Three district championships and two state titles.

That’s what Northwestern teams produced during the fall season a year ago.

Both Tiger soccer squads earned PIAA championships, while the school’s field hockey club added a D-11 crown.

A number of athletes return and are hoping for more success in 2025.

Among those who return who have achieved individual success are Rosalia Nestor in cross country, and Mallory Conner in tennis. Both received Times News/Lehigh Valley Health Network Athlete of the Year honors in their respective sports.

Nestor finished third at leagues, and in the top 20 at districts. Conner, meanwhile, despite the school not having a tennis team, reached the district final for a second consecutive season.

GIRLS SOCCER

Head coach: Jordan Smith

League: Colonial

Key losses: Brook Balliet, Paige Bissell, Syenna Flores, Olivia Spatz

Key returnees: Marlyse DeLillo (Jr.), Kiersten Klein (Sr.), Olivia Reinhart (Sr.), Sophia Schaffer (Jr.), Sophia Sikora (Sr.), Kherington Yezik (Jr.)

Top newcomers: Gia Di Carlo (Jr.), Amelia Glassberg (Jr.), Alexis Kercher (Jr.), Reilly Newcomer (Jr.), Lexie Zentz (So.)

Season outlook: The team was part of the Big Three that went undefeated and won state championships last fall (15-0 Colonial, 28-0 overall), and this year’s team isn’t shying away from looking for a repeat. Smith emphasizes defense first, and the team that allowed just 12 goals last season with 19 shutouts has an experienced defense returning and a strong group of young players up front.

Quotable: “We’re going to be a deep team. There are honestly seven or eight players that I can put in the defense that I have confidence with to do their job. Actually, I think we have a deeper team this year than we did last year when we won the state championship. We have some sophomores and juniors who are just coming up, and I think they’re ready to take the next step,” coach Jordan Smith.

BOYS SOCCER

Head coach: Nate Hunsicker

League: Colonial

Key losses: Ben Bachman, Nate Kinzel, Brandon Krapf, Cayden Lloyd, Jack Mauro, Jacob Van Lierop

Key returnees: Austin Bittenbender (Sr.), Cole Mertz (Jr.), Logan Mesics (Sr.), Caelan Stangil (Sr.)

Top newcomers: Jack Bissell (Fr.), Dean Carl (Jr.), Lyle Good (Fr.)

Season outlook: With two league, district, and state championships in three seasons, including an undefeated season in 2024 (14-0 Colonial, 28-0 overall), it would be a mistake to think that the Tigers won’t be able to make a big splash in both districts and states. Even with the loss of Van Lierop and his 74 goals from last season, Northwestern can just reload with a balanced attack from experienced players up front. It also has a deep defensive roster that will help it make the transition from Krapf to Dean Carl in goal as easy as possible.

Quotable: “We lost some key fixtures in the lineup, but at the same time, I think that the success that we have here breeds more success. At the same time though, we bring back a lot of guys who were in the lineup, and we have a couple of freshmen coming in that we’re very confident can make an immediate splash and put the ball in the back of the net for us,” coach Nate Hunsicker

FIELD HOCKEY

Head coach: Lissa Opolsky

League: Colonial

Key losses: Olivia Costa, Ella Dangello, Rylee McGinley, Cara Thomas, Carsyn VanNorman

Key returnees: Amelia Birch (Sr.), Hannah Gober (Sr.), Haley Kerschner (Sr.), Taylor Langley (Sr.), Ryan Smolinsky (Sr.)

Top newcomers: Ella Bressi (Sr.), Makayla Bressi (Sr.), McKensey Miller (Sr.), Melanie Schmidt (Jr.), Faith Slifer (Jr.), Riley Stoudt (Jr.), Evelyn Albouqc (Fr.)

Season outlook: As defending Colonial League and District 11 champion (15-0 Colonial, 20-4 overall), the Lady Tigers have the usual target on their backs coming into the season. Smolinsky made 73 saves in 11 games last season, and with players like Kerschner in front of her to help command the defense, Northwestern could be tough to score on. The duo of Thomas and Costa up front is gone, but Gober (32 points) and Langley (19 points) will help to ease the pain as both have the potential to score more goals.

Quotable: “We’re lucky because we’re rolling into another senior class that has the potential to make a run into states, and we’ve had that over the past two or three years. We’re just looking to press forward. The championships are great, but if we focus on those, we’re going to lose sight of all of the other stuff that goes into it,” coach Lissa Opolsky.

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY

Head coach: Chris Stitzel (27th year)

League: Colonial

Key losses: Xander Giandomenico, Greyson Wellings, Luke Thrash, Bryce Thrash

Key returnees: Noah Griffith (Jr.), Brady Furman (Jr.), Jonathan Fornauf (Sr.)

Top newcomers: Isaac Grub (So.), Quentin Gutierrez-Kehm (So.), Max Miller (Sr.), Michael Richards (Jr.)

Outlook: The Tigers graduated their top two runners, and four of their top seven after going 21-7 last season. Griffith was the team’s No. 3 last year, and will likely be the team’s top runner this season. The team has a large roster with 23 boys. Depth will be a strength, but the Tigers may not have the power at the front of the lineup that they’ve had in the past. Stitzel expects Southern Lehigh, Notre Dame (Green Pond) and Wilson to the Colonial League’s top teams this season, and hopes his boys squad can be right behind that lead pack.

Quotable: “We probably won’t have that stud, but we’ll run well in a pack. Some teams might go 1-2 on us, but hopefully then we’ll pack it in on them. At least we have the numbers for the guys. We won’t be one of the top teams, but we’ll be right there after that. We’ll take it one day at a time and try to get better every day.”

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY

Head coach: Chris Stitzel (27th year)

League: Colonial

Key losses: Sophia Cornell, Megan Fornwalt, Devon Heinly, Kelley Pedron

Key returnees: Rosalia Nestor (So.), Amber Carl (Jr.), Ava Smedstad (Sr.)

Top newcomers: Charlotte David (Jr.), Laura Earles (Fr.), Emily Fornwalt (Fr.), Katherine Furman (Fr.), Anabel Kline (Fr.)

Outlook: Northwestern graduated the majority of last year’s top five as four of the Tigers’ runners who scored at leagues and districts were seniors in 2025. The team returns its top runner from last season in sophomore Rosalia Nestor, a Times News Athlete of the Year who finished third overall at last year’s league championship meet. Several freshmen will be in the team’s top five this year with Furman likely to be the team’s No. 2 behind Nestor. With just eight names on the girls roster, staying healthy will be important for the Tigers.

Quotable: “At least we don’t have to forfeit. That’s our main goal – to get enough for a team. We can build from there. Hoping to get Rosie to states this year individually. She missed it by one spot last year. Hopefully that’s motivation to get there this year.”

VOLLEYBALL

Head coach: Mike Maston

League: Colonial

Key losses: Elyse Browning, Shannon Green, Bailey Murray, Norah Silfies

Key returnees: Alex Diehl (Sr.), Lily Kinnon (Sr.)

Top newcomers: Lacey Clymer (So.), Kayla Schafer (So.), Jessica Unrath (So.)

Season outlook: The program reached a couple of milestones last season with their first ever win over Notre Dame, and a win in the first round of districts. The Lady Tigers finished 12-4 in the Colonial League and 13-10 overall. In addition to a difficult Colonial League schedule against teams like Notre Dame of Green Pond and Southern Lehigh, the schedule has tough non-league games against larger schools like Nazareth and Freedom to get players used to playing tough teams.

Quotable: “We’ve been more competitive each season, and I think that we can be even more competitive this season and maybe surprise some teams. We’re very young, and only have four seniors and kept 10 freshmen, so we’re going to be very young, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be competitive,” coach Mike Maston