KEENE, N.H. - Keene State athletics had a strong 2025-2026 season, ending in third place in the Little East Conference (LEC) Commissioner's Cup race while winning four league championships. It was the closest finish in conference history in the Commissioner's Cup, with Eastern Connecticut State University at 6.83, the University of Southern Maine at 6.82, and KSC at 6.73.
At the end of the fall, the Owls were tied for first place in the Commissioner's Cup race, representing a good start to the athletic programs.
The Keene State men's cross country team maintained its record as one of the most successful LEC programs, repeating as LEC champions. Tyler Bolaske, a junior who has been a key part of the cross country program, came in first place in the Little East championship with a time of 24:50.0 in the 8K race.
The Keene State women fell short of an LEC title in the 2025 season by finishing second in the championship. Graduate student Maggie St. John came in 2nd with a time of 22:14.3 in the 6K race.
Women's golf made a historic accomplishment by winning the inaugural LEC championship, scoring a total of 359 over the two day event while rallying for the win on day two. The top two leaders for the Owls in the championship were junior Madison Mousley and sophomore Mackenzie Hagearty, who both parred in the championship to prevail over Husson University.
The men's golf program also had a successful season, coming in second out of seven in the Keene Invitational with a group score of 308. Freshman Taylor Miller shot a 75 in 18 holes and was named individual champion of the KSC Invitational. As the 2025 season ended, junior Aidan Davis earned the title of First Team All-Conference.
In the 2025 season, the men's soccer team ended the season with an overall record of 8-6-3, and a conference record of 2-4-2. Although the men's soccer program did not make it to the LEC tournament, they finished 6-1-3 at Dr. Ron Butcher Field including victories over RPI, Endicott College, Rhode Island College, a tie against eventual league champion UMass-Boston. KSC's lone loss at home was a one-goal (2-1) defeat to 2024 national champion Amherst College.
The women's soccer team's 2025 season tallied an overall record of 10-6-6 and a conference record of 4-0-4. The team lost in overtime 3-2 in the LEC semifinals to Southern Maine. Women's soccer also participated in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) tournament, losing 1-0 in the championship to Waynesburg in Pennsylvania. Junior Elizabeth Tschudin earned First Team All-LEC honors.
Field hockey won the LEC conference championship for the second year in a row with an intense semifinal game against USM that went into a penalty shootout. The Owls then beat the Warriors 1-0 in the championship game. Senior Grace Bazin earned a First Team All-American Selection, ECAC Offensive Player of the Year, All-ECAC Team, First Team All-Region Selection, LEC Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-LEC.
After the Esports team's first competitive season in 2024, it concluded this season with a fall record of 32-19 and a spring record of 26-20, making the overall record 58-39. One of the strongest teams in the program was Valorant with a record of 10-1 in the fall and 6-4 in the spring.
Women's volleyball held a record of 14-15, just shy of .500. The team's record in the LEC was 3-5, and it lost 3-1 in the LEC championship quarterfinals to Plymouth State. The team also made it to the ECAC tournament, losing in the semifinal to Hartwick 3-0.
The winter season also went well, with Keene State remaining tied for first place in the Commissioner's Cup race.
Women's basketball successes included an overall record of 19-10 and an 11-5 conference record. Junior Brynn Rautiola and senior Valerie Luizzi both reached the 1,000 career point mark, and head coach Keith Boucher netted 500 career wins. While the team lost in the LEC semifinals to Rhode Island College 73-54, it extended its season with ECAC play, losing a close game in the ECAC semifinals to Brooklyn College in Maryland.
This year the men's basketball team lost the LEC title to WestConn but battled in the ECAC, winning the championship game against New Jersey City 85-66. Sophomore Denis Wainaina broke the single season record for blocked shots. The team's overall record was 20-11, winning 20 or more games for a fifth consecutive season and its conference record was 11-5.
The men's indoor track won the LEC championship for the third year, with junior Tyler Bolaske being an individual qualifier in the NCAA championship for the mile. The women's team fell just short of the LEC championship win, but senior Molly Lu McKellar was also a NCAA qualifier in the championships for the pentathlon.
The swim and dive teams worked hard this season. The women's team came in second in the LEC championships, scoring 529 points throughout the four-day meet. In the mile, senior Rory Lee won for the second year in a row with a time of 18:31.67. The Men's team placed fifth in the LEC championship with 457 points. Junior Alec Agosto placed third in the mile on the last day of the meet with a time of 18:10.34.
The men's hockey team ended the 2025-2026 season with an overall record of 7-17-1, and the women's overall record was 10-16-0. Although the men did not make the tournament, the women did, losing in the quarterfinals to Vermont State Castleton 4-2. Sophomore women's goalie Ai Chung and sophomore men's goalie Ben Skelton each racked up 1,000 career saves.
The Keene State cheerleading team had four competitions this season with its biggest event, NCA College Nationals in Daytona Beach, Florida. The team performed well and is looking to recruit more athletes for the 2026-2027 season.
Coming off an LEC championship wins last year, the Men's baseball team tied for first in the LEC with a conference record of 13-3 and a 26-17 overall record. However, it lost 7-3 to the University of Southern Maine in the conference championship. Many players received LEC recognition, with senior Evan McCue, sophomore Trevor Snow, sophomore Derek Finlay and senior David Floyd selected for First Team.
The Women's softball team had an overall record of 16-21 and a conference record of 4-12. Junior Elyse Picard received First Team LEC recognition, as well as first team ALL-Region. Other recognitions included sophomore Abby Weiterman (LEC Second Team), and freshmen Anna Gostkowski and Cainen Avery (ALL-Rookie Team).
The Women's outdoor track program came in second in the LEC tournament with a score of 145 points combined. Senior Molly Lu McKellar qualified for the finals when she broke a school record with a time of 14.95 in the 100 hurdles. The Men's team came in fifth place; however, many key members of the team were injured, including Bolaske.
The Women's lacrosse team had an overall record of 7-11 and a conference record of 4-4. It lost in the quarterfinals to EastConn with a score of 14-4. Senior Tess Brown, who broke multiple school records and was named the LEC Defensive Player of the Year. The men's lacrosse team finished the season with an overall record of 9-7, 5-3 in the conference. It lost in the LEC quarterfinals to Plymouth State by a score of 17-6. Junior Ty Cougler broke three school records and received an All-American honorable mention.
