This article originally appeared on pages 20 and 21 of the No. 6 April 2025 edition of The Gettysburgian magazine
By Max Ferguson, Staff Writer
The end of the school year is coming faster than anybody can realize. For most students, the beginning of the semester feels like yesterday, yet campus is preparing to hunker down for finals in a few short weeks. Likewise, the Bullets teams sports seasons have also flown by. Spring athletes are in the heat of conference play, excited to launch long playoff berths. Fall and winter athletes are in the weight room making sure they are in top shape for the start of their respective seasons. In the midst of how fast time seems to be moving, it is worth taking a pause to reflect on the amazing successes that Bullets athletic teams have had as the 2024-25 school year comes to a close.
Musselman Stadium’s New Lights
The 2024-25 academic year marked the first time in Bullets athletic history that an outdoor sport was able to host a home night game. Thanks to the philanthropic contributions of several donors, stadium lighting was installed at Musselman Stadium so teams that play in the stadium can play night home games. The lights were installed over the offseason in time for fall sports to practice and play under the lights during their season. The football team was the first to play under the lights in a victory against McDaniel. The game, which ended in a 20-7 final score, saw Gettysburg score twice on defense. The electric turnovers turned touchdowns were only amplified by the effects made possible by the lighting system installed. The Bullets Marching band also put on a halftime performance synced to the lighting system. The game was also one of the first in Division III to feature replay review. Although not used, the Centennial Conference piloted coaches’ replay challenges at Division III this season. This also marked the first of two games in the “Under the Lights” celebrations that the College put on to rally families, students, faculty and donors to support Bullets teams and experience a night game for themselves. The men’s lacrosse team had an identical event in the spring semester which also ended in a victory against a ranked Swarthmore team. The game also featured Charlie Johnson ’27 scoring six goals which could be considered one of the year’s best sports moments in and of itself. Overall, the new lights have added to the atmosphere of Musselman Stadium and more night outdoor events are likely to be scheduled in next year’s seasons.
(Photo William Oehler/The Gettysburgian)
Volleyball’s Dominant Season Ends in National Tournament Appearance
The Bullets volleyball team had a dominant season as they went 7-3 in conference play and 24-6 overall. Their dominant season was capped off in an appearance in the national tournament where they swept Manhattanville 3-0 in the first round. Their season was ultimately ended by Middlebury College. However, the Volleyball team still dominated in a highly contested conference and should go even further in next year’s tournament with a strong rising senior class and intense recruiting of some of Division III’s best incoming talent.
Men’s and Women’s Basketball Make National Tournaments
Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams had extremely successful regular seasons that ended with the women’s team winning the Centennial Conference trophy. For their first appearance in the tournament since 2009, the Men’s team received an at-large bid to compete in the national tournament. The women’s team advanced to the quarterfinals, where their run was cut short by NYU, the eventual Division III Women’s Basketball Champions. In the final National Basketball Coaches Association poll of the year, the women’s team was ranked #10 nationally. In the D3Hoops.com ranking, they came in at #9. Both the men’s and women’s Basketball teams have much to celebrate. Both teams are hot off of incredible seasons and have consistently improved year after year. Expect even more success from Gettysburg’s basketball teams in the coming season.
Wrestling Sends Two to the National Tournament.
Wrestling had their best season in years. Led by a new head coach, Brad Brosius, the team doubled their dual meet wins from two to four and sent two wrestlers to the national tournament compared to none last year. Rustin Barrick, wrestling’s assistant coach, has largely taken the reins on recruiting. The year over year improvement has caught the eyes of many prospective wrestlers to the point where in his words: “we’re having to turn guys away if the wrestling or the GPA isn’t there.”
Gavin Pascoe ’27 and Justin Richey ’26 both appeared in the National Wrestling Tournament in Providence, Rhode Island after an emotional qualifying tournament at Messiah University. The duo will serve as an inspiration to their teammates as the team look to send even more Bullets to next year’s tournament.
Men’s and Women’s Swim Continue to Dominate
After numerous record setting performances at the Centennial Conference Tournament, both the men’s and women’s swim teams sent swimmers down to Greensboro, North Carolina to compete in the Division III National Swimming Championship. Where the women’s 200 meter freestyle relay earned All-American Status with a 14th place finish. Swimming has been a historically successful program in both men’s and women’s.
Softball Defeats #4 Tufts to Open the Season, Paige Forry ’25 Throws a Perfect Game
In the opening tournament of the seasons, the softball team took down #4 nationally ranked Tufts University in an upset win. Since, the team has been on a roll and remains nationally ranked at #13. Paige Forry ’25 also threw a perfect game against LaGrange in a game Gettysburg won on a mercy rule 8-0. Forry also currently boasts a .64 ERA, making her one of the most dominant pitchers in program history. They look to repeat last year’s Centennial Conference title and seek a playoff berth in the Softball World Series as they enter the latter half of their season.
Baseball Earns 15 Game Win Streak
The baseball team won their first fifteen games straight which carried all the way into spring break. The streak has put baseball into the national limelight. Currently, they stand ranked #16 nationally in the D3baseball.com national coaches poll. The team also boasts a 24-5 record. This is largely in part to a much more robust bullpen. Pitching ability is not only elevated but consistent throughout the bullpen. Aside from pitching, fielding and batting are also greatly improved upon from last year.
The past school year has led to countless amazing moments. Even so, the good times are far from over. The Bullets spring teams are in the midst of elite seasons. Players, coaches, and fans alike are all excited to see how the end of the spring season will play out. Looking at the greatness that occurred over the school year will motivate teams to replicate that success, fans to witness it firsthand and coaches to take pride in their teams.
(Photo Alice Van Etten/The Gettysburgian)
