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In Review

HIGHLIGHTS Spring Sports Celebrate with Super Softball Season The Yellowjackets make their first appearance in the NCAA national softball championships. By Dennis O’Donnell
sportsOUTTAHERE! Nina Korn ’14 is mobbed after her extra-inning home run secured soft-ball’s first trip to the national tournament. (Photo: Athletics and Recreation)

The Yellowjacket softball team finished the season ranked No. 13 in the country after making the program’s first trip to the NCAA Division III national championship this spring.

The trip to the title rounds in Tyler, Texas, and the ranking by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association capped a remarkable season in the sport’s 17-year history at Rochester.

During the season, the Yellowjackets hosted their first super regional, as well as an earlier regional competition. The team won the Liberty League championship, and just missed tying the program’s record for most wins in a season, finishing at 32–14.

To advance to the national tournament, Rochester defeated 15th-ranked Rowan University in the super regionals, a best-of-three stand that included a dramatic game-winning home run from Nina Korn ’14 in the second game—played on the day before commencement. At the national tourney, the Yellowjackets lost both games: 8–7 to then 20th-ranked Wisconsin-Whitewater; and 9–1 to 13th-ranked St. Thomas.

Korn, who finished her tenure as a Yellowjacket with eight career records, was named a first team All-American by the coaches association, and Tayler Fravel ’14 was named to the third team.

Brittany Grage ’15, who was the Liberty League Pitcher of the Year, finished 17–7 with a 1.53 ERA. And Eleni Wechsler ’17 was the Liberty League Rookie of the Year. She was 15–5 on the mound with a 1.76 ERA.

Golf: The Yellowjackets won the Liberty League championship over Skidmore in match play and earned an automatic bid to the NCAA championships. Dominic Schumacher ’16 sank a birdie putt on his first extra hole to defeat his Skidmore opponent and clinch the team win. At nationals, Nick Palladino ’14 finished sixth out of 210 golfers and earned first team All-America honors. He fired a four-over 292. As a team, the Yellowjackets finished with 1,213 strokes, the best team score in school history. Matt vanNiekerk ’17 was named to the all-freshman team by the Golf Coaches Association of America.

sportsTRIPLE THREAT: Ethan Sander ’14 was one of three Yellowjackets to each earn regional, conference, and league honors. (Photo: Athletics and Recreation)

Rowing: Emily Widra ’15 earned second team All-America honors from the College Rowing Coaches Association. Rochester’s first varsity eight squad earned a silver medal at the Dad Vail national championships. The Yellowjackets finished 14th in the final poll.

Baseball: Rochester went on a 21–4 tear to secure second place in the Liberty League at 25–16 overall. The Yellowjackets reached the championship round of the league playoffs before falling to Union. Five players earned postseason honors. Three of those were named to three postseason all-star teams: Ethan Sander ’14 (all-region honors from the American Baseball Coaches Association, all-UAA, and all–Liberty League), Evan Janifer ’16 (Coaches Association, D3Baseball.com, all–Liberty League), Lance Hamilton ’16 (ABCA, all-UAA, All–Liberty League).

Three Named Academic All-Americans

Yellowjackets Adam Pacheck ’14, Alex Swanger ’15, and Lauren Bailey ’16 were named Division III Academic All-Americans, selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America and sponsored by Capital One.

Pachek, a biomedical engineering and physics double major from Baldwinsville, N.Y., was named to the second team for men’s cross country and track and field.

Swanger, an economics major from Penfield, N.Y., was named to the second team for men’s soccer.

Bailey, a chemical engineering major from Ossining, N.Y., was named to the at-large second team for her performance as a swimmer.

—Dennis O’Donnell

Women’s track and field: Cameron Edwards ’16 and Emily VanDenburgh ’16 competed at the NCAA Division III championships. VanDenburgh finished 18th in the long jump, clearing 5.28 meters. Edwards ran a 1:02.44, the second best time of her career, in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles, finishing 16th. At the ECAC championships, Rochester finished 22nd of 61 teams that scored at least one point.

Men’s track and field: Rochester was 19th of 57 at the ECAC championships. Patrick Rice ’16 finished fourth in the decathlon. Adam Pacheck ’14 was seventh in the 10,000 at ECACs and he won the New York state title in the event. Justin Roncaioli ’14 (3,000-meter steeplechase) and Yuji Wakimoto ’14 (5,000 meters) each finished sixth in their events.

Men’s tennis: The Yellowjackets ran off seven straight wins and finished 15–7 overall. Julian Danko ’15 led the team in singles wins with 17. Boris Borovcanin ’14 won 15. Jonny Baker ’17 had 16. As a doubles team, Borovcanin and Danko were 8–2.

Women’s tennis: Rochester defeated NYU, 6–3, to secure seventh place in the UAA standings. The Yellowjackets were 6–11 overall. Six of Rochester’s losses came against nationally ranked foes. Molly Goodman ’16 and Christine Ho ’16 led the team in singles wins with 13.

Women’s lacrosse: The Yellowjackets finished ninth out of 250 teams in caused turnovers per game (12.5), and they were 22nd in scoring defense, allowing 7.86 goals a game. Jamie Wallisch ’17 and Kathryn Maisch ’17 earned honorable mention all–Liberty League honors in a 6–8 season.