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AJ Avansino ('26) jumps for the ball on March 28, 2026. Photo by Patricia Krepel. Men’s tennis beat the University of Puget Sound Loggers 6-1 at home on Feb. 28. The result marked their first team win since 2019 and signifies a change that has been a long time coming for the Bearcats, who haven’t had a winning season since 2011. Captain AJ Avansino (’26) recalled last year’s difficult campaign, in which the team failed to get a point off of any conference opponent. “Last yea

Two Willamette Table Tennis Club members engage in an intense rally on Feb. 27, 2026. Photo by Patricia Krepel. Just a short 20-minute walk from campus, the Willamette Table Tennis Club (WTCC) has quietly built a welcoming and tight-knit space for ping-pong players of all skill levels since 2010. What distinguishes the group is not competitive intensity or flashy facilities, but a consistent emphasis on accessibility and connection within the Salem table tennis scene. For Na

Tanner Overby ('28) plays Asbury University in Salem, Oregon on Dec. 18, 2025. Photo courtesy of Quinn Carbery. Heading into this year’s basketball season, the Northwest Conference (NWC) coaches picked the Bearcat men to finish last in the conference. That didn’t faze Tanner Overby (’28). “There honestly wasn't any pressure [at the beginning of the season] at all. We got picked last, so we just kind of played freely,” he said. That freedom yielded results. By season’s end, th