CHATTANOOGA—The Chattanooga Mocs just completed a fantastic semester. NIT Championships in men’s basketball and men’s tennis as well as several individual performances in NCAA Tournaments in multiple sports did not dim the focus in the classroom one iota.

The Mocs combined for a 3.4339 grade point average for the spring term, which eclipses 3.421 in the spring of 2020 for the best on record. Of the 299 student-athletes enrolled, 215 made the Dean’s List with 245 total earning A.D. Honor Roll merit.

 

“It was another impressive semester for our student-athletes,” Vice Chancellor for Athletics Mark Wharton shared. “The work they put in to compete at the highest level in all phases of the collegiate experience is elite and appreciated.

 

“We thank (Asst. Vice Chancellor) Dr. Emily Blackman and the work of her academic support staff in continuing an impressive run of excellence in the classroom.”

 

The run includes three consecutive semesters above the 3.30 mark. It’s also the third in a row that every program topped 3.0 or better as a team. There is also the 3.0 run of 14 straight terms for the department as a whole.

 

Two new records were set in the honor categories.

• 71.9% Dean’s List | Former mark: 71.0%, Spring 2020
• 81.94% A.D. Honor Roll | Former: 81.88%, Spring 2020

 
Sixty-five earned perfect 4.0 marks is fourth most. That was led by Southern Conference Regular Season Champion softball with 11, while football and soccer added 10 apiece. The top team in spring 2025?
 

Soccer again proved top of the table with its fourth straight term of 3.70 or higher. The 3.7527 bested women’s golf in second (3.7097). Seven squads – soccer, women’s golf, softball (3.6691), women’s cross country (3.6517), women’s track & field/cross country (3.6047), volleyball (3.5948) and men’s tennis (3.5439) exceeded 3.5 for the semester.
 
Nine teams improved their strong work from the fall. Women’s golf made the biggest jump of .2180 and was joined by football (.1811) and volleyball (.1213) in exceeding their previous marks by 0.10 or higher.
 
The Mocs Student-Athlete Academic Enhancement Center has been led by Dr. Blackman since 2010. Lindsey Felix, assistant athletics director, has been a key member of her staff for nearly as long helping guide the unit. Their staff includes assistant director Amber Evans, academic advisors Katie Feeney and Leland Malloy, director of learning services Kaelin King and assistant learning specialist Shantih Crowdis.
 

The Student-Athlete Study Abroad Experience through the Health & Human Performance program has 13 students set for a 10-day trip to Argentina May 26-June4. The program focuses on developing individual and global citizenship through the lens of leadership and sport while gaining an understanding of the economic, political, cultural and social factors at play in an international context.
 
Click here to donate to reduce the total cost of $6,000 per student for the course including airfare, lodging, meals and tuition.
 
Sport-by-Sport Breakdowns
Men’s Basketball – 3.32 GPA | AD Honor Roll: 13 | Dean’s List: 10 | 4.0: 4

• 3.32 is the second-best semester GPA behind 3.36 in spring of 2020.
• This semester’s 3.3299 was .0061 ahead of the 3.3238 registered in the fall. Easily the best academic year in program history.
• Three straight 3.0 semesters for the first time. Eighth total for the program.
• Record four 4.0 students: Frank Champion, Garrison Keeslar, Parker Robison and Bash Wieland. Keeslar and Robison were 4.0 for 2024-25.
• 10 Dean’s List: Frank Champion, Sean Cusano, Honor Huff, Garrison Keeslar, Ryan Lopez, Collin Mulholland, Isaiah Otyaluk, Makai Richards, Parker Robison & Bash Wieland.
• 13 AD Honor Roll: Frank Champion, Sean Cusano, Latif Diouf, Houston Holland, Honor Huff, Garrison Keeslar, Jack Kostel, Ryan Lopez, Isaiah Otyaluk, Makai Richards, Parker Robison & Bash Wieland.

 
Women’s Basketball – 3.45 GPA | AD Honor Roll: 11 | Dean’s List: 11 | 4.0: 1

• Third-best academic semester on record with all coming in the spring (2020: 3.64/2024: 3.474).
• Jade Moore not only had a 4.0 in spring, she did it for the 2024-25 academic year. The program has had at least one 4.0 student in every semester since fall of 2016 (17 in a row).
• 13th semester with double digits on Dean’s List: Brooke Anya, Masa Buzic, Ava Card, Gianna Corbitt, Takia Davis, Caia Elisaldez, Kalifa Ford, Jade Moore, Karsen Murphy, Sigrun Olafsdottir & Frode Flos van der Schans.
• AD Honor Roll: Brooke Anya, Masa Buzic, Ava Card, Gianna Corbitt, Takia Davis, Caia Elisaldez, Kalifa Ford, Jade Moore, Karsen Murphy, Sigrun Olafsdottir & Frode Flos van der Schans.

 
Beach Volleyball – 3.35 GPA | AD Honor Roll: 14 | Dean’s List: 12 | 4.0: 3

• 10 straight semesters besting 3.30 GPA.
• Three 4.0 students: McKenna Faychak, Maddie Lecik & Doga Ocal. All three posted 4.0 for the academic calendar.
• 12 on Dean’s List: Jordyn Butler, Neva Clark, Taylor Clark, McKenna Faychak, Paige Gallentine, Kit Gresham, Ansley Gulledge, Julia Lawrence, Maddie Lecik, Madeline McCabe, Doga Ocal & Corina Vale.
• 14 made the AD Honor Roll: Jordyn Butler, Neva Clark, Taylor Clark, McKenna Faychak, Paige Gallentine, Kit Gresham, Ansley Gulledge, Sydney Jackwin, Joy Courtright, Julia Lawrence, Maddie Lecik, Madeline McCabe, Doga Ocal & Corina Vale.

 
Men’s Cross Country – 3.30 GPA | AD Honor Roll: 6 | Dean’s List: 5 | 4.0: 2

• 32nd semester above 3.0 and 29th at 3.3 or higher.
• Two 4.0 terms: Cash Coggins & Wes Gibbs.
• Dean’s List (5): Cash Coggins, Wes Gibbs, Riley Hanson, Aaron Isbell & Jack Martin.
• AD Honor Roll (6): Cash Coggins, Ian Etheridge, Wes Gibbs, Riley Hanson, Aaron Isbell & Jack Martin.

 
Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field – 3.65 GPA (XC)/3.60 (T&F) | AD Honor Roll: 26 | Dean’s List: 22 | 4.0: 9

• 25th time the cross country program turned in 3.60 or better, 18th for track & field as a whole.
• Nine 4.0s is a record for cross country: Lola Baker, Lesley Boyd, Sarah Brotton, Taylor Crawford, Michaela Dabney, Kaitlyn Fisher, Lexi Foley, Anna Roberson & Brooke Tyll.
• Two shy of the track & field record with 22 on the Dean’s List: Lola Baker, Leah Boyd, Lesley Boyd, Sarah Brotton, Taylor Crawford, Michaela Dabney, Andrea Ellis, Kaitlyn Fisher, Lexi Foley, Maya McCloskey, Ava McGue, Adelaide McKeown, Aubrey Park, Kennedy Reynolds, Anna Roberson, Ryleigh Simmons, Olivia Steele, Emma Thweatt, Brooke Tyll, Ellie Von Herrmann, Audrey Wade & Maddie Wheatcroft.
• 26 on the AD Honor Roll: Lola Baker, Leah Boyd, Lesley Boyd, Sarah Brotton, Taylor Crawford, Michaela Dabney, Andrea Ellis, Kaitlyn Fisher, Lexi Foley, Norah Haney, Stella Henry, Maya McCloskey, Ava McGue, Adelaide McKeown, Aubrey Park, Kennedy Reynolds, Anna Roberson, Ryleigh Simmons, Olivia Steele, Emma Thweatt, Brooke Tyll, Sarah Unterholzner, Ellie Von Herrmann, Audrey Wade & Maddie Wheatcroft.

 
Football – 3.25 GPA | AD Honor Roll: 60 | Dean’s List: 52 | 4.0: 10

• Program record GPA.
• The 10 best GPAs in program history have come in Coach Rusty Wright’s tenure (13 semesters)
• 10 4.0 students marked double digits for the program for the fifth time with all five coming in the last five terms: DJ Adams, Battle Alberson, Chase Artopoeus, Gabe Flores, JJ Heath, Kobe Joseph, Alen Karajic, Ryan Merklinger, Kristian Ozane & Nick Paul. Alberson, Artopoeus, Flores & Joseph all had 4.0s for the academic year.
• 52 on Dean’s List. 3rd time with 50+ (52-Spring 2020/54-Fall 2024): DJ Adams, Battle Alberson, Watts Alexander, Chase Artopoeus, Samari Brooks, Will Brown, Erik Bussmann, Gunnar Clary, Matthew Clemmer, Taylor Crumedy, Chris Domercant, Kaelin Drakeford, Jarian Dunlap, Nathaniel Eberly-Rodriguez, Landon Feggins, Gabe Flores, Bryce Goodner, Hudson Gray, Leroy Harris III, JJ Heath, Gavin Helton, Montrell Henderson, Ryan Ingram, Tracy Jackson, Malachi Jeffries, Heath Jehu, Josh Jones, Kobe Joseph, Alen Karajic, Luke Keith, Gray Kelley, Jude Kelley, AJ Little, Devin Lively, Solomon Locke, John McIntyre, Ryan Merklinger, Ethan Myers, Jules Ney, Camden Orth, Kristian Ozane, Nick Paul, Tee Perry, BJ Ragland, Grant Reid, Luke Schomburg, KJ Sejour, Peter Sesterhenn, Tylor Smiley, CJ Smith, Christian Va’a & Joshua Williams.
• 60 on AD Honor Roll. Fourth time with 60+: DJ Adams, Battle Alberson, Watts Alexander, Chase Artopoeus, Samari Brooks, Will Brown, Erik Bussmann, Gunnar Clary, Matthew Clemmer, Taylor Crumedy, Amanuel Dickson, Chris Domercant, Kaelin Drakeford, Jarian Dunlap, Nathaniel Eberly-Rodriguez, Landon Feggins, Gabe Flores, Bryce Goodner, Hudson Gray, Daniel Green, Leroy Harris III, Isaiah Harvey, JJ Heath, Gavin Helton, Montrell Henderson, Ryan Ingram, Tracy Jackson, Malachi Jeffries, Heath Jehu, Josh Jones, Kobe Joseph, Alen Karajic, Luke Keith, Gray Kelley, Jude Kelley, AJ Little, Devin Lively, Solomon Locke, John McIntyre, Ryan Merklinger, Ethan Myers, Jules Ney, Camden Orth, Kristian Ozane, Nick Paul, Tee Perry, BJ Ragland, Tyrell Ragland, Grant Reid, Luke Schomburg, KJ Sejour, Peter Sesterhenn, Tylor Smiley, CJ Smith, David Stewart, Ky Tayo, Christian Va’a, Chris Victor, Joshua Williams & Journey Wyche.

 
Men’s Golf – 3.39 GPA | AD Honor Roll: 10 | Dean’s List: 8 | 4.0: 2

• Fourth-best semester GPA (3.39) and highest since 3.49 in the spring of 2021.
• Two 4.0 students: Camden Braidech & Aidan Cohl. Braidech, a 2025 NCAA Tournament Qualifier, recorded a 4.0 for the academic year.
• Dean’s List (8): Camden Braidech, Dalton Burts, Dalton Chuba, Aidan Cohl, Nick Etherton, Ward Harris, Carson Johnson & Elliott Simonsen.
• Tied program record (Spring 2014) with 10 on the AD Honor Roll (10): Camden Braidech, Dalton Burts, Dalton Chuba, Aidan Cohl, Nick Etherton, Ward Harris, Carson Johnson, Elliott Simonsen, Braedon Wear & Ethan Whitaker.

 
Women’s Golf – 3.70 GPA | AD Honor Roll: 6 | Dean’s List: 6 | 4.0: 0

• Reached the 3.70 threshold for the ninth time.
• 20th occasion with six or more on Dean’s List: Makenzie Cooper, Alexis Daniel, Violeta Fernandez-Tagle, Giulia Foresta, Kera Healey & Chloe Stevenazzi.
• Six also on AD Honor Roll: Makenzie Cooper, Alexis Daniel, Violeta Fernandez-Tagle, Giulia Foresta, Kera Healey & Chloe Stevenazzi.

 
Soccer – 3.75 GPA | AD Honor Roll: 24 | Dean’s List: 24 | 4.0: 10

• Best GPA in the department and fourth straight semester at 3.70 or better.
• Program record GPA.
• 6th time with double digit 4.0 students: Ella Attaway, Anna Hussey, Sylvie Keck, Carmya Mastrangelo, Zoey Mize, Hannah Morton, Nicole Solete, Brenna Swiger, Kelly Tuerff & Lilly Kate Varino. Attaway, Hussey, Keck, Solete, Swiger and Varino all had 4.0 over both terms in 2024-25.
• Ninth semester with 20 or more on Dean’s List. Ella Attaway, Savannah Dunahay, Caroline Ekern, Anna Hussey, Naomi Kato, Sylvie Keck, Abbey Marak, Carmya Mastrangelo, Sophia Mize, Zoey Mize, Taylor Morris, Hannah Morton, Betha Pucek, Caroline Richvalsky, Ella Roth, Clarissa Salinas, Nicole Solete, Brenna Swiger, Paige Thomas, Kelly Tuerff, Lilly Kate Varino, Elle Wakefield & Reese Wilson.
• 20 or more on AD Honor Roll for 16th time. Ella Attaway, Savannah Dunahay, Caroline Ekern, Anna Hussey, Naomi Kato, Sylvie Keck, Abbey Marak, Carmya Mastrangelo, Sophia Mize, Zoey Mize, Taylor Morris, Hannah Morton, Betha Pucek, Caroline Richvalsky, Ella Roth, Clarissa Salinas, Nicole Solete, Brenna Swiger, Paige Thomas, Kelly Tuerff, Lilly Kate Varino, Elle Wakefield & Reese Wilson.

 
Softball – 3.66 GPA | AD Honor Roll: 25 | Dean’s List: 24 | 4.0: 11

• Program record GPA. Second consecutive semester posting a new standard.
• Ninth semester at 3.5 or better.
• Department-high 11 4.0 students is also a team record: Abi Bunt, Anna Dovey, Shayna Glass, Grace Hixson, Alyssa Lavdis, Olivia Lipari, Taylor Long, Abi Pikas, Baileigh Pitts, Emma Sam Reed & Kailey Snell. Bunt, Lipari, Long and Snell all turned in 4.0s for the academic year.
• 24 on the Dean’s List is another new program record: Abi Bunt, Izzy Carlyle, Camryn Cernuto, Lexi Cooley, Anna Dovey, Shayna Glass, Peja Goold, Grace Hixson, Meghan Kernea, Alyssa Lavdis, Olivia Lipari, Taylor Long, Peyton O’Flaherty, Alyssa Orlando, Abi Pikas, Baileigh Pitts, Jayce Purdy, Emma Sam Reed, Acelynn Sellers, Kailey Snell, Presley Williamson & Zoe Wright.
• 25 on AD Honor Roll. Abi Bunt, Izzy Carlyle, Camryn Cernuto, Lexi Cooley, Anna Dovey, Shayna Glass, Peja Goold, Grace Hixson, Meghan Kernea, Riley Lamb, Alyssa Lavdis, Olivia Lipari, Taylor Long, Peyton O’Flaherty, Alyssa Orlando, Abi Pikas, Baileigh Pitts, Jayce Purdy, Emma Sam Reed, Acelynn Sellers, Kailey Snell, Presley Williamson & Zoe Wright.

 
Men’s Tennis – 3.54 GPA | AD Honor Roll: 12 | Dean’s List: 9 | 4.0: 2

• 10th time the program has reached 3.5 or better for the team GPA. The 3.54 ranks eighth on that list.
• 4.0 students (2): Gabriel Castillo & Kristof Kincses. Kincses was a 4.0 student for the academic year.
• Dean’s List (9): Gabriel Castillo, Carson Gompert, Cortland Grove, Sebastian Johnson, Jakub Jupa, Kristof Kincses, Matej Laibl, Ryan Mudre & Carter Ramthun.
• 12 AD Honor Roll student-athletes makes it 11 of last 12 semesters in double figures. Ethan Carr, Gabriel Castillo, Carson Gompert, Cortland Grove, Sebastian Johnson, Jakub Jupa, Kristof Kincses, Matej Laibl, Jaxon Lamb, Ryan Mudre, Carter Ramthun & Walker Valentine. Twelve ties the program record (set in the fall of 2023.

 
Women’s Tennis – 3.44 GPA | AD Honor Roll: 8 | Dean’s List: 5 | 4.0: 2

• 25th time posting 3.40 or better as a team including three in a row.
• 4.0 students (2): Rozalie Dohnalova & Alice Hall.
• Dean’s List (5): Zara Burns, Rozalie Dohnalova, Alice Hall, Emma Pedretti & Savannah Presson.
• 100 percent of the roster made AD Honor Roll (8). Zara Burns, Rozalie Dohnalova, Alice Hall, Rufaro Magarira, Margaret Manolache, Madlena Orlova, Emma Pedretti & Savannah Presson

 
Volleyball – 3.59 GPA | AD Honor Roll: 17 | Dean’s List: 16 | 4.0: 5

• 10th on the all-time list for team GPA and 17th occasion besting the 3.5 mark.
• 4.0 students (5): Finley Hilliard, Cansu Kornosor, Chiara Napoli, Doga Ocal & Elena Vukmanov. Ocal was a 4.0 both terms of 2024-25.
• 10th time with 15+ on Dean’s List (16): Chandler Alter, Marcelle Baez-Carlo, Caiti Barthel, Bailey Burgess, Jordyn Butler, Paige Gallentine, Finley Hilliard, Kynli Kirkendoll, Cansu Kornosor, Mallory Merz, Chiara Napoli, Doga Ocal, Elaine Redman, Gracie Rose, Elena Vukmanov & Destiny Wiggins.
• 14th time with 15 or more making AD Honor Roll (17). Chandler Alter, Marcelle Baez-Carlo, Caiti Barthel, Bailey Burgess, Jordyn Butler, Paige Gallentine, Finley Hilliard, Sydney Jackwin, Kynli Kirkendoll, Cansu Kornosor, Mallory Merz, Chiara Napoli, Doga Ocal, Elaine Redman, Gracie Rose, Elena Vukmanov & Destiny Wiggins.

 
Wrestling – 3.19 GPA | AD Honor Roll: 20 | Dean’s List: 16 | 4.0: 5

• Best academic year on record with program-record GPA in the fall (3.39) and the spring’s 3.19 ranking fifth.
• 4.0 students (5): Kendrick Curtis, Jackson Hurst, Landon Lewis, Kaleb Snodgrass & Connor Strong. All five were 4.0s for 2024-25 on the whole.
• Dean’s List (16) – 8th time with 16 or more: Blake Boarman, Easton Cooper, Kendrick Curtis, Sergio Desiante, Wyatt Gibbs, Hayden Hughes, Jackson Hurst, Eli Knight, Landon Lewis, Cavarius Liddie, Tre McTorry, Kamdyn Munro, Brody Murray, Kaleb Snodgrass, Connor Strong & Logan Webster.
• AD Honor Roll students (20) – 8th occasion with 20 or more. Blake Boarman, Tavian Camper, Carson Chalk, Easton Cooper, Kendrick Curtis, Dayne Dalrymple, Sergio Desiante, Wyatt Gibbs, Hayden Hughes, Jackson Hurst, Eli Knight, Landon Lewis, Cavarius Liddie, Bryce Luna, Tre McTorry, Kamdyn Munro, Brody Murray, Kaleb Snodgrass, Connor Strong & Logan Webster.

 
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TOWSON, MD – The Johns Hopkins men’s outdoor track and field team turned in a strong showing at the ECAC Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Wednesday, collecting three podium finishes in their final tune-up ahead of the 2025 NCAA Division III Championships.
 
Highlighting the meet was the 4×400-meter relay team of Alex Colletti, Spencer Ye, Fisayo Omonije and Josh Lee, who broke the program record with a time of 3:14.47—the 27^th-fastest mark in the nation this season. The performance earned the Blue Jays their lone gold medal of the meet.
 
In the field, Peter Lim and Ethan Oluwole delivered bronze-medal finishes. Lim cleared 4.30 meters to place third in the pole vault, while Oluwole recorded a 13.38-meter effort in the triple jump to secure his spot on the podium.
 
In total, the Blue Jays left Towson with one gold and two bronze medals.
 

Hopkins will return to action at the 2025 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships, beginning Thursday, May 22, at the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, OH.
 

CINCINNATI – University of Cincinnati head volleyball coach Danijela Tomić announced the addition of transfer Brooke Crummel to the Bearcats’ roster on Thursday. 

Crummel, a 6-foot-3 middle blocker/right side from Cumming, Georgia, joins the program after redshirting her freshman season at Liberty University.

“We are beyond excited to welcome Brooke Crummel to UC and our Volleyball program,” siad Tomić. “Brooke is not only a talented and versatile athlete, but also a person of outstanding character, humility, and determination. Her competitive spirit and team-first mentality will elevate our gym and have a positive impact on our team culture. We can’t wait to see her thrive in Cincinnati!”

Crummel was a standout prep player at both North Forsyth and West Forsyth High Schools. A three-time GVCA All-Region 7A selection, she earned first team honors in 2021 and 2023 and was named Region 7A Co-Player of the Year in 2023.

She recorded career highs of 479 kills and 108 blocks during the 2021 season while helping lead North Forsyth to the state semifinals. Crummel finished her high school career with 1,394 kills and 236 blocks and was ranked among the PrepVolleyball Top 150 players nationally.

In club competition, she was named an AAU All-American and AAU Academic All-American. She helped guide her teams to back-to-back AAU national championships in 2020-21 and 2021-22.

TOWSON, MD – The Johns Hopkins women’s outdoor track and field team delivered a dominant performance at the ECAC Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Wednesday, earning 16 podium finishes in their final tune-up before the 2025 NCAA Division III Championships.
 
Leading the way were Mirra Klimov and the 4×400-meter relay team of Lauren Phillips, Annie Huang, Lorna Arcese and Lianne Saussy, each setting school records in their respective events.
 
Klimov claimed gold in the 100-meter dash, becoming the first Blue Jay to break the 12-second barrier with a school-record time of 11.92 seconds. Her performance ranks 25^th in Division III this season. Meanwhile, the 4×400-meter relay squad posted a silver-medal finish with a school-record time of 3:46.22, the 10^th-fastest mark in the nation this year.
 
The 4×100-meter relay team — Klimov, Phillips, Saussy and Anna Zinsser — added another gold with a time of 47.71 seconds, the second-fastest in program history. Lily Tremba rounded out the golds on the track, taking first place in the 1,500-meter run with a time of 4:50.26.
 
Chloe Zhang and Evelyn Kim secured multiple medals on the track. Zhang earned silver in the long jump (5.18 meters) and bronze in the 100-meter dash (12.76), while Kim took silver in the 100-meter hurdles (17.00) and bronze in the 400-meter hurdles (1:08.75). Anna Zinsser also earned an individual silver in the 200-meter dash (26.15).
 
In the field events, Erika Ezumba led the charge with double golds in the discus (39.96 meters) and shot put (12.25 meters). Teammate Phoebe Williams followed suit, winning gold in the hammer throw (46.70 meters) and silver in the javelin (34.41 meters).
 
Additional golds came from Clarissa Newman and Jaclyn Donoho, as Newman finished first in the pole vault with a 3.45-meter jump, while Donoho recorded a first-place finish in the high jump with a 1.53-meter leap. Kellen Ievers also earned a bronze medal in the discus with a throw of 32.95 meters.
 
In total, the Blue Jays left Towson with eight gold, five silver and three bronze medals.
 

Hopkins will return to action at the 2025 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships, beginning Thursday, May 22, at the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, OH.
 
 

The boys varsity volleyball team has a record of 12-5 going into their final three regular season games. “Things are going in the right direction,” head coach Philip George said.

Once again, the boys varsity volleyball team is racking up achievements, while along their quest for the state title.

On Friday, May 9, the boys varsity volleyball team beat Boston Latin in a five set thriller to claim the Dual County League (DCL) title. This achievement is just one of the notable feats accomplished by the team this year, and they aren’t done yet.

According to head coach Philip George, the team set three goals at the start of the year: number one, win the DCL title outright. Number two, be the number one seed going into the state tournament. The team is currently atop the standings, ranking second in Division 2, with four games left. The team’s record is twelve wins and five losses. Number three, win the state title. Last year, the Warriors were one set away from winning the finals, before losing to Westfield in five sets.

“I’m generally happy with where we’re headed,” George said. “We play a deliberately hard schedule, and that makes our record look a little uglier than I think our team’s ability is, but the play itself is generally headed in the right direction.”

The team has needed to face some challenges, as they have played five top-ten Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) Division I teams, beating three of them, including a five set loss to the defending Division I champions, Newton North.

“That game was the best I’ve seen our team play yet this year,” George said. “[We played with] a lot of energy, a lot of togetherness and a lot of aggression.”

The tough lineup of teams is something that can not only provide good competition, but also help the team prepare for their third and hardest goal: claiming a trophy.

“Playing the top competition translates to everybody knowing how to play under high stress situations because since we always play hard teams, we’re always in positions that are difficult to succeed in,” junior captain Finn Bell said. “By the time that you get to the playoffs, it shows that you know how to handle yourself, you know how to perform when under pressure, and that gives you the edge in the competition.”

Bell led the DCL in kills last year with 302, with the next closest player 74 kills away with 228. The outside hitter recently etched his name in the Wayland record books, surpassing WHS Class of ‘17 grad Jack Fletcher for career kills. Fletcher had 875 kills in 2014-2017, and Bell now has over 930 kills, with some of his junior year still remaining.

“I never come into the season and be like, ‘all right, this year, I’m trying to break records,’” Bell said. “I’m looking for team success, and in search of team success, records come along. Having something where you break a program record through your junior year is really awesome, and it’s super cool I had the opportunity to do that.”

Along with his record breaking performances, Bell has assumed the leadership role that comes with being a junior captain. Bell stated that this year, he has embraced the position with greater intensity than last year, when he was a sophomore captain and not as experienced.

“Finn is a ferocious competitor, and his leadership generally manifests itself in the kind of intensity of his play,” George said. “He is our leader on the court without question.”

George remembers when he first took the team over a couple years ago, they had about 21 kids at tryouts. This year, they had 35.

“[This] was the most we’ve ever had by quite a bit, and I think it’s an indication of the culture that our players have built,” George said. “They’ve made it both an entertaining sport with a really high level of competition, and they’re also good guys who are nice to be around, who are supportive of new people and who appreciate the kind of humility it takes to try something totally new.”

The team culture is something that both George and Bell have stressed in previous years. This year, the team is reading a book: The Culture Code, as part of a team book group. The Culture Code is a book that talks about building a winning culture as a team.

“One of the things as the captain that you have to focus on, is my responsibility to cultivate [the team’s] culture,” Bell said. “Our chemistry right now is on par with last year.
We’re trying to get it even better.”

Wayland has three regular season games left, including a championship game rematch against Westfield, and a chance to achieve their final two goals: get the No.1 seed and win the state championship.

“Winning a state title would be a great symbol of the growth our program has had,” George said. “We’ve become a really competitive high level program, but we haven’t crossed over and codified that with a victory. The one seed in our division is really significant. There are a couple of very high level teams, Westfield and Agawam, and it’s a benefit to be on the side of the bracket where you don’t have to play both of them.”