Emily Orsini, Managing Editor
Fall sports are hitting their stride in conference play, which means winter athletics at Denison are ramping up. Here’s a look at what’s ahead for Denison’s winter teams as they enter the preseason:
Women’s Basketball
The squad is coming off a historic 2025-26 season, resulting in two All-Americans and its first national championship. Head coach Maureen Hirt was named as the D3hoops.com Region 7 Coach of the Year and was a finalist for the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year.
Ada Taute ‘27 was a first-teamer on the NCAA All-American list as well as the All-Region 7 and All-Conference teams. Abby Cooch ‘27 was also awarded with accolades on the three teams, earning honorable mention on the All-American team as well as spots on the second and first teams in All-Region 7 and All-NCAC, respectively. Molly Dorighi ‘29 was named NCAC Newcomer of the Year and Anelly Mad-toingué ‘28 was placed on the All-NCAC third team.
Although the team lost significant leadership in 2026 graduates Jess Zittel, Katie Houpt and Brooke Toigo, two first-year guards and two first-year forwards have been added. Erin Kulmer was also added to the team’s coaching staff as a new assistant coach.
The team opens Nov. 11 against host Washington & Jefferson and will open league play Dec. 2 at Depauw.
Men’s Basketball
The Big Red finished 18-6 overall and 12-4 in conference play last season to earn the NCAC regular-season title. The Big Red’s success was recognized across the conference, with the coaching staff named NCAC Coaching Staff of the Year and several players earning All-NCAC honors.
Kellon Smith ’27 was named first-team All-NCAC, while Nick Heath ’26 and Liam Taylor ’28 earned second- and third-team honors, respectively. Smith also received second-team All-District 7 honors from the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
The Big Red enter the season with changes both on the roster and coaching staff. In addition to losing Heath, Aidan King also graduated and forward Trevor Reed ’27 transferred to Mississippi State, while adding six first-years to the roster. The program also added assistant Jalen Rhea.
Denison opens its season at the Chuck Resler Tournament in Rochester, New York, facing Vassar College on Nov. 13 before playing in either the consolation game or championship Nov. 14.
Women’s Swimming & Diving
The team enters the season following their 41st NCAA Championship appearance, continuing a run that has kept the Big Red among Division III’s top programs for nearly two decades. Denison placed fourth at last year’s NCAA Championships after finishing second in the NCAC.
The national finish was powered by 24 All-American performances, including 14 first-team honors. Emily Harris ‘26 led the Big Red with runner-up finishes in the 500 freestyle and 400 individual medley, while Drue Thielking ‘26 placed third in the 200 breaststroke.
Quinn Brown ‘26, Gwen Bakker ‘27, Jassy Park ‘27 and Riley Tofflemire ‘27 also recorded first-team individual finishes, while Avery Anderson ‘29, Audrey Brink ‘28, Reilly O’Hara ‘29, Ollie Morse ‘27, Caroline Ramirez ‘28, Phoebe Ferguson ‘26 and Hailey Kaminski ‘29 contributed All-American performances individually or on relays. Kaminski was also awarded as the NCAC Newcomer of the Year.
The team has added six first-year students to help round out the roster and take the Big Red back to the post-season. The Big Red will start their season in Akron for the Akron Zip Classic on Oct. 16-17.
Men’s Swimming & Diving
The men’s team was one of the four programs that brought national championships back to The Hill for the 2025-26 athletic year as they won the title, while also winning their second consecutive NCAC title.
Denison totaled 30 All-American performances at the NCAA Championships, highlighted by six individual national titles. George Goins ‘28 won both the 500 and 1,650 freestyle, Jack Hill ‘27 captured the 200 freestyle and 100 freestyle, and Nick Fogle ‘26 swept the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events.
Hill also set NCAA records in the 200 and 100 freestyle, while Denison’s 800 freestyle relay of Hill, Goins, Harry Parsons ‘28 and Nick Hensel ‘28 won the national title and set another NCAA record.
First-team All-American honors also went to Cam Blevins-Mohr ‘29, Ben Campbell ‘29, Hensel, Liam Nelson ‘27, Parsons and Devin Testin ‘27, while Ben Bevill ‘28, Brendan Stanley ‘26 and Luke Swiggett ‘27 were among the Big Red’s second-team honorees.
Ten first-year athletes were added to the roster, and the team also will open at the Akron Zip Classic.
Women’s Squash
The Big Red went 11-5 last season, with a victory in the Liberty League championship and an appearance in the national divisional championship. At the end of the season, the team was ranked No. 20 nationally.
Six athletes were recognized to the All-Liberty League teams, with Charlotte Jones ‘29 earning Player of the Year as well as a spot on the first team. Lane Harding ‘26, Kate Manderlink ‘26 and Maddie Ruggie ‘28 were also first teamers, and Tess Lanza ‘28 and Nicole Smith ‘27 each earned second team and honorable mention. Coaches Mike MacDonald and Tron Torres were named as the Coaches of the Year for the league.
The Big Red added two first-years and a sophomore to their roster, and will begin competition on Dec. 5 in Clinton, New York, against Hamilton College and conference opponent Bard College.
Men’s Squash
The squad finished 10-7 last season, placing fifth in the College Squash Association Divisional Championship. The Big Red had four roster members make an All-Liberty League team, with Juan Felipe Hernandez ‘26 earning Player of the Year and first team accolades alongside Nate Cukierman who also earned a spot on the first team. Charlie Fenwick ‘27 was a second teamer, and Alex Deluca ‘28 was named as honorable mention.
Five first-years will join the Big Red in the 2026-27 athletic season after losing standout performer Hernandez and seniors Ross Falcon and Gus Nelson. Their season will start Nov. 6 at home against Western University (Ontario).
Women’s Fencing
The Big Red will enter the season after ranking third nationally and finishing with multiple athletes in the top 15 at the NCAA Regionals.
Four fencers earned Central Collegiate Fencing Conference honors: Velma Hall ‘26 and Lal Ertun ‘27 earned second team and honorable mention for foil, and Natalie Isberg ‘26 and Joyce Yu ‘27 received honorable mention for saber.
The same four athletes including Tessa Randleman ‘29 were named to the U.S. Fencing Coaches Association All-Region team, with Hall also earning an All-American honorable mention for foil.
The Big Red added 11 first-years to the team after graduating five seniors. Their first NCAA competition was on Oct. 3 against Ohio State, where they finished 4-1 in dual competition. They’ll head to Madison, N.J., for the Drew Invitational on Nov. 7-8.
Men’s Fencing
The previous club organization now will compete in NCAA competition after being added as a varsity team in 2026. The roster holds nine first-years, one sophomore, four juniors and a lone senior.
The Big Red competed against Ohio State University on Oct. 3-4 with a 1-4 dual competition record. Mark Rifkind ‘28 and Stanton Hernandez ‘30 each earned a bronze medal. The team also will compete at the Drew Invitational.