Case Western Reserve University's independent student news source

The Observer
Case Western Reserve University's independent student news source

The Observer
Case Western Reserve University's independent student news source

The Observer
Puneet Bansal

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor

Puneet Bansal (she/her) is a fourth-year student majoring in biochemistry and medical anthropology. She loves obsessing over food, spending time outdoors or annoying her friends. Hailing from the Bay Area, she is an ardent Golden State Warriors fan and finds it daunting to sport her Stephen Curry jersey around Cleveland.

All content by Puneet Bansal
Third-year pitcher Lexi Miskey leads the Spartans in a clean-sweep victory against the Brandeis Judges, earning a record-breaking 54th career win in the process.

Softball regains their groove against Brandeis

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
April 26, 2024
My real home at CWRU

My real home at CWRU

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
April 26, 2024
On April 14, first-year pitcher Tyler Stillson pitched five innings against Ohio Wesleyan while also batting 2-for-3 with a grand slam and 6 runs batted-in.

Baseball sweeps Kenyon and Ohio Wesleyan, falls to Denison

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
April 19, 2024
CWRU softball team racks up 15 straight wins after an undefeated four-game series against Emory

CWRU softball team racks up 15 straight wins after an undefeated four-game series against Emory

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
April 12, 2024
Third-year Lily McCloskey went undefeated at this past Blue Gray Invite. McCloskey and fellow third-year Hannah Kassaie kicked off the invite by securing a win against Southwestern in first doubles 8-0.

Women’s tennis crushes the Blue Gray Invite

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
April 5, 2024
CWRU men's baseball team maintains a six-game win streak following their victories against UChicago.

Baseball sweeps UChicago for perfect post-spring break start

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
March 29, 2024
On Mar. 18, third-year Ajay Mahenthiran was named UAA Men's Tennis Player of the Week after going 7-1 in singles matches during the CWRU's men tennis team's spring break trip.

Men’s tennis goes 8-3 during spring break

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
March 22, 2024

Women’s basketball ends season victorious on Senior Day

Angelina Minaya and Puneet Bansal
March 1, 2024
In CWRU men's basketball game against the University of Rochester, third-year forward Umar Rashid contributed 8 points, 1 assist and 7 rebounds, allowing the Spartan team to win 99-70.

Spartans take third place overall in UAA Wrestling Championship

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
February 23, 2024

Tennis teams sweep spring opening weekend

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
February 16, 2024
The CWRU swimming and diving team heads to Kenyon College this weekend after dominating Oberlin College in their most recent meet.

Swimming and diving defeats SUNY Geneseo, Oberlin to open spring season

Puneet Bansal and Paola Van der Linden Costello
February 2, 2024

Women’s basketball goes 0-2 over weekend, drops to 8-8

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
January 26, 2024

Women’s basketball goes 1-2 to start UAA play

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
January 19, 2024

Men’s soccer falls in second round of NCAA tournament

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
December 8, 2023
Second-year Lauren Iagnemma earned her first ever All-America honors due to her performance at the NCAA Championships.

Iagnemma takes 18th place finish at NCAA Championships

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
December 8, 2023
The CWRU women's soccer season comes to a close with a 0-1 loss to John Carroll University.

Women’s soccer postseason ends in second-round loss to John Carroll

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
November 17, 2023
Point guard Donovan Mitchell was the highest scorer in a historic game where the Cavs were finally victorious after a 6-year losing streak to the Golden State Warriors.

Cavaliers bounce back 115-104 against Golden State Warriors

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
November 10, 2023

Men’s soccer bounces back from loss to WashU with 2-1 win over Brandeis

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
November 3, 2023
On Oct. 21, third-year running back Gage Duesler (left) scores 2 touchdowns in the Spartans' game against Waynesburg University.

Football defeats Waynesburg 35-0 for fifth straight win

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
October 27, 2023
Third-year wide receiver Noah Coyne accounts for two touchdowns in the domination of the Bethany Bison.

Spartans pummel Bethany College 34-12, improves record to 3-1

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
October 6, 2023
Second-year Alexis Sassower scores her first career goal in opening UAA game against NYU on Sept. 30.

Women’s soccer opens UAA play with 1-0 win over NYU

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
October 6, 2023
During ITA Central Regional Championship in St. Louis this past weekend, third-year Hannah Kassaie places second in the women's open singles.

Women’s tennis update—Kassaie qualifies for ITA Cup

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
September 29, 2023
Spartans fall 27-24 in overtime nail-biter to Grove City

Spartans fall 27-24 in overtime nail-biter to Grove City

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
September 22, 2023
Second-year middle blocker Amanda Ngo contributes to the first set win of CWRU's volleyball team against Averett University during a CWRU Quad game on Sept. 7.

Volleyball sweeps at CWRU Quad 3-0

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
September 15, 2023
On Friday, Sept. 1, CWRU's women's soccer team started their season off strong with a 2-1 win against John Carroll University on DiSanto Field.

Women’s soccer kicks off season 2-0

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
September 8, 2023
The CWRU football team returns to the field on Sept. 2 to play Thiel College in Greenville, PA.

Football kicks off the new season

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
September 1, 2023
CWRU’s softball team was lucky enough to make their fourth appearance in the NCAA tournament.

Softball ties program win record, falls in second round at NCAA tournament

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
September 1, 2023
Second-year Hannah Kassaie fights valiantly during her quarterfinal match, but falls short to Babson University's Olivia Soffer.

Kassaie makes program history at 2023 NCAA tournament

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
August 25, 2023
A. CWRU's men's tennis team celebrates a historic 2023 NCAA DIII Championship win. B. CWRU's men's tennis team celebrates victory in a heartfelt team huddle.

NATIONAL TEAM AND DOUBLES CHAMPIONS!

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
August 25, 2023
First-year infielder Elizabeth Berry was one of many CWRU softball players who had stellar performances over the weekend in the team's four-game sweep against NYU.

UAA CHAMPIONS ONCE AGAIN!

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
April 28, 2023
The Spartans celebrate their April 23 victory against the WashU Bears, having secured their first UAA Championship after an immensely successful season.

FIRST-EVER UAA CHAMPIONSHIP!

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
April 28, 2023
CWRU's men's tennis team celebrates after their 9-0 wins against North Central College and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater on April 8.

Men’s tennis rides 11-match win streak into UAA Championships

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
April 21, 2023
In a ceremony on March 16, GHDC handed off their reproductive health project to the NGO PATH. Representing both organizations, from left to right: Dr. Janet McGrath, Benedict Mulindwa, Dr. Andrew Rollins, Dr. Robert Ssekitoleko, Dr. Robert Mutumba, Dr. Betty Mirembe, Fiona Walugembe and Allen Namagembe.

GHDC officially hands off reproductive health project to NGO in Uganda

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
March 31, 2023
Third-year KaiLi Gross was one of several key players in the CWRU softball team's 14 consecutive wins.

Softball sets program record with 14 straight wins

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
March 24, 2023
After phenomenal performances by several of the men's tennis players, the team was named ITA Indoor National Champions.

BACK-TO-BACK ITA CHAMPIONS!

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
March 3, 2023
Pallavi Goculdas wins at sixth singles against the University of Mary Washington, helping CWRU to their sixth straight win of the spring season.

Women’s tennis blasts to 6-0 start in spring season

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
February 24, 2023
Alumnus Mark Termini, previously a member of CWRU's men's basketball team, has since founded his own sports agency and represented a plethora of professional players.

CWRU renames men’s basketball locker room after Mark Termini

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
February 17, 2023
Although both the men's and women's swimming and diving teams lost to Kenyon College, the Spartans spent time honoring the graduating seniors.

Swimming and diving teams split 2023 openers

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
January 27, 2023
CWRU first-year Jacob Gregg grapples with his opponent during the Jan. 14 Claude Sharer Duals.

Wrestling goes 6-2 to start 2023

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
January 20, 2023
Team captains Lexi Gomez, Anika Washburn, Merry Meyer and Elizabeth White (left to right) hold up their NCAA National Runner-up trophy after a season full of new records and accomplishments.

Women’s soccer falls to JHU 2-1 in NCAA DIII championship game, concluding historic season

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
December 9, 2022
Students celebrate the inaugural CWRU LIFT competition, striking various poses, including the Zyzz pose, as the successful event came to a close.

CWRU LIFT hosts deadlift competition, brings together university’s weightlifting community

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
December 2, 2022
CWRU graduate student forward Camryn Hartman lead the Spartans with the highest number of shots during the Spartan's Nov. 19 game against Loras.

Women’s soccer advances to NCAA Semifinals

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
December 2, 2022
CWRU Pickleball Club sent team members to the Pickleball Collegiate National Championships free of charge thanks in part to competing against The Ohio State University.

CWRU Pickleball Club competes in first ever collegiate nationals

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
December 2, 2022
The women's soccer team poses triumphant at the second round of the NCAA Division III Championship, after defeating Ithaca College.

Women’s soccer rolls to Round of 16

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
November 18, 2022
The CWRU women's soccer team poses after their 1-0 win against CMU on Saturday Nov. 5.

Women’s soccer crowned UAA champions

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
November 11, 2022
Fourth-year Joe Jaster has had a monumental impact on CWRU's cross country team since his first year in 2019, when he was among the team’s top seven finishers on four occasions.

Joe Jaster wins UAA Championship for cross country

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
November 4, 2022
Fourth-year James Hopper (center) and third-year Vishwa Aduru (right)—along with CWRU tennis alum Chaitanya Aduru (left)—pose with the winning ITA cup trophies.

Hopper and Aduru crowned ITA Cup champions

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
October 28, 2022
First-year outside hitter Kalli Wall serves the ball during a match against Washington University in St. Louis, helping CWRU secure an upset against the fourth-ranked school.

Volleyball sweeps third UAA Round Robin for 7 straight wins

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
October 28, 2022
First-year Michael Wojkowski falls on top of St. Vincent's Marvelle Cromerdie during the CWRU Homecoming football game.

Spartan football dominates St. Vincent 45-21 over homecoming weekend

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
October 14, 2022
Fourth-year midfielder Aniya Hartzler capitalized on a free kick to net the game-winning goal against Brandeis.

CWRU soccer teams open UAA competition with a bang

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
October 7, 2022
Fourth-year Jack Begley completed the 8K distance in 24:49.3 at the Mike Woods invite, his fastest time of the season and the third best of his career.

Men’s cross country wins Mike Woods Invitational, women’s finish 3rd

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
October 7, 2022
As CWRU's volleyball team beats Kenyon, third-year libero Alyssa Blessinger serves the ball and leads the team in digs, continuing the Spartans' win streak.

Volleyball rolls past Kenyon and Denison, improving to 11-3

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
September 30, 2022
Catching a deflected pass from Saxton, second-year wide receiever Noah Cohen's first career touchdown opened scoring in the first half.

Spartan football upset Wash. & Jeff 14-10 with Saxton’s and Dahlem’s late-game heroics

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
September 23, 2022
It's become the fastest-growing sport nationwide, so it's no wonder that the pickleball craze arrived at CWRU last year, with plans to compete in tournaments around the area soon.

Club Spotlight – Pickleball Club

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
September 16, 2022
First-year Ashley Novak from Downers Grove, Illinois, recorded times of 18:08 in the three-mile and 18:49 in the 5K during the cross country season while in high school.

Spartan track and field teams achieve in the postseason

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
September 9, 2022
Scoring her first goal of the season, fourth-year Helina VanBibber (pictured) secured CWRU a 2-0 advantage in their game against Otterbein University.

Women’s soccer blasts to 2-0 start at home

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
September 9, 2022

Club Sports spotlights – Part II

Puneet Bansal and Alyssa Zimmerman
September 2, 2022

2022 Fall Sports Preview

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
August 26, 2022
Club Sports spotlights - Part I

Club Sports spotlights – Part I

Puneet Bansal and Alyssa Zimmerman
August 26, 2022
Fourth-year Chris Heermann (#3) runs in the 5,000-meter race at the All-Ohio Championships this past weekend.

Women’s and men’s teams finish first, second at All-Ohio Championships

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
April 22, 2022
Fourth-year Chaitanya Aduru went 4-0 in his matches over the weekend, earning him the UAA Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week honor.

Men’s and women’s tennis sweep weekend matches, tout eight-game win streaks

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
April 8, 2022
First-year pitcher Lexi Miskey was honored as the UAA Pitcher of the Week for allowing a batting average of just 0.157 against Washington.

Softball splits against WashU 2-2

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
April 8, 2022
Decisive runs by second-year KaiLi Gross (above) buoyed the Spartans to victory in their matches with NYU, the latest in a series of victories for the softball team.

Softball pushes win streak to 9 after going 4-0 against John Carrol, NYU

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
April 1, 2022
At the Washington and Lee Track and Field Carnival, second-year Elise Moore (pictured) takes home one of her two fourth-place finishes in the 400-meter dash

Track & field takes on NCAA championships, kicks off outdoor season

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
March 25, 2022
First-year diver Abigail Wilkov becomes the first CWRU diver ever to earn First Team All-American honors after finishing seventh in the NCAA Division III Championships last Saturday.

Three Spartans shine at NCAA DIII Swimming & Diving Championships

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
March 25, 2022
Second-year forward Hunter Drenth (#3) shoots a 3-pointer in the recent home game against CMU in a string of victories that ultimately led to CWRU's first postseason win.

Dream season for men’s basketball comes to an end in NCAA Round of 16

Ajeet Kalepu and Puneet Bansal
March 18, 2022
Second-year forward Isabella Mills (#21) was an honorable mention for the All-UAA Honors after averaging 12.6 points, 2.4 steals and 6.2 rebounds this season.

Women’s basketball falls to CMU in season finale

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
March 18, 2022
Second-year forward Kayla Characklis tied for an impressive game-high 19 points in the Spartan's game against Rochester.

Women’s basketball splits weekend against Emory and Rochester

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
February 25, 2022
Second-year Ethan Chuang (left) and third-year Ally Halsdorfer (right) were among some to achieve NCAA "B" cut times, totaling five for CWRU.

Swimming & diving shines at UAA championships, earn 6th place

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
February 18, 2022
Graduate guard Mitch Predergast recorded a career-high 28 points against Brandeis to tie the program's record of 18 wins in a season.

Men’s basketball wins 17th game, matches program record against Brandeis

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
February 18, 2022
Graduate guard Mitch Prendergast (pictured) led all players to a victory against WashU, scoring a total of 18 points with 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.

Men’s basketball improves to 5-1 in UAA play, 15-2 overall

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
February 4, 2022
Fourth-year forward Abbey Lawrence (pictured) scored a game-high 24 points against WashU.

Women’s basketball falls to UChicago, defeats WashU in OT

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
February 4, 2022
Indoor track and field, wrestling, swimming and diving earn top results over the weekend

Indoor track and field, wrestling, swimming and diving earn top results over the weekend

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
January 28, 2022
Second-year forward Kayla Characklis (center) lead the Spartans in their recent conference games, scoring 14 points against NYU and 15 points against Brandeis.

Women’s basketball splits weekend vs NYU, Brandeis

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
January 21, 2022
Fourth-year forward Ryan Newton (above) secured a CWRU victory in the final seconds of their conference opener ending with a score of 89-88.

Men’s basketball extends win streak to 11 after defeating Hilbert College, CMU

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
January 14, 2022
Third-year Maria Pritchett (pictured) competes in the Magnus Cup Invitational at Cleveland State University, joining a record-breaking lineup.

Swimming, diving and wrestling teams earn mixed finishes

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
December 3, 2021
Fourth-year Trey Razanauskas (54), finishes 45th in the nation at the 2021 NCAA Division III Championship, setting a new record for CWRU.

Season ends for cross country, opens for track & field

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
December 3, 2021
Despite an end-of-season loss, the CWRU women's soccer team closes out the best season in the team's history with a record of 16-2-2.

Historic season comes to an end for women’s soccer

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
December 3, 2021
The woman's soccer team finished their season in record-breaking fashion while the wrestling and women's basketball teams began their new seasons, with things looking optimistic for both.

Women’s soccer earns postseason bid, wrestling and women’s basketball open seasons

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
November 12, 2021
Spartans build up momentum from their Halloween weekend win against Washington as they prepare to face off against Carnegie Mellon's Tartans

Women’s soccer pounces to 13-1-2, prepares for regular season finale against CMU

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
November 5, 2021
Fourth-year Trey Razanauskas (pictured) and third-year Jack Begley led the Spartans to a fifth place finish at the 2021 UAA Championships this past Saturday

Cross country teams bring in 5th place finishes at UAA Championships

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
November 5, 2021
The CWRU men's and women's swim teams dove into the season opener with victories against Ohio Wesleyan

Swimming and diving sweep season opener against Ohio Wesleyan

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
October 29, 2021
The CWRU Men's Cross Country team finished fifth out of 35 teams at the 2021 Inter-Regional Rumble at Oberlin College on Saturday, Oct. 16.

Spartan team earn mixed results over Fall Break weekend

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
October 22, 2021
Jack Begley leads the team to a 4th place finish, as Spartans look forward to a team-building and record-breaking season

Men’s and women’s cross country finish 4th and 2nd at Mike Woods Invitational

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
October 8, 2021
The CWRU women's soccer team embraces as they kick off the fall season with two wins.

Perfect season continues for women’s soccer

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
October 1, 2021
CWRU's second-year defender Jad Oglesby sets into motion the Spartans' staggering victory against the Westminster Titans in the men's soccer game this past Tuesday.

Men’s soccer bounces back from weekend loss with triumphant win

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
September 24, 2021
UAA Athlete of the Week Alyssa Blessinger, a second-year defensive specialist, consistently led the team in digs throughout the tournament.

Volleyball splits hometown tournament 1-2

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
September 10, 2021
Second-year Jennfier Ngo spikes the ball over the net, recording eight total kills on Wednesday night.

CWRU teams sweep opening night

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
September 3, 2021
Irina-Camellia Begu and Anett Kontaveit play the in their second set of the singles finals at Jacob's Pavilion, overlooking the Cuyahoga River.

Kontaveit and Aoyama/Shibahara take championships at Tennis in the Land

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
September 3, 2021
Assorted Fall Sports

CWRU Fall Sports Preview

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
August 27, 2021

Track and field team dominates at Wittenberg Quad Meet

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
April 30, 2021
Second-year James Hopper has had a monster season, winning all his singles and doubles matches thus far.

Men’s tennis bounces back 7-0 against Findlay

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
April 23, 2021
After splitting into Blue Team and White Team, the Blue Team won by a score of 57-32, outshooting and outdefending the other team from the second quarter onwards.

Blue Team shines in women’s basketball scrimmage

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
April 23, 2021
Second-year midfielder Merry Meyer joined in on the scoring avalanche against Hiram College on March 29, netting the team's second goal in the first half.

Women’s soccer goes undefeated in spring season

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
April 23, 2021
Assistant Coach Mike Fitzpatrick (far left) led the Blue Team, which included Ignas Masiulionis, Hunter Drenth, Max Day, Ryan Newton, Connor Ryan and Jeremy Callahan (left to right).

Blue Team wins the 2021 men’s basketball Blue/White Classic

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
April 16, 2021
In the first singles match of her CWRU tennis career, Chloe Ku defeated Hannah Keidan 8-1.

Women’s tennis stifles Oberlin with 9-0 victory

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
April 16, 2021
Fourth-year Sidney Brannam led the softball team in their sweep of Bluffton University on April 2, holding Bluffton to zero runs in the first game and three in the second.

CWRU varsity sports return to action

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
April 9, 2021
The company Q30 Innovations began developing the Q-Collar in 2010 to address the brain injury epidemic.

Q-Collar receives marketing approval from FDA

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
April 2, 2021
With practices starting early in the mornings at 5:30 a.m., the crew team gets to enjoy the beautiful sunrises and sites of Cleveland.

Crew team positions itself for the fall semester

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
March 19, 2021
Fourth-year student Sriya Donthi founded the CWRU Women's Weightlifting Club with a friend in her sophomore year with the aim to create a supportive environment for women interested in the sport.

Yes, women lift weights, too

Puneet Bansal, Sports Editor
March 12, 2021
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