Baldwin Wallace University’s winter sports season is just about to kick off. Some teams, like swimming and diving, wrestling, and bowling have already begun their seasons, while basketball is just around the corner. Here is a preview of BW’s winter sports teams, how they performed last year, and some key players and events to watch as the 2025-26 season progresses.
Men’s basketball
The men’s basketball team is coming off a 2024-25 campaign where they posted a 10-15 record and missed out on the OAC tournaments. Despite the result, head coach Tom Heil said the team got better as the season progressed, and, most importantly, the team is returning many of its top players from last year.
Senior Ray Ellington was the team’s leading scorer (17.5 ppg) and rebounder (6.7 rpg) last season and was selected to the All-OAC Second Team. Ellington is currently only about 80 points away from eclipsing 1,000 career points.
Junior Titus Baskerville IV also returns after leading the team in assists last season while also leading the OAC in assists per game (5.6). He’s been the squad’s starting point guard since his freshman season and figures to maintain his role as playmaker for this offense.
Other important contributors look to be AJ Pestello, a junior that’s started since his freshman year, and Myles Reynolds, a senior who shot 40% from three-point range last season.
Coach Heil said that last season, the team was much closer to a better record but was hindered by their defense and rebounding. Heil said he looks forward to “great improvement” this season as the entire team is much more experienced overall and has added some exceptional freshmen and newcomers.
“We really like this group as they are very talented, committed to getting better every day, and are great guys that we love being around and coaching,” Heil said.
Men’s basketball begins their 2025-26 season on Nov. 7 away against Pitt-Greensburg.
Women’s basketball
Women’s basketball is coming off a record-breaking 2024-25 season where they made it all the way to the NCAA Division III Elite Eight. They won 29 games (a school record) and lost only 2, beating several nationally ranked teams on their way to being one of the final eight teams in the country.
The Jackets also went undefeated in OAC play (18-0, another school record) and won the conference, which earned them an automatic bid in the NCAA tournament. They scored 68.4 points per game last season and allowed 54.4 to their opponent, outscoring other teams by an average of 14 points.
The team graduated a lot of senior talent last year, but return a stellar team led by senior Kaycie Badylak and a group of standout juniors including Kayla Jones, Alyssa Miller, Ava Wilkerson and Laura McCoy.
Head coach Cheri Harrer, entering her 36th year at BW, said one of their biggest matchups this year will be against John Carroll University, who is nationally ranked and in some polls above BW. Overall, Harrer said the team’s goals are the “same as always”: to win the OAC, OAC tournament, and win a national championship in the NCAA tournament.
“I love coaching this group of young women,” Harrer said. “They are outstanding people and they have built a tremendous culture.”
Women’s basketball begins their 2025-26 season Nov. 7 on the road against national ranked Trine, a perennial NCAA tournament team.
Men’s swimming and diving
Last season, men’s swimming and diving finished fourth overall at OAC Championships with 397 points. The team also had many stellar individual performances throughout the season.
Senior Jason Heisler won OAC Men’s Diver of the Year and was the OAC champion in both the 1-meter and 3-meter events, setting a school record in the 1-meter.
Senior Tommie McQueary was the OAC champion in both the 100 and 200 butterfly, setting a new school and OAC record in the 200 (1:48.02).
Senior Austin Kingsley also set a school record in the 200 backstroke with a time of 1:53.31.
After graduating all of these seniors, the men’s swimming and diving team will look to its younger swimmers and divers to step into bigger roles. Nolan Szuch, Kevin Meyer, and Danny Murphy will be team leaders both in the pool and on the board this season.
“We are very excited for this season,” Head coach Laura Demaline said. “We have had a strong start with some great swims early on. Our divers have been doing well on both boards as well… It’s going to be a great year for BWSD!”
The team began its 2025-26 season this weekend at Ohio Wesleyan, and continues this Friday at Ashland.
Women’s swimming and diving
Women’s swimming and diving closed the dual-meet season last year with a record of 8-2 overall, and 4-1 in the OAC. They concluded their run with a second-place finish at the OAC Championships, the highest BW finish since 2005.
Last season was filled with remarkable moments for the team. Diver Makenna Mincey set a BW Natatorium record as a freshman in the 1-meter/11-dive event with a combined total of 482.68 points vs. John Carroll. Mincey was later named the OAC Diver of the Year.
At the OAC Championships, the 200-yard freestyle relay team composed of Amelia Wands, Brooke Radcliffe, Mallory Upcraft, and Kate Harrington set a new school record time of 1:38.61. Mincey also won the 1-meter diving, freshman Emmalie Mitzel placed runner-up in the 1-meter, and sophomore Ella Steen placed third in the 1-meter. Each of these women earned All-OAC honors, including Brooke Radcliffe and Mallory Dondorfer.
Head coach Laura Demaline and her staff were named 2025 OAC Women’s Coaching Staff of the Year.
With a young squad full of returning swimmers and divers, the team once again hopes to compete at the very top of the OAC and elevate their standard year after year.
The team began its 2025-26 season this weekend at Ohio Wesleyan, and continues this Friday at Ashland.
Women’s Wrestling
BW women’s wrestling is coming off their inaugural season in 2024-25. Head coach Mia Rodriguez led the team to a 2-1 dual record and first place in the BW Open. Their signature win came in a 35-16 thrashing of Mount Union, the first home dual win in program history. The women finished in the top half of six of the seven meets they competed in last season.
Lexi Beadle led the Yellow Jackets with 31 victories last season, followed by Leyna Rumpler (21) and Paris Willis and Abby DiCenzo (18). Willis and Gillian Coulson are athletes to watch this upcoming season, as Rodriguez praised their improvement, potential, and leadership. There are six rostered wrestlers for the women’s squad, including four incoming freshmen.
After a solid first season, BW is looking to grow its young talent and become a force in the OAC.
Women’s wrestling kicked off their season this weekend at the John Carroll Round Robin, and continues this upcoming weekend at the Adrian Invitational in Michigan.
Men’s Wrestling
The men’s wrestling team was ranked first in the OAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll, earning six of seven first-place votes.
The team is coming off a successful season in which head coach Jamie Gibbs and his staff were named the OAC coaching staff of the year. The team finished 13-4 in dual matches and fourth overall at the NCAA Championships. The Jackets had eight all-OAC wrestlers last season, the most of any school in the conference. Here are last year’s standouts:
First Team: Dorian Hoffman, Jaden Hinton, Michael Petrella, Andrew Supers, Remington Bauer, Joey Petrella.
Second Team: Robby Palmeri, Manny Scordos.
BW is coming off a phenomenal season, and with a roster as full of talent as the one they have, they are poised to build on that this winter. They began their season this past weekend at the Adrian Invitational, and continue this weekend at Wisconsin-La Crosse.
Women’s Bowling
The women’s bowling team is coming off a tough end to the 2024-2025 campaign. The Jackets finished in the top half of all three OAC tournaments, third place of 11 at Muskingum, and sixth place of 17 at Wright State. However, they ended the season with tournaments at Fresno State and the Collegiate Shootout in Las Vegas. Both featured 38 teams, and BW finished 31st and 33rd, respectively.
Alex Armbruster and Julia Parso were named to the College Sports Communicators Academic At-Large All-District team. Last year, Armbruster totaled 2,942 pins while Parso knocked down a career-high 5,771. Parso holds the program record with 11,233 career pins in just two seasons at BW.
It will be interesting to see if one of the team’s young players can begin to threaten Parso’s record this year.
Men’s Bowling
The 2025-26 men’s bowling season began with a 20-team tournament in Columbus. BW finished in 10th place. If you’re looking to watch the men’s bowlers this season, get ready to travel. Their nearest match is at Muskingum. They play tournaments in Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan this year.
Last season, they finished in the middle of the pack in each of their 10 tournaments. This season, Aiden Compton was the top bowler for the Jackets a couple of weeks ago in Columbus, finishing with a 603 score over three games. BW is hoping for a breakout season for Compton this year. Hunter Brackman was close behind, with a score of 576.
Head coach Paul Ashby and company would like to improve on last year’s results, and their first match was a good start at doing so. The Jackets will bowl next at the Raider Classic at Wright State.
