SCHEDULE
LUMBERJACK GOLF
20 17
FEBRUARY
APRIL
BATTLE AT THE ROCK FEB. 13, 14 - Riverside, Calif.
PING/ASU INVITATIONAL APRIL 7-9 - Tempe, Ariz.
RIO VERDE INVITATIONAL
FEB. 24-26 - Rio Verde, Ariz.
BIG SKY CHAMPIONSHIPS APRIL 21-23 - Boulder City, Nev.
MARCH
MAY
RED ROCKS INVITATIONAL MARCH 4, 5 - Sedona, Ariz.
NCAA REGIONALS MAY 8-10 - Albuquerque, N.M.
SAC STATE INVITATIONAL
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS MAY 19-24 - Sugar Grove, Ill.
MARCH 20, 21 - Sacremento, Calif.
TABLE OF CONTENTS UNIVERSITY INFORMATION Media Policies................................................................................3 Season Preview.............................................................................4
MEET THE COACHES Brad Bedortha................................................................................5 Langley Vannoy..............................................................................6
MEET THE GOLFERS Roster Breakdown..........................................................................7 Player Pages.............................................................................8-15
RECORD BOOK 2016 Year in Review.....................................................................16 NAU Golf Records...................................................................17-21
ADMINISTRATION University President Rita Cheng..................................................22 Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Lisa Campos.........23
UNIVERSITY AND TEAM INFORMATION UNIVERSITY INFORMATION
COACHING STAFF
Location..................................................................... Flagstaff, Ariz. Founded ..................................................................................1899 Enrollment (statewide)...........................................................29,031 Nickname.................................................................... Lumberjacks Mascot.....................................................................................Louie Colors .......................................................................Blue and Gold Affiliation...................................................................... NCAA Division I Conference................................................................................ Big Sky President ................................................................. Dr. Rita Cheng VP for Intercollegiate Athletics .............................. Dr. Lisa Campos Faculty Athletics Representative...........................Alisse Ali-Joseph
Head Coach..............................................................Brad Bedortha Alma Mater.......................................................... Ferris State, 1990 Seasons at NAU.............................................................................9 Graduate Assistant Coach...................................... Langley Vannoy Alma Mater......................................................................Troy, 2015 Seasons at NAU.............................................................................2
TEAM INFORMATION Athletes Returning / Lost ..........................................................6 / 2 Newcomers....................................................................................2 2016 Big Sky Championships Finish...........................................3rd
MEDIA INFORMATION Graduate Assistant for Athletics Communications/TF Contact............... ...................................................................................... Brian Campbell Office Phone ................................................................... 928-523-1017 Fax.................................................................................. 928-523-6793 E-Mail........................................................................... bfc25@nau.edu Mailing Address............................................................. P.O. Box 15400 Flagstaff, AZ 86011 (Overnight: 1 Skydome Dr.) Website............................................................... www.nauathletics.com
MEDIA POLICIES NAU ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS The athletics communications office is located in the press box on the west side of the Walkup Skydome. The phone number is (928) 523-6792 or 6330 and the fax number is 523-6793. MEDIA OPPORTUNITY Head coach Brad Bedortha, as well as the other coaches on staff, are available upon request. Individual athletes may be requested as well. Special requests for availability may be made to the athletics communications office. INTERVIEW POLICY All athlete interviews must be coordinated through the NAU Athletics Communications office at least one day in advance. No interviews or photo shoots will be conducted on days prior to races. Out-of-town media should contact the athletics communications office to make arrangements for phone interviews. BEDORTHA’S INTERVIEWS Brad Bedortha and his staff are generally available for interviews during standard workweek hours. Contact Brian Campbell in the athletics communications office at 928-523-1017 or 708-752-3046 to coordinate all interviews with NAU Golf coaches. PRACTICE The NAU Golf team often travels to Sedona during the spring season to practice because of the unpredicatble weather in Flagstaff. Media planning to attend practices should notify the athletics communications office in well advance (24 hours or more) to confirm start times and to arrange interviews. PHOTOGRAPHERS If photographers and/or videographers wish to shoot the athletes, prior notification of at least one day before the event must be given. Contact Brian Campbell in the athletics communication office to do so.
POST-MEET Each NAU athlete will be made available for interviews upon request after his/her round of golf is completed. Please reach out to Brian Campbell as soon as possible with specific athlete requests following competition. MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME Arizona does not move its clock ahead in the spring or back in the fall. As a result, Flagstaff time coincides with the Pacific time zone through Nov. 6. The rest of the season, NAU is compatible with the Mountain time zone. LUMBERJACKS ONLINE Releases, schedules, statistics, rosters and breaking news are available at the athletics web site, located at www.nauathletics. com. The Big Sky Conference web site is located at www.bigskyconf.com. LUMBERJACKS BY E-MAIL The athletics communications office is always compiling a media directory to send out weekly advance releases, event stories and statistics. Media members interested in this service should e-mail bfc25@nau.edu. Meet notes will be available on the website prior to that week’s event. Call Brian Campbell at 928-523-1017 or 708752-3046 for more information. THE SCORE The Score is a monthly show produced by NAU Television Services that highlights Lumberjack athletics and recreational activities on the Mountain campus. It airs weekly on FS Arizona, Fox College Sports and Flagstaff cable channels 4 and 104 in HD.
SEASON PREVIEW
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – It’s about that time of year again to shake off the bitter cold, and snow, of winter and for the Northern Arizona University golf team to competitively hit the links for the 2017 spring season. The Lumberjacks, who are coming off of a third-place performance at Big Sky Conference Championships last season, are looking for more progress in their mental state as much as they are in their physical one. At the helm entering his ninth full season as the golf coach is Brad Bedortha, a coach who as accumulated three conference titles during his tenure in Flagstaff and 18 tournament victories—the most all-time in NAU golf coaching history. With Bedortha, and former collegiate golfer graduate assistant Langley Vannoy, leading the charge, they feel as though the team is motivated and ready to make some noise this year and potentially secure their second Big Sky title in three seasons. “Our golfers have been ramping it up at practice as of late, and we’re excited to get back to competition,” said Bedortha. “This season, if we’re going to be successful and accomplish the things we want to accomplish, our team must remain balanced mentally. Making sure they stay loose and carry a good mindset with them on the course will be huge.” The goal and focus, though, is not to specifically win the conference championship, but instead for the golfers to progress each week and to grow as both athletes and people. If a Big Sky title follows as a result, then great, but it is going to be done the right way: encouragement through corrective reinforcement and building a solid personal attitude. With this recipe Coach Bedortha and Coach Vannoy have strategically thrown together, it is hard to imagine the Lumberjacks are poised for anything less but the best in 2017.
RETURNERS Carly Akine Sofia Anokhina Sierra Bezdieck Kim Cifuentes Morgan Messick Kaitlyn Saum
DEPARTURES Savana Bezdicek Jaquie LeMarr
ADDITIONS Emma Reyes Loren Skibba
“At our first tournament, I hope they continue to work on the things we’ve been practicing and to have confidence,” said Vannoy. “That’ll be the key: if they have confidence in themselves and in their game, they’ll be just fine.” Even though the conference’s preseason rankings put NAU as seventh best in the Big Sky, there is reason to believe they will exceed those expectations. After all, three all-conference performers return to the Lumberjack line-up this season (Sofia Anokhina, Kaitlyn Saum and Kim Cifuentes) as well as veteran juniors Sierra Bezdicek and Carly Akine. Newcomers Emma Reyes and Loren Skibba will also don the blue and gold for the ‘Jacks. In fact, during her inaugural collegiate campaign, Anokhina posted the third-best round scoring average in a single season (75.43) in NAU history. After winning the Russian Amateur Open Championship last summer, Anokhina is ready to make more of a name for herself in 2017. To her credit, teammate and the lone Lumberjack senior Cifuentes boasts the sixth-most birdies on NAU’s all-time list (154) and ranks first in career eagles (4). “Honestly, we haven’t even discussed the conference preseason ranking,” said Bedortha. “I will say, though, that our golfers have an inner drive and weren’t happy with their play during the 2016 fall season. As a team, that’ll be what motivates them for the weeks and months to come. As coaches, it is up to [Coach Vannoy] and myself to help them maintain that determination.”
MEET THE COACHES
LUMBERJACK GOLF HEAD COACH
BRAD
Bedortha
Brad Bedortha begins his ninth full season as the women’s golf coach at Northern Arizona University. He took over in mid-semester during the spring of 2008, coaching the program over the final three tournaments of the season.
tone for the rest of the season, NAU battled some tough competition en route to a first-place finish at conference and a birth at regionals. In fact, because of the team’s impressive play, Bedortha was named the Big Sky Coach of the Year for 2015.
During his tenure as head golf coach for the Lumberjacks, Bedortha has guided NAU to three Big Sky Conference titles—2009, 2013, 2015—and 16 tournament victories. Bedortha has also led the Lumberjacks to NCAA regional play in three of his eight seasons while the team has garnered 28 All-Big Sky Honors since his arrival.
Stellar individual performances under Bedortha’s tutelage highlighted 2013-14 for NAU golf. Jacquie LeMarr posted an individual tournament victory, while teammates Brittany McKee and Kaitlen Parsons tied for individual tournament wins before losing in playoff rounds.
NAU (2008-Present) In 2015-2016, the Lumberjacks put forth an effort reflective of the type of program Bedortha wants to create, but came up just short of defending their conference title at Big Sky’s. The NAU team placed third overall behind Sacramento State and champ Idaho. Still, there were great performances aplenty. The emergence of freshman Sofia Anokhina, who recorded the third-best season scoring average in NAU history (75.43), was a monumental key to the success experienced last season, while fellow 2016 All-Conference athletes Kim Cifuentes, Kaitlyn Saum and Morgan Messick also contributed in big time ways. With all four returning in 2017, the future looks bright for Bedortha and his squad. The 2014-15 NAU golf season was a memorable one, capped off by the team’s third Big Sky Conference title in the last seven years. The Lumberjacks opened up spring play with a thirdplace finish at the Grand Canyon Invite, followed by the first of two tournament victories at the Red Rocks Invite. Setting the
Bedortha and the Lumberjacks...
Full bio can be found here:
MEET THE COACHES
GRADUATE ASSISTANT COACH
LANGLEY
Vannoy
Langley Bell Vannoy is a second-year graduate student at Northern Arizona University, pursing a master’s degree in educational leadership community college and higher education. Born and raised in Pensacola, Fla., Vannoy played four years of college golf at Troy University, a Division I school out of the Sun Belt Conference located in Troy, Ala. Vannoy graduated summa cum laude in December of 2015, earning two bachelor’s degrees in health and physical education K-12. While at Troy, Vannoy helped lead her team to two Sun Belt Conference Championships in 2014 and 2015 while earning third place individual honors in 2015 and attending NCAA Regionals both seasons. Vannoy was also very involved with the Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC) all four years as an undergrad, serving as SAAC president her senior year. Among many individual honors, some of Vannoy’s most notable awards include: NCAA Women of the Year Nominee, Sun Belt Leadership Team, the Director of Athletics Trojan Way Leadership Award, National Strength and Conditioning All-American, and National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) four-year academic all-American. Vannoy also coached at the Nike Junior Golf Camp in Pebble Beach, Calif., for 10 weeks last summer and plans to do the same in 2016. Outside of golf, Vannoy enjoys being outdoors and some of her hobbies include spearfishing and diving, paddle boarding, hiking, biking and archery. Additionally, fitness, nutrition and health are very big parts of her life. Vannoy was born to her parents Jeff and Beverly Vannoy, whom she credits as her biggest fans. She also has a younger brother, Clayton Vannoy, who is 21 and plays on the men’s golf team at Troy University. Clayton was actually her first coach and the person whom Vannoy says inspired her passion for the game of golf.
ROSTER BREAKDOWN NAME CLASS SWING HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL Carly Akine Junior Right Phoenix, Ariz. Mountain Ridge Sofia Anokhina Sophomore Right Moscow, Russia Perspectiva Sierra Bezdicek Junior Right Colbert, Wash. Mt. Spokane Kim Cifuentes Senior Right Gilbert, Ariz. Campo Verde Morgan Messick Sophomore Right Tucson, Ariz. Canyon Del Oro Emma Reyes Freshman Right Mesa, Ariz. Desert Ridge Kaitlyn Saum Junior Right Mesa, Ariz. Red Mountain Loren Skibba Freshman Left Verona, Wis. Middleton
2016-17 NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY LUMBERJACK GOLF TEAM
CARLY AKINE
SOFIA ANOKHINA
SIERRA BEZDICEK
KIM CIFUENTES
MORGAN MESSICK
EMMA REYES
KAITLYN SAUM
LOREN SKIBBA
MEET THE TEAM
JUNIOR - PHOENIX, ARIZ.
CARLY Academic
Notes:
Majoring
in
environmental
Akine engineering
2015-16: Competed in eight tournaments for the Lumberjacks during the fall and spring seasons … Shot a total of 22 rounds … Registered a 78.27 average round score throughout the year … Recorded a career best score of even-par 72 at both the Hobble Creek Fall Classic and NM State Aggie Invite … Highest finish (5th place) came at the Hobble Creek Fall Classic to open the fall season 2014-15: Competed at five tournaments for the Lumberjacks during her freshman campaign ... Posted a top 10 finish at the Quail Run JV Invitational ... Posted a season-best round of 73 (+1) at the Grand Canyon Invitational where she finished tied for 26th High School: Lettered four years in golf at Mountain Ridge High School ... had team’s lowest average all four years ... first in school history to earn all-state honors which she did in 2012-13 ... best state finish was fourth in 2013 ... named Mountain Ridge Player of the Year twice ... played in the PGA Champions Tour-Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach with Tom Purtzer ... qualified for the Junior PGA Championship in 2012 ... Greg Hoyt Player of the Year in 2012 ... also competed with dance and cheer teams Personal: Born on August 1, 1996 to Blaine and Annette Akine ... has one brother, Justin ... she likes to read and crochet ... chose NAU because she loves Flagstaff and the campus and it is her mother’s alma mater
MEET THE TEAM
SOPHOMORE - MOSCOW, RUSSIA
SOFIA
Anokhina
Academic Notes: Contemplating a degree in business finance … Currently holds a 3.75 GPA … Received certification of general secondary education with honors in ninth and eleventh grade 2015-16: Competed in 10 tournaments for NAU, totaling 28 rounds of golf throughout the fall and spring seasons … Led the Lumberjacks in round scoring average (75.43), which was also the third-best mark in a single season in NAU history … Highest finish came at the Bison at Boulder Creek Invite to open the spring season (78-76-69 – 223, 2nd place) … Low round score of 3-under-par 69 … Competed at Big Sky Conference Championships, finishing 13th on the individual leaderboard (73-74-73 – 220) … Earned all-conference second-team honors Before NAU: Won the Russian Junior Open Championship (2012, 2013, 2015) … Also secured the victory in the Russian Amateur Open Championship (2015) … Finished as a runner-up in the Russian Amateur Close Championship (2015), the Russian Junior Open Championship (2014), the Russian Cup (2014), the Russian Amateur Close/Open Championship (2013) and the Russia FALDO series (2012) … Named player of the year her junior season … Winner of the All-Russia School Students’ Games in 2013 and 2014 … Member of the Russian National Junior golf team since 2012 … Also recently a member of the Russian National Women’s golf team (2016) Personal: Born Sept. 16, 1997 to Olga and Dmitry Anokhina in Moscow, Russia … Has one younger sister, Anna ... Hobbies include ball room dancing, ballet, foreign languages, modern art and modeling … Most memorable moment in her athletic career was playing the World Amateur Team Championship in Japan in 2014 … It was at that championship when she realized she wanted to turn professional and compete at the highest level … People she admires most are her parents because “they are simply the best and most inspirational people” … Chose NAU because of the weather, always wanted to be close to the west coast and loved the golf team, coach and program
MEET THE TEAM
JUNIOR - COLBERT, WASH.
SIERRA
Bezdicek
Academic Notes: Plans to study health and human services 2015-16: During her sophomore season, Bezdicek competed in nine tournaments for the Lumberjacks, totaling 24 rounds between the fall and spring seasons … Registered an average round score of 78.58 throughout the year, but a team-best 74.5 mark during the last two tournaments of the season ... Low round score of 1-under-par 71 … Best finish came at Big Sky Championships, coming in 16th place and recording a career-best three-round score (71-72-78 – 221) 2014-15: Opened her college career with a 39th-place finish and three-round total of 231 (+15) at the Cowgirl Desert Intercollegiate ... Shot a three-round 239 (+23) at the Ron Moore Intercollegiate ... Posted a 20th-place finish and three-round score of 157 (+11) at the Firestone Grill Cal Poly Invitational ... Competed in five events for the ‘Jacks during the spring campaign ... Her top finish was 10th at the Red Rocks Invitational whiere she posted her career-best round of 74 (+2)
High School: Lettered in golf at Mt. Spokane High School all four years ... led team to first state championship in school history ... won two Greater Spokane League titles ... earned all-state honors all four years with a win in 2012 and three more top-3 finishes ... she was a four-time district champion ... team MVP all four years ... twotime All-Spokane MVP/Player of the Year ... lettered all four years in soccer and helped team to a runner-up state finish ... was a Spokane Youth Sports Award finalist for Top Individual Female Athlete ... medalist at the PNGA Women’s Amatuer Public Links Championship Personal: Born on August 18, 1995 to Randy and Barb Bezdicek ... has two sisters, Katelyn and Savana who is also on the NAU golf team ... first hole-in-one was at age 11 at McCormick Woods
MEET THE TEAM
SENIOR - GILBERT, ARIZ.
KIM Academic agement
Notes: Majoring in and hopes to play
Cifuentes business mangolf professionally
2015-16: Registered scores for the Lumberjacks in all 10 tournaments this year … In 28 rounds of golf, Cifuentes logged an average round score of 76.43 … Best finish of the season came at the Bison at Boulder Creek to open the spring campaign, tying for fourth place (79-73-75 – 227) … Competed at Big Sky Conference Championships for the second-straight season, finishing tied for 29th on the individual leaderboard (75-74-77 – 226) … Earned all-conference honorable mention accolades … Also tallied the second-most birdies in a single season for the Lumberjacks (67) 2014-15: Opened her career as a Lumberjack by leading Northern Arizona at the Hobble Creek Fall Classic with a 12th-place finish and two-round total of 150 (+9) ... Contributed to the ‘Jacks score at the Oregon State Invitational with a 236 (+20) ... Took seventh-place at the Firestone Grill Cal Poly Invitational with a score of 152 (+6) ... Competed six times for the ‘Jacks during the spring campaign ... Had her first-career hole-in-one at the Rio Verde Invitational ... Earned Big Sky Player of the Week honors following her third-place finish at the Red Rocks Invitational where she posted her career-best round of 71 ... Finished tied for 14th at the Big Sky Championships
Before NAU: Played in four tournaments and 12 rounds at San Jose State ... top finishes were 31st at Juli Inkster Spartan Tournament and the Frensno State Classic High School: Lettered in golf all four years at Campo Verde High School ... competed as an individual at four state championships ...two-time honorable mention All-Tribune team ... tied for eighth at the Arizona State Championships in 2012 ... played in the US Girls Junior Amateur at Lake Merced which was the most memorable moment of her athletic career Personal: Born Lina Cifuentes
on ...
May has
23, one
1995 to Octavio and brother, Devin Wright
MEET THE TEAM
SOPHOMORE - TUCSON, ARIZ.
MORGAN
Messick
Academic Notes: Contemplating a major in nursing ... Graduated with a cumulative 3.0 GPA from Canyon Del Oro High School 2015-16: Joined the Lumberjacks for the spring season as a freshman … During the spring, Messick competed in all six tournaments … In 17 rounds of golf, Messick registered an average round score of 76.47, which was third-best on the team … Opened the season at the Bison at Boulder Creek tying for 14th place (79-77-77 –233) … Best three round score came at the Wyoming Cowgirl Classic, finishing 23rd among 110 golfers with a 77-74-73 –224 mark … Competed at Big Sky Conference championships, placing 28th overall (75-77-73 –225), earning all-conference honorable mention in the process … Low round score of 1-over-par 73, which is a career-best collegiately High School: Three year captain and starter on her high school golf team ... Competed in 14 local and state tournaments during high school, winning eight of them outright, including: the Tucson Conquistadores Spring Classic (2012, 2013, 2014), the Thompson Invitational (2012 and 2013), and JGAA Chandler City Junior Championship (2014) ... Named the 2012 Arizona High School Coaches’ Player of the Year ... Qualified and competed at Callaway Junior World (2009, 2010, 2011, 2013) ... Qualified and competed at USGA Girls’ Junior Championship in 2012 ... Won the 2014 AJGA Junior at Lone Tree tournament ... Participated in the AJGA Rolex Girls’ Championship and AJGA Rolex Girls’ Tournament of Champions (2014, 2015) Personal: Born to Margo and Monti Messick on Nov. 14, 1996 ... Most memorable moment in athletic career was winning her first AJGA tournament at Lone Tree Golf Course, because that’s when she noticed her true potential had been reached ... Chose NAU because of the campus, great team comradery and great relationship with the coach
MEET THE TEAM
FRESHMAN - MESA, ARIZ.
EMMA
Reyes
Academic Notes: Seeking a major in business administration High School: Earned a pair of first-place finishes during her time as a high school student-athlete: one came at the East Valley Invitational and the other at the Chandler City Junior Championships ... High school team qualified for the Arizona State Championships all four years she attended Desert Ridge ... Also a four-year starter and letter-winner on the DRHS golf team ... Named captain of the golf team during the 2015 season
MEET THE TEAM
JUNIOR - MESA, ARIZ.
KAITLYN Academic ence with
Notes: a minor
Majoring in health
in and
Saum
exercise sciwellness coaching
2015-16: During her sophomore campaign, Saum competed in all 10 tournaments for the Lumberjacks, totaling 28 rounds … Recorded the second-best average round score on the team this year (76.07), which was also the 11th-best season scoring average in NAU history … Opened the spring at the Bison at Boulder Creek with her best finish of the season (79-73-75 –227, 4th place) … Saved her best for last at the Big Sky Championships, registering her best three round score of the season (71-75-77 –223) and finishing in a tie for 21st … Low round score of 3-under-par 69 (career-best) … Named an all-conference second team athlete 2014-15: Opened the 2015 spring season with a third-place finish at the Grand Canyon Invitational ... Tied her career-best 70 (-2) during the final round of the Big Sky Championships and finished 16th overall High School: Lettered four years in golf at Red Mountain High School ... state runner-up in 2013 ... on the 2012-13 Girls Junior American Cup team ... participated in the Symetra: VisitMesa.com Gateway Classic ... team finished fourth at the Arizona State Championships in 2013
Personal: Born on March 17, 1996 to Andy and Carolyn Saum ... one sister, Andrea ... her hobbies include working on her car with her dad and cooking for family and friends ... chose NAU because she loved the team and facilities, the school’s support for student-athletes and the beautiful campus
MEET THE TEAM
FRESHMAN - VERONA, WIS.
LOREN
Skibba
Academic Notes: Plans on studying business administration High School: Four-year starter and letter-winner on Middleton High School’s golf team ... First team Wisconsin All-State 2013, 2014 and 2015 ... Part of the 2015 Wisconsin State Division I Championship team ... The Division I Wisconsin State High School Tournament individual runner-up (2015) ... The Division I Wisconsin State High School Tournament individual champion (2014) .... Carried the lowest round average in the state (74.68) en route to being named the 2015 Wisconsin All-State Girl Player of the Year ... Also a two-year starter and letter winner on her high school’s track team Personal: Born to Al and Marsha Skibba on Jan. 12, 1998 ... Has three siblings: Brett (22), Aryn (19) and Kaisey (17) ... Hobbies include traveling, singing, reading and netflixing ... Most memorable moment in her athletic career was winning the 2015 state title ... Chose NAU because of the beautiful campus and city, the successes of the golf team, the athletes on the team and the business program
2015-16 YEAR-IN-REVIEW
TOURNAMENT-BY-TOURNAMENT RESULTS Date Sept. 14-15, 2015 Sept. 26-27, 2015 Oct. 5-7, 2015 Oct. 18-20, 2015 Feb. 15-16 Feb. 26-28, 2016 Mar. 5-6, 2016 Mar. 14-15, 2016 April 4-5, 2016 April 18-20, 2016
Tournament Hobble Creek Fall Classic Cowgirl Desert Intercollegiate NM State Aggie Invitational Fighting Camel Classic Bison at Boulder Creek Rio Verde Invitational Red Rocks Invitational Wildcat Invitational Wyoming Cowgirl Classic Big Sky Championships
Finish 8th 3rd 9th 3rd 1st 7th 4th 13th 6th 3rd
305-306 304-310-290 301-302-305 315-310-302 315-299-294 299-297-305 304-305 298-296-311 298-294-307 290-295-300
Score 611 +43 904 +40 908 +44 927 +63 908 +44 901 +37 609 +33 905 +41 899 +35 885 +21
2016 BIG SKY CHAMPIONSHIPS RESULTS 3RD T 13. 16. T 21. 28. T 29.
NORTHERN ARIZONA (+21) (290-295-300 --885) SOFIA ANOKHINA (+4) (73-74-73 -- 220) SIERRA BEZDICEK (+5) (71-72-78 -- 221) KAITLYN SAUM (+7) (71-75-77 -- 223) MORGAN MESSICK (+9) (75-77-73 -- 225) KIM CIFUENTES (+10) (75-74-77 -- 226)
2016 ALL-CONFERENCE SELECTIONS SECOND-TEAM HONORABLE MENTION
SOFIA ANOKHINA
KAITLYN SAUM
KIM CIFUENTES
MORGAN MESSICK
RECORD BOOK
BEST SINGLE-SEASON SCORING AVERAGE SEASON
NAME
2012-13 2010-11 2015-16 2009-10 2005-06 2010-11 2007-08 2010-11 2006-07 2002-03 2015-16 2013-14 2005-06 2003-04 2008-09
Stephanie Kim Stephanie Kim SOFIA ANOKHINA Stephanie Kim Sophia Choi Bethany Leclair Sophia Choi Alexa Kim Sophia Choi Lauren Gray KAITLYN SAUM Kaitlen Parsons Ali Carter Lauren Gray Ali Carter
ROUNDS
AVG. SCORE
VERSUS PAR
30.0 30.0 28.0 29.0 24.0 17.0 24.0 30.0 24.0 25.0 28.0 29.0 24.0 32.0 20.0
75.07 75.30 75.43 75.55 75.92 75.76 75.79 76.00 76.17 76.08 76.07 76.00 76.38 76.34 76.30
3.10 3.23 3.50 3.66 3.75 3.76 3.79 3.93 4.00 4.08 4.14 4.21 4.21 4.44 4.45
SOFIA ANOKHINA
MOST SINGLE-SEASON WINS SEASON
NAME
TOURNAMENTS
2009-10 1999-00 1995-96 1998-99 2012-13 2013-14 2010-11 2011-12 2006-07 2005-06 2003-04 2002-03 2013-14 2013-14 2008-09 2008-09 2007-08 2007-08 2006-07 2006-07 1997-98 1996-97 1996-97 2010-11 2004-05 2003-04 2000-01
Stephanie Kim 11 Louise Davis 5 Eleanor Pilgrim 6 Eleanor Pilgrim 9 Savana Bezdicek 11 Jacquie LeMarr 6 Bethany Leclair 6 Susana Mejia 7 Megan Buck 8 Sophia Choi 9 Amber Ward 9 Lauren Gray 9 Kaitlen Parsons 10 Brittany McKee 10 Meghan Bremer 10 Bethany Leclair 10 Sophia Choi 10 Ali Carter 10 Sophia Choi 10 Ali Carter 10 Louise Davis 10 Louise Davis 10 Eleanor Pilgrim 10 Alexa Kim 11 Sophia Choi 11 Lauren Gray 11 HannaRiikka Kuitunen 11
WINS 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
STEPHANIE KIM
RECORD BOOK
MOST BIRDIES IN A SINGLE SEASON SEASON 2010-11 2015-16 2013-14 2014-15 2012-13 2011-12 2009-10 2004-05 2012-13 2011-12 2003-04 2015-16 2014-15 2015-16 2010-11 2010-11 2008-09
NAME Stephanie Kim KIM CIFUENTES Kaitlen Parsons KIM CIFUENTES Stephanie Kim Stephanie Kim Stephanie Kim Sophia Choi Kaitlen Parsons Kaitlen Parsons Lauren Gray SOFIA ANOKHINA Brittany McKee KAITLYN SAUM Kaitlen Parsons Alexa Kim Alexa Kim
BIRDIES 71 67 66 65 62 59 59 59 58 58 58 56 56 55 55 55 55
KIM CIFUENTES
MOST EAGLES IN A SINGLE SEASON SEASON 2007-08 2014-15 2014-15 2009-10 2007-08 2016-17 2016-17 2015-16 2015-16 2015-16 2015-16 2014-15 2013-14 2013-14 2013-14 2013-14 2013-14 2012-13 2011-12 2010-11 2009-10 2009-10 2009-10 2007-08 2004-05 2003-04 2002-03 2001-02 2000-01 2000-01 1999-00 1998-99 1997-98 1997-98 1997-98 1997-98 1996-97 1996-97
NAME EAGLES Sophia Choi 3 KIM CIFUENTES 2 KAITLYN SAUM 2 Megan Buck 2 Dakin Banta 2 KIM CIFUENTES 1 CARLY AKINE 1 SIERRA BEZDICEK 1 MORGAN MESSICK 1 KIM CIFUENTES 1 KAITLYN SAUM 1 Jacquie LeMarr 1 Susana Mejia 1 Melissa Olson 1 JoJo Sottile 1 Jacquie LeMarr 1 Brittany McKee 1 Savana Bezdicek 1 Jessie Joachim 1 Kaitlen Parsons 1 Stephanie Kim 1 Meghan Bremer 1 Dakin Banta 1 Lauren Halstead 1 Tiina-M. Peltokoski 1 Amber Ward 1 HannaRiikka Kuitunen 1 Lauren Gray 1 Lauren Gray 1 HannaRiikka Kuitunen 1 Emily VonDoehren 1 Eleanor Pilgrim 1 Lesley McClurg 1 Eleanor Pilgrim 1 Dianne Overstreet 1 Bobbi Brandon 1 Louise Davis 1 Bobbi Brandon 1
RECORD BOOK
BEST TEAM SINGLE-SEASON SCORING AVERAGE SEASON 2015-16 2010-11 2009-10 2012-13 2014-15 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 1997-98 2013-14 1998-99 2004-05 2002-03 2011-12
COACH Brad Bedortha Brad Bedortha Brad Bedortha Brad Bedortha Brad Bedortha Tom McCurdy Tom McCurdy Brad Bedortha Brad Bedortha Tana Figueras Brad Bedortha Felicia Johnston Tom McCurdy Tom McCurdy Brad Bedortha
ROUNDS 28.0 30.0 29.0 30.0 33.0 24.0 25.0 24.0 29.0 27.0 29.0 27.0 31.0 28.0 29.0
AVG. SCORE 302.04 303.60 304.52 306.00 306.03 309.50 310.32 310.04 310.14 312.00 311.17 313.26 313.55 313.46 314.21
BEST NATIONAL TEAM RANKING IN A SINGLE-SEASON SEASON 2010-11 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2005-06 2004-05 2008-09 2009-10 2007-08 2012-13 2015-16 2006-07 2003-04 2014-15 2011-12
COACH Brad Bedortha Felicia Johnston Tom McCurdy Tom McCurdy Tom McCurdy Tom McCurdy Brad Bedortha Brad Bedortha Brad Bedortha Brad Bedortha Brad Bedortha Tom McCurdy Tom McCurdy Brad Bedortha Brad Bedortha
RANK 73 74 74 88 91 100 100 102 107 108 111 117 121 123 150
VERSUS PAR 14.32 15.33 16.93 18.13 18.39 20.83 21.84 22.04 22.28 22.67 24.00 24.52 25.29 25.46 25.93
MOST TEAM WINS IN A SINGLE-SEASON SEASON 2010-11 2009-10 1998-99 1997-98 1996-97 2006-07 2005-06 2007-08 2002-03 1999-00 1995-96 2012-13 2008-09 2014-15 2015-16 2013-14 2001-02
COACH WINS Brad Bedortha 4 Brad Bedortha 4 Felicia Johnston 3 Tana Figueras 3 Tana Figueras 3 Tom McCurdy 3 Tom McCurdy 2 Brad Bedortha 2 Tom McCurdy 2 Felicia Johnston 2 Tana Figueras 2 Brad Bedortha 2 Brad Bedortha 2 Brad Bedortha 2 Brad Bedortha 1 Brad Bedortha 1 Tom McCurdy 1
RECORD BOOK
BEST CAREER SCORING AVERAGE NAME
Stephanie Kim Sophia Choi Kaitlen Parsons KAITLYN SAUM Ali Carter Alexa Kim KIM CIFUENTES Jacquie LeMarr Lauren Gray Louise Davis Eleanor Pilgrim Bethany Leclair Brittany McKee HannaRiikka Kuitunen SIERRA BEZDICEK
ROUNDS AVG. SCORE 118.0 75.77 103.0 76.15 118.0 76.56 68.0 76.71 92.0 76.93 88.0 76.89 73.0 76.95 64.0 77.38 108.0 77.62 93.0 77.88 88.0 78.17 86.0 78.00 62.0 77.89 107.0 78.19 58.0 78.29
VERSUS PAR 3.77 4.05 4.58 4.85 4.88 4.91 5.05 5.50 5.63 5.71 5.78 5.99 6.03 6.21 6.38
CAREER 10,11,12,13 05,06,07,08 11,12,13,14 15,16,17 06,07,08,09 09,10,11 15,16,17 14,15,16 01,02,03,04 97,98,99,00 96,97,98,99 07,08,09,10,11 14,15 00,01,02,03 15,16,17
MOST CAREER WINS TOURNAMENTS WINS CAREER Eleanor Pilgrim 35 5 96,97,98,99 Louise Davis 35 4 97,98,99,00 Sophia Choi 40 4 05,06,07,08 Stephanie Kim 44 3 10,11,12,13 Savana Bezdicek 31 2 13,14,15,16 Bethany Leclair 32 2 07,08,09,10,11 Ali Carter 36 2 06,07,08,09 Lauren Gray 40 2 01,02,03,04 Meghan Bremer 17 1 09,10 Amber Ward 18 1 04,05 Brittany McKee 22 1 14,15 Jacquie LeMarr 23 1 14,15,16 Susana Mejia 32 1 12,13,14,15 Alexa Kim 33 1 09,10,11 Megan Buck 39 1 07,08,09,10 HannaRiikka Kuitunen 41 1 00,01,02,03 Kaitlen Parsons 43 1 11,12,13,14 NAME
RECORD BOOK
MOST CAREER BIRDIES NAME Stephanie Kim Kaitlen Parsons Sophia Choi HannaRiikka Kuitunen Alexa Kim KIM CIFUENTES Megan Buck Ali Carter Lauren Gray Bethany Leclair Louise Davis Eleanor Pilgrim KAITLYN SAUM Julie Heselton Savana Bezdicek
ROUNDS 118.0 118.0 103.0 107.0 88.0 73.0 98.0 92.0 108.0 86.0 93.0 88.0 68.0 103.0 83.0
BIRDIES 251 237 185 167 163 154 150 147 146 142 139 133 130 122 120
MOST CAREER COACHES WINS NAME Brad Bedortha Tana Figueras Tom McCurdy Felicia Johnston
YEARS 10 3 6 3
WINS 18 8 8 5
BRAD BEDORTHA
YEARS 0896-98 02-07 99-01
MOST CAREER EAGLES NAME ROUNDS EAGLES KIM CIFUENTES 73.0 4 Dakin Banta 67.0 3 KAITLYN SAUM 68.0 3 Sophia Choi 103.0 3 Jacquie LeMarr 64.0 2 Eleanor Pilgrim 88.0 2 Megan Buck 98.0 2 Bobbi Brandon 103.0 2 HannaRiikka Kuitunen 107.0 2 Lauren Gray 108.0 2 MORGAN MESSICK 17.0 1 Jessie Joachim 22.0 1 JoJo Sottile 24.0 1 Meghan Bremer 41.0 1 CARLY AKINE 46.0 1 Lauren Halstead 49.0 1 Amber Ward 51.0 1 Dianne Overstreet 53.0 1 Emily VonDoehren 57.0 1 SIERRA BEZDICEK 58.0 1 Brittany McKee 62.0 1 Lesley McClurg 63.0 1 Melissa Olson 63.0 1 Savana Bezdicek 83.0 1 Susana Mejia 86.0 1 Louise Davis 93.0 1 Tiina-M. Peltokoski 100.0 1 Kaitlen Parsons 118.0 1 Stephanie Kim 118.0 1
UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT Rita Hartung Cheng serves as the 16th president of Northern Arizona University. Under her leadership, NAU has embarked on an aggressive mission to thrive in the fast-changing environment of higher education. She has amplified the university’s strengths, demonstrating its excellence in pursuing the discovery, use and advancement of knowledge. She has set forth a vision of excellence in education through student-centered teaching, a robust research environment and inclusive support services focused on success measured through retention and graduation rates. Dr. Cheng oversees an operating budget of more than $550 million and 4,600 faculty and staff. NAU offers more than 200 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs to its 29,000 students. Enrollment growth has increased steadily, and the university’s research profile is recognized on an international level. NAU is designated as a high research university by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education. At NAU, a comprehensive network of staff, advisers and peers complement talented and dedicated faculty in supporting students of all backgrounds. Dr. Cheng’s commitment to inclusiveness and a supportive academic community has made NAU a preferred destination for non-traditional and underrepresented students who are taking the next step in pursuing a university education. Dr. Cheng regards campus as an integral part of the local community. She supports a strong, academically focused athletics program and champions music, art, theater and other cultural and recreational activities that contribute to the vibrancy of the surrounding community. Dr. Cheng believes NAU’s success should directly impact lives in communities in Arizona and throughout the world. She
is committed to building partnerships, which drive economic and cultural vitality. The university serves as an important economic engine in the region, contributing $2 billion annually to the state economy. One in five jobs in Coconino County is directly or indirectly linked to the university. An accountant by training, she leads by relying on values, analyzing data and inviting the input of stakeholders. She also emphasizes shared governance, transparency, communication, accountability and inclusiveness. Dr. Cheng arrived at NAU in August 2014 from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, where she served as chancellor for four years and was a professor of accounting. She previously spent 22 years in faculty and administrative roles at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, including five years as provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. A certified public accountant and certified government financial manager (inactive), Dr. Cheng is internationally recognized for her research in government and nonprofit accounting. Dr. Cheng is part of the Arizona Board of Regents’ Enterprise Executive Committee, responsible for driving achievement of statewide goals. Dr. Cheng earned a Ph.D. in management from Temple University’s Fox School of Business and Management, an MBA from the University of Rhode Island and a bachelor’s in business administration with honors from Bishop‘s University in Quebec. Along with her vision for NAU, Dr. Cheng brings her experience and leadership to many boards and organizations including the NCAA Division 1 Board of Governors Finance and Audit Committee, Big Sky President’s Council, Arizona State Board of Education, Higher Learning Commission Board of Trustees, American Association of State Colleges and Universities Board of Directors, Arizona Women in Higher Education Presidential Sponsor, Arizona Commerce Authority, and is an active member of the Phoenix Leadership Council, Northern Arizona Leadership Alliance, Southern Arizona Leadership Council, Phoenix Chamber of Commerce and the Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce.
VICE PRESIDENT FOR INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS Dr. Lisa Campos was hired in April 2012 as Northern Arizona’s Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics. Since her arrival, Campos has guided the Lumberjacks to Back-to-Back Big Sky Conference Presidents’ Cup trophies; an award that recognizes the department’s overall excellence in competition and in the classroom. In 2013, NAU became the fourth institution to win multiple Presidents’ Cups, winning their second (first was 2005-06); and then followed it up during the 2013-14 school year. NAU has captured 24 team conference championships during Campos’ time in Flagstaff, while nine teams have advanced to postseason competition. The Lumberjacks’ stellar athletic achievements have led to the men’s programs winning the Big Sky All-Sports Trophy three consecutive times from 2014-16. The women’s teams captured the trophy in 2014, and have been runners-up the last two years. During the 2015-16 school year, the men’s indoor and outdoor track & field teams won their fifth straight title for each, while the women’s team captured the outdoor crown. Volleyball won the Big Sky Regular Season and Tournament Championship to earn its first NCAA appearance berth since 1999. Swimming & diving captured its third straight Western Athletic Conference Championship defeating its nearest competition by over 300 points. During the 2015-16 school year, NAU finished with a 3.12 overall cumulative grade point average. Seven of 13 teams finished the 2015-16 academic year with a GPA of at least 3.00 led by the swimming and diving team, who recorded a 3.44 gpa. Four student-athletes received CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-District honors, while Caleb Hoover picked up his second CoSIDA/ Capital One Academic All-American First Team honoree. NAU had 118 total student-athletes earn All-Academic honors by the Big Sky and WAC. A total of 58 student-athletes earned their degrees during the 2015-16 academic year with a cumulative gpa of 3.20, while 184 Dean’s List honors were bestowed. Campos and the Lumberjacks continue to give back to the community as Lumberjack student-athletes set a new record for community service hours with 5,428; beating last year’s mark of 5,327. Dr. Campos currently sits on the prestigious NCAA Division I Football Oversight Committee, a subcommittee of the new governance model. She also sits on the Board of Directors at NACWAA and for the local United Way of Northern Arizona. At the time of her hire at NAU, Campos became one of 26 females and the youngest in the country to lead a Division I program, including 13 head athletic administrators at the Football Championship Subdivision level. Campos took over the leadership of the Lumberjack Athletics Department after serving as the Senior Associate Athletic Director at the University of Texas at El Paso from 2006 to 2012. Campos served as the sport administrator for several Miner sports programs and was also the primary administrator for compliance, CHAMPS/Life Skills, strength and conditioning, sports medicine, and cheerleading. While at UTEP, Dr. Campos assisted with athletic facility enhancements and co-directed the planning and design of the $2.6 million Helen of Troy Softball Complex, which opened in September 2005. In 2006, Campos was the NCAA liaison for the Self Study Re-
port for NCAA Certification and continued to oversee all gender, minority equity, and student welfare strategic plans. In 2005, she created the Athletics Diversity Graduate Assistantship Program and served on the UTEP Women’s Resource Advisory Board. Campos also served as Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator and the Assistant Dean of Students within the UTEP Division of Student Affairs during her time in El Paso. While at UTEP, Dr. Campos had the opportunity to serve on a number of NCAA Committees, including the NCAA Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet, the NCAA Rifle Committee, and chaired the NCAA Women’s Soccer Committee. Dr. Campos holds a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Texas at El Paso. She graduated from Colorado State University where she earned a bachelor’s of science degree in Business Administration and a master’s of science degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education. Campos is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA), National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association (FCS ADA) and Flagstaff Leadership Program. A native of Las Animas, Colo., Campos is married to Darren D’Attilio. They live in Flagstaff with their son, Christopher.
Dr. Campos and 2015-16 Golden Eagle and Big Sky Scholar-Athlete of the Year, senior swimming & diving student-athlete Chelsea Jackson.