As fall competition reaches its midway point, Whitman College’s athletic programs have delivered a mix of triumphs, grit and promise across every sport. From dominant showings on the links to thrilling finishes on the soccer field, the Blues are putting together an impressive mid-season campaign.
Tennis: ITA Cup Caps Off Fall Season
The Whitman tennis programs wrapped up their fall season with standout performances at the ITA Cup, held at the Rome Tennis Center in Georgia. Three Blues—junior Alexander Stage, sophomore Nana Vang and senior Sascha Wells—represented Whitman on the national stage, showcasing skill and composure against elite competition.
In his first ITA Cup appearance, Stage bounced back from an early loss to claim two strong wins. His first victory came in dominant fashion, a 6-1, 6-0 rout of Dominik Knutson of Gustavus Adolphus College, followed by a gritty comeback over Drew Goldman of Pomona Pitzer, who ranked 13th nationally last spring, by a score of 0-6, 6-4, 6-4.
On the women’s side, Vang competed in both singles and doubles, teaming up with Wells for the doubles draw. Though the pair fell short, they played some of their sharpest tennis of the season, pushing Skidmore to a tie-break before narrowly falling 7-6 (5), 6-1, 10-2. Vang’s singles campaign ended on a high note, closing with a commanding 6-0, 6-4 win over Ginevra Muratori of Skidmore.
With the fall slate complete, both teams will carry valuable experience from their ITA Cup runs into the spring season.
Men’s Soccer: Blues Stay Unbeaten
The men’s soccer team continues to roll through the Northwest Conference, maintaining its undefeated record after a dramatic 3-2 win over Pacific at Hanson Stadium. The match epitomized Whitman’s resilience, as the Blues (9-0-5, 8-0-2 NWC) found answers to every challenge.
Junior midfielder Fernando Lopez-Vega reflected on the team’s success so far.
“We’re currently sitting undefeated right now,” Lopez-Vega said. “We had a tough preseason in Colorado against some pretty good teams that prepared us for what comes in conference play.”
He added that the standout moment of the season came when the Blues defeated rival Whitworth on the road.
“It’s the first time I personally beat them at their house,” Lopez-Vega said, “so that’s been the highlight of the season so far for me.”
Sophomore defensive midfielder Seamus Kelly expressed the team’s pride and focus heading into the season’s second half.
“So far it’s been a really strong showing from Whitman men’s soccer,” Kelly said. “The second half of the season is always challenging… We’ve played all these teams now, so they know how we play and they’re going to adjust their tactics to beat us… we just have to stick to our guns, focus on what we’re best at and [not] get tired of doing the good things, the right things.”
Sitting firmly atop the conference standings, the Blues turn their focus to a home slate of NWC play with momentum squarely in their favor.
Women’s Soccer: Promising Moments Amid Tough Stretch
After opening NWC play undefeated through six games, the women’s soccer team has hit a challenging stretch, dropping three of its last four contests. The Blues’ most recent setback came in a narrow 2-1 defeat to Pacific despite strong play and numerous scoring chances.
Pacific struck first early in the match, but junior midfielder Leah Barnes equalized minutes later with a powerful, unassisted strike in the 13th minute. However, a second Pacific goal in the 21st minute would ultimately prove the decider.
This has been the story of Whitman’s struggles in the second half of conference play. Often, the Blues have been able to create opportunities and dominate the shot battle, but can’t find the back of the net. Their defense has been doing well, never conceding more than two goals in a game, but they have yet to score more than one goal in a game since the start of conference play. If the team can fix their scoring woes, they can really start to shoot up the standings.
The team looks to rebound during its next stretch of NWC competition.
Volleyball: Blues in the Mix in NWC Play
The women’s volleyball team continues to compete fiercely in a balanced NWC race. Despite a straight-set loss to Willamette (25-12, 25-23, 25-21), the Blues remain in the thick of postseason contention with a 7-10 overall record and 6-4 mark in conference play.
In that contest, first-year Sammy Holmer paced Whitman’s offense with 13 kills and nine digs, flirting with a double-double and hitting an efficient .273. While the Blues’ offense showed flashes of potential, Willamette’s consistency and blocking edge proved decisive.
With five conference matches left, Whitman sits fifth in the standings and will look to regain form over the next several home matches.
Golf: Whitman Dominates at the Confluence Classic
Whitman’s golf teams capped their fall campaigns with a statement performance at the Confluence Classic, held at Wine Valley Golf Course. The men’s squad captured the team title behind sophomore Grady Brown’s four-under-par showing, which earned him the individual championship. First-year Caelan Wobbrock followed closely, finishing second at two under.
On the women’s side, senior Beatrice Archer claimed the individual crown, finishing six over par and edging the field by a single stroke. Her composed final round secured another highlight moment for a surging Whitman golf program.
Both teams now head into the offseason with momentum and confidence as they prepare for their spring schedules.
