SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (November 2, 2026) – Western New England women's wrestling Samantha Rabkin, men's cross country's Lucas Franco, and men's wrestling's James Linder have been named this week's Golden Bear Athletes of the Week after outstanding individual performances that led to team success this weekend. 

Rabkin led WNE women's wrestling with a second-place finish at the East Stroudsburg Open this past weekend, defeating a national qualifier in the process. Rabkin opened the round of 16 with a fall victory in just 1:36 to advance to the quarterfinal round of the 207 lb. weight class in a win over University of Bridgeport's Rylan Johns. Rabkin picked up her second victory of the day in convincing fashion, earning a 10-0 victory in 5:00, picking up the victory by technical superiority against Charlotte Sampson of Centenary University. The semifinal round saw Rabkin go down 6-0 early in the first period against Gannon University's Caroline Biegel, but Rabkin rallied back to pick up four quick points late in the second period before getting the pin at 2:17, picking up the victory to advance to the weight class final. In the final, Rabkin would fall just short, last 2:41 in the match, but came up with a second-place finish overall, leading the Golden Bears on the day. Rabkin and the Golden Bears head to Norwich University this Saturday, November 7 for a tri match with Norwich and the University of Bridgeport beginning at 1:00 PM. 

Franco dominated the Conference of New England Championship this past weekend at Keney Park in Hartford, Connecticut, racing a Golden Bear's best time of 27:11.3 in the 8k race. Franco took 12^th place overall, the highest-placing finisher among men and women for Western New England on the day. Franco's 12^th-place finish is his third-lowest placement of the season, after his 9^th-place finish at the Golden Bear Invitational on October 17 and his second-place finish at the Elms Classic on September 12. Franco will look to continue improving in the final race of the season at the NCAA Regionals event at Wickham Park on November 14. 

Linder was a perfect 3-0 this past Sunday afternoon, leading the Golden Bears to a perfect record to begin the season in dual action. The WNE senior opened his 2026-27 campaign with a fall victory in the 149 lb. weight class, needing just 2:50 to take down Bryce Mixon from Plymouth State University. In a win over Maine Maritime Academy, Linder earned a pin over David To, needing just 1:12 to earn six points for the team total. To wrap up the afternoon of wins, Linder registered his last fall victory of the afternoon, knocking down Gino Manta in 1:19 to close out the day with a perfect 3-0 record, all wins via fall. Linder and the Golden Bears will be back in action this coming Saturday, November 7 at 11:00 PM at the Alvernia Invitational.