Men’s Golf
The men’s golf team swept through the Heartland Invite last Monday (Sept 9, 2024) at Crestwicke Country Club, claiming first- and second-place on the team leaderboard with six top-ten individual finishes, Illinois Wesleyan’s ‘A’ team finished five-over-par with a score of 581, while the ‘B’ team shot 593 to place runner-up.
Junior Michael Spitzer and senior Quinn Clifford earned the top two spots at the invite, with Spitzer the only contestant in the 73-player tournament shooting back-to-back rounds under par.
He opened the day with a 69 (three-under Par) before carding an identical score in round two to record a 138, securing him first by five strokes. Clifford claimed second at one-under 143 with rounds of 73 and 70. Four Titans tied for fourth with scores of 147. On Tuesday, September 17, the Titans will wrap up the Folds of Honor golf tournament in Allendale, Michigan.
Women’s Tennis
The Illinois Wesleyan University women’s tennis team hit the road and defeated Illinois College on Tuesday, Sept. 10. With the win, IWU improved to 2-0, while IC fell to 5-2.
The Titans started the day by taking the doubles matches. The sophomore pair of Amber Ehrlich and Olivia Bell marked IWU’s first point in a 6-2 victory, followed shortly after that by a second doubles win by senior Kate Christian and freshman Gabi Lipske, also 6-2. Ehrlich went on to take a dominant singles victory, taking her sets 6-1,6-0. Lipske notched her first collegiate singles victory with a 6-2, 6-1 win. The Green and White will face Milkin at the Evergreen Racquet Club for a CCIW showdown on Wednesday, Sept. 18.
Women’s Soccer
After starting their season 0-4, the Women’s Soccer team snapped their losing streak on the road to Knox College on Wednesday evening, Sept. 11, with a dominant 5-0 win. Three first-years, Liza Wiley, Ellen Dahlquist, and Taylor Haun all scored goals, with Wiley putting up a hat trick. Her three-goal showing is part of only six first-years in Illinois Wesleyan history to accomplish the feat (the first in over a decade) and the first hat trick the team has seen since October of 2022.
IWU led in shots and corners, hammering 22 shots on goal to Knox’s four, and six corners to nul from Knox. The Green and White stayed aggressive throughout the entire game, maintaining control and outplaying their opponents.
IWU split time between two goalies, first-years Grace Kiewiet and Ella Randall. Kietwiet held the line for the first 59 minutes, recording three saves before Randall stepped in for the final 31 minutes, totaling one more save.
The Titan’s road ahead is no easier as they face No. 1 Washington University at Francis Olympic Field in St. Louis on Wednesday, Sept. 17.
Women’s Golf
The Illinois Wesleyan University women’s golf team finished 11th in the Redbird Invitational Monday, Sept. 9. The team topped three Division I programs in the 54 hole event at Weibring Golf Club. The team was led by a record setting performance by senior Macy Ludwig, who carded 54-hole score of 216, finishing at an even par all three rounds. Ludwig broke a record of 218 recently set by former teammate Emma Thorman at the 2023 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Championship. In the 93-player tourney, Ludwin finished fifth. For her performance, she was awarded her fourth career College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Golfer of the Week honor. The Titans look ahead to the UW-Whitewater Invite on Sept. 22-23, played at TPC Wisconsin.