Athlete of the Week: Eddie Paquette ’26

This past Saturday, with 28 seconds left on the clock, Eddie Paquette ’26 scored the game-winning lay-up against Muhlenberg College in a thrilling 61-59 ending. The senior from Vienna, VA, scored twenty points in the match, leading the Garnet to their fifth conference win of the season. Paquette, a 6’3” athletic guard, has had his best season yet, averaging fifteen points a game and reaching career-high points (23), assists (eight), and rebounds (eleven). In a Jan. 17th away game at McDaniel College, Paquette reached 1,000 career points, becoming the 30th player in program history to do so. 

Since his first year playing for the Garnet, Paquette has made an impact on the team and developed into a consistent attacking threat. In his first year, he averaged 5.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists. The next season, Paquette averaged 9.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. He started all games and recorded a triple-double, the first Swarthmore player to do so since 2007. Last season, Paquette averaged 12.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2 assists per game. For his excellence on the court and in the classroom, he received National Association of Basketball Coaches Honors Court recognition and his second career Centennial Honor Roll nod.

At the time of writing, the Garnet have a 5-2 conference record and look to close the regular Centennial season strong. Paquette was a member of the 2023-2024 conference finalist team and the 2022-2023 NCAA Final Four team, so he surely knows how to handle the high-pressure moments that come at  the end of every season.  

Aimee Lee: Congrats on reaching 1,000 career points! What was your initial reaction to the milestone, and what does it mean to you?

Eddie Paquette: Thank you! My family and a former teammate of mine were at the game, and I really appreciated their support. It’s a cool milestone, and it truly is a testament to the mentors, coaches, and teammates I’ve had along the way. Every day, I am extremely grateful for the opportunities I have been given while being a part of the Swarthmore basketball program. 

AL: Looking back at the season, which game has been the most fun to play in and why?

EP: Our first game of the season was a special experience for me. We had a great team win, and our senior class got to reflect on playing our last first game together. 

AL: Conference play is now in full swing — what are some shared goals the team is aiming to accomplish by the end of the regular season?

EP: Right now, our team is striving to embrace every day as an opportunity to be ourselves and get 1% better in everything we do. It’s easy this time of year to look ahead, but we are intentional about staying present and focusing on the process over an end product. 

AL: The athletic community was excited to see Shane Loeffler in his first season as head coach this winter. How would you describe his leadership style, and how has it impacted the development of the team?

EP: Shane is doing an incredible job in his first season as head coach. There is no one walking this Earth who loves Swarthmore basketball as much as Coach Shane Loeffler, and that is certainly reflected in his leadership style. His dedication to culture, team spirit, and basketball knowledge has propelled and will continue to propel this program forward for years to come. 

AL: There are almost always moments of doubt and frustration in the process of self-improvement or mastering a craft. Who motivates you to push through challenging moments on or off the court?

EP: Adversity is an inevitable part of being a student athlete at Swarthmore College, and it is important to have a strong support system to help you overcome it. My faith, family, friends, and mentors have all been pivotal in supporting me on and off the court. 

AL: What is your favorite class that you’ve taken at Swarthmore? What are you majoring in?

A: My favorite class I’ve taken at Swarthmore is computing with text, taught by Professor and now Provost Rich Wicentowski and Associate Professor Keith O’Hara. I’m a double major in computer science and economics.