WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

2025-2026 RECORD: 25–3; 10–0 NESCAC

The women’s basketball team looks to return to Morrell Gymnasium as strong and hungry as ever after an early exit from the NCAA Tournament last season at the hands of the University of Southern Maine.

Despite graduating a class that included three starters, the Polar Bears are poised to stay toward the top of the NESCAC and fight for a top-ten seed in the national tournament with the help of five first years and honorable mention All-Americans last season in Grace Kinum ’28 and Abbie Quinn ’27.

“There’s a lot of learning in practice, but it’s so exciting because you can really see the learning paying off, because [the first years are] learning things for the first time, and we’re learning new things from it,” guard Kate Saccaro ’28 said. “You can really see building day to day on the principles that we started on day one and how they carry over to the next day.”

Heading into the season, the Polar Bears are ranked ninth in the country, with Kinum in the preseason All-American second team. Quinn noted that while this national attention puts a target on the Polar Bears’ backs, they are ready to face teams who will play their A-game in Morrell Gymnasium.

“It’s exciting to play them, and also gives us confidence that we have real estate in their heads,” Quinn said. “It makes us really excited to play them as well [because we know] they’re circling our game.”

FIRST GAME: Tomorrow vs. Oneonta College at 1 p.m. in Boston, Mass.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

2025-2026 RECORD: 15–10; 5–5 NESCAC

The men’s basketball team is coming off their winningest season since 2018-2019, with a trip to the NESCAC tournament that nearly resulted in a last-second tip-in win over Trinity College.

The Polar Bears are looking to bring this momentum into the season, despite key players graduating and leading scorer Ray Cuevas transferring following his sophomore year.

“We did lose a lot last year, but we also gained a lot,” guard Liam McBride ’28 said. “[There are] a lot of new faces, but we’re confident that they’re gonna step into their roles and fill the shoes that were left behind.”

Forward Ben Chilson ’27 noted how much has changed around him over his four years as he hopes to lead the team to another successful season.

“I’ve always had this kind of mentality of leaving a place better than how I found it … every year our culture has gotten better,” Chilson said. “I think being a senior and a captain, I have stepped into a leadership role and I strive to lead by example and with my voice.”

FIRST GAME: November 10 vs. Endicott College, lost 66–71. Play tomorrow at the University of Chicago at 1 p.m.

WOMEN’S HOCKEY

2025-2026 RECORD: 11–13–0; 5–11–0 NESCAC

The Polar Bears are returning to the rink after a competitive 11–13–0 season last year. Despite not posting a winning record, the 2025-2026 season had its highlights, including winning the Codfish Bowl and playing a number of other exciting games. Many of the losses were narrow, notably, and the final scores don’t capture the skills and energy the team had and are bringing to the ice once again.

“We lost a lot of one-goal games last year, and that was frustrating. So just kind of turning the tables on that and being on the other side of those outcomes would be amazing,” captain Maddie Wojciak ’28 said.

Women’s hockey has been hard at work preparing for the season since September. The multi-month pre-season has gotten players excited to face off against other schools, as captain Sara Ito-Bagshaw ’26 notes.

“I think the energy right now is … pretty intense. I feel like our first years are really well integrated into the team, and you can tell they contribute a lot already,” Ito-Bagshaw said.

Other Bowdoin teams’ successes this fall have also motivated the team, per Wojciak.

“We really want to go as far as we can. We want to make an appearance in the NCAA tournament, and seeing how well our other fall sports like field hockey and soccer did this year, that really makes you want to do the exact same,” Wojciak said.

FIRST GAME: November 20 at Trinity College at 7 p.m.

MEN’S HOCKEY

2025-2026 RECORD: 18–7–1; 13–4–1 NESCAC

The men’s hockey team is coming off its winningest season since the 2012-2013 season. The team’s strong, season-long performance included beating Colby in both matchups, winning the Lobster Pot and advancing to the NESCAC Semifinals. Isaac Abbott ’27, captain of the Polar Bears, hopes that they can accomplish even more this year.

“We’re really excited. Everybody came back pretty hungry…. ” Abbott said. “We feel that we have all the pieces. It’s just a matter of making it happen. So I think we’re really excited to get going.”

The NESCAC is looking to be especially competitive this year. Head Coach Ben Guite believes staying consistent and motivated until the end of the season will be crucial for the Polar Bears.

“It’s such a tight league, you know … I think a really good measure of success, knowing what we have in our locker room, [is if we] could play our best at the end of the year,” Guite said.

For now, all players can do is take it one game at a time by putting time and effort into practice before the season kicks off.

“I don’t think anybody’s been thinking too far ahead,” Abbott said. “Everybody’s trying to do their best to be in the lineup on Saturday.”

With Saturday fast approaching, men’s hockey is ready to give it everything they’ve got.

“We’re really excited to have an opponent to beat up on,” Abbott said. “We’ve been chomping at the bit to get going.”

FIRST GAME: Tomorrow vs. University of Saint Joseph at 7 p.m.

WOMEN’S SQUASH

2025-2026 RECORD: 9–10; 5–5 NESCAC

The women’s squash team is ready to kick off the regular season after cementing themselves as an elite program on the national level last year. Head Coach of Men’s and Women’s Squash Brendan McClintick highlights some of the team’s accomplishments, as well as the energy produced from where the team fell short.

“We ended with a tough loss to Colby at nationals, and I know that the motivation to achieve more durability and the ability to take the fight all the way to the end is there for our women’s squad,” McClintick said.

As a tight-knit team, the Polar Bears have welcomed a few new players during preseason. Sophomore Nagima Williams ’29 noted the roster changes.

“I was really close to those seniors, so shout out Mira [Karande ’26] and Darcy [Weber ’26]. I mean we lost two players, but we also gained three this year,” Williams said. “Vibes are high.”

Captain Janie Lytle ’27 summed up the team’s mindset going forward.

“I think we’ve trained really hard. I think that people have leveled up” Lytle said. “I am really proud of the character of our team, and I think if we can bring the grit and the  character to our matches this year, we can make some really fun things happen.”

FIRST MATCH: December 6 versus Brown University

MEN’S SQUASH

2025-2026 RECORD: 9–10; 4–6 NESCAC

Coming off a near-.500 season, men’s squash has been on the courts ahead of their home season opener. The 2025-2026 season featured upset wins over teams including St. Lawrence University as well as a notable tournament win, which Head Coach of Men’s and Women’s Squash Brendan McClintick reflected on.

“The men won the first Summers Cup since 2011, in a bracket where we had lost in the semi-finals two years in a row. Learning to get those crucial points at the big moments saw us over the line at nationals,” McClintick wrote in an email to the Orient.

The team’s preseason preparation has kept players fit and energized the team. Despite some players studying off-campus, Fotis Zafiriou ’27 says spirits are high.

“I think the energy is positive. I think we’re missing our juniors right now, so we’re going to be short-manned, if you want to say, for the first couple games. But I think people are playing really well, so everyone’s really excited to get going,” Zafiriou said.

Three first years—Will Johnson ’30, Koby Yu ’30 and Shrikar Gopinath ’30—are joining the team. Sophomore Oliver Pride ’29 looked back on his own growth last year, and hopes the new recruits have the same experience.

“Me and the other freshmen all had quite a big jump from start of season to end of season. I’m hoping that this new group of freshmen can do the same,” Pride said.

FIRST MATCH: November 20 at home vs. Franklin and Marshall College at 2 p.m.

WOMEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING

2025-2026 RECORD: Seventh in the NESCAC

The roster for the women’s swim and dive program is a bit smaller this year, but this is no worry for captain Harper Stevenson ’27.

“We have three first-year women, which is a small class for us, but it mirrors our senior class. We are also just a class of three. So it’s nice to have a small group,” Stevenson said. “They’ve folded into the team dynamic really well and bring a lot of enthusiasm.”

Last year, the team completed the NESCAC championship and Stevenson, captain Sydney Lillis ’27 and Elizabeth Walsh ’26 all qualified for the NCAA National Championship in Indianapolis, Ind. in mid-March.

Looking towards this season, the team is excited to race rather than focus on placing.

“We are focused a lot about getting into the race mentality and not thinking about outcomes as much, but really getting excited to race and leave it all in the pool, trying to out-touch whoever’s next to you,” Stevenson said.

Head Coach Brad Burnham hopes each athlete pushes themselves even further this season.

“My goal is for each athlete to be at least 1% better than they have ever been before,” Burnham wrote in an email to the Orient. “Both teams will compete against [the Massachusetts Institute of Technology], and the women’s team will simultaneously compete against Wellesley College. I hope everyone gives a hundred percent and they spend every other moment cheering for their teammates.”

FIRST MEET: November 21 at Massachusetts Institute of Technology at noon.

MEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING

2025-2026 RECORD: Seventh in the NESCAC

After smashing 13 school records at last year’s NESCAC championship and sending 5 swimmers to the NCAA championship, the men’s swim and dive team hopes to push it even further this season.

“Last season went very well, largely because of our positive mindset,” captain Micah Sher ’27 wrote in an email to the Orient. “We still have many strong sprinters, and we plan to build on that foundation and send more swimmers to nationals this year.”

So far, Head Coach Brad Burnham is pleased with the first years’ performances.

“The first years are doing exactly what we hope; they are learning a lot and working hard to be ready to represent Bowdoin for the first time in their career,” Burnham said.

While the overall goal is to send more swimmers to nationals, Sher emphasizes the importance of maintaining a cohesive team environment despite the individual nature of the sport.

“We are focused on developing a stronger mentality and continually working to get faster,” Sher wrote. “Rather than concentrating on individual times, we are thinking about how to race fast for the team. Swimming is an individual sport, but ultimately we are working toward a team goal.”

FIRST MEET: November 21 at Massachusetts Institute of Technology at noon.

INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD

2025–2026 Men’s New England Championship result: 14th out of 29 teams
2025–2026 Women’s New England Championship result: Ninth out of 32 teams

Bowdoin’s men’s and women’s track and field teams are preparing for another competitive winter. At the New England Division III Indoor Championships, the women placed ninth and the men finished 14th.

For men’s captain Matthew Servin ’27, the indoor season largely serves as preparation for loftier competitive goals in the spring.

“We approach the indoor and outdoor track seasons kind of as one extended season,” Servin wrote in an email to the Orient. “Much of what we are building toward during the winter is in preparation for bigger outdoor track meets in the spring.”

While returning athletes have previous performances to look back and build on, first-year runners are adjusting to the demands of collegiate competition.

For Sadie Bernier ’30, the upcoming season marks her first experience with indoor track. Bernier is adjusting to increased training demands while appreciating the flexibility athletes have in managing their mileage and cross-training.

“My goals are to push myself and focus on building a strong racing mindset, especially as I adjust to running on an indoor track, which means having to do a lot more laps,” Bernier wrote in an email to the Orient.

As the team prepares for its opening meet, Servin emphasized the collective leadership of the senior class and the importance of prioritizing shared success.

“One of our shared values is placing team goals over individual success, which will ultimately push all of us to reach our individual potential,” Servin wrote.

FIRST RACE: U-Bears Alumni Invitational on December 7

NORDIC SKIING

2025–2026 EISA Ranking: Fifth out of 14 teams

The Nordic skiing team enters this season after graduating six seniors, four women and two men, including NCAA qualifiers Emma Crum ’26 and Jordan Grialou ’26. Gillian Fairfax ’28 is the only returner with NCAA Championship experience.

“Some of the skiers who just graduated were some of our very best skiers we’ve ever had,” Head Coach Nathan Alsobrook said. “Inevitably, there’s kind of a changing of the guard.”

The team will also adjust to a schedule with more sprints. The EISA calendar now includes three individual sprints and a sprint relay, up from two individual sprints last season, and sprinting has been added to the NCAA Championships.

“Usually, our team is more geared toward the longer races,” Beckett Cote ’29 said. “A key goal for us has been working toward increasing our sprint capacity.”

After sending three women to NCAAs last year, Cote said the team hopes to qualify a full team of six: three men and three women. The team also aims to win a third straight Maine State Championship, which will be decided within the season-opening Bates Carnival.

“Colby and Bates are our main competitors there, and they’re both bringing in great teams this year,” Alsobrook said. “[If we can] be one of the best D3 teams out there, then that’s a really significant milestone for us.”

FIRST CARNIVAL: January 15–16 at Bates College