2009 BEARCAT CROSS COUNTRY
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U N I V E R S I T Y
A Running Tradition of Excellence Sarah Zerzan `08 2 time NCAA XC Champion 3 time West Region XC Champion 2 time NWC XC Champion Oregon Small College Athlete of the Year NCAA Top VIII Award DIII Student Athlete of the Year NCAA Walter Byers Finalist NCAA Women of the Year Finalist
Sarah Zerzan, a 2008 graduate of Willamette stood out from the crowd in many ways. She was an exemplary student and was dominant on the cross country course. At Willamette, she was a true example of what it means to be a student-athlete at the highest level.
Nick Symmonds `06 3-time NCAA 1500m National Champion 4-time NCAA 800m National Champion NWC Cross Country Champion 2-time USA Outdoor 800m Runner-up USA Indoor 800m Champion Prefontaine Classic 800m Champion World Championships Finalist Olympic Games Semifinalist USA Outdoor 800m Champion As a Bearcat, Nick Symmonds was very successful in the classroom and lost to no one on the track. Since graduating, he has taken the country by storm, becoming the USA 800m Champion and competing at the Olympics in Beijing.
General Information Table of Contents
A Running Tradition of Excellence...........................IFC General Information.........................................................1 2008 Season Preview..................................................... 2-3 Head Coach Matt McGuirk..............................................4 Assistant Coaching Staff .............................................. 5-6 2008 Willamette Home Meets..........................................7 Bearcat Men’s Team..................................................... 8-12 Men’s Team History.........................................................13 Bearcat Women’s Team............................................. 14-17 Women’s Team History...................................................18 Athletic Facilities..............................................................19 2007 Season Review................................................... 20-21 Willamette University................................................ 22-23 The City of Salem............................................................23 Willamette Administration..............................................24 Athletics Department Staff . ..........................................24 Action Photos................................................................IBC 2008 Willamette Schedule..........................................OBC
Willamette Championships 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, 2008
Bearcat Cross Country Quick Facts
Head Coach............................................Matt McGuirk Office Phone...................................(503) 370-6898 Seasons as WU Head Coach.......................... 6th 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 Assistant Coach...................................... Bobbi Wright Cross Country Course.................Bush’s Pasture Park Finish Location............Charles Bowles Track (2,400)
Willamette General Information Location....................................................... Salem, Oregon Founded......................................................................... 1842 Enrollment..............1,943 Undergraduate; 2,628 Overall President.................................................Dr. M. Lee Pelton Faculty Athletic Rep................... Dr. Julianne Abendroth Director of Athletics....................................Mark Majeski Nickname................................................................Bearcats Colors.............................................Cardinal and Old Gold National Affiliation............................NCAA Division III Conference......................Northwest Conference (NWC) Associate Athletic Director.............Dr. R. Skip Kenitzer Assistant Athletic Director.......................... Judy Gordon Administrative Assistant............................ Leslie Berning Head Athletic Trainer..........................Shane Wibel, ATC Assistant Athletic Trainer...................Erin Scharer, ATC Assistant Athletic Trainer......................Ken Smith, ATC Team Physician................................... Dr. David Thorsett Team Physician...............................Dr. Daniel Schweigert Athletics Comm. Director...................Robert McKinney Asst. Athletics Comm. Director................... Sara Brooks 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
Credits: The 2009 Willamette University Cross Country Media Guide was written, designed and edited by Christopher Sabato and Brett Franz, assistant cross country coaches, Robert McKinney, athletics comm. director, and Sara Brooks, asst. athletics comm. director. Cover pages and Team Section pages designed by Sabato. Photos: Front Cover — Top (L to R): Josh Clough, Maddie
Coffman; Bottom (L to R): Molly Lewis, Alex Jimenez, Jena Winger, Chris Platano. Inside Back Cover — Center: Tristan Knutson-Lombardo; Background (Clockwise from upper left): Molly Lewis, Bill Gale, Ryan McLaughlin, Stefan Redfield, Megan Horning, Matt Parker (left) and Nathan Smith (right), Ciara Gonzalez. Outside Back Cover — Right: Hannah Vietmeier; Background: The Willamette men’s team is at the starting line. Photos by Naomi Stukey, Sabato and the WU Office of Communications. Printing: K/P, Inc.
2009 BEARCAT CROSS COUNTRY
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W I L L A M E T T E
2009 Season Preview
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Matt Parker
The Willamette University men’s and women’s cross country teams enter the 2009 season with a group of talented athletes. Willamette has won seven consecutive Northwest Conference women’s titles and the men’s team has won seven NWC championships in the past eight years. Even so, following the graduation of senior women’s runners Maddie Coffman and Jena Winger, plus men’s runner Josh Clough, the Bearcats aren’t the favorites to win NWC titles this season. That doesn’t mean the Bearcats aren’t among the top teams in the NWC, or that Willamette isn’t primed to make a strong push for the women to repeat and the men to regain the title. Ironically, it’s not primarily his team’s running skills that have Head Coach Matt McGuirk excited about the season, which starts on Friday, Sept. 11 at the Pier Park Invitational, hosted by the University of Portland. McGuirk is even more impressed with the teamwork exhibited by his runners. “I just like the team,” McGuirk said. “I like the attitude and the energy. It should be a very good year.”
U N I V E R S I T Y
The Pier Park Invitational is scheduled to get underway at 4 p.m. (PDT). A good contingent of Willamette’s runners will compete at the event. The entire WU squad is slated to run at the Willamette Grass Course Meet a week from Friday on Sept. 18 (5 p.m. at Bush’s Pasture Park). “It’s our second week of practice,” McGuirk noted. “Everybody came in ready to go. They’re really looking forward to putting on their uniforms and getting into some races in the next few weeks.” McGuirk said that he was pleased with the commitment of the team to work hard in practice and to prepare for the season. Members of the team have provided leadership not only at practice, but throughout the week. “The leadership is off the course,” McGuirk said. “They’re leading that way.” With the men’s and women’s teams ready for competition and everyone working toward common goals, McGuirk is happy with his team’s early progress as they work toward the NWC Championship and postseason meets. “It’s the first time in a long time that we’re not the favorite on one or both sides (in the Tina Patel
Kyle Kotaich
Sarah McSweeney
NWC),” McGuirk said. “I like where we’re at.” The men’s team returns several experienced runners. Heading the list is senior Kyle Kotaich (Florence, OR/Siuslaw HS). Kotaich placed eighth at the NWC Championships in 2008 to earn Second Team All-NWC honors. Also claiming Second Team All-NWC recognition were junior Ryan McLaughlin (Milwaukie, OR/Milwaukie HS), who placed ninth, and sophomore Leo Castillo (Parkdale, OR/Hood River Valley HS), who took 13th at the NWC Meet as a freshman last year. “We have almost everybody back on the men’s side,” McGuirk commented.
2009 BEARCAT CROSS COUNTRY
“They’re at a different level now. They’re very focused and driven and very much on the same page. You could mention about 12 men (as contending for the top seven). It’s going to be a good challenge.” On the women’s team, returning runners with championship experience are Tina Patel (Jr., Bend, OR/ Summit HS), who finished ninth at the NWC Meet last fall to earn Second Team All-NWC honors, and Kimber Mattox (Fr., Bend, OR/Bend HS/Cornell University), who placed sixth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2009 NCAA Track and Field Championships. Mattox will compete in cross country and soccer this fall, joining the cross country runners for the second half of the season while competing throughout the schedule in soccer. Hannah Vietmeier (Sr., Shoreline, WA/ Shorewood HS) also returns with significant experience. Sarah McSweney (So., Petaluma, CA/Casa Grande HS), who missed much of last season, provided additional quality depth. “And we have a nice group of freshmen that we’re excited about,” McGuirk said. “I think when we get all of the pieces put together, we’ll have a pretty good team.” The Bearcats also expect to be among the leaders at the NWC and West Regional levels. Willamette has won six West Region men’s titles since 2002 and has claimed five West Region women’s titles since 2003.
Sally Venable
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W I L L A M E T T E
Matt McGuirk Head Coach
Matt McGuirk is in his sixth year as the head coach of cross country and his sixth 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-athletes who succeed both in the classroom and in competition 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 NWC Coach of the Year honors in men’s cross “Willamette is the ideal place for a student who is looking for high country in 2001, 2003, 2005 and quality academics and athletics. It’s 2006, and in women’s in 2008. my honest belief that if an individual McGuirk led the men’s team chooses Willamette and decides to be to seven NWC titles in the last successful in and out of the classroom, eight years and the women to the opportunity will be provided. The five consecutive NWC titles. WU philosophy of my staff is to simply has also won the NCAA West impart the best advice, information and opportunities to allow student-athletes Regional men’s title for six of to be great in whatever they want to the last seven seasons and has achive” captured the women’s title five — Matt McGuirk of the last six seasons.
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U N I V E R S I T Y
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* 2008 NCAA - 27th NCAA - 15th * Sarah Zerzan individual National Champion McGuirk’s NWC Championships Men - 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 Women - 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 McGuirk’s West Region Championships Men - 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 Women - 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
McGuirk has guided the men’s team to the NCAA Championships eight times, with the women qualifying on five occassions. He was an assistant coach when the women qualified in 2003. Since he has been at WU, both teams have earned AllAcademic 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.
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, 2008
Brett Franz Assistant Coach
Brett Franz is in his fourth year as an assistant coach on the WU coaching staff. He works with the cross country teams as well as overseeing the training for the jumps, multi-events, sprints and hurdles forthe track and field program. During 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, located in St. Charles, Mo. Under his direction, the Lindenwood men’s cross country team placed third at the NAIA Championships and was ranked number one in the NAIA for three weeks of the season. The women’s cross country team took 15th place at the NAIA Championships. Franz was selected Heart of America Athletic Conference Coach of the Year as well as NAIA Region V coach of the year for men’s cross country. 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. During indoor and outdoor track season at Lindenwood, he was the head assistant coach. He was chosen as trackbrain.com’s NAIA National Assistant Coach of the Year for indoor track. Franz coached a total of eight NAIA AllAmericans in cross country and the distance events in 2005-06. As the LU’s head assistant coach, Franz worked with a squad that has had 50 NAIA Track and Field All-Americans, including 11 NAIA National Champions. He helped guide the Lindenwood men to an NAIA Indoor National Championship as well as an Outdoor National runner-up finish. The women’s squad finished fourth at the Indoor National Championship and sixth at the Outdoor National Championship. The track and field team at Lindenwood had the 2007 World Champion in the high jump, Donald Thomas, and 2008 Olympic Trials qualifiers and finalists in Michael Rodgers (100m) and James Jenkins (triple jump). Also on
2009 BEARCAT CROSS COUNTRY
the Lindenwood team was 2004 World Junior bronze medalist Kayann Thompson (800m). Franz started his coaching career at William Woods University in Fulton, Mo., in 2004. In his one year as an assistant coach, WWU had four NAIA National qualifiers, and the women brought home the American Midwest Conference title. Franz received a master’s degree in Athletic Administration from Lindenwood. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Business from Western Oregon University.
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W I L L A M E T T E
U N I V E R S I T Y
Christopher Sabato
Bobbi Wright
Christopher Sabato returns to the WU Bearcats for his fifth 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 ault. He earned AllState honors three times as a pole vaulter in the New York State Collegiate Track onference. 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.
Bobbi Wright is an assistant coach with the Willamette cross country teams. She also assists with coaching the Bearcat track and field squads. Wright competed as a distance runner for the Bearcats when she attended WU as a student. She scored in three consecutive NWC track and field championship meets in the steeplechase. In cross country, she participated at the NCAA Championships in 2004. She graduated from WU in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science. She earned a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from Willamette in 2006. Wright currently teaches physical education at McKay HS. Her experiences as a Willamette runner transfer well to her coaching position. She can relate to the combination of academic course work, competitive meets and varied practice schedules faced by the Bearcats. Wright’s focus during the track and field season is on distance running. Her efforts have helped Willamette develop a talented group of distance runners.
Assistant Coach
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Assistant Coach
Willamette Home Meets Willamette will host three meets in the 2008 season. All of the meets will be hosted in scenic Bush’s Pasture Park. The Bearcats will kick off their season with the Willamette Grass Course, followed by the 34th annual Charles Bowles Invitational. Willamette also will be the host for the 2008 NCAA West Region Championships.
Willamette Grass Course The WU Grass Course Meet is the season opener for the Bearcats, and will include teams from the Pacific Northwest and from California. The course is set in the upper section of Bush Park and is a 2k loop that winds through the trees. It is a challenging test for the athletes. The men’s race covers 7.1k and the women’s race is 5k. This year’s event will feature a high school section.
34th Annual Charles Bowles Invitational The 2008 Charles Bowles Invitational is expected to be one of the largest college cross country races in the West. The event traditionally has over 1000 college entries. In 2007, there were close to 1200 entries. The prestigious event is named after legendary Willamette coach Charles Bowles, who passed away in 2006. During previous seasons, the Invitational has drawn runners from all over the country. Since 2003, teams from Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin, plus the provinces of British Columbia and Ontario have competed. The men’s course record was set in 2002 by Dave Davis (23:13.62, 8k). The women’s course record was set in 2003 by Margaret Butler (16:43.70, 5k).
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W I L L A M E T T E
U N I V E R S I T Y
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
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Kevin Aubol
Andrew Brown
Hometown Ellensburg, WA High School Ellensburg HS
Major Undecided
Hometown Gig Harbor, WA High School Gig Harbor HS
FRESHMAN
FRESHMAN Junior Chavarin
Leo Castillo Hometown Parkdale, OR High School Hood River HS
Major Undecided Personal Best 25:39.88(8k),21:10.84(4m)
Hometown Merrill, OR High School Lost River HS
Ben Donovan
Joe Donovan Major Undecided Personal Best 26:36.93(8k),21:12.39(4m)
SOPHOMORE 2009 BEARCAT CROSS COUNTRY
Major Undecided
FRESHMAN
SOPHOMORE
Hometown Minneapolis, MN High School South HS
Major Undecided
Hometown Minneapolis, MN High School South HS
Major Undecided Personal Best 26:37.00(8k)
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W I L L A M E T T E
Jonnie Dunne Hometown Astoria, OR High School Astoria HS
U N I V E R S I T Y
Brian Gnerre Major Environmental Studies Personal Best 29:39.00(8k), 23:03.55(4m)
Hometown Torrance, CA High School Torrance HS
JUNIOR Bart Grabman Hometown Anchorage, AK High School Steller HS
Major Undecided Personal Best 27:39.00(8k),23:05.35(4m)
FRESHMAN Paul Hoard Hometown Lake Oswego, OR High School Lake Oswego HS
SOPHOMORE Kyle Jackson Hometown Springfield, OR High School Marist HS
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Major Undecided
Major Undecided
FRESHMAN Kyle Kotaich
Major Undecided Personal Best 25:59.84(8k),20:54.91(4m)
SOPHOMORE
Hometown Florence, OR High School Siuslaw HS
Major Physics Personal Best 25:13.35(8k),20:35.12(4m)
SENIOR
Greg Lemay
Brin Mamoogian-O’dell
Hometown Sherwood, OR High School Sherwood HS
Major Undecided
Hometown Athens, OH High School Athens HS
FRESHMAN Ryan McLaughlin Hometown Milwaukie, OR High School Milwaukie HS
Major Undecided Personal Best 28:48.00(8k)
SOPHOMORE Matthew Merrit
Major History Personal Best 25:51.55(8k),20:38.58(4m)
Hometown Aurara, OR High School Noth Marion HS
JUNIOR Colin O’Leary Hometown Olympia, WA High School Olympia HS
FRESHMAN Matt Parker
Major Exercise Science Personal Best 26:25.00(8k),21:30.02(4m)
SOPHOMORE 2009 BEARCAT CROSS COUNTRY
Major Undecided
Hometown Portland, OR High School Lincoln HS
Major Archaeology Personal Best 26:18.00(8k),22:55.07(4m)
JUNIOR PAGE 11
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U N I V E R S I T Y
Chris Plantano
Nicholas Rebol
Hometown Myrtle Point, OR High School Myrtle Point HS
Hometown Cottonwood, CA High School Red Bluff Union HS
Major Economics Personal Best 25:37.00(8k),20:57.90(4m)
Major Physics Personal Best 25:37.50(8k),20:37.77(4m)
JUNIOR Stefan Redfield Hometown Sisters, OR High School Sisters HS
JUNIOR Sean Sharma
Major Rhetoric and Media Studies Personal Best 25:39.66(8k),20:47.27(4m)
Hometown La Canada, CA High School La Canada HS
JUNIOR Nate Smith Hometown Colorado Springs, CO High School Air Academy HS
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Major Undecided
FRESHMAN Matt Weisbard
Major Economics Personal Best 25:55.00(8k),21:26.17(4m)
JUNIOR
Hometown Wilmette, IL High School New Trier HS
Major International Studies Personal Best 27:43.05(8k),22:45.72(4m)
SENIOR
Men’s Cross Country Team History 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 (8000 m) 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 24:30.70 24:35.1 24:37.6
1975 2004 2002 2001 1979 1983 1981 2006 1979 1983
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Northwest Conference Titles
NCAA Titles and Awards
NWC Team Champions (18) 1963, 1968, 1970, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1993, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
NCAA West Region Champions (6) 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)
NCAA All Americans (6) Aaron Hollingshead (2004) Jacob Stout (2001, 2002, 2003) Aaron Young (2001, 2002)
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W I L L A M E T T E
U N I V E R S I T Y
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
2008 NORTHWEST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS PAGE 14
Theresa Edwards Hometown Lake Tapps, WA High School Bonney Lake HS
Major Undecided
Stevie Gildehaus Hometown Spokane Valley, WA High School University HS
FRESHMAN Kaitlin Greene Hometown Pullman, WA High School Pullman HS
Major Undecided Personal Best 19:28.84(5k)
Major Undecided
FRESHMAN Megan Horning Hometown Page, AZ High School Page HS
Major Sociology Personal Best 19:13.56(5k), 23:44.72(6k)
SOPHOMORE Erin Madden Hometown Albuquerque, NM High School Eldorado
Kimber Mattox Major Psychology Personal Best 20:59.62(5k), 24:28.00(6k)
SOPHOMORE 2009 BEARCAT CROSS COUNTRY
JUNIOR
Hometown Bend, OR High School Bend HS
Major Exercise Science
SOPHOMORE PAGE 15
W I L L A M E T T E
Sarah McSweeney Hometown Petaluma, CA High School Casa Grande HS
Major Exercise Science Personal Best 19:58.69(5k), 23:29.00(6k)
U N I V E R S I T Y
Cathy Monahan Hometown La Grande, OR High School La Grande HS
SOPHOMORE
SOPHOMORE Eryn Rebol
Tina Patel Hometown Bend, OR High School Bend HS
Major Chemistry Personal Best 19:05.37(5k), 22:32.86(6k)
Hometown Cottonwood, CA High School Red Bluff Union HS
Kendra Schaffer
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Major Undecided
FRESHMAN
Major Undecided
FRESHMAN
JUNIOR Hometown Veneta, OR High School Elmira HS
Major French Personal Best 20:40.99(5k), 24:48.00(6k)
Amanda Tamanaha Hometown Honolulu, HI High School St. Andrews Priory
Major Undecided
FRESHMAN
Alisha Till
Maya Velez
Hometown Richland, WA High School Richland HS
Major Undecided
Hometown Oakland, CA High School Skyline HS
FRESHMAN Sally Venable Hometown Ventura, CA High School Foothill Technology HS
Major Exercise Science Personal Best 18:35.62(5k), 23:24.94(6k)
SENIOR Hannah Vietmeier
Major Undecided Personal Best 20:30.08(5k), 24:41.00(6k)
Hometown Shoreline, WA High School Shorewood HS
SOPHOMORE
Major Biology Personal Best 18:21.35(5k), 22:57.62(6k)
SENIOR
Amercian Family Insurance
2009 BEARCAT CROSS COUNTRY
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W I L L A M E T T E
U N I V E R S I T Y
Women’s Cross Country Team History Women's 5000m 1 Sarah Zerzan 2 Maddie Coffman 3 Kara Crisifulli 4 Beth Fitzgerald 5 Danya Rumore 6 Jena Winger 7 Kari Holbert 8 Nattalie Wright 9 Liz Rodda 10 Kristen Peterson
16:49.4 17:18.68 17:27.0 17:28.8 17:36.9 17:55.5 17:57.4 18:13.8 18:20.7 18:22.0
2006 2008 1985 1999 2004 2007 2004 2000 2001 1986
Women's 6000m 1 Sarah Zerzan 2 Maddie Coffman 3 Danya Rumore 4 Jena Winger 5 Kari Holbert 6 Elizabeth Hart 7 Natalie Muren 8 Carly Killam 9 Ashley Sharratt 10 Edith Polanco
20:32.7 21:05.8 21:28.3 21:37.0 21:41.9 22:14.9 22:25.0 22:27.5 22:28.3 22:30.6
2006 2007 2004 2008 2003 2006 2003 2007 2007 2007
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Northwest Conference Titles
Sarah Zerzan
NWC Team Champions (8) 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
NWC Champion 2006, 2007
NWC Individual Champions (7) Maddie Coffman (2008) Sarah Zerzan (2006, 2007) Kari Holbert (2002) Beth Fitzgerald (1999) Kara Crisifulli (1984, 1985)
NCAA Titles and Awards NCAA West Region Champions (5) 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 NCAA West Region Individual Champions (4) Sarah Zerzan (2005, 2006, 2007) Maddie Coffman (2008) NCAA All Americans (8) Sarah Zerzan (2005, 2006, 2007) Maddie Coffman (2007, 2008) Kari Holbert (2003, 2004) Beth Fitzgerald (1999)
NCAA Regional Champion 2005, 2006, 2007 NCAA National Champion 2006, 2007 All-American 2005, 2006, 2007
Maddie Coffman All-American 2007, 2008
2008 Season Review The women’s team, led by senior Maddie Coffman, won their fifth consecutive Northwest Conference Championship. Coffman won the individual title at the NWC Championship Meet and teammate Jena Winger (Sr.) finished second. For Willamette, Coffman and Winger received First Team All-NWC recognition, while Tina Patel (So.) and Molly Lewis (Jr.) were Second Team All-NWC. The women won the team title by a margin of 35 points over Whitworth and Whitman. Josh Clough (Sr.) led the way for the men at the NWC Championships with a fifth place finish and First Team All-NWC status. Kyle Kotaich (Jr.) crossed the line in eighth place. Ryan McLaughlin (So.) and Leo Castillo (Fr.) finished in ninth and 13th place to earn Second Team All-NWC honors along with Kotaich. The men’s team finished in second place in the NWC behind Whitworth University. At regionals, four Bearcats women received All-Region honors. Coffman led the way by winning the individual women’s title. Patel, Lewis and Edith Polanco (Sr.) also earned All-Region status. The women finished third at regionals. All seven runners on Willamette’s regional squad for the men’s team earned All-Region recognition as the team finished in third place overall. Clough was WU’s top finisher at the West Regional, as he placed 14th. Kotaich finished in 15th place and Nick Rebol (So.) in 17th place. Additional All-Region honors went to Stefan Redfield (So.) in 19th place, Castillo in 22nd place, McLaughlin in 25th place and Kyle Jackson (Fr.) in 34th place.
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Coffman ended her season in fashion at the NCAA Division III Cross Country National Championships were she finished fourth out of 279 runners to earn All-America honors for the second year in a row. Coffman’s finish helped the women achieve a 15th place finish in the team standings. The men’s team placed 27th at the National Championships. WU’s top finisher was Clough with a 120th finish.
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W I L L A M E T T E
U N I V E R S I T Y
About the First University in the West
Historic Waller Hall (left) and Eaton Hall are seen from across the campus quad. Willamette University, founded in 1842 as the first university in the West, covers 61 acres in Salem, Ore. Willamette merges its beautiful residential campus with the benefits of a downtown location in the State Capital. At Willamette, faculty and staff care 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 to be active members of the Salem area and their home communities. Willamette is proud of the academic accomplishments and well-rounded lives of its students. At WU, students have found an ideal match between
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the demands of a rigorous academic program and the ability to participate in a variety of athletic, social and community activities. 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 or be locally involved in social and environmental issues. Willamette students are concerned about maintaining the natural beauty of Oregon and are also dedicated to improving the lives of others. Willamette ranks among the country’s most academically respected colleges and universities,
but WU has added something extra: an equally important focus outside the classroom. Attending college should be fun, inspiring and at times invigorating. It should challenge you and make you laugh. At WU, the student-faculty ratio of 11:1 allows faculty members to maintain ample office hours and to serve as advisors. WU’s professors are engaged in scholarly research and publish their findings, but they are primarily focused on teaching. The University is selective and seeks serious and talented students. The average first-year student has a 3.74 GPA, an SAT score of 1240 and an ACT score of 27. Enrollment at the undergraduate level is 1,943, with a total enrollment of 2,628. About 95
Why Choose 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 Top: Students study together in the Mark O. Hatfield Library; Bottom: The Mill Stream is a great place to play catch or relax with friends. percent of Willamette students receive financial aid and scholarships. Many continue their education in graduate or professional school. Willamette’s endowment is consistently among the largest in the Northwest and compares favorably on a national basis. The campus features 42 buildings, plus the Campus Quad, athletic fields and other open spaces. Construction is underway on Ford Hall, which will include Rhetoric and Media Studies, Computer Science, Math, Digital Art, Film Studies and Music Technology. Funds for the 46,000-square-foot building included an $8 million gift from Hallie Ford. 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.
2009 BEARCAT CROSS COUNTRY
Students from 44 States and 26 Foreign Countries Opportunity to Study Abroad Located across the street from the Oregon State Capitol Near the Pacific Coast and the Cascade Mountains
The City of Salem, Oregon 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 located an hour from the Cascade Mountains to the east and an hour from the ocean beaches to the west. The population is about 147,000 and is growing each year at an average rate of 1.5 percent. Trips to the Oregon coast, the Cascade and Coast Mountain ranges, as well as vineyards and high desert areas offer a variety of experiences. The varied terrain within 60 minutes of Salem provides some of the most beautiful scenes in the Pacific Northwest. Salem has many restaurants, places to shop, historic sites and museums. Several parks and the historic district are within walking distance of Willamette. Salem has a farmers market that offer local produce, and the city hosts the Salem Arts Fair and the Oregon State Fair each year.
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Athletic Facilities
Competitors and fans at the Willamette Cross Country Invitational, gather near the finish line at the Charles Bowles Track. The Charles Bowles Track, located inside McCulloch Stadium, is an allweather facility that showcases the finish line when Willamette University is the host for cross country meets. In 2009, Willamette will host the 35th Annual Charles Bowles Invitational, plus the Grass Course Meet and the NCAA West Regional. 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
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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. The stadium seats about 2,400 fans, has lights to allow for events at night, and features a state-of-the-art scorebaord with a video display. It also includes an athletic training room, which allows athletes to receive on-site attention and treatment. 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 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 Sparks Center are the softball field and six tennis courts. The softball field includes dugouts, batting cages and bleachers. Tennis hosts matches each spring. 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.
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 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.
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 the chairman of the NCAA Division III membership committee, which provides oversight of the Division III provisional member program. 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. 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 5. 2009 BEARCAT CROSS COUNTRY
Head Coaching Staff Baseball Aaron Swick.................. (503) 370-6011 Men’s Basketball Kip Ioane....................... (503) 370-6063 Women’s Basketball Anne Lapray.................. (503) 370-6132 Cross Country/Track & Field Matt McGuirk............... (503) 370-6898 Football Mark Speckman............ (503) 375-5350 Men’s Golf Noah Horstman............ (503) 370-6867 Women’s Golf Noah Horstman............ (503) 370-6867 Rowing Susan Parkman............. (503) 370-6655 Men’s Soccer Nelson Larson............... (503) 375-5428 Women’s Soccer Hillary Arthur................ (503) 370-6657 Softball Damian Williams.......... (503) 370-6656 Swimming Leslie Shevlin................ (503) 370-6601 Men’s Tennis Toby Krauel................... (503) 370-6841 Women’s Tennis Becky Roberts............... (503) 370-6804 Volleyball Tom Shoji...................... (503) 370-6230
Admin. Staff Faculty Athletic Rep. Dr. Julianne Abendroth Associate Athletic Director Dr. R. Skip Kenitzer Assistant Athletic Director Judy Gordon Head Athletic Trainer Shane Wibel, ATC Assistant Athletic Trainer Erin Scharer, ATC Assistant Athletic Trainer Ken Smith, ATC Athletics Comm. Director Robert McKinney Assistant Comm. Director Sara Brooks Administrative Assistant Leslie Wright
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To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift PAGE 24
2009 BEARCAT CROSS COUNTRY
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DATE Sep. 11 Sep. 18 Oct. 3 Oct. 16 Oct. 24 Oct. 31 Nov. 14 Nov .21
EVENT/OPPONENT Pier Park University of Portland Willamette Grass Course Willamette University Charles Bowles Invitational Willamette University Mike Hodges Invitational Clackamas CC Beaver Classic Oregon State NWC Championships Lewis & Clark College NCAA West Regional Pomona-Pitzer NCAA Championships Baldwin-Wallace College
U N I V E R S I T Y
LOCATION Portland, OR Pier Park Salem, OR Bush Park Salem, OR Bush Park Oregon City, OR Corvallis, OR Avery Park Estacada, OR McIver Park Claremont, CA Prado Park Cleveland, OH