Taking Back the WHAC

By Grace Malec, Sports Editor

The fall 2024-2025 season for Aquinas athletics was one for the books, making history with countless Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference titles, championships, and honors.

It was WHAC-to-WHAC wins for several Aquinas teams, with the Men’s and Women’s Soccer teams, Women’s Volleyball team and Men’s Cross Country team all being named regular season WHAC champions and with the Women’s Cross Country team being named the WHAC Championship runner-up.
The Women’s Soccer team is heading to nationals for the eighth time in program history, completing their regular season as undefeated WHAC champions after winning the match between the Racers of the University of Northwestern Ohio. The game…. in an intense penalty-kick shootout, after two tied periods of overtime play. The shootout featured goals by Sydney Shenk, Ingrid Hentemann and Brittney Probst.

The team also received a bid to host nationals in Grand Rapids, bringing various academic institutions, athletes, and talent to Aquinas College. With nationals on the clock, the work has not stopped for the Saints. After winning the WHAC tournament, they returned to the field to put in more work in hopes of claiming victory at nationals. Maeva Lichtensteiger, a senior on the team, who received many accolades this season such as WHAC Midfield Player of the Year, First Team All-Conference and weekly WHAC recognition said, “Our team was recognized in many this season through hard work and dedication. But we are not done yet; we are all focused on winning that big red banner down in Florida.”

With team success also came individual success for the Saints. The 2024-2025 Women’s Soccer team collected many individual awards. Seven athletes on the team were named with First Team All-Conference honors, including Lichtensteiger, Avery Tack, Ingrid Hentemann, Olivia Bowling, Madison Slezinski, Sydney Shenk and Kayla Shuk.

In addition to First Team All-Conference honors, several athletes also were presented with other WHAC titles. Marie-Louise Abild and Bridget Sherman were awarded Second Team All-Conference Titles. Sandra Segovia and Abby Kramer also were recognized by the WHAC this fall, with Segovia being named the WHAC Champion of Character and Kramer being awarded the WHAC All-Newcomer Title.

Athletes on the team were also named with impressive WHAC Player of the Year titles. Sydney Shenk was named the WHAC Offensive Player of the Year alongside Ingrid Hentemann who was named the Defensive Player of the Year and Maeva Lichtensteiger named Midfield Player of the Year. James Decosemo, the head coach for the Saints was named the WHAC coach of the year.

With the impressive accomplishments of the 2024-2025 women’s soccer team, the team would not be complete without the especially remarkable graduating class of 2025. With a majority of the 13 seniors receiving WHAC honors, members of the graduating class note how special their time has been on the team. “As I’m in my fourth year here, looking back, freshman year me would have never thought something like this would happen,” Lichtensteiger said. “I’m extremely grateful for all the opportunities and challenges that have come my way over the course of my time here. Without this team now, I wouldn’t be where I am today both on and off the field.”

Sydney Shenk, a senior on the team, notes that her success would be nothing without her team. “Individual awards are a reflection on the whole team,” Shenk said. “I might be there to finish balls into the back of the net but without the effort of everyone else I wouldn’t even have the opportunity to.”

The Men’s Soccer team was named the regular-season WHAC Champions, making it to the WHAC tournament, but falling short to Indiana Tech. Regardless of the tough end to the season for the team, the Saints were able to obtain individual titles such as WHAC Offensive Player of the Year as well as picking up First and Second Team All-Conference titles.

Ricardo Rittersberger was named the WHAC Offensive Player of the Year as well as represented the Saints in All-Conference honors, being named First Team All-Conference. Josh Clemitson and Joe Lockey were also named with the WHAC titles of Second Team All-Conference.

Soccer was not the only success at Aquinas this fall. The Women’s Volleyball team had a record breaking season. The team won 39 of 40 games played, winning the regular-season WHAC championship, tournament WHAC championship and earning a spot in the first round of the NAIA National Tournament, which the team is hosting at Aquinas in Sturrus Sports and Fitness Center.

Shattering individual and team records, the team was presented with numerous awards. Lauren Chioini, Bella Hommes, Lydia Harper and Mallory Keller were all granted WHAC First Team All-Conference honors, Samee Teachworth was named with Second Team All-Conference honors and Jenna Lee was given the WHAC Champion of Character Award.

The awards did not stop there for the team. In addition to First Team All-Conference honors, Hommes was also named the WHAC Libero of the Year. “Winning Libero of the Year has been a goal of mine since I first started playing volleyball,” Hommes said. “When I was announced the winner of this award it was a very surreal moment.”

After earning both weekly WHAC titles, First Team All-Conference as well as the Setter of the Year award, Saints Setter, Lydia Harper had a remarkable season. “I am so blessed and thankful to be named Setter of the Year,” Harper said. “It honestly though, is a true testament to my teammates and the work we’ve put in all year.”

The Women’s Volleyball team also claimed other titles, with individual players receiving WHAC honors and awards. Keller was named the WHAC Newcomer of the Year and the WHAC Player of the Year. Head coach for the Saints, Ryan Campbell was also named with WHAC honors, taking the title of WHAC Coach of the Year.

Men’s and Women’s Cross Country at Aquinas raced to a successful season, with both teams clinching a spot at the NAIA National Cross Country Championships in Columbia, Mo. The men’s team was named the WHAC Conference Champions, giving them back-to-back titles, while the women’s team finished strong, finishing as the runner-up for the championship.

Athletes on the team note the universal effort when it comes to the success this season. Austin Williford, a sophomore on the team said, “From the start of the season, we believed in our ability to qualify for nationals, it’s been amazing to see that goal become a reality. Whether someone was the fastest runner or the slowest, everyone played a vital role.”

With their upcoming Nationals appearance, the athletes are excited to make their mark and finish the season with even more grit. Sam Elder, a sophomore on the team said “We are ranked pretty high for Cross Country when it comes to nationals and if everyone pushes and tries their best at nationals, we are bound to do great.”

Fall of 2024 was a record-breaking season for Aquinas Athletics. From WHAC Championships to hosting nationals, the excitement for the Athletes at Aquinas has been endless. Between individual accolades and achievements to team titles, athletes have made their mark on their own respective teams and programs as well Aquinas College as a whole.

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