ST. LOUIS, Mo. – As we turn the page on another calendar year, we look back on some of the most memorable moments for the Washington University in St. Louis Athletic Department in 2024. Although every moment as a Bear family is special, here are some of our favorite memories.
1 – Two National Championships
- The women's outdoor track and field team won the program's second national title to close out the 2023-24 academic year, racking up 71 points as a team. The Bears won four individual national titles across the three-day competition, out-pacing second place by more than twenty points. A total of 18 athletes earned All-America honors including 14 on the first team. For the second-straight year, the program was named USTFCCCA Program of the Year.
- The women's soccer team won WashU's most recent national championship, ending the calendar year in a big way with the program's second national title on Dec. 8, 2024. After maintaining a No. 1 all season, the Bears defeated William Smith 3-0 in the title game. In six postseason games, WashU allowed just one goal, recording five shutouts. First-year Olivia Clemons was named All-Tournament Offensive Player while graduate goalkeeper Sidney Conner, graduate defender Ally Hackett and junior forward Grace Ehlert were named to the All-Tournament Team.
2 –
Emma Kelley Wins Four Individual National Championships (one indoor, three outdoor)
- Emma Kelley won the 800-meter at the Indoor National Championships with a time of 2:04.13, breaking the previous record Division III record set in 2022 (2:05.39).
- At the Outdoor National Championships, she won the 400m with a personal best and a new program record of 53.73. Less than an hour later, she was back on the track to win the 800m with a 2:06.02.
- She capped off the championships with a 4x400 title alongside teammates Kylie Spytek, Danielle Schultz and Cate Christopher, running a 3:44.69. It was the first-ever 4x400 relay national title in program history for outdoor.
- Kelley was named the USTFCCCA National Women's Track Athlete of the Year for outdoor.
- She was named USTFCCCA Midwest Region Track Athlete of the Year for indoor.
3 – Individual National Championships
- Emma Kelley won four national titles across indoor and outdoor track and field (see above).
- Current senior Yasmin Ruff won the women's outdoor track and field pole vault national title with a personal-best vault of 4.06m. She was just the second Bear in outdoor program history to win a pole vault crown and the first since 2014.
- Women's Track and Field 4x400 Relay – Emma Kelley, Danielle Schultz, Kylie Spytek and Cate Christopher claimed the program's first-ever outdoor 4x400 title, running a time of 3:44.69.
- Alex McCormick wrapped up his swimming career for WashU with a national title in the 200 backstroke. It marked the 11th individual title in men's swimming and diving program history and the first since 2019. McCormick swam a program record 1:43.40 title to claim the crown.
4 – National Coaches/Coaching Staff of the Year
- WashU Women's Tennis Coach Paige Madara was named the 2024 ITA National Coach of the Year after leading the WashU women's tennis team to the NCAA Elite 8 for the sixth time in program history and the first time since 2017. She is the second National Coach of the Year in program history.
- Women's track and field head coach Jeff Stiles was named the USTFCCCA National Women's Coach of the Year following the outdoor season after leading the Bears to their second national title in program history. It was the second time he received this honor for outdoor and the sixth time in his career across cross country and indoor/outdoor track and field.
- Assistant Coach Gordon Reiter was named the USTFCCCA National Women's Assistant Coach of the Year for both indoor and outdoor seasons. Reiter primarily coaches the middle-distance runners, including Emma Kelley who won four national titles and the 4x400 relay which won the outdoor national crown.
- The women's soccer coaching staff was named United Soccer Coaches National Coaching Staff of the Year. Head coach Jim Conlon and assistant coaches Brandon Santel and Amanda Kesler led the Bears to the program's second national title, setting several new program records along the way. It is the second time Conlon and his staff have earned the distinction, first being awarded the honor in 2018.
5 – Bears Win Two Elite 90s
- This award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's 90 championships.
- Alex McCormick won the Elite 90 for men's swimming and diving. He majored in mechanical engineering with a 4.0 GPA and was the first person in swimming and diving program history to win the award.
- Sophomore Regan Cannon most recently won the Elite 90 for women's soccer, becoming the first person in program history to earn the award. She holds a 4.0 GPA.
6 – WashU Hires Two New Head Coaches
- On March 7, 2024 Andrew Bordelon was named the seventh head coach in men's soccer program history. He came to WashU from Division I University of Wisconsin where he served as the assistant men's soccer coach and recruiting coordinator since February 2022.
- On August 22, 2024, Lisa Stone was announced as the fourth head coach in women's basketball program history. She came to WashU following a 10-year tenure as nearby Division I Saint Louis University. Before coming to the Danforth Campus, she had built up a record of 667-375 over a 36-year career. Stone brings to WashU a record of 667-375 over an impressive 37-year career.
7 –
Softball Hosts Program's First-Ever Regional
- The Bears earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament and were selected to host the program's first-ever NCAA Regional from May 16-18. WashU fell to Greenville in game one but rallied for two wins against Grinnell and Greenville to reach the regional final.
8 – Conference/Regional Coaching Staff of the Year
9 – Career Milestones
- Multiple Bears hit career milestones during the 2024 calendar year.
- Current men's basketball senior Hayden Doyle hit 1,000 career points on March 1, 2024 in an NCAA Tournament win over Wisconsin Luthera
- WashU volleyball senior Jasmine Sells became the 10th person in program history to reach 1,000 kills and 1,000 dig
- Women's basketball graduate guard Jessica Brooks hit 1,000 career points on Nov. 16, 2024 against Saint Mary's
- Men's basketball head coach Pat Juckem reached 300 career wins on Nov. 19, 2024 with a victory over Webster
- Volleyball junior Sam Buckley reached 4,000 career assists on Nov. 21, 2024 against the College of Saint Benedict in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, making her the fifth person in program history to reach the milestone
10 – Eight Bears Earn
Academic All-America Honors
We look forward to seeing you and cheering on the Bears for many more accomplishments in 2025!
