Final 2025-26 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 2025-26 season from the University of Rochester athletic teams!
 
All-Americans: 18
Eileen Harvey (Women's Soccer), Kara Houston (Field Hockey), Nora Chen (Women's Indoor Track & Field) x2, Eva Ciuffetelli (Women's Indoor Track & Field), Lauren Murphy (Women's Indoor Track & Field) x2, Emmett Hansen (Men's Indoor Track & Field), Kaela Springer (Women's Swimming & Diving), Nora Chen (Women's Outdoor Track & Field), Molly FitzGibbons (Women's Outdoor Track & Field), Lauren Murphy (Women's Outdoor Track & Field), Aimee Oszer (Women's Outdoor Track & Field), Emmett Hansen (Men's Outdoor Track & Field), Riley Laygo (Softball), Alvin Su (Golf), Arjun Aujla (Golf), Anderson Palm (Golf).
 
Academic All-Americans: 2
Nora Chen (Women's Track & Field), Eva Ciuffetelli (Women's Track & Field)
 
Teams participating in NCAA championships: 9
All-Region: 109
All-Conference: 157
Academic All-Conference: 229
Phi Beta Kappa: 12
 

Meliora Weekend 2026 Events and Schedule (October 2-4)

Friday, October 2
Events
5:30 p.m.–8:00 p.m.	Hall of Fame Dinner	Feldman Ballroom – Frederick Douglass Commons
Saturday, October 3
Events
9:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.	Rowing Alumni Regatta	Genesee Waterways Center
To register – please contact Coach Ethan Curren at ecurren@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
10:30 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
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.	Women's Lacrosse Alumni Game	Towers Field
To register – please contact Coach Carly Ritchlin at critchl3@ur.rochester.edu
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.
4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.	Football Alumni Reception	Stark Event Space
4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.	Rowing Alumni Reception	Liebner-Cooper Room
Varsity Contests
12:00 p.m.–1:30 p.m.	Volleyball vs. Fredonia	Zornow Court A
1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.	Football vs. Buffalo State	Fauver Stadium
4:00 p.m.–5:30 p.m.	Volleyball vs. Neumann	Zornow Court A
5:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.	Men's Soccer vs. Case Western Reserve	Fauver Stadium
7:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m.	Women's Soccer vs. Case Western Reserve	Fauver Stadium
Sunday, October 4
Varsity Contests
12:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.	Field Hockey vs. Rensselaer	Fauver Stadium

 

2026 University of Rochester Athletics Hall of Fame

The 2026 University of Rochester Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, October 2 in the Feldman Ballroom in the Frederick Douglass Commons Building. The 2026 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:

• Beth Ameno '09 – Softball
• David Boyce '89 – Football
• Yaneve Fonge '11 – Women's Track & Field
• Jon Onyiriuka '08 – Men's Basketball
• Jay Jay Vanderstyne '09 – Football/Baseball

2026 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 2026 Garnish recipients are:

• Nate Attwell – Men's Swimming & Diving
• Sammy Besztery – Baseball
• Nora Chen – Women's Track & Field
• Braydon Felsinger – Football
• Grayson Honig – Field Hockey
• Julianna Lyons – Softball
• Tia Poulakidas – Women's Basketball
• Ethan Samora – Men's Tennis
• Daniel Steinacher – Men's Soccer
• Jenna Ufberg – Lacrosse

All of the honorees will be presented their awards at halftime of the University of Rochester football game versus Case Western Reserve University on September 4th. 
 

Celebrating 45 Years of URochester Rowing

Celebrate 45 years of rowing at the University of Rochester! Come together to recognize the program's history, milestones, and growth since its founding. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from Director of Rowing Ethan Curren.

🛶First Launch:
URochester Rowing Alumni Regatta
at 9:00 a.m. | Genesee Waterways Center
 
🎉 Midway Point:
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.
 
🥳 Finish Line:
URochester Rowing 45th Anniversary Reception
4:00 p.m. | Liebner-Cooper Room – Goergen Athletic Center
An informal, free-flowing celebration with food, drinks, music, and memories. Celebrate with alumnae, reconnect with teammates, and meet the rising stars of UR Rowing.
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 Rowing Alumni Regatta and/or 45th Anniversary Reception (and explore other great events too!)
 
RSVP:
Email Coach Ethan Curren (ecurren@ur.rochester.edu) or Associate Director Terry Gurnett (tgurnett@sports.rochester.edu) to let us know you're in!
 
Share Your Story:
Do you have old photos, programs, or other memorabilia? We'd love to showcase your memories—email them to Coach Curren!
 
Let's make this celebration one for the history books.
Cheers,
Coach Ethan Curren
Go 'Jackets!

Conversation with the Coach: Director of Rowing Ethan Curren

Tuesday, September 15
12:00 p.m.–1 p.m. (ET)
 
Virtual (Zoom)  Join Zoom Meeting
https://rochester.zoom.us/j/99886218221
 
Director of Rowing Ethan Curren invites you to join him for a virtual conversation ahead of the program's 45th anniversary celebration at Meliora Weekend. Connect with fellow alumni and stay up to date with the program!
 
Items of discussion will include:

• A look inside the team's preparation for the upcoming season
• The 45th anniversary celebration during Meliora Weekend [link]
• How you can get involved and support the rowing program
• Live Q&A session

We hope you'll join us!

URochester Women's Lacrosse Event

 Reconnect with teammates and fellow Yellowjackets from across the region and hear from Carly Ritchlin, Women's Lacrosse Head Coach, about the team's successes and vision for the future. Learn more about the University's For Ever Better campaign and Athletics priorities and discover how your support can help create lasting opportunities for URochester Women's Lacrosse student-athletes.

Tuesday, September 15
5:30–7:30 p.m.

Lamplighter Brewing Co. – Shuffleboard Lounge
110 N. First Street
Cambridge, MA 02141

Space is limited. We kindly ask for your response by September 8.

Register Here

Special thanks to Athletics Campaign Committee member representing Women's Lacrosse, Chris Miyachi '84, P'21 for hosting this event!

Two From Rochester Named to 2026 UAA Hall of Fame Class

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 second class of inductees earlier this year. A total of two individuals with direct ties to the University of Rochester are a part of the class selected in 2026.

• Seth Hauben '05 – Men's Basketball
• Libbie Tobin '94 – Women's Soccer/Women's Basketball

How to Follow the Yellowjackets in 2026-27

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/4h3mrCE.

2026-27 Schedules

Fall sports start up on on September 1st – For the latest updates and schedule please visit our website at https://uofrathletics.com

Be Part of a Winning Team

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.