This Week in Athletics: January 21

January 21, 2025

Greetings #TARnation! It's been a hot minute since we've hung out, so let's get you caught up on all things Tars!

- The Hall of Fame Committee announced the Class of 2026. Among the honorees are:
    - Josh Briant '18 - Waterski ... a two-time collegiate national champion in men's tricks
    - Erika Lang '18 - Waterski ... a three-time collegiate national champion in women's tricks, and world-record holder in international competition
    - Charlotte Murrell '12 - Women's Soccer ... a three-time 1st Team All-SSC selection and 2011 All-American who made the NCAA tourney all four years
    - Erica Pagliarulo '13 - Women's Lacrosse ... a two-time 1st Team All-American who took the Tars to back-to-back final fours
    - Lee Stroever '03 - Men's Golf ... a two-time All-American and member of the 2002 National Championship team
    - Jim Poling - Men's Tennis ... coached from 1994-2002, and led the Tars to the 2001 National Championship
These six will be honored on Thursday, March 26 to kickoff Alumni Weekend. Congrats to all!

- Spring sports are right around the corner, and with that we have some preseason polls:
    - Men's Lacrosse is picked to finish 2nd in the SSC 
    - Baseball is picked to finish 3rd in the SSC
    - Softball is picked to finish 6th in the SSC
    - Women's lacrosse is picked to finish seventh in the SSC (but they are ranked #19 in the country!)
    - Men's tennis began their spring with the #25 ranking in the national ITA preseason poll

- The men's and women's tennis programs announced a partnership with Orlando Health, specifically with the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. Varsity tennis players have already visited the hospital, spreading holiday cheer, and are looking forward to hosting community members in a Pro-Am style tournament this weekend that will help raise money to support development of the Orlando Health Children's Pavilion. Anyone with the means and desire to help with a donation can do so using this link.



- Men's basketball is in the thick of their conference schedule. They currently sit at 9-8 overall, and are looking to hold on to their spot in the SSC tournament. Eleven games remain as the Tars fight for a postseason berth. It all starts tonight with a home game against Embry-Riddle (8-8), who sits two spots ahead of the Tars in the conference standings. On Saturday, Rollins is headed to Saint Leo for a road game against the Lions. 

- Women's basketball has the same remaining schedule as the men's side as they look to right the ship in the back half of the season. Tonight's matchup is a tough one against #14 Embry-Riddle, who just saw freshman Eliana Sheplee capture the National Player of the Week award yesterday. 

- Swimming take advantage of the eighty-degree weather on Saturday as they dive in for their final home meet of the season against New College of Florida. Before the first horn, head coach Walker Thaning will honor the senior swimmers who have given their all to the Tars. The ceremony will begin at 11:30 am before the meet at noon. 

- Women's tennis will host D-1 Stetson University in the first official match at the new Tennis and Golf Center on campus on Friday, January 23 at 4:30 pm. For anyone interested in stopping by the aforementioned Pro-Am, that will kick off at 9am on Saturday morning. 

As always, if you cannot make it to a game, you can always catch the stream both live and on-demand at www.sunshinestateconference.tv/rollins

It's great to have everyone back, and we are looking forward to an action-packed semester. Go Tars!

-Tommy Tar
#TARnation