The First University in the West
From the President At Willamette University, we seek to foster and promote excellence in all that we do, including our athletics program, where individual student-athletes and teams regularly emerge as conference champions and compete successfully on regional and national levels within NCAA Division III. As a marathon runner and former three-sport athlete — and as someone who has spent much of his adult life on college campuses — I am well aware of the strong connection between success in athletics and success in other aspects of student life. Athletic success requires a certain greatness of mind, body and spirit, a greatness that translates into other aspects of an athlete’s life, such as academic success. It is no wonder that some of our top athletes are also some of Willamette’s top academic performers. It is clear that athletic activity and achievement are a powerful part of our culture and play a key tole in the undergraduate experience at Willamette University, where nearly 30 percent of our students participate in athletics each year. This high level of participation speaks not only to the strength of the program but also to the caliber of our outstanding and dedicated coaching staff. I am pleased to introduce you to our athletics program and to Willamette’s proud tradition of excellence and achievement. — M. Lee Pelton President Willamette University
The Place for Scholars & Champions Willamette General Information
Location....................................................... Salem, Oregon Founded......................................................................... 1842 Enrollment..............1,943 Undergraduate; 2,628 Overall President.................................................Dr. M. Lee Pelton Dean of Campus Life................. Dr. Robert Hawkinson Faculty Athletic Representative........................ Jerry Gray Director of Athletics....................................Mark Majeski Nickname................................................................Bearcats Colors.............................................Cardinal and Old Gold National Affiliations................NCAA Division III/IRA Regional Affiliation.......Western Intercollegiate (WIRA) Conference....................... Northwest Collegiate (NCRC) Home Course........................................... Willamette River Viewing Area............................................. Riverfront Park Boathouse Address........... 1750 Edgewater NW (Salem) Assistant Athletic Director.......................... Judy Gordon Assistant Athletic Director..............Dr. R. Skip Kenitzer Administrative Assistant.............................. Leslie Wright Head Athletic Trainer.....................................Shane Wibel Assistant Athletic Trainer............................. Erin Scharer Assistant Athletic Trainer................................Ken Smith Athletics Marketing Coord.................... Megan Johnston Athletics Comm. Director...................Robert McKinney Athletics Comm. Phone............................(503) 370-6110 Athletics Comm. E-mail....... rmckinne@willamette.edu Athletics Department Phone...................(503) 370-6420 Athletics Department FAX......................(503) 370-6379 Athletics Web Site.............www.willamette.edu/athletics
Table of Contents
President’s Message.......................................................IFC General Information.........................................................1 Willamette University.................................................... 2-3 List of Willamette Majors.................................................3 Athletic Facilities................................................................4 City of Salem......................................................................5 Head Coach Susan Parkman............................................6 Assistant Coaches...............................................................6 The Bearcat Men’s Crew............................................... 7-9 The Bearcat Women’s Crew..................................... 10-14 Head of the Charles Regatta..........................................15 Honors and Awards.........................................................16 Willamette Rowing Team Photo....................................17 WU’s New Hudson Racing Shell...................................17 The Bearcats in Action.............................................. 18-19 Conference and National Affiliations...........................20 National Affiliations........................................................20 Willamette Administration...........................................IBC Athletics Department Staff . .......................................IBC 2007-08 Willamette Schedule....................................OBC The 2007-08 Willamette University Rowing Media Guide was written, designed and edited by Robert McKinney, athletics comm. director, with assistance from Susan Parkman, head rowing coach. Front Cover designed by Parkman. Photos: Cover — The Bearcat women’s crew prepares to place a shell in the water; Back Cover — Willamette’s men row beneath a bridge on the Willamette River in Salem. Photos by Parkman, Naomi Stukey and the Willamette Office of Communications. Printing by K/P, Inc.
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About Willamette University Willamette University Rowing 2007-08 Willamette University, the first university in the West, has a heritage dating to its founding in 1842. Students and employees are proud of its academic strength, as well as its beautiful campus. Academic success is typical for students at Willamette. More importantly, faculty and staff are concerned about the overall success of each student, so the focus is not only on quality experiences in the classroom, but also on social and cultural development. Students are expected to work hard in their academic endeavors and are also expected to have fun, be active in the community and bring their own personality to everything they do. We’re proud of our students’ academic abilities. We’re also proud of our students as friends, neighbors and fellow citizens. They have found an ideal match between high-level academics and a variety of quality experiences as members of the community. They exemplify the University motto: “Not unto ourselves alone are we born.” This motto is put into action locally and throughout the world. At Willamette, you can study abroad, as many of our students do each year. Our students also are actively involved in social and environmental issues. They are concerned about maintaining the beautiful Oregon landscape, while working to improve the lives of others. And so, while Willamette has the same academic expectations as the nation’s most acclaimed colleges and universities, we hope we’ve added something extra ... an equally important focus outside the classroom. Attending college should be fun, inspiring and at times invigorating. It should both challenge you and make you laugh.
Students spend free time near the Mill Stream on the Willamette campus.
Academically, Willamette has the College of Liberal Arts, the College of Law, the George H. Atkinson Graduate School of Management, and the School of Education. Cooperative programs enable all students to benefit from the quality curriculum. Willamette is known for its intellectual vitality, its cohesive campus community, its concern for every student, and its ability to balance a rigorous academic program with varied extracurricular activities. The faculty and staff bring a wide range of views and experiences to the the campus. Willamette’s student-faculty ratio of 11:1 allows faculty to maintain ample office hours and to serve as advisors. They are engaged in scholarly research and publish their findings, but they are primarily focused on teaching. Willamette is selective and seeks serious and talented students. The average first-year student has a 3.76 GPA, an SAT score of 1230 and an ACT score of 27. Enrollment at the undergraduate level is 1,943, with a total enrollment of 2,628. About 95 percent of Willamette students receive financial aid and scholarships. Many students choose to attend graduate or professional school.
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About Willamette University Willamette University Rowing 2007-08 Willamette’s endowment is consistently among the largest in the Northwest and compares favorably on a national basis. The campus features 42 buildings on 61 acres. During the past decade, more than $50 million has been invested in the campus. Recent projects include the $5.5 million Hallie Ford Museum of Art, the $8 million Mary Stuart Rogers Music Center, and the $2.7 million Montag Student Center and the $14 million Kaneko Commons. Construction will begin soon on Ford Hall, which will house Rhetoric and Media Studies, Computer Science, Math, Digital Art, Film Studies and Music Technology. Funds for the 46,000-square-foot building include an $8 million gift from Hallie Ford. The Mill Stream runs through the WU campus and provides a beautiful setting to walk to classes, play games on the campus quad or hang out with friends. Willamette is fortunate to have a great combination of wonderful landscaping, beautiful trees and open spaces. Students also interact with a friendly and attentive faculty and staff.
Willamette benefits from its location across the street from the Oregon State Capitol and from being near other federal, state, county, and city offices. In particular, Willamette students are often chosen for internships with government organizations. Students also participate in the Community Outreach Program through a variety of volunteer service projects.
The Oregon State Capitol Building is located across State Street from Waller Hall.
Academic Choices
Undergraduate Majors (M), minors (m), special programs (s) American Ethnic Studies (m) American Studies (M) Anthropology (M, m) Art History (M, m) Art, Studio (M, m) Asian Studies (m) Art, Technology, and Multimedia (m) Biology (M, m) 3-2 Business Management (s) Chemistry (M, m) Chinese Studies (m) Classical Studies (M, m) Comparative Literature and the History of Ideas (M) Computer Science (M, m) Economics (M, m) 3-2 Engineering (s) English (M, m) Environmental Science (M, m)
Exercise Science (M) Film Studies (m) 3-2 Forestry (s) French (M, m) Geography (m) German (M, m) History (M, m) Humanities (M) International Studies (M) Japanese (m) Japanese Studies (M) Latin American Studies (M, m) Mathematics (M, m) Music (M, m)* Philosophy (M, m) Physics (M, m) Politics (M, m) Pre-law (s)
Pre-medicine (s) Pre-veterinary Medicine (s) 3-2 Public Management (s) Psychology (M, m) Religious Studies (M, m) Rhetoric and Media Studies (M, m) Russian (m) Science Studies (M, m) Sociology (M, m) Spanish (M, m) Theatre (M, m) Women’s and Gender Studies (M, m) * In addition to the Bachelor of Arts degree, Willamette University offers the Bachelor of Music degree in Music Composition, Music Education and Music Performance
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WU Athletic Facilities Willamette University Rowing 2007-08 Members of the men’s and women’s rowing teams have their own boathouse located on the west bank of the Willamette River near Wallace Marine Park. The team holds workouts on the Willamette River in downtown Salem. The boathouse provides a place for storing WU’s racing shells and gives the team a place to complete various types of dry land training. It also is a great location for meetings and other team functions. John Lewis Field is the home of Willamette Bearcat baseball. The field is located at Roy S. “Spec” Keene Stadium at Bush’s Pasture Park. The stadium features chairback seating in part of the grandstand. Overall capacity is 1,000. Willamette’s football team plays home games at McCulloch Stadium, located near John Lewis Field. The football stadium is two blocks from campus and just one block from Salem Hospital. The stadium seats 2,400, with lights for night games and an athletic training room, allowing athletes to receive on-site treatment. McCulloch Stadium has a FieldTurf playing surface, along with spacious locker rooms and meeting rooms. It provides the atmosphere of an old stadium, but with modern conveniences. The Charles Bowles Track, located inside McCulloch Stadium, is an all-weather facility that showcases Willamette’s track and field and cross country teams, which host meets each year. The entire football, track, cross country and baseball complex is at Bush’s Pasture Park. The park hosts cross country meets on its wide paths and is known for its art exhibits and rose garden.
The Willamette Boathouse is located on the Willamette River in West Salem.
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Cone Field House is the home court for the Willamette men’s basketball, women’s basketball and volleyball teams. The arena holds 2,500 fans, with plenty of seating on each side of the court. There is a quality sound system, plus tables for scorekeepers, statisticians and broadcast media. Cone Field House is part of the Lestle J. Sparks Center, which houses offices for the
Willamette rowing team members work out on ergometers on the WU Boathouse dock.
Department of Athletics and the Department of Exercise Science. The building has basketball, handball and racquetball courts, a weight lifting and fitness center, classrooms and locker rooms. Also connected to the Sparks Center is the WU natatorium, home of Bearcat swimming. The natatorium, with space for 200 fans, also can be seen from a viewing area in the lobby. The Willamette University soccer teams play home games at Sparks Field, an artificial turf facility next to the Sparks Center. The field is equipped with lights for night games and seats 500 spectators. The facility is one of the top college fields in the Northwest. Close to the Sparks Center and Sparks Field are six tennis courts. The men’s and women’s tennis teams host meets during the spring. On the east side of campus is the Willamette Softball Complex. It includes covered dugouts, batting cages, a scoreboard and bleachers. The WU men’s and women’s golf teams usually practice at Illahe Hills Country Club or Creekside Golf Club. Willamette’s golf teams also host tournaments at area golf courses.
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The City of Salem, Oregon Willamette University Rowing 2007-08 Salem, the capital city of Oregon as well as the second largest city in the state, lies in the center of the lush Willamette River valley, 47 miles South of Portland. Salem is a city of over 47 square miles, located an hour from the Cascade mountains to the east and just an hour from the ocean beaches to the west. The population of Salem is around 147,000 and is growing each year at an average rate of about Willamette is close to downtown Salem, shown at night. 1.5 percent. Day trips to the magnificant Oregon overflow with locally raised produce and coast, the Cascade and Coast Mountain hand-crafted products. The city is a good ranges, as well as several nearby vineyards base for a tour of Oregon’s wine country. and high desert areas offer newcomers a It also is the site of the Salem Arts Fair variety of experiences. Salem also has a and the Oregon State Fair each year. wide array of restaurants, hotels and tourist Salem is located close to State Parks, attractions, ranging from historic sites and attractive gardens, farming communities, museums to events that appeal to a wide orchards and vineyards. Combined with variety of interests. glorious views of the Cascade Mountains, Several parks and the historic district are the varied terrain that is within a 30-minute within easy walking distance of Willamette. drive provides some of the most beautiful Salem also includes farmers markets that scenes in the Pacific Northwest.
Some of the most rewarding moments happen on the sidelines. Whether it’s a crowd of hundreds doing “The Wave” or a couple of parents holding a sign, this is the part of any game that hits home for us — people supporting people. In fact, it’s exactly why at American Family, we’re happy and proud to join the cheering section.
American Family Mutual Insurance Company and its Subsidiaries Home Office – Madison, WI 53783 © 2007
002854 – Rev. 8/07
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Bearcat Rowing Coaches Willamette University Rowing 2007-08
Susan Parkman Head Coach (3rd year) Office Phone: (503) 370-6655; Cell Phone: (503) 758-5928 E-mail: sparkman@willamette.edu
Susan Parkman is in her third year as the head coach of the Willamette rowing teams. She started at Willamette in March of 2006. Parkman has extensive experience with rowing, both in competition and as a coach. Prior to arriving at Willamette, she coached at the college level at Santa Clara University and the University of Washington. She has been an assistant coach with U.S. Rowing and represented the United States as a coach at the 2004 Olympics, held in Athens, Greece. She coached the U.S. women’s single sculler to a ninth place finish out of 24 entries. Her interest in rowing began when she was a college student at Humboldt State University. A few years later, she became the head coach at Santa Clara University. Parkman then went to the University of Washington, where she was an assistant women’s coach. For six seasons, Parkman
was head coach at Lakeside HS in Seattle, Wash., where she helped the varsity girl’s team place several rowers at the national level. Parkman also worked with many local outreach rowing programs. Parkman has some significant goals for the Bearcat rowers. “My goals ultimately are to win the Northwest Collegiate Rowing Conference and to get a berth at the NCAA Nationals for the women’s team,” Parkman said. “I’m thrilled to work with our studentathletes at this stage of their lives ... helping to teach them the skills needed to balance the demands of academics and athletics. I want to open their eyes to see that they are capable of so much more than they think. I emphasize the skills of teamwork: trusting each other as they work hard together.” Parkman is head coach of masters with the Willamette Rowing Club in Portland. She is a professional photographer, known for portraits and rowing photos. She lives in Portland with her husband, Tiff Wood.
Ashley San Blise
David Bentsen
Assistant Coach
Assistant Coach
Ashley San Blise is in her first year as an assistant coach for the Bearcats. She is in her fifth year as a student and is finishing a degree in Environmental Science at WU. She was a Bearcat rower the past four seasons and is proud to continue WU’s rowing traditions. She is from Salem.
David Bentsen joins the Bearcats this year as an assistant coach. He graduated from Pacific Lutheran University in 2006, after competing as a member of the rowing team. At WU, he is in his second year as a student in the College of Law. He is a solid addition to the coaching staff.
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The Bearcat Men’s Crew Willamette University Rowing 2007-08
Greg Henselman
Senior Captain
Corvallis, Oregon High School
Position: Port/Starboard
Majors
Interests: Community service, hydrology, ancient poetry, education in the U.S. and abroad
Kamiak
Mathematics and Classics
“I row because there are few times when I feel so happy or alive as when I’m on the water.”
— Greg Henselman
Randall Cass
Senior
Idaho Falls, Idaho High School
Position: Port/Starboard
Major
Interests: Social justice, music, international travel
Idaho Falls
International Studies
Mike Isaacs
Sophomore
Las Vegas, Nevada High School
Position: Port/Starboard
Major
Interests: Beta Theta Pi, cooking, music, singing, dancing
E.W. Clark Physics
Dan Warren
Sophomore
Davis, California High School
Position: Port/Starboard
Major
Interests: Longboarding, music, rock climbing
Davis
Undecided
Luke Johnson
Sophomore
Minneapolis, Minnesota High School
Position: Starboard
Major
Interests: Crew, driving my Jeep cross country, lakes in Minnesota, camping, climbing, whitewater
Saint Louis Park Undecided
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The Bearcat Men’s Crew Willamette University Rowing 2007-08
Matt Bailin
Freshman
Las Vegas, Nevada High School
Position: Starboard
Major
Interests: Speech and debate
Valley
Undecided
Peter Henry
Freshman
Stevens Point, Wisconsin High School
Position: Port
Major
Interests: Mandolin, music, art
Montana Academy Undecided
Nathan Keffer
Freshman
Santa Fe, New Mexico High School
Position: Port
Major
Interests: Snowboarding
Monte Del Sol Politics
Paul McKean
Freshman
Beaverton, Oregon High School
Position: Port
Major
Interests: Theatre, choir, music
Westview
Undecided
Alex Mott
Freshman
Oakland, California High School
Position: Port
Major
Interests: Environmental science
Sojourner Truth Academy Undecided
David Reid
Freshman
Shoreline, Washington High School
Position: Starboard
Major
Interests: Jazz trombone
Shorewood History
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The Bearcat Men’s Crew Willamette University Rowing 2007-08
Joel Ribbens
Freshman
Nikiski, Alaska High School
Position: Starboard
Major
Interests: Travel, outdoors, politics
Nikiski
Undecided
John Schmidtbauer Freshman Whittier, California High School
Position: Starboard
Major
Interests: Water polo
Whittier
Anthropology
David Solomon
Freshman
Orinda, California High School
Position: Port
Major
Interests: Volleyball
Miramonte Undecided
Amy Wada
Freshman
Honolulu, Hawaii High School
Position: Coxswain
Major
Interests: Music, movies, kayaking
Idani
Japanese Studies
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The Bearcat Women’s Crew Willamette University Rowing 2007-08
Laura Jones
Senior Captain
Boise, Idaho
High School: Boise
Position: Port/Starboard
Major: History Minors: Art History,
Interests: Rowing, art, hiking
Philosophy
“I love feeling the synergy within the crew when the boat really moves.”
— Laura Jones
Lauren Pressler
Senior
Berkeley, California High School
Position: Port
Major
Interests: Painting, rock climbing, museum work, intramural volleyball
Bishop O’Dowd Studio Art
Lauren Schwartz Medford, Oregon High School
St. Mary’s Major
Biology
Position: Port Interests: International travel, Spanish,
skiing, tennis
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Senior
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The Bearcat Women’s Crew Willamette University Rowing 2007-08
Hilary Andrus
Sophomore
Chimacum, Washington High School
Position: Port
Major
Interests: Longboarding, travel, outdoor adventures
Chimacum
Mathematics
Kirsten Barta
Sophomore
Hopkins, Minnesota High School
Position: Starboard
Major
Interests: Ice hockey
Hopkins
Environmental Science
Meg Delph
Sophomore
West Linn, Oregon High School
Position: Port
Major
Interests: ASU Senate, music, singing, volunteering in the community, history
West Linn
International Studies
Caitlin Dilli
Sophomore
Littleton, Colorado High School: Heritage Major: Biology Minors: Spanish
Position: Port Interests: Open-water swimming, the open air and an open dictionary
Lacey Ellingson
Sophomore
Shoreview, Minnesota High School
Position: Starboard
Major
Interests: Pre-Veterinarian, environmental concerns, longboarding
Mounds View Biology
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The Bearcat Women’s Crew Willamette University Rowing 2007-08
Emily Mitchell
Sophomore
Vancouver, Washington High School
Position: Port/Starboard
Major
Interests: Sculling, travel, running
Columbia River German
Julie Vernarsky
Sophomore
Enterprise, Oregon
Position: Port/Starboard
High School
Enterprise Major: History Minor: Classics
Interests: Running, crafting
Ari Alibabaie
Freshman
Troutdale, Oregon High School
Position: Starboard
Major
Interests: Going out early and getting home late, Henry VIII, river jumping, road trips
Reynolds
Undecided
Kyla Barr
Bainbridge Island, Washington High School
Position: Starboard
Major
Interests: Sociology
Bainbridge Undecided
Fran Clawson
Freshman
Bozeman, Montana High School
Position: Starboard
Major
Interests: Soccer, travel, violin
Bozeman
International Studies
Ilana Greenslade Kennewick, Washington
Freshman
High School
Position: Coxswain, Port
Major
Interests: Irish dancing
Kamiakin English
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Freshman
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The Bearcat Women’s Crew Willamette University Rowing 2007-08
Kara Hafkey
Freshman
Hillsboro, Oregon High School
Position: Port
Majors
Interests: Travel
Glencoe
Psychology and Spanish
Geneva Hooten
Freshman
Vancouver, Washington High School
Position: Port
Major
Interests: Hanging out with friends, knitting, watching movies, playing football, reading
Mountain View Int’l Studies and French
Christine Kelly
Mercer Island, Washington
Freshman
High School
Position: Starboard
Major
Interests: Ballet, soccer, volleyball
Mercer Island Undecided
Kendra Kennedy Anchorage, Alaska
Freshman
High School
Position: Port
Major
Interests: Travel, the outdoors, dancing, people watching, bargain shopping
Robert Service Economics
Erika Michelotti
Freshman
Los Alamos, New Mexico High School
Position: Starboard
Major
Interests: Soccer
Los Alamos Undecided
Natalia Povelite
Freshman
Boise, Idaho High School
Position: Starboard
Major
Interests: Environmental concerns, anthropology
Boise
Undecided
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The Bearcat Women’s Crew Willamette University Rowing 2007-08
Leslie Schultz
South Pasadena, California
Freshman
High School
Position: Starboard
Major
Interests: Music, hanging out with friends
South Pasadena Exercise Science
Linnea Schuster Honolulu, Hawaii
Freshman
High School
Position: Port/Coxswain
Major
Interests: Sufing, swimming, outrigger canoe
Punahou
paddling
Japanese
Erica Soma
Freshman
Scotts Valley, California High School
Position: Coxswain
Major
Interests: Sunny weather, hanging out with
Scotts Valley
friends
Exercise Science
Kesa Sovulewski Bozeman, Montana
Freshman
High School
Position: Port
Major
Interests: Skiing, photography
Bozeman
Undecided
Jamaica Sweet
Freshman
Florence, Oregon High School
Position: Starboard
Major
Interests: Movies, friends, shopping
Siuslaw
Undecided
Christina Thorburn Freshman Boulder, Colorado High School
Position: Port
Major
Interests: Soccer
Niwot
Undecided
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Head of the Charles Regatta Willamette University Rowing 2007-08
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Honors and Awards Willamette University Rowing 2007-08
Jones Named All-America, Chosen for National Camps WU senior rower Laura Jones was chosen by U.S. Rowing to attend a pair of national camps this past summer. She was at the National Team Development Camp and the Women’s National Team Freshman Camp. Jones rowed for WU’s varsity 4+ and varsity 8+ crews last season. Jones was one of 24 athletes (only two from NCAA Division III) invited to the Freshman Camp. The event was for rowers who might later join the U.S. National Team. Jones was named Second Team All-America. She helped WU’s varsity 8+ win the Governor’s Cup in Salem in 2007. This past fall, she led WU to 5th place at the Head of the Charles Regatta.
Senior rower Laura Jones participated in two U.S. National Team camps this past summer.
Hall, Rallston and John Receive Academic Awards
Adrienne Hall
Rebecca Rallston
Jessica John
Three of Willamette’s rowers have earned special recognition for their skills at combining academic and athletic success. Adrienne Hall and Rebecca Rallston, both seniors in 2006-07, were selected as National Scholar-Athletes by the CRCA last spring, while Jessica John, a senior
in 2005-06, was chosen First Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District two years ago. CRCA Scholar-Athletes needed at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA while rowing in 75% or more of the spring meets or at a conference meet. The ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Team required at least a 3.25 GPA plus status as a starter or a key reserve. Hall majored in Anthropology. She owned a 3.67 GPA. Ralston majored in Rhetoric and Media Studies and had a 3.61 GPA. John owned a 3.95 GPA and majored in Mathematics.
Henselman Earns Presidential Scholarship Greg Henselman, a member of the rowing and swimming teams majoring in Mathematics and Classical Studies, was one of just two WU students selected as Presidential Scholars for 2006-07. Each Presidential Scholar received a $2,500 stipend to assist with research during the summer. Recipients also earned a waiver of tuition for one semester or $5,000 toward graduate school expenses. Henselman, a senior in 2007-08, focused his summer research on “Extending the Diagnostic Applications of Graph Representations.” Henselman’s sponsor in the research was Erin McNicholas, assistant profesor of mathematics at Willamette. Page 16
Men’s team captain Greg Henselman also is a Presidential Scholar at Willamette
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Willamette’s New Hudson Racing Shell Willamette University Rowing 2007-08
The Willamette University rowing teams and Head Coach Susan Parkman christened the team’s newest racing shell at halftime of the men’s basketball game on Feb. 9, 2007. The Hudson Racing Shell, now known as the “Squirrel Riley,” was donated to the WU rowing teams by Lauren Dudley and her family. Her son, Jacob Wicks (‘08), who was given the honor of christening the new equipment, poured finish line water from around the world over the bow of the shell. WU’s new shell is identical to the boat used by the U.S. Olympic men’s eight in the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. The U.S. men won the gold medal in the 2,000-meter race in 5:19.85, for the world’s fastest time ever in the event. The shell has a carbon fiber honeycomb structure. It weighs 210 pounds and is 62 feet long. It is designed to hold eight rowers and a coxswain.
The Willamette rowing team christen’s the new shell during halftime at a WU men’s basketball game.
Willamette Rowing Team Photo — Fall of 2007
The Willamette University rowing team in the fall of 2007.
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The Bearcats in Action Willamette University Rowing 2007-08
“The reason I row is because it is the time during my day when I can forget about everything ... I can have fun, work hard and be with great people. No matter who you are or what skill you have, the crew always welcomes you and includes you as part of the team.”
-- Hilary Andrus ‘10
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The Bearcats in Action Willamette University Rowing 2007-08
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Conference and National Affiliations Willamette University Rowing 2007-08
NCAA Division III Willamette is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and competes in Division III, which has over 425 members and is the largest NCAA division. The colleges in Division III place a priority on the overall quality of the educational experience and on successful completion of each student’s academic programs. They seek an environment in which a student-athlete’s activities with an athletic team are seen as an integral part of his or her educational experience. Members in Division III must sponsor at least five men’s sports and five women’s sports.
Athletes in Division III do not receive financial aid related to athletic ability. Willamette and other NCAA Division III members encourage students to participate by maximizing the variety of athletic opportunities. Primary emphasis is placed on conference and regional play. Willamette often sends its teams to California, Idaho, Washington and Texas for in-region games. NCAA Division III members establish an environment with cultural diversity and gender equity among student-athletes and staff. In Division III, employees care about the well-being of their student-athletes.
Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association and Northwest Collegiate Rowing Conference In rowing, Willamette competes in the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association as well as the Northwest Collegiate Rowing Conference. The WIRA covers the Western United States and includes teams from each level of collegiate rowing. This season, the WIRA Championships are slated to be held on May 3, with races on Lake Natoma near Sacramento, Calif. Willamette is one of the seven members involved in the NCRC. Other teams in the conference include Humboldt State, Lewis & Clark, Pacific Lutheran, Puget Sound, Seattle Pacific and Western Washington. Teams in the NCRC compete in NCAA Division II or NCAA Division III. For Willamette, the NCRC includes the Bearcats’ most common opponents. All of the NCRC members are committed to the growth of rowing in the Pacific Northwest and all feature talented crews. This year’s NCRC Championships are set for April 19,
with all races scheduled to be contested at Vancouver Lake near Vancouver, Wash. In other sports, Willamette competes in the Northwest Conference. The nine private colleges and universities in Oregon and Washington that belong to the NWC are building a reputation as one of the top NCAA Division III leagues in the nation. The NWC is nationally competitive in a broad spectrum of sports.
NCRC Members Willamette University Humboldt State University Lewis & Clark College Pacific Lutheran University University of Puget Sound Seattle Pacific University Western Washington University
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Willamette’s Administration Willamette University Rowing 2007-08
Dr. M. Lee Pelton
President
Dr. M. Lee Pelton was appointed the 22nd president of Willamette University in July, 1999. Under Pelton’s leadership, the University has increased its academic profile, successfully employing strategies to attract the best faculty and the brightest students from the state, the nation and the world. Since 2001, Willamette University has been ranked a top tier liberal arts college by U.S. News and World Report. President Pelton holds a doctorate from Harvard University and an undergraduate degree in English and psychology from Wichita State University, where he graduated magna cum laude in 1974. His area of academic focus is 19th century British prose and poetry. He served as dean of the college at Colgate University (1988-91) and Dartmouth College (1991-98). At Harvard, he taught in the English Department and was the dean of one of Harvard’s 13 undergraduate colleges. He teaches at Willamette in subjects ranging from 1st century Athens to post-apartheid South Africa.
Mark Majeski
Director of Athletics
Mark Majeski began his tenure with Willamette University in October of 2000, following five years as athletic director at the University of California, Santa Cruz and four years as assistant athletic director at Menlo College. He currently serves as a member of the NCAA Division III membership committee, which provides oversight of the Division III provisional member program. Majeski previously served on the NCAA Division III men’s tennis committee, overseeing championships in that sport. A former basketball, track and softball coach, Majeski also worked venue management and operations for the 1994 FIFA Men’s Soccer World Cup and the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. At WU, Majeski oversees 20 varsity teams, with the Bearcats competing in NCAA Division III, the Northwest Conference and the Intercollegiate Rowing Association. He also is the basketball liaison between the NWC coaches and athletic directors. Majeski received an undergraduate degree in journalism from Menlo College and a master’s degree in higher education administration from San Jose State University. He lives in Salem with his wife, Denise, and their son, Jack Henry, age 2.
Athletics Administrative Staff
Dean of Campus Life........... Dr. Robert Hawkinson Faculty Athletic Rep...............................Dr. Jerry Gray Assistant Athletic Director.....................Judy Gordon Assistant Athletic Director........Dr. R. Skip Kenitzer Head Athletic Trainer...............................Shane Wibel
Assistant Athletic Trainer........................Erin Scharer Assistant Athletic Trainer...........................Ken Smith Athletics Marketing Coord...............Megan Johnston Athletics Comm. Director.............Robert McKinney Administrative Assistant.........................Leslie Wright
Head Coaching Staff Baseball Matt Allison............. (503) 370-6011 Men’s Basketball Gordie James........... (503) 370-6063 Women’s Basketball Bruce Henderson.... (503) 370-6132 Cross Country/Track & Field Matt McGuirk.......... (503) 370-6898 Football Mark Speckman....... (503) 375-5350
Men’s Golf Steve Prothero......... (503) 370-6484 Women’s Golf Tom Hibbard........... (503) 370-6317 Rowing Susan Parkman........ (503) 370-6655 Men’s Soccer Nelson Larson......... (503) 375-5428 Women’s Soccer Hillary Arthur.......... (503) 370-6657
ts
Bearca
Softball Damian Williams..... (503) 370-6656 Swimming Al Stephenson......... (503) 370-6601 Men’s Tennis Neil Patel.................. (503) 370-6804 Women’s Tennis Becky Roberts.......... (503) 370-6804 Volleyball Tom Shoji................. (503) 370-6230
Willamette Rowing 2007-08 Schedule DATE
EVENT
LOCATION
Sept. 23
at Row for the Cure
TIME
Portland, Ore.
8 a.m.
Oct. 6 WU Crew Open House In-House Exhibition Regatta
Salem, Ore. Riverfront Park
7 a.m.
Oct. 13
Corvallis, Ore.
8 a.m.
Oct. 20 at Head of the Charles Regatta Collegiate Women’s 4+
Boston, Mass. Charles River
8:30 a.m.
Oct. 27 at Charlie Brown Regatta WU, UPS, PLU, L&C, PSU, UP
Portland, Ore. Oaks Park, Willamette River
7 a.m.
Mar. 8 at Behind Ross Island #3 WU, L&C and others
Portland, Ore. Oaks Park
8 a.m.
Mar. 29 at Daffodil Cup WU, UPS, PLU, L&C
Tacoma, Wash. American Lake
8 a.m.
Apr. 5 NCRC Invitational WU, UCSD, UPS, PLU, L&C
Vancouver, Wash. Vancourver Lake
8 a.m.
Apr. 19 at NCRC Championships WU, WWU, UPS, PLU, L&C, HSU, SPU
Vancouver, Wash. Vancouver Lake
8 a.m.
May 3 WIRA Championships West Coast DII, DIII, Club programs
Sacramento, Calif. Lake Natoma
8 a.m.
May 30- at NCAA Championships June 1 Women only; Must qualify
Sacramento, Calif. Lake Natoma
8 a.m.
at Oregon State Regatta WU, OSU, UPS, L&C
June 7 at IRA Championships Camden, N.J. Men and Lightweight women; Must qualify
8 a.m.
Home event (Governor’s Cup Regatta) will be held on the Willamette River near Riverfront Park in Salem, Ore., in the fall of 2008
WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE OF LAW ATKINSON GRADUATE SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT SCHOOL OF EDUCATION Willamette is the first university in the West, founded in Salem, Oregon, in 1842.