Tufts Athletics Annual Report 2024-2025

ON THEIR MARKS

Academic Distinction

EXCELLENCE AWARDED

Katelin Isakoff, a two-time NCAA swimming champion and Tufts University alumna, was one of only two student-athletes nationwide to receive the prestigious NCAA Walter Byers Scholarship in April. She is using the $24,000 award to pursue studies at Stanford University School of Medicine. A 2023 summa cum laude graduate in biology and community health, Isakoff joins Mitchell Black (men’s track & field, 2016) in making Tufts the only Division III school with multiple Byers Scholarship recipients. Just two examples of Jumbos making the grade.

Tufts’ 2025 NCAA Walter Byers Scholarship recipient.

BEST IN HER FIELD

Sophia DiCocco’s journey at Tufts exemplified excellence in all areas. An All-American pitcher for the Jumbo softball team, she was recognized among the top 30 honorees for the 2024 NCAA Woman of the Year Award, selected from 627 nominees for her leadership, academics, and community service. Graduating summa cum laude with a degree in international relations in 2024, she then earned a master’s in Innovation & Management from the School of Engineering in 2025.

Tufts’ 2024 NCAA Woman of the Year finalist.

HOLDING COURT

Vuk Vuksanovic of the men’s tennis team and Scott Gyimesi from men’s basketball both excelled on their courts and in class. Vuksanovic was the NESCAC Player of the Year who helped lead the team to the NCAA semifinals and earned Academic All-America® first-team honors. Gyimesi was a Jostens Award finalist and Academic All-America® second-team honoree who averaged 15.3 points, 9.9 rebounds, and a .585 field goal percentage.

A men’s tennis player was one of Tufts’ 13 College Sports Communicators’ Academic All-Americans for 2024–2025.

CHAMPIONS IMMERSED IN ACHIEVEMENTS

Tufts’ men’s swimming seniors Emmett Adams, Soeren Euvrard, and Eric Lundgren excelled in both athletics and academics. They won an NCAA Championship in the 200 medley relay alongside junior Armaan Sikka. All three seniors then earned Academic All-America® honors, as Tufts led NESCAC and New England schools while tying for the most honors nationally.

Three Tufts men’s swimming & diving teammates who earned Academic All-American status.

LEAGUE-LEADING SCHOLARS

As a member of NESCAC, Tufts continues to be a league-leader in academic performance. For the 2024–2025 academic year, a total of 515 Academic All-Conference honors were earned by Jumbos for carrying GPAs of 3.50 or better. The 247 awards earned by spring student-athletes were the most in NESCAC, and 47 more than any other school.

Members of Tufts’ spring teams at a special Commencement ceremony.

RECORD NUMBER OF JUMBOS DEEMED ACADEMIC ALL AMERICANS

Tufts set a new record in 2024–2025 with 13 student-athletes named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-America® teams, surpassing the university’s previous high of nine set the year before. In addition to the five student-athletes mentioned elsewhere in this section, also receiving the prestigious award were Michael Ayers (men’s lacrosse), Margie Carden (women’s lacrosse), Madeline Delaney (women’s lacrosse), Andrea DelGiudice (field hockey), Hannah Jiang (women’s rowing), Parker Merril (men’s lacrosse), Charlie Tagliaferri (men’s lacrosse), and Joey Waldbaum (men’s lacrosse). This achievement highlights the academic and athletic excellence of Tufts’ student-athletes.

CARRYING ON A TIME-HONORED TRADITION

A total of 17 Tufts University varsity and club sport student-athletes were inducted this year into the Tufts chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest and most prestigious academic honor society in the United States. The inductees were:

A total of 17 student-athletes from Tufts Athletics received Phi Beta Kappa honors in 2025.

Haley Andreasen
Sailing

Oliver Bello
Club Women’s Ultimate Frisbee

Rowan Chetner
Club Swimming

Hope Coleman-Plourde
Club Women’s Ultimate Frisbee

Jack Davis
Club Tennis

Raymond Feinleib
Club Men’s Ultimate Frisbee

Marina Garrido
Sailing

Ingrid Elena Manson González
Club Pickleball

Nicole Leon
Club Women’s Soccer

Megan Mathieu
Club Women’s Ultimate Frisbee

Gabriel Molnar
Club Rock Climbing
Club Men’s Ultimate Frisbee

Henry Nitzberg
Club Rock Climbing

Jake Pandina
Club Tennis

Nika Renshaw
Women’s Swimming & Diving

Revely Rothschild
Club Cheerleading

Layla Shaffer
Club Ice Hockey

Sarah Svahn
Club Women’s Ultimate Frisbee

A GREATER COMMITMENT TO THE GREATER GOOD

COMMUNITY SERVICE

ALL IN A YEAR’S WORK

Tufts Athletics, through its partnership with Tisch College, had another standout year in civic engagement, with student-athletes logging over 3,000 hours—a 50% increase from last year! They participated in 35 events and partnered with 20 community organizations, all under the leadership of Civic Life Administrator Frank Roche. This is the kind of Jumbo-hearted commitment that truly sets Tufts apart.

Tufts student-athletes volunteering in a community service activity.

MATCH MAKERS

Tufts football and women’s swimming & diving hosted a bone marrow registry drive through the National Marrow Donor Program (formerly Be The Match) for the fifth year in a row. The group was able to successfully add more than 120 individuals to the registry. In addition, a match was made for a patient in need, and the lifesaving blood stem cell donation was recently completed successfully. This marks the fourth person to have met their match through Tufts. The donation itself came from donor drives initiated by Tufts’ athletic teams.

Tufts teams staffing National Marrow Donor Program tables.

GIVE AND GO INTERNATIONAL

Women’s basketball alumna Mikayla Paquette is making a real impact with Community Hoops, using basketball as a tool for skill development, mentorship, and civic engagement. Her program has already brought together young players in Medford and Somerville, with Tufts varsity athletes stepping in as mentors. Community Hoops has limitless potential. In fact, Paquette is expanding her vision internationally, piloting a version of the program in South Africa.

Portrait of a Tufts women’s basketball graduate who started a Community Hoops program.

GOOD CAUSE. GREAT IMPACT.

Tufts continues to be a national leader in its partnership with Team IMPACT, the organization that matches children facing serious illness and disability with college sports teams, creating a long-term, life-changing experience for everyone involved. This year, football, men’s squash, men’s and women’s tennis, and women’s lacrosse welcomed new teammates. Twelve teams overall remain connected with Team IMPACT teammates. And to the children, those teams are dream teams.

Tufts women’s tennis team pose with a new teammate via the Team IMPACT organization.

DAYS TO REMEMBER

Tufts’ Jumbos host fantastic community events, bringing local kids to campus for sports and activities. Highlights include the Community Sports Day in April, which is an opportunity for the local community to spend a fun time on the Tufts campus with Tufts student-athletes, student groups, and local community organizations. The dunk tank is always the most popular event. In January each year, the Jumbos celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day, an event in which they aim to empower the next generation of female athletes and showcase the fun and positivity that participating in sports can provide. Many Tufts teams also host youth clinics where kids can receive more specific instruction in the sports they love. All of these events are a great way for the Jumbos to connect, inspire, and have fun.

A Tufts women’s lacrosse student-athlete teaches a young community member how to throw.

FREEZING FOR GOOD REASON

Tufts Athletes of Color, Black Athletes at Tufts, and the Tufts chapter of the National Society of Black Women in Medicine teamed up to revive the Ice Bucket Challenge for the ALS Foundation, raising nearly $700 with participation from multiple sports teams.

Members of Tufts teams participate in the Ice Bucket Challenge to benefit the ALS Foundation.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

During Earth Month in April, the Tufts rowing and track & field teams participated in the 4th Annual Malden River Cleanup. More than 90 bags of trash were gathered, along with an array of junk such as car tires and shopping carts.
For its annual Jumbo Giving Tree initiative in the winter holiday season, Tufts Athletics sponsored three families and supplied over $1,000 worth of gifts to the Medford Family Network. This was the sixth year of partnering with the Medford Family Network.

Tufts men’s soccer team members pair up with children from the local community on game day.

Student-athletes from the men’s soccer and women’s lacrosse teams planned a weekly board game hour with the Somerville Council on Aging. They met weekly with senior citizens to establish relationships and have fun.
Each Friday in the spring, student-athletes from football, men’s basketball, and women’s swimming & diving connected with students at Brooks Elementary School as part of the Tufts Reading Program. Next year, the program aims to provide year-round service.

EXPECTATIONS WERE HIGH. OUR ACHIEVEMENTS, EVEN HIGHER.

ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS

NATIONAL PROMINENCE

MEN’S LACROSSE

TWICE IS NICE

Tufts descended upon Gillette Stadium on May 25 on a mission, opening the championship game with a lightning-quick 10-goal onslaught that stunned Dickinson College. The Jumbos never let up, powering their way to a 25–8 victory to claim their second consecutive national title and fifth overall. But this was more than just a championship—it was history in the making. With a flawless 23–0 season, Tufts delivered what some pundits are calling the greatest Division III lacrosse campaign ever.

Tufts men’s lacrosse celebrates winning another NCAA national championship trophy.

WOMEN’S ROWING

WINNING ON THE WATER AGAIN

Women’s rowing took to historic Mercer Lake on May 31 with incredible precision and unrelenting power, leaving competitors in their wake as their first and second varsity boats presided over their races from start to finish. The result? They secured a second straight NCAA Championship. Another national title was just the latest jewel in a two-year run of dominance, which includes consecutive victories in the collegiate eights event at the Head of the Charles Regatta in October and at the NESCAC Championship in May.

The Tufts women’s rowing team holds its second straight NCAA trophy aloft.

MORE BACK-TO-BACK GLORY

Under the bright lights of NCAA Championship competition, Tufts student-athletes performed at their best during a week in March. Elysse Cumberland, a first-year women’s track & field phenom, soared to victory with a triple jump that measured 41'4¼" (12.60 m). It was one giant leap for womankind, breaking the school record and ranking among Division III’s all-time best. Six days later, the men’s swimming 200 medley relay team—Eric Lundgren, Emmett Adams, Armaan Sikka, and Soeren Euvrard—delivered a thrilling finish, tying with Emory University at 1:26.72 for Tufts’ first-ever NCAA relay crown.

A Tufts women’s indoor track & field student-athlete in competition.

DOUBLE TROUBLE FOR OPPONENTS

What’s better than one Jumbo? Two Jumbos! Tufts men’s tennis had a notable year in doubles play with two tandems making national finals. In the fall, Sacha Maes and Alex Ganchev won the ITA Cup fall national title, defeating Denison 7–6 (3), 7–5. In the spring, Vuk Vuksanovic and Javier Gonzalez reached the NCAA doubles final, falling in three sets to the University of Chicago.

The Jumbo men’s tennis doubles tandem that won the ITA Cup fall national championship.

DIRECTORS’ CUP RUNNETH OVER

Tufts Athletics continues to shine on the national stage, earning third place in this year’s Learfield Directors’ Cup standings. With four straight years in the top 5 and 12 consecutive years in the top 10, the Jumbos are firmly established as one of the top programs in Division III. This year, six teams achieved top 10 NCAA finishes, propelling Tufts to yet another standout performance.

FALL SPORTS

FIELD HOCKEY

AN UNFORGETTABLE SEASON

In a season full of great moments, the Jumbos battled through four intense shoot-out victories to claim their first NESCAC Championship since 2016. Fueled by an incredible 13-game winning streak, they charged into the NCAA Championship game, where they fought fiercely but fell just short in a 2–1 loss to rival Middlebury. Their 19–3 record matched the most victories in school history.

Tufts field hockey celebrates advancing to the NCAA Final Four.

FOOTBALL

PATTERN OF WINNING

Ranking among the best in the conference on both offense and defense, the Jumbos finished in second place in NESCAC with a 7–2 record. The wins were the most since 2018, and the finish was their highest since 2016. It has been a strong run for the team, which has won at least six games for three straight seasons and holds a 19–8 overall record since 2022.

Tufts football’s quarterback prepares to unleash a pass during the 2024 season.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

MOST GOAL-ORIENTED TEAM

During a 14–4–1 season that represented the most wins since 2019, the Jumbos shattered the program’s 24-year-old scoring record and led the NESCAC with 52 goals scored. That helped the team earn an NCAA Tournament berth for the fourth straight season and for the sixth time since 2017.

MEN’S SOCCER

NEVER AT A LOSS

Tufts finished its season undefeated at 12–0–6 and joined the 2018 Jumbo squad in school history as the only two teams to never lose a game. Though shoot-out losses in the NESCAC quarterfinals and NCAA second round spoiled their postseason, the Jumbos earned their 10th-straight NCAA Tournament appearance to cement their place as one of the top teams in DIII.

The Jumbo men’s soccer team goalkeeper makes a save.

WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

MAKING A MOVE

Tufts had a promising season under new head coach Jamie Norton, recording their best NCAA East Regional finish since 2021 with a strong second place. This earned the Jumbos their first NCAA Nationals team berth in three years, where they ran to a commendable 16th-place finish. The team’s third place at the conference meet was also a significant improvement on their sixth-place finish last year.

MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

GOING THE EXTRA MILES

The Jumbo harriers had a season to remember under first-year head coach Jamie Norton, clinching the 17th spot at the NCAA Championship—their best finish since 2015. With a second-straight runner-up finish at the NCAA regional race, and with three All-NESCAC honorees—the most since 2004—the team is setting the stage for even greater success down the road.

The Tufts men’s cross country team All-American finisher in 2024.

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

ANOTHER CONFERENCE CALL

The Jumbos battled to a 7–3 NESCAC record, securing the #3 seed for the regular season. That marked the fifth straight year that they have been a top-four seed in the competitive conference. Their 13–11 overall record extended their streak of winning seasons to 11, reinforcing their reputation as a consistent force to contend with in the conference.

A Tufts player sets the ball during women’s volleyball action at Cousens Gymnasium.

WINTER SPORTS

MEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING

MAKING A SPLASH

Tufts made another national statement at the NCAA Division III Championships, led by their tie for first place in the 200 medley relay and their best team finish since 2018 in seventh place. All nine national qualifiers earned All-American honors. Prior to their NCAA success, the Jumbos earned five event victories and second place overall at the NESCACs. The team has great depth and should continue to shine in seasons to come.

A Jumbo All-American swimmer competes in the backstroke event.

WOMEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING

HIGH WATERMARKS

The Jumbos’ 15 NCAA qualifiers this year made history as their highest total ever. That led to a strong 11th-place finish nationally with 11 All-American honors. At the NESCAC Championships, they secured 10 event titles, battling fiercely with Williams College in a thrilling team contest before finishing as runner-up.

A member of the Tufts team swims the breaststroke.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

RISING TO THE TOP

The Jumbos have consistently performed at a high level under head coach Brandon Linton, as their 22 victories this year were the second-most in school history. Tufts earned its third-straight NCAA Tournament appearance—a first for the team. The Jumbos hosted first- and second-round games at historic Cousens Gymnasium and finished at #16 in the D3hoops national poll.

A Tufts men’s basketball player brings the ball up the court at Cousens Gymnasium.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

BACK WHERE THEY BELONG

Tufts returned to the NCAA Tournament this year, one of a few signature moments from a strong season. During the semester break, the Jumbos won the Hampton Inn West Springfield/Naismith Classic with a pair of hard-earned victories over Ithaca and Springfield. Late in the season, the Jumbos took an impressive 10-point victory over eventual NCAA finalist Smith College.

A guard on the Tufts women’s basketball team looks toward the basket to make a pass.

MEN’S ICE HOCKEY

EMERGING FORCE

Tufts established itself as one of the top teams in the competitive NESCAC with another solid season. The Jumbos defeated Colby College 6–2 to earn the team’s second straight berth into the NESCAC Championship game. With 12 wins overall, the team had double-digit victories for the third year in a row. The Jumbos also won the North Country Tournament during the fall semester. All of which is proof that this is a team that isn't just skating by, but rather, is one that's an emerging force in the conference.

A Tufts hockey player takes a shot in a game against Colby College.

WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD

NEW NEW ENGLAND CHAMPIONS

Tufts made history, claiming its first-ever New England Division III outdoor title. The indoor season was highlighted by the program’s 22nd individual/relay NCAA Championship victory, which led the team to a top 20 finish. Nine Jumbos became All-Americans, including a young core that is ready to lead Tufts’ return to powerhouse status.

MEN’S TRACK & FIELD

HITTING THEIR STRIDE

The Jumbos delivered a promising season highlighted by five NCAA event qualifiers and two All-American honorees. Their overall strength was clearly evident in regional championship meets, securing runner-up at the New England DIII Outdoor Championships and third indoors. This season was proof that Tufts is on the brink of something even greater.

A Tufts men’s track & field long jumper prepares to land.

WOMEN’S SQUASH

ANOTHER STEP FORWARD

Continuing to prove they’re a force to be reckoned with, Tufts’ dominant 7–2 win over Dartmouth was the team’s first-ever victory against an Ivy League opponent. Their continued pursuit of excellence carried them to the NESCAC Championship match for the fourth straight year. On the national stage, they challenged the best at the CSA Championships and landed a 12th-place finish. With boundless passion, this is a team on the move.

MEN’S SQUASH

IN A POSITION OF STRENGTH

The Jumbos continued to prove themselves in NESCAC and beyond in 2025. After a dramatic win over Williams College in the semifinals, the Tufts team earned its place as conference runner-up for the second straight year. At the national tournament, Tufts went head-to-head against the country’s best and finished as the #12-ranked team in collegiate squash.

A Jumbo men’s squash player is on the move to make a shot.

WOMEN’S FENCING

AMONG THE BEST

The Tufts team maintained its place among the top Division III teams in the nation, as the Jumbos were voted fourth in the USFCA’s Division III Women’s Team of the Year rankings for the 2024–2025 season. The team finished with 18 dual meet victories, was second out of 15 teams at the NIWFA meet, and featured five All-Americans.

A Tufts women’s fencing team member at the Tufts Invitational in January 2025.

SPRING SPORTS

WOMEN’S LACROSSE

CONFERENCE GOLD, NCAA SILVER

Tufts had a historic season, setting a school record with 21 wins and capturing the NESCAC title before battling rival Middlebury College in the NCAA final. The Jumbos raced to a 4–0 lead, but Middlebury fought back, eventually winning a dramatic 10–9 victory over the Jumbos. Though the championship slipped away, Tufts confirmed its position as one of the elite teams in Division III by making its third appearance overall in the national championship game.

A Jumbo women’s lacrosse student-athlete makes a move toward the goal.

MEN’S ROWING

POINTS TAKEN

Tufts claimed the Points Trophy at the IRA National Championships, representing the top team performance. The team’s second varsity eight won the Norman Graf Cup for the second consecutive year in a resounding victory, while the first varsity eight finished runner-up, narrowly behind Trinity College. This year’s success included the National Invitational Rowing Championships, where Tufts also won the Points Trophy.

Members of the Tufts men’s rowing team on the water.

MEN’S TENNIS

ELITE STRINGS SECTION

The Jumbos confirmed themselves as one of the very best teams in the nation after earning their fourth consecutive NCAA quarterfinals berth and battling into the semifinals. With a 23–3 record, an impressive 14-match winning streak, strong individual performances, and a #3 final national ranking, the team continued to prove they are among Division III’s elite.

Members of the men’s tennis team celebrate a win in doubles play.

SOFTBALL

CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT

The Jumbos ruled NESCAC, earning the top seed with a stellar 15–3 conference record and hosting the conference tournament for the 11th time. They seized their moment, capturing their first NESCAC crown since 2021 and receiving their seventh straight NCAA Tournament appearance. Their legacy of excellence continues.

One of the NESCAC champion Tufts softball team’s hitters makes contact.

COED SAILING

JUMBOS MAKING WAVES

With a pair of strong national finishes, the Jumbos enjoyed a great spring season. They delivered a standout performance at the Fleet Race Nationals in Maryland, racing to their best finish since 2014 with a seventh-place effort. They had built momentum nationally a few weeks earlier at the Team Race Nationals, earning 12th place.

Two Jumbo coed sailing teammates compete during the 2025 spring season.

WOMEN’S SAILING

GOING THE EXTRA NAUTICAL MILE

The Jumbos made great progress this season under second-year head coach Johnny Norfleet, earning their first-ever berth in the National Team Racing Championship and finishing 11th. They added to their national achievements at the ICSA Fleet Race Championship, where they placed 18th. Norfleet’s leadership, coupled with the team’s tireless dedication, will chart their course on an upward trajectory.

Tufts women’s sailing teammates work together during a 2025 spring season race.

BASEBALL

SEAMLESS DEFENSE

Series victories over NESCAC opponents Amherst College, Bates College, and Bowdoin College highlighted the Jumbo season, which finished with a quarterfinal appearance in the conference playoffs. Tufts was the best defensive team in the league with a sharp .969 fielding percentage.

A Tufts baseball player makes a pitch at Sol Gittleman Park.

WOMEN’S TENNIS

RETURN TO WINNING WAYS

In an inspiring year, Tufts nearly doubled last year’s win total and showed they are making tremendous progress. They returned to the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the regional final. During the regular season they recorded huge wins against national top 20 teams: Trinity (TX), MIT, and Williams College. This squad is on the rise, with even greater triumphs ahead.

A Tufts women’s tennis player gets in position to make a shot.

MEN’S GOLF

AN EMERGING CLUB SCENE

Despite losses to graduation and injury, a young Jumbo golf team managed to put together a fine 2024–2025 season. In the fall they won the 21-team Bowdoin Invitational led by an outstanding 289 team score in the first round. Then in the spring, Tufts added another tournament victory at the Williams Spring Invitational. This is a young team that’s getting a firm grip on success.

A Tufts golfer follows through on his shot while a teammate watches.

RECREATION & OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

RECREATION

GROWING EVERY YEAR

In 2024–2025, Tufts offered 33 club sports with 1,997 total participants and had 11 intramural offerings with 1,558 total participants. Some highlights:

Club sports raised over $100,000 on Giving Tuesday.
Club sports participation increased 22% over the year before.

A member of the Tufts club women’s rugby team runs past an opponent.

Fourteen club sports teams competed in national championship events this year: baseball, cheerleading, cycling, equestrian, fencing, rock climbing, running, men’s soccer, squash, taekwondo, tennis, women’s ultimate, men’s volleyball, and women’s volleyball.
Intramural participation saw a 12.5% increase over 2023–2024

DIVISION I JUMBOS

EXTRA. EXTRA. READ ALL ABOUT IT.

An extra year of eligibility set the stage for Tufts athletes to prove once again that talent transcends divisions, making waves at the highest level of collegiate competition in 2024–2025. Phil Lutz, a 2023 Tufts graduate, electrified the gridiron for Delaware, hauling in 45 receptions for 863 yards and 11 touchdowns. Former Tufts men’s soccer star Eric Lauta stood tall between the posts at New Hampshire, earning the America East Goalkeeper of the Year award. Baseball graduate Gavin Brown took the mound at Duke and delivered a 3.31 ERA across 16 appearances. Here’s the full list of Jumbos who used an extra year of eligibility in DI in 2024–2025:

A former Tufts football player makes a catch for Division I Delaware.

GAVIN BROWN
Duke Baseball

JIMMY EVANS
Duke Baseball

COURTNEY KAUFMAN
Duke Women’s Lacrosse

ERIC LAUTA
New Hampshire Men’s Soccer

PHIL LUTZ
Delaware Football

JOSHUA MERIWETHER
Tennessee State Football

JADEN RICHARDSON
University of Southern California Football

ALAN YOUNG
Middle Tennessee State Football

77 ALL-AMERICANS

Emmett Adams
Men’s Swimming & Diving

Elsi Aires
Women’s Soccer

Jordan Andrew
Women’s Track & Field

Amokrane Aouchiche
Men’s Cross Country / Track

Michael Ayers
Men’s Lacrosse

Anahat Bawa
Women’s Fencing

Karen Bei
Women’s Fencing

Luke Benson
Men’s Track & Field

Margie Carden
Women’s Lacrosse

Isa Chambers
Women’s Swimming & Diving

Noa Chambers
Women’s Swimming & Diving

Arielle Chechile
Women’s Track & Field

Shannon Chen
Women’s Fencing

Emma Claus
Women’s Swimming & Diving

Max Clivio
Men’s Soccer

Peter Conard
Men’s Rowing

Jillian Cudney
Women’s Swimming & Diving

Elysse Cumberland
Women’s Track & Field

Pascale De Buren
Women’s Lacrosse

Madeline Delaney
Women’s Lacrosse

Cam Delcristo
Men’s Lacrosse

Andrea Delgiudice
Field Hockey

Madeleine Dunn
Women’s Swimming & Diving

Lydia Eastburn
Field Hockey

Max Ettinghausen
Men’s Lacrosse

Soeren Euvrard
Men’s Swimming & Diving

Sarah Firth
Women’s Track & Field

Ben Frisoli
Men’s Lacrosse

Alex Ganchev
Men’s Tennis

Conner Garzone
Men’s Lacrosse

Genna Gibbons
Women’s Lacrosse

Javier Gonzalez
Men’s Tennis

Elena Harrison
Women’s Swimming & Diving

Brooks Hauser
Men’s Lacrosse

Sami Haynes
Women’s Rowing

Lucy Howell
Women’s Rowing

Hannah Jiang
Women’s Rowing

Emma Joyce
Women’s Lacrosse

Will Kaminski
Men’s Swimming & Diving

Caroline Kelly
Women’s Soccer

Garrett Kelly
Men’s Lacrosse

Aidan Keusch
Men’s Rowing

Annika Kral
Women’s Track & Field

Max Landers
Men’s Rowing

Ella Lesperance
Women’s Lacrosse

Lea Levi
Women’s Fencing

Eric Lundgren
Men’s Swimming & Diving

Ron Lyubman
Men’s Swimming & Diving

Sacha Maes
Men’s Tennis

Stavros Mastrogamvrakis
Men’s Tennis

Campbell McFall
Men’s Swimming & Diving

Harper Meek
Women’s Track & Field

Parker Merril
Men’s Lacrosse

Makayla Moriarty
Women’s Track & Field

Ben Mueller
Sailing

Jack Regnery
Men’s Lacrosse

Ty Richardson
Football

Maxwell Rosenberger
Men’s Rowing

Kylie Rosenquest
Field Hockey

Victor Salcedo
Men’s Lacrosse

Ethan Schreier
Men’s Swimming & Diving

Rafae Shafi
Men’s Swimming & Diving

Armaan Sikka
Men’s Swimming & Diving

Katharine Skelly
Women’s Swimming & Diving

Emma Smith
Women’s Track & Field

Angel Smyrniou
Women’s Swimming & Diving

Sydney Stasz
Women’s Swimming & Diving

Nitika Subramanian
Women’s Fencing

Charlie Tagliaferri
Men’s Lacrosse

Rose Tinkjian
Women’s Rowing

Selin Tuncay
Women’s Swimming & Diving

Vuk Vuksanovic
Men’s Tennis

Joey Waldbaum
Men’s Lacrosse

Jackie Wells
Women’s Track & Field

Quinci Wheeler
Women’s Swimming & Diving

Josh Wilkie
Men’s Track & Field

Allie Zorn
Women’s Lacrosse

INDIVIDUAL HONORS

ELSI AIRES, Women’s Soccer, NESCAC Player of the Year

MICHAEL BERLUTI, Football, Gridiron Club “Swede” Nelson Award

MAX CLIVIO, Men’s Soccer, NESCAC Defensive Player of the Year

ELYSSE CUMBERLAND, Women’s Track & Field, NESCAC Most Outstanding Rookie

MADELINE DELANEY, Women’s Lacrosse, IWLCA National Midfielder of the Year

SOPHIA DICOCCO, Softball, NFCA/Rawlings Gold Glove

BEN FRISOLI, Men’s Lacrosse, USILA National Long Stick Midfielder of the Year

SCOTT GYIMESI, Men’s Basketball, Jostens Award Finalist

MAX LANDERS, Men’s Rowing, IRCA “The Oarsman” Award Finalist

BEN MUELLER, Sailing, NEISA Sportsperson of the Year

JACK REGNERY, Men’s Lacrosse, USILA Iroquois National Outstanding Player of the Year; USILA Lt. Col. JI Turnbull Outstanding Attackman; NESCAC Player of the Year

TYLER SEDLAK, Men’s Ice Hockey, Gridiron Club Joe Concannon Award Semifinalist

ROSE TINKJIAN, Women’s Rowing, CRCA Athlete of the Year Finalist

VUK VUKSANOVIC, Men’s Tennis, ITA Northeast Region Senior Player of the Year; NESCAC Player of the Year

MONET WITHERSPOON, Men’s Swimming & Diving, NESCAC Diver of the Year

A NIGHT TRUE TO THE BROWN & BLUE

For the second year in a row, Tufts’ Student-Athlete Advisory Committee put on the Brown & Blues Awards Night at Somerville Theatre. A dazzling celebration of Tufts Athletics, the event featured a blue carpet entrance, riveting performances, and heartfelt award presentations. Emcees Ainsley Allen and Ian Robertson led the event with energy, while the highlight reel captured the year’s most unforgettable moments. All of which made for an unforgettable night.

Tufts student-athletes celebrated the 2024–2025 year at the Second Brown & Blues Awards event.

HALL THINGS CONSIDERED

HALL OF FAME

Eight outstanding individuals and one distinguished team were inducted as the sixth class of the Tufts University Athletics Hall of Fame on June 6 at Gillette Stadium. Eight decades and eight sports were represented in the group of honorees as Tufts continues to recognize accomplished individuals and teams from its more than 150 years of athletics history.

The 2014 men’s soccer team was inducted into the Tufts Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025.

Barrie Bruce and Melissa (Lowe) Edwards were inducted into the Tufts Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025.

Scott Greenwood and Colleen Hart were inducted into the Tufts Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025.

Brooks Johnson and Rachel “Polly” (Kimball) Knowlton were inducted into the Tufts Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025.

Bob Patz and Branwen Smith-King were inducted into the Tufts Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025.

Winner of the 2025 Tufts Athletics Brown & Blue Award: Edward Schluntz, A50, AG51.

STEERING JUMBOS TOWARD GREATNESS

LEADERSHIP

JUMBO PRIDE LEADERSHIP-WIDE

Tufts achieved national success in field hockey and women’s rowing, led by top-tier coaching. Field hockey head coach Tina Mattera and assistants Megan Caveny, Katie Weber, and Troy Zirbel earned NFHCA National Coaching Staff of the Year honors after winning the NESCAC title and finishing as NCAA runners-up, while tying a school record with 19 wins. In the spring, women’s rowing head coach Lily Siddall won the CRCA National Coach of the Year award, and assistants Ethan Maines, Kaitlyn Severin, and Emelie Eldracher were named the CRCA National Staff of the Year—both for the second straight year.

The women’s rowing head coach and team members watch the action at the NCAA Championship.

FAREWELL TO A TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADER

John Morris stepped down as Tufts University’s director of athletics in June, closing a decade of great progress. Under his leadership, the Jumbos won seven NCAA team titles, 27 individual championships, and, in 2021–2022, claimed their first-ever Learfield Directors’ Cup as the top Division III program in the country. Tufts also had 43 student-athletes earn Academic All-America® recognition, and the university saw major facility upgrades, including Ounjian Field, the Tufts Squash Center, and Sol Gittleman Park. While guiding Tufts to unprecedented growth, Morris was known for his collaborative, humble, and humorous leadership style. He will forever be a Jumbo.

Tufts’ Athletic Director left the Jumbos after a great 10 years of leadership.

AWARD-WINNING SUCCESS

Jumbo teams and student-athletes are fortunate to be led by some of the best coaches in the country. During the 2024–2025 academic year, the leadership groups in women’s rowing, men’s soccer, and men’s tennis received NESCAC Coaching Staff of the Year honors. These teams are led by Lily Siddall (women’s rowing), Kyle Dezotell (men’s soccer), and Karl Gregor (men’s tennis). Notably, Dezotell was also inducted into the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame this year.

Men’s tennis head coach Karl Gregor and men’s soccer head coach Kyle Dezotell.

RISING AND SHINING

At Tufts, assistant coaches also play key leadership roles and do so at an elite level. This year, men’s rowing assistant coaches Andy McDonald, Grady Van Orden, and Jacob Welborn were recognized by the IRCA as the Division III National Staff of the Year. Women’s basketball assistant coach Sam Mancinelli was named a WBCA Thirty Under 30 honoree, recognizing her as one of the top young coaches in the nation. Track & field assistant coach Ben Colello earned USTFCCCA East Region Assistant Coach of the Year after helping the team achieve five All-American performances.

Tufts’ track & field assistant coach speaks with a student-athlete.

STEPPING DOWN AFTER STEPPING IT UP

Two highly successful head coaches of Jumbo Athletics announced their departures this year. Jill Pace, who led the women’s basketball team to a remarkable 100–37 record over six seasons—a .730 winning percentage— stepped down in May. Additionally, it was announced that George Pendergast, who guided the golf team to its first-ever NESCAC championship in 2024, will retire at the end of the year. We celebrate their success and wish them well.

Tufts’ women’s basketball coach talks with the team.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY

Jamie Norton, a former Jumbo All-American, was named as the new director of men’s and women’s cross country and track & field in July 2024.
Bryan Stark, previously an assistant coach at Harvard University, was hired in August 2024 as head coach of Jumbo baseball.
Rick Cox, director of Tufts’ Sports Medicine department for the past two years, was promoted to assistant athletic director for student-athlete health and performance.
Longtime women’s swimming coach Nancy Bigelow was inducted into the College Swimming Coaches Association of America Division III Hall of Fame in May 2025.

Dan Kopsco, the assistant athletic director in charge of sports performance, decided to move on at the end of the year in order to spend more time with his family.
The Jumbos welcomed new staff members Jazzy Duverglas (recreation) and Noah Race (operations and facilities) in summer 2024.
Tufts mourned the loss of alumnus and former athletic administrator Jeff Cicia in November 2024.
Jameer Alves, a senior defensive back on the Jumbo football team, attended the 2025 NCAA Division III Student Immersion Program that was held in conjunction with the 2025 NCAA Convention in Nashville in January.

USHERING IN A NEW ERA

In a major shift for the conference, NESCAC football will finally be eligible for NCAA postseason play in fall 2026 thanks in part to Tufts kicker Vaughn Seelicke. His leadership helped create the momentum to overturn the long-standing ban, ensuring football athletes get the same championship opportunities as other sports.

The Tufts football team’s kicker in action.

Tufts Athletics Annual Report 2024 | 2025