As a prospective college golfer entering the college application process, Ansley Kang SC ’29 was initially excited to discover Division III schools as an ideal balance between academic focus and athletic performance. Much to her shock, however, DIII athletes are often held to the same standards as Division I athletes, despite much lower student attendance. Kang argues that the reason DIII athletics is often undermined is not a gaping lack of entertainment compared to DI, but because many students don’t care enough to attend a game and see for themselves.
Sports
The NCAA has never marched closer to madness
For years, the men’s NCAA Division I basketball tournament — affectionately dubbed March Madness — has lived up to a simple promise: fans can always expect the unexpected. For three weeks every spring, America keeps one eye on the bracket, anticipating the next Cinderella run, the next buzzer‑beater or the next big upset. Talbott Chesley PO ’28 writes that this year, the competition has kept fans on their toes in a truly spectacular and historical fashion.
Sagehens shake the Quakes, take home victory in minor league exhibition
On March 21, Sagehen Baseball traveled to LoanMart Field in Rancho Cucamonga to take on the Quakes, the Single-A Minor League affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels. The exhibition match-up featured each team’s pitchers throwing to their own batters with the opposing fielders playing defense. Despite the odd circumstances, the Sagehens reveled in the opportunity to be treated like professionals for the day.
Dean Chris Classic brings together campus hoopers in electric fashion
Who needs March Madness when we have the Dean Chris Classic? The 5C’s beloved annual 4v4 streetball tournament is back in full force for the third year in a row, this time with 16 teams. The event was an opportunity for 5C students and faculty to celebrate basketball, and celebrate they did as students danced to music while the DJ himself offered commentary for the games.
Ryan Long PO ’21 pitches in second World Baseball Classic, inches towards ultimate goal of Major League Baseball
Ryan Long PO ’21 recently pitched in his second World Baseball Classic (WBC) for Great Britain, and completed his fourth full season in Minor League Baseball last fall. From striking out MLB all-stars like Randy Arozarena to becoming the third-ever P-P alumnus to reach the Triple-A level, Long shared a conversation with TSL about his time at the WBC and the Baltimore Orioles Organization.
Will Polishuk PO ’28 polishes skills and fortifies will to earn SCIAC Pitcher of the Week
RHP Will Polishuk PO ’28 earned the title of SCIAC Pitcher of the Week for the first time in his career following his dominant performance against Redlands on March 7. Polishuk earned the distinction after overcoming command issues that plagued him in his freshman year, when he posted a 17.05 earned run average (ERA). In stark contrast, Polishuk has rebounded with a 3.54 ERA and 30 strikeouts through five starts so far in this season.
Seminars and scoreboards: Economics of sports
Few economics electives are as popular as Economics of Sports at Pomona College. This spring, Professor Marisa Cameron, an avid football fan herself, is teaching two sections of the upper-division elective. From using data analytics to calculate player value to learning the history of free agency, students like Tara Kamshad PO ’28 use sports as an accessible gateway to the world of economics.
Tentative WNBA CBA offers newfound equity, but it is not enough
The Women’s National Basketball Association’s (WNBA) players live in a strange paradox. They are among the best athletes in the world, performing on national television and representing their sport globally. Yet, financially, they are treated as an afterthought compared to their male counterparts in the NBA.
P-P women’s lacrosse takes late flight, rallying to claim 15th straight over CMS 10-8
On Saturday, March 7, the Pomona-Pitzer (P-P) and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) women’s lacrosse teams met in a game that saw the Sagehens clinch their 15th straight Sixth Street Rivalry win. The Sagehens rallied from a late third-quarter deficit to score four straight in the 10-8 victory. Shelby Stanton PO ’26 was named SCIAC Defensive Player of the Week for her efforts.
Athenas soar past Sagehens in SCIAC semis
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women’s basketball has put an end to their losing streak against Sixth Street rival Pomona-Pitzer, staking a powerful but hard-fought 59-54 win in the SCIAC semifinals on Feb. 26. Despite a 16-0 scoring run at the beginning of the second quarter by the Sagehens, the Athenas held strong to clinch a spot in the SCIAC Championship finals.