New Basketball Coach on Board

Landry Kosmalski, an assistant coach at Division I Davidson College, was named the head men’s basketball coach. A 2000 Davidson graduate, Kosmalski was an assistant coach at his alma mater from 2004 to ’06 and 2009 to ’12. Kosmalski helped lead the Wildcats to two Southern Conference championships and NCAA tournament appearances (2006 and 2012).

Landry has high hopes for Swarthmore basketball. “I am confident that our student-athletes can be as successful on the basketball court as they are in the classroom, and I believe that commitment to excellence will be the driving force behind the future success of Garnet basketball,” he says.

Lacrosse Makes History

It was a history-making season for the women’s lacrosse team (12-6), which reached the Centennial Conference (CC) semifinals and earned its first CC playoff victory. The Garnet won its season finale against rival Haverford 11-8 to reach the CC playoffs for the first time since 2006. Next came the CC first-round playoff game against Ursinus. Annalise Penikis ’13 recorded five goals and two assists to secure a 11-10 victory over the Bears. Penikis was the catalyst for much of the Garnet’s success in 2012. The midfielder finished her season with 68 goals, 40 assists and 108 points, becoming  the first player in CC history to lead in three categories. The Garnet’s breakthrough season earned 19-year head coach Karen Borbee CC Coach of the Year honors for the first time.

Golf Tees Up Success

The golf team posted one of its most successful seasons, finishing second at the 2012 CC championships with a three-day total of 935. Paul Weston ’12 led the way, finishing in a three-way tie for first place at the championship match with an overall score of 225. Despite losing the individual title in a playoff hole, he still became just the third golfer in CC history to earn first-team All-CC honors three times.

Also earning All-CC accolades was Andrew Park ’15, who placed fourth overall with a 73. For its stellar play, the team finished the season ranked fifth in the Mid-Atlantic region while receiving votes in the Golf Coaches Association of America national rankings for the first time. Competing in the CC women’s golf championship, Amanda Beebe ’15 made quite a debut, earning first-team All-CC honors after finishing fourth at the two-day tournament.

Tennis Earns National Ranking

The Garnet tennis teams saw a resurgence in 2012. Led by captains and All-CC selections Max Bressman ’12 and Zak Kelm ’12, the men’s team (14-10) claimed a national ranking for the first time since 2007, thanks in part to a pair of victories over nationally ranked opponents. The squad advanced to the CC championship match before falling to Johns Hopkins (5-1). With CC Player of the Year Lia Carlson ’14 leading the way, the women’s team (10-6) rebounded from a disappointing 2011 season, reaching the CC title match.