Christendom Athletics: 2024–2025 Year in Review

The 2024–2025 athletic year at Christendom College was filled with milestones, championships, and individual excellence across every sport. With programs continuing to grow and student-athletes competing at the highest levels of the USCAA and beyond, this year marked one of the most successful in Crusader history. Here's a look back at a season defined by hard work, unity, and a relentless pursuit of greatness.

Cross Country – Perseverance Rewarded

With coaches Sydney Binette and Margaret Kolesar at the helm, the men's and women's cross country teams showcased what heart and discipline can achieve. Despite small rosters, the teams trained relentlessly and improved with every meet. Their efforts culminated in a standout showing at Nationals, where Mary Noble placed 12th overall and Alex Girata finished 13th, earning both runners USCAA Second Team All-American honors—a great accomplishment for these two individuals. 

Volleyball – Building Momentum

Record: 9-11

Led by first year head coach Michaela Pennefather, Claire Dotson, and Fiona Briggs, the volleyball team continued to develop into a competitive force, notching strong wins over PSU Beaver, PSU Shenango, MACU, and Crown College. Freshman Lucy Stahl earned USCAA Honorable Mention All-American honors for her notable and consistent play throughout the season.

Women's Soccer – A Record-Breaking Campaign

Record: 11-3-3 | ESAC Champions | USCAA National Runner-Up

Coaches Erly Moya and Courtney Nelson led the Lady Crusaders to a truly dominant season, going unbeaten through September and October during a 10-game win streak, claiming the ESAC Championship, and finishing as USCAA National Runner-Up.
A historic season was punctuated by the play of Catherine Thomas, who earned USCAA First Team All-Americanhonors and was named the USCAA Player of the Year in Women's Basketball—showcasing her incredible two-sport impact.
She was joined by Miranda Keller (1st Team), Theresa Luckey (Honorable Mention), and Colleen Kosten (Honorable Mention) as All-Americans, highlighting the team's depth and talent. 

Catherine Thomas was named First Team All-Conference and Conference Player of the Year, joined on the All-Conference First Team by Miranda Keller, Serena Keller, Colleen Kosten, and Ava Hudson, while Erly Moya was honored as Conference Coach of the Year—a full team effort that set a new standard of excellence.

Men's Soccer – Battling Through the Best

Record: 7-6-3

With first year coaches Mark LaRochelle and Danny Duca coaching, the men's soccer team held their own against a competitive slate, with statement wins over ranked PSU New Kensington and PSU Mont Alto, along with several hard-fought draws.
Sean Corcoran earned USCAA Second Team All-American and First Team All-Conference honors, while Andrew Snyder was named USCAA Honorable Mention and Second Team All-Conference. Niall Maguire also secured a spot on the All-Conference Second Team, reinforcing the depth and potential of the squad.

Rugby – Elite on the National Stage

15s Record: 6-5 | 7s Record: 23-11-2 | 6th 15s Conference Title | 8th Straight CRC 7s National Tournament Appearance

Jim Conrad, John Jakubisin, and Matt Westin continued to lead Christendom Rugby as a national powerhouse. The 15s team earned its sixth conference championship in eight years, while the 7s team extended its historic run by qualifying for the CRC 7s National Tournament for the eighth consecutive year—the longest active streak in the country.
Two of the program's standouts, Nick Ward and Jimmy Coffey, were honored as First Team NCR All-Americans, further cementing Christendom's status among the nation's elite small-college rugby programs. Charlie Ackla was named to the NCR DIII 7's All-Tournament Team for his play in the National Tournament.

Women's Basketball – National Champions

Record: 26-2 | ESAC Champions | USCAA National Champions

In an unforgettable season, head coach Mary Minick and assistant coach Annie Heisler guided the Lady Crusaders to new heights, capturing the ESAC Conference Championship title, a 26-2 overall record, and the USCAA National Championship.
Catherine Thomas earned USCAA First Team All-American honors and was named the USCAA Player of the Year in Women's Basketball—the first such honor in program history. She was joined by Mary Pennefather (1st Team)and Regina Bonvissuto (Honorable Mention) on the All-American list, showcasing the team's talent and depth. Catherine Thomas was named First Team All-Conference and ESAC Player of the Year. She was joined on the All-Conference First Team by Mary Pennefather and Regina Bonvissuto, while Miranda Keller earned Second Team All-Conference honors, rounding out one of the deepest and most talented teams in program history. Head Coach Mary Minick was also named ESAC Coach of the Year for the second consecutive year. Senior Miranda Keller earned recognition from the USCAA for her contributions to Christendom Basketball and the community by awarding her the USCAA Student-Atlete of the Year Award. 

Men's Basketball – Back on the Map

Record: 9-13

With leadership from interim head coach Joe Dotson, Anthony Barbale, Jeremy Minick, Brian Fox, Philip Dotson, and John Echaniz, the men's team earned milestone victories over #1 PSU Mont Alto and Johnson & Wales—beating both programs for the first time in school history.
Junior Bobby Vander Woude made history as Christendom's first USCAA All-American in 20 years, earning Honorable Mention and being named to the All-Conference First Team, setting the stage for a highly anticipated senior season. The interim tag was removed from Dotson after the year's finish, and is ready to guide the Crusaders in this next era of Christendom Basketball.

Baseball – Laying the Groundwork

Record: 12-19 | Opened Season 7-2

The baseball team, led by Vince Amuso, Frank Scarchilli, Pat Stein, and Thomas Sullivan, got off to the best start in program history at 7-2, including quality wins over PSU Schuylkill, MACU, and KSU Tuscarawas.
Standout performances from sophomores Paul Amuso and Gus Coleman earned both players USCAA Honorable Mention All-American honors, proving the future is bright for Crusader baseball.

Final Word: Champions in Every Sense

From the courts and fields to the national spotlight, Christendom Athletics proved this year that we are built not only to compete—but to lead. Ther Crusaders not only had a great year on the playing surfaces with three conference championships, one national runner-up, one national title, and a host of All-American and All-Conference honors, but also in the classroom. The overall GPA of all teams was a 3.51, and finished the year with 48 Academic All-Americans, a true testament to these student-athlete's commitment to excellence in the classroom as well as on the playing surface. The 2024-2025 year will go down in the books as a very exciting year, and everyone will be working hard to build and do everything possible to make the next year even more successful.