CAA Sports 2024-25 Year In Review: Winter Championships
Rob Washburn
We continue our look back at the 2024-25 season in the CAA by reviewing the winter sports championships.
Women’s Indoor Track & Field
Hampton posted three first-place finishes and captured its first CAA Women’s Indoor Track & Field title. The Pirates compiled 110 total points to edge Elon (107.5) and Northeastern (94.5). It was Hampton’s inaugural championship in any sport as a member of the CAA.
Hampton’s Peninah Mutisya claimed the individual titles in the 3,000 and 5,000 meters and the Pirates added a victory in the 4X800 meter relay. Towson’s Piper Jons set conference records in the 200 and 400 meters and was named Most Outstanding Track Performer, while teammate Leeann Redlo received Most Outstanding Field Performer after breaking the CAA record in the high jump and finishing second in the pentathlon.
Men’s Indoor Track & Field
North Carolina A&T won eight events on the final day and rolled to its first CAA Men’s Indoor Track & Field Championship. The Aggies finished with 185 points to top Monmouth (146) and defending champion Northeastern (140.5). It was A&T’s first CAA championship in any sport.
A&T swept the podium in the 60-meter hurdles and 200 meters and got record-setting efforts in the triple jump (Xavier Partee) and shot put (Bryan Hodgest). Northeastern’s Benjamin Godish was named the Most Outstanding Track Performer after winning the mile, 3000 meters and 5000 meters, and Monmouth’s David Strong was chosen as the Most Outstanding Field Performer after compiling a league-record 5,299 points in the decathlon.
Women’s Swimming & Diving
UNCW rallied from a 34-point deficit on the final night to earn its third straight CAA Women’s Swimming & Diving Championship. The Seahawks finished with 1,370.5 points and edged second-place William & Mary (1,326.5).
UNCW freshman Maeren McGonigal was chosen as the Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet after capturing individual titles in the 200 individual medley, 100 back and 200 back and teammate Cameron Snowden added wins in the 50 free and 100 fly. Northeastern’s Erin Murphy swept the 1-meter and 3-meter diving competitions and received Most Outstanding Diver of the Meet for the second time.
Men’s Swimming & Diving
UNCW earned its fourth consecutive CAA Men’s Swimming & Diving Championship with another strong all-around performance. The Seahawks compiled 829.5 points to get past Delaware (737) and Drexel (607.5).
UNCW sophomore William Carrico was selected as the Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet after posting first-place finishes in the 500 free, 400 individual medley and the 200 breast. Four other UNCW swimmers took home individual titles. Seahawks’ teammate Ethan Badrian received Most Outstanding Diver of the Meet accolades for the third time after sweeping the 1-meter and 3-meter boards.
Men’s Basketball
Behind a team-high 17 points from guard Donovan Newby, including six in the final 34 seconds, second-seeded UNCW posted a hard-fought 76-72 victory over No. 12 Delaware. It was the league-record seventh CAA title for the Seahawks, but first since 2017.
Newby, who was chosen as the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, nailed a jumper that gave UNCW a four-point lead with 34 seconds remaining and converted four straight free throws in the final 13 seconds. Noah Ross chipped in 14 points off the bench as the Seahawks’ reserves contributed 32 points. Delaware, which was the first No. 12 seed to ever reach the title game, got 21 points, eight rebounds and seven assists from Izaiah Pasha.
Women’s Basketball
Ninth-seeded William & Mary overcame an early 14-0 deficit to defeat No. 3 Campbell, 66-63, and capture its first-ever CAA Women’s Basketball Championship. The Tribe was the first No. 9 seed to ever claim the title.
W&M senior guard Bella Nascimento was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player after scoring a career-high 33 points and grabbing a career-best 11 rebounds. Her step-back jumper with 11 seconds to play put the Tribe up by three and Campbell was unable to connect on a game-tying shot in the final seconds. Courtney Dahlquist tallied 19 points and Gianni Boone added 15 for the Camels, which held a 51-38 advantage late in the third quarter.