Emily Orsini, Sports Editor–


Denison’s athletics department wrapped up the fall season with an impressive array of achievements, including regular season championships, an NCAA tournament berth, and numerous all-NCAC honors. 

The volleyball, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, field hockey, football, and women’s cross country teams all played key roles in these successes, with 35 athletes earning recognition across first, second, and third team all-NCAC selections. 

Among these, six athletes were named “Player/Position Player of the Year,” and three teams received the prestigious “Coaching Staff of the Year” award. 

The Big Red football team went 6-2 in conference and 6-4 overall, ranking third in the NCAC behind Wabash College and DePauw University. Freshman quarterback Tyler Green threw 2233 passing yards with 22 touchdown passes, earning him the NCAC Newcomer of the Year award. 

Green also earned third team all-NCAC, being the only freshman on the all-NCAC teams list for the 2024 season.

Daniel Cunningham ‘25 polished off his collegiate football career by earning the NCAC Special Teams Player of the Year, where he averaged 40.9 yards per punt this season and was perfect in field goals, making all seven that he attempted. Cunningham was named first team all-NCAC as a kicker and second team as a punter. 

In his fifth year, Trey Fabrocini ‘24 earned third team all-NCAC, where he broke the career total rushing yards record that had previously stood since 1986. Fabrocini had 979 rushing yards in 2024, and a total of 4475 in his career. 

Eight other players on the team earned all-NCAC honors:

Michael Ballinger ‘25 (DL) and Collin Murphy ‘25 (DB) were named to the first team. The other special teams first team recipient was Jaylin Epps ‘25 (RS). Tommy Asleson ‘25 (WR) was an all-NCAC second team member. Epps was also named to the second team as a defensive back. Billy Guzzo ‘25 (WR), Canyon Schneider ‘26 (C) and Brady Moffitt ‘27 (OL) each made the offensive third team. Nick Pellicciotta ‘27 (OLB) earned defensive third team honors.

Field hockey athletes Tabitha Chandler ‘27 and Emma Gebhart ‘27 brought home the Defensive Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year awards, respectively, for the Big Red, contributing to the teams 11-7 overall record and 9-1 in conference record, as well as their regular season champion title. 

Chandler led the Big Red defense, where they restricted opponents to no more than four shots on goal in nine out of their ten NCAC games. Chandler also contributed a pair of goals throughout the season, with one being the game winner against in-conference opponent Wittenberg. 

Additionally, Gebhart scored 15 goals  and contributed 5 assists, where she started in all 18 games for the Big Red. Chandler and Gebart were also named to the 2024 NFHCA All-Region second team. In addition to Chandler and Gebhart, Denison also contributed three athletes to the all-NCAC second team list— forwards Reilly Desmond ‘27 and Lila Smith ‘27 as well as defender Rachel Gilio ‘26.

The Big Red volleyball team took the regular season conference championship with a 6-1 record as well as two first teamers, one second teamer, and two third teamers. 

Outside hitter Claire Hamilton ‘27 and setter Alice Kempf ‘26 received first team honors, where Hamilton had a total of 384 kills and Kempf had 965 assists. Outside hitter Ayla Dunbar ‘27 earned second team all-NCAC for the Big Red, where she had 288 kills and 229 digs. Middle hitter Cailey Johns ‘25 and right setter Maeve Perry ‘27 received third team for Denison. 

The volleyball coaching staff was recognized by the NCAC as the Coaching Staff of the Year. 

The men’s soccer team won the conference regular season champion title as well as a bid to the NCAA tournament, where they made it to the quarterfinals before taking a 2-1 loss to Connecticut College. The quarterfinal appearance was the first for the team since 1979.

The Big Red was ranked 10th going into the NCAA tournament, holding a record of 15-2-6 overall and 6-0-2 in-conference. Jake Krueger ‘25 earned the NCAC Offensive Player of the Year award and Kameron Kist ‘26 won the NCAC Midfielder of the Year award. Krueger recorded 14 goals and  added seven assists, finishing off his collegiate soccer career with a total of 24 goals and 19 assists. 

Kist had seven total assists and started in all 23 games. Both Krueger and Kist were named to the 2024 United Soccer Coaches All-Region first team, and Krueger was given the All-American second team honor. 

Goalkeeper Tommy Prokos ‘25 and defender Henri Heyes ‘26 also each landed themselves a spot on the all-NCAC first team list with Prokos receiving third team All-American honors and Heyes fourth team All-American. 

Ben Goeller ‘25 (MF) and Zarius Eusebe ‘26 (D) each earned second team all-NCAC for the Big Red. Denison also took home the Coaching Staff of the Year award in the NCAC. 

The women’s soccer team went 10-5-3 overall and 5-1-1 in-conference, earning the regular season championship title. 

Mara McGlone ‘27 (MF), Kate Dalimonte ‘25 (D) and Sarah Sollinger ‘26 (D) each earned first team all-NCAC honors. Caroline Flynn ‘25 (F) earned second team recognition, and Molly Noga ‘26 (GK) and Maryn Zavislak ‘28 (MF) made the all-NCAC third team. McGlone started all 18 games, and scored five goals with three assists. Flynn was tied for fourth in the NCAC for goals with six and added two assists. 

Sollinger helped lead the Big Red’s defense to nine shutouts and helped to only allow five goals in NCAC play. Sollinger and Dalimonte also received honors from the 2024 United Soccer Coaches All-Region teams, with Sollinger receiving first team and Dalimonte receiving second team. The women’s soccer team’s coaching staff also got recognition for their work this season from the NCAC by earning the Coaching Staff of the Year award. 

Finally, the women’s cross country team brought home two third team accolades as well as the Newcomer of the Year award. Jane McNamara ‘28 was the fastest first-year at the NCAC tournament, where she placed 18th with a time of 23:45.30 in the 6K and earned the Newcomer of the Year award. McNamara also earned a spot on the all-NCAC third team as well as Fiona Martinelli ‘27. Martinelli placed 15th overall at the NCAC championship with a time of 23:39.76 in the 6K.