By: Isabella Urbani, Sports Editor
Men’s basketball
2021 record: 6–3
2022 record: 5–8
Verdict: Finish below last year’s 12–13 record
Last year’s men’s team soared to a season-high three-game win streak after losing their first two games at the annual Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) challenge. While this year’s squad found success coming out of the gate, the team’s winless November stretch has them below a .500 winning percentage. SFU, riding a two-game losing streak, is the underdog heading into a month of matchups against teams who have had success against the Red Leafs. Pivotal wins are necessary to change the trajectory of the team’s first-round elimination last year.
Women’s basketball
2021 record: 4–6
2022 record: 3–4
Verdict: Finish below/repeat last year’s 12–14 record
Although this year’s women’s team haven’t had the luxury of playing as many games, they’re on an almost identical pace to last year’s quarter-final finish. After playing in three preseason games, SFU has only been playing four games a month. In January alone, the Red Leafs will see that number double. After playing three consecutive home games in December, the women’s team will be on the road for the majority of their remaining games, which could determine where they finish in their 10-team division.
Swimming
2021 record: two first-place team finishes
2022 record: three first-place team finishes
Verdict: Men finish better than last year, women repeat/finish below last year
This year’s swim team didn’t get off to the same winning start as last year’s, but they have managed to not only catch up to last year’s first-place performances, but lap them. Consistency has been the name of the game for this year’s swimmers: they’ve stayed in the top three in their last four invitationals. While the men placed 14th at last year’s NCAA championships, they should be expected to make the biggest jump in the standing. Improving last year’s eighth-place finish for the women will prove to be much tougher.
Men’s wrestling
2021 record: 5–1
2022 record: 3–6
Verdict: Finish below last year’s 8–3 record
The men’s team struggled to find their footing last month, dropping six of eight duals. Half of those losses could be chalked up to the unluckiness of facing four top-20 teams in a two-week span. But after a disappointing eighth-place finish to conclude last season, the men will have to bet on themselves repeating the same success against familiar opponents to make up ground on last year’s dominance.
Women’s wrestling
2021 record: 3–1
2022 record: 4–1
Verdict: Finish better/repeat last year’s record
The women continue to push forward on yet another impressive season. After winning the NCAA Regional Championship last year, the women aced their first challenge of the season, toppling 19th-ranked Schreiner and Tiffin. SFU’s first loss came at the last meet of the year against fourth-ranked Colorado Messa. While the women were unable to ring in the new year with a win, they’ll have a chance to defend their title and push for a National title in two months” time.
Men’s golf
2021 record: no first-place team finishes
2022 record: one first-place team finish
Verdict: Finish better/repeat last year’s record
If there was any indication that this season was going to go well for the men, it was their first invitational. After three second-place finishes last season, the men finally secured that all elusive first-place finish. SFU last teed off to a ninth-place finish in October and will need to pick up their momentum if they hope to wrap up the season just as strong as they started. They’re chasing a GNAC title after finishing second last season.
Women’s golf
2021 record: no first-place team finishes
2022 record: one first-place team finish
Verdict: Finish better/repeat last year’s record
On top of their first-place finish, the women finished in the top two during their first two weeks of competition. After slipping to 12th-place in a two-day Hawaii classic, SFU rebounded with a top five finish in their last event of the year. Miles ahead from last year’s season-low 19th-place finish, the women will have another opportunity to boost last year’s stats by competing in the California East Bay Shootout, which they failed to finish after multiple team members tested positive for COVID-19. This will kickstart their quest to improve their second-place GNAC finish.
