With today being the last day of 2025, we look back at the calendar year of Randolph Athletics. There were significant wins, record setting performances, and notable achievements. Today is the first of two parts starting with January of 2025.
January
Women's Basketball Defeats Lynchburg
The women's basketball team defeated the Hornets 62-59. Randolph was up by double digits in the fourth quarter until Lynchburg came back to take the lead with 5:38 remaining. The WildCats were able to come back and win the game due to a 10-5 run. Kylie Stark led the team with 19 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals.
Men's Volleyball First Program Victory
The men's volleyball program played a pair of matches in Frederick, Md to begin their inaugural campaign. The WildCats defeated Hood 3-0 in the team's second match to secure the program's first ever victory.
Shopbell breaks 1,650 Record at Randolph-Macon
In a dual meet at Randolph-Macon, Evan Shopbell came in first place in the 1,650 freestyle with a time of 17:43.38 to set a new school record
February
Men's Basketball Double OT Win over Averett
Randolph trailed by 10 points with 2:40 remaining in regulation at Averett. The WildCats responded with a 12-3 run that ended with a game-tying layup by Bryce Watlington with 30 seconds left to send the game into overtime. With just over a second left in the second overtime period, Rayvon Graham made a long field goal just inside the arc to lift the 'Cats to victory.
Men's Basketball Sets Program Scoring Record
Randolph hosted Regent in their penultimate home game. The team put on an offensive clinic with a dominant 120-94 win over Warren Wilson. The 120 points scored by the WildCats are the most in program history
Jordan Phillips-McLoyd Named to ODAC Third Team
Jordan Phillips-McLoyd was selected to the ODAC Men's Basketball Third Team. It was his first All-Conference selection. Phillips-McLoyd had a career season for the WildCats as he scored 498 points and averaged just a tenth of a point below 20 points (19.9) for the season. Phillips-McLoyd had his best field goal percentage this season as he was 158-of-360 (43.9%) and a career-best 139-of-161 (86.3%) from the free throw line. He also had career highs in rebounds (96), assists (87), and steals (28).
Kylie Stark Named ODAC Scholar-Athlete/First Team
Kylie Stark capped off her Randolph playing career with her fifth All-ODAC Selection. She was also named the ODAC Scholar Athlete of the Year for the first time
Men's Volleyball's First ODAC Victory
The Randolph men's volleyball team hosted Averett at Giles Gymnasium. The WildCats defeated the Cougars 3-0 (25-12, 25-12, 25-15) to secure their first ever ODAC victory.
Men's Swimming breaks 800 freestyle record at ODAC Championships
On the first day of competition at the ODAC Championships, the Randolph men's 800 free relay team of Milo Fagan, Evan Shopbell, Ben Hiss, and Ian Russell swam a time of 7:18 to break the school record that the quad had set just a few months prior.
Spuchesi Breaks 400 IM Record at ODAC Championships
In the finals of the 400 IM at the ODAC Championships, Katelyn Spuchesi from the women's swimming team broke her own record that she set in the prelims with a time of 4:53.59.
March
Men's 4x400 Relay Team Breaks Record at Indoor Track Championships
The men's 4x400 meter relay team consisting of Colby Lambert, Kendric Love, Christian Humes, and Eric West set a new meet and school record time of 3:21.79 to be crowned ODAC Champions.
Four WildCats Earn Men's Indoor Track All-Conference and All-Region Honors
Eric West made the ODAC Second Team in the 400 meters and Third Team in the 200 meters. Colby Lambert earned Third Team honors in the 400 meters. The 4x400 meter relay team of Lambert, Kendric Love, Christian Humes and West were named to the First Team.
Justin Porter Places Sixth at NCAA Regionals
In the 125-weight class at the Men's Wrestling NCAA Regionals hosted by Averett, Justin Porter had the highest result for the WildCats with a sixth-place finish. He scored 12 points for Randolph on the day.
Softball Shuts Out Roanoke; First Win in Salem in Eight Years
The Randolph softball team played an ODAC doubleheader at Roanoke. While the WildCats dropped the first game to the Maroons 5-0, they rebounded to win the second game 7-0. That victory marked the first for Randolph over Roanoke since 2017. Austyn Moran pitched a complete game shutout in the circle for the 'Cats.
Men's Tennis Defeats Guilford for First Time
The men's tennis team hosted Guilford for its first home match of the spring. The match came down to the wire as WildCats won 4-3 marking the first ever win over the Quakers in the 17th match between the two schools. Jason Duval had the clinching match win at sixth singles.
Bruce Reid Named Permanent Women's Lacrosse Head Coach
After serving as interim coach since the fall, Bruce Reid had his interim tag lifted and named to the position permanently. "Coach Reid has provided incredible leadership and stability to our women's lacrosse program over the last six months in his interim role," said Director of Athletics Tom Galbraith. "Randolph is fortunate to have a coach with his experience, expertise, and history of success to permanently build this program. Elevating Bruce into the permanent role was an easy decision to make."
April
Men's Volleyball Defeats Lynchburg on Senior Day
The men's volleyball team closed out their inaugural season with a 3-0 win over the University of Lynchburg at Giles Gymnasium. Mats Beentjes led the team with nine kills and tied for the team lead in digs with seven.
Men's Volleyball Has Two Named to All-ODAC Team
Mats Beentjes was named to the ODAC Second Team and Shamel Smith to the Third Team. Beentjes' 266 kills ranked sixth in the ODAC while his 209 digs were seventh. Smith was third on the team in kills with 207.
STUNT Records First program wins
The Randolph STUNT team picked up their first program wins with a pair of victories over Gallaudet at the East Stroudsburg Tournament. Their wins were 4-2, and 5-3 respectively.
Men's Lax defeats Warren Wilson on Senior Day
The men's lacrosse team earned a commanding 19-2 victory over Warren Wilson on Senior Day. Leyton Brightly scored nine goals to lead the WildCats.
Softball Wins at Randolph-Macon for first time since 2017
Randolph defeated the Yellow Jackets 6-5 in 10 innings in the first game of a doubleheader. It was the WildCats' first win over Randolph-Macon since 2017. Chesney Shook's RBI single in the top of the 10th inning gave the WildCats the lead. Rylee Humble pitched all 10 innings tossing 127 pitches. She allowed just two earned runs and struck out one batter
Men's Tennis Receives National Ranking from ITA
The Intercollegiate Tennis Association released the Division III Men's Computerized Team Rankings. The Randolph men were ranked 59th out of 75 programs for the first time in program history.
Men's Tennis Upsets Hampden-Sydney in ODAC Quarterfinals
The sixth seeded Randolph men's tennis team traveled to third seeded Hampden-Sydney for the quarterfinals of the ODAC Tournament. Randolph led 1-0 after doubles and went on to claim three matches in singles play as the WildCats upset the Tigers 4-2. For Randolph, it marked the program's first ever win in the ODAC Tournament. The four points won by the WildCats were also the first ever scored in the tournament in the history of the program.
Lena Kersten Regionally Ranked
Lena Kersten from the women's tennis team was ranked #11 in the Atlantic South region. Her ranking was the highest for a Randolph women's tennis player since Rashanna Moss was #13 in 1999.
Women's Tennis Upsets Sweet Briar in ODAC Quarters
The sixth seeded WildCats upset the third-seeded Vixens 4-2. The victory snapped a five-match winless streak to the Vixens and is the first against them since 2019. It is also Randolph's first win in the ODAC Tournament since 2019.
Women's Lacrosse defeats Sweet Briar
Behind a dominant offensive performance and a lockdown defensive effort, the Randolph College women's lacrosse team earned its first win of the season in convincing fashion, defeating Sweet Briar 13-3. Jaci Moore scored four goals and added two assists to lead the WildCats.
