An NCAA championship win for the baseball team. Two seniors from the men’s tennis team combining for a national doubles title. A late rally to retain the NCAC all-sports trophy and another step forward in the Division III all-sports rankings.
Denison’s spring sports teams delivered once again.
All-Sports update
The Big Red sat in third place following the winter sports season in the NCAC race for the Dennis Collins All-Sports trophy. But outright conference titles for baseball, men’s tennis, women’s golf, and women’s lacrosse fueled Denison’s comeback, overtaking conference newcomer John Carroll University.
The Big Red also finished 19th in the LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup standings, a year after placing 20th. There are 426 Division III colleges. Overall, Denison set a school record by winning three NCAA team titles across three different sports in the 2025-26 academic year, making it the first Ohio university or college to achieve the feat. Ten of the 26 varsity teams qualified for NCAA tournaments.
Baseball
The first NCAA title in program history came with individual national honors. Coach Mike Deegan was named the D3baseball.com Coach of the Year. Outfielder Jack Lutte ’27 earned second-team All-American honors from both the American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings and D3baseball. Pitcher Will Rettig ’26 was a D3baseball.com third-team selection and a ABCA/Rawlings fourth-team member.
Other D3baseball.com All-Americans were: outfielder Eric Sundgren ’26 (third team), pitcher Devin Parker ’29 (fourth team), pitcher Robbie Lee ’26 (fourth team), and pitcher Andrew Montero ’29 (fourth team).
Softball
The Big Red qualified for the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2012 after winning their conference tournament.
“This season was about far more than wins and losses,” interim head coach Adriene Henery said. “It was about the commitment, resilience, and belief this group showed every single day. The relationships built, challenges overcome, and memories created will have a lasting impact on the program. I’m incredibly proud of what this team accomplished and excited for the foundation they’ve built for the future.”
Madilyn Moffitt ’27 was named conference pitcher of the year. Four others also earned all-NCAC honors: Leilah Ferrari ’27 (first team), Carley Melton ’28 (first team), Indy Workman ’26 (second team), and Brooke Surbaugh ’26 (second team).
Men’s tennis
The Class of ’26 led the way with a third consecutive Elite Eight appearance after winning the NCAA title in 2025. Two members of that class, Ethan Green ’26 and Kael Shah ’26, captured the NCAA doubles title in the individual tournament that followed the team competition.
Green finished his career as the program’s all-time leader in doubles wins and combined singles and doubles victories. Shah leaves as the all-time leader in singles wins.
“It was great to see Kael and Ethan go out in such a positive way,” head coach David Schilling said. “They are the two most decorated players in Denison history, and to see them win the NCAA doubles championship was really special. They have meant so much to the team for the past four years, and it is great to know that their last point at Denison was a winning one.”
Overall, the team finished with a 27-3 record. Shah was named Intercollegiate Tennis Association regional player of the year. Nick Meyers ’28 was tabbed as the ITA regional player to watch.
Women’s tennis
The Big Red finished with a 19-5 record, their most victories since 2007, when they went 22-4. They also reached the conference finals match against rival Kenyon College for a fourth consecutive season.
Peyton Oda ’26 concluded her career with 131 total wins. Oda (first team singles and doubles) was one of six players to earn all-conference honors. The others include: Caitlin Van Winkle ’28 (first team singles; second team doubles), Dasha Chistyakova ’27 (second team singles and doubles), Rafaella Ramos ’29 (first team doubles; second team singles), and Maddie Larsen ’29 (third team doubles).
Women’s lacrosse
The women’s lacrosse team won the NCAC tournament championship on the way to a NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance. (Photo: Bella Eaton)
The Big Red qualified for the NCAA tournament for a 12th consecutive time under coach Amanda Daniels. It also marked the team’s eighth straight trip to the Sweet Sixteen.
“At the end of the day, I am beyond proud of the 2026 team,” Daniels said. “They showed up every day with smiles on their faces, set big goals and worked hard to achieve all of them, short of a trip to the Final Four. Our time will come and what we did this season will remain meaningful for many years to come.”
The 19-2 record set a program mark for victories in a season, including four against top-20 ranked opponents and a first-ever triumph against powerhouse Gettysburg College. Mary Martinson ’26 was named a first-team All-American by USA Lacrosse and second-team by the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association. MK Barnhart ’28 (second team) and Bridget Sheehy ’26 (third team) also received IWLCA recognition, while Julianne Henigan was a USA Lacrosse second teamer.
Men’s lacrosse
The Big Red won six of their final seven NCAC matches to finish in an historic five-way tie for the conference title. Denison was 6-2 in NCAC games.
Three players, Andrew Albert ’26, AJ Boxler ’26, and Charlie Haight ’27, received honorable mention All-American honors by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association.
Women’s golf
Members of the women’s golf team who competed in the NCAA tournament. From the left: Lizzy Grant ’27, Isabella Dolan ’26, Anaïs Ogé ’29, Natalia Fanucchi ’27, Siena Maschke ’28. (Photo: Stockton Photos)
The Big Red capped another strong campaign with a 19th-place finish in the NCAA golf tournament.
Natalia Fanucchi ’27 was the team’s top individual player at the national event, placing 50th. Isabella Dolan ’26 was tied for 67th. Fanucchi and Siena Maschke ’27 were named to the Women’s Golf Coaches Association all-regional team. Maschke was third in the conference tournament.
During her career, Dolan played in four NCAC and NCAA tournament championships.
“I continue to be inspired by the competitiveness, character, and drive our women bring every day,” coach Lauren Grogan said. “This season added another conference championship to our legacy, honored the historic career of Isabella Dolan, and reinforced our commitment to improving year after year. In addition, rising junior Natalia Fanucchi set a single season scoring record. The future is bright for Denison Women’s Golf.”
Men’s golf
Jack Pelletier ’29 earned third-team all-NCAC honors. He carded three top-10 finishes and two top-five finishes on the season. At the conference championship, he was the Big Red’s top performer, finishing 16th.
Overall, Denison placed sixth in the NCAC tournament.
Women’s track and field
Emily Brennan ’26 earned second-team All-American honors for her performance at the NCAA meet.
Emily Brennan ’26 completed a terrific career by earning second-team All-American honors at the NCAA Track and Field meet with her 14th-place finish in the 400-meter hurdles. She became the first Big Red women’s participant to be named an All-American since Arlesha Cospy ’18 in 2018.
Brennan and teammates Sydney Flores ’26 (discus) and Mira Renaldi ’28 (100-meter hurdles) earned all-regional honors in individual events.
Two relay teams also garnered all-regional recognition: The 1600-meter relay (Brennan, Arialyn Bischak ’29, Stevie Combs ’29, Shaylee Murdough ’29) placed second at the conference meet, and the 400-meter relay team (Brennan, Combs, Renaldi, Ryan Singer ’29) finished fourth at the conference meet.
Men’s track and field
The Big Red placed seventh in the conference meet.
Two athletes earned all-regional honors. Oliver DiCerbo ’26 finished fourth in the conference steeplechase competition, while Justin Tharayil ’26 was fifth in the conference combined events competition.