This spring marks the 25th season of Jen Lane leading Wesleyan softball, a milestone that reflects not just longevity, but the kind of impact that builds over time. For 25 years, Lane has been a constant for the program, shaping not only how the team plays, but what it feels like to be part of it. This milestone coincides with the program's 40th season, meaning Lane has been part of more than half its history.
Over those 25 years, Lane has led the Cardinals to 348 career wins heading into this weekend, including the 2010 NESCAC Championship, when the softball program became the first women's team in school history to win a NESCAC title. The Cardinals have captured three Little Three titles in her tenure (2008, 2013, 2025) and Lane has been recognized three times as NESCAC Coach/Coaching Staff of the Year (2008, 2010, 2025) along with NFCA Region One Coaching Staff of the Year honors in 2025. This past season added another milestone, as the team finished 29-12, recording the most wins in a single-seaosn in program history.
For Wesleyan softball alums, the memories that stick out aren't just about wins.
Bella Tassone '24, G'25 highlighted the level of commitment the team shared, describing it as one of the most meaningful experiences of her career and a standard that carried through her time in the program.
For others, the defining moment was the big 2010 win. Samantha Epstein '12 points to the historic NESCAC Championship, won on Mother's Day weekend at Williams, as one that stands out.
But many of the most lasting memories of former Cardinals are about growth. Sarah Gillooly '06 recalled how moving to third base helped her discover her strengths and reshaped her experience with the game. Moments like that reflect a broader pattern across the program, where players are pushed into roles that help them grow and find confidence in new ways.
Some memories are less about results and more about the moments that stick. Amy Scanlan remembers what she jokes might have been the program's first error in an early game against Bates, a story she still laughs about years later.
Other memories speak to the culture Coach Lane has built over time. Courtney Collins Pisano '22 recalled a practice where players rotated positions after mistakes, with everyone laughing and eager to get back on the field. She also pointed to the smaller moments that mattered just as much, like getting extra ground balls before practice. When she was learning shortstop, she said Coach was never too busy to hit her extra fungos.
That consistency, showing up, giving time, and investing in players individually, comes up and again and again.
Across 25 years, Lane has built more than a successful program. She has built a culture that players stay connected to long after they graduate.
As Wesleyan softball celebrates 40 years, much of that history traces back to one constant presence. The records will continue to change, but the foundation Lane has built through relationships, trusts, and a shared love of the game has already lasted.
