SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (March 30, 2026) – Three Golden Bears, representing men's tennis, softball, and baseball, have picked up Golden Bear Athlete of the Week honors this week, seeing Nolan Jermain, Shea McDaniel, and Mark Zigmont complete outstanding weeks. 

Jermain was a big part of Western New England's run this week that saw the team secure three wins out of four on the courts, all against Conference of New England opponents. Jermain opened the week in the fourth singles position over Suffolk University, sweeping Franco Amadio in straight sets, pulling out a 6-0, 6-0 win. Jermain also came away with a 6-0 win in doubles action with partner Joshua Marx. The next day, Jermain continued that dominance on the court, earning a win in the second singles position, picking up a 6-0, 6-1 win over Curry's Carson Bakunas, another victory for the Golden Bears. Jermain played in the top doubles spot that afternoon, picking up a 6-2 win. Jermain returned to the fourth singles position in a Thursday afternoon CNE battle with the University of Saint Joseph and fell short in three sets in the most competitive match of the afternoon, falling 7-5, 3-6, 8-10. Despite the singles loss, Jermain and Michel Abizaid Nunez teamed up for a 6-0 win in doubles play to help the Golden Bears pick up a 5-2 win. Over the weekend, Jermain was the lone Golden Bear to come away with a victory over the Fighting Scots of Gordon College, picking up a 6-4, 3-6, 10-8 victory over Percy Martinez. 

McDaniel had a standout week for the Golden Bears, helping Western New England softball record three wins in four games last week. McDaniel opened the week with a hit and a run in two at-bats against the University of New England, picking up a double and a pair of RBIs to lead the Golden Bears to their first CNE victory of the year. In game two against UNE, McDaniel picked up another double, a run, and an RBI, again leading the charge in a conference sweep over the Nor'easters. In non-conference action against Wheaton, McDaniel helped the Golden Bears come away with a victory in game two of the doubleheader, picking up two hits in three at-bats, coming away with the game-winning hit and RBI in the game. McDaniel hit .400 for the Golden Bears during the week, picking up four RBIs.

Zigmont had a hit in all four Western New England baseball games last week to lead the charge. To open the week at the University of Hartford, Zigmont collected two hits, a double and a triple, and scored a run in the contest. In a mid-week non-conference contest at Amherst College, the Southington, Connecticut native picked up a hit against one of the top teams in Division III, helping the Golden Bears nearly pull off an upset victory. The round out the weekend, Zigmont had three hits in eight at-bats in a pair of games at Wentworth Institute of Technology, coming up with his first career home run, a grand slam, and driving in five RBIs in the victories. 

The Western New England men's tennis team returns to the courts this coming Tuesday, March 31 at 4:00 PM, taking on Nichols College at 4:00 PM. 

WNE softball plays a conference doubleheader on Monday, March 30 at 2:30 and 4:30 PM against Gordon College before returning home for non-conference action against Springfield College on Wednesday, April 1. 

WNE baseball plays a pair of home games this week, hosting Nichols College on Tuesday, March 31 at 3:30 PM in conference action, while also welcoming Keene State to Springfield on Wednesday, April 1.