After a successful season playing for the Michigan Wolverines with a Big Ten tournament title, a March Madness run to the Sweet Sixteen and an impressive stats sheet earning him All-Big Ten second team honors, Wolf announced in an Instagram post on April 16 his intent to declare in the draft, forgoing the remainder of his college eligibility.  

“I’m excited to announce that I’ll be declaring for the 2025 NBA draft,” he said in the post. He added that his time at Yale was monumental to his success: “To Coach Jones and the entire Yale staff — you believed in me when not many did. You helped shape my game and gave me a platform to grow over two unforgettable years. I’m better for it, and I’m thankful beyond words.” 

To many in the Bulldog nation, Wolf’s declaration for the draft comes as no surprise. During his time in New Haven, Wolf boasted a spectacular record. 

When asked about whether or not he saw a pro future for Wolf during the recruitment process all those years ago, Yale men’s basketball head coach James Jones told the News, “100 percent. When I recruited him, his size and skillset were so unique. I knew then he could go far.” He told the News he predicts Wolf will be drafted in the top 15 to 20 picks. 

During the 2022–23 season as a first year, Wolf carved out a role off the bench, appearing in 21 games and averaging 2.6 points and 2.1 rebounds per contest. He showed flashes of promise, including an eight-point performance in a pivotal win at Brown that clinched a share of the Ivy League regular season title. 

He logged valuable postseason minutes, as well. He contributed points on the scoreboard in the NIT matchup at Vanderbilt and played 17 total minutes in the Ivy League Tournament. His impact earned him the team’s John C. Cobb Award, recognizing him as the rookie of the year. 

During his sophomore year, Wolf really began to shine. 

Establishing himself as one of the Ivy League’s most dominant forces, Wolf was unanimously voted First Team All-Ivy and a NABC District 13 First Team honoree. He led the league in rebounding with 9.7 boards per game, ranked second with 43 blocked shots, and finished 10th in scoring at 14.1 points per game. His versatility was on full display — he was second on the team with 76 assists and knocked down 29 three-pointers. 

“We were able to let him be himself,” Jones told the News about Wolf’s time with the team. Jones said he was “able to handle the ball on the perimeter and pass and shoot from the arc. His ability to pass is elite, and his ability to put the ball on the floor and handle it is elite as well, especially for a man his size.” 

Wolf, however, shined brightest in the postseason, earning Most Outstanding Player honors at the Ivy League Tournament after powering Yale to a championship with back-to-back double-doubles, including a 19-point, 10-rebound performance in the semifinal win over Cornell. He then helped the team make an impressive upset over Auburn in the first round of the NCAA March Madness tournament.

A five-time Ivy League Player of the Week, he, in fact, recorded 14 double-doubles on the year, was named a CSC Academic All-District selection, and took home the Dutch Arnold Award as Yale’s most valuable player. 

This success was partly due to what Jones described as his “tremendous” work ethic.

“No one works harder or puts more time in the gym than Danny does,” Jones told the News. “He’s a savant, a student of the game. He watches film relentlessly. He’s the first one to get in the gym and the last one to leave.”

Even off the court, Wolf’s Yale teammates described him as “an awesome person.”

“It’s been a joy to see his years of hard work begin to come to fruition,” current captain Teo Rice ’25 told the News. “Not many people who spend time in the Ivy League become first-round draft picks, so our whole community will continue to cheer Danny on in his first year in the NBA.”

Besides his time playing in the NCAA, Wolf possesses an international reputation, highlighting his desire to continue bettering his game. At the 2023 FIBA U20 European Championship, Wolf played for Team Israel, leading the squad to secure a silver medal. 

Looking forward to the Draft, predictions are flying. ESPN has projected Wolf as the 19th overall pick. His size, standing at over 7 feet tall, and his versatility on the court, transitioning between power forward, point guard and center positions — all while managing playmaking responsibilities — would make him a significant addition to any NBA roster. 

“He’s got guard skills as a 7-footer,” Jones said. On what team Wolf is drafted to, Jones didn’t make any preference on the jersey color or mascot, rather that “I hope he goes to a place that understands his unique skillset.”

The NBA draft combine will occur from May 11-18 in Chicago, and the draft will occur in New York on June 25 and 26.

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“He is one of the happiest people I have ever met,” said teammate Andrew Stickel ’27. “He is always smiling and always seems to take the positives out of everything he does. He is a huge addition to our team culture.”

Yet, although his glass-half-full mentality has never seemed to waver, Lin and the team have definitely faced their fair share of adversity so far this season. In fact, they started off their 2025 campaign with two last-place finishes at The Prestige tournament in mid-February and at the All-American in Humble, Texas, the following month.

After a disappointing start to the season, the Bulldogs needed a significant mentality reset. After all, this is still largely the same uber-talented team that won the Ivy Tournament last year and recruits some of the top high-school prospects in the country. 

During their stay in Statesboro, Ga., while taking part in the Schenkel Invitational over the weekend of March 22, the Elis got that perspective shift from an unexpected source. 

“When we were in Statesboro, Ga., our host family’s warmth and generosity really stood out,” Lin told the News. “It reminded us to look beyond ourselves and give back. Honestly, that helped reset my mindset, and I think it put me in a better place heading into the next tournament.”

Indeed, it was the simple graciousness of the tournament assigned team hosts  — Bill and Andrea Howard — that helped the group put aside their on-course struggles. Since departing Statesboro, the Bulldogs have been a completely different team, and they are back to their winning ways in full force.  

In their final outing in the month of March at Rolling Green Golf Course in Springfield, Penn., the Elis vanquished the rest of the field. The team shot a combined +6 in Round 1 and then bettered that with an overall +1 in the second and final round to overcome 11 formidable opponents and secure the victory at the Columbia Spring Invitational.

“Anytime we tee it up, our goal is to win,” Head Coach Keith Tyburski said to the News. “That said, winning isn’t easy, and we’re very proud of this accomplishment. Securing a victory in the spring as we prepare for the Ivy League Championship is a big confidence boost for our group.”

The way the team stormed back in the last round to overcome a streaking Arkansas squad can, in part, be attributed to the resilience that early-season woes have imparted on this Yale squad. 

Leading the charge was Lin and his wide-eyed grin, as he finished tied for first-place among all golfers with an overall finish of 139, one under par.  

“Rolling Green was a challenge with the wind and punched greens, and I’m still a bit in shock that I came out on top,” Lin said. “Winning my first collegiate tournament was huge, but the real highlight was our team victory. It felt great to see all our hard work pay off.”

After his standout performance helped the Elis take home the trophy, Lin was recognized by the Ivy League as Golfer of the Month for March.

“Being named Ivy League Golfer of the Month was unexpected and, honestly, felt a little surreal,” he said. “I definitely wrestle with some imposter syndrome. Still, moments like this remind me how lucky I am to be playing college golf.”

After a couple of well-earned weeks of rest, the team packed their bags for New Jersey to compete in the Princeton Invitational, where they finished fourth in a field of fourteen teams. Junior Will Lodge ’26 played his best golf of this spring and finished fifth overall after posting two rounds of even-par 71.

Now, the team is squarely focused on defending their title in the Ivy League Championships on the weekend of April 25.

“We’re in a good position going into Ivy’s,” senior captain Ben Carpenter ’25 said. “Next week is the biggest week of our season, and after coming up short to Princeton, we’re fired up and motivated to give them our best.”

With the latter tournament slated to be held at the same venue in Springfield that the Bulldogs just played so well at, the Elis know that they are more than capable of going back-to-back.

“Rolling Green is an awesome venue,” senior Blake Brantley ’25 told the News. “It requires length off the tee and a lot of conviction with decisions. We all thought that it fits our games well before the tournament, and after winning there, we have a lot of confidence going back in a couple weeks.”

While the greens may play in the Elis’ favor, they will undoubtedly face some stiff competition from some familiar faces.

“Princeton has a strong team this year and will be a tough competitor.” Carpenter said. “During my time at Yale, we’ve gone back and forth with them and both teams have a rich history of success. I’m excited to see how the next three weeks unfold.”

Before Yale took the crown in 2024, the Tigers had won two of the previous three Ivy titles. 

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On Friday, the women celebrated their two seniors, Mirabelle Brettkelly ’25 and Jamie Kim ’25, with a win at home against the Big Green before traveling to Cambridge, where they lost to Harvard. Meanwhile, the men’s team traveled to Hanover on Friday and returned home to host the Crimson on Sunday at the Cullman-Heyman Tennis Center, losing both matchups.

In their match against Dartmouth, the women’s team made quick work of the Big Green en route to a senior day victory. 

In doubles, Erin Ha ’27 and Orly Ogilvy ’27 defeated Dartmouth’s Peyton Capuano and Michela Moore 6–3. Shyla Aggarwal ’27 and Kim clinched the doubles point when they took down Sam Grosjean and Brooke Hess 6–1.

On the singles side, Yale built on the momentum with three straight victories to secure the 4–0 team victory. 

Julia Werdiger ’28 defeated Lauren Han 6–1, 6–4, Brettkelly beat Elizabeth Fahrmeier 6–0, 6–4 and Angela Huang ’28 came out on top against Caroline Lemcke 6–3, 6–4. With the win, the Bulldogs also clinched a perfect home record for the year. 

Two days later, the Bulldogs traveled north to take on Harvard. After a strong showing against Dartmouth, Yale could not capitalize on their momentum. In doubles, Werdiger and Huang were the sole victors, and the Crimson took the point.

In singles, Werdiger was again the only Bulldog able to scratch out a victory. She completed a comeback to beat Kate Kim of Harvard, winning 1–6, 6–2, 6–1. All five other Bulldogs in action were unable to win their matches.

The women’s team finishes up the regular season next weekend when they travel first to Princeton on Saturday, April 19, and then to Penn the following day.

On the men’s side, from the start, nothing went the Bulldogs’ way, as the team continues to struggle without top dog Vignesh Gogineni ’26.

The Big Green won the first two doubles matches to claim the point. In singles, Jim Ji ’27 put a point on the board when he beat Carlos Guerrero Alvarez 6–3, 6–1. However, Dartmouth swept the remainder of the matches and beat Yale 4–1.

On Sunday, Yale returned home in hopes of bouncing back against Harvard. In doubles, Edward Liao ’28 and Eric Li ’26 beat Masato Perera and Valdemar Pape 6–4, but the Crimson won the next two matches to secure the point. In singles, Harvard swept every singles matchup to win the team match 4–0.

The men’s squad closes its regular season next weekend when the team will welcome both Princeton and Penn to the Cullman-Heyman Tennis Center on April 19 and April 20, respectively.

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In the two-day endeavor — with Saturday marked by windy conditions — the men’s varsity eight fell short of the Golden Bears in the weekend’s opening race, clocking a time of 6:09.5 against No. 1 California’s winning 5:59.2.

However, despite the initial setback, the Bulldogs quickly recovered to score three victories, with the varsity eight defeating the Cardinals and the second varsity boat triumphing over both No. 1 California and No. 8 Stanford.

On Sunday, the Elis continued their efforts but were unfortunately superseded in both their races. The California Rowing Club defeated the varsity eight, and the second varsity boat — racing against California’s third varsity boat — was narrowly defeated by a sub-two-second time difference.

Speaking to Yale Athletics, Craig W. Johnson ’68 Head Coach Mike Gennaro expressed that the competition was highly “productive” and provided the oarsmen with the opportunity to race “three times over two days” as useful preparation for the Eastern Sprints Championships and IRA National Championships that are set to take place in May. 

The men’s heavyweight crew team will head to Philadelphia this Saturday to race for the coveted Blackwell Cup against the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia.

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However, Head Coach Brian Hamm and the staff’s process-oriented approach means that they have never been overly focused on end results.

“Hitting 20 wins is not something that is on our radar as being important other than a reflection of how we’ve done the entire year and being rewarded for that,” said Coach Hamm. “If we get caught up in our overall record, then we lose sight of what we’re accomplishing. For us, to be able to continue to play consistently is what we’re taking pride in and is the measurable.”

The series against Columbia started a day early due to rainy weather predictions, so Senior Captain Colton Shaw ’25 took the mound on Friday morning instead of on Saturday. Although his game-day prep was moved up a day, the work he did early in the week with the coaching staff paid off in big ways. 

Hamm told the News that after a few rocky starts, Shaw made a concerted effort to get more “verticality” on his slider and changeup. By streamlining his motion and extending his throwing hand out front, he was able to do just that. With a couple of small adjustments, he produced his best start of the season — pitching eight scoreless innings. 

Yet, for Shaw, maintaining a positive and resilient mindset was just as crucial to his success as any changes to his mechanics. 

“I went through a rough stretch where I didn’t produce the results I wanted, but, throughout that time, I was still focused on just loving to compete with the team,” Shaw said. “Sticking to that mindset has allowed me to not be so focused on the results I’m getting but more so on the way I’m competing and who I have the opportunity to compete alongside every day.”

As Shaw was mowing down Columbia hitters, the Yale bats heated up in a major way, and the Bulldogs put seven on the board. Senior shortstop Jeff Pierantoni ’25 had a terrific game, going one for two and scoring twice. In the bottom of the sixth, he even stole home to push the lead to 7–0. 

“Coach Keane and I picked up on the fact the Columbia pitcher came set slowly in a way that wasn’t attentive to baserunners,” Pierantoni said. “Credit to Coach Keane for giving me the green light to take home in that situation — it was a fun moment that encapsulated one of the goals of our offense, to create chaos and take advantage of other teams when they’re on their heels.”

Pierantoni’s steal, along with two additional runs scored by bunting the runner home from third, highlighted the team’s commitment to playing fundamental baseball and their one-run-at-a-time approach. 

With junior slugger Davis Hanson ’26 out of the lineup due to ACL surgery, Hamm has stressed the importance of getting separation from opponents one run at a time instead of focusing on putting crooked numbers on the scoreboard.

“Situational baseball has become part of our brand offensively,” said Hamm. “It is partially because of the ballpark we play in, partially because of the personnel that we started with two years ago, and also due to losing thirty percent of our run production in Hanson.” 

After winning 7–3 in the first leg of the Friday doubleheader, Bulldog ace Jack Ohman ’28 then took the mound and pitched lights out. He went all nine innings without allowing a run, and he struck out six. At the plate, Kaiden Dossa ’27 — who has been a model of offensive consistency all season long — drove in two runs, and the game finished with a final score of 3–0. 

While Columbia was able to pull out the win in the final game on Sunday, the Bulldogs have much to remain positive about. After all, they are currently tied for second place in the Ivy League standings with Columbia, and they have already surpassed last year’s season win total. 

While the twentieth victory might not have been something that the team was focused on reaching, it certainly was a special mark to hit — particularly for four-year program veterans like Shaw. 

“As a team, we don’t really count how many wins we have, but already hitting 20 is definitely a big milestone to hit,” Shaw said. “It’s special for me since I’ve seen how this program and the culture has been changing for four years. To see the results start to speak for the work is just really encouraging. This is a special team that is going to do special things.” 

This week, the Elis will take the field in Hamden against Quinnipiac (19–4–1, 13–5 MAAC) on Tuesday at 3 p.m. They will then head south to Philadelphia for a weekend series versus a first-place UPenn squad (16–12, 10–2 Ivy).

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The Bulldogs’ latest victory follows wins over Brown (15–12) and Penn (14–11). Yale sent the Big Green back to Hanover, New Hampshire, with their third consecutive conference loss after falling to Princeton (8–11) and Harvard (7–18). 

“We had great energy going into the game with a good speech from Jack Stuzin ’25 and from our captain, Max Krevsky ’25,” long stick midfielder Francis Keneally ’28 wrote to the News.

Saturday’s game was the team’s last home conference game of the season, which the team celebrated with the traditional Senior Day. Before the game, the team honored its 19 seniors.

Once the game got going, the Elis’ aggressive offense started the first period with a bang. 

First-year Nick Wehmeyer ’28 filled in for Machado Rodriguez ’25, who injured his shoulder against Penn. Wehmeyer “didn’t look back as he won the majority of the face-offs,” according to Keneally, helping Yale score four back-to-back goals. 

Midfielder Johnny Keib ’25 charged Dartmouth’s goal to score the first goal of the game at 13:56. Wehmeyer then won the second faceoff, allowing midfielder Brad Sharp ’25 to assist attackman David Anderson ’26 to shoot, bringing Yale to a 2–0 lead less than a minute. Sharp then scored unassisted, followed by Max Krevsky ’25 and Keib tag-teaming, leading Keib to score his second goal of the game.

Just three minutes into the game, Yale led 4–0. 

Dartmouth then picked up momentum, responding with three consecutive goals. However, the Bulldogs refused to let the Big Green narrow their lead, answering with two more goals. Attackman Peter Moynihan ’27 scored unassisted, and Leo Johnson ’25 assisted Keib, marking Keib’s first-period hat trick. With another two goals by the Big Green, the high-scoring first quarter closed with Yale narrowly leading 5–6.  

Captain Krevsky reflected on the team’s strong four-goal start.

“Coach Shay and the coaching staff did a fantastic job preparing us during the week for a 60-minute battle,” Krevsky wrote to the News. “Even after we jumped out early to a 4-0 lead with all the momentum, we did our best to stay neutral and approach each possession level-headed knowing Dartmouth was not going down without a fight.”

In the second period, both teams’ defenses held strong. Yale’s Paquette was a powerhouse in the goal, only allowing two Dartmouth goals. While these goals allowed the Big Green to momentarily take a one-goal lead, the Elis rallied together, sending three goals to the back of the net. Midfielder Christian Johnson ’25 assisted Anderson in scoring his second goal, and both Leo Johnson and Lyons scored unassisted. At the half, Yale led 9–7.

The Bulldogs ultimately sealed the victory in the third quarter. Anderson’s hat trick, with an assist from L. Johnson, put Yale at a three-goal lead. Dartmouth’s two consecutive goals of the period were no match for the Elis. 

With five and a half minutes remaining, Krevsky assisted Leo Johnson in scoring Yale’s 11th goal of the game. A minute later, Johnson was on fire, returning with an unassisted goal. Lyons followed seconds after to score his second goal. In the last second of the period, the duo of Johnson and Anderson dominated, with Andson scoring his fourth goal of the game. With these four back-to-back goals, Yale concluded the quarter with a strong 14–9 lead. 

Immediately after winning the first faceoff of the fourth period, Wehmeyer charged Dartmouth’s goal to score his first career goal. The Big Green answered with a goal by junior Colin McGill ’26, his sixth of the game. 

However, at the nine-minute mark, the Bulldogs followed up with a six-goal campaign, four of which were from Lyons. He was on fire, scoring first unassisted and then with help from long-stick midfielder Luke Michalik ’27. L. Johnson and Cole Jackson ’27 each also scored unassisted. L. Johnson then assisted Lyons to his fourth goal of the game, bringing the Elis to a 10-goal lead, 20–10. But Lyons still wasn’t done, charging the net to score unassisted. 

With this powerhouse Yale offense, Dartmouth had no chance of returning, despite scoring the game’s final two goals. The Bulldogs destroyed the Big Green 21–12. 

Krevsky shared the locker room conversation with the News, which led to the team’s strong second half performance.

“At halftime, we talked about how important ground balls would be to finish the game, and I think we did a great job in the second half of imposing our will in the middle of the field and finished the game with 13 more ground balls than them,” Krevsky wrote.

The team came together to widen the gap and never looked back. 

“We had a good start to the game with four goals within the first few minutes of the game. Despite them coming back, we put our foot down in the second half and did what we have historically done to Dartmouth,” he continued.

The Bulldogs have a long history of crushing the Big Green since 2010, destroying them 20-13 last season, 21-11 in 2023, and most significantly, 23-6 in 2022. 

According to Keneally, Saturday’s victory was a team effort with strong performances from multiple players. 

Lyons’ six goals, four of which were in the fourth period, marked a game-high. L. Johnson and Anderson tied with four goals each, and L. Johnson led with four assists. Keib pulled off a first-period hat trick, and Wehmeyer won 17 of the 29 faceoffs. Goalkeeper Paquette’s nine saves prevented the Big Green from narrowing Yale’s lead. Overall, the 21 goals marked a season-high for the team. 

“I think we played well as a team and have grown immensely since the start of the season,” Keneally wrote. 

Likewise, Krevsky was proud of the team’s performance and looks forward to what’s ahead for the team as they prepare to take on Hofstra and Albany this week before concluding Ivy regular season play against Princeton.

“It was a special day celebrating the seniors paired with another Ivy League win,” Krevsky wrote to the News. 

This impressive victory over Dartmouth earned the team a ticket to the Ivy League tournament, which will take place on May 2 and 4 at the home of the No. 1 seed. It will be Yale’s 14th consecutive appearance at the tournament. 

“From now on we’re just looking towards the Ivy tournament and hopefully getting our revenge against Princeton, as that is likely who we will play,” Keneally wrote.

Before the tournament, the Elis will host Hofstra at Reese Stadium for their final home game of the season tonight, April 15, at 7 p.m.

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All three of the day’s races were moved to the Cooper River due to concerns over the water levels on the Schuylkill River.

Racing against Ivy League rivals Penn and Columbia, the Bulldogs battled a stiff crosswind throughout the morning but were unable to hold off a fast-moving Penn squad, which took first place in all three Varsity Eight events.

The day opened with a scrappy contest between Yale’s third varsity eight and Penn’s third and fourth boats. The Quakers’ 3V jumped to a half-length lead within the first 20 strokes, taking advantage of early struggles by the Bulldogs as they adjusted to the wind. While Penn’s 4V faded quickly, the 3V extended their margin through the middle of the course.

In a fierce final sprint, the Elis surged back to overlap, but Penn’s early cushion proved decisive at the finish line as they crossed with a time of 6:29.10. Yale followed shortly after with a time of 6:32.82 and Penn’s 4V crew with a time of 6:57.57.

In the second varsity race, a bumpy start put the Y150 behind both Penn and Columbia. But the Bulldogs quickly regrouped, rowing through Columbia by the 750-meter mark and turning their attention to the leading Quakers. In the final 600 meters, Yale mounted a strong charge — but once again, Penn responded, holding off the Bulldogs by about a length and finishing with a time of 6:15.30. Yale followed at 6:19.85, and Columbia trailed at 6:24.29.

The marquee event, the varsity eight race, delivered the most dramatic duel of the day. Penn established an early lead, building nearly half a length on Yale by the midway point. But in the third 500, the Bulldogs launched a powerful move, narrowing the gap to a single seat and pulling ahead of Columbia.

With fans lining the riverbank, it looked as though the final sprint might deliver a photo finish. Instead, Penn unleashed a final burst of speed in the closing meters, crossing nearly a length ahead of Yale, with Columbia finishing by open water.

With their varsity eight victory, Penn retained the Marcellus Hartley Dodge Cup — an annual prize since 1955 — and secured the Colgan Cup for overall team points, a trophy first introduced in 2022.

The Bulldogs return to their home waters in Derby, Conn., on April 19 to host Dartmouth in their only home regatta of the season. The Durand Cup will be on the line.

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The last time the Elis faced the Big Green was in the Ivy opener of 2022, where Yale prevailed in all five races against Dartmouth, Cornell and Columbia. Edging out the runner-up by over five seconds in every race, the Bulldogs added both the Class of 1985 Cup and Connell Cup to the Gilder Boathouse trophy case. 

This was the team’s only home race of the season, and the Bulldogs were in high spirits as they geared up for the return of the Yale-Dartmouth matchup after three years. Before the races, the crew celebrated senior night, a tradition honoring the seniors and their contributions to the team. 

“Senior night was really nice because we got to honor each of the seniors, and we prepared posters before to honor each of their contributions to the team,” Ella Warden ’27, seat two of the third varsity quartet, told the News.

Additionally, the team also celebrated coach Will Porter’s 25th year with Yale. Porter was named head coach of the women’s crew team in 1999, and under his coaching and guidance, the team qualified for the NCAA 21 times, taking home 18 top-10 finishes and five NCAA titles.

“It has been an honor to coach at YWC, the athletes who row at Yale are exceptional on every level, athletically, academically, and as people,” Porter told the News.

The head coach also recognized the exceptional dedication and courage involved in simultaneously pursuing both sports and academics at the highest level.

In addition to winning a multitude of team titles, Porter has also coached seven Olympians, 10 senior team athletes and 29 U23 athletes.

“What the athletes do daily is amazing, and it is not for everyone. Very few people are brave enough to take on the ultimate challenge of rowing at the top level of our sport and not compromising their academics. I love it,” said Porter.

The races at the Housatonic River started bright and early at 8:30 am with the third varsity eight race, which set the momentum for the Bulldogs with a dominant finish of 6:33.30, edging out Dartmouth’s time of 6:45.47 by over 12 seconds. The Bulldogs started the race with a bang, and after an explosive start sequence, settled into a strong base rhythm through the middle 1000m, opening up clear water and never looking back.

Even with the oncoming of spring, the weather remained chilly at around 39 degrees Fahrenheit with a slight overcast and a drizzle throughout the morning. The suboptimal conditions, combined with a light chop on the water, made the crew exercise special caution throughout the races. However, the Bulldogs stayed resilient throughout the harsh weather conditions.

“Cold weather prevents you from really stretching out and relaxing, but we did well today,” Porter wrote to the News. “We train year-round in pretty much any conditions; today was no big deal.”

The first varsity eight team continued the winning streak for the Bulldogs, securing the Class of ’85 Cup and rowing away to victory with a time of 6:08.40, 14.05 seconds ahead of the Big Green’s 6:22.45.

The second varsity eight team closed the first half of the races on a high note, outpacing the competition with 6:19.20, over 12 seconds ahead of Dartmouth (6:31.79).

The varsity four team continued dominating the river during the second half of racing, with the first varsity quartet finishing on top with 6:55.60, a runaway win over Dartmouth (7:16.72).

The second varsity four (7:00.90) also stormed to victory, crossing the line comfortably ahead of the Big Green (7:24.80). The consistent and dominant performance of the crew team was thanks in no small part to their intensive practices both on and off season.

“The team culture is very good, and the vibes are very high. We’re pushing each other to the max,” said Warden.

Starting in the fall, the Bulldogs trained outdoors six days a week in the fall and spring and indoors during winter when the water froze over.

Even during days with no scheduled practice, captain Mia Levy ’25 often held captain practices to build the team’s stamina. Coach Porter expressed excitement about the team’s motivation.

“We practice at a high level, the energy and focus are intense, the squad is driven from within which allows me to coach technique rather than effort,” Porter said.

To close off the event, the third varsity four sealed the win with open water with a time of 7:23.50, 18.21 seconds ahead of Dartmouth (7:41.71).

This final victory meant that Yale not only retained the Class of 1985 Cup but also clinched a flawless 6-0 win, with a comfortable margin of over 10 seconds in each race.

“We had a really good middle part of the race where we were able to row away and continue pulling away instead of just sitting up,” recalled Warden.

With the Class of 1985 Cup successfully defended, the Bulldogs will now set their sights on the Eisenberg Cup, where they will travel to New Jersey to face Princeton on Saturday, April 19. Last year, the Tigers prevailed 4-1 after a close battle, with around 5 seconds or less difference in four of the five races. 

This year’s race will be held on Lake Carnegie, a reservoir straddling the border of the town of Princeton.

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This was the Bulldogs’ first away win against the Quakers in 22 years, and they achieved it in quadruple overtime. 

“Rely on our training. We know what to do. Keep pushing,” Jenna Collignon ’25 said about the team’s attitude in her post-game interview. Collignon embodied this determination on Saturday as the player to score the Bulldog’s OT game winner. 

This is a team that never gives up — and that’s exactly what they proved to the Quakers on Saturday. 

The beginning of the game started slow for the Bulldogs, with no Eli’s putting up a point in the first quarter. The Quakers, however, put up three of their own, leaving the score 3-0. 

The second quarter came with a little more activity from the Bulldogs, with Fallon Vaughn ’25 scoring their first goal four minutes in. The Quakers then scored two goals back to back, stretching their lead. However, Ashley Newman ’26 ended the quarter with a goal of her own, slightly shrinking the Bulldogs’ deficit. 

This left the Bulldogs at a shaky four-goal deficit going into the second half 6-2. 

Four goals from the Bulldogs marked the third quarter as they attempted to close the gap. However, the Quakers put up two of their own over the 15 minutes. Frustratingly for the Bulldogs, they were still down after a stellar quarter, entering the final minutes of regulation 8-6.

The fourth quarter is where the Bulldogs finally came out to bark. 

Yale started the quarter with two goals from Newman and Sky Carrasquillo ’25 to tie the teams at 8-8. 

With just under seven minutes to go, the Quakers returned with a goal, which the Bulldogs matched only 90 seconds later. Caroline Burt ’25 came up huge for the team, putting up her first point of the game to tie the teams again at 9-9 to close out regulation. 

In overtime, both teams battled with everything they had left in the tank. With twelve seconds left in the fourth period of overtime, Collignon did what she does best. 

Choosing to put pressure on the goalie, Collignon was able to block the clear with her stick and scoop up the ball. Fighting through a double team, she managed to get her stick free and bury the ball in the back of the cage. 

“We know how to handle things under pressure,” Collignon stated. After a stellar high-stakes performance in the NCAA tournament last year, making it to the final four, the Bulldogs know how to operate under pressure. 

They made that clear today with several players making an impact late in the game to land the Bulldogs on top, securing their third Ivy League win 10-9.

Next week, the Bulldogs will face the Harvard Crimson in Cambridge on Saturday at 12 p.m.

The post WOMEN’S LACROSSE: Bulldogs down Quakers in quadruple OT appeared first on Yale Daily News.

Schwartz was a member of the women’s ice hockey team and was loved by many in the Yale community. During her junior year, she was diagnosed with leukemia, and the search for a blood stem cell transplant began immediately. 

“It’s such an easy process for such a great cause,” Phoenix Grant ’27, a member of the football team, told the News.

With the help of several members of Yale faculty, the women’s ice hockey team, and the football team, the drive began that spring and has continued ever since.

Tragically, Schwartz never found a perfect match. 

Her story, however, touched many members of the Yale community and encouraged people to continue fighting leukemia in her honor. 

“Those of us who knew Mandi and knew what her struggle was like when she was looking for a match and could not find a donor, we would never want another cancer patient or their family to go through something like that,” Sam Rubin, media coordinator at Yale and board member of the Mandi Schwartz Foundation, told the News. 

So far, the Yale registry has added nearly 10,000 potential donors to the National Marrow Donor Program. 

The ultimate goal of this effort is to create a registry with enough depth that any patient that is ever looking for a genetic match can find one. 

The best part of this drive is how simple it is to join the program. This message was reiterated by all the student-athletes who the News interviewed. 

“The biggest thing that needs to be clarified is the process,” Maddy Zavalick ’26 told the News. 

Many people take one look at the drive and believe that they have to donate blood to join, when that is not the case. Instead, all a candidate has to do is scan a QR code, sign up online, and swab their cheek. That swab is given to a drive representative and sent off to be added to the registry. 

“It maybe takes three minutes,” Zavalick added. 

Once they’ve joined the program, candidates will be evaluated for leukemia patients who require a blood transfusion.

If a potential match is discovered, the candidate will be called for additional testing to learn if they could save a life. 

“Right now, Yale is leading in the nation with 102 lives saved total,” Grant proudly told the News. “It’s awesome that we have a coach that has been a part of this and has saved a life.” 

Paul Rice ’09, who captained the football team in 2009 and now is a part of Coach Reno’s staff, was called up to donate in 2013 and continues to tell the team about it yearly. 

Schwartz’s cause is infectious. This year the field hockey team was so moved by her mission, that instead of only having two to three representatives on the committee, the entire team decided to join in the hopes of making the most significant impact possible. 

Along with field hockey and women’s ice hockey, football has been one of the most prominent advocates for this drive since its inception.

“My dad’s best friend died of leukemia, and my middle name is his name,” Robby Tattersall ’27, one of the football players leading this year’s drive, shared with the News. 

Cancer has touched so many lives of students at Yale and has encouraged so many to give back. Yale is at the forefront of the drive, given the university’s connection to Schwartz, and this is something the committee is incredibly proud of. 

This year, the committee is hoping to get anywhere from 600 to 1000 sign-ups from primarily first-year students, as once you join the program, you cannot register again. 

The committee aims to uphold this standard of effort and participation every single year as an example for other schools to learn about how vital this drive can be to someone. 

“Save a life,” Zavalick concluded in her interview.

This year’s drive will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Beinecke Plaza and Steep Cafe on April 15. Anyone who cannot attend the drive in person at Yale can go to the NMDP website and register or text “YaleSaves” to 61474.

The post Save a life: Yale to host 17th annual Mandi Schwartz Drive appeared first on Yale Daily News.