Revolutionary Roundup with Michael Lipitz: Excellence In and Out of Competition
3/4/2025 10:01:00 AM | Baseball, Men's Basketball, Men's Swimming and Diving, Softball, Women's Basketball, Women's Lacrosse, Women's Swimming and Diving, Academic Services
Greetings from Foggy Bottom. We call this time of year "crossover" season as it is the special part in the sporting calendar when our winter sports are still competing and striving for championships, while our spring sports have begun their quest for glory. 12 of our teams are currently in their title quest. Before we look ahead at what is to come, it is appropriate to celebrate where we have been.
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCEÂ
At a men's basketball game last month, GW student-athletes who qualified for Athletics' Dean's List were honored. GW President Ellen Granberg and Provost Chris Bracey joined me in celebrating student-athletes who earned a 3.0 or better GPA in the spring or fall of 2024.
Of the 400 student-athletes competing for the university's 20 varsity teams, 82% earned a 3.0 grade point average or higher last semester, as the department achieved a cumulative 3.39 GPA in the fall, after taking home a 3.40 in the spring. As impressively, nearly half of our student-athletes (49%) earned a 3.5+ GPA last semester. Remarkably, 41 notched a perfect 4.0 in the spring of 2024. Our gratitude goes out to the tremendous academic support team and GW faculty & staff who support them on their academic journey.
DOMINANCE IN THE POOL
Once again (and again, and again, and again) our men's and women's swimming & diving teams were simply dominant in the Atlantic 10. In mid-February, we captured a fourth-consecutive double Atlantic 10 title, becoming the first school ever to win both the men's and women's championship in four-consecutive years. The men's team has now won the last five A-10 Championships, and eight of the last nine conference titles, while the women's team has won each of the last four A-10 Championships, and five of the last six conference titles.
Head Coach Chico Rego was named the A-10 Men's Coach of the Year after leading the Revolutionaries back to the promised land in his first year coaching at GW.
Connor Rodgers was named the A-10 Men's Most Outstanding Performer for the second year in a row after a record-setting meet. Rodgers was perfect, setting A-10 records in all three of his events - the 200 IM, 400 IM and 200 fly. Diver Olivia Paquette was named the A-10 Women's Most Outstanding Diver for the second year in a row, helping the women's team regain its crown. Shae Stratton was named the A-10 Men's Most Outstanding Rookie, excelling in the backstroke events. All told, our teams secured 16 gold medals, and 13 of both the silver and bronze variety in yet another showcase of supremacy.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL UPDATE
Caroline McCombs stepped down as head coach of our women's basketball program last week, and Assistant Coach Doug Novak is serving as interim head coach for the duration of this season. We are focusing our efforts on the national search for our next head coach.  GW women's basketball has a proud tradition of excellence, with 18 NCAA Tournament appearances and 23 combined Atlantic 10 regular season and tournament titles, and we are committed to returning the program to the top of the league and to national prominence.
MEN'S BASKETBALL A-10 CHAMPIONSHIP
On the men's side, the road to the NCAA Tournament goes right through our backyard. The A-10 Championship starts at DC's Capital One Arena on Wednesday, March 12th and a Champion will be crowned on Selection Sunday in a 1 p.m. tip-off nationally on CBS. We know we will see you there for a thrilling tournament that is anyone's to win. Secure your tickets here. Our seed and opponent will be announced after the conclusion of all league games on Saturday, March 8th. With 19 wins on the season, the team is one win away from its first 20-win season since 2016-17 so there's no better time to get in the game.
ON THE VERN
On The Vern our softball team is competing under new lights, as we gear up to host the 2025 Atlantic 10 Softball Championship from May 7-10. A special spotlight is also on our lacrosse team, which jumped out to a 5-1 start for the first time in program history, with junior attacker Grace Curry earning A-10 Offensive Player of the Week recognition along the way.
AT THE TUCK
History was made at Tucker Field at Barcroft Park on Sunday, when after falling behind 7-0 to Maine, our Revolutionaries rallied to win in thrilling fashion. Ellis Schwartz whacked a two-run home run in the bottom on the eighth to complete the 10-9 comeback. The home run marked the completion of the first cycle in Ellis' career.
GW baseball home games are free to all so check out the schedule and join us for an upcoming home game.
SAVE THE DATE
The Charles E. Smith Center was officially dedicated on December 6, 1975. Fifty years later this December, we'll celebrate 50 years of memories in our beloved venue in a weekend-long celebration of GW Athletics. This Homecoming Weekend will reunite GW student-athletes from all teams and eras, as we'll also induct a new Hall of Fame class on December 5th, the night before a men's basketball game on the 6th and a women's basketball game that weekend as well. In a wonderful coincidence of timing, the Atlantic 10 is also celebrating 50 years of existence in 2025-26 and we'll be proud to be the last remaining charter member of our iconic league. Women's basketball and volleyball will also be celebrating 50th anniversaries next year as well. Stay tuned for more and be sure to save the date!
HALL OF FAME & HONORING JERSEY
GW Athletics recently introduced a revised Athletics Hall of Fame process in which candidates will be considered following an open nomination process.  Beginning with the upcoming Hall of Fame class of 2025, nominations will be accepted through a standard Hall of Fame Nomination Form on GWsports.com.
We're also announced an exciting new tradition in which former student-athletes and coaches will be considered to have their jersey retired or honored, with the latter recognition enabling the number to remain in circulation. To date, only softball's Elana Meyers Taylor, the most decorated Black athlete in Winter Olympics history, has had her jersey retired. As with the GW Athletics Hall of Fame, nominations for honored and retired jerseys shall be accepted through a standard form available on our website.
Finally, remember to move your clocks ahead this Sunday, March 9 for daylight savings time...always a signal that cherry blossoms season is upon us in Foggy Bottom. Raise High!
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCEÂ
At a men's basketball game last month, GW student-athletes who qualified for Athletics' Dean's List were honored. GW President Ellen Granberg and Provost Chris Bracey joined me in celebrating student-athletes who earned a 3.0 or better GPA in the spring or fall of 2024.
Of the 400 student-athletes competing for the university's 20 varsity teams, 82% earned a 3.0 grade point average or higher last semester, as the department achieved a cumulative 3.39 GPA in the fall, after taking home a 3.40 in the spring. As impressively, nearly half of our student-athletes (49%) earned a 3.5+ GPA last semester. Remarkably, 41 notched a perfect 4.0 in the spring of 2024. Our gratitude goes out to the tremendous academic support team and GW faculty & staff who support them on their academic journey.
DOMINANCE IN THE POOL
Once again (and again, and again, and again) our men's and women's swimming & diving teams were simply dominant in the Atlantic 10. In mid-February, we captured a fourth-consecutive double Atlantic 10 title, becoming the first school ever to win both the men's and women's championship in four-consecutive years. The men's team has now won the last five A-10 Championships, and eight of the last nine conference titles, while the women's team has won each of the last four A-10 Championships, and five of the last six conference titles.
Head Coach Chico Rego was named the A-10 Men's Coach of the Year after leading the Revolutionaries back to the promised land in his first year coaching at GW.
Connor Rodgers was named the A-10 Men's Most Outstanding Performer for the second year in a row after a record-setting meet. Rodgers was perfect, setting A-10 records in all three of his events - the 200 IM, 400 IM and 200 fly. Diver Olivia Paquette was named the A-10 Women's Most Outstanding Diver for the second year in a row, helping the women's team regain its crown. Shae Stratton was named the A-10 Men's Most Outstanding Rookie, excelling in the backstroke events. All told, our teams secured 16 gold medals, and 13 of both the silver and bronze variety in yet another showcase of supremacy.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL UPDATE
Caroline McCombs stepped down as head coach of our women's basketball program last week, and Assistant Coach Doug Novak is serving as interim head coach for the duration of this season. We are focusing our efforts on the national search for our next head coach.  GW women's basketball has a proud tradition of excellence, with 18 NCAA Tournament appearances and 23 combined Atlantic 10 regular season and tournament titles, and we are committed to returning the program to the top of the league and to national prominence.
MEN'S BASKETBALL A-10 CHAMPIONSHIP
On the men's side, the road to the NCAA Tournament goes right through our backyard. The A-10 Championship starts at DC's Capital One Arena on Wednesday, March 12th and a Champion will be crowned on Selection Sunday in a 1 p.m. tip-off nationally on CBS. We know we will see you there for a thrilling tournament that is anyone's to win. Secure your tickets here. Our seed and opponent will be announced after the conclusion of all league games on Saturday, March 8th. With 19 wins on the season, the team is one win away from its first 20-win season since 2016-17 so there's no better time to get in the game.
ON THE VERN
On The Vern our softball team is competing under new lights, as we gear up to host the 2025 Atlantic 10 Softball Championship from May 7-10. A special spotlight is also on our lacrosse team, which jumped out to a 5-1 start for the first time in program history, with junior attacker Grace Curry earning A-10 Offensive Player of the Week recognition along the way.
AT THE TUCK
History was made at Tucker Field at Barcroft Park on Sunday, when after falling behind 7-0 to Maine, our Revolutionaries rallied to win in thrilling fashion. Ellis Schwartz whacked a two-run home run in the bottom on the eighth to complete the 10-9 comeback. The home run marked the completion of the first cycle in Ellis' career.
GW baseball home games are free to all so check out the schedule and join us for an upcoming home game.
SAVE THE DATE
The Charles E. Smith Center was officially dedicated on December 6, 1975. Fifty years later this December, we'll celebrate 50 years of memories in our beloved venue in a weekend-long celebration of GW Athletics. This Homecoming Weekend will reunite GW student-athletes from all teams and eras, as we'll also induct a new Hall of Fame class on December 5th, the night before a men's basketball game on the 6th and a women's basketball game that weekend as well. In a wonderful coincidence of timing, the Atlantic 10 is also celebrating 50 years of existence in 2025-26 and we'll be proud to be the last remaining charter member of our iconic league. Women's basketball and volleyball will also be celebrating 50th anniversaries next year as well. Stay tuned for more and be sure to save the date!
HALL OF FAME & HONORING JERSEY
GW Athletics recently introduced a revised Athletics Hall of Fame process in which candidates will be considered following an open nomination process.  Beginning with the upcoming Hall of Fame class of 2025, nominations will be accepted through a standard Hall of Fame Nomination Form on GWsports.com.
We're also announced an exciting new tradition in which former student-athletes and coaches will be considered to have their jersey retired or honored, with the latter recognition enabling the number to remain in circulation. To date, only softball's Elana Meyers Taylor, the most decorated Black athlete in Winter Olympics history, has had her jersey retired. As with the GW Athletics Hall of Fame, nominations for honored and retired jerseys shall be accepted through a standard form available on our website.
Finally, remember to move your clocks ahead this Sunday, March 9 for daylight savings time...always a signal that cherry blossoms season is upon us in Foggy Bottom. Raise High!
Players Mentioned
A
/ Women's Lacrosse
Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
IM/Butterfly/Breaststroke
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
OF
/ Baseball
Backstroke
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