As the fall sports season winds down, winter sports athletes are gearing up to enter the 2024-2025 season. Whether they are coming off a successful season or looking for redemption, our Drew Rangers are ready to get back into action.
The fencing, swimming and diving teams are kicking off their seasons early. Saber fencer Sophie Gajowskyj (‘25) reached her career’s 200 win mark early, leading the women’s team with an impressive performance at the Long Island University Invitational. On the men’s side, the Rangers return two regional qualifiers from last season, William Morton (‘26) and Danny Stevens (‘25) in epee, as well as Henri Degremont (‘26), a Division III All-American, coming off a 48-25 record last season.
The team looks to continue success and prepare for their training trip to Greece over winter break.
The swim team is already diving into a successful season. Nicholas Heinio-Widell (‘26), the reigning Landmark Conference swimmer of the Year, picked up right where he left off last season by winning three individual events: the 200-freestyle (1:46.74), 100-butterfly (52.56) and the 200-IM (2:02.07). The men’s team is looking to beat last year’s performance, where they finished second in the Landmark Conference finals.
For the women, Ellis Murray (‘28) made the most of her collegiate debut, winning the 200-freestyle (2:01.38) and taking second in the 200-backstroke (2:14.40) against Catholic University.
The home opener will take place on Nov. 16 as the Rangers are set to take on Susquehanna University.
Yet to take on the 2024-2025 season are Drew’s men’s and women’s basketball teams. Coming off a 20-6 season and making it to the semifinals of the Landmark Conference playoffs, the Rangers are looking to repeat a successful season.
The Rangers return four leading contributors, Pat Higgins (‘25), Josh Kline (‘25), Peso Krump (‘25) and David Musial (‘25), and add four new faces to their bench: Ben Kipnis (‘28), a guard from Holmdel, N.J., Reid Chauhan (‘28), a forward from Memphis, Tenn., Benjamin Manns (‘28), a forward from Cherry Hill, N.J. and Kevin Cotton (‘28), a guard from Flourtown, Pa.
The team looks to continue its success this season, starting at Fairleigh Dickinson University on Nov. 8 and traveling to Farmingdale State on Nov. 13.
The women’s basketball team, led by coach John Olenowski, brought back several leading contributors in Madelyn Morgan (‘26), Amy Rachilla (‘27) and Maddie Beyer (‘26), and added three new faces to their roster. Sanai Geddies (‘28), from Teaneck, N.J., is a dual athlete at Drew, completing her first season on the women’s volleyball team. Jocelyn Kingsley (‘28) from Hamden, Conn. and Mia Hartman (‘28) from Trenton, N.J. also add some depth to the team.
Their first game will be in the Baldwin Gym on Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. as they take on St. Elizabeth.
If the past has set any precedent, high level performances are likely to be seen across all sports this winter season.
Gillian Sampson is a graduate student obtaining her Masters in Education.
Featured image courtesy of Pexels.com.