As the final buzzer echoed through arenas and the last cheers faded into the night, Michigan State University’s winter sports teams wrapped up their seasons in an emotional whirlwind.
The weekend brought thrilling moments that showcased Spartan athletes’ tenacity and passion — alongside heart-wrenching losses that reminded fans and players of the ruthless nature of competition.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our group,” MSU hockey head coach Adam Nightingale said in his post-game press conference. “They’ve done everything we’ve asked them to do. This is a little bit of the reality of single elimination.”
In a dramatic series of events, the hockey team faced a gut-wrenching finish, and the men’s basketball team’s valiant run ended just shy of the Final Four against top-seeded Auburn.
Hockey: Heartbreaking final 10 as Spartans fall to Cornell in NCAA Tournament
On Friday evening, MSU hockey's season came to an unanticipated close when it lost to Cornell 4-3 in Toledo, OH during the NCAA tournament.
With ten seconds remaining in regulation, MSU was sent home when Cornell’s Mack Sullivan made a power play goal.
With the team's season coming to a close, junior Karsen Dorwart will find his way to the NHL with the Philadelphia Flyers. Dorwart signed a two-year entry-level contract and will look to make his impact at the professional level.
“No one’s more disappointed than the guys in our room and our staff, you know,” Nightingale said post-game. “But this is the reality of sports.”
Men’s Basketball: A journey to the Elite Eight
The Spartans continued their impressive March Madness run, securing a 73-70 victory over Ole Miss in the Sweet 16 on Friday.
Despite trailing for the majority of the game, MSU’s late-game surge, highlighted by senior guard Jaden Akins’ 16 points, propelled them to victory. This win marked their first Elite Eight appearance since 2019.
However, their journey concluded on Sunday, with a 70-64 loss to top-seeded Auburn.
Junior forward Jaxon Kohler delivered a standout performance with 17 points and 11 rebounds, but the Spartans fell short in their quest for the Final Four.
“I felt like it reinvigorated me to realize there are still people out there that care about winning and care about getting better and care about playing for the school they're at and care about playing with the players they're with,” MSU men's basketball head coach Tom Izzo said post-game. “In this day and age when it's getting a little more selfish, that is rewarding, that is exciting, that is invigorating.”
Softball: Historic victory over Michigan
In a landmark win, MSU softball defeated Michigan 4-3 on Friday night in Ann Arbor.
The win marked the Spartans’ first over their in-state rival since 2018. A two-run homer by sophomore infielder Brooke Beshears in the sixth inning proved pivotal.
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However, MSU dropped the next two games of the series — 15-3 and 8-6 — struggling to maintain momentum.
Despite the loss, MSU junior Kaelin Cash had a standout performance and displayed resilience against the rivals, setting two single program records. She hit three home runs and drove eight runs in game two.
The Spartans will host a doubleheader against Detroit Mercy on Monday, April 1, beginning at 6 p.m.
Baseball: Challenging series against Illinois
The MSU baseball team endured a tough home series against Illinois.
This past Friday, the Spartans dropped both games of a doubleheader, losing 9-6 and 10-3, respectively.
After two rough matches, on Saturday the teams faced off one more time and MSU managed to grab one win, 14-4, from the three-game series.
The Spartans will face the Lansing Lugnuts in the Crosstown Showdown at 6:05 p.m. on Tuesday, April 1 at Jackson Field. They’ll resume regular season play on Wednesday, April 2, against Bowling Green at 6:05 p.m. in East Lansing.
Men’s Tennis: Narrow defeat to Ohio State
After a stint on the road, the men’s tennis team hosted Penn State and Ohio State in East Lansing this past weekend.
In the first match-up against Penn State, the Spartans had the doubles points in their favor. After seeing success in the singles matches, they walked away victorious, winning 4-3.
However, the team engaged in a closely contested match against Ohio State on Sunday, ultimately falling 4-3. The match featured several intense singles battles, with sophomore Ozan Baris pushing his opponent to a third-set tiebreaker before narrowly losing.
MSU will host Northwestern on Friday, April 4, with matches beginning at 5 p.m. in East Lansing.
Women’s Tennis: Spartans look to bounce back against Purdue
The women’s tennis team fell 4-0 to Illinois on Sunday.
Illinois claimed the doubles point early, and the Spartans couldn’t recover during the singles matches that followed.
MSU will face Purdue on Saturday, April 5, at 11 a.m. in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Track and Field: Commencement of outdoor season
The track and field team opened its outdoor season this past weekend at the Raleigh Relays in North Carolina.
Senior Kate Stewart-Barnett set a new personal best in the steeplechase on Friday, clocking 9:36.96 — the second-fastest time in program history.
MSU will host the Spartan Invitational at Ralph Young Field on Friday, April 4.
Rowing: Strong season opener in Sarasota
The rowing team opened its season in Sarasota, Florida, over the weekend.
Racing began Friday to determine semifinal placements. In Sunday’s A final, the Spartans finished about a boat length behind first-place UCF and just four seats short of third-place North Carolina.
In the second varsity eight semifinal, MSU finished just half a length behind North Carolina to secure second place and a spot in the A final. The Spartans took sixth in a tight final, with boats placing second through fifth finishing within 1.22 seconds.
Three of MSU’s six boats reached the A finals. The varsity eight narrowly missed the podium, and the third varsity eight/novice eight won the petite final.
Women’s Golf: Spartans swing for success at Clemson Invitational
The women’s golf team placed 11th out of 15 schools at the Clemson Invitational in South Carolina this past weekend.
Ohio State won the tournament with a score of 45-under-par 819. MSU finished at 1-under-par 863.
MSU will next compete in the Lady Buckeye Invitational at Ohio State’s Scarlet Course from April 12-13.
This past weekend’s competitions were a microcosm of the highs and lows that define the athletic landscape at Michigan State University.
From hockey’s unexpected NCAA Tournament exit and men’s basketball’s Elite Eight loss to softball’s historic win over Michigan, Spartan fans experienced both heartbreak and triumph.
As spring arrives, these moments will fuel teams to push forward and elevate their performances in the months ahead.
