Serving as WSN’s sports editor this past academic year, I was given the opportunity to watch and report on NYU’s sports scene — whether from a front row seat or on a livestream in the newsroom. Believe it or not, NYU is a sports school, currently ranked No. 2 out of 278 schools in the Learfield Directors’ Cup Division III standings, and I am so grateful to give the sports community here a spotlight. From helping spearhead the Under the Arch magazine’s Sports Issue to hosting In the Huddle podcasts and breaking championship title news, I’ve had the honor of getting to know our incredibly talented and multifaceted student-athletes and the staff that keeps the university’s athletics department going. These are my top five moments from NYU Athletics during the 2024-25 season.
WSN was fortunate enough to cover the highs and lows of the wrestling team this year, and having the opportunity to write about NYU’s successful wrestling program was special. One of my favorite highs was senior Cooper Pontelandolfo’s runner-up finish to the season, earning him All-America honors for the fourth consecutive year. He is the only NYU wrestler to achieve this in program history, and it was an incredible moment at the NCAA tournament.
At a Division III school, the community created within a team can be the most important takeaway. NYU Athletics holds six student-athlete affinity groups, and two of the women’s soccer team captains ran the LGBTQ+ affinity group this past season. They put together a Pride Night game for the soccer team — in which NYU defeated the University of Chicago 2-0 — and co-captain and affinity group president and senior Bryce Chan scored her first collegiate goal. It was so special for Chan, the team and everyone watching in the stands and at home, and it is a moment that will stick with me forever.
One of the first articles I wrote for WSN was the 2024 men’s UVC championship win, and writing about the second consecutive win this year was so special. This season was a memorable one, with milestones including head coach Jose Pina’s 445th win with the Violets, the UVC Libero of the Year and Co-Player of the Year both coming from NYU and the team making it to the Elite Eight for the second consecutive season. The conference victory was indicative of the team’s efforts and was a great moment to cover.
With the men’s basketball team tied with UChicago and just 0.5 seconds left on the clock, sophomore Hampton Sanders inbounded the ball to graduate student Brock Susko, who scored a career-defining buzzer-beater, securing the win. I’ve never heard the Paulson Center roar so loudly as this moment, and the team’s and fans’ excitement was palpable.
Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams had record-breaking and incredibly special seasons, capped off at home by each team being able to host a round of the NCAA tournament — something said about very few schools in the NCAA. Watching the basketball culture at NYU grow has been gratifying, and I’m excited to see the direction it continues to go.
Both the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams placed high at the NCAA championship. The women’s team broke program records and placed second, led by two-time Swimmer of the Year junior Kaley McIntyre. The men’s team followed in a record-matching fourth place, and graduating swimmers like senior Connor Vincent voiced immense pride in the program’s growth over the past few years. Following the swimming and diving teams has been super exciting this season, and I’m excited to see how the programs continue to grow.
WSN has given me so much: A platform to share my opinions, an avenue to meet incredible people and share their stories and some of my best friends and biggest inspirations. I am so excited to return to the newsroom in a different role, and continue to watch everyone thrive.
Journalists never reveal their biases, but I’m excited to cheer for the Violets.
Contact Sidney Snider at [email protected].
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A letter from WSN’s sports editor – Washington Square News
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