The Bates Bobcats are the athletic teams of Bates College largely based in Lewiston, Maine and the surrounding areas. The college's official mascot has been the bobcat since 1924, and maintains garnet as its official color. The school sponsors 32 varsity sports (16 men's, 16 women's), most of which compete in the Division III as a member of the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC). Bates has rivalries with Princeton in Squash and Dartmouth in Skiing and selected hockey bouts. The college competes with its Maine rivals Bowdoin and Colby in the Colby-Bates-Bowdoin Consortium (CBB). This is one of the oldest football rivalries in the United States. The three colleges contest the Chase Regatta with the CBB. The college is the all-time leader of the Chase Regatta with a total of 14 wins.
Bates maintains 31 varsity teams, and 9 club teams, including sailing, cycling, ice hockey, rugby, and water polo. According to U.S. Rowing, the Women's rowing team was ranked first in the NESCAC, and first overall in NCAA Division III rowing in 2016. In April 2005, the college's athletic program was ranked in the top 5% of national athletics programs. As of 2026, the college has graduated a total of 12 Olympians, one of whom won the Olympic gold medal rowing for Canada. The Bobcats have broken records on the state, regional and national level. In the 2015 season, the women's rowing team was the most decorated rowing team in collegiate racing. Bates has the 5th highest NESCAC title hold, and holds the top titles in women's and men's rowing. Bates follows Bowdoin's 30 NESCAC titles with its 16, and its followed by Colby's 9 titles.
Men's sports
Men's football The men's football team competes in NCAA Division III as a member of the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC). The football team is led by head coach Matt Coyne. 2016CBB ChampionshipBates won with a 24–7 win over Bowdoin, after their 29–19 victory over Colby.Won2015CBB ChampionshipBates won with a 31–0 win over Bowdoin, after their 10–9 overtime home victory over Colby.Won2014CBB ChampionshipBates won with a 10–7 win over Bowdoin, after their 34–28 win over Colby.Won2012CBB ChampionshipBates won with a 14–6 win over Bowdoin, after their 31–6 win over Colby.Won2002CBB ChampionshipBates won with a 48–28 win over Bowdoin after their 19–14 win over Colby.Won1999CBB ChampionshipBates won with a 38–7 win over Bowdoin after an overtime victory of 20–17 with Colby.Won1986CBB ChampionshipBates won with 36–0 shutout over Bowdoin, after a 21–6 win over Colby.Won1981CBB ChampionshipBates won with a 23–1 win over Bowdoin after their 10–6 win over Colby.Won1978CBB ChampionshipBates won with a 24–14 win over Bowdoin after their 27–20 win over Colby.Won1974CBB ChampionshipBates won with an 18–7 win over Bowdoin after a 16–14 victory over Colby.Won1970CBB ChampionshipBates won with a 21–3 win over Bowdoin after a 14–7 win over Colby.Won1968CBB ChampionshipBates won with a 41–14 win over Bowdoin after a 28–12 victory over Colby.Won1967CBB ChampionshipBates won with a 38–24 victory over Bowdoin after a 38–14 win over Colby.Won1966CBB ChampionshipBates won with a 35–13 win over Bowdoin, after a win over 28-7 Colby.Won1956Maine State SeriesBates won five straight games to capture the state title.Won Men's basketball The men's basketball team is led by head coach Jon Furbush, and in 2015 he led the team to the semi-finals of the NCAA Division III Basketball Championships. He is the youngest head coach in the history of the team and was named the 2014–15 Maine Coach of the Year by the Maine Men's Basketball Coaches and Writers Association. 2015Charlie Ryan Classic ChampionshipHosted in Waterville, Maine.Won2015Naismith Classic ChampionshipHosted in Springfield, Massachusetts.Won2014Babson InvitationalHosted on the Babson College CampusWon2014Salem State Holiday Classic ChampionshipHosted in Salem, Massachusetts.Won2012Chuck Resler Tournament ChampionshipHosted in Rochester, Massachusetts.Won
Men's baseball 2015RussMatt InvitationalSecond game, win over Babson College hosted at Leahey Baseball Pitch in Lewiston, MaineWon
Men's golf 2015CBB TournamentAt the Martindale C.C. in Auburn, Maine, first out of 3 DIII schoolsWon2014Maine State ChampionshipAt the Bangor Municipal G.C. in Bangor, MaineWon2014CBB TournamentAt the Waterville G.C. in Waterville, Maine, first out of 3 DIII schoolsWon2012Sid Farr InvitationalAt the Waterville G.C. in Waterville, Maine. Score: 5–5Won
Men's lacrosse The men's lacrosse team is led by head coach, Dan Annino. Peter Lasagna was head for the past 22 seasons. In 2015, Lasagna won a third NESCAC Coach of the Year and led the Bobcats to five appearances in the NESCAC Championship. In 2015, the team reported 156 points scored, ranking them 6th in-conference, and 5th overall.
Men's rowing The Men's rowing team is headed by Peter Steenstra, who was awarded the 2015 Division III Coach of the Year Award by the College Rowing Coaches Association, after also receiving Men's and Women's Coach of the Year honors from both the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) and the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC). Alumni, Andrew Byrnes (class of 2005), won the Olympic Gold Medal while rowing for the Canadian National Team, in 2008 in the Beijing Olympics. 2016President's Cup RegattaFinal: 1st out of 3, in Green, MaineWon2015ECAC/NIRC RegattaFinal: 10–6Won2015President's Cup RegattaFinal: 8–6Won2015ECAC National Invitational Rowing ChampionshipLead the athletic conference.Won2015Bates' InvitationalFinal: 12–1Won2015NESCAC Men's Rowing ChampionshipFirst top ten breakthroughWon2014CBB Chase RegattaFinal: 7–2Won2013New England Rowing ChampionshipIn Worcester, MassachusettsWon2011CBB Chase RegattaFinal: 1/2Won2011Quinsigamond RegattaPlaced 3rd out of 24 boatsWon2011President's Cup RegattaThe college's first President's Cup Regatta winWon2010Quinsigamond RegattaThe first placing at the Quinsigamond Regatta, and first appearance.Won2010CBB Chase RegattaFinal: 1/2Won
Men's tennis 2009NCAA Division III Tennis Doubles ChampionshipHosted in Claremont, California. The men's team also made it to the finals for singles tennis in 2009.Won1988NESCAC Men's Tennis ChampionshipThe first and most recent conference win for tennis.Won
Men's rugby 1997National Rugby ChampionshipThe team has made it to regionals or nationals all but one year.Won
Men's Nordic skiing 2008NCAA Skiing ChampionshipThe college's Nordic skiing team sent students that were the highest ranked skiers in the Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association 4th
Men's cross country 1989NESCAC Men's Cross Country ChampionshipThe conclusion of the streak starting from 1983, was the record streak until William's 00' streak. The fifth consecutive win of any NESCAC college.Won1986NESCAC Men's Cross Country ChampionshipThe fourth consecutive win of any NESCAC college.Won1985NESCAC Men's Cross Country ChampionshipThe third consecutive win of any NESCAC college.Won1984NESCAC Men's Cross Country ChampionshipThe second consecutive win of any NESCAC college.Won1983NESCAC Men's Cross Country ChampionshipThe first overall NESCAC win for men's cross-country.Won
Men's track & field 2016Maine State Men's Outdoor ChampionshipThis is the first 7 time back-to-back consecutive win of any college in this competition.Won2016Bates' Invitational1st out of 5 Division III schools.Won2015Maine State Men's Outdoor Championship1st out of 5 Division III schools.Won2015Bates' Invitational1st out of 5 Division III schools.Won2015Maine State Meet1st out of 5 Division III schools.Won2015New England Division III Outdoor Championship2nd out of 29 Division III schools.2nd place2015New England Division III Indoor Championship2nd out of 26 Division III schools.2nd place2014Maine State Men's Outdoor Championship1st out of 5 Division III schools.Won2014Maine State Men's Outdoor Championship1st out of 5 Division III schools.Won2013Maine State Men's Outdoor Championship1st out of 5 Division III schools.Won2013Tufts Invitational1st out of 10 Division III schools.Won2013Maine State Championship1st out of 5 Division III schools.Won2013New England Division III Indoor Championship2nd out of 26 Division III schools.2nd place2013New England Division III Outdoor Championship2nd out of 26 Division III schools.2nd place2013ECAC Division III Outdoor Championship1st out of 59 Division III schools.Won2012USM Invitational1st out of 8 Division III schools.Won2012New England Division III Outdoor Championship1st out of 26 Division III schools.Won2012Maine State Men's Outdoor Championship1st out of 5 Division III schools.Won2012NESCAC Men's Track & Field ChampionshipThe 12 years that transpired between the college's first win is the longest time a college has won a title, after its first win, in the NESCAC.Won2012ECAC Division III Indoor Championship1st out of 62 Division III schools.Won2012ECAC Division III Outdoor Championship1st out of 59 Division III schools.Won2011Maine State Men's Indoor Championship1st out of 4 Division III schools.Won2011Maine State Men's Outdoor Championship1st out of 5 Division III schools.Won2011USM Invitational1st out of 5 Division III schools.Won2011Bates Invitational1st out of 5 Division III schools.Won2011Colby Invitational1st out of 5 Division III schools.Won2011NESCAC Men's Track & Field Championship2nd out of 11 Division III schools in the NESCAC.2nd place2011ECAC Division III Outdoor Championship1st out of 59 Division III schools.Won2010Maine State Men's Outdoor ChampionshipThis was the highest scoring championship game in its history (300-2 aggr. score.)Won2010USM Invitational1st out of 6 Division III schools.Won2000NESCAC Men's Track & Field ChampionshipThe college's first NESCAC title for track& field.Won
Men's squash 2016NESCAC Men's Squash ChampionshipThe competition has been won by Trinity College for every year it has been in the athletic conference, competing against Williams College for first spot. In 2016, breaking the pattern, Bates defeated Williams and secured the second place after a loss to Trinity.2nd place2015National Squash ChampionshipThe winning student being the first in the history of the athletic conference, to be named the All American all four years he played for the college.Won2015DIII Men's Individual Squash ChampionshipThe first national squash title for the college.Won2015Boston Round Robinvs. Stanford University held at Harvard University, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Score: 9 – 0; vs. Wesleyan University, Score: 9 – 0Won2015Pioneer Valley Invitationalvs. Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts. Score: 8–1Won2014CSA Individual Squash Championshipvs. Columbia University, at Princeton University, in Princeton, New Jersey. Score: 3–2Won2013CSA Team Squash Championshipvs. Williams College, at Northeastern University, in Boston. Score: 6–3Won2012Boston Round Robinvs. Wesleyan University, at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in Boston. Score: 5–4Won2011CSA Team Squash Championshipvs. Brown University, at Princeton University, in Princeton, New Jersey. Score: 7–2Won
Women's sports
Women's rowing The Women's Rowing team is headed by Peter Steenstra, who was awarded the 2015 Division III Coach of the Year Award by the College Rowing Coaches Association, after also receiving Men's and Women's Coach of the Year honors from both the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) and the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC). The women's rowing team is the first rowing team to sweep every major rowing competition in its athletic conference in the history of Division III athletics, a feat completed in 2015. According to U.S. Rowing, the Women's Rowing Team is ranked 1st in the New England Small College Athletic Conference, and 1st overall in NCAA Division III Rowing, as of 2016.