreation)

There is promise aplenty on the athletic fields for the coming season.

Fall

Cross Country: The men’s team finished 11th at the NCAA Atlantic Regional Run last season. Eric Franklin ’17 earned All–UAA and all-region honors. The women’s team will be led by Katie Knox ’16. She earned All–UAA and all-region honors, then ran at the NCAA championship meet. Eddie Novara takes over as coach of both teams.

sports (Photo: Athletics and Recreation)

Field Hockey: Rochester won the Liberty League regular season title last year for the first time in school history. Returnees include All-Americans Tara Lamberti ’16 in goal and Michelle Relin ’16 on the forward line.

Football: The Yellowjackets return the majority of their starters from last season (5–4 overall record), including the eight who earned All–Liberty League honors last year. Rochester has five home games this season.

Soccer: Rochester’s men made their ninth NCAA playoff appearance in the last 10 years in 2014 and reached the second round of the tournament. The Yellowjackets were 10–5–4 overall. The women’s team finished 6–8–4, relying on a stingy defense that held 13 of 18 foes to one goal or fewer.

Volleyball: With six wins in their last eight matches, the Yellowjackets stormed to a 17–19 finish overall, including a sixth place finish at UAAs. Rochester will host the UAA championships November 6 to 7 at the Palestra and Zornow Sports Center. The UAA champion earns an automatic bid to the NCAA playoffs.

Winter

sportsRETURNING TO LEAD: UAA basketball Rookie of the Year Ali Leslie ’18 (top), All-American field hockey goalkeeper Tara Lamberti ’16 (middle), and ECAC All-Star Nolan Schultz ’17 return to help lead the Yellowjackets in 2015–16. (Photo: Athletics and Recreation)

Basketball: The Rochester women finished 15–10 and ended with three wins in the last four games. Al Leslie ’18 and Lauren Deming ’18 earned All–UAA honors as freshmen. Leslie was the UAA Rookie of the Year, a WBCA All–American, and the D3hoops.com Rookie of the Year. The men’s team was 10–15 overall. Sam Borst-Smith ’17 and Mack Montague ’17 earned All–UAA honors. Rochester will host the 50th edition of what is now the Wendy’s College Classic tournament at the Palestra from December 3 to 5, when the men’s semifinalists and finalists tip off. The Palestra will be the site of the 23rd tournament for the women, with Rochester hosting the semifinals and finals as well.

Swimming and Diving: All-Americans Vicky Luan ’16, Khamai Simpson ’17, and Emily Simon ’17 return in the pool. Danielle Neu ’17, who was an All-American in 2014, is back on the diving board. Rochester’s women have won six straight Liberty League titles. The men have won three in a row. Gunnar Zemering ’18 was the Liberty League Rookie of the Year last season.

Squash: The Yellowjackets have four All-Americans returning to the lineup this year: Neil Cordell ’16, Tomotaka Endo ’18, Ryosei Kobayashi ’17, and Mario Yanez Tapia ’17. Rochester beat two No. 1–ranked teams last season (Harvard and Trinity). The Yellowjackets finished fifth at the national championships.

Track and Field: Both teams had superb indoor seasons with the women finishing third overall at the ECAC championships (the highest finish in school history) and the men winning the New York state team title. In the spring, the men won the state title again. Boubacar Diallo ’16 earned All-America honors in the triple jump, finishing fourth at the NCAA meet. Cameron Edwards ’16 will try to secure her fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA championships. She’s competed three times in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles.

Spring

sports (Photo: Athletics and Recreation)

Baseball: Four of the top six hitters are back. Five All–Liberty League honorees return overall as Rochester aims to improve on its 26–16 finish last season. The Yellowjackets finished third in the Liberty League competition.

Softball: For the second year in a row, Rochester won the Liberty League softball title and competed in the NCAA Division III national championships. The Yellowjackets return five players who hit .324 or higher. Eleni Wechsler ’17 earned all-region honors for the second straight year. Shelby Corning ’17 was named to the ECAC Upstate New York team. Rochester was 29–13.

Lacrosse: A clutch late-season win over RIT boosted Rochester into the Liberty League playoffs for the second time in school history. Top scorer Jamie Wallisch ’17 was named first team All–Liberty League. Three other all-league honorees will join her on the field this season.

Golf: Rochester had three earn all-region acclaim in 2015: Dominick Schumacher ’16, G. W. VanderZwaag ’16, and Jona Scott ’17. All three are back. Rochester won the UAA championship and finished third at the Liberty League championships.

Rowing: The first varsity eight finished fifth overall in its race at the New York state championships. The Yellowjackets were third overall at the Liberty League championships. A challenging schedule included a mid-April meet in New England in which three teams ranked sixth or higher.

Tennis: Rochester’s men were ranked 13th regionally and 40th in Division III overall in an 8–11 finish. Jonny Baker ’17 earned second team All–UAA honors after he won all three of his matches at the championships. The Yellowjacket women were 8–10 overall and secured a No. 17 regional ranking.

Dennis O’Donnell is director of athletic communications for the Department of Athletics and Recreation.