Bleed Purple - May/June 2015

ALSO INSIDE ATHLETIC & ACADEMIC AWARDS

WE ARE FAMILY

WILDCAT SPORTS BONDING GENERATIONS, SIBLINGS SHARING ATHLETICS EXPERIENCES, AND DRAWING INSPIRATION FROM A LOSS.

WHERE ARE THE HALE BROTHERS?

MAY / JUNE

STRENGTH ALL-AMERICANS

2015

AND MUCH MORE.... presented by

Volume 1, Issue 1

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A Bank In Your Court BUSINESS

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May/June 2015

PERSONAL

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MORTGAGE

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TRUSTS

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LARRY H. MILLER CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM RIVERDALE

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STARTING LINEUP

CONTENTS

FEATURES 16 ALWAYS SOMEONE TO PLAY WITH

Twins Aubrey and Sierra Whitmer have shared a special bond since birth, which has strengthened through their years together on the diamond.

BY CORIE HOLMES

24 THE SUPERHERO HE CALLS MOM

Kelley Johnson showed her son, Michael, that adversity can be overcome simply with how you choose to live your life.

BY JIM BURTON

38 FOOTSTEPS TO RUN IN

Trevor Ricks blazed a path to excellence with the Weber State cross country and track & field teams that his younger sister, Hailey, was happy to follow.

BY TYSON JEX

46 CHANGEUP

Softball’s MaCauley Flint learns the tools of her trade from her grandfather, paralleling the transition of the sport in Northern Utah from a highly played men’s sport to a women’s dominated game.

BY CHRIS J. MILLER

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54 PLAYING FOR DAD

Chansi Crompton has played under the coaching guidance of her father ,Tim, since she first started kicking a soccer ball, and the time together has produced an unbreakable bond and a slew of accolades.

BY JUSTIN JOHNSON

REVIEW 20 WSU ATHLETES OF THE YEAR 21 CAREER ACHIEVEMENT HONORS 22 WILDCAT CLUB ACADEMIC AWARDS

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DEPARTMENTS 4 FROM THE A.D. 6 SNAPSHOTS 14 PLAYIN’ ON PURPLE with Men’s Tennis’ Landon Barlow 31 HIGH PERFORMANCE 36 WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Football’s Hale brothers 40 ‘CAT TALES 1995 Men’s Basketball 42 CREATE A LEGACY 44 WILDCAT CLUB MEMBER SPOTLIGHT Wayne and Shirleen Carter 52 TOP TWEETS 58 NAME GAME 60 SAAC - BEYOND THE ATHLETE

WeberStateSports.com

W

elcome to the Inaugural edition of Bleed Purple, the new official magazine of Weber State

Athletics.

During my years in the WSU Athletics Department, I’ve been fortunate to witness some amazing moments and meet some incredible people.

The four-year career of a student-athlete feels like it flies by, with an 18-year-old fresh out of high school turning into a graduating college senior seemingly overnight. I often find myself regretting that I didn’t get to know some of them as well as I would have liked to in the short time they were with us. Particularly the individuals who magnify what it means to be a true student-athlete.

Our goals with the inception of this magazine is to provide you an insider look at the happenings of Wildcat Athletics and share with you the stories that make many of our student-athletes so interesting.

Having a personal connection to the game of fastpitch softball, first from my father, who played for many years on a high level when the men’s game flourished, and later as I played the sport myself after the Northern Utah men’s leagues had dwindled, the story of Stan and MaCauley Flint stood out. Several other family-related stories quickly came to our minds, and a “Family Issue” naturally developed.

One of those other stories, an emo-

tional piece on golfer Michael Johnson and the trials his mother faced during his childhood, really gives us a look into what makes him the great person that he is.

Johnson’s coach, Scott Erling, was right on the mark with his comments about the young man following the team’s final tournament this spring, when he said: “Michael Johnson is everything that is good about college sports.

He’s a great student, a really good golfer, but he’s an even better kid.

He’s an outstanding teammate, and he’s truly one of the most special guys I’ve been around.”

Michael is a student-athlete that I will always remember, but despite the friendship that I can say I developed in the limited time being around him, he will fall into that category of someone that I wished I had been able to get to know even better.

The way he wrapped up his college career, which you’ll read about in this issue as well, was truly a special moment that I was lucky enough to witness.

We hope that you enjoy all of our upcoming issues, and that through this publication, we can help all of its readers to “Bleed Purple” just a little bit more.

Sincerely,

Darin Hogge

Director of Digital Media & Publications

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF WEBER STATE ATHLETICS presented by

Volume 1, Issue 1 Editor in Chief

Darin Hogge

Executive Editors

Paul Grua Chris Miller Corie Holmes

Creative Director

Darin Hogge

Contributing Writers

Chris J. Miller Jim Burton Corie Holmes Justin Johnson Darin Hogge Paul Grua Jerry Bovee Tyson Jex John Henderson Becky Thompson Andi Pigeon

Photography

Robert Casey Darin Hogge Justin Johnson

Ad Director

Dave Champlain

EMAIL: WEBERSTATESPORTS@GMAIL.COM WEBSITE: WEBERSTATESPORTS.COM FACEBOOK: facebook.com/WeberStateAthletics TWITTER: @WeberState INSTAGRAM: WSUWildcats

ON THE COVER Senior pitcher MaCauley Flint learned her craft from her grandfather Stan Flint. The time spent together not only turned her into one of top softball players in the Big Sky Conference, but it helped create an unbreakable bond between the pair.

ALSO INSIDE ATHLETIC & ACADEMIC AWARDS

WE ARE FAMILY

WILDCAT SPORTS BONDING GENERATIONS, SIBLINGS SHARING ATHLETICS EXPERIENCES, AND DRAWING INSPIRATION FROM A LOSS.

WHERE ARE THE HALE BROTHERS?

MAY / JUNE

STRENGTH ALL-AMERICANS

Feature on page 46.

2015

AND MUCH MORE.... presented by

Volume 1, Issue 1

WeberStateSports.com

WeberStateSports.com

Photo by Robert Casey.

Copyright © 2015 by Weber State Athletics Publications All Rights Reserved Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited.

May/June 2015

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From the A.D.

A Message from Jerry Bovee

I

’m often asked what the best part of being the Athletics Director at Weber State is and unequivocally my answer is always about the relationships, interactions and experiences with the student-athletes, coaches, staff members and friends of the program.

We have worked hard to create a culture of success at Weber State that goes far beyond the final score.

In his best selling book “Good to Great”, Jim Collins points out that the key ingredient to success in any organization is to get the right people on the bus. That has been our focus in developing a successful culture here at Weber State. From the student-athletes and coaches to the trainers, academic advisors,

people who are committed to excellence in their specific sport but also in their lives as students and as future leaders in society. In this inaugural edition of “Bleed Purple” you are going to read about some of

“You’ll find that we are surrounded here at Weber State by some incredible people who are committed to excellence in their specific sport but also in their lives as students and as future leaders in society.”

compliance staff, athletics communications, and all the rest. The missing ingredient for us in this process has been finding ways to tell the amazing stories of our student-athletes so that you the fans can truly get a sense of their courage and strength as people. I think you’ll find that we are surrounded here at Weber State by some incredible 4

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the amazing people that make up the culture of Weber State athletics.

This e-magazine is full of pictures and features that will dig below the surface in painting a picture as to who we are and what makes us tick.

In this edition you will learn about MaCauley Flint from our softball team and her relationship with her grandfather. She has helped turn

the softball program into a Big Sky power. You’ll see what motors Michael Johnson from the men’s golf team and how his early trials in life from losing his mother to cancer has shaped who he is today. You’ll get insight as to where the Hale Brothers are now and how playing football at Weber State has affected their lives.

These stories and more will give you a glimpse of our culture and what it truly means to be a Wildcat.

I invite you to share this e-magazine with a friend through your own social media channels. You can be part of helping to build the athletics program at Weber State from the grassroots.

Our hope in telling our stories is that others will discover exactly what generates Wildcat pride. After all is said and done, it is the people that make Weber State great, great, great!

Until next time, go Wildcats!

Jerry Bovee Weber State Director of Athletics

WeberStateSports.com

2015 FOOTBALL & VOLLEYBALL SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

801-626-8500 or visit WeberStateSports.com

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Weber State’s Kyndahl Hill makes Northern Arizona’s Quinton Upshur pay for challenging his drive to the basket with a thundering slam.

(Photo by Darin Hogge)

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Former Wildcat offensive lineman (and current WSU student body president) Cash Knight dives after the flags of assistant coach Colton Swan during the alumni football game which preceded this year’s spring football game.

(Photo by Robert Casey)

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Thrower Jazmine Porter follows through after launching the discus during the Weber State Outdoor Open track and field meet in April.

(Photo by Robert Casey)

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Weber State catcher Mylee Brown blocks the plate in a play at home against BYU as the Wildcats stepped out of Big Sky play for an in-state rivalry matchup.

(Photo by Robert Casey)

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with Landon Barlow Landon Barlow, a junior this past season with the men’s tennis team has helped lead the Wildcats to back-to-back Big Sky Conference regular season titles. This past season, he produced a 16-4 record in singles play, including a 9-2 mark in league action. Recently, we sat down to get to know him off the court.

Playin’ On Purple: What is your favorite memory or moment at Weber State?

Landon Barlow: I would have to say my favorite memory at Weber State would have been last season when we played Idaho State to win the regular season championship and go undefeated. It was especially memorable for me because it was the last match that my dad was able to see me play before he passed away. I was down a set and ended up storming back and winning two straight. To be able to do it for my dad and the team was just awesome.

P.O.P What is something that not many people know about you?

L.B. I’m a big Star Wars fan actually. One of my favorite gifts I’ve received for Christmas was a movie replica light saber. It has a metal hilt and is hand crafted. To this day it is one of my most prized possessions. I keep it under my bed for safe keeping. I’m a big Star Wars nerd.

P.O.P What is your favorite day of the week?

L.B. I would have to say Sunday. It’s the one day of the week that we have off and it’s a good day to be with family. I like to go home and visit my mom on that day. Our family dinner on Sundays is always the best. I like to just relax and go to religious services and chill.

P.O.P Who is your favorite athlete of all time and why?

L.B. Kobe Bryant, I know there are a lot of people out there who are probably shaking their heads about this but I’ve always admired Kobe because of his tenacity. He has the ability to overcome adversity and pressure. I have always looked up to that. It’s something we can pattern our traits around in any field we go into.

P.O.P Who is your celebrity crush?

L.B. A young Nicole Kidman. I watched a movie with her and Tom Cruise recently on T.V. and something about that Australian accent got me.

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ALWAYS SOME

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Twins Aubrey and Sierra Whitmer have shared a special bond since birth, which has strengthened through their years together on the diamond.

by CORIE HOLMES

ONE TO PLAY WITH

B

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eing twin sisters, best friends and teammates gives Aubrey and Sierra Whitmer of the Wildcat softball team an exclusive bond hard to find anywhere else.

The sisters have been playing softball together for as long as they could remember and feel more united then average teammates.

“We are more connected,” Aubrey said. “If I’m having a bad game, she’s always there. I know that if I’m mad and yell at her, Sierra will be fine about it. We can say

anything to each other and not have to worry about any lasting tension.”

Their love for the game was instilled at a very young age. They spent countless hours at ball parks growing up watching their father, Joseph Whitmer play baseball.

“He loves the game so much that he’s still playing,” Aubrey said. “He set the example for us to fall in love with the game too. We’ve loved seeing his love for it and we’ve loved being able to relate to our dad through the sport we all love.”

Joseph encouraged the

girls to play softball and constantly pushed them to get better. Because he was a pitcher in baseball he inspired and supported Sierra to become a pitcher.

“My dad is a baseball pitcher,” Sierra said. “He encouraged me to pitch and he taught me how to spin the ball. He had a big part in making me want to be a pitcher.”

Having Joseph involved in the game pushes Sierra and Aubrey to constantly be working at getting better.

“He can help us with technique and make us better,” Aubrey said. “There’s not a

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lot of players that have the opportunity to have parents that have played before and know the game.

It’s really cool to have him as that influence in our lives.”

“We grew up watching him play baseball,” Sierra added. “He has always been there to support us in softball and help us get better.”

Aubrey and Sierra have been play-

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Aubrey’s .405 batting average and her solid defense at shortstop earned her this season’s Big Sky Conference Newcomer of the Year award.

ing softball together their entire lives. When Head Coach Mary Kay Amicone of Weber State Softball offered them a chance to continue

to play together and further their collegiate careers they couldn’t say no.

“When I coached at Salt Lake Community College and we played against Aubrey and Sierra I had the opportunity to see their athleticism, talent, and most of all their competitiveness,” Amicone said. “They are game changers. They love the game.

I wanted both of them because they both have different talents.”

The girls were just as excited to have the opportunity to play at Weber State as Amicone was to have them.

“When we heard that Coach Amicone was the new coach at Weber State we got really excited,” Sierra said. “She really wanted both of us to come and it was just another opportunity for us to play softball together so we jumped on it.”

According to Amicone the twins’ diverse abilities on defense and the fact that both are great hitters is why Amicone found them essential to the Weber State program.

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“They’re uniquely different but super talented,” Amicone said. “They are the type of players where you think ‘I’d rather have them on my team then playing against them.”

Aubrey and Sierra have been on the same team since they were young. The only time they didn’t play softball together was in 8th grade when Aubrey suffered a broken leg.

“I was really sad,” Aubrey said. “I wasn’t able to play with Sierra and it hurt not being able to play the game that I loved.”

“There would be some tournaments during that time when we would be sucking and I remember Aubrey would be banging on her wheelchair because she couldn’t be out there helping us,” Sierra said.

As twin sisters they’ve always had the other to play with. The few times they’ve been apart on the softball field felt like something important was missing.

“It was weird in 8th grade because I was so used to having her always there playing with me and she wasn’t,” Sierra said. “There was one time during fall ball this year where Aubrey couldn’t go and it felt weird not having her there. I just feel incomplete and something is missing when she’s not around.”

Amicone has even noticed the connection between the two women in games this year.

“When Sierra is pitching, if she walks someone or gets in a tough situation, Aubrey is always the one to call a timeout and they have “Twin Time” as we like to call it,” Amicone said. “Aubrey knows what to say to Sierra. When WeberStateSports.com

Sierra has proved to be a quality option for head coach Mary Kay Amicone out of the Wildcats’ bullpen, earning All-Conference Honorable Mention honors.

Aubrey is hitting Sierra has key phrases to talk Aubrey through a tough moment. There’s definitely a connection there and it’s neat to see.”

Aubrey and Sierra came to Weber State from the College of Southern Idaho where they played for two years. Aubrey led the team this season with a .405 batting average and a .492 on base percentage. She added four home runs and 38 RBI, while starting all 57 games at shortstop for the Wildcats. She became the first Weber State player to be named Newcomer of the Year

by the Big Sky Conference.

Sierra is one of the top pitchers on the team, posting seven wins with a 4.07 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 75 innings pitched. She recently received All-Big Sky Honorable Mention honors.

Their favorite things about playing with each other is the knowledge that they will always have a strong support and are able to boost each other up.

“Whenever Sierra is pitching, and if she’s having a bad time, it’s easy for me to go up to her and encourage her, ignite that fire in her,” Aubrey said.

Sierra was quick to add, “We always pick each other up.”

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Honors Review

2015 Athlete of the Year Awards

The Weber State Athlete of the Year award, announced at the WSU Crystal Crest Awards program, honors the top performing male and female from Wildcat Athletics over the past year.

Todd Fought earned First Team Big Sky All-Conference honors during the 2014 Weber State men’s tennis season and helped lead the Wildcats to a perfect 10-0 conference record and a Big Sky Conference Championship. He was 15-6 in singles play during the 2014 season FOUGHT playing in the No. 1 and No. 2 singles spots. In 2015 he again led Weber State to a regular season conference title and posted a 15-9 record during the regular season. He earned Second-Team All-Big Sky honors in 2015.

Todd is a junior from West Vancouver, British Columbia.

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Over the past year Jamie Stokes earned Big Sky All-Conference honors four times and captured a conference title for the Weber State women’s track and field and cross country teams. She took second in the 1,500 meters at the 2014 Big Sky Outdoor Championships and was Weber STOKES State’s top finisher at the conference cross country championships, finishing sixth overall. She captured the conference title in the mile run at the Big Sky indoor meet and was the anchor on the WSU distance medley relay team that took first place. She also set a new school record in the mile run, posting a time of 4:43.

Jamie is a junior from Ogden and also earned Academic All-District honors and was a three-time Academic All-Conference selection.

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2015 Career Achievement Awards

The Career Achievement Awards, announced at the annual Weber State Athletics Award Banquet, highlights the outgoing senior male and female with the most outstanding accomplishments over their multiple years.

Bo Bolen finished his long, long career at Weber State this year. He enrolled at Weber State in 2008 for a career that has spanned seven years (two of which were spent away from WSU while serving an LDS mission).

He finished his career with the Weber State football team as one of BOLEN the top running backs and special teams players in school history. He played in 45 career games and ended his career ranking sixth in WSU history in career rushing yards with more than 2,000 yards.

He also ranks as Weber State’s and the Big Sky’s career leader in kickoff returns and kickoff return yards and ranks second in career all-purpose yards.

He is a former All-American and earned Big Sky All-Conference honors four times.

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Kendra Smith was a four-year starter for the Weber State women’s soccer team and played in 75 career matches in her four years. She is tied for the ninth most matches ever played in school history.

She was a four-time Big Sky All-Conference performer playing midfield SMITH for the Wildcats. She totaled four career assists and one goal, and helped lead Weber State to three Big Sky Conference Tournaments, including the 2013 conference title and a trip to the NCAA Women’s College Cup. She is also a four-time Academic All-Conference performer.

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2015 Wildcat Club Academic Award Honorees

The Wildcat Club Award honors the top male and female student-athletes who have exhausted eligibility in the current academic year and who have the highest cumulative GPA. This year’s recipients are Michael Johnson from the men’s golf team, and Kendra Smith from women’s soccer.

Michael Johnson came to Weber State in 2011 from Eagle, Idaho and began a strong collegiate career. Johnson played in 46 career events with the Wildcats, producing a stroke average of 76.5.

He posted 12 rounds of even-par or better, including a career-low 68 in the second round of the 2013 JOHNSON Dash Thomas Memorial.

He ended his career with an eagle on No. 18 in the final round of the Big Sky Conference Championships that capped off a three-under-par back nine and an even-par total of 72 as he tied for 16th overall for one of eight career top-25 finishes. Over his four years, he finished in the top-10 twice, with a career-best coming with a tie for seventh at the 2014 Jackrabbit Invitational at Primm Valley Golf Club in Primm, Nev. Along with a successful athletic performance, Michael also excelled as a student, being named America Sky Conference All-Academic Team 3 years in a row. He was awarded the Golf Coaches of All-America Scholar Award for 2014. He is majoring in Finance and will graduate with honors with his Bachelor’s degree in December of 2015. After graduation he wants to pursue a career in coaching or he wants to apply his financial degree in athletic administration. Michael has gained success by following “The price of excellence is discipline. The cost of mediocrity is disappointment.”

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Kendra Smith was a four-year starter for the Weber State women’s soccer team and played in 75 career matches, which is tied for the ninth most in program history.

Smith, who played primarily in the holding half of the midfield, was a four-time All-Big Sky Conference selection. A SMITH native of Kaysville, Utah, the former Kendra Bailey, helped Weber State reach three consecutive Big Sky Conference tournaments, including two championship match appearances and the 2013 Big Sky Conference tournament title, which earned the Wildcats a berth in the 2013 NCAA Women’s College Cup. She was been named to the Big Sky Conference All-Academic Team all four seasons during her career as a Wildcat. She is majoring in Athletic Training and graduated with honors with her Bachelor’s degree in spring of 2015. After graduation she plans to continue helping people in the world of athletics by teaching, coaching, and athletic training. A quote she lives by is “I eat quitters for breakfast and spit out their bones!” by Mike Ditka. Kendra attributes her success to the mindset that quitting is never the answer when you are faced with difficulty.

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Bleed Purple

23

Kelley Johnson showed her son, Michael, that adversity can be overcome simply with how you choose to live your life.

L

By JIM BURTON

et’s face it, some acceptance speeches – most of them, really – are terribly self-serving and the only thing they inspire is a good yawn.

The one Weber State golfer Michael Johnson gave when he received the award for Most Outstanding Male Scholar Athlete was nothing like that. Instead, the se24

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nior from Eagle, Idaho offered up a gift to those in attendance, leaving them with tear-stained faces and a powerful message of perseverance. In a video of the March 25 awards banquet, sniffles can be heard as Johnson pays tribute to his personal superhero – the inspiration for his success – his mother, Kelley, who died in 2006 after a long and fierce battle with not only multiple brain tumors, but breast cancer as well.

Referencing well-known ESPN anchor Stuart Scott, whose battle with cancer ended earlier this year, Johnson said of his mom, “(She) did not lose her battle to cancer. The late Stuart Scott said, ‘you beat cancer by how you live, why you live and in the manner in which you live.’ Let me tell you, my mom beat cancer.”

As Johnson spoke, the room went silent except for the sound of his own voice and those audible WeberStateSports.com

“My mom’s attitude during all that she faced was the most incredible attitude that I’d ever witnessed. ... She accepted every situation that she was given and approached it as a challenge.”

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May/June 2015

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sniffles. Like a preacher, he held the audience captive with not only the words he spoke, but also the way in which he delivered them.

There was great meaning to them and power behind them.

Johnson began his speech that day by reading a quote: “The two things in life that you’re in total control of are your attitude and your effort.” He used those words as the foundation for the sketch of his mother’s life, which he said was an example of will, determination, faith and strength.

“My mom’s attitude during all that she faced was the most incredible attitude that I’d ever witnessed,” he told the audience.

“In the 13 years that I was able to spend with her, I only saw my mom 26

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cry one time. And not once did I ever hear her ask, ‘Why me?’ She accepted every situation that she was given and approached it as a challenge.”

Lots of people show incredible determination. On a daily basis, ordinary people do extraordinary things in the name of survival and perseverance. But in Kelley Johnson’s case, what she had to endure was almost incomprehensible.

As a junior in college and just 21-years-old, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. An operation to remove the tumor left Kelley completely paralyzed on her left side. Doctors told her she’d never be able to have children, but that only seemed to make her more determined.

“My mom never lost hope, and didn’t let the words of her doctor shake her,” Michael said. “Ten years later, I was born.”

As an adult, Michael now has at least a small comprehension of what his mother endured just to bring him into the world and he understands why he is her only child. Indeed, the very fact he is alive today is a testament to his mother’s willingness to challenge the odds. She wanted to be a mother, so she become one. And beyond that, she wanted to raise a smart, strong and well-balanced young man, which is exactly what she and her husband, Peter, did.

Once again, there’s that determination, that powerful example.

Five years after giving birth to Michael, Kelley was diagnosed with breast cancer. Michael says he was too young to fully understand what that meant, but he knew it wasn’t good. For the next three years Kelley fought the dreaded disease and eventually it went into remission.

As though life hadn’t already given her enough, after being cancer free for five years, Kelley’s brain tumor returned. Worse still, she also learned the cancer which had been in remission had returned with a vengeance and had invaded her lungs.

Over the next three years Kelley continued to fight, determined to keep a positive attitude in the face of the unthinkable. With a mixture of awe and reverence, Michael notes that his parents never wanted him to be afraid; they never wanted him to see the truly dark side of Kelley’s treatments.

He knew she was sick and could see the physical toll the disease was taking, but even as a boy he WeberStateSports.com

noticed the way, no matter what, she always made it to his baseball games, basketball games and golf tournaments.

In the years since his mother’s passing Michael has had a number of deep conversations with his father and grandparents. He now

doctors they were better off letting Kelley do what she wanted. Her will was simply too strong. Ruth told them her daughter would be well taken care of on the trip and indeed, with an outpouring of love from family and friends, Kelley was placed in a chair, cane in hand,

the outside world – she insisted on not only supporting her son, but also helping others.

“She was just a great example in my life to never give up, and pursue any dream you have,” Michael said. “Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t do something.”

has a greater appreciation for her warrior-like courage and insistence that her son continue to live a happy, carefree life.

“She didn’t want me to stop living, she didn’t want me to stop being a kid,” Michael said.

Michael tells the story of a time, after undergoing one surgery for the cancer and another for the brain tumor, Kelley’s doctors told her she’d have to remain hospitalized for several days. She informed them that her son had an all-star baseball tournament beginning in a few days and she planned to be in attendance, as always.

The tournament was in Fruitland, Idaho, roughly 90 minutes away from the Johnson’s home and about two hours away from the hospital.

“The doctors said, ‘You’re not going to make it out there, you have to be here,’” Michael explained.

“And she said, ‘If I have to disconnect all these tubes and walk to Fruitland, I’m going to do it.’”

Kelley’s mother, Ruth, told the

bundled up with blankets and shaded by an awning.

“That just shows her attitude,” Michael said. “She just loved to support anything I did. She was always one of the school moms, one of the class moms, one of the team moms. She was always involved somehow.”

With obvious pride in his voice, Michael points out that at a time when his mother was terribly sick – when nobody would have blamed her for withdrawing from

If Kelley was determined to have her son see the importance of a positive attitude and a fighting spirit, she succeeded. Michael will soon graduate with a 3.91 GPA and a degree in finance. As a testament to his mother’s belief that dreams are worth pursuing, Michael is working to become a coach. An excellent basketball player before an injury led him toward golf, he has already begun working with Weber State men’s basketball coach Randy Rahe. Johnson doesn’t yet

“It’s definitely given me a different perspective. I feel like I really appreciate the people in my life a lot more, I appreciate life in general.

I just try to make the most of every moment and work hard for everything.”

Kelley was determined to let nothing stop her from supporting all of Michael’s school and athletic activities.

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May/June 2015

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The work ethic instilled in Michael by his parents helped him maximize his collegiate career both on the golf course and in the classroom.

know exactly what he’ll be doing, but he’ll be learning the ropes from a proven winner.

Whatever he does going forward, Johnson will carry the lessons he learned from his mother.

Even as a boy playing a mentally challenging sport like golf, Michael knew what real hardship looked like; he understood the difference between real life and a game. Of course that’s not to say he didn’t also appreciate the importance of being determined, focused and never, ever giving up.

“As a little kid I was hot-tempered,” Johnson said. “I had a bunch of technical fouls in basketball, I had some broken clubs in golf. I was a pretty big hothead but my mom, she tried to keep me in check.

“After everything happened and

my mom passed away, looking back that was a major maturing point. I feel like I matured a lot faster than normal kids just because of everything I went through when I was 12 and 13.”

Michael admits he is highly competitive and, of course, he gets frustrated on the golf course. But on his Weber State golf bag he kept a picture of his mother and he, the purpose of which was to keep his emotions in balance. He also marked his golf balls with Kelley’s initials next to the number.

“If I ever got too heated A special bag tag and Kelley’s initials marked on each golf ball helped keep Michael’s emotions in check when things got tough on the course.

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up, I’d kind of take a step back and see the initials and see the bag tag (with Kelley’s picture on it) and it just puts things into perspective,” Johnson said.

Because he is human, Michael is far from perfect. He still gets mad on occasion, especially when putts don’t fall or tee shots fly off line.

And sometimes, just like the rest of us, he complains when things don’t go his way. But his mother is never far from his thoughts, always providing a reality check.

“It’s definitely given me a different perspective,” Michael said.

“I feel like I really appreciate the people in my life a lot more, I appreciate life in general. I just try to make the most of every moment and work hard for everything.”

Those are powerful, inspirational words from a thoughtful young man … courtesy of a superhero he calls “Mom.” WeberStateSports.com

ONE LAST HOLE

By DARIN HOGGE It’s not often in the world of college sports that an athlete gets to end their career with a moment that they will never forget. Especially when that moment does not include a championship, or even a win.

Michael Johnson entered his final conference tournament in April with goals and dreams of both team and individual championships, but a fourth place team finish and a tie for 16th individually went up on the final round leaderboard.

While those numbers are certainly nothing to scoff at, they aren’t what one would often place in the category of unforgettable collegiate finishes, especially for a player whose resume features seven other top-25 finishes, a pair of top-10’s and a career-low round of 68.

But it definitely was the case for the senior from Eagle, Idaho, as he played out the final moments of a nice four-year career on that day at Greenhorn Creek Golf Club in Angels Camp, Calif.

“It was really cool,” said Johnson of the way he was able to close out his career. “It’s something that I’ll never forget.”

Johnson started the tournament on a nice run, posting a birdie on the opening hole.

“Obviously, my main goal all year long was to win conference, go to regionals, get as far as we could,” said Johnson. “But, I didn’t really put myself in position individually.

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We kind of got close as a team after the first day, and I think I was in the lead after the first 13 holes of the tournament, which I didn’t know at the time. But I kind of ended bad and got myself out of position.”

Johnson had recorded three birdies over his first 12 holes, but a triple bogey on 14 and threestraight bogeys to end his opening round dropped him into 16th place. A second round 78 followed, and Johnson entered the final day tied for 21st and was 13 shots off the individual lead.

“I think I was three over after nine holes the last day and I was nowhere close to the lead,” said Johnson. “You’ve got to be realistic with yourself at that point.

“It was kind of a long walk across the parking lot (at the turn), and I went into the clubhouse and got some water, just kind of took a minute to think, and really just told myself, ‘This is going to be your last nine holes of college golf. Just go out there and don’t hold anything back. Just have fun, and do your best and shoot a good score.’”

It didn’t take long for Michael’s

moment of reflection to take effect, and he quickly recorded his first birdie of the day.

“I birdied 10, which is a good par five,” said Johnson. “It was a good birdie. At that point I was just more free. Looking back, it’s how I should have been all tournament long. It’s not that I didn’t care, but I wasn’t worried about hitting a bad shot after that. I just wanted to have fun, enjoy the moment and enjoy the last nine holes.”

Another birdie followed at No. 12, pulling his score on the day to just one-over-par, but a bogey on the tough 17th hole looked to derail a strong finish.

“My goal (for the back nine) was to get back to even,” said Johnson.

“I was two under going into 17, so I knew if I parred that, I would have a chance to birdie 18 to get back to even and I would be happy. So when I bogeyed 17, I was pretty upset, and coach knew that I was a little upset.”

But once again Johnson had a few seconds of reflection and locked in for one final hole.

“On the walk up to 18, I just looked at my dad and said, ‘Well May/June 2015

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this is it. One last hole,’” said Johnson. “It’s crazy how fast (your college career) goes. My mind was racing, and I was kind of pumped up, but I hit a great drive.

Johnson’s drive, long and down the left side of the hole, found him within distance and in a perfect angle to go at the par-5 finishing hole in two shots.

“Coach and I were walking up the fairway,” said Johnson. “And at that point I was like ‘Okay, just soak in everything’; I started thinking back to all the teammates that I’ve had, all the great tournaments that we’ve had, all the fun times, and how much I was going to miss it. I was getting pretty emotional walking up the fairway thinking that this is the last hole I’m ever going to play in college golf.

“We got up there to the ball and it was like 196 yards to the pin. I was a little amped up and had a little adrenaline going, so I told coach before I even hit it, ‘How about we end this with an eagle?’, and he was like ‘I wouldn’t be against it.’ We have a good relationship and he likes to joke around, so he was trying to keep it light for me there.”

Johnson’s seven-iron approach hit the green pin high, but he had pulled it about 30 feet left of the hole, leaving him with a tough leftto-right curling putt.

“We read the putt from both sides, and it was breaking a lot, but we picked out a good line,” said Johnson. “I took my time, and right when I hit it, probably like five feet off the putter, I knew it was on a really good line.

“It’s something that I really can’t explain, it was just a feeling that I got, but after it was about five feet

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off the putter and I was watching it the whole way, it was like it was in slow motion. It really went slow motion and it curled right in there, dead in the heart, just perfect speed. I raised my putter up because I knew it was going in, and when it went in, I just couldn’t help but just smile and laugh.”

Johnson’s eagle achieved his goal of an even-par final round, and with no more holes left to play, he was able to share a very special moment with head coach Scott Erling, teammate Colton Dallimore and his father and grandparents.

“It was a really special moment to eagle my last hole, and to cap off my college career like that,” said Johnson. “And it was really cool to have my grandma and grandpa and my dad there.

“Right when I walked off, my first thought was that my mom had something to do with that. That’s something that I really feel and believe. It was just special. There’s definitely no better way to end, if we had won conference obviously, but otherwise, to eagle my final hole and shoot even is something I’ll never forget.”

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High Performance

WSU Strength & Conditioning

“The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.”

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by JOHN HENDERSON

tudent-athletes shine on the field, court, track, diamond, and course.

The brilliant displays of athleticism are a product of years of training, practice, and of course, great genetics and talent. The common thread that runs through all of WeberStateSports.com

Weber State’s athletes is an incredible work ethic, drive, and commitment to development. It is reflected in the competitive arena, classroom, and in the community.

This work ethic and drive is most visible behind the scenes, out of the spotlight, and away from the fans.

It is the underlying daily grind of strength training, conditioning, agility and speed training that goes

unseen. It is in the hours, weeks, and months leading up to the season that these moments are prepared for. Weber State student athletes are training year-round, with no fans, championship trophies, highlight reels or instant apparent gratification. It is their love for their respective sports that drives them through grueling workouts day after day.

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Recently, some of the most notable of these athletes were recognized for their efforts, and dedication to their preparation in strength and conditioning. With the recommendation of their strength coaches, these student athletes were nominated for the National

Strength and Conditioning Coaches (NSCA) All-American Strength and Conditioning Athletes of the Year.

The NSCA All-American Strength and Conditioning Athletes of the Year program recognizes collegiate athletes nationwide, whose athletic accomplishments, in the opinion of

their strength and conditioning coaches, reflect their dedication to strength training and conditioning.

These athletes are also recognized for their academic and personal accomplishments and their integrity as student-athletes.

The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and Weber State University Strength and Conditioning are proud to announce the following athletes as 2015 All-American Athlete Award recipients:

KYLEE HOGUE

Softball • Infielder • Senior

Height: 5’9” Weight: 175 Age: 22 Vertical Jump: 23.5” Bench Press Poundage: 155 Bench Press Reps: 1 Squat Poundage: 275 Squat Reps: 1 Hang Clean Poundage: 185 Hang Clean Reps: 1

CONNOR MYERS

“The work ethic and tenacity that Kylee Hogue brings to the table every day is second to none. She is a standout student-athlete that is willing to put in the time and dedication her sport needs. Her lead by example mentality helps everyone excel on the field and in the weight room. She exudes a great amount of leadership, passion, and determination as an athlete.”

~ Andi Pigeon, MS, ATC, CSCS

Football • Defensive Tackle • Senior

Height: 6’ Weight: 285 Age: 20 Vertical Jump: 28” Pro Agility Time: 4.75 Bench Press Poundage: 390 Bench Press Reps: 1’ Squat Poundage: 605 Squat Reps: 1 Hang Clean Poundage: 355 Hang Clean Reps: 1

“Connor Myers is the type of athlete that every strength coach would love to have in the weightroom. He has a strong intrinsic drive to improve and a work ethic to match. Connor is a technician of the Olympic and Power lifts. His attitude, effort, and motivation are always top notch. Connor’s efforts lead him to become a leader in training and on the field.”

~ John Henderson, MS, ATC, CSCS, USAW

Zakiyyah Shahid-Martin Women’s Basketball • Center • Senior Height: 6’2” Age: 22 Bench Press Poundage: 125 Bench Press Reps: 1 Squat Poundage: 205 Squat Reps: 1 Hang Clean Poundage: 140 Hang Clean Reps: 1

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“Z has made an impactful impression on the strength and conditioning program as well as on the athletic department here at Weber State University. With her outstanding work ethic and leadership skills she has help her team to many new and exciting successes.

Exuding the qualities of hard work and focus she is still able to keep her teammates light and loose as she embodies the mission and ideals that Weber State prides itself on.”

~ Mikayla Thielges, BS, CSCS

WeberStateSports.com

JAMES HAJEK

Men’s Basketball • Center • Senior

Height: 6’10” Weight: 245 Age: 22 Vertical Jump: 28” Bench Press Poundage: 280 Bench Press Reps: 1 Squat Poundage: 340 Squat Reps: 1 Hang Clean Poundage: 275 Hang Clean Reps: 1

AMANDA ALSTON

Track & Field • Sprints • Senior

Height: 5’3” Weight: 115 Bench Press Poundage: 130 Bench Press Reps: 1 Squat Poundage: 220 Squat Reps: 1 Hang Clean Poundage: 135 Hang Clean Reps: 1

McKay Tarbox

“James Hajek is not only our general on the basketball court; he is a leader in the weight room. James consistently brings great energy and an unmatched work ethic to all training sessions. Hajek brings an attitude and enthusiasm that is contagious. His teammates feed off of his energy, making the training atmosphere dynamically motivating and conducive for accelerated physical development. James has consistently improved in every area of performance from his freshman year until his last workout. James utilized strength and conditioning to overcome knee injuries and have his most athletic and productive year ever. James is an inspiration to his teammates and coaches alike.”

~ Head Strength and Conditioning Coach,

John Henderson

“Amanda has embraced everything about strength and conditioning in her senior year. Everyday she has come in with the mentality of getting better. She leads by example and provides endless support of her teammates. Watching the changes and accomplishments this year has been a privilege.”

~ Christopher Fritz, CSCS

Volleyball • Libero • Senior

Height: 5’6” Weight: 143 Age: 22 Bench Press Poundage: 150 Bench Press Reps: 3 Squat Poundage: 200 Squat Reps: 3 Hang Clean Poundage: 175 Hang Clean Reps: 3

“McKay is one of the hardest working athletes I have ever been around. She works tirelessly on the process of getting better each day in the weight room and on the court. Her constant effort and mastery of technique allowed her to play all four years of her career injury free.”

~ Christopher Fritz, CSCS

We are proud to announce that McKay has qualified for the Weightlifting Collegiate Nationals which will be hosted at Weber State University on September 27-29. John Henderson, MS, ATC, CSCS, USAW On behalf of the National Strength and Conditioning Association, Weber State Strength and Conditioning, coaches, and fans, Congratulations to the 2015 Strength and Conditioning All-Americans. For a list of the All-American Athletes of the Year award, visit www.nsca.com

WeberStateSports.com

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Sport Performance Updates SOFTBALL

The Weber State softball team began training for their 2015 season eight months prior. Off-season training consisted of a three day per week workout built around strength training, conditioning and team challenges. Each day the athletes lifted their full body, with an emphasis on the Olympic lifts to develop explosive power. Training also focused on building a strong core, increasing strength and stability and mobility in the shoulders and arms—especially among the pitchers. Conditioning in this phase focused on sprint form, including acceleration and deceleration training. The goal during this phase was to build a base of strength power and endurance. During this phase, the team competed in challenges and competitions where they learned to compete and support each other.

“The biggest difference I saw in our team this year was the quickness and endurance had tremendously improved from last year,” said head coach Mary Kay Amicone. “Also the mental side of our game. Lifting weights is important to help the girls learn to push through things that are difficult, and teach them about the dedication it takes to be a D-I softball player.”

During the early morning workouts the women’s softball team continued lifting three days a week, with the primary focus on athletic movement.

Day 1’s focus was on footwork and agility. Day 2 focused on sprint form, and day 3 was spent building general endurance conditioning. This training 34

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phase demanded mental toughness and fortitude. The conditioning was meant to push each individual to her limit physically and mentally, teaching them how to compete and overcome adversity. The competitive spirit and team comraderie that the athletes consistently demonstrated was fuel for their success.

Returning from winter break, the team underwent a conditioning test.

After assessing the team’s condition, each player was challenged by the coaching staff and their teammates to step up and push past their limits.

For the next two months, the team worked tirelessly in and out of the weight room to get better. Their positive energy, team leadership, and vision kept them going.

2015 started with five straight weeks on the road playing non-conference games. With an emphasis on keeping the players healthy, they fit two lifts in per week. We kept it simple with a program that focused on recovery. Each workout included full body resistance training, core strengthening, injury prevention, stretching and foam rolling. Playing up to six games a week is exhausting and demands attention to strength maintenance and recovery.

“This past year as a team we would always push each other to do more weight and run faster to pursue excellence,” said third baseman Alyson Kulp. “Every workout was with a purpose, because we knew it would help us in the future, and clearly it showed in our performance.”

Strength and conditioning continued to be an important part of prepa-

ration as softball headed into the post-season. The team prepared for postseason play for over eight months, and with their hard work, determination, and perseverance, they prepared themselves to make a postseason to remember.

Andi Pigeon, MS, ATC, CSCS

Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Following a trip to the first round of the Big Sky Conference tournament in Missoula, Montana, the Weber State men’s basketball team went right back to work.

Determined to improve physically, the team decided to return to off season strength and conditioning two weeks early. With a history of physical play, the Wildcats vowed to become bigger, stronger, and more powerful.

The Wildcats began a lifting and conditioning program that consisted of five days per week. Each player was given bodyweight, strength goals, and an aggressive plan to get them there.

Behind the leadership of senior Joel Bolomboy, and junior Kyndahl Hill, the Wildcats attacked the strength and conditioning program with a business-like mentality.

The Wildcats wrapped up the post-season training with testing, where every member of the squad posted new personal records in the clean, squat, and bench press.

Although each player gained 5-10 pounds each, they were able to boost their vertical jump by an average of 2.25 inches per person. The Wildcats are looking forward to a productive summer, getting bigger, stronger and more physical.

John Henderson, MS, ATC, CSCS, USAW Head Strength and Conditioning Coach

WeberStateSports.com

WeberStateSports.com

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Where Are The Hale Brothers Now?

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by CORIE HOLMES

he last name Hale was well known on the Weber State football offensive line for over 15 years.

The Hale brothers - Scott, Ben, Mike and David combined for more than 100 career football games and all have moved on to successful lives after Weber State.

“The Hale family has had a long association here starting with Scott,” said Associate Athletic Director for Development and former head football coach, Jerry Graybeal. “I inherited that connection and built a relationship with the family. The first thing that stands out about that family is how close they really are.

They have a long reach of family and friends. When we traveled to games,

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you’d know where the Hale section was because they always had a lot of support for those boys.”

Scott Hale started the era off and played from 1990-91 and 1994-96 as a member of the offensive line. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Weber State in Logistics. He went on to receive his MBA from Webster University.

He currently works for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a Computer Specialist working as a Quality Reliability Officer. He works with the acquisition group and the contractors to ensure the equipment purchased under contract is what is being delivWhile his three ered. He curbrothers were rently lives in true offensive Syracuse, New linemen, Mike played tight end York, with his and added 30 wife and four catches for 331 sons, Carter, yards and four touchdowns to Spencer, Joshhis blocking ua and Allen. duties.

“It has been Weber State Football continues 18 years since I to be a family have graduated tradition for the from Weber Hale brothers (from left: Mike, State and I have Ben, Scott and been very grateDavid). ful for my time there,” Scott said. “The friends and relationships I had there will always hold a special place in my life. I still have a handful of Weber State shirts, shorts and hats that I wear when I go out. I am grateful for the education that I have received at Weber and have felt it has been second to none in preparing me for my job and life.”

Ben Hale played offensive line in 1995, and 1998-99. He earned his degree from Weber State in Microbiology before going to Case School of Dental Medicine in Ohio. He lived in Ohio for 12 years working at his own dental practice for eight years.

He and his wife, Tara, and four sons Max, Seth, Jake and Bryce moved to Plain City, Utah, in 2014 as Ben WeberStateSports.com

opened up his own practice, Benjamin H. Hale DMD in Farr West.

Mike Hale played from 2000-03 as a tight end for the Wildcats. He earned both a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting as well as his MBA from

graduating in spring 2013, he focused on spending time with his family. He currently works for Stryker in the sports medicine division. He now lives in Plain City, Utah with his wife Shelby Walford Hale,

early ’90s and watch three of my heroes play on that field,” Dave said.

“It was even more incredible to run out of the tunnel and see the love and support from my family and friends who supported me when it

Weber State. He currently works as the Division Controller to ensure the hospital accounting is appropriate and accurate for Mountain Star Healthcare. He lives in South Weber, Utah, with his wife Stephanie Stanger, a former Wildcat women’s basketball Hall of Fame athlete, with their three children Morgan, Tanner and Landon.

“The year they built the new press box at the stadium I was a sophomore,” Mike said. “It was one of my favorite years at Weber State because the fans and the crowds gave a great atmosphere for us to play in.”

David Hale was the last brother to play as an offensive lineman for the Wildcats. He was here from 2004-07 and earned All-American honors his senior year. After leaving Weber State, David was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in 2008 where he stayed with the franchise for three years. After his time in the NFL he came back to Weber State and spent a year as an offensive line coach for the Wildcat football team while finishing his degree in Criminal Justice. After

a former Weber State volleyball player, and their son Henry and daughter Harper.

“It was awesome to sit in the stands at every home game since the

was my turn.”

According to Graybeal the Hale brothers had success here because of their work ethic.

“You can always say that someone is tough, but the Hales were always really tough because of their work ethic,” Graybeal said. “They attack everything they set off to do. Their parents instilled in them the right principles on how to live your life, compete in sports, excel at school, and have a great family life.”

As life has taken the Hale brothers all over the country, their foundation started at Weber State and they can all agree on one thing, they will always bleed purple.

“I have never been one for many words but I will always bleed purple and will always feel at home in the shadows of Weber State.” Scott said.

“Weber State is a big part of my life,” Mike said.

“We started going to games when I was in sixth grade. Many of my fond memories growing up involve Weber State athletics in some fashion. Not to mention the education I received there which set me up for the career I now enjoy.”

“The first thing that stands out about that family is how close they really are. They have a long reach of family and friends. When we traveled to games, you’d know where the Hale section was because they always had a lot of support for those boys.”

JERRY GRAYBEAL

WeberStateSports.com

David, the last of the four Hale brothers to come through Weber State, went on to play three years with the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL. Following his pro career, he returned to WSU as an offensive line coach.

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FOOTSTEPS TO RUN IN

Trevor Ricks blazed a path to excellence with the Weber State cross country and track & field teams that his younger sister, Hailey, was happy to follow.

by TYSON JEX

A

fter finishing 40th in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA West Preliminary Round, Trevor Ricks walked off the track in Austin, Texas, having run his last collegiate race. As one legacy ends another is just beginning with Ricks little sister, Hailey Ricks-Whetten.

But it is Whetten who might remember her brother’s legacy for years to come and what he meant to the Weber State program.

“Something people may not know about Trevor is that he has incredible heart,” Whetten said. “People see he is a powerful racer and they see that he has many talents beyond running. You can see that impressive kick in almost all of his races, but what you might not see is that passion and big heart that enables him to accomplish incredible things.”

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Ricks ended his career having won the 2012 Big Sky Championship in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and earning All-Conference honors three times in cross country. You won’t find his name all over the record books, but when it’s all said and done, he may end up as one of the most consistent runners in school history.

Whetten may have found her event this past spring in the 10,000 meters. In her first time racing that distance at the Mt. Sac Relays, she ran the eighth-fastest time in school history, 35:23.44. She finished third in the same event at the Big Sky Championships this past May, earning her first Big Sky All-Conference honors on the track. The two-time Wyoming Gatorade runner of the year has the potential to be the next great Weber State women’s distance runner.

Both runners picked up running because they weren’t finding success in other sports and were encouraged to run by their mother.

“I wasn’t a great ballerina and I didn’t make the basketball team, but boy I could beat everyone in the school mile, boys included,” Whetten said. “I joined a team officially in sixth grade and have loved it ever since. It teaches discipline and the most valuable lesson I’ve learned is that I am always capable of more than I think I am. “ The story of success rarely comes easy and this case isn’t any different.

Ricks was a multiple time state champion in Wyoming, but found it hard when universities didn’t feel he was fast enough to run for them.

After mulling his options and having met coach Paul Pilkington at a running camp, he felt WSU was his best option even if it meant he WeberStateSports.com

Hailey has picked up on Trevor’s determination, toughness and discipline, and it has turned her into an elite distance runner for the Wildcats.

had to walk on.

“I didn’t get much attention from Division I universities and only got one scholarships offer,” Ricks said.

“That university later took back that offer and suggested that I walk on the team. Since joining Weber State I have improved dramatically as a runner and am fortunate that I ended up where I did.”

Whetten found it a little easier to join a program after leading her high school to a state title her senior year and becoming a dominant force in distance races in Wyoming. But having her brother on at Weber State helped make her decision and she hasn’t regretted the choice that she made.

“I remember on my recruiting visit and people joked that I shouldn’t let having a brother on the team deter my decision,” Whetten said. “But that ended up being why I chose Weber. I found great comfort in having family there and he has been my hero as long as I could remember. The great coaching reputation didn’t hurt either.”

Ricks was happy that his sister would be making her way down to Ogden to further her education and running career. They had never been on the same team during their time in high school.

“Running with Hailey on the team has been a lot of fun, but it’s a little unnerving because I know she has a lot of embarrassing stories about me,” Ricks said. “I just hoped that she wouldn’t share them with the rest of the team. She has been a great support on and off the track and it’s nice to share experiences with each other.”

WeberStateSports.com

Ricks knows that his sister will be successful not only because she makes a mean turkey burger, but because she is tough. Toughness is an attribute that is necessary to survive on the cross country course and 25 laps on the track.

“When most people think of running and racing and they think it’s pretty simple and basic,” he said.

“Run fast and whoever runs the fastest wins, right? There’s a lot more involved. It’s easy to give up when you are hurt, but your body can generally do more than you think. Hailey has that mental toughness and discipline that gets her through hard races.”

In the end, both runners are happy when the other finds success on and off the track and cross country

course. Unlike other celebrity rivalries, who is faster or stronger is the last thing on Trevor’s mind.

“We’re both All-Conference in both cross country and track & field,” Ricks said. “But it’s a bit surprising that she excels in a different event than I do. I do well in the mile and steeplechase, while she does well in the 10,000. It’s hard to compare who the best runner is straight across and I don’t think we’ve really dwelt on it too much.”

“I think I still have a ton to learn from my brother,” Whetten said.

“Trevor is a very strong trainer and racer and always has more left in him than you think he does. If I could become half the athlete he is, I would consider myself a great success.”

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’Cat Tales

O

by PAUL GRUA

n March 11, 1995, the Weber State men’s basketball team defeated Montana to capture the 1995 Big Sky Conference Tournament and earn an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 13 years.

The Wildcat squad coached by Ron Abegglen had a 20-8 overall record and had captured the Big Sky title with an 11-3 record. Ruben Nembhard had been named the Big Sky Conference Most Valuable Player, the first Wildcat to ever earn the honor. Nembhard joined Jimmy Degraffenried, Lewis Lofton, Kirk Smith, Jeff Lentfer and the rest of the Wildcats were headed for the NCAA Tournament.

Before the tournament began Abegglen was quoted as saying, “This is what all the hard work and dedication leads up to, a chance to play in the NCAA Tournament. It’s been a while since Weber State has been there, so there are probably a lot of people out there who don’t know who we are, how to say our name or where we’re located. Hopefully, we can do some good things this week to help people remember.”

When the week ended there were lots of people around the country who knew how to say Weber and how good the Wildcat program was.

On Selection Sunday, the Wildcats were sent across the country to Tallahassee, Fla., to 40

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1995 Men’s Basketball NCAA Tournament Victory

face national power Michigan State who was ranked ninth in the country.

It marked the first time a Big Sky team had been sent east of the Mississippi to play in the tournament.

It was also the first time since 1979 a Big Sky champion was not sent to the West Region.

The small school Wildcats were facing the Spartans who were coached by legendary coach Jud Heathcote, in his 19th season as head coach at Michigan State. He had previously announced that the 1994-95 season would be his last at MSU. He had led the Spartans to 10 NCAA Tournaments, including the 1979 title with Magic Johnson.

Heathcote was no stranger to Big Sky basketball or Weber State. He had spent five seasons as the head coach at Montana in the 1970s.

The Spartans came into the game

with a 22-5 record and were 14-4 in the Big Ten, second in the league standings. They were led by All-American senior guard Shawn Respert who ranked ninth in the nation in scoring at 25.5 points per game and was a terrific three-point shooter. His running mate in the backcourt was senior point guard Eric Snow who was averaging 10.9 points a game. Junior center Jamie Feick averaged 10.3 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.

Abegglen knew facing the powerful Spartans was a big challenge for the Wildcats. “We had some game film on Michigan State and they didn’t have any film on us. Jud Heathcote was a good friend of mine whom I had known for a long time.

We watched a lot of film on them.

They had two terrific guards in Snow and Respert. They were so fast and so tough to go against. I thought our guards were pretty good, but I thought we would be in trouble because of their speed.”’

Despite the challenge the Wildcat players felt they could win the game. “We always felt we had a chance because of Coach A,” DeGraffenried recalled. “He did a great job of preparing us so we would go into every game with confidence. He would tell us if we did certain things we would win the game. He would break it down and keep it simple so it gave us a lot of confidence.”

Weber State’s 1995 win over Michigan State was the first of two NCAA Tournament wins for head coach Ron Abegglen.

WeberStateSports.com

On Friday, March 17, 1995, the 14th seeded Wildcats went up against the third seeded Spartans at the Leon County Civic Center in Tallahassee. The game didn’t start out great for the Wildcats as Michigan State jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead and then led 10-5 four minutes into the game.

Weber State stayed level with the Spartans for the next few minutes and trailed 20-19 mid-way through the first half. But then MSU responded with an 8-0 run and led by nine points at 28-19 with 8:00 to play in the half. The Wildcats never got closer than three points the rest of the half and the Spartans finished the half on an 8-3 run and took a 46-37 lead at halftime. Respert led Michigan State with 16 points at the half and Nembhard had 14 for Weber State. The Spartans shot an incredible 69 percent from the field in the first half.

Coach Abegglen talked about his game plan against the Spartans. “Coach Heathcote told me after the game that he knew they were in trouble at halftime. We convinced Kirk Smith that if he would sprint the length of the court that their guards would be there and he could block their shots. He committed to it. That was our total game plan, to have Kirk take off and get back on defense and let the other guys do the rebounding and it worked.”

The Spartans led 49-41 early in the second half when the Wildcats caught fire. WSU went on a 15-2 run over the next six minutes and took WeberStateSports.com

Ruben Nembhard led the Wildcats with 27 points against the Spartans.

a 56-51 lead with 12:52 to play.

They would never trail again.

DeGraffenried made two three-pointers and Nembhard scored five points in that stretch and the Spartans had seven turnovers in the same time frame.

The Wildcat lead reached 10 points at 63-53 with 10:34 to play but then it was Michigan State’s turn as the Spartans scored eight straight points to cut the Wildcat lead to two with 8:00 to play. Back-to-back three-pointers by Justyn Tebbs and DeGraffenried extended Weber State’s lead to eight points with 5:10 to play. The Spartans came back with

six straight points but each time they got close to taking the lead the Wildcats would score a bucket.

The Wildcats made 8-of10 free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

Weber State led by two points at 74-72 with 54 seconds left after a threepointer by Respert. The Spartans would not score again and the ’Cats made their free throws to seal a 79-72 shocking upset of Michigan State.

Weber State had won its first NCAA Tournament game in 16 years and were the talk of the tournament across the nation. Nembhard led the Wildcats once again, finishing with 27 points, five rebounds and four steals. DeGraffenried added 15 with four three-pointers and Lofton added 14.

In the second round Weber State lost a heartbreaker 53-51 to Allen Iverson and the Georgetown Hoyas.

Weber State’s season had come to an end with a 21-9 record. WSU had won 21 games in back-to-back seasons for the first time in 11 years.

The Weber State program was once again back in the national spotlight and four years later would win another NCAA Tournament game against another national powerhouse, North Carolina, to become the only team in NCAA Tournament history to win two games as a 14 seed.

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Create a Legacy

Y

our annual gifts make such a difference to Weber State University.

Have you considered leaving a planned gift? A bequest from your estate would help sustain and strengthen the university in years to come.

Bequests are one of the easiest and most flexible ways to give; it can be for a specific amount, or for a percentage of your estate.

Ways to give include stocks and bonds, real estate, retirement assets, cash or gifts of insurance.

Recently, Wayne and Shirleen Carter, longtime Wildcat Club members and season ticket holders, decided that they have benefited socially for many years by attending games and traveling with Weber State University teams. They particularly love basketball.

Since their children are now financially independent adults, they have decided they would like to give back to a program that has provided so much to them. They have established The Shirleen and Wayne Carter Fund for Basketball

Excellence, with a percentage of a life insurance policy. Their generous gift will benefit both our Men and Women’s basketball programs, creating a legacy beyond their lifetime.

Roger and Maxine DeBloois are another example of leaving a legacy far into the future. While attending Weber State in the early fifties, Roger struck up a lifelong friendship with local golf legend, Ernie Schneiter. Traveling between their home in Arizona and their favorite summer spot Star Valley, Wyoming, they would visit Ernie and have a quick round of golf. After Maxine’s death, Roger arranged to have a portion of his estate benefit the Wildcat golf programs. He made this choice because golf was something they enjoyed together, and because of the impact that Ernie had made on him during his college days. His generous gift helped fund the construction of a indoor golf practice facility and established The Roger and Maxine Scholarship Endowment for Men’s and Women’s Golf, a program that

Planned Giving

will help dozens of student-golfers earn their degrees.

What legacy will you leave?

I invite you to consider Weber State University in your estate plans.

I would be pleased to discuss the benefits of a planned gift. For more information on planned giving, please access our resources at: weber.giftlegacy.com

Director, Wildcat Club Athletic Fund

For more information on becoming a Wildcat Club Athletic Fund member, please call us at 801-626-6576 or visit WeberStateSports.com

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WeberStateSports.com

WeberStateSports.com

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Wildcat Club Member Spotlight

by CORIE HOLMES Great trips, great memories, great friends and great teams are the reasons Wayne and Shirleen Carter have been zealous Wildcat fans for over 40 years.

“It’s the core of our social lives,” Shirleen said. “We don’t go to church, our family is grown up and moved and Weber State is what we center our lives around. We mainly go to Weber State games and if there is a cool trip we try to take it and it means a lot to us.”

Wayne and Shirleen have traveled all over the country to support the Wildcats. They have been on over 25 different road trips following the men’s basketball and football teams. From Boston to Hawaii and from Idaho to the Virgin Islands, the Carters have been proud to be Wildcats.

“My favorite trip was Fresno State (in 1996),” Wayne said. “Shirleen wasn’t able to come with me, but my friend and I were wearing Weber State hats around town and people asked us if our basketball team has always been able to shoot that well. That was the first game of the season and it was the first year with Alex Fisher. We had no idea at the time where the team was going to go, but it was fun to be a part of that reputation the boys built up.”

“We had a lot of fun on the Boston 44

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trip when football played Boston College,” Shirleen said. “That trip was probably one of our favorites, but the best trip of them all was Seattle.”

The couple traveled to Seattle in 1999 and watched Weber State beat North Carolina 76-74 in the NCAA tournament.

“Everybody was mesmerized by that game,” Shirleen said. “It was fun

to see everybody jump on the Weber State bandwagon and I love that we still get recognized for winning that game.”

Shirleen is an alumni of Utah State and Wayne attended Weber State College for one year. They both love sports and when Shirleen moved to Ogden the couple finally

Wayne & Shirleen Carter

had time to go to games. Weber State was easier to get to than Utah State so Wayne converted Shirleen from an Aggie to a Wildcat and they’ve watched a lot of good teams come and go through the Dee Events Center from different seats all over the arena.

“I’ve loved watching all the teams win championships at the Dee,” Shirleen said. “We loved Jimmy DeGraffenried’s era, Scott Bamforth was one of our favorites, and of course Damian Lillard. We’ve watched so many greats it’s hard to pick out a favorite.”

Wayne and Shirleen believe the teams deserve more support than they get.

“I sit there every game and ask ‘Where are the students?’ I can’t believe they don’t get the same support as the other schools,” Shirleen said.

“It’s one of my biggest pet peeves. I guess that’s why I yell so loud at all the games because those boys deserve the support, even if it’s not a big game or they aren’t the best team.”

The Carters have donated to Weber State’s student athlete scholarships for many years and recently have donated a Legacy Gift to the basketball programs.

“Donating has just been pay back for the entertainment, enjoyment and memories Weber State has given us,” Wayne said. “It’s been something to belong to for us.”

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;My scholarship has given me the opportunity to play Division I college volleyball, and to get a degree in the United States. I am so grateful for this great opportunity.â&#x20AC;?

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CHANGEUP Softball’s star pitcher MaCauley Flint learned the tools of her trade from her grandfather Stan, paralleling the transition of fastpitch in Northern Utah from a highly played men’s sport to a women’s dominated game.

By CHRIS J. MILLER

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A

s it has for more than a dozen years, a voice echoes from a corner of the stands.

“Go get ’em 1-Dog. Go get the leader.”

And with that confidence-building mandate, MaCauley Flint climbs into the pitcher’s circle.

Flint, Weber State’s standout softball pitcher, helped the Wildcats soar to new heights in 2015, as WSU capped its greatest season with a first-ever appearance in the NCAA Softball Championship.

But success is nothing new to Flint, a member of a Weber County family that has been a part of winning softball squads for generations.

“It was inevitable that if I was going to play softball, I was going to end up a pitcher,” MaCauley said.

Flint, the Wildcats’ sterling senior ace, helped Weber State compile a school- and Big Sky Conference-record 38 wins during the 2015 season, capped by a perfect run through the Big Sky tournament and an appearance in the NCAAs. “It’s been a fun ride,” Flint said.

Weber State entered the Big Sky four-team tournament as the No. 3 seed, but proceeded to bully the rest of the field to claim the title.

The Wildcats topped Sacramento State 4-3 in the tournament opener, then whipped host Idaho State 9-1 to reach the championship.

In the title game, held on May 9 at Pocatello, Idaho, Flint guided

the ’Cats to a 13-1 blowout win over Sac State for the school’s first softball crown in the Big Sky. Flint was at her best in the big games, tossing a 3-hitter in the five-inning final to cap a 3-0 performance in the tournament.

With their captain shutting down the Hornets, the Wildcats offense went wild by outscoring the top two seeds in the tournament by a 26-5 margin.

“I was impressed with our team’s mindset throughout the

conference tournament,” WSU coach Mary Kay Amicone said.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our continual commitment to getting better.”

Flint (14-9) earned tournament MVP honors, allowing just five runs in 17 innings of work, with 13 strikeouts. “It is such an honor to have gotten the tournament MVP award with so many great players in the conference,” Flint said. “It was a great day to be a Wildcat.”

The Wildcats then advanced to

Flint’s dominance was on full display at the 2015 Big Sky Tournament, where she went 3-0 with a 2.06 ERA and 13 strikeouts, earning her tournament MVP honors.

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For years, the view at softball games over the shoulders of Stan and Travis Flint has featured their protege, MaCauley.

the NCAA Regionals to meet up with Baylor, Mississippi State and Louisiana-Lafayette. Though the weather didn’t cooperate, the ’Cats battled hard before losing to Louisiana 11-0 and Mississippi State 2-0 in their games.

“We are celebrating a great season with many tremendous accomplishments,” Amicone said.

“We appreciate the hard work and leadership our senior class has given us.”

Flint was a huge part of that senior class. And a huge part of her pitching success can be credited to the man yelling encouragement from the corner of the stands, her grandfather Stan Flint.

Rising Star

To chart MaCauley Flint’s sterling softball career, you have to travel back into the 1970s when her grandfather was introduced to the game.

“I played baseball at Bonneville High, then went down to Snow College to play for a year,” Stan Flint recalls. “I left college to start a family and at some point got asked to play fastpitch softball. I was a little reluctant.”

Softball was a strong participant sport for men in Utah in that era, thanks in great part to LDS Church leagues all along the Wasatch Front. That included numerous church and community fastpitch leagues.

The elder Flint got his taste of fastpitch leagues as a catcher for a couple of years, then decided to learn the skills needed to be a 48

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pitcher.

“I met a guy named Glen Cherry, who spent quite a lot of time with me, teaching me,” Flint said.

Cherry, a true pitching legend in Northern Utah, found a great pupil in Flint, and he became a cornerstone pitcher for several top teams over the next 20 years.

“During my career, I was able to play in two ISC national tournaments, in 1977 with Utah Noodle, and in 1980, with a new sponsor in Southern Petroleum,” Stan Flint remembers. “I enjoyed playing for 20 years. I tried to move the ball around as a pitcher. I had a riseball and a changeup. If I hadn’t had a good changeup, I wouldn’t have had any success.

“I was just fast enough to keep them honest.”

“Utah was a hotbed for softball.

Every LDS ward had a team,” Stan Flint added. “At some point they changed from fastpitch to slowpitch, and most of the boys quit learning fastpitch.

“But as the years went by, the girls game really got going.”

One of Stan’s fondest memories involve his family joining him for the tournaments. It wouldn’t be long before they joined him on the diamond.

Family Ties

Stan and Judy Flint’s sons Brett and Travis followed impressive high school baseball careers in WeberStateSports.com

“It was inevitable that if I was going to play softball, I was going to end up a pitcher.” the college ranks, Brett at Snow College and Travis at Utah Valley Community College.

Travis Flint, MaCauley’s father, went on to star at the University of Utah, earning all-conference honors with the Utes.

Stan’s daughter, Amanda, started playing softball when she was young. And it wasn’t long before she stole the spotlight as a pitcher.

“Meanwhile, I was in the stands biting my nails while she pitched,” Stan remembers.

Mandy Flint Koford’s career included leading the Roy High Royals to the state 4-A softball championship, followed by successful seasons at Ricks College, Southern Utah and later at BYU. She became the all-time career strikeout leader for the SUU Thunderbirds in just one season, and was the top pitcher for the Cougars as a senior.

“I mostly helped Mandy in summer comp leagues. That meant lots of weekend tournaments and road trips. I really think those comp leagues were instrumental in getting girls softball going strong,” Stan Flint said.

played youth football in fourth grade and loved it,” Stan said.

And it wasn’t long before her attention turned to the pitcher’s circle. “It was inevitable,” MaCauley said.

“I wanted to be a pitcher from the start. I remember watching my dad play at the U. I would go with

grandpa and grandma to his games and wanted to be like my dad and aunt and grandfather,” MaCauley said.

After a strong start in the agegroup competition leagues, Flint starred at Roy High School, pacing the Royals to state 4-A softball crowns in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

‘Driven to Success’

Stan Flint is proud of all his grandchildren. His eyes twinkle as he talks about MaCauley’s early years.

“She was a very good athlete, which certainly opened a lot of people’s eyes. I remember she Flint needed just two seasons to record a Weber State career-record 273 strikeouts.

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Head coach Mary Kay Amicone has become an additional mentor for MaCauley and the pair have formed a strong bond, which began at Salt Lake Community College and has continued at Weber State.

With grandpa’s help as a mentor, and dad and aunt as her coaches, MaCauley has savored the unique opportunity to be surrounded by family.

“One thing I knew, with having dad and my grandfather as coaches, was that when the game was over, it’s not really over,” MaCauley said. “We would constantly talk about the games, looking for improvement or being excited about our success. They pushed me to be better and play the game the right way.”

“I appreciate my dad so much for everything he taught me. Dad is so intense, but he cared so much about his players,” MaCauley said.

“I wish everyone could play for them.”

Still, when the game didn’t go Flint’s way, she turned a different

direction for comfort.

“My mom Angie and grandma Judy are the calming influence in my life,” MaCauley said. “When a game or tournament wouldn’t go well they would have my back, comfort me and keep me sane.”

College Success

“My pitching repertoire is the same as my grandpa’s only a little worse. He’s the polished pitcher,” MaCauley jokes modestly. “I came to college with my rise and changeup. Many pitchers today have six pitches.”

Flint started her career at Salt Lake Community College, a national softball power under Amicone and Cyndee Bennett. She earned numerous league and national awards with the Bruins, helping SLCC advance to the NJCAA national title game before falling in both

2012 and 2013.

As a sophomore, Flint went 27-2 with an ERA of 1.65, earning the prestigious Female Utah Collegiate Athlete of the Year from the MS Dinner of Champions in the state.

“Flash (Amicone’s nickname for MaCauley) has always been a competitive athlete determined to make a difference,” Amicone said.

“She’s been a great leader.”

One of Flint’s worries after leaving high school was that a college coaching staff would try to change her mechanics.

“My success came through changing speeds to keep the batter guessing,” MaCauley said. “I was a little scared that they would try to change everything. But at SLCC, Cyndee Bennett was a great pitching coach for me. After throwing 200,000 or 300,000 pitches one way, why change.

“Cyndee taught me to throw a curve ball, as well as working to perfect the things I was already doing. I really appreciate that.”

After a great two-year run with the Bruins, Flint chose Weber State over several top softball schools.

She’s enjoyed success pitching against the different PAC-12 and in-state schools with the Wildcats, but had other motivation.

“I came to Weber State with my

“I am happy to share the enjoyment of watching them compete. It’s been such a reward.”

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family in mind,” said MaCauley.

“I wanted my family to be able to drive and see me.”

Shortly after deciding on WSU, Amicone also decided to leave SLCC to coach the Wildcats. “We joke with each other about who followed who,” Flint adds.

Flint, an All-Big Sky Conference honoree, finishes her Weber State career with a 24-17 record with 5 saves and a school-record 273 strikeouts. Over her two seasons, she posted a 2.57 earned run average, while limiting opposing hitters to a .199 batting average.

“It’s been a fun ride this year. It’s been great to play with this team.

There is a lot of talent,” said Flint, who will now turn her attention to her communications degree.

She plans to graduate in December with a public relations emphasis.

“I had other choices but found the right fit at Weber State.

“I know when I am pitching, that my family is there, that I can look at them for advice. I can always hear my grandpa in the stands, yelling ‘Go get ’em 1-dog, go get the leader.’

“It’s been a pleasure to coach Cauley,” Amicone added. “The Flint family has been so supportive of her and of the program. I know as a parent how difficult it is to watch your kids play. They have been so good helping her with the mental side of the game.”

“Fastpitch softball is such a great game for girls and women, and for families,” Amicone said. “Lots of fathers and grandfathers enjoy coaching their daughters. They know the game, they enjoy the game, and it’s certainly the case with the Flint family.”

While youth sports have evolved to the point that boys and girls can WeberStateSports.com

“I know when I am pitching, that my family is there, that I can look at them for advice. I can always hear my grandpa in the stands, yelling ‘Go get ’em 1-dog, go get the leader.’ ” each follow their dream, Amicone credits Title IX with opening up fastpitch softball to girls and women on a larger scale.

“It made all the difference, and we appreciate that,” she said. “It’s great to see generations of young people, male and female, who are confident and independent because of what they’ve learned in athletics. Sports teach great character.”

For Stan Flint, the nerves of teaching and coaching his children

and grandchildren has given way to a deeper satisfaction.

“I am happy to share the enjoyment of watching them compete.

It’s been such a reward,” Stan Flint said. “The peaks and valleys are tough with the kids, but the peaks are worth it.

“The reward now is watch our kids compete at this level,” Stan added. “To go to college and get their education paid for is a blessing, a true example of having your cake and eating it.”

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PLAYING FOR DAD

Chansi Crompton has played under the coaching guidance of her father ,Tim, since she first started kicking a soccer ball, and the time together has produced an unbreakable bond and a slew of accolades.

by JUSTIN JOHNSON

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I

n the ultra-competitive world of Division I intercollegiate athletics, the relationship between an often driven and demanding head coach, and a highly-trained, highly-motivated student-athlete can be a tempestuous one.

It can also be richly rewarding.

For Tim and Chansi Crompton, it’s

definitely have our moments where we disagree. I think with any coach and player relationship this happens, but because he is my dad, I’m not afraid to say what I think. He is the best coach I have ever played for and I love being able to see him as much as I do. We get along really well and have some good laughs when we are around each other. He

years from 1922-1935.

“There are certainly times that I consciously put on a different hat,” Tim said. “I have the coaching hat on all of the time. It would be really easy to cheat her out of that father-daughter relationship. Other players are able to go home and have conversations about concerns or complaints with their parents. Their

also a rare opportunity for bonding time between father and daughter.

“Most parents don’t get to spend as much time with their 21-year-old daughter as I get to spend with mine,” said Tim, who is preparing for his 12th season as the head coach of Weber State’s women’s soccer team this fall. “Having the opportunity to spend … that much time with one of your children is unique. I’m very fortunate. It’s a gift.”

The combination has been a successful one, on and off the field, with Chansi earning First Team All-Big Sky Conference honors as a freshman and sophomore, and helping to key the Wildcats to the 2013 Big Sky Conference tournament championship.

“I love playing for my dad,” said Chansi, who primarily plays in the attacking central midfield. “We

says he is hard on me, but the majority of the time he treats me like any of the other players.”

The connection of Tim, a 1996 alumnus of Weber State, who played for the men’s club soccer team, and Chansi, continues a long-standing family history with the Purple and White. Tim’s great-grandfather, Aaron W. Tracy, was the 12th President of Weber State University, overseeing the university for 13

parents are there to listen and support them. It’s harder to have that conversation with me as the coach.

There are times where I have to forget that I’m the coach and remember that I’m her father.

“On a day-to-day basis, I try to treat her like I treat any other player, and I try to treat any other player as if they were my own daughter, and that’s seemed to work out over the years.”

“Having the opportunity to spend … that much time with one of your children is unique. I’m very fortunate. It’s a gift.”

The Crompton duo helped lead their LaRoca club team to a tremendous run through Chansi’s youth soccer career, earning multiple state and regional championships, as well as elite national rankings.

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Chansi turned down scholarship offers from several high profile collegiate programs to play for her father at Weber State.

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Chansi and Tim’s coaching connection pre-dates their time at Weber State, which both pointed to as helping ease the transition to collegiate soccer.

“I like going to practice and being able to be around my dad and all my teammates,” Chansi said. “I’m lucky to have these people in my life. They make practice enjoyable, even on the tough days. Playing for my dad is easier than playing for other coaches because I know what he expects. I know that he will notice the little things and he will always love me at the end of the day. I have played for my dad since I started competitive soccer and playing for him at a college level seems no different. It would be weird if I didn’t play for him.

“I don’t always like being told what to do, and there are times, I have to separate dad from coach.

Sometimes it is hard, but he is very understanding and it makes it easier.”

How does the dynamic of coachplayer and father-daughter work when they’re both away from the field at home?

“We don’t have steadfast rules when Chansi comes home,” Tim said.

“If she brings it up I am open to talk about it, if she doesn’t, we don’t.

“If that’s the case, then we just sit in silence,” joked Tim, bringing out a smile in both of them.

“I can understand the challenges she faces, but for me as a coach at the Division I level, and as her father, my expectations for her are super high,” Tim continued. “She can’t be just as good as everyone else, she

has to be better. Living up to those expectations is hard. I verbalize that on the field, and I’m probably on her more than I am anyone else. I know it’s probably not fair, but we decided long ago that “fair” just wasn’t in the cards and she was just going to have to deal with it.”

For her part, Chansi feels like she has the easier end of the deal in terms of balancing the dynamic.

“I’m sure he has it harder. I just have to show up and play,” Chansi said. “He has to worry about coaching 25 other girls, which is not a small task.

“One of the things I’ll remember about playing for my dad is his celebration dance when we score. I can’t tell you how many times we have rewound the game film just to watch him jump up and down the sidelines with pure joy.”

While Tim has high expectations out of Chansi, she has thrived in the

Wildcats’ system. In addition to her two All-Big Sky Conference honors, she earned the league’s Newcomer of the Year as a freshman, and led the Big Sky in assists during her first two seasons. Her junior year, in the fall of 2014, was cut short due to injury, but she received a medical hardship waiver and will have two full seasons remaining, beginning this fall.

“Chansi is on her own. She doesn’t live at home. She swings by every now and then like any normal kid would, but I just am lucky to see her every day at work,” Tim said. “It’s given us something that we all get behind; we have soccer in common.

Do I like to think that it’s strengthened our relationship as a father and daughter? Of course I think that.

Hopefully when she’s 50 or 60, and I’m not here anymore she’ll be able to look back and think, ‘my old man was one cool cat.’ ”

Tim has led Weber State to three Big Sky championships and appearances in the NCAA College Cup during his career at Weber State, including during the 2013 season with Chansi on the roster.

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Name Game

By CHRIS J. MILLER

T

he most recent of Damian Lillard’s exploits brought plenty of attention to his alma mater, was a resounding hit on social media and further entrenched the budding NBA star as a force in our pop culture.

Two-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard made good on his promise to finish his degree, graduating at WSU’s Spring Commencement.

And it didn’t involve basketball in any way.

The former Weber State basketball standout returned to Ogden on May 1 to receive his undergraduate degree from the University.

Lillard, the two-time Big Sky Conference MVP, left Weber State after his junior season to enter the NBA draft. His jump to NBA stardom is well-chronicled and a dream come true for the Oakland, Calif., product.

But it left Lillard six credits short of graduation.

But a promise to his mother, Gina Johnson, to fulfill graduation requirements was met in his spare 58

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Weber State Graduates Show Off Star Moves

time over the past two seasons, and earlier this month, Lillard returned to the Dee Events Center floor for another command performance.

Lillard, who walked with his fellow grads to receive his diploma in professional sales from the College of Applied Science and Technology, also delivered a short address as one of two student speakers.

During his speech, Lillard urged his fellow students to tackle life’s tough challenges. “ G ra d u a t i n g from Weber State was one of the more challenging things, I think, in my entire life.

Anything you start you should want to finish.”

Lillard, the 2013 NBA Rookie of the Year and now two-time NBA AllStar, also spent time with his fellow student-athletes, taking photos, sharing hugs and sharing a pep talk with them as well.

Lillard’s mom, grandmother Cecilia Johnson, and other family

members were beaming in the crowd at graduation as the cheers swelled for Lillard and each of the other graduates. His mother called it the best Mother’s Day gift ever.

According to the New York Times, a mere 21 percent of NBA players have obtained a college degree.

Family Ties

Four days after graduating from Weber State University, former softball standout Jasmine Ioane donated a kidney to her twin brother Junior in an operation at the University of Utah Medical Center.

Junior Ioane played football at Boise State, and as the star safety for the Broncos, was saddened to find out he was suffering from kidney auto-immune disease.

Jasmine, who played softball for the Wildcats from 2013 to 2014, quickly made the decision to donate to her brother.

Jasmine Ioane earned All-Big Sky Conference honors in 2014 as a pitcher/utility player for the Wildcats, and led the Wildcats in home

Former WSU softball player Jasmine Ioane stepped up to bat in a huge way recently, donating a kidney to her brother, Junior.

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runs.

The Hawaii natives have expressed their thanks to all who helped with fundraising efforts and who have offered encouragement and prayers in their behalf.

Stay Tuned

The Pac-12 Network’s “The Drive” will include plenty of Utah football content as the University of Utah and Oregon State are featured this summer leading up to the season openers. Oregon State, led by former Utah State coach Gary Andersen, will take on Weber State in the 2015 season opener on Sept. 4, which means coach Jay Hill and the Wildcats will get plenty of mention in the weeks to come. Stay tuned.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

Congratulations to former Weber State Sports Information Director Brad Larsen, who is being honored this summer with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the College Sports Information Directors of America. Larsen, who was WSU’s hard-working SID from 1979 to 2011, will be honored at the CoSIDA convention on June 14-17 in Orlando, Fla.

Brad Larsen spent over 30 years at the helm of the Weber State Sports Information department.

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Tidbits

Former Weber State assistant volleyball coach Brian Scott was hired in late April to become the head volleyball coach at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. … Weber State football senior Bo Bolen has been named to the 2015 National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society. To be a member, a student-athlete must maintain a GPA of 3.2 or better while playing a significant role for his or her team. …

Including Lillard and Iaone, 63 WSU student-athletes graduated this spring in the University’s 158th commencement. …

After nine seasons, Weber State Hall of Famer Jonas Ehrlin stepped down as head coach of the women’s tennis team. Ehrlin, who also coached the WSU men in 2004, helped the Wildcats win four Big Sky titles in a row in the late 1980s as a player. He coached seven Wildcats to All-Conference honors as a coach. ...

Weber State recently announced the hiring of Tiffany Lott Hogan, a former U.S. Olympian in the heptathlon, as an assistant track and field coach.

She will replace longtime coach Dan Dean, who is retiring after seven seasons with the Wildcats.

Hogan, a former world recordholder in the 55-meter hurdles and a 10-time All-American at BYU, will coach the hurdlers and sprinters at Weber State. …

It was 20 years ago this spring that the Wildcats, under coach Ron

Abegglen, defeated defending National basketball Champion Michigan State in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Read more on page 40. …

Former Weber State basketball standout Ben Howland recently was hired as the head basketball coach at Mississippi State. … Former WSU basketball player and assistant basketball coach Dick Hunsaker retired as the head basketball coach at Utah Valley University. …

Waldo, Weber State’s fun-loving mascot was recently crowned national mascot champion following competition at the NCA National Mascot Championships in Daytona Beach, Fla. Waldo topped Rowdy of Wright State, in the competition that judged character, creativity, crowd interaction, dance and use of props.

During the same competition at the NCA Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championship, WSU’s Spirit Squad finished third in the Division I coed competition and sixth in Division I open dance. See Waldo’s performance here:

Chris J. Miller, a 1986 graduate of Weber State, is a former Weber State Signpost sports editor and editor in chief, as well as a former longtime sports editor at the Standard-Examiner. He can be reached at cjmiller62@outook.com. Follow him on Twitter at cjmsports.

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SAAC - Beyond the Athlete

W

hile the on-the-field (or on-the-court) competition is easily the most visible aspect of Weber State University’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, it’s just the tip of the iceberg for many of the Wildcats’ student-athletes.

Dedication to honing their competitive skills, the desire and pursuit of excellence in the classroom, and service projects that enrich the local community are multiple parts of the facets of life for the student-athlete, both at Weber State and across the many member schools comprising the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

A handful of those student-athletes are willing to go one step further, stepping into leadership roles in their respective teams and in the Weber State athletics department as a whole by joining the Student-Athlete-Advisory Committee.

The mission statement of Weber State’s SAAC is as follows: “The mission statement of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and Weber State University’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is to enhance the total stu-

dent-athlete experience by promoting opportunity, protecting student-athlete welfare, and fostering a positive student-athlete image.”

The committee is comprised of a three-member executive board, along with representatives from each of Weber State’s 16 NCAA-spon-

Desirae Cruse - 2015-16 SAAC President

sored athletic teams, and four members of the athletic department’s administration.

Desirae Cruse, a member of Weber State’s Track and Field team, was selected as the SAAC President for the upcoming 2015-16 school year, replacing Jonathan McUne who has served as president for the past two years. Kim Holiday (Track and Field) will serve as Vice-President, and Emily Podlesny Posing as a “Secret Santa” for underprivileged youth is just one of the ways that SAAC gives back to the community.

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(Golf) will serve as Secretary, replacing Jadrian Clark (Football) and Brecken Holbrook (Soccer), respectively.

“I am excited to serve as Weber State’s SAAC president,” Cruse said.

“Some of my initiatives for the upcoming year is to encourage my fellow student-athletes to step out of the comfort zone of their own teams, and provide opportunities for them to create new friendships with other athletes. This will help create an environment where we all feel a part of the Wildcat family and are excited to get out and support each other.

“Our community does a lot for our school,” Cruse added. “And it is important for us to give of our time and talents through volunteer service. I look forward to the opportunity of being the voice for my fellow student-athletes in communication with the administration, and I want to do the best that I can to ensure our student-athletes get the most out of their time at Weber State.”

SAAC members are responsible for helping to organize and implement service projects, working with their respective teams.

Some recent projects undertaken have included drives to gather food and toiletry items for local homeless shelters, volunteering with local boys and girls clubs, and reading and speaking to local area elementary students.

SAAC members also participate in university and conference discussions relating to upcoming NCAA legislation, and act as a liaison between their respective teams and the athletic department.

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