May 25, 2025

Biery National Champion, Mejico Wins her 11th All-American Award to Lead Colby at NCAA Championships

Colby's Track & Field teams capped an amazing season with All-American awards in five events, including a national champion, at the NCAA Division III Championships in Geneva, Ohio. The men's team placed 21st out of 78 qualified teams, while the women's team finished 24th. The Mules were the top performing NESCAC school on the men's side, and the second on the women's side just three points behind Conn. College.

Levi Biery turned heads when he cruised to a 2nd place ranking in the prelims Thursday and dialed it up a notch to claim first in Saturday's finals, more than two-tenths of a second ahead of the second place finisher. "Levi was composed, and stayed within himself battling a tight group coming off hurdle eight," said head coach David Cusano. "Even after stumbling a bit when he hit hurdle nine, he kept it together and finished with poise to earn himself the national title."

Senior Fiona Mejico claimed second in the women's 400m Hurdles, and was a key member in the 4x100 and 4x400 Relay teams, earning her 9th, 10th, and 11th career All-American awards. "What an amazing performance by Fiona and her teammates," continued Cusano. "With 11 All-American awards in her four years, she is the most decorated athlete in the history of the women's program. We couldn't be more proud of her contributions to her team and to Colby."

Results:

• Men's 400m Hurdles - 1st Levi Biery (52.26)
• Men's 4x400 Relay - 10th Jackson Coelho, Peter Martel, Biery, Ren Zanze (3:15.65)
• Women's 400m Hurdles - 2nd Fiona Mejico (59.23)
• Women's 100m - 19th Simone Waheed (12.03)
• Women's 4x100 Relay - Tally Zeller, Mejico, Waheed, Charlotte Brake-Hoffman (46.63)
• Women's 4x400 Relay - Zeller, Olivia Doherty, Kaitlyn Ewald, Mejico (3:45.31)

The definition of high performance is being at your best when your best is required. This group was certainly at its best. - head coach David Cusano

Women's Lacrosse Falls in Overtime of NCAA Final Four

Colby's Women's Lacrosse team took their storied run of 2025 all the way to the Final Four in Salem, Virginia where they met three-time defending national champion Middlebury College. The Mules and the Panthers were no strangers to each other, meeting up yearly in the NESCAC regular season and oftentimes in the conference playoffs, including a 12-11 Middlebury victory this season early in April. The stage was set for a thriller, and the two talented squads did not disappoint.

Middlebury struck first, and extended their lead to 5-2 through the first frame. Colby won the second quarter to close the deficit to 7-5 at the break. A stellar third quarter brought the Mules even at eight goals apiece heading into the fourth, with many more fireworks in ahead.

Middlebury would go up by two goals with 3:33 left to play, but Gennie Littlejohn brought the Mules within one score moments later. After strong defensive stands on both sides, Colby regained possession with a minute to play and charged into Middlebury's end. A turnover with 45 seconds remaining appeared to have sunk Colby's final hopes, but first-year Gisele Uva made a remarkable play intercepting the Panthers' clear attempt to give the Mules one final chance. After a give-and-go with Olivia Kraus, Uva one-timed the return feed for her first collegiate score, sending the battle into overtime.

In the extra period, goalkeeper Jillian Kane made the biggest stop of her career, turning away a free position shot by national Player of the Year Hope Shue, keeping the Mules in the battle. Colby was unable to muster a scoring opportunity, and on Middlebury's next possession the well experienced Panthers were able to find the back of the net for the deciding score 13-12, sending them to the finals for the fourth straight year. The Panthers would defeat Tufts in the championship game 10-9.

Julia Jardina led the Mules with five goals on the day to end her record breaking season with 71 goals on the year. Ainsley Dion contributed two goals in the contest followed by five different Mules with a goal apiece.

The Final Four appearance marks Colby's best-ever finish in the NCAA tournament, and their 17 wins sets a new program record. Jardina ends her career with multiple program records, including career draw controls and goals scored in a season. Colby's high ranking of #3 is also their best in program history.

Everyone was truly bought in, I don't think I could have of asked any more of the seniors in particular because they knew the standard and lived it, but then to have them bring those first-years into the core, into the culture along the way, it sets this program up for more and more future success. - head coach Karen Henning

Cohen Comes up Short in First Round of NCAA Individual Championships

Senior Jake Cohen of the Colby Men's Tennis team went up against Chakor Rajendra of Johns Hopkins for the first round of the NCAA DIII Individual Championship at the Biszantz Family Tennis Center in Claremont on Friday.

After winning a tight battle in a 7-6 opening set, Cohen could not find a second set victory losing the next set 6-3 and final set 6-1. Cohen finishes his final collegiate season with an impressive 12-9 singles record.

Colby Men's Tennis will be back in action this Fall.

Men's Crew to Compete in IRA Championships

Stay connected to Colby Athletics at www.colbyathletics.com to follow the Men's Crew team as they compete at the IRA National Championships held in Camden, N.J. May 30-June 1.