Men’s Hockey

Seeded #2 in the Atlantic Hockey Postseason Tournament, the RIT men’s hockey team is eligible for the NCAA postseason for the first time since their move into Division I competition. Ending the regular season with a record of 17 wins, 11 losses, and 6 tied games, the men’s hockey team certainly has momentum behind them as they go into Division I NCAA postseason. With team captains Simon Lambert, Brent Patry, and Ricky Walton leading the way, the goal of making a run for the NCAA national title seems only a few games away.

The Tigers are poised to perform well in the postseason. On both the defensive and offensive end the talent of the players is undeniable, with sophomore Louis Menard in goal as two time Atlantic Hockey Association Goalie of the Week and senior Lambert, who was nationally ranked fourth with 45 points scored in the 2007- 2008 regular season.

Women’s Hockey

With more new players than veterans taking the ice, Coach McDonald was uncertain in the beginning of the season as to how the 2007- 2008 year would go for his team. With a regular season record of 19 wins and only 6 losses, the athletes in the RIT women’s hockey program proved that collegiate experience is not necessarily a prerequisite to a successful season. “Everyone can play on this team,” McDonald asserted, and “everyone is always in the gym … to keep their edge.” This superior conditioning, paired with the dynamic team chemistry they possess, has also been a big part of the powerhouse team and will be a huge asset for them in the ECAC playoffs.

Recently ranked fifth nationally in the USCHO. com Division III Women’s Hockey poll, the Tigers’ hard work and determination has certainly paid off as they begin the postseason. Three freshmen (Traci Galbraith, Amanda Klassen, and Katie Stack) earned 2007-08 All-ECAC West honors along with senior Isabelle Richard. Klassen was also named co-Rookie of the Year.

Men’s Basketball

Ending their season with 14 wins and 11 losses, the men’s basketball team showed their talent on the court behind Coach McVean, a mainstay in RIT men’s basketball for the past quarter-century. Freshmen such as point guard Nate Korinchak and shooting guard Shane Foster stepped up into roles the team badly needed filled, while junior center Mark Carson anchored the team on the post end.

Foster earned co-Rookie of the year honors, while Carson and senior Kenny Gethers earned All-Empire 8 honors. Sophomore Adam Sweet was named Sportsperson of the Year.

Women’s Basketball

Making it to the postseason for the second year in RIT history with a record of 12 wins and 13 losses and ranking only behind the 2006-2007 season for best record, the RIT women’s basketball team experienced a reasonably successful year despite serious losses in personnel (Disclosure: I play on this team). Beginning the season with 16 players, the postseason game against Potsdam saw only ten athletes suit up to play.

Captain Joanna Dobeck had a great senior year, averaging 12.6 points per game and leading the Empire 8 conference with 9.6 rebounds per game. Freshman Brianna O’Dell had a strong showing this year, averaging 16.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game before a fractured wrist prematurely ended her season. Both starters earned 2007-2008 All-Empire 8 honors. Senior Jamie Snyder was named Sportsperson of the Year. As a team, the women also set a record this season for their longest winning streak with five consecutive wins.

Wrestling

Despite a season that may not seem terribly successful to the average spectator, the wrestling team was very optimistic about its performance. With very few veteran athletes returning, the team looked to many of its freshman to provide them with the strength they needed to get through the season.

On March 7, sophomore Mike McInally, junior Luke Baum, and senior Nate Bachmann all competed in their weight classes in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in search of a national title. Despite Baum and McInally’s wins in the consolation round, all three were eliminated in the first day of competition. Baum will return next year for his senior season with a current career record of 104 wins and 39 losses, a mere five victories from taking the top spot as the RIT wrestler with the most career wins.

Swimming and Diving

This season was a strong one for the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams, with several athletes establishing new school records, including one that will replace a time that was the school’s best for more than two decades. In terms of dual meets, where the RIT team competes head-to-head with another school, the men’s team finished with eight wins and two losses, while the women’s team finished with four wins and seven losses.

Seven men and three women received season honors; seniors Quinn Donahoe and Matt Joseph earned All-Empire 8 Diving honors, while junior Phil Baudoin, sophomore Steve Berus, sophomore Caitlyn Burr, junior Kristin Curtze, junior Brian Duffy, sophomore Jeff Kaemmerlen, and sophomore Steve Rois all earned All-Empire 8 nods for various events. Earning Sportsperson of the Year was Duffy and freshman diver Cat Jones, with Donahoe earning Empire 8 Diver of the Year for the second consecutive year.