The Bear Beat: A Comprehensive Recap of the Week’s Athletics at Washington University in St. Louis
Men’s Basketball: A Dominant Performance Secures Two Victories
The No. 14 men’s basketball team continued their impressive season with a pair of convincing victories in University Athletic Association (UAA) play. The Bears’ first triumph came against the then 23rd-ranked (now 22nd) Emory University, where they emerged victorious with an 85-81 scoreline. Junior Kyle Beedon led the charge with a team-high 20 points, while Drake Kindsvater contributed a near double-double with 19 points and nine rebounds. Hayden Doyle added 17 points and six assists to the winning effort.
In their second UAA encounter, the Bears faced University of Rochester in a thrilling overtime battle. The game remained neck-and-neck throughout, with both teams trading baskets and the lead changing hands several times. With just five seconds left in overtime, WashU found themselves in a precarious position after a turnover, but Doyle came up with a crucial block to seal the 80-79 victory. Sophomore Calvin Kapral led the scoring with 21 points, followed by Kindsvater’s 18 points and nine rebounds. Beedon chipped in 12 points, while Yogi Oliff recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Women’s Basketball: Bears Fall Short in Close UAA Contests
The women’s basketball team faced a challenging week, dropping two close UAA games against Emory and Rochester. In their first matchup, the Bears fell by a narrow three-point margin to the then sixth-ranked (now No. 10) Emory, halting their five-game winning streak. Senior Jessica Brooks led the way with a team-high 18 points and nine rebounds, while Brenna Loftus contributed 15 points and seven boards. First-year Catherine Goodwin added 14 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
In their second UAA encounter, the Bears narrowly missed out on victory against Rochester, losing 75-71. First-year Sidney Rogers notched a career-high 21 points, while Lexy Harris recorded 20 points and five rebounds. Brooks once again posted a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Goodwin added 10 points and six rebounds.
Men’s Track and Field: Bears Claim Victories at Rose-Hulman Invitational
The men’s track and field program returned to action at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, where they secured wins in four out of 15 scored events. Senior Alex Djetto took the top spot in the 400-meter race, crossing the finish line in 51.25 seconds. Sophomore James Corbett dominated the 800-meter event, finishing with a time of 1:56.47. The Bears’ 4 x 400 relay team, consisting of first-year Alex Gardner, first-year William Frohling, graduate student Jackson Cox, and Djetto, also claimed victory with a time of 3:23.30. Sophomore George Bourdier added another win for WashU in the pole vault event, clearing a height of 4.80 meters.
No. 10 Men’s Swimming and Diving: Bears Split Results in Weekend Meets
The No. 10 men’s swimming and diving team saw mixed results in their weekend competitions. In their first meet, they defeated UMSL by a commanding score of 130.00-75.00. The Bears’ success was evident across various events. The 200 medley relay team, comprising senior Alex McCormick, junior Justin Rockaway, junior Nathan Lin, and senior Austin Bick, secured the win with a time of 1:33.74. Sophomore Ethan Feng claimed victory in the 200 freestyle (1:42.54), while Bick took the top spot in the 50 freestyle with a mark of 21.30. Feng also won the 100 freestyle event, finishing in 47.15 seconds. Senior Kyle Wolford topped the field in the 100 backstroke, clocking in at 50.77 seconds. Sophomore Orluke Borjigin added another win for WashU in the 500 freestyle, completing the race in 4:44.13.
In their second meet, the Bears faced a tough opponent in McKendree and fell by a score of 178.00-102.00. Despite the loss, Feng continued his winning streak, capturing the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:41.66. Junior Danny Sibley claimed the 400 IM title, finishing in 4:04.15. The Bears’ team of Feng, Rockaway, Lin, and Bick once again secured victory in the 200 freestyle relay, clocking in at 1:24.84.
Upcoming Events: Bears Prepare for Road Contests and Dual Meets
The coming week promises more exciting matchups for WashU athletics. The women’s track and field team will travel to Bloomington, Illinois, to compete in Illinois Wesleyan University’s I-55 Triangular. The men’s track and field team will also participate in the same event, seeking to build on their recent successes.
The women’s basketball team embarks on a pair of road games in UAA play. They will face New York University in New York City on Friday, January 19, followed by a matchup against Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, on Sunday, January 21.
The men’s basketball team will also hit the road for UAA contests. They will take on NYU on Friday, January 19, before traveling to Brandeis on Sunday, January 21.
The men’s swimming and diving team will face DePauw University in a road dual match on Saturday, January 20, while the women’s swimming and diving team will travel to Greencastle, Indiana, for their dual meet against DePauw on the same day.
Stay Tuned for more!
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