Looking ahead: Athletes gear up for spring competition
Looking ahead: Athletes gear up for spring competition
February 20, 2024
Senior righthander Mike Shannon brings experience to the mound for Rowan's baseball team this season. Most spring teams recently began competition.
As Rowan University’s spring sports teams prepare for their 2024 season, here’s a look at each squad.
The 2024 Profs are ranked 14th in the D3Baseball.com Top 25 and return five of their top six hitters from last year’s squad. In 2023, Rowan went 33-15 and advanced to the NCAA Super Regional after capturing the NCAA Annville (PA) Regional. The Profs also won their third straight New Jersey Athletic Conference regular-season title.
Head coach Mike Dickson will rely on All-American center fielder Phil Sedalis and seniors Tyler Cannon, Anthony Schooley and Dylan Maria to key the offense. Sedalis was one of the top hitters in the nation last year with his team-best .413 average and was an All-Conference First Team selection along with Schooley and Maria.
Leading the pitching staff is senior righthander Mike Shannon, who was an All-Conference Second Team selection with a 5-2 record. The Profs also return starters Jake Reese and Matt Choi and will have 11 newcomers who will be vying for time on the mound.
"We return six to nine starters on offense as well as three of our starting pitchers. We have a chance to be really good if our young pitchers develop,” Dickson said.
The Profs opened their season at home on Feb. 23 against Cairn.
Rowan entered the season picked second in the NJAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll, coming off a year in which it went 14-5 overall and 4-1 in conference play, and reaching the NJAC championship game for the second straight year.
“We are prepared to continue to improve both strategically as well as physically. We look forward to the challenges in front of us this year as we graduated a large class. Our senior and junior classes will combine to give us the leadership and talent necessary to be as successful. We hope to have learned from the past and push forward better than ever,” said head coach Lindsay Delaney.
Reigning NJAC Midfielder of the Year and two-time All-Conference honoree Molly Green leads the returnees. Green ranked in the top three in the NJAC in ground balls per game (2.63), and draw controls per game (5.37), while scoring 55 points (30 goals, 25 assists) for the Profs.
Sophomore Elaina Corson is the team’s leading returning scorer after notching 60 points (47 goals, 13 assists) in her rookie year. The Profs also welcome back senior co-captains Hannah Lombardo and Sophia Schiavo, as well as All-Conference defender Katie Montenero.
The Profs opened their season on the road at Drew on Feb. 21. They faced Ursinus in the home opener on Feb. 24.
Coming off a stellar season which saw it reach the NCAA Finals for the seventh time in school history, the Rowan softball team entered 2024 ranked fifth in the nation. Last year’s squad tied the school mark for wins with a 42-10 record, won the NCAA Marietta Regional and the NCAA Ashland Super Regional.
Head coach Kim Wilson, a 2023 inductee into the National Fastpitch Coaches Hall of Fame, leads a squad with 13 returnees and seven newcomers. The team is ranked first in the NJAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
“We're excited to build on the success of last year's team. I am looking forward to seeing our rookie players mesh with our returners. We have an experienced and talented group, and I'm excited to see what this season brings,” said Wilson, who is one of the winningest coaches in NCAA Division III.
Leading the way is junior All-American and the 2023 NJAC Pitcher of the Year Rylee Lutz, who topped the league in both wins (24) and strikeouts (186).
The offense will be led by All-Conference First Team selections Liz McCaffery, Payton MacNair and McKenzie Melvin, and Cat Thomas, who topped the conference in RBI (47) and home runs (9).
Rowan opened its season at home on Feb. 27 against SUNY-Oneonta.
The men’s track and field team is stocked with key returnees and potential impact transfers as the Profs look to remain among the top teams in the nation. Last year’s squad finished third at the NCAA Championships and captured the NJAC title for the ninth consecutive year.
“We are looking to contend for an NCAA title as we return the majority of our team from last year. We should be a favorite to try and capture our sixth team NCAA title (in school history), while also looking for another NJAC championship. We have a great returning group that includes a number of guys ready to take the next step, as well as multiple freshmen and transfers who should make an immediate impact,” said head coach Dustin Dimit.
Rowan's returnees are led by junior All-Americans Nana Agyemang (long jump, 200m, relays), Amara Conte (200m, 400m, relays) and Marquise Young (110 & 400m hurdles), a trio which has combined to earn All-American status 18 times.
Additional returning All-Americans are Kwaku Nkrumah (110 hurdles), Jarquil Young (400, relays), Evan Corcoran (100, 200) and Shamar Love (100, 200, relays) as well as NCAA qualifiers Jason Agyemang (110 & 400 hurdles), Kevin Armstrong (javelin) and Ian Bain (discus).
Rowan opens the season with its only home meet of the year, the Oscar Moore Invitational, on March 23 at Coach Richard Wackar Stadium and on the West Campus.
The women’s track and field team has high expectations as a number of key returnees, coupled with talented newcomers, are looking to carry the success achieved during the indoor season into the outdoor campaign.
“We’re looking to build on the momentum we’ve created in the indoor season. We’re about to send 13 to 15 athletes to indoor regionals, so I expect us to send about 15 to 20 to the outdoor regionals. Our women have been extremely consistent with their output in practice and in the weight room,” said interim head coach Liz Madden.
The excitement surrounding the Profs is fueled by the return of multiple All-Americans in the sprints – Molly Lodge, Nevaeh Lorjuste, Jasmine Broadway, and Kat Pedersen – as well as All-American Izzy Deal in the throws.
The 4x400 relay will be looking to repeat as All-Americans. That group placed eighth at the NCAA Championships in 2023, earning All-America status for the first time in school history. The distance medley relay also will be one to watch as it comes off a successful indoor season, while Rowan’s distance runners have become very competitive at the national level and Madden is excited to see their transition into the spring season.
The Profs will open the outdoor season March 23 by hosting the only home meet of the year, the Oscar Moore Invitational, which will be held at both Coach Richard Wackar Stadium and the West Campus.