Some seasons, the stars just align—or you make them, with grit, determination, and teamwork. With six varsity teams and two club sports reaching national championships, earning All-American and All-MIAC honors, winning awards for excellence in academics and leadership, it was a triumphant year for the Macalester Athletics Department.
Athletics Director Donnie Brooks says, “There’s an unmistakable current running through Macalester Athletics right now. From varsity teams to club rosters, the culture has fundamentally shifted. We’ve traded hope for expectation, rallying behind a single, defiant question: Why not us?”
Baseball
This year, the baseball team broke the school record for wins—becoming the first team in the program’s history to win thirty games—on their tear to winning the MIAC Playoffs and advancing to the NCAA Championships, both for the second time. The Scots earned their first NCAA Tournament victory at the regional, defeating Luther 14-5. Eight players were selected to the All-MIAC team, and head coach Matt Parrington was named the MIAC Coach of the Year.
Infielder Holden Peacock ’27 said of the year, “I am very proud of what the team has done this season! We put in a lot of hard work on and off the field, and it was an amazing opportunity to represent Macalester in the conference and national tournaments.”
Men’s Soccer
In a historic feat, the men’s soccer team beat St. Olaf in November’s MIAC Playoffs championship game—the team’s thirteenth MIAC title and first since 2015; and their thirteenth NCAA Tournament appearance, their first since 2015. The team won two games in the NCAA Tournament in front of boisterous crowds at John Leaney Field at Macalester Stadium to advance to the Sweet 16. The Scots wrapped up their season with a resounding seventeen victories, the second-most in the program’s history.
Midfielder Kasdan Blattman ʼ27 said of the NCAA home games, “Seeing that large of a home crowd was truly inspiring; they were our 12th man. Knowing the Macalester community was behind us gave us that extra push to get us over the line in big moments.”
Blattman and forward Ondieki Maina ʼ26 were named All-Americans, the first men’s soccer All-Americans since 2010, and the first time since 1990 Macalester has had two All-Americans in the same year.
Cross Country
In November, Ingrid Norquist ʼ27 and Kate Fox ʼ28 competed in the NCAA Division III Women’s Cross Country Championships, marking the first time since 1983 Macalester has had two runners qualify for nationals as individuals. The last runner to qualify was Kimber Meyer ʼ17 ten years ago.
Norquist took sixth in the MIAC Championships and ninth at the NCAA North Region Meet to earn All-MIAC and All-Region accolades; she was also recognized with the MIAC Elite 22 Award. Men’s cross country runner Tyler Edwards ʼ26 earned All-MIAC honors for the second year in a row and also received the MIAC Elite 22 Award.
Women’s Swim & Dive
In March, diver Ainsley Kashatus ʼ29 finished thirteenth to receive an All-American honorable mention at the NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships. She is Macalester’s first women’s diver to earn the honor since 2014.
Indoor Track & Field
In the men’s division, John Ihrke ʼ28 finished ninth in the 800 meters NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championship, setting a new personal best time and earning a spot on the All-American second team.
In the women’s division, Ariella Rogahn-Press ʼ28 was named an All-American for the fourth time in her career after taking third in 400 meters at the same championship and eleventh in the 200 meters. Breaking the MIAC Championships and facility records with her time, she was named the MIAC Track & Field Athlete of the Year.
Water Polo
The Scots won the CWPA Tournament for the first time since 2019 and advanced to the national tournament for the first time in the program’s history. Jess Palmer-Sammons ʼ26 was named CWPA MVP for the second year in a row, placing her on the All-CWPA first team, and earned All-American honors along with teammates Jayden Kratt ʼ26 and Reese Winegar ʼ29.
Club Ultimate Frisbee
Both the Women’s/All-Inclusive team, the Pursesnatchers, and the Men’s/Open team, Flat Earth, headed to the USA Ultimate Division III College Championships, the first time for Flat Earth.
In March, Flat Earth teammates and brothers Owen and Kyle Suelflow ʼ26 signed contracts with the Minnesota Wind Chill, St. Paul’s professional ultimate team.
Leadership Excellence
In March, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) recognized Donnie Brooks, Macalester College associate vice president for Student Affairs/director of Athletics, with the NACDA Athletic Director of the Year Award. He is one of four NCAA Division III athletics directors to receive the award.
Brooks was also recently named to the board of directors of the National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators; is currently a member of the NCAA Division III Management Council; and has been a member of the Minority Opportunities in Athletics Association (MOAA) since 2011.
