Hamilton Continentals sports roundup
By Owen Lewis ’24, Sports Editor
Winter might not technically begin until December 21, but with the first snowfall, it seems like the cold season is in full swing already. Sports are transitioning to the indoors. Instead of sadly walking through the slush this coming week, why not attend a sporting event inside a cozy building? Basketball, swimming and diving, squash and much more are in season. Here are some upcoming competitions, athlete spotlights and more recent results.
Women’s basketball
Women’s basketball is off to a flying start, winning their first six games of the season. Their latest? A dominating 57–37 victory over winless William Smith. Taylor Lambo ’26 recorded 20 points and 10 rebounds in the comfortable win. The Continentals are yet to play a game against their fellow NESCAC squads, but the first leg of the season could not have gone better. Next, Hamilton will play a fellow undefeated team in the University of Maine at Fort Kent, in the Ed Hockenbury Classic on Dec. 1.
Football
On the face of it, the football team’s season was disappointing, given that they finished with a 3–6 record. But there is a lot of hope for the future. Luke Kurzum ’27 was elected Rookie of the Year in the NESCAC following a season in which he excelled at both passing and rushing. In the eight games, Kurzum threw for more than 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns in total.
Men’s basketball
Men’s basketball took a brutal 75–73 loss to the SUNY Cortland Red Dragons on Nov. 28. The Continentals trailed by seven at stages and rallied to pull within one point, but could never quite take the lead. They fall to two wins and three losses. Their next game is on Dec. 2 at 1:30 against Carnegie Mellon in the University Athletic Association Challenge.
Athlete honors: women’s hockey
Sami Quackenbush ’24 was selected as the NESCAC women’s hockey player of the week. As a defender, goal-scoring is not her responsibility, but she has assisted on an impressive eight goals between the Continentals’ last two games. Her assists and points totals lead the NESCAC.
Athlete honors: soccer
Following his selection for the all-NESCAC third team last season, soccer midfielder Luke Peplowski ’25 has been chosen for the first-string All-Region team in 2023. He scored six goals and contributed five assists this season, and his Hamilton career total of 14 assists is third on the all-time Continentals leaderboard. He started in every game for the Continentals in 2023 and will likely be crucial tagain next season.
Erin Rayhill ’25 earned all-region third team honors following her four-goal, four-assist season. Playing in every game but one this past season, she was instrumental in the Continentals’ eight-win, four-loss, four-draw stint this fall. She has scored ten goals in her Hamilton career.
Upcoming competition
This Friday is a big one for Hamilton sports, with men’s and women’s swimming and diving in action in Ithaca. Women’s ice hockey is playing at home; the men’s team will play in Hartford. Women’s basketball clashes with the University of Maine at the Fort Kent Ed Hockenbury Classic in Northfield, Vermont. Many of the same teams are in action again the following day, Dec. 2, in addition to men’s and women’s squash and men’s basketball. Be sure to catch a game as a study break or to root on your friends and peers! Stay tuned for more on-campus coverage.
