Dear Crusaders,
Last night on campus, we gathered for one of my favorite annual traditions: our Student-Athlete Welcome Back in St. Joseph Memorial Chapel. It is one of the only times each year that we are able to gather all of our teams in a single space, and it is an inspiring way to kick off the academic year.
Much of the event was centered around our mantra for 2026-27, printed on the t-shirts worn by all 700 student-athletes in attendance: Live Your Legacy. At Holy Cross, we have an incredible opportunity to experience, learn and achieve in so many areas. Our student-athletes can have a true impact that will last long after they depart Mount St. James, but what do they want that impact to be? What do they want it all to mean? They will live the answers to those questions each and every day.
The words of our keynote speaker, men's soccer senior Alex Oladapo, were particularly impactful. As he spoke about his own experience as a student-athlete, he pointed to his gratitude for every moment and the need to embrace the adversity that comes with being a student-athlete. The work will not always be easy, but can be rewarding — and our Crusaders have a tremendous community ready to support them. As Alex said: I've always believed that the people make the place, and Holy Cross has some truly special people. I look forward to doing my part to support Alex and his peers as they embark on another year, and know that together we will be able to leave a legacy that is truly remarkable.
While the summer was an important time to reflect and (attempt to) recharge, we remained active with a number of achievements — positive signs of the comprehensive excellence we can expect in the coming year. You can read about several highlights from the last few months below.
As always, I hope to see you at an upcoming event and thank you for your continued support Whether during Family Weekend, Homecoming or at any point that your schedule allows this busy fall season, I look forward to connecting with you!
All the best and Go Cross Go!
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Feel free to reach out — any time — with your thoughts, questions or concerns on our "Be Heard" page!
Three Things To Know:
- With our football season kicking off this Saturday, Aug. 29 vs. #11 Lehigh, purchase your season ticket memberships or single-game tickets now! Fans can visit goholycross.com/fbtix, call or text 1-844-GO-CROSS, or email tickets@holycross.edu. Other ticket options include the Fitton Family 4 Pack, which has four (4) General Admission tickets and one (1) Freshman Field parking pass for all six home football games. The Flex Voucher also returns for the 2026 season, in which Crusaders fans receive 10 vouchers to turn into tickets for any on-campus, regular-season football, men's & women's basketball, and men's ice hockey game during the 2026-2027 school year.
- Join us at Pepe's Italian Restaurant (179 Shrewsbury Street) on Thursday, Sept. 3 for our annual Kickoff Event! Hear from head coach Dan Curran and Holy Cross football student-athletes — RSVP now, and stay tuned for a future announcement about our basketball tipoff event!
- We will be hosting our FREE fourth annual Crusader Community Festival on Sunday, Sept. 13 at the Luth Athletic Complex beginning at 1 p.m. Meet and greet with some of our student-athletes, coaches, and staff from multiple sports and be introduced to the sports they play and other fun activities — RSVP now!
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Crusaders set giving records in fiscal year 2026
In another record-setting year for Holy Cross Athletics, 4,966 donors contributed $3.9 million to the Crusader Athletics Fund (CAF) during the 2026 fiscal year. This marks a new benchmark for dollars raised and total donors to the athletics annual fund, surpassing last year's total by nearly 200 donors — and a 9.5 percent increase in dollars raised from fiscal year 2025.
Additionally, total new gifts and commitments to athletics in fiscal year 2026 exceeded $10.53 million, which also represents a new high water mark for the College — a 7 percent increase from the previous record set just last year in FY25. Generous commitments in support of an enhanced student-athlete experience, student-athlete development programming, Women's Excellence, and various capital enhancements combined with record annual giving to make this the most successful fundraising year on record.
Van Wagner, Holy Cross Athletics announce long-term multimedia rights partnership
Van Wagner, a leading sports marketing and media company, and Holy Cross Athletics have announced a new long-term partnership in which Van Wagner will exclusively represent the multimedia rights of Crusader Athletics. Under the agreement, Van Wagner will oversee the development, sales, and activation of corporate partnerships and multimedia assets across Holy Cross Athletics, with a focus on driving sustainable revenue growth, enhancing the fan experience, and delivering meaningful value to corporate partners aligned with the College's mission and brand.
Crusader teams earn academic recognition
Holy Cross had a total of 316 student-athletes named to the 2025-26 Patriot League Winter/Spring Academic Honor Roll.
Several teams additionally received academic accolades. Baseball received the ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award, the ninth straight year that the Crusaders have received the award, with a cumulative team GPA of 3.35 across the fall and spring semesters. The men's lacrosse team earned USILA All-Academic Team honors, posting a 3.49 team GPA in the spring. Women's lacrosse was named an IWLCA Academic Honor Squad with team GPAs of 3.66 in the fall and 3.65 in the spring, marking the 10th straight time it has been honored. Volleyball received the AVCA Team Academic Award.
Individual national academic honors included 30 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars, 14 IRCA Scholar Athletes (men's rowing), 13 NFCA All-America Scholar-Athletes (softball), eight IWLCA Academic Honor Roll selections (women's lacrosse), seven AHCA All-America Scholars (men's and women's ice hockey), four WGCA All-America Scholars (women's golf) and two GCAA All-America Scholars (men's golf).
Preseason Honors
A trio of Crusaders earned Preseason All-Patriot League honors headed into the 2026 fall season: senior defender Karenna Beckstein (women's soccer), senior midfielder Maguire Sturgis (field hockey) and fifth year offensive lineman Cam Nolan (football). Nolan additionally earned Preseason All-America honors from Stats Perform and FCS Football Nation.
Three from field hockey were named to the NFHCA Division I Watchlist: senior Maguire Sturgis, junior Mia McCloskey, and freshman Marianna MacLean.
Levy-Smith wins bronze medal at World Lacrosse Championship
Women's lacrosse alum
Racheli Levy-Smith '26 won a bronze medal as a member of Israel's national team at the 2026 World Lacrosse Women's Championship. Levy-Smith and Israel defeated the Haudenosaunee 7-4 in the bronze medal game on Aug. 2. Israel previously downed Australia 12-11 in the quarterfinals on July 29, before falling to the United States 19-7 in the semifinals on July 31. Following the tournament, Levy-Smith was one of just 10 players selected to the World Team. Over the course of the World Championship, she played in all six of Israel's games and totaled 63 draw controls and five ground balls, as the team won 56.5 percent of its draws. In addition to Levy-Smith's accomplishments, rising sophomore Gabriela Chiappetta won a gold medal with Italy at the Division II World Lacrosse Championship.
Crusaders in the Pros
A total of six former Crusaders participated in NFL training camps this summer: Liam Anderson '22 (Cincinnati Bengals), Jalen Coker '24 (Carolina Panthers), C.J. Hanson '23 (Kansas City Chiefs), Luke Newman '25 (Chicago Bears), Kalif Raymond '16 (Chicago Bears) and Benton Whitley '21 (Cleveland Browns).
Two Crusaders participated in NHL Development Camps this summer: goaltender Danick Leroux (Tampa Bay Lightning) and defenseman
Mack Oliphant (San Jose Sharks).
Herzig, Billa continue international play
Olympic Bronze medal winner Naemi Herzig continues to star on the international stage for the Swiss women's ice hockey national team. Last week, she took part in the Women's Euro Hockey Tour event in Kloten, Switzerland, posting one goal and one assist while helping her squad to a 2-1 record. The Swiss defeated Sweden (4-2) and Finland (4-3 in overtime), while falling to Czechia (2-1). In addition, Herzig's classmate Anna Billa was in action with Austria's national team in the Women's European Cup of Nations in Bardejov, Slovakia. Austria went 2-1 with wins over Netherlands (2-0) and Italy (3-1) and a loss to Slovakia (5-2).
Women's soccer travels to Portugal during preseason
The women's soccer team traveled through Portugal from July 28 to August 5 in preparation for the 2026 season. The Crusaders trained at Sporting CP and SC Braga, toured the stadiums of FC Porto and Sporting CP, attended a Benfica match and explored Lisbon, Cascais, Fatima and Porto. From experiencing Portuguese soccer culture to visiting historic landmarks and enjoying local traditions, the trip provided the team with meaningful opportunities to strengthen relationships both on and off the field ahead of the 2026 season.
Celia Kulis competes for team USA at FISU America Games
Celia Kulis, a 2026 graduate of the women's track and field program, represented Team USA at the 2026 FISU America Games in Lima, Peru, competing in the women's heptathlon from July 30-31. In her final season on The Hill, Kulis became the first Patriot League women's heptathlon champion in school history, resetting her previous program record with 5,171 total points in the event. The FISU Games showcase top athletes from nations throughout North, Central and South America and the Caribbean.
Trio of field hockey freshmen compete internationally
Forward Marianna MacLean took the field with the Scotland U21 team in Valencia, Spain at the EuroHockey U21 Championship from July 26 – August 1, helping the squad to a second-place finish in Pool 'C' and a sixth-place finish overall. Midfielder Izzy McElgunn and back Julia McCusker traveled to the U18 Eight Nations Hockey Tournament in Granada, Spain from July 11-17 with the Canada U18 team.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Aug. 28 | Field Hockey Home Opener vs. Stonehill
Aug. 29 | Football Home Opener vs. Lehigh
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Sept. 3 | Crusader Kick Off Event
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Sept. 8 | Volleyball Home Opener vs. Marist
Sept. 12 | Men's Soccer Patriot League Home Opener vs. Navy
Sept. 13 | Crusader Community Festival
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Sept. 18 | Volleyball Patriot League Home Opener vs. American
Sept. 19 | Football vs. Yale - Family Weekend
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Sept. 20 | Women's Soccer Patriot League Home Opener vs. Loyola (Md.)
Sept. 25 | Field Hockey Patriot League Home Opener vs. Lafayette
Sept. 25 | Women's Ice Hockey Season Opener vs. Delaware
Oct. 2 | Men's Ice Hockey Season Opener vs. Maine
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Oct. 9 | Women's Ice Hockey Hockey East Home Opener vs. Boston College
Oct. 24 | Football vs. Bucknell - Homecoming
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