Director's Update
We are excited to be welcoming our students back for the 2025-2026 academic year! Our teams are preparing for their competitive seasons and the energy on-campus is giving us all a sense of hope and optimism. As we continue to attract some of the strongest students from around the country, we are able to enjoy strong team results and witness our students achieving their academic goals. Of course, our optimism is a function of having witnessed so many of our graduates go on to successfully achieve their life goals. We stand on the shoulders of those who traveled this journey and demonstrated the educational excellence that defines our great University.
Our facilities, staff, and programs reflect the quality of our outstanding institution because of the tremendous support we receive from University leadership and from our alumni and friends. I am grateful for all of those who have made it possible for us to provide our students the best educational experience. As a reminder, Meliora Weekend will take place September 19-21. Among the many programs, we have varsity contests taking place and a variety of alumni games. We hope you are able to join us. In any case, we look forward to seeing you soon! Meliora!
-
George VanderZwaag, Executive Director of Athletics
Final 2024-25 Athletic and Academic Honors
As we get set to begin the new athletic year, take a look back at some of the numbers from a terrific 2024-25 season from the University of Rochester athletic teams. We look forward to an Ever Better (Meliora) 2025-26!
All-Americans: 24
Jordy Tawa (Football), Trey Johnson (Football), Natalie Kocsis (Women's Soccer), Sean Hendricks (Men's Indoor Track & Field), Jordan Johnson (Men's Indoor Track & Field), Gabe Thyne (Men's Indoor Track & Field), Megan Bell (Women's Indoor Track & Field) x2, Raquella Casserino (Women's Indoor Track & Field), Nora Chen (Women's Indoor Track & Field) x2, Eva Ciuffetelli (Women's Indoor Track & Field), Abby Gress (Women's Basketball), Cole Goodman (Men's Outdoor Track & Field), Jordan Johnson (Men's Outdoor Track & Field), Gabe Thyne (Men's Outdoor Track & Field), Megan Bell (Women's Outdoor Track & Field) x2, Raquella Casserino (Women's Outdoor Track & Field), Nora Chen (Women's Outdoor Track & Field) x2, Eva Ciuffetelli (Women's Outdoor Track & Field), Alvin Su (Golf), Shibo Wang (Golf)
Academic All-Americans: 2
Krish Vennam (Men's Tennis), Megan Bell (Women's Track & Field)
Teams participating in NCAA championships: 7
All-Region: 83
All-Conference: 154
Academic All-Conference: 260
Phi Beta Kappa: 11
Friday, September 19
|
| Events |
| 12:00 p.m.–1:30 p.m. |
Hall of Fame Luncheon |
Stark Event Space |
| 5:30 p.m.–8:00 p.m. |
Hall of Fame Dinner |
Feldman Ballroom – Frederick Douglass Commons |
| Varsity Contests |
| 4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. |
Field Hockey vs. Oswego State |
Fauver Stadium |
|
Saturday, September 20
|
| Events |
| 9:00 a.m.–9:45 a.m. |
Field Hockey Alumni Game |
Fauver Stadium |
| To register – please contact Coach Wendy Andreatta at wandreatta@sports.rochester.edu |
| 9:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m. |
Track & XC Alumni 2-mile Fun Run |
Genesee Valley Park |
| To register – please contact Coach Sam Albert at salbert@sports.rochester.edu |
| 9:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m. |
Rowing Alumni Regatta |
Genesee Waterways Center |
| To register – please contact Coach DJ Civiletti at coachciviletti@sports.rochester.edu |
| 9:45 a.m.–10:30 a.m. |
Women's Lacrosse Alumni Game |
Fauver Stadium |
| To register – please contact Coach Carly Ritchlin at critchl3@ur.rochester.edu |
| 10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m. |
Swimming & Diving Alumni Swim Meet |
Aquatics Center |
| To register - please contact Coach Emily Wylam at ewylam@sports.rochester.edu |
| 10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m. |
Men's/Women's Soccer Alumni Game |
North Field |
| To register – please contact Coach Ben Cross bc006j@sports.rochester.edu |
| 10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m. |
Women's Volleyball Alumni Game |
Goergen Athletic Center Recreation Courts |
| To register – please contact Coach Ladi Iya Liya@sports.rochester.edu |
| 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. |
Softball Alumni Game |
Southside Softball Field |
| To register – please contact Coach Abby Martin-Hurley at coachmartin@sports.rochester.edu |
| 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. |
Rowing Alumni Reception |
Rowing Dryland Training Center |
| 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. |
All-Varsity Alumni Pre-Game Tailgate |
Stark Event Space |
| This tailgate will feature an all you can eat buffet lunch and open bar. It is open to all athletic alumni, family, and friends. To register please visit Meliora Weekend website. |
| 1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. |
Women's Volleyball 50th Reunion |
Liebner-Cooper Room |
| 4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. |
Football Alumni Reception |
Stark Event Space |
| 4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. |
Jane Possee 50th Anniversary Celebration |
Liebner-Cooper Room |
| Varsity Contests |
| 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. |
UR Yellowjacket Cross Country Invitational |
Genesee Valley Park |
| 1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. |
Football vs. St. John Fisher |
Fauver Stadium |
| 5:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m. |
Men's Soccer vs. Clarkson |
Fauver Stadium |
The 2025 University of Rochester Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, September 19 in the Feldman Ballroom in the Frederick Douglass Commons Building. The 2025 Hall of Fame inductees, their families and friends, and current Hall of Fame members are invited to share this special evening. Online registration is required through the Meliora Weekend website.
UR's newest Hall of Famers are:
- Andrew Evans '98 – Men's Cross Country/Track & Field
- Susan Johnson '07 – Volleyball
- Jodie Lippman '98 – Women's Soccer
- Gabe Perez '06 – Men's Basketball
- Lance Ramer '01 – Football
- Joanna Toke Brougher '04 – Women's Tennis
2025 Lysle 'Spike' Garnish Scholar-Athletes
The Garnish Scholar-Athlete program was created in honor of Lysle "Spike" Garnish, coach and mentor to many Rochester students from 1930 to 1948.
The Friends of Rochester Athletics, through an alumni committee, reviews nominations of students from our varsity teams who have achieved at a high level in both their athletic and academic pursuits through their junior year. From these nominees, a small number are selected as Garnish Scholars.
The 2025 Garnish recipients are:
- Anya Arseneau – Field Hockey
- Elizabeth Carleton – Rowing
- Jackson Kane – Football
- Aadit Jain – Men's Track & Field
- Max McClung – Men's Swimming & Diving
- Ruby Moore – Volleyball
- Corvin Oprea – Men's Basketball
- Ashton Prescott – Men's Soccer
- Cece Vassallo – Women's Soccer
- Maddie White – Softball
Eight of the honorees will be presented their awards at halftime of the University of Rochester football game versus Ithaca College on October 4. The two soccer recipients are being honored on October 18 during the soccer doubleheader versus Brandeis University.
Jane Possee 50th Anniversary Celebration
Join us to celebrate the incredible 50-year (and counting!) career of
Jane Possee at the University of Rochester. Her instrumental role in advancing women's athletics—and the lasting impact she's had on generations of students, athletes, and colleagues— merits recognition and gratitude.
Saturday, September 20 from 4 p.m.– 6 p.m. in the Goergen Athletic Center's Liebner Cooper Room.
Registration for this special reception will take place on the Meliora Weekend website. Add this event to your schedule to be part of the excitement!
Rochester Review Article Link –
https://www.rochester.edu/newscenter/review-spring-2025-50-years-growing-womens-athletics-646172/
Share your memories and photos! Submit photos to be displayed at the celebration, and/or record a short video to be compiled and shared as a gift with Jane. All submissions due August 31 and can be submitted online
here.
You can also contribute to a special memory book by visiting
https://www.newlywords.com/jane-possee-50th!
Women's Volleyball 50th Anniversary
Dear URVB Alumnae,
We
're beyond excited to invite you back to campus for a milestone event – the 50th Anniversary Celebration of University of Rochester Women
's Volleyball during Meliora Weekend 2025!
This year promises to be unforgettable as we honor five decades of URVB pride, passion, and powerful play. Join fellow alumnae, current team members, and supporters as we celebrate the incredible journey of our program—and the amazing women like you who built it.
Like the three contacts in volleyball, we
've got three key events lined up for day of re-connection on Saturday, September 20, 2025.
🏐 First Contact:
URVB Alumnae Match
at 10:00 a.m. | Goergen Athletic Center – Recreation Courts
Dust off those kneepads or come cheer courtside as we relive the thrill of game day!
🎉 Second Contact:
All-Varsity Alumni Tailgate
12:00 p.m. | Stark Event Space – Fauver Stadium
Grab some food, catch up with friends, and get ready to support our Yellowjackets at the Homecoming football game.
🥳 Final Contact:
URVB 50th Reunion Reception
1:00 p.m. | Liebner-Cooper Room
An informal, free-flowing celebration with food, drinks, music, and memories. Celebrate with alumnae, reconnect with teammates, and meet the rising stars of URVB.
We need you to help us make this celebration a true reflection of the legacy we
're honoring.
Register:
Visit the Meliora weekend
website to sign up for the Alumnae Match and/or 50th Anniversary Reception (and explore other great events too!)
RSVP:
Email Coach Ladi Iya (liya@sports.rochester.edu) or Associate Director
Terry Gurnett (tgurnett@sports.rochester.edu) to let us know you
're in—and don
't forget your pullover size for an exclusive commemorative half-zip!
Share Your Story:
Update your alum info (position, jersey number, accolades, etc.) through our alumni questionnaire. Do you have old photos, programs, or other memorabilia? We
'd love to showcase your memories—email them to Coach Iya!
Coaching at the University of Rochester for the past 17 years has been one of the great joys of my life. It
's truly special that this year
's schedule allows us to bring generations of URVB together. I can
't wait to see familiar faces, welcome new ones, and give today
's team the chance to learn from the trailblazers who came before them.
Let
's make this celebration one for the history books.
Cheers,
Coach Ladi Iya
Go
'Jackets!
P.S. Stay connected! Follow us on Instagram and on Facebook at University of Rochester Volleyball for updates and our Reunion event page.
The University Athletic Association (UAA) has established the Richard A. Rasmussen Hall of Fame for the illustrious Division III athletic conference and has selected its first full class of inductees this summer. A total of six individuals with direct ties to the University of Rochester are a part of the 36-person class selected in 2025.
- Former University President G. Dennis O'Brien (Administrator)
- Josefa Benzoni '88 (Women's Cross Country/Track & Field)
- Chris Fite '92 (Men's Basketball)
- Terry Gurnett '77 (Coach, Women's Soccer)
- Nate Micklos '04 (Men's Soccer)
- Nick Palladino '14 (Men's Golf)
Admission to all Rochester regular-season, home events is free of charge. For those who can't be there to cheer on Rochester in person, you can follow the Yellowjackets online with live coverage available for nearly all home and road events. Links for both the live stats and live video streams can be found at:
https://uofrathletics.com/coverage.
This year, University of Rochester baseball, men's and women's basketball, field hockey, football, women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, softball and women's volleyball home games will exclusively be broadcast on FloSports.
FloSports offers both annual and monthly subscriptions, with discounts available to those with University of Rochester and .edu email addresses. You can purchase a subscription here:
https://flosports.link/40g8lVn.
Fall sports start up on Labor Day weekend – For the latest updates and schedule please visit our website at
https://uofrathletics.com
Support of the Friends of Rochester Athletics is critical to the University of Rochester's continued pursuit of excellence. With your help, the University is able to recruit nationally and provide students with special opportunities, such as enhancing team travel or funding an international tour. Technology can make our teams better—enhanced video equipment aids in recruiting, scouting, and preparing our students to compete.
As a Friend of Rochester Athletics, your gift enables student athletes to compete at their best and makes a lasting contribution to their lives. Through your gift to the Friends, you can help the next generation of Rochester students achieve success, at Rochester and beyond.
Go GREEN by making your gift to the Friends of Athletics through our online secure website at http://www.rochester.edu/annualfunds, or you can mail your check to the University of Rochester, Alumni and Advancement Center, Office of Gift and Donor Records, 300 East River Road, P.O. Box 270032, Rochester, New York 14627-0032.
