News and Events

Forester fans, families, and alumni packed the stands at Hamilton High School in Chandler, Arizona for the milestone season opener against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges located in Southern California.

The City of Chandler joined in the excitement, issuing a proclamation declaring September 6 as Lake Forest College Day in honor of the historic matchup.

Highlights from the day’s celebration included pre-game festivities that drew more than 400 registrants, a cheering team entrance to the celebration, and a stirring national anthem performance by alumna Tarah Oliver ’04, who reprised a role she once held during her student days. 

Though Claremont-Mudd-Scripps beat Lake Forest 14-7 in the non-conference season opener for both, the game was a chance to celebrate a new chapter for Division III football and the growing community of Foresters connected to Arizona. In all, more than 50 players on the Forester roster hail from the Grand Canyon State.

The season opener follows a record-setting 2024 season in which the Foresters went 10-0 in the regular season, captured the Midwest Conference championship, and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III Playoffs for the first time in program history.

Coverage of the game reached well beyond campus, with the Press-Enterprise of San Bernardino including the Cactus Classic in its College Sports Roundup on September 8 and The Gila Herald covering the Arizona influence on the Forester team.

From the energy in the stands to the recognition by the City of Chandler, the night underscored the strength of Forester spirit, no matter the distance from Lake Forest’s home field.