General Information Willamette Cross Country 2007 NCAA West Region Championships Men — 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 Women — 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 NWC Championships Men — 1963, 1968, 1970, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1993, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 Women — 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 Willamette Head Coach Matt McGuirk was named NCAA Div. III Women’s Track and Field National Coach of the Year this past spring. He has been chosen NCAA West Region Coach of the Year three times in men’s cross country and four times in women’s cross country.
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 Affiliation............................NCAA Division III Conference......................Northwest Conference (NWC) 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 Team Physician................................... Dr. David Thorsett 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
Bearcat Cross Country Quick Facts Head Coach............................................Matt McGuirk Office Phone...................................(503) 370-6898 Seasons as WU Head Coach.......................... 4th year Alma Mater.................................. U. of Oregon, 1988 Assistant Coach.......................................... Brett Franz Office Phone...................................(503) 370-6934 Assistant Coach............................ Christopher Sabato Office Phone...................................(503) 370-6803 Cross Country Course.................Bush’s Pasture Park Finish Location............Charles Bowles Track (2,400)
General Information.........................................................1 Academic Honors and Awards........................................2 Charles Bowles Invitational..............................................3. Willamette University.................................................... 2-3 Willamette Administration................................................4 Athletics Department........................................................4 Athletic Facilities................................................................5 Willamette Sports Medicine.............................................6 2007 Season Outlook........................................................7 Head Coach Matt McGuirk..............................................8 Assistant Coaches...............................................................9 Men’s Cross Country Athletes................................. 10-12 Men’s Cross Country History.........................................13 Women’s Cross Country Athletes............................ 14-15 Women’s Cross Country History...................................16 City of Salem....................................................................18 Northwest Conference/NCAA Division III...............19 2006 Season Review................................................ 20-IBC 2007 Willamette Schedule..........................................OBC
Credits: The 2007 Willamette University Cross Country Media Guide was written and edited by Robert McKinney, athletics comm. director, with assistance from Neil Patel, assistant athletics comm. director. Photos: Front Cover — Sarah Zerzan (left)
and Ian Batch (right) helped Willamette win NWC and NCAA Regional titles the past four years; Inside Basck Cover — Top: The WU women’s team at the 2007 NCAA Championships; Middle (L to R): Josh Clough, Ashley Sharratt, Lucas Nebert, Jena Winger; Bottom: The WU men’s team at the 2007 NCAA National Championships; Back Cover — Willamette women’s runners start a race. Cover Photos by Naomi Stukey and Christopher Sabato. Inside Photos by Stukey, Sabato, and the WU Office of Communications. Design: General design by McKinney; Cover, Inside Cover and Inside Back Cover designed by Sabato. Printing: K/P, Inc.
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Academic Awards and Honors Willamette Cross Country 2007 Sarah Zerzan
Chris Platano
NCAA Today’s Top VIII
Kemper Scholar
1st Team Academic All-America
Sarah Zerzan has been chosen as one of just eight seniors nationwide to receive the NCAA Today’s Top VIII Award for fall 2007. Criteria for the honor included athletics and academic achievement, character and leadership. She will receive the prestigious award during the NCAA Convention, Jan. 13, 2008 in Nashville, Tenn. Zerzan also was named First Team ESPN The Magazine College Division Academic AllAmerica in track and field and cross country for the 2006-07 academic year. In 2006-07, she won the NCAA Division III women’s cross country individual national championship and placed second at the NCAA Track and Field National Championships in the 5,000-meter run. In the fall of 2007, Zerzan repeated as the NCAA Division III national champion in cross country. She also won her third straight NCAA West Regional title and her second consecutive Northwest Conference championship. Zerzan is completing a major in Chemsitry (Biochemistry track). She has a 3.93 cumulative grade point average.
Sarah Zerzan (left) and Maddie Coffman earned All-America honors in 2007.
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Bearcat sophomore runner Chris Platano is one of two Willamette students named a Kemper Scholar in 2007. The Kemper Scholar program is sponsored by the James S. Kemper Foundation to reward first-year college students interested in careers in business or management. The program’s mission is to prepare students for leadership and service. Willamette is one of 15 small colleges involved in the program. Platano will receive an annual scholarship of $3,000–$8,000 during his final three years at WU. He also will receive stipends to use during two summer internships — one at a nonprofit organization in Chicago, Ill., and the other at a location of his choice.
Travis Harris 2nd Team Academic All-America
Willamette distance runner Travis Harris ‘07 was named Second Team ESPN The Magazine College Division Academic All-America during 2006-07. He competed for WU in cross country. Harris earned Second Team All-Northwest Conference honors in 2006 with a 14th place finish at the Northwest Conference Meet. He was named All-West Region after taking 10th place at the 2006 West Regional Meet. Athletes chosen for Academic All-America recognition achieved GPAs of 3.2 or higher. The College Division included NCAA II, NCAA II and the NAIA.
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Charles Bowles Invitational Willamette Cross Country 2007 Willamette University hosts one of the largest college cross country meets west of the Mississipi River each year with the Charles Bowles Invitational. In 2007, the Bearcats hosted the 33rd annual event named after long-time Willamette head coach Charles Bowles. The WU track and field facility at McCulloch Stadium was named after Bowles, who was a fixture at WU for over 50 years. Until he passed away in December, 2005, Bowles remained a part of the Willamette cross country Willamette runners are set for the start of the Charles and track and field teams, often riding Bowles Invitational, one of the largest meets in the West. on the bus with squad members to competitions. There are four college races. The Cardinal Bowles will be sorely missed, but his legacy lives Races include entries from NCAA Division III, NCAA Division II and the NAIA. The Gold on in one of the nation’s most respected meets. This season, the 33rd Annual Charles Bowles Races feature NCAA Division I, junior college Invitational was one of largest ever, with more and club teams, plus unattached runners. than 1,100 collegiate entries and roughly 1,350 Each event features nationally-ranked teams. entries overall. More than 200 athletes ran in the This year, top teams are Willamette, Portland, newly-added high school races. The meet has Washington, Alaska-Anchorage, St. John’s (Minn.), remained special for participants and continues Lewis-Clark (Idaho), Aquinas (Mich.), Concordia to be large, despite meets hosted on the same (Calif.), Eastern Oregon, British Columbia, Point Loma Nazarene and Northwest (Wash.). day by Stanford and the University of Oregon.
33rd Annual Charles Bowles Invitational Collegiate Entries Over 1,100 Women’s Team Champion Willamette Men’s Team Champion Willamette
Women’s Individual Champion Sarah Zerzan, Willamette Men’s Individual Champion Chris Erichson, St. John’s (Minn.) High School Entries Over 200
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About Willamette University Willamette Cross Country 2007 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. Why Willamette? • Quality Academics • Student-Athletes are more than 1/4 of the student body • Competition in the NCAA and the Northwest Conference • Student-Faculty Ratio of 11:1 • Students from 42 States • Opportunity to Study Abroad • Located across the street from the Oregon State Capitol • Near the Pacific Coast and the Cascade Mountains 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.”
The Mill Race, which runs through campus, is a great place for students to relax.
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. 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
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About Willamette University Willamette Cross Country 2007 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.
At Willamette, you can literally walk across the street to the State Capitol or spend an entire semester studying your major in a foreign country. Willamette has a reputation for financial stability. Its endowment consistently earns a spot 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 on campus. Administrative offices, academic buildings, residence halls and recreational facilities have been renovated or refurbished. 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. Work has recently been completed on Willamette’s $14 million Kaneko Commons.
The Oregon State Capitol is located across the street from Willamette University.
Salem, the state capital, is the secondlargest city in Oregon, with a population of about 147,000. The Pacific Coast is just about an hour away and the Pacific Coast mountain range is even closer. To the east are the Cascade Mountains, lakes, streams and rivers. Also within driving distance are Portland, the Columbia River gorge and Mount Hood. 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.
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2007 Season Review Willamette Cross Country 2007
Zerzan Wins Second Consecutive National Title
WU Women Place 9th at National Championships, Men Tie for 18th Willamette University senior runner Sarah Zerzan won her second consecutive title at the NCAA Division III National Championships, held at St. Olaf College (Minn.) on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2007. Zerzan also took first place at the National Championships in 2006. She concluded her cross country career with two NCAA national titles, three West Region championships and two NWC titles. She earned All-America honors three times. Zerzan and teammate Maddie Coffman (Jr.) earned All-America recognition, as they led the Bearcat women’s team to a ninth place finish. Coffman placed 11th individually. The top 35 runners received All-America honors. The Willamette men’s team tied for 18th. Ian Batch (Sr.) was WU’s top finisher in 67th place out of 280 runners. Zerzan earned her second national title by crossing the finish line in the 6-kilometer race in 20:54. She was the only runner under 21:00. “She just went out and ran hard until there was nobody else with her, which is what she’s done for the last two years,” Willamette Head Coach Matt McGuirk said. “At about the nine or 10-minute mark she made her move,” McGuirk added. “With about 1,500 meters to go, she had a 12-second lead and nearly doubled her lead the rest of the way to win by 23 seconds. She just ran hard and was the best runner today.” When did Zerzan know she had won her second consecutive national title? “Not until I finished. I knew I had a lead, but I didn’t really know how secure it was,” Zerzan recalled. Zerzan became only the third athlete to repeat as the NCAA Division III women’s national champion. She received All-America status for the third year in a row. Coffman finished just six seconds out of the top 10 and passed several other runners to
Sarah Zerzan (left) moves past a runner at the NCAA Championships this fall.
finish the race in 21:43. With about 300 meters left, Coffman was in 16th or 17th place. “She passed a lot of people,” McGuirk said about Coffman. “This season, she has beaten everybody who’s been around her at the finish.” After completing the race, Zerzan had a chance to watch Coffman approach the finish line. Zerzan was thrilled to see Coffman surge toward the front of the pack. “I waited for Maddie,” Zerzan said. “When I saw her coming, I started to jump up and down. She always passes people at the finish and she did it again. It’s just so amazing to see.” Willamette’s Jena Winger (Jr.) placed 126th out of 280 entries with a time of 23:10. Edith Polanco (Jr.) also clocked in at 23:10 and was 128th. Ashley Sharratt (Jr.) was 153rd in 23:18. Batch recorded his best finish during four appearances at the National Championships. He ran the course in 25:35. Lucas May (So.) was WU’s second finisher at 25:50 for 103rd place. Taylor Roholt (So.) was 117th at 25:55.
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2007 Season Review Willamette Cross Country 2007 Also contributing to the Willamette team score were Tristan Knutson-Lombardo (Jr.) and Lucas Nebert (Sr.). Knutson-Lombardo placed 128th with a time of 25:57. Nebert achieved a time of 26:18 to finish 189th. “Our top four guys were within 22 seconds of each other,” McGuirk said about the WU men’s team. “They were very close to 10th place, but they finished tied for 18th. They had an exceptional season.”
Willamette Wins Regional Titles Prior to competing at Nationals, both teams won NCAA West Regional titles. It was the sixth consecutive Regional championship for the men and the fifth in a row for the women. Zerzan won the women’s individual title at the West Regional, as she finished in 20:51.65 to claim her third straight regional crown. She was followed by Coffman in 2nd place, while Winger took 9th. All seven of WU’s runners earned All-Region honors with 5 in the top 20. For the men, Batch was fifth with a time of 25:04.65 (8K). May was seventh and Nebert was eighth. The ‘Cats placed all seven runners in the top 20 for a sweep of All-Region honors.
WU Extends NWC Winning Streaks Both WU teams extended their conference winning streaks. The men’s team earned its 7th NWC title in a row, while the women’s team finished first for the 6th consecutive year. Zerzan recorded her second straight NWC title. She won with a time of 20:36.01. Zerzan
Ian Batch (middle left) competed for WU in four straight NCAA Championship Meets.
and Coffman, who took second, were named First Team All-NWC. Second Team All-NWC selections were Winger in ninth, Carly Killam (Sr.) in 13th and Sharratt in 14th. Knutson-Lombardo won the NWC men’s title with a time of 25:00.34. Batch finished second, Taylor Roholt (So.) was third and Josh Clough (Jr.) was sixth. All four received First Team All-NWC honors. Earning Second Team All-NWC finishes were May in ninth, Nebert in 10th and Kyle Kotaich (So.) in 14th.
Charles Bowles Victories for WU Willamette hosted the 33rd Annual Charles Bowles Invitational, one of the nation’s largest collegiate meets, and won both the men’s and women’s team titles. Zerzan took first place in the Women’s 5K Cardinal Race in 17:20.15 for her second straight Charles Bowles victory.
Proud Sponsors of Willamette Athletics Phone 503-391-9848 Fax 503-391-5265
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Head Coach Matt McGuirk Willamette Cross Country 2007 West Region Men’s Coach of the Year
2001, 2003, 2005
West Region Women’s Coach of the Year
2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 NWC Men’s Coach of the Year
2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 NWC Women’s Coach of the Year
2004, 2007
Matt McGuirk is in his fourth year as the head coach of cross country and his fifth year as head coach of track and field at Willamette University. Prior to becoming head coach in 2004, McGuirk led the men’s cross country team for five seasons. He also was the team’s top assistant coach and recruiting coordinator from 1999-03. His ability to recruit student“Willamette is the ideal place for a student who is looking for high quality academics and athletics. It’s my honest belief that if an individual chooses Willamette and decides to be successful in and out of the classroom, the opportunity will be provided. The philosophy of my staff is to simply impart the best advice, information and opportunities to allow student-athletes to be great in whatever they want to achieve.”
— Matt McGuirk Willamette Head Coach
athletes who succeed both as students and as athletes has led to the largest and most successful teams in school history. In 2002 and 2004, the WU men’s team earned fifth place finishes at the NCAA Championships. Sarah Zerzan of WU won back-to-back individual national titles at the NCAA Championships in 2006 and 2007. The WU women’s team placed ninth in the NCAA during the 2004 and 2007 seasons. McGuirk was named NWC Coach of the Year in both men’s and women’s cross country in 2004 and 2007. He also earned Page
McGuirk-Coached Teams Year
Men’s Team
2001 NCAA - 7th 2002 NCAA - 5th 2003 NCAA - 12th Women’s Team 2004 NCAA - 5th NCAA - 9th 2005 NCAA - 16th NCAA - 14th 2006 NCAA - 27th NCAA - 20th* 2007 NCAA - 18th (tie) NCAA - 9th* * Sarah Zerzan individual National Champion McGuirk’s NWC Championships
Men - 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 Women - 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 McGuirk’s West Region Championships
Men - 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 Women - 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
NWC Coach of the Year honors in men’s cross country in 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2006. McGuirk led both cross country teams to NWC titles in 2007 — the men for the seventh consecutive season and the women for the sixth year in a row. WU also won the NCAA West Regional men’s title for the sixth straight season and took the West Regional women’s championship for the fifth consecutive year. McGuirk has guided the men’s team to the NCAA Championships seven years in a row, with the women qualifying each of the past four seasons. He was an assistant coach when the women qualified in 2003. Since he has been at WU, both teams have earned All-Academic status every year. The award requires at least a 3.1 team GPA. As Willamette’s track and field coach, McGuirk led the men’s team to a tie for third place at the NCAA Track and Field Championships in 2004, giving Willamette its first NCAA trophy in school history. The WU men’s team took fourth place at the NCAA Championships in 2005. Contact Coach McGuirk
Office Phone: (503) 370-6898 E-Mail: mmcguirk@willamette.edu
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Bearcat Assistant Coaches Willamette Cross Country 2007
Brett Franz
Christopher Sabato
Brett Franz is in his second year as an assistant coach on the WU coaching staff. In 2005-06, prior to joining the Bearcats, he served as the head men’s and women’s cross country coach and distance coach at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo. Under his direction, the Lindenwood men’s cross country team placed third at the NAIA Championships and the women’s cross country team placed 15th. During his year at Lindenwood, he coached an NAIA individual national champion in men’s cross country, plus champions in the indoor mile and the outdoor 10,000-meter run. Franz coached a total of eight NAIA All-Americans in 2005-06. He was named trackbrain.com’s NAIA National Assistant Coach of the Year for Indoor Track and Field. He was selected Heart of America Athletic Conference and NAIA Region V Coach of the Year in men’s cross country. Franz received a master’s degree in Athletic Administration from Lindenwood. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Business from Western Oregon University.
Christopher Sabato returns to the WU Bearcats for his third year as an assistant coach. He works with the cross country teams as well as the distance group, pole vaulters, sprinters and jumpers during the track and field season. Before arriving at Willamette, Sabato spent two full years at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn. At Rhodes, he coached sprinters and jumpers, including several All-Conference athletes and a handful of NCAA Division III national qualifiers. Sabato attended Alfred University in Alfred, N.Y., where he graduated in 2002 with a degree in electrical engineering. As a student-athlete at Alfred, he participated in track and field, and competed in the sprint events, as well as the long jump and the pole vault. He earned All-State honors three times as a pole vaulter in the New York State Collegiate Track Conference. His athletic and coaching experiences continue to provide a positive impact on the Bearcat cross country and track and field teams as they practice and compete.
Contact Coach Franz
Contact Coach Sabato
Assistant Coach
Office Phone: (503) 370-6934 E-Mail: bfranz@willamette.edu
Assistant Coach
Office Phone: (503) 370-6903 E-Mail: csabato@willamette.edu
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The Bearcat Men’s Team Willamette Cross Country 2007 Asa Acuna-Sanchez
Bill Gale
Hometown: Myrtle Point, Ore. High School: Myrtle Point Year: Freshman Major: Undecided
Hometown: Anchorage, Alaska High School: Robert Service Year: Junior Major: Politics and Spanish
Ian Batch
Alex Jimenez
Hometown: Eagle, Idaho High School: Capital Year: Senior Major: Rhetoric & Media Studies
Hometown: Parkdale, Ore. High School: Hood River Valley Year: Junior Major: Sociology
James Cebron
Austin Knutson
Hometown: Woodinville, Wash. High School: Woodinville Year: Freshman Major: Undecided
Hometown: Portland, Ore. High School: Grant Year: Sophomore Major: Psychology
Josh Clough
Tristan Knutson-Lombardo
Hometown: Auburn, Wash. High School: Auburn Riverside Year: Junior Major: Sociology
Hometown: Juneau, Alaska High School: Juneau-Douglas Year: Junior Major: American Ethnic Studies
Alex Dupler
Kyle Kotaich
Hometown: Seattle, Wash. High School: Nathan Hale Year: Freshman Major: Chemistry
Hometown: Florence, Ore. High School: Siuslaw Year: Sophomore Major: Physics
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The Bearcat Men’s Team Willamette Cross Country 2007 Jonathan Lanning Hometown: Springfield, Ore. High School: Thurston Year: Freshman Major: Undecided
Lucas May Hometown: Portland, Ore. High School: Franklin Year: Sophomore Major: Economics
Ryan McLaughlin Hometown: Milwaukie, Ore. High School: Milwaukie Year: Freshman Major: Undecided
Lucas Nebert took eighth place at the West Regional in 2007 and was 15th in 2006. He was named All-Region twice.
Steven Millard
Lucas Nebert
Hometown: Port Orchard, Wash. High School: South Kitsap Year: Senior Major: Biology
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio High School: Wyoming Year: Senior Major: Biology/Chemistry
Tucker Mottl
Doug Neill
Hometown: Powell Butte, Ore. High School: Crook County Year: Freshman Major: Undecided
Hometown: Pleasant Hill, Ore. High School: Pleasant Hill Year: Sophomore Major: Physics/Spanish
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The Bearcat Men’s Team Willamette Cross Country 2007 Matt Parker
Taylor Roholt
Hometown: Portland, Ore. High School: Lincoln Year: Freshman Major: Undecided
Hometown: Albuquerque, N.M. High School: Sandia Prep Year: Sophomore Major: French
Kellen Peters
Nathan Smith
Hometown: Forest Grove, Ore. High School: Forest Grove Prev. College: Pacific Univ. Year: Junior Major: Anthropology
Hometown: Colorado Springs, Colo. High School: Air Academy Year: Freshman Major: Undecided
Chris Platano
Matt Weisbard
Hometown: Myrtle Point, Ore. High School: Myrtle Point Year: Sophomore Major: Economics
Hometown: Wimette, Ill. High School: New Trier Township Year: Sophomore Major: French/ International Studies
Nick Rebol Hometown: Cottonwood, Calif. High School: Red Bluff Year: Freshman Major: Undecided
Stefan Redfield Hometown: Sisters, Ore. High School: Sisters Year: Freshman Major: Rhetoric and Media Studies
Tristan Knutson-Lombardo runs for WU at the NCAA National Championships in 2007.
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Bearcat Men’s Team History Willamette Cross Country 2007 Willamette Top 10 Lists Men’s 4 Miles 1 Dan Hall 2 Dave Fleming 3 Aaron Young 4 Jacob Stout 5 Rick LaGreide 6 Rick Groenendaal 7 Terry Zerzan 8 Robbie Wright 9 Ian Batch 10 Nick Symmonds
19:29.0 19:32.0 19:34.4 19:36.1 19:41.0 19:42.0 19:43.0 19:45.0 19:47.7 19:49.0
1975 1979 2002 2003 1979 1983 1976 1983 2006 2002
Men’s 5 miles (8K) 1 Dan Hall 2 Aaron Hollingshead 3 Aaron Young 4 Jacob Stout 5 David Fleming 6 Kevin O’Connor 7 Rick Groenendaal 8 Ian Batch 9 Rick LaGreide 10 Robbie Wright
24:02.7 24:24.3 24:24.4 24:24.9 24:26.1 24:28.7 24:29.0 24:30.7 24:35.1 24:37.6
1975 2004 2002 2001 1979 1983 1981 2006 1979 1983
Tristan KnutsonLombardo Northwest Conference Champion 2007
Ian Batch Northwest Conference Champion 2006
Northwest Conference Titles Nick Symmonds
NWC Team Champions (18) 1963, 1968, 1970, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1993, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 NWC Individual Champions (21) Tristan Knutson-Lombardo (2007) Ian Batch (2006) Nick Symmonds (2005) Aaron Hollingshead (2004) Jacob Stout (2003) Aaron Young (2002, 2000) Andy Libert (1986) Rob MacGinnittie (1985) Rick Groenendaal (1982, 1981) David Johnson (1980) Dave Flemming (1978, 1979) Tery Zerzan (1977, 1974) Dan Hall (1975, 1973) Don Johnson (1970) Gary Purpura (1969) Wes Armstrong (1964)
Northwest Conference Champion 2005
NCAA Titles and Awards NCAA West Region Champions (6) 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 NCAA All Americans (6) Aaron Hollingshead (2004) Jacob Stout (2001, 2002, 2003) Aaron Young (2001, 2002)
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The Bearcat Women’s Team Willamette Cross Country 2007 Katrina Brett
Kendra Kennedy
Hometown: Longview, Wash. High School: Mark Morris Year: Senior Major: Japanese Studies
Hometown: Anchorage, Alaska High School: Robert Service Year: Freshman Major: Economics
Maddie Coffman
Carly Killam
Hometown: Boise, Idaho High School: Boise Year: Junior Major: Biology
Hometown: Kailua, Hawaii High School: Punahou Year: Senior Major: Exercise Science
Mara Engle
Molly Lewis
Hometown: Bellingham, Wash. High School: Bellingham Year: Junior Major: Anthropology
Hometown: Gig Harbor, Wash. High School: Gig Harbor Year: Sophomore Major: Spanish
Ciara Gonzalez
Ali Maki
Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif. High School: Flintridge Prep Year: Sophomore Major: Undecided
Hometown: Shoreview, Minn. High School: Mounds View Year: Junior Major: Art History/Spanish
Megan Horning
Melissa Ostermick Hometown: Talkeetna, Alaska High School: Susitna Valley Year: Senior Major: Biology
Hometown: Page, Ariz. High School: Page Year: Freshman Major: Undecided
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The Bearcat Women’s Team Willamette Cross Country 2007 Tina Patel
Jena Winger
Hometown: Bend, Ore. High School: Summit Year: Freshman Major: Chemistry (Biochemistry)
Hometown: Bonney Lake, Wash. High School: Sumner Year: Junior Major: Exercise Science
Edith Polanco
Sarah Zerzan
Hometown: Salem, Ore. High School: McKay Year: Junior Major: Spanish/Sociology
Hometown: San Carlos, Calif. High School: Notre Dame Year: Senior Major: Chemistry (Biochemistry)
Ashley Sharratt Hometown: Union, Ore. High School: Union Year: Junior Major: History
Maya Velez Hometown: Oakland, Calif. High School: Skyline Year: Sophomore Major: Exercise Science
Hannah Vietmeier Hometown: Shoreline, Wash. High School: Shorewood Year: Sophomore Major: Biology
In 2007, Maddie Coffman moved into second on WU’s Top 10 list for 6K. She took 11th at the NCAA National Championships and was runner-up at Regionals and the NWC Meet.
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Bearcat Women’s Team History Willamette Cross Country 2007 Willamette Top 10 Lists
Sarah Zerzan
Women’s 5K 1 Sarah Zerzan 2 Kara Crisifulli 3 Beth Fitzgerald 4 Danya Rumore 5 Maddie Coffman 6 Jena Winger 7 Kari Holbert 8 Nattalie Wright 9 Liz Rodda 10 Kristen Peterson
16.49.4 17:27.0 17:28.8 17:36.9 17:50.25 17:55.42 17:57.4 18:13.8 18:20.7 18:22.0
2006 1985 1999 2004 2007 2007 2004 2000 2001 1986
Women’s 6K 1 Sarah Zerzan 2 Maddie Coffman 3 Danya Rumore 4 Kari Holbert 5 Jena Winger 6 Elizabeth Hart 7 Natalie Muren 8 Carly Killam 9 Ashley Sharratt 10 Edith Polanco
20:32.7 21:05.80 21:28.3 21:41.9 22:00.67 22:14.9 22:25.0 22:27.46 22:28.29 22:30.58
2006 2007 2004 2003 2007 2006 2003 2007 2007 2007
NWC Champion 2006, 2007 NCAA Regional Champion 2005, 2006, 2007 NCAA National Champion 2006, 2007 All-American 2005, 2006, 2007
Maddie Coffman All-American 2007
NCAA Titles and Awards
Northwest Conference Titles NWC Team Champions (7) 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2000 NWC Individual Champions (6) Sarah Zerzan (2006, 2007) Kari Holbert (2002) Beth Fitzgerald (1999) Kara Crisifulli (1984, 1985)
NCAA West Region Champions (5) 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 NCAA West Region Individual Champions (3) Sarah Zerzan (2005, 2006, 2007) NCAA All Americans (7) Sarah Zerzan (2005, 2006, 2007), Maddie Coffman (2007), Kari Holbert (2003, 2004), Beth Fitzgerald (1999) 50% off tour admission with this ad. - expires 6/30/08 -
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WU Athletic Facilities Willamette Cross Country 2007 The Charles Bowles Track, located inside McCulloch Stadium, is an all-weather facility that showcases the finish line when Willamette University is the host for cross country meets. In 2006, Willamette hosted the Charles Bowles Invitational for the 32nd year. In 2005, the ’Cats hosted the Northwest Conference and NCAA Regional meets. The track also is home to WU’s highly-regarded track and field teams. Ogdahl Field at McCulloch Stadium is the home field for the Willamette football team. It is one of the top NCAA Division III facilities in the Northwest. It has the atmosphere of an old stadium, but has a FieldTurf playing surface, spacious locker rooms and meeting rooms. Located near McCulloch Stadium is Roy S. “Spec” Keene Stadium at John Lewis Field, the home of Bearcat baseball. The stadium features chairback seating in part of the grandstand and an overall capacity of 1,000. The entire football, track, cross country and baseball complex is adjacent to Bush’s Pasture Park. The park hosts cross country meets on its wide paths and also is known for its art exhibits, rose garden, trees and expanses of open land. McCulloch Stadium is located two blocks from the Willamette campus and just one block from Salem Hospital. The stadium seats about 2,400 fans and has lights for night games. The stadium also includes an athletic training room, which allows Willamette athletes to receive onsite attention and treatment.
The Sparks Center is the home for Bearcat basketball, volleyball and swimming.
Located in the Lestle J. Sparks Center on the main campus are offices for the Department of Athletics, classrooms and basketball courts. The Sparks Center also includes the offices of the Department of Exercise Science, plus locker
Competitors and fans gather near the finish line at the Charles Bowles Track.
rooms, handball and racquetball courts, and a weight lifting and fitness center. Attached to the Sparks Center is Cone Field House, where men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball play. The arena seats 2,500 fans. Also connected to the Sparks Center is the WU natatorium, home of Bearcat swimming. The natatorium, with space for 200 fans, also may be seen from a viewing area in the lobby. Near the Sparks Center is Sparks Field, an artificial turf facility for men’s and women’s soccer. Sparks Field is equipped with lights for night games and seats 500 spectactors. Close to the Sparks Center and Sparks Field are six outdoor tennis courts. The men’s and women’s tennis teams host meets during the spring each year. 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. Members of the men’s and women’s rowing teams have their own boathouse and hold workouts on the Willamette River in downtown Salem.
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Willamette Administration Willamette Cross Country 2007
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....................... Bob Hawkinson Faculty Athletic Rep...............................Dr. Jerry Gray Assistant Athletic Director.....................Judy Gordon Assistant Athletic Director....................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
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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 Jim Tursi................... (503) 370-6657
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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 Tricia Wright............ (503) 370-6230
The City of Salem, Oregon Willamette Cross Country 2007 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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Conference and National Affiliations Willamette Cross Country 2007
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.
Northwest Conference The nine prviate colleges and universities in Oregon and Washington that form the Northwest Conference are building a reputation for the NWC as one of the top NCAA Division III leagues in the nation. The NWC is nationally competitive in a broad spectrum of sports. Formed in 1926, the NWC is 80 years old and is one of the oldest conferences in the western United States. The NWC’s current members in Oregon are Willamette, George Fox, Linfield, Lewis and Clark, and Pacific. Members located in Washington are Pacific Lutheran and Puget Sound, plus Whitman and Whitworth. The charter members in 1926 included Willamette, College of Idaho (Albertson College), Linfield, Pacific, and the College of Puget Sound (UPS). Albany College was added in 1931 and remained for seven
years, then departed and returned in 1949 as Lewis and Clark College. The next member, Pacific Lutheran, joined in 1965, followed by Whitworth in 1970. The College of Idaho withdrew in 1978. Whitworth dropped out in 1984, but returned in 1988. Menlo College joined the NWC in 2006 in football only. The NWC originally sponsored athletic competition for men’s sports only, but joined forces with the Women’s Conference of Independent Colleges in 1984 to form the Northwest Conference of Independent Colleges. The name was shortened back to the original Northwest Conference in 1998. Also in 1998, all nine NWC members shifted affiliation from the NAIA to the NCAA. Members knew the move would foster equity, sportsmanship and a genuine concern for all student-athletes.
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2007 SCHEDULE DATE EVENT
LOCATION
Sept. 15 Willamette Grass Course Willamette University
Salem, OR Bush’s Pasture Park
Sept. 22 Bear Fete Invitational George Fox University
Wheatland, OR Willamette Mission State Park
Sept. 29 Charles Bowles Invitational Willamette University
Salem, OR Bush’s Pasture Park
Oct. 13 Mike Hodges Invitational Oregon City, OR Clackamas Community College Oct. 20 OSU Beaver Classic Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR Avery Park
Oct. 27 NWC Championships George Fox University
Wheatland, OR Willamette Mission State Park
Nov. 10 NCAA West Regional Lewis & Clark College
Estacada, OR McIver Park
Nov. 17 NCAA Division III National Championships St. Olaf College
Northfield, MN
Willamette Men’s Cross Country
Willamette Women’s Cross Country
NCAA West Region Champions 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
NCAA West Region Champions 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007