What a Year! Highlights From Whitman Blues’ Stellar Seasons

With the dominant performances we’ve come to expect (we see you, tennis) and fabulous firsts—including first-ever NCAA Tournament appearances for men’s soccer and women’s lacrosse—the 2025–2026 Whitman Athletics seasons provided another year of thrills, talent and team spirit. Whitman’s student-athletes proved they shine in the classroom too, with 184 Blues earning All-Northwest Conference (NWC) academic honors. 

Check out some of the highlights—and then catch up with W Club President Kincaid Hoffman ’17 and Vice President Joy Edwards Brown ’95 as they talk about the Captain’s Circle, a special group of supporters who empower Whitman’s student-athletes to go further.

Go Blues! Champs & Standouts

Men’s Soccer

The NWC champions went undefeated to capture Whitman’s first solo title since 1981 and went to the first round of the NCAA Tournament!

• NWC Offensive Player of the Year: Lucas McAllister ’26
• NWC Defensive Player of the Year: Adrian Valencia ’26
• NWC Rookie of the Year: Remy Marcks ’29
• NWC Coach of the Year: Jose Cedeño

Women’s Soccer

Last year’s Rookie of the Year followed up with a standout defensive season, allowing less than one goal per game. 

• NWC Defensive Player of the Year: Kiki Glorioso ’27

Women’s Cross Country

This year’s team boasted its first NCAA individual qualifier since 2019!

• NWC All West Region, All Conference, NCAA Qualifier: Ella Harrington ’28

Women’s Swimming

In a standout sophomore season, one swimmer captured a conference win in the 200 fly and set new school records in the 100 fly and 500 free!

• NWC Women’s Co-Swimmer of the Year: Avery Riley ’28

Women’s Basketball

The women’s basketball team finished as the No. 2 seed in the regular season and cruised to another NWC Tournament Championship and the second round of the NCAA Tournament! 

Men’s Golf

Two of this year’s all-region players will return to the fold next season as the Blues look to return to the form that won them the 2024 NWC title.

• NWC All Region: Grady Brown ’27 and Mason Remington ’27

Women’s Golf

One golfer captured the first tournament title of her collegiate career on the biggest stage: the NWC Championship.

• NWC Individual Champion: Camila Yoo ’28

Men’s Tennis

The men’s tennis team went undefeated in conference play, won the regular season, claimed their second NWC Tournament title in as many years and went to the second round of the NCAA Tournament!

• Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Champion, ITA All American, NWC Player of the Year: Alexander Stage ’27
• ITA Doubles Champions, ITA All Americans: Charlie Rush ’26 and Artem Manov ’26
• ITA B Draw Champion: Claes Hanson ’29

Women’s Tennis

It’s a dynasty—four years in a row! Whitman’s women’s tennis team added another NWC regular season and championship title to its record book, advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

• ITA Champion, ITA All American, NWC Player of the Year: Nana Vang ’28
• ITA Doubles Champions, ITA All Americans: Sascha Wells ’26 and Nana Vang ’28

Women’s Lacrosse 

In a breakthrough performance, women’s lacrosse finished second in the league and captured the first NWC Tournament Championship in program history, advancing to the first round of the NCAA Tournament!

• NWC Defensive Player of the Year, Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association All-West Region Second Team: Renn Novak ’27
• NWC Rookie of the Year: Serafin Miller ’29
• NWC Coach of the Year: Chris Duncan

Step Inside the Captain’s Circle

W Club President Kincaid Hoffman ’17 and Vice President Joy Edwards Brown ’95,  Parent ’24, know firsthand the lasting impact of athletics at Whitman College. 

Hoffman was Captain of the men’s varsity swim team and President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. But his favorite memories are of team training trips to Southern California and Hawai‘i over winter breaks. “The bonds you create with teammates, the challenging training schedule, the out-of-conference competition—it was my favorite part of the season,” he says.

Brown—who competed in varsity track and field, along with club rugby and intramural flag football—also found a home in Whitman Athletics. “The best overall feeling was being welcomed and having the opportunity to belong,” she says. “Being an athlete made my Whitman experience truly holistic as it forced me to use my mind and body to create a desired result.”

Those formative experiences are why they both still make time to lead the W Club—a dedicated group of alumni and families of student-athletes who provide vital support for Whitman Athletics. 

Every year hundreds of donors join the W Club in supporting the student-athlete experience at Whitman—with roughly two-thirds of total gifts coming from the 100 or so members of the Captain’s Circle. We asked Hoffman and Brown to tell us a little more about this dedicated group.

What is the Captain’s Circle?

Hoffman: The Captain’s Circle is a designation given to W Club members who contribute $1,000 or more a year.

What impact does the Captain’s Circle have on Whitman Athletics?

Hoffman: Captain’s Circle donations offset the cost of travel, pay for equipment, support recruiting efforts, etc. Donations also support capital projects, which most recently included James Hayner Field and the Edwards-Moore Clubhouse.

What inspires people to give to the W Club?

Hoffman: W Club members are inspired by their passion for Whitman Athletics, student-athlete success and the mentors that come in the form of coaches and staff. W Club members are also inspired to give because of the incredible experience they or their child had as a student-athlete at Whitman and the desire to see that experience continue to be part of the Whitman education.

What did athletics contribute to your Whitman experience?

Hoffman: Whitman Athletics gave me lifelong friends and mentors, unforgettable memories and the chance to learn and lead outside of the classroom.

Brown: The biggest lesson was how to be resilient. You won’t win every time. Acquiring new skills is challenging, and sometimes you just don’t want to get out of bed! But the positive results of all of your work and effort, especially when no one is watching, are yours to celebrate. 

What excites you most about the future of athletics at Whitman?

Brown: The positivity and support around the teams! Student-athletes are ambassadors for Whitman, and their challenges and successes are shared by the community.

Hoffman: The W Club is most excited to continue supporting excellence in athletics for our student-athletes. Whether that support comes in the form of out-of-conference competition, offsetting travel costs, supporting general operating expenses or leading efforts for new facilities, the W Club is excited to continue working toward a stronger Athletics Department.