The academic semester is currently on pause for Spring Break, and after three months of hitting the books, students can enjoy a brief respite from the everyday demands of college life.
Most students, that is.
Queens College student-athletes who participate in Spring sports are now in the stretch runs of their respective seasons. For them, this is hardly a time for rest.
This time of year is when student-athletes are asked to lock in mentally and focus at their highest levels in order to maximize their performances on the track, court, or field. All these athletes deserve our support!
With that being said, it is important to recognize the most recent update of each QC squad’s success and look at what lies ahead for them in the immediate future. The most important thing to note is how we can all best support our Knights.
Please note that information has been taken from the QC Athletics page (https://queensknights.com/) and the East Coast Conference (ECC) page (https://www.eccsports.org/).
This writing and all statistics, standings, and weekly awards included are as of Thursday, April 25th at 8pm.
Women’s Tennis:
Current ECC Poll Ranking: First out of six
Notes: The women’s tennis team sits at the top of the ECC as a result of their undefeated (5-0) in conference record during the Fall. The team earned an 8-1 overall record during the Fall part of their schedule, but unfortunately the one loss was when the Knights fell in the 2023 ECC Women’s Tennis Championship to St. Thomas Aquinas in October.
The Knights have endured a tough Spring schedule that has included matchups against Division I opponents Fordham University and Stony Brook University in an effort to return to the NCAA Women’s Tennis Tournament, which takes place in May.
They concluded the Spring with 5-3 second half record, culminating in a 7-0 sweep in their last game over the Post University Eagles. Women’s tennis has concluded their regular season with a 13-4 record overall. And after missing the tournament last year for the first time following 21 consecutive appearances, the Knights hope to hear their team get called to the Big Dance again.
Upcoming News: After concluding their regular season 13-4 overall, the women’s tennis squad will now wait for the NCAA Women’s Tennis Selection Show, set for the evening of Monday, May 6th to see if they will play in the tournament. The Knights have been ranked in the ITA National Rankings as highly as 22nd this Spring, and currently sit at 26th.
Outdoor Track and Field:
Current ECC Poll Ranking: Fifth out of seven (men’s) and seventh out of eight (women’s)
Notes: Do not let these low conference rankings fool you. Coach Greg Welch’s groups have been competing all season. After both the men’s and women’s teams saw themselves sitting outside the top 25 in Week 1 of the East Region Poll, both have ranked in the top 25 every week since. The men rank 21st and the women rank 22nd in the most recent Week 5 East Region Poll.
The squads most notably swept all ECC Athletes of the Week honors in Week 2 for their performances in the QCC Relays.
Junior John Ray was named Track Athlete of the Week for the men after winning the 10,000m, while junior Fabian Tan took home Field Athlete of the Week for winning the javelin. On the women’s side, senior Fatima Morrobel was named Track Athlete of The Week after winning the 400m with a career-best time of 1:02.87; she also won the Sprint Medley Relay that weekend. Sophomore Madelyn McMath won Field Athlete of the Week after placing third in the javelin and fourth in the shot put.
The Knights even swept the Honor Roll spots. Freshman Diara Guy placed second in two separate events, earning him the spot for the men. For the women, senior Khareena Primus won the 100m and tied for first with Morrobel in the Sprint Medley Relay, which earned the Honor Roll acknowledgement.
Most recently, the track teams competed in back-to-back days, first at the Jack Maloney Invitational hosted by Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven on Saturday, April 20th, then in the Pratt Invitational on Sunday the 21st. The Pratt Invitational was hosted on the Queens College campus by Pratt Institute.
Ray’s and Primus’ performances at the two events over the weekend earned them Week 6 Honor Roll spots for the men and women, respectively.
Upcoming Meet: Both the men’s and women’s squads will now set their sights on and prepare for the East Coast Conference Championship, which will take place on Thursday, May 2nd. The ECC Championship will be hosted by Robert Wesleyan University’s Roberts Stadium in Rochester, NY. The first event is set for 9:00 a.m.
Men’s Tennis:
Current ECC Poll Ranking: First out of four
Notes: The men’s tennis team’s 5-1 in-conference record has earned them the top seed in the ECC. The Knights most recently boosted their overall record to 13-6 and concluded their regular season with a 7-0 sweep over Bentley University on Thursday afternoon, April 25th.
The East Coast Conference office subsequently announced the 2024 Men’s Tennis All-Conference honors, and four Knights earned honors for their regular season performances. The honors are headlined by Knights’ senior Roni Rikkonen, who was voted ECC Men’s Tennis Player of the Year.
Four of the seven 2024 ECC Men’s Tennis All-Conference Team spots were filled by Knights, as freshman Tim Andersonn, sophomore Lucas Foix Sotos, and junior Cameron Henricy were all named to the team as well.
Upcoming Match: The team faces a quick turnaround, as they are set to host the 2024 East Coast Conference Men’s Tennis Championship at the QC Tennis Bubble on Friday morning, April 26th. The top overall seeded Knights will matchup against the fourth-ranked Daemen University Wildcats, beginning at 8:45 a.m. If they can get past Daeman and advance, the Knights will compete for their second consecutive ECC Championship on Saturday the 27th at 5:30 p.m.
Baseball:
Current ECC Poll Rankings: Second out of seven
Notes: Baseball’s 14-6 conference record is second only to the Molloy University Lions, who have also played four less conference games. The Knights are particularly scorching hot as of writing this, having won eight straight games, and nine of their last ten.
They currently hold a winning percentage of .641 overall and a 25-14 record. With just eight games remaining in their regular season, the Knights will look to earn a second consecutive ECC Championship of their own once the playoffs start.
This hope comes after winning the title in dramatic fashion for the first time in 25 years last season.
Four of the eight remaining regular season games, however, are against the same Molloy Lions who currently sit atop the conference. These are also the same Molloy Lions who the Knights conquered to win their most recent championship, and the same ones who beat the Knights to earn their own title the previous year.
Upcoming Games: The Knights play a three game series against the Bloomsburg University Huskies starting at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, April 26th. The first game will take place in Bloomsburg, PA. The second two will consist of a doubleheader at Hennekens Stadium on in Flushing starting at 12:00 p.m. Saturday, the 27th.
The Knights’ four game series with Molloy will account for the final four games of the regular season, and it is sure to be a ton of fun. The first game of the series is set for 3:00 p.m. on Friday, May 3rd at Hennekens Stadium on the QC campus. The Knights will then set their sights on the playoffs and winning a second consecutive title.
Softball:
Current ECC Poll Ranking: Third out of six
Notes: The softball team’s 8-10 conference and 15-25 overall records may not be exactly what they had envisioned for themselves when the season began. But, what matters right now is this — after shutting out the defending champions St. Thomas Aquinas Spartans 4-0 in the second half of a doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon April 24th, they are still in it.
The Knights shutout victory over the Spartans was their first in 21 tries and seven years, but came at perhaps the most opportune time possible.
With major contributions in the win from senior pitcher Arianna Fracchioni and junior center fielder Amanda Baez, the Knights have kept their postseason hopes alive with just two games remaining in the regular season. They will have to control what they can, win those final two games, and let the chips fall where they may.
Upcoming Games: The Knights’ final two games of the season will be played in a doubleheader on Friday, April 26th against the D’Youville University Saints. The doubleheader will take place at D’Youville University in Buffalo, NY, and is set to begin at 11:00 a.m.
