WAA Newsletter (winter/spring 2018) by Becky Paull

Hi Warrior Fans! We’re coming off a great year in Warrior Athletics and heading into one that holds great promise! National championships are almost an annual event for our Warriors and this past year was no exception. High jumper Tyler Blakeley won LCSC’s first indoor field championship with his victory in the high jump. Tyler is a junior from Spokane, Wash., and cleared six feet, 10¾ inches for the title. Throughout the department, our student-athletes were recognized for their athletic achievement, academic success, and commitment to community service. Five Warriors earned All-American status, 40 were national scholar-athletes, the baseball team was the recipient of the Hank Burbridge Champions of Character Team Award, and both tennis teams were winners of the ITA West Region Community Service Award. Individually, first baseman Tyler McDowell was the National Player of the Week in April, and tennis junior Jen Roux was the recipient of the prestigious Arthur Ashe Award. As we add 2017-18 to our legacy of success, we look to 2018-19 with four new (sort of) faces among our head coaches. Former Warrior assistant Austin Johnson returns to LCSC as the head men’s basketball coach; Jake Taylor, a member of the 1992 national championship team, takes over as baseball coach; Shaun Pohlman, an Idaho native, is tasked with rebuilding Warrior volleyball, and Kyla Clancey, who played collegiate golf in the Frontier Conference, is our new men’s and women’s golf coach. Finally, this message wouldn’t be complete without a shout out to all those who made Flip Flops and Lemon Drops the most successful ever! Thank you all for being great Warriors! Brooke

FALL HOME EVENTS Buy your tickets today! Call Kristina at 208-791-2471. 19 22 22 29

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SEPTEMBER Volleyball, Whitworth Volleyball, Montana-Western WAA, Warrior Golf Classic Volleyball, Montana Tech OCTOBER WAA, High School Awards Volleyball, Rocky Mountain Cross country, Inland Empire Championships Homecoming 2018 Volleyball, Providence Women’s basketball, Yellowstone Christian Homecoming 2018 Volleyball, Montana State-Northern Women’s basketball, Yellowstone Christian Men’s basketball, Northwest Indian Men’s basketball, Northwest Indian

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NOVEMBER Women’s basketball, Whitman College Volleyball, Montana Tech Volleyball, Carroll College Women’s basketball, University of the Virgin Islands Men’s basketball, College of Idaho Women’s basketball, University of the Virgin Islands Men’s basketball, New Hope Christian Women’s basketball, Montana Tech Men’s basketball, Montana Tech DECEMBER Men’s basketball, Yellowstone Christian Men’s basketball, Yellowstone Christian Men’s basketball, Walla Walla University Men’s basketball, Concordia-Edmonton Men’s basketball, Concordia-Edmonton

SHOW YOUR WARRIOR SPIRIT! DONATE TODAY! It’s easy to support Warrior Athletics and enable us to continue our history of athletic and academic success. Remember, the income tax credit you receive on your Idaho tax return when you donate to LCSC. For example, if you give $1,000, your actual out-of-pocket is $500 because of the credit on your income tax. Check with your income tax preparer about your specific benefit. Go to Donate/WAA at www.LCWarriors.com to donate electronically or to download a form. You also can call Allison at 208-792-2275 to sign up over the phone. Want to connect or re-connect? Contact Brooke Cushman (blhenze@lcsc.edu or 208-792-2675) for Alumni and giving information.

WAYS TO GIVE Join us to enhance the operations of the athletic department by helping fund the Warriors. • WAA GENERAL FUND Funds from the WAA go directly to the budget of each program for the next fiscal year. • ENDOWMENTS LCSC’s athletic department has seven endowments available for donors to contribute. New endowments can be established at any time. The minimum amount to create an endowment is $25,000.

• SCHOLARSHIP CLUBS You can give to individual sports programs directly. Each coach oversees and regulates funds for their eam. • IN-KIND GIFTS We can use gift certificates, airline miles or other items for the purpose of auctions or to offset athletic department expenses.

LEWIS-CLARK STATE COLLEGE ENDOWMENTS An endowment is a fund that holds its principal in perpetuity and pays out a portion (approximately four to five percent annually) to a scholarship or program. Endowment investments have dual goals: to grow the principal and to generate income. CURRENT ENDOWMENTS Bob and Betty Colburn (Women’s Basketball) Frank & Gladys Hopkins Endowed Scholarship Zach Hull (Baseball) Gene and Virginia Leach Scholarship Rolly McNair Memorial Endowed Scholarship Seehafer Endowed Athletic Academic Award Scholarship Warrior Athletic Endowment (General Fund) Warrior seniors Brittney Tackett and Lauren Johnson joined coach Brian Orr in celebrating the Donor Recognition Wall for women’s basketball and the tribute to the Colburn Family.

WAA MISSION The Warrior Athletic Association’s mission is to promote community awareness while developing and retaining relationships between our student-athletes and the community, along with raising funds for all Warrior athletic programs.

ABOUT THE WAA The Warrior Athletic Association is a group of volunteers who, in 2004, re-established what originally was the Warrior Booster Club. The goal was to assist the athletic department and sports programs in their fundraising efforts. The group started with an online auction and a golf tournament and now hosts six events each year.

Another year of Warrior successes ... 1500 Hours of community service performed by the Warriors in 2017-18

400 Number of assists Trea Thomas had in his four-year career to break the 27-year-old record.

6-10¾ The height, in feet and inches, Tyler Blakeley cleared to win the NAIA Indoor High Jump Championship

42 Number of consecutive years a Warrior has been selected in the MLB draft

40 Scholar-Athletes

23 Conference Athletes of the Week

5 All-Americans

3.42 Cumulative GPA of all teams

hampions were crowned. Records were broken. And acclaim continued to come the way of Lewis-Clark State student-athletes as they wrapped up a strong winter/spring semester.

Tyler Blakeley wrapped up the indoor track season with a flourish when he won the NAIA National Indoor High Jump Championship to become the first Warrior in school history to win a national field event title. His leap of six feet, 10¾ inches was the winning mark. The next day, Warrior senior distance runner Ariel Jensen added yet another All-American honor to her career tally as she reached the mid-point of a remarkable year in cross country and track. Jensen and fellow distance runner Nolan Ryan were crowned NAIA Regional Indoor Track Athletes of the Year. On the hardcourt, the Warrior basketball teams – with youth-dominated rosters, posted strong finishes with a number of players honored in the postseason for athletic and academic achievement. A key milestone along the way, though, was senior Trea Thomas eclipsing Pat Sobotta’s 27-year-old assist record. By season’s end, Thomas – a four-year player for the Warriors, had an even 400 assists. Three Warriors – Race Martin and Andre McCowan from the men’s team and Hailey Turner from the women’s squad, earned honorable mention All-American honors. Martin also was first-team all-Frontier Conference and Damek Mitchell as the Freshman of the Year. All four return for the 2018-19 season. As the semester continued, LC student-athletes captured 23 Athlete of the Week Awards, 40 Scholar-Athlete honors, and the baseball team earned the distinguished Champions of Character Team Award for its excellence on the field and commitment to service in the community. Both tennis teams were rewarded for their off-court contributions as winners of the West Region ITA Community Service Awards. Junior tennis player Jen Roux was honored with the prestigious Arthur Ashe Award, which the ITA presents annually to the player who best represents sportsmanship, leadership, scholarship, and community service. Baseball’s Tyler McDowell was the NAIA National Player of the Week after hitting for the cycle – the first Warrior to do so since 2005, against Oregon Tech. The Warriors reached the semifinals of the Avista NAIA World Series and ace reliever Gage Burland extended to 42 LC’s streak of successive seasons with a player taken in the MLB draft. Outfielder Raymond Pedrina was the NAIA West Player of the Year and Tyler Burch earned the NAIA West Pitcher of the Year award. With yet another successful year in the books, the Warriors look to 2018-19 with four new faces among the head coaching ranks. Kyla Clancy takes over the golf programs; Austin Johnson returns to LC as the head men’s basketball coach; Shawn Pohlman is tasked with recharging Warrior volleyball, and Jake Taylor is back at his alma mater as the head baseball coach. 2017-18 concluded with 12 Warrior teams recognized by the NAIA as Scholar Teams for their academic achievement. To be eligible, they needed to have a collective grade-point average of 3.0 or higher. The teams are: women’s tennis (3.67), women’s basketball (3.65), women’s outdoor track and field (3.62), men’s tennis (3.62), women’s golf (3.55), women’s indoor track and field (3.55), women’s cross country (3.54), outdoor men’s track and field (3.37), indoor men’s track and field (3.36), men’s cross country (3.33), women’s volleyball (3.31), and men’s basketball (3.20). And, the Warrior Athletic Association launches 2018-19 with a record-setting fundraiser! Thanks to everyone who helped the WAA raise more than $33,000 at Flip Flops and Lemon Drops!

... and looking forward to 2018-19!

Kyla CLANCY

Austin JOHNSON

A passion for teaching and a love of golf sent Kyla Clancy on a career path that led her to becoming the head coach Warrior golf.

A sense of home brought Austin Johnson back to the LC Valley and the Warriors.

A graduate of Rocky Mountain College, Clancy was a four-year player for the Battlin’ Bears and an assistant coach along the way. She graduated with high honors and was a first- and second-team all-conference selection. Additionally, she earned academic all-conference recognition, was a twotime recipient of the NAIA Character Award, was Rocky Mountain's Helen Mathew Award winner, and was on the Dean's List three of four seasons. She finished as high as third at the NAIA National Tournament and qualified for the event three times. She wrapped up her career with 12 individual titles and two seconds for a total of 15 top-five finishes and 22 top-10 outings. She was a team co-captain as a junior and senior. Clancy most recently was the assistant coach at Rocky Mountain College – a position held since she graduated in 2016. Not only did she coach players on course management and tournament strategy, but she worked with the golfers' fitness, strength and conditioning.

“In a lot of ways," said Johnson, whose wife, Kelli (Ticker), played volleyball here, "I feel like I grew up here. I didn't attend LC State but I definitely view it as my alma mater." Johnson, an assistant coach at LC from 2010-16, spent the last two seasons as the head coach at Corban University. He led Corban to levels of success they hadn't experienced in more than a decade. His 201617 team, an underdog in the Cascade Collegiate Conference tournament, swept through the postseason to become the first No. 8 seed to claim the league title and the automatic berth into the NAIA Division II National Tournament. Johnson's career in the Northwest began in 2010 when he was hired as LCSC's associate head coach. During his time here, the Warriors garnered a No. 1 seed in the 2016 NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament with a 28-4 overall record. LCSC earned the automatic bid to the national tournament after winning the Frontier Conference Tournament title – its second while he was here. The Warriors won three regular-season titles during his tenure.

"When I was younger," she said, "my goal was to play collegiate golf. Once I reached that goal, I made a new one for myself – I wanted to coach. My goal as a head coach is to leave a lasting, positive impression on my student-athletes."

He was a key recruiter and was charged with player development as the Warriors averaged more than 20 wins per season with one of the nation's top performing offenses over a five-season span.

GOLF

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Shaun POHLMAN

Jake TAYLOR

Shaun Pohlman has a vision for Warrior volleyball – excellence.

A standout for Lewis-Clark State's 1992 National Championship team, Taylor is happy to be a Warrior again.

A graduate of the College of Southern Idaho and Idaho State University, Pohlman comes to LCSC after seven seasons at Northwest College (Wyoming). He spent his first four years as a head coach at Dodge City (Kansas) Community College.

"I'm grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of Lewis-Clark State College and be a part of the tradition here," Taylor said. "I love the community; the school. I'm proud to be a Warrior; proud to be a Warrior again."

"I wasn't hired to be average," Pohlman said. "I am a strong believer that building something that can sustain will require some patience.” Pohlman's teams at Northwest College won four Region IX titles and advanced to the NJCAA national tournament four of the past five seasons with final four appearances twice. He was the District I/C Coach of the Year four times, and was a two-time recipient of the AVCA West Region Coach of the Year Award and National Coach of the Year nominee.

Taylor is a 1994 graduate of LCSC, after playing in 1992 and 1993, with a degree in Kinesiology/Education. He is in the Warrior Athletics Hall of Fame as a member of the 1992 championship team. While at LC, he was a team captain, team MVP, two-time Gold Glove winner (career fielding percentage of .963), and a two-time member of the NAIA District I team. He also was highly recognized as a scholar-athlete as an NAIA Academic All-American and Diamond Award/Outstanding Scholar-Athlete in 1993.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from Idaho State University after graduating from the College of Southern Idaho. He is a Twin Falls High School graduate.

After completing his playing career in 1993, he served as a graduate assistant for the Warriors for one season before embarking on his own coaching career. He was the Idaho High School Coach of the Year in 2005 while at Boise's Borah High School, and the 2012 recipient while at Meridian's Rocky Mountain High School. He coached five conference championship teams, two state title winners and one American Legion champion in compiling 350 career victories. His 2015 Rocky Mountain team was undefeated at 27-0 in the regular season, a feat for which he was honored as the Idaho Baseball Distinguished Coach of the Year.

VOLLEYBALL

BASEBALL

His teams also achieved in the classroom with nine successive NJCAA National Academic Team Awards and five AVCA2 National Academic Team awards. He also coached numerous all-region and all-American players, as well as national and regional individual academic award winners.

champions, hono TYLER BLAKELEY

TYLER MCDOWELL

Junior, Spokane, WA

Senior, Puyallup, WA

Blakeley won the NAIA Indoor High Jump National Championship at the 2018 meet at Pittsburg, Kan., in March. He cleared 6-10¾ to earn the title – the first for the Warriors in a field event.

McDowell was chosen the NAIA National Baseball Player of the Week after hitting for the cycle and batting .800. He was the first Warrior to hit for the cycle since 2005.

HONORABLE MENTION ALL-AMERICANS BASEBALL Senior Ouƞield Kapolei, Hawai`i

Raymond

BASEBALL Junior Pitcher East Wenatchee, Wash.

PEDRINA

Tyler

BASKETBALL Junior Post Richland, Wash.

BURCH

Hailey

BASKETBALL Junior Forward Pullman, Wash.

TURNER

BASKETBALL Junior Guard Portland, Ore.

Race

MARTIN

Andre

McCOWAN

HONORS AND MILESTONES

Trea

THOMAS

Trea wrapped up a stellar Warrior basketball career with the career assists record. He totaled 400 in his four seasons to best Pat Sobotta’s 27-year old standard.

Ariel

JENSEN

Ariel was awarded the NAIA Regional Athlete of the Year after a sterling senior season during which she earned All-American status in the indoor 800 meters.

Nolan

RYAN

Nolan was recognized as the NAIA Regional Athlete of the Year for the indoor season after leading the Warrior distance contingent for two seasons.

Jen

ROUX

Jen was recognized for her sportsmanship, leadership and community service as the recipient of the prestigious Arthur Ashe Award presented by the ITA.

Cory

VOSS

Cory, a catcher, only spent one season with the Warriors but he made an impression in being voted to the Avista NAIA World Series all-tournament team.

Gage

BURLAND

Gage was the Warriors’ ace reliever. With his being chosen in the 22nd round by Toronto, LC’s streak of 42 years with a player drafted stayed intact.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2018 GRADUATES! Dontae Baker, track and field/cross country Natalie Batiste, volleyball Stephanie Buckingham, tennis Tony Yen Tong Chin, tennis Justine Cota, volleyball Seth Deal, track and field/cross country David Gilbert, track and field/cross country Jonathan Handel, track and field/cross country

Natalie Herring, track and field/cross country Ariel Jensen, track and field/cross country Allison Kadinger, golf Tyler McDowell, baseball Isaiah Ojeda, golf Raymond Pedrina, baseball Jordan Phelan, volleyball Carlee Rhodes, golf Nolan Ryan, track and field/cross country Ignacio Salom, tennis

Alyson Sauer, volleyball Rebecca Saxton, track and field Tanner Simpson, baseball Chad Skiles, track and field/cross country Jesse Styner, track and field/cross country Trea Thomas, basketball Matthew Thompson, baseball Hannah Uhlenkott, tennis Cory Voss, baseball Maya Williamson, volleyball

ors and awards THEY GIVE BACK ... The Warrior baseball and tennis teams gave generously of their time during the 2017-18 school year. Both were recognized for all they do on and off their fields of play. The tennis teams – the recipients of the ITA West Region Community Service Awards, participated in on- and off-campus activities that ranged from coordinating blood drives, gathering

food for LC Cares to painting bowls to be sold at the annual YWCA fundraiser. The baseball team is similarly civic minded and adds school visits and youth actitivies to its routine. For their involvement, the Warriors were honored with the Hank Burbridge Champions of Character Team Award.

NAIA DAKTRONICS SCHOLAR-ATHLETES Minimum 3.5 grade-point cumulative grade-point average and junior or senior standing.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

MEN’S TRACK & FIELD

WOMEN’S GOLF

WOMEN’S TENNIS

WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD

USTFCCCA SCHOLARS

BASKETBALL SCHOLARS

Seven Warriors were honored by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association as scholar-athletes. To be eligible they needed to have posted a 3.25 or higher cumulative grade-point average and to have competed at the 2017 NAIA National Cross Country Championships or the 2018 NAIA National Track and Field Meet.

Eleven members of the men’s and women’s basketball teams were honored by the Frontier Conference as scholar-athletes.

ALL-CONFERENCE

Raymond

PEDRINA

NAIA WEST PLAYER OF THE YEAR Senior Kapolei, Hawai`i

Tyler

BURCH

NAIA WEST PITCHER OF THE YEAR Junior East Wenatchee, Wash.

Race

MARTIN

FRONTIER CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM Junior Pullman, Wash.

Damek

MITCHELL

FRONTIER CONFERENCE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR Freshman Bellingham, Wash.

ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM MEMBERS

NAIA WEST GOLDEN GLOVE TEAM Outfield – senior Kasey Bailey Second base – freshman Riley Way

FRONTIER CONFERENCE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Second team – junior Hailey Turner Honorable mention – senior Brittany Tackett Honorable mention – freshman Peyton Souvenir

HAILEY TURNER

KASEY BAILEY

NAIA WEST BASEBALL Coach of the Year – Jeremiah Robbins First team infield – junior Kyle Callahan First team outfield – senior Kasey Bailey First team pitcher – senior Gage Burland First team catcher – senior Cory Voss

FRONTIER CONFERENCE MEN’S BASKETBALL Second team – junior Andre McCowan

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK Lewis-Clark State student-athletes were honored 23 times as Athletes of the Week during the winter and spring of 2017-18. Ariel Jensen, who graduated in May, was honored three times, while track and field senior Joel Boozer and baseball junior Tyler Burch received the honor twice each. Also recognized were baseball’s Tyler McDowell, Cory Voss, Raymond Pedrina, Justin Hammergren and Kasey Bailey; golf’s Kayla Monroe and Hunter Weitze; track and field’s Madi Carson, Noel Ryan, Delaney Warren, Falk Thieme and Tyler Blakeley; men’s basketball’s Andre McCowan, Jeremy Franklin and Race Martin; and women’s basketball’s Jansen Edmiston.

JENSEN

BOOZER

BURCH