New records, new championships, new heights. This academic year has continued a tradition of excellence for CMS Athletics, with the promise of even more outstanding achievements to come. Here are highlights from our fall and winter seasons.
Photos courtesy of CMS Athletics and by Anibal Ortiz
Last Minute Heroics
CMS men’s water polo earned its first national title in program history at the USA Water Polo National Finals with a dramatic 6-5 comeback win over their SCIAC rivals, University of Redlands. The climactic victory came after two Donovan Davidson ’26 goals in the final 1:41—including the winner with 48 seconds left. “I don’t think we ever got rattled being in such a close game. We are comfortable in those situations, and the two great goals at the end of the game to lift us up were phenomenal,” said CMS Head Coach Greg Lonzo.
Electric Atmosphere
Roberts Pavilion was rockin’ thanks to CMS Athletics hosting the NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship for the first time. After winning both the SCIAC and NCAA Regionals, the Athenas delighted the home crowd with a dominant win over top-seeded UW-Oshkosh in the quarterfinals. However, their gallant comeback effort in the semifinals left them just short in a 3-2 loss to Hope College. It was the Athenas’ third-ever visit to the NCAA Division III Semifinals.
Separated By Seconds
The CMS women’s cross country team finished fourth in one of the closest NCAA Division III Championship races ever, with the top four teams separated by only seven points. Natalie Bitetti ’24 tied the highest finish for any CMS cross country runner (second)—a precursor for another runner-up finish (this time in the 3000 meters) at the winter NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships. Bitetti was also on the third-place distance medley team with Riley Capuano ’26, Shriya Velichala ’26, and Laura Zimmer ’24, finishing just .31 seconds behind the champions from WPI.
Making History
Following an incredible string of games in the final weeks of the season, the CMS men’s basketball team advanced to the Round of 16 in the NCAA Division III Tournament for the first time ever. After beating Cal Lutheran for the SCIAC Championship, CMS toppled St. Thomas (Tex.) and Whitworth College—leading to the program milestone—before falling 74-70 to Nebraska Wesleyan in a heartbreaker. Josh Angle ’23 finished his career as the No. 3 all-time scorer in CMS history and all-time leader in threes.
Watch our video
Learn more about how Josh Angle ’23 has been driven by responsible leadership as a standout scholar who just happens to be a Division III First-Team All American for CMS basketball.