2010 Carindal & Gold by Willamette University Bearcats

willamette university department of athletics | volume 8 | summer 2010

Memories for a Lifetime

the impact of womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s athletics at willamette p12

message from the director of athletics

“The Price of Greatness is Responsibility” — Winston Churchill

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Challenging times can make cowards of us all if we let them. We could make excuses for each other and ourselves. We might not feel as motivated. We could point fingers and assign blame. We could assume, or hope, that someone else will “deal with it.” But none of these responses reflect the spirit we find in athletics. Maybe it’s because athletic competition teaches us that losing is temporary and never fatal. Or, maybe we learn that supporting teammates is more important than individual glory. Perhaps we realize that our success is our own responsibility. Mission of Willamette Athletics To enhance the overall learning environment by providing an athletics experience that develops life skills by cultivating moral, physical, intellectual and emotional growth. Department Value Statements

Respect We must demonstrate appreciation for all individuals through tolerance, understanding, integrity and sportsmanship.

Responsibility We must possess discipline to honor all commitments and stand accountable for all of our actions.

Initiative We must welcome all challenges and approach them with relentless work ethic and innovation.

Teamwork We must demonstrate unified effort distinguished by loyalty, selflessness and cooperation, honoring the University motto, “not unto ourselves alone are we born.”

Achievement We must pursue excellence in all aspects of our work and personal lives while always maintaining the highest standards for safe and ethical conduct.

Ted Ogdahl once counseled a young, exhausted athlete who asked to come out of a football game. Coach Ogdahl told the young man that the decision to quit was his own, and it would be one of the most difficult decisions he’d ever have to make. He cautioned the athlete, however, saying that ‘the first time you quit is the hardest, but it gets easier and easier each time.’ I don’t know if the football player decided to quit or not, but the story represents one of athletics’ most precious lessons. It demonstrates the power of responsibility, and our response-ability. It speaks to an attitude and approach to adversity that applies to every aspect of our lives. I think back to our early days of women’s athletics at Willamette, and pioneering coaches like Jean Williams and Fran Howard. The pre-Title IX era was extremely challenging for women’s sports. These coaches, and others, felt a responsibility to persevere despite obstacles and ignorance. This issue of Cardinal and Gold features more examples of responsibility in action. From our story on women’s athletics to Jim Booth’s difficult childhood to Marcus Holmes’ academic recommitment to Matt Benjamin’s testimony on why he donates to the Bearcat Athletic Fund. These stories demonstrate the price paid for greatness is worthwhile.

news and notes

student spotlight

alumni spotlight

women’s athletics at wu

leaders

champions

senior spotlight

team recaps

coach spotlight

bearcat club

Published annually by the Department of Athletics Willamette University 900 State Street, Salem, OR 97301

W I L LA M E TTE

Life’s challenges indeed weigh heavy on our character, yet lessons learned through athletics can be truly transformational. Greatness is more than an outcome or an attitude. Greatness is taking action.

UNIVERSITY

the first university in the west

Responsibility, above all other costs, leads to greatness on all levels. Churchill knew this, and I believe that deep down inside we all know this to be true. We must all consider our responsibilities and act accordingly.

Photography by Frank Miller, Naomi Stukey, Susan Parkman, Judy Gordon, Christopher Sabato and Leslie Shevlin Writing and editing by Willamette Athletics Communications Office and Willamette Office of Marketing Communications Designed by Katie Sciarrino

Thank you for your continued support of our student-athletes and coaches.

Mark Majeski Director of Athletics mmajeski@willamette.edu

departments

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news and notes

Miller is Chosen Chemistry

Athletes Get Involved with Literacy Night

Freshman of the Year

Seven student-athletes from Willamette University took time out of their busy schedules to lend a hand at Stayton Elementary School in Stayton, Ore., on Feb. 25 to assist with Literacy Night. Players on the WU volleyball, women’s soccer and men’s basketball teams participated in the activities. The women’s soccer representatives spent the evening handing out free books to students who attended the night. Members of the men’s basketball team read Dr. Seuss books to students in first through third grade.

Miller is undecided regarding her major but took two chemistry classes this spring, Physical Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I. She excelled on the volleyball court as well as in the chemistry lab. The freshman setter played in all 24 matches (23 starts) and led the team with 865 assists. She averaged 9.5 assists per game. She had a season-high 61 assists against Linfield College on Oct. 28, helping the Bearcats defeat the Wildcats 3-2.

Bearcats to Take on Ducks in Final Game at Mac Court The University of Oregon will host Willamette in men’s basketball on Saturday, Dec. 11, 2010 at 7 p.m. in what will be the final game played at McArthur Court in Eugene, Ore. After playing Willamette, the Ducks will open Matthew Knight Arena to start their Pac-10 Conference home schedule.

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Oregon and Willamette will meet roughly 83 years and hundreds of games after the Ducks defeated the Bearcats, 38-10, on Jan. 14, 1927 in the first game ever played on Mac Court. As part of this year’s meeting, Willamette plans to hold a pre-game event in Eugene. Details will be available this fall. Willamette is 12-40 overall against Oregon. The Bearcats lost their last meeting against the Ducks, 71-48, on Jan. 15, 2002, as part of the celebration for the 75th anniversary of the opening of Mac Court.

Booth Award Goes to Mitchell

Bearcats Host Salem Swish at National Girls & Women in Sports Day Willamette hosted National Girls & Women in Sports Day in conjunction with the women’s basketball game versus Pacific University on Feb. 2. The Salem Swish, a youth girls’ basketball team from Salem, joined 15 Willamette female student-athletes for a night of fun. During the game, members of the Salem Swish sat with current female Bearcat athletes to watch the action. At halftime, Willamette female student-athletes from all sports joined the Salem Swish on the court for a shoot-around. Members of the youth team enjoyed the opportunity to show off their skills during several games of “bump.” “It was great for the young girls to interact with our student-athletes and to learn about sports they may not have been

introduced to previously. It was also good to see them show their stuff out on the court,” commented Leslie Shevlin, Willamette head swimming coach and organizer of the event. “For our studentathletes, it was a good reminder of one of the reasons they do what they do: to set a good example.” After the game, the young girls had a chance to get autographs from current female student-athletes, including members of the women’s basketball team. For many of the Willamette athletes, it was their first time signing autographs for fans. Willamette plans to continue to celebrate National Girls & Women in Sports Day each year and hopes to increase attendance and participation in the future.

Hoopsters for Haiti Two Willamette men’s basketball players provided a perfect example of putting the university’s motto, “Not unto ourselves alone are we born,” into action this past season. Cameron Mitchell and Bubba Lemon organized an event called Hoopsters for Haiti.

Cameron Mitchell, organizer of Hoopsters for Haiti, and Alex Watilo from Willamette's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee

The event was held during a pair of home men’s and women’s basketball games against Pacific Lutheran University on Jan. 22. A portion of ticket sales were contributed to the relief effort, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee organized a coin drive and additional donations were made through a halftime basketball shooting contest.

Mitchell, a First Team All-Northwest Conference post player, felt the urge to contribute to the disaster relief fund as soon as he saw the devastation on television.

“I was talking to my roommate (Bubba) and we both thought that there had to be something we could do. We are living comfortably, we’ve just finished playing the game we love, and we were looking at the devastation, the fear and the look of hopelessness on those poor peoples’ faces,” Mitchell said. “Something stirred up in me and I figured there was something that we could do.” Mitchell and Lemon accomplished their goal, as the event they spearheaded raised $1,318 for the Haiti relief fund.

Senior men’s basketball post Cameron Mitchell was chosen for the annual J.H. Booth Award as part of the Willamette University Athletic Awards Night on May 3. The Booth Award is presented to a graduating senior male student-athlete who demonstrated strong leadership skills and outstanding athleticism while maintaining a high rank of scholarship. In three years at WU, Mitchell scored 1,200 points and grabbed 791 rebounds. As a senior, he led the Northwest Conference with 21.1 points and 12.5 rebounds per game. He shot 57.9% on field goals to rank second in the conference. He was named First Team All-NWC in 2008–09 and 2009–10. As a senior, he was chosen First Team All-Region by D3Hoops.com and Second Team All-Region by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). He was one of 10 national finalists for the Jostens Trophy, which is awarded to one male NCAA Division III basketball player each year.

“The principal and teachers really appreciated us being there,” said Tom Shoji, head volleyball coach. “All of the student-athletes who participated were a big help.”

Platano Receives

Academic Awards Chris Platano, a senior runner for the Bearcats in 2009-10, earned several academic awards in the past year: • He was selected to receive an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. The scholarship provides $7,500 to help pay for graduate school tuition. • Platano earned the NCAA Elite 88 Award in men’s cross country by having the highest cumulative grade point average among all 276 runners at the 2009 NCAA Division III National Championships. • Platano was chosen Third Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America. • He received First Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VIII recognition from the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) for the third consecutive year. • He was named to the All-NWC Scholar-Athlete First Team. • Platano graduated from Willamette this spring with a bachelor's degree in economics. He is currently employed by Intel and plans to attend business school.

Horstman Coaches Golf Teams

While attending Willamette, Mitchell was a public address announcer at various Bearcat athletic events. He graduated this spring with a degree in history.

Noah Horstman, an assistant golf professional at Illahe Hills Country Club in Salem, recently completed his first season as the head coach of the men’s and women’s golf teams at Willamette University.

Three other student-athletes were nominated for the J.H. Booth Award. They were Scott Hirschberger (football), Chris Platano (cross country, track and field), and Marc Whitehead (rowing).

Horstman continues to serve as an assistant golf professional at Illahe Hills, which is Willamette’s primary home course and practice site for the men’s and women’s golf teams. Horstman

Mitchell helped organize Hoopsters for Haiti and participated in Willamette’s Take A Break program. He also organized a donation of shoes and backpacks to Mississippi youth.

has been working at Illahe Hills since October of 2007. He graduated from Pacific University in 2006 with a B.A. degree in business and an emphasis in marketing. While at Pacific, he competed on the golf team and earned All-Northwest Conference honors in 2005–06. He was the team captain from 2004 through 2006. Horstman is from Medford. He was an assistant golf professional and webmaster at the Centennial Golf Club in Medford from 2006–07. He served as the head golf coach at South Medford High School in 2007–08.

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Freshman setter Brigit Miller from the Bearcat volleyball team was named 2009–10 Freshman of the Year by the Willamette Chemistry Department.

The highlight of the night was an art activity based around The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss. Student-athletes from the volleyball team and men’s basketball team helped the kids paint their feet. The youngsters then walked across giant sheets of paper.

news and notes Dean of Campus Life Athletics will report to Dr. David Douglass, the new dean of Campus Life, starting with the 2010–11 academic year. Douglass was named dean of Campus Life a year ago, but served as interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts in 2009–10. He has been at Willamette since 1990 as a professor of Rhetoric and Media Studies, and also served several stints as associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts.

Swimmers Help with

Grand Opening of Kroc Center The Bearcat men’s and women’s swimming teams helped make the grand opening of the Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center a success on Sept. 26, 2009 in Salem, Ore. Willamette swimmers helped out with various tasks, including the dunk tank, carnival events, parking supervision, bus direction and trash pick-up. Overall, 22 Willamette swimmers and coaches participated in the Kroc Center grand opening. Approximately 7,000 people attended the event. The Kroc Center is an 11-acre, multipurpose facility. It includes an Olympicsize pool and a leisure pool in addition to a fitness center, rock climbing wall and 288-seat chapel. The Kroc Center is operated by The Salvation Army.

Athletics Receives NCAA Grant

for United Way

The Athletics Department recently received a two-year NCAA Women’s and Ethnic Minority Internship Grant to fund a combined administrative and assistant coach position. The grant provides salary and professional development funding for two years and the university provides health benefits. Becky Horn has been hired for the internship as business operations assistant/assistant volleyball coach.

Gniotczynski Hired as Assistant Swimming Coach Willamette has hired Guy Gniotczynski as assistant men’s and women’s swimming coach. He will begin working with the Bearcats during the 2010–11 season. Gniotczynski spent the last two years as a graduate assistant coach for the swim teams at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisc. He also was the coordinator for the National Swimmer of the Week awards sponsored by CollegeSwimming.com. At Willamette, he will assist Head Coach Leslie Shevlin in all aspects of the swimming program. In addition to coaching at Willamette, Gniotczynski will help with the Willamette Swim School and Swim Camps. He also will be the Senior Prep coach (ages 11-14) for the Bearcat Swim Club. Gniotczynski received a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Carroll College (Wisc.) in 2003. He earned a Master’s in Education from Carthage in 2010.

Sixth Annual Bearcat Day is a Success The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) sponsored the Sixth Annual Bearcat Day on April 27. SAAC members invited 120 students from Bush Elementary School to participate in the two-hour event. The elementary school students participated in a number of athletic activities. At the same time, Willamette student-athletes were able to teach the youngsters about their athletic endeavors.

The highlight for the kids appeared to be the football station. The youngsters made moves to get past Willamette football players and then practiced their celebratory touchdown dances. The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee includes representatives from each of WU’s intercollegiate teams. The SAAC provides community service opportunities such as Bearcat Day and is the liaison between athletes and the university, as well as regional and national governing organizations.

Football Season Tickets

AvailableNow 6 | news and not es

Football Builds Trail

Order online at willamette.edu/athletics/tickets or by calling 503-370-6420. The Bearcats host four home games this year and offer ticket options for both individuals and businesses. Season ticket holders enjoy Bearcat Club hospitality room access and have the option of purchasing reserved parking. The Bearcats went 19-3 over the past two seasons. Willamette won the 2008 Northwest Conference Championship.

First home game: Sept. 18

Rowing Teams Up with Habitat for Humanity Willamette’s rowing teams sent a total of 40 members to locations in Salem and Keizer in late January to support the construction of houses sponsored by Habitat for Humanity. The student-athletes helped with a variety of projects while providing free labor. “Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity was an incredibly rewarding experience,” said sophomore Karina Hoogstede. “For me, I learned how empowering it felt to operate power tools and install a kitchen floor.” Working together on the houses enabled a common bond to develop among the Bearcats who were already unified by their dedication and hard work. The Habitat for Humanity projects also allowed the Bearcats to put their considerable physical strength to work toward a great cause.

Full-Time Assistant Athletics Communications Director Sara Brooks will be full-time as the assistant athletics communications director starting in 2010–11. Brooks, who played basketball at Willamette in 2005–06 and 2006–07 after graduating from nearby Chemeketa Community College, joined the Athletics Department staff as an administrative intern in 2008–09. In addition to administrative duties she also helped coach the women’s basketball team and served as interim head coach following the death of Head Coach Bruce Henderson in December of 2008. In 2009–10, she was

full-time, but split her working hours between athletics communications and being an assistant women's basketball coach. While working in the Athletics Department, Brooks completed a master’s in sports administration from Seattle University in 2009 as she graduated magna cum laude. She earned a bachelor’s degree in history at Willamette in 2007. Brooks is the primary sports information contact for about half of Willamette’s athletic teams and assists Robert McKinney, athletics communications director, with media guides, other publications and website maintenance.

Photo by Khela Singer-Adams, United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley

Bearcat football players created a pathway linking two trails at Wallace Marine Park as part of the United Way Days of Caring on Aug. 22, 2009. Approximately 130 players worked to move bark chips and bark dust from large piles onto the new connecting trail. By providing a significant number of volunteers, the Bearcats were able to quickly build the path to a level between four and six inches thick. It was the sixth consecutive year that WU football players have contributed to the Days of Caring. “Our guys did an awesome job. They put in a trail that’s about half a mile long,” said Willamette Head Coach Mark Speckman. “It looks great.” The Days of Caring are sponsored by the United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley. Volunteers complete single-day service projects in order to clean up and improve buildings and landscapes at public locations and health and human service organizations in the Salem area.

Willamette Baseball Team Upgrades John Lewis Field

individual lockers. The clubhouse, which also has two satellite televisions, is below the stadium and has an entrance from the Bearcats’ dugout.

The Willamette baseball team practiced and played on a brand new natural grass infield in 2009–10. During the summer of 2009, Willamette players and coaches tore out the old infield and slowly began putting it back together.

In addition, the team’s covered batting facility received a new protective roof and two brand new 70-foot cages. The facility also has lights which will allow the team to hit at any time and in any weather conditions.

The primary reason for the project, which took seven days from start to finish, was to laser-level the infield surface and to rebuild the pitching mound and home plate areas. Also, the clubhouse was improved by adding 11 new

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Douglass Begins as

news and notes

Kunke Continues to Make By Jamie Timbrell ’06, MBA ‘08

On a Tuesday night at Willamette’s Cone Field House in February of 2008, the ball sailed through the air on a layup to the right of the basket — hitting the backboard and the rim, before finding its way through the net with the buzzer sounding. The Willamette men’s basketball team defeated arch rival Linfield College, 82-81. The Linfield basketball team let out a collective “ugh,” as Willamette fans stormed the court to celebrate the gamewinning shot. It was a key win for the Bearcats on their way to the 2007– 08 Northwest Conference Tournament. The shot, by freshman point guard Robbie Kunke, cemented his role on the Bearcat team. Now, as he enters his senior season, Kunke is a team leader and captain, hoping his experience will lead the Bearcats to even more victories. “I’m excited about our team for next year,” Kunke said. “We lose one starter (Cameron Mitchell) who will be tough to replace. He was our best player and MVP last year, but we are bringing in a couple new freshmen and a transfer, and everyone that played last year is coming back with a year of experience.” As a four-year starter and returning captain, the team will be looking to Kunke for leadership. “Our team is very young. I need to go out there and be the guy that runs the show, getting open shots and creating,” Kunke said. “When stuff starts to go bad people will look to me and I’ll need to step up.” Kunke ranked seventh nationally in NCAA Division III in assists per game (6.27) in 2009–10. He led the conference in assists in NWC games as a freshman (6.13 avg.) and a junior (6.54 avg.). He played point guard for two years, before moving to shooting guard last year. His overall statistics from 2009–10 also included 6.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. He achieved a solid +1.7 assist-to-turnover ratio. “This year we are really small. I might be guarding bigger guys, but I will always be the point guard in distributing the ball,” Kunke said. “I’ll play any position the coach wants me to play because I’m out there trying to get points.”

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Kunke, an economics major, is enrolled in the 3/2 program with the Atkinson Graduate School of Management. He will graduate from Willamette in his fifth year with a bachelor of arts and a master of business administration. “I realized I wasn’t going to play basketball in the future. I needed to choose a school that would set me up for a good career,” Kunke said. “Willamette was a great choice. The last three years have been a blast.” Kunke is not the first person in his family to play hoops for the Bearcats. His grandfather, Gordon Kunke (’42), played for the team while attending Willamette and can often be found in the stands watching his grandson’s games.

Big Plays

Practice,

Practice

Helps Holmes Improve His Skills

By Jamie Timbrell ’06, MBA ‘08

There is no secret to the development of Marcus Holmes as a basketball player — no magic, no sleight of hand and no special sauce. It comes down to years and years of practice. He started shooting baskets every day after school in the fourth grade and just never stopped playing. The senior guard is looking to turn all that practice into a more prominent role for the Bearcats this year. “I have a lot more responsibilities. Obviously, the coaches are really depending on players like me, Rob Kunke and Taylor Mounts,” Holmes said. “My role scoring-wise has to increase. On defense I need to be more focused.” In 2009–10, it was Holmes’ first full year as a starter. The season started slowly for the Bearcats, who lost their first seven conference games, but the team pulled a 180-degree turn and won six of its last nine contests, including five of the last six. Holmes averaged 11.0 points, 2.4 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Holmes and the Bearcats are hoping to carry that positive momentum into the upcoming season. “We are all just working hard in the weight room, coming back with the same mentality,” Holmes said. “We all know what we need to do to be successful. Hopefully, we can win the conference championship next season. That’s our number one goal.” Off the court, Holmes likes helping kids and giving back to the community. He is a mentor and tutor at South Salem High School and he coaches at Willamette's Pro Hoop Camp every summer. The sociology major hopes to turn his passion into a career as a school counselor or a basketball coach. After early difficulties balancing Willamette’s heavy academic workload with athletics, Holmes has improved drastically in the classroom. “I learned to manage time wisely, cut back on lots of social activities,” Holmes said. “I had lots of help with Coach Kip (Ioane) and other players making sure everything was situated with my school work. If I needed any tutors or anything, they were there. If I needed help, I could get it, especially with my parents Mark and Denise on my side.” “My family was a huge support. My mom and dad haven’t missed a home game, even my freshman year when I wasn’t playing,” Holmes said. “My dad is one of the loudest fans. He sits behind the bench every game. Everyone knows him.” The Seattle native originally came to Willamette at the urging of his language arts instructor at Garfield High School. The teacher, Mark Lovry, is a Willamette alumnus. He nudged Holmes in the direction of his alma mater. “I wanted to leave the state of Washington but didn’t want to go too far because of family, so coming down to Oregon was a perfect fit for me,” Holmes said.

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student spotlight

alumni spotlight

Jim Booth at Willamette

Award as the outstanding senior scholar-athlete in my class (yes, J.H. was a great uncle, but, no, I did not even know there was such an award). Although not on the Dean’s List, I believe the benefits of my education were recognized when I was accepted at the Stanford, Harvard and Wharton graduate schools of business. Taking the risks of participation in athletics and Greek life outside the classroom had given me the confidence and skills to continue to set high goals and strive to be the best I could be.

Are Lifelong Jim Booth has become recognizable as a key figure at Willamette University. He is so strongly associated with Willamette through his many years as alumni director, his never-ending devotion to Bearcat Athletics and his overall love of the University, that he is the “Mr. Willamette” of our time.

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In the Athletics Department, we know that he is eager for the next game, excited to see the Bearcats play well and thrilled by the accomplishments of WU’s top athletes. He has served as a member of the Board of Trustees, has worked at Willamette for more than 20 years and has been inducted into the WU Athletics Hall of Fame. “Mr. Willamette” has been affiliated with WU since arriving as a student in 1960. His connection has spanned a full 50 years, so we felt it was appropriate to let him tell his story and to provide his insights into what Willamette Athletics has meant to his career and to his life. — Robert McKinney Athletics Communications Director

By Jim Booth ‘64

When Sports Information Director Robert McKinney invited me to write something for Cardinal and Gold, I was at a loss. But after thinking about it, I was pleased to have a chance to share some thoughts about the value of athletics in my life, which may also have relevance for others. My interest in athletics started in the fifth grade, at least partially because of a broken family and domestic violence. Ironically, some of the skills of dealing with adversity at home would later help me overcome adversity on the playing field. When my mother passed away while I was in the eighth grade, my brother and I moved back to Oregon to live with our father, who had remarried and started a new family. Fortunately, we were in a much better family environment. That, plus the fact that I was big for my age and had a lot of playground experience, led to lettering in four sports as a freshman at Yoncalla High School … and a whole new outlook on life.

Indeed, those of us who have had the opportunity to compete in athletics have learned much about overcoming adversity. Hopefully, we have added to our character as men and women who can overcome defeat with a positive attitude, while handling victory with humility and grace. Simply put, we have been educated by athletics. We have gotten more out of school than academics alone because we made a major commitment to athletics outside the classroom. That is the true reward of athletics. I’ll close with a quotation by Olympic swimmer Donna DeVarona that I shared with our senior athletes at the annual Senior Awards Banquet this spring: “The values learned on the playing field — how to set goals, endure, take criticism and risks, become team players, use our bodies, stay healthy and deal with stress — these are all values that prepare us for life.” I have been blessed to learn many of these values from my own experiences, and know they are attainable for all athletes, past, present and future.

Booth was named AllConference in baseball and basketball. His 20-rebound performance against Linfield College still ranks among the top rebounding efforts in Willamette history. He won the J.H. Booth Award in 1964. He was inducted into the WU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009. While he was a student at WU, Booth was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and earned multiple service-related awards. Booth also was the treasurer of the Willamette Letterman’s Club. He graduated from Willamette in 1964 as he earned a bachelor of arts degree with a double major in economics and mathematics. He also attained an MBA degree in finance from the University of Oregon in 1967.

He worked for 20 years in the printing industry. During many of his years in business he was a member of the WU Board of Trustees. He returned to Willamette as an employee and worked at WU for more than 20 years in the Alumni Relations Office. He was the director of alumni and parent relations for 18 years and spent more than two years as the director of alumni travel. Booth retired from full-time employment in November of 2009. He now works part-time as the director of alumni travel.

Willamette University Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2009 ATHLETES Scott Baker, 1990–94 Men’s Basketball, Track and Field Jamie Barton, 1994–98 Women’s Soccer

Four years later, I was on top of the world, having won state recognition in all four sports, serving as student body president, and getting accepted to Willamette University. Soon, however, I was a much smaller fish in a much bigger pond, and needed to persevere as a freshman.

Jim Booth, 1960–64 Football, Basketball, Baseball, Track and Field

But overcoming adversity was now something I could do, and by my sophomore year, I was starting in three sports, involved in a fraternity and majoring in economics and mathematics. Clearly, athletics continued to be a major part of my education, culminating with winning the J. H. Booth

Chuck Pinkerton, 1994–98 Football, Assistant Football Coach, 1998–Present

Jenny Joseph, 1993–97 Women’s Basketball

Maynard “Skip” Spence, 1958–59 Class of 1961 Track and Field

COACHES Gordie James Head Coach of Men’s Basketball 1987–88 through 2008–09 22 Seasons Jim Tursi Head Coach of Women’s Soccer 1993–2007 15 Seasons TEAMS Men’s Basketball Team 1959–60 22-6, 12-3 NCIC Champion NCAA District 2 Champion Women’s Basketball Team 1985–86 20-7, 10-0 NCIC Champion Jim Booth ‘64 speaks after receiving his WU Athletics Hall of Fame award. Booth earned 11 letters in four sports at Willamette.

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The Values of Athletics

During my 40+ years of work in two very different fields, I had many chances to draw on the values learned from athletics. Whether running a printing business, helping raise three sons or organizing 24 concurrent regional events across the country for Willamette’s Sesquicentennial, there were many opportunities to ‘compete’ at the highest level of my ability. I am very grateful for the life skills and values acquired through athletics. It has been a bonus to serve as alumni director and observe many former WU athletes ‘competing’ well in life.

Jim Booth attended Willamette from 1960 until 1964. He lettered all four years in football. He played one year of junior varsity basketball and lettered three times on the varsity basketball team. In baseball, he played four seasons and earned three letters. He also received a letter while competing for one season in track and field. Overall, he achieved 11 varsity letters.

“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded

from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to

program or activity receiving Federal

financial assistance.” Title IX (Passed by the U.S. Congress on June 23, 1972)

Athletic competition was less formal when Sanesi Donovan was at Willamette than it is today. There were no conference affiliations or national championships for the women’s teams. Even so, the Bearcats practiced hard and prepared to battle each opponent.

for a lifetime

“I was just told we were going to go out and beat such and such a team,” Sanesi Donovan said. “Everything was very local at that time.”

the impact of women’s athletics at willamette

Jean Williams also competed in athletics when Sanesi Donovan was at Willamette. Williams remained at Willamette after graduating and went on to have great success coaching many of the Bearcat women’s teams.

By Robert McKinney

Willamette University has a rich tradition in women’s athletics. It is a tradition that began long before the NCAA and the NAIA added women’s championships in the 1980s and well before women’s professional leagues provided significant opportunities for female athletes to play beyond the college level.

1 2 | m emori es for a life time

Long-time coaches Jean Williams and Fran Howard (see included profiles), as well as numerous other coaches and administrators over the years, allowed women’s athletics to flourish and to grow. Williams and Howard are two of the big names in Willamette women’s athletics history, pioneers who took on the challenge of coaching young women to help them improve their athletic skills. At the same time, these on-the-field leaders taught female athletes valuable lessons in life through teamwork and competition. Two of Willamette’s former athletes are Jean (Carkin) Sanesi Donovan and Jean Fischer. Sanesi Donovan competed at Willamette from 1941–43, while Fischer participated from 1977–79. Both were at Willamette for just two years — Sanesi Donovan as a freshman and a sophomore, Fischer as a junior and a senior.

Both are proud of their ties to Willamette and they continue to stress the value of women’s athletics at all levels of competition. They remember the great impact that athletic competition had on their lives and they are aware of the benefits of such activity for today’s college athletes.

Sanesi Donovan Focuses on Athletics and Music Sanesi Donovan was a junior tennis champion in Salem as a high school student and always enjoyed swimming. She learned how to the swim in the Willamette River, although she noted that “the river wasn’t as dirty back then.” After graduating from Salem High School (now North Salem HS), Sanesi Donovan started her college endeavors at Willamette. With a love for tennis and swimming she continued those sports at the college level. She also participated in softball.

While at Willamette, Sanesi Donovan studied music and was an alto soloist at Salem First United Methodist Church. She transferred to the University of Oregon after two years to complete a degree in Music Performance and Teaching. She married Nelson Sanesi in December of 1945 and the couple moved to Sanesi’s house in Los Angeles.

Jean Williams Jean Williams (above left) coached every sport offered to women at one time or another during her 32 years at Willamette from 1959 until her retirement in 1981. She also served as the director of women’s physical education, director of women’s intramurals and coordinator of the service programs while employed by Willamette. Williams was president of the Women’s Conference of Independent Colleges (WCIC) in its first year in 1953 and was inducted into the NAIA District II Hall of Fame in 1987. While growing up, Williams attended nearby Salem High School, where she graduated in 1939. She advanced to Willamette, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in 1943 and a Master’s in Education in 1967. She was inducted into the WU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1992.

Jean Williams (left) and the 1968 women’s golf team

Sanesi Donovan was a soloist at a church and helped with the music program at CSU-Northridge. She also taught music for two years as a volunteer at an elementary school. “Music was always a part of my life,” she said. “And of course, I kept up with tennis. We always had a pool in our yard, so swimming has always been a part of my life, too.” She added golf to her list of sports when she was in her forties and her children were all college age or older. “I thoroughly enjoyed it and worked hard at it. It’s a good game,” Sanesi Donovan said. Her first husband passed away in 1994 and Sanesi Donovan returned to Salem. She took continuing education classes at Willamette, along with many older citizens sharing ties to the university. One of those was Bob Donovan, who was a guard on the football team during Sanesi Donovan’s two years as a Bearcat.

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Memories

discrimination under any education

Sanesi Donovan didn’t know Bob Donovan well in the 1940s, but they became friends through the continuing education program and eventually married. Several years ago, the couple moved to Capital Manor Retirement Community in West Salem.

Athletes

At the retirement center, Sanesi Donovan is one of about 10 women with ties to Willamette. They often share a “continental coffee” and reminisce about the university. “We talk a lot about Willamette when we get together,” Sanesi Donovan said. “We have many great memories and are very fond of our time there.” Her friends also have been a source of support since Bob passed away this spring.

JoAnn Atwell-Scrivner ’76, Class of 1998 Field Hockey, Volleyball, Softball Jamie Barton ’98, Class of 2009 Soccer Holly Brown ’76, Class of 1997 Field Hockey, Basketball, Track and Field Ruth (Yocom) Carkin ’39, Class of 2000 Basketball, Tennis

Jean Fischer is a Multi-Sport Athlete

June (Brasted) Chipman ’40, Class of 1995 Soccer, Badminton, Basketball, Softball, Tennis

A few decades after Sanesi Donovan left Willamette, Jean Fischer arrived as a tennis player for the Bearcats. She competed in 1977–78 and 1978–79 after transferring from El Camino Junior College, where she received an associate’s degree.

Carkin (second from right) and the 1942 women’s tennis team

Mary Watkins Cronin ’68, Class of 1994 Volleyball, Basketball, Tennis

Fischer was born and raised in the Los Angeles area. She joined several other athletes in getting her high school to form a girls’ tennis team. The athletes were happy to play tennis, but they didn’t receive varsity letters. Instead they received certificates, which they pinned to their shirts.

Lynne (Crosett) Flynn ’76, Class of 1992 Field Hockey, Volleyball, Basketball, Softball Carrie (Martin) Greg ’77, Class of 1995 Volleyball, Basketball, Softball, Tennis Brenda Hansen-Coats ’81, class of 1993 Basketball, Volleyball

The athletes’ obvious statement of discontent led to varsity letters following the second season. The letters, however, were “smaller than the letters for the boys’ teams,” Fischer said.

Jenny Joseph ’97, Class of 2009 Basketball Kathy Kelso ’90, Class of 2003 Soccer Dorothy “Dotty” Moore ’41, Class of 1991 Basketball, Softball Margaret “MEA” (Frantz) Neal ’94, Class of 2005 Volleyball, Basketball, Track and Field Cynthia Pemberton ’80, Class of 2003 Swimming Carrie Pietig ’91, Class of 2001 Track and Field Carla Piluso ’77, Class of 2001 Basketball Kara (Crisifulli) Scott ’86, Class of 1996 Cross Country, Track and Field Tracy Thom ’88, Class of 2007 Soccer, Basketball Rachael Yocom ’37, Class of 1991 Tennis, Track and Field, Softball Teams Field Hockey 1975, Class of 1991 Head Coach: Fran Howard Basketball 1985-86, Class of 2009 Head Coach: Cheryl Brown Swimming 1996-97, Class of 2007 Head Coach: Dr. R. “Skip” Kenitzer

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Coaches Fran Howard, Class of 1994 Field Hockey, Basketball, Soccer, Volleyball, Track and Field, Softball

Meritorious Service

Jean (Carkin) Sanesi Donovan and her late husband, Bob Donovan

It was a time of change, as girls’ and women’s athletics started to receive additional attention in part because of Title IX, which outlaws discrimination based on gender in educational institutions that receive federal funds.

Fran Howard was a coach at Willamette for 16 years. She coached basketball, field hockey, soccer, softball, track and field, and volleyball for the Bearcats.

Fischer, second from left, and coach Williams, right, ’78

During the tennis season Fischer played #1 singles for the Bearcats who competed in the Women’s Conference of Independent Colleges (WCIC). “Singles was my first love,” Fischer said. “But we played both singles and doubles.” Williams provided the women’s team with guidance and encouragement. “She was really, really cool,” Fischer said. “I liked her a lot. She was just a real person and very honest. You knew that she loved Willamette and that she loved the girls on the team. I think she did a lot for women’s sports.”

She assisted men’s basketball Head Coach Jim Boutin with equipment checkout. She helped Williams with various office and team-related duties. She kept statistics for Head Coach Jim Brik during swimming meets and worked as an intramural volleyball referee and line judge. “I lived in the gym,” Fischer noted.

In 1980, Howard was a finalist for the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) small college Basketball Coach of the Year Award. Howard also served as women’s athletic director at Willamette for eight years. She was inducted into the NAIA Coaches Hall of Fame in 1986 and entered the WU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994.

As a result, she spent plenty of her time with Willamette’s coaching staff. She especially appreciated the efforts of the coaches who led the women’s teams. “I got to know all of them pretty well,” Fischer said. “They all worked very hard to do well for their teams to make sure that there was a foothold for women’s athletics … to make sure that we didn’t just get the bottom of the barrel.” After graduating from Willamette, Fischer stayed in the Salem area and worked for state congressmen and the Oregon Legislature. She also attended Willamette University’s College of Law starting in 1981 (JD ’85).

Jean (Carkin) Sanesi Donovan, Class of 2000 Shirley Hadley, Class of 1997 Fran Howard coaching field hockey ’80 (above) and volleyball ’81 (below)

“When you stood on the quad you could feel like history was just flowing over you. It was a wonderful time…”

Fischer kept herself busy. In addition to playing on multiple athletic teams, she was studying and attending … and she was a student employee in the Sparks Center.

Gale Curry, Class of 1991

Jean Williams, Class of 1992

Fischer played for Williams in tennis, golf, bowling and badminton. She also played softball for Howard during part of one season before the physical demand of competing in so many sports took its toll.

According to Fischer, Williams had a big impact on her players. “She was very emotionally inspiring. She was always there,” Fischer commented. “She was a mother figure more than a coach.”

Fran Howard

Howard’s teams won 23 conference or regional championships. From 1973–77, Willamette won the Women’s Conference of Independent Colleges (WCIC) all-sport trophy each year.

Williams was still coaching when Fischer arrived in 1977. “I met her while hanging around the tennis courts. She asked me to play on the teams she coached,” Fischer noted.

Fischer in her office as the owner of Lakepoint Law Firm

She went into criminal defense law for several years, but it wasn’t the right fit. Later, she was employed by a firm specializing in worker’s compensation … and she felt at home.

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Women in the WU Athletics Hall of Fame

But the battle had already been fought for decades by coaches like Williams and Howard. Their efforts made for a much smoother transition at Willamette than at many other colleges and universities.

Fischer considers her work to be very rewarding. It was a continuing effort as she gradually learned more and more about accidents, injuries and medical terminology in order to fully represent her clients.

She led the Bearcats to a 12–9 overall dual match record in 2010. During her coaching career, Roberts has seen the growth of women’s athletics at colleges throughout the country.

“There are more opportunities for women now to step into college at any level and to compete,” Roberts said. “If the guys get to do it, why not the women, too? I think there are “I like helping people … making the law work for them,” Fischer also more opportunities for women to coach.” said. “You almost have to have a “mini-medicine degree.” Roberts has observed an increase in the skill level of women’s She might not be at Willamette, but Fischer is still involved athletics in the Northwest Conference and a greater focus in athletics. She plays on an over-50 team and a 4.0/4.5 and competitiveness in recruiting. “In my 10 years, the skill team in the United States Tennis Association (USTA). “We level across the board has increased dramatically,” she said. went to nationals a couple of years ago,” Fischer said. Fischer also helps with the Keizer Tennis Association. She has watched her two daughters play volleyball at Valley Christian High School and her son from her first marriage, Donovan LeDoux, play tennis for one year at Willamette. She has supported Willamette through donations, especially for the tennis teams. “I think it’s really important to give back to the community. Sports are so important to being healthy,” she said. Fischer’s interest in athletics is evident when you enter her law firm. There are pictures and posters of famous tennis players and other well-known athletes. There are framed works of art depicting the Olympics in Canada and Yankee Stadium. There are photos of her children involved in athletic competition. “A lot of my sports memorabilia revolves around inspiration,” she said. Fischer was particularly inspired by tennis players Jimmy Connors, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova.

”They will make longtime friends and create memories. Athletics just makes your life more enjoyable.”

In addition, Roberts has seen the growth of fan support for women’s athletics. There are professional leagues for women in several sports, and major NCAA Division I programs fill large arenas for conference and postseason competition. “Women’s sports can produce a fan base,” she said. “People like to watch women compete. At Willamette, I think we’ve made strides in all our women’s sports in my 10 years, but we haven’t maxed out yet.”

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Athletes recruited by Roberts want to know about Willamette’s Fischer recalls how happy she was to be on the Willamette tennis program and want to benefit from the overall college campus when she was a student. “I just loved the history,” experience. she said. “When you stood on the quad you could feel like history was just flowing over you. It was a wonderful time and “I show them where I want to go with the team and what a wonderful experience.” Willamette has to offer. They want to experience more than just tennis and classes. They will make long-time friends Roberts Continues Coaching Tradition and create memories. Athletics just makes your life more Adding to the Willamette coaching legacy is Becky Roberts. enjoyable.” She arrived on campus as the head coach of men’s and Fischer also stressed the benefits of women attending college women’s tennis in 2001 after coaching both sports at the and competing in athletics. University of Texas at San Antonio for 19 years. “Just encourage them to enjoy every part of the college Roberts received a experience. I think it’s great when part of it involves athletics.” bachelor’s degree Fischer said. “You learn some skills that you can carry on in physical educathroughout your life both on and off the court.” tion and health from the University Fischer is motivated by a saying she has posted in several of Texas at Austin in places in her office. It reads: “At the end of every long day 1976. She added a I take a bit of the court with me, and I leave a bit of myself master’s degree in behind.” education/superviThe commitment by women to participate in athletics seems sion from UT-San to have occurred naturally at Willamette, but it is the hard Antonio in 1984. work and dedication of Williams, Howard, Roberts and other Roberts coached coaches that have allowed women’s athletics to remain a vital the Willamette part of campus life. men’s and women’s Sanesi Donovan, Fischer and others have taken those ideas teams for four and memories with them after competing. They’ve also years. Since 2005, given back by supporting Willamette Athletics, continuing she has focused to participate in the sports they love, and contributing to solely on coaching athletic opportunities for others in their local communities. the women’s team.

Luecht Earns 2010 Jean Williams Award Ten-Time NWC Track and Field Champion Willamette senior track and field athlete Jennifer Luecht was named the 2010 Jean Williams Award winner at the ninth annual Athletic Awards Night. Luecht excelled both on and off the track during her career at WU. The Jean Williams Award recognizes a senior female student-athlete who exemplifies and demonstrates outstanding leadership, scholarship and athleticism. For her work in the classroom, Luecht was recognized as a four-time Academic All-Conference and four-time Academic All-America selection. She spent one semester studying abroad in Angers, France. On campus, Luecht worked as a manager at the Bistro, served as an Opening Days leader and was on the hall house of representatives. Luecht is one of the most accomplished athletes in the history of Willamette track and field. She won

four Northwest Conference titles in the 200-meter dash. She became the first female in the history of the NWC to win an individual championship four times in the same running event. She left Willamette with 10 conference championships and a school record in the 4 x 400-meter relay (2007). She earned All-NWC honors 13 times and All-America honors once. She was one of two athletes selected for the NWC Women’s Athlete of the Meet Award in 2010. At the 2010 NWC Championships, Luecht won the 200-meter dash and the 400-meter dash. She helped WU finish first in the 4 x 400-meter relay. Four other female student-athletes were nominees for the Jean Williams Award. They were Hilary Andrus (rowing), Jessica McGraw (volleyball), Gwen Schulze (swimming) and Nicole Wallace (softball).

Zerzan Exemplifies

Willamette Women’s Athletics Former Willamette distance runner Sarah Zerzan ‘08 developed an exceptional reputation for academic and athletic skill while competing for the Bearcats in cross country and track and field for four years. She was Willamette’s first ever NCAA Today’s Top VIII Award recipient in 2008. Zerzan, a Chemistry major (Biochemistry track), was one of just eight student-athletes selected from throughout the NCAA’s three divisions to receive the Today’s Top VIII Award based on their athletic and academic achievements, plus character and leadership. She graduated magna cum laude in the spring of 2008. In cross country, Zerzan won back-to-back NCAA Division III individual national championships in 2006 and 2007. She became only the third cross country athlete to repeat as the women’s champion to that point in the history Division III. Zerzan earned All-America honors three times. During her career, she won two NWC titles and three West Regional titles in cross country. Zerzan was twice named NCAA Division III National Female Athlete of the Year in cross country, and was selected as the West Region Athlete of the Year three times in cross country and one time in track and field. She was the cross country nominee for the NCAA Division III Woman Athlete of the Year Award in 2006-07 and 2007-08. One student-athlete from each of 11 sports is nominated for the prestigious award each year. Zerzan also earned First Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America honors as a junior and a senior. In the summer of 2006, Zerzan took her studies abroad to Costa Rica. She helped conduct ethnobiology field research through interviews with the Costa Rican indigenous people. Zerzan was a member of the steering committee for WU’s chapter of the Student Global AIDS Campaign. She also volunteered at Waldo Middle School as part of the Russian-English bilingual mentorship program and was a Spanish-English mentor at Richmond Elementary School.

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Now, she’s been practicing law for 25 years, including 22 in worker’s compensation and personal injury. She opened Lakepoint Law Firm in Keizer, Ore., in 1997.

Is Very Involved at Willamette By Robert McKinney

Walter Robinson II knew that he wanted to be involved in many aspects of college life when he chose Willamette University after graduating from Cathedral High School in Los Angeles. Now that he’s at Willamette, he’s taking his plans to the extreme. Robinson is a starter on the Bearcat football team, he helped reestablish the Black Student Union, he’s active in the Hawaii Club and he’s been elected president of the Associated Students of Willamette University (ASWU). There’s more … Robinson is a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, helps with the mentoring program at South Salem High School and works as a Sparks Center supervisor and an intramural supervisor. He’s active in his politics major and American ethnic studies minor. He has always been known as Walter Robinson II, not Walter Robinson, Jr. He said “junior” seemed less important or smaller than the original version. “That’s something that I’ve been called since I was young: number two. That’s like an enhanced version of my father,” Robinson said proudly. On the football team Robinson is a defensive end. He is one of WU’s top defensive players and makes big plays throughout the season. He will be a senior this fall. “I love the game of football,” he said. “I can showcase my talents and have the opportunity to do what I want.” And one of the things he wants to do is sack the opposing quarterback. “My primary responsibilities are to keep containment and sack the quarterback,” Robinson said. “I become a different person when I play football.”

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During the 2009 season, Robinson led the Bearcats with 6.0 sacks. He finished the year with 60 total tackles as he earned 30 solo tackles and 30 assists. He led the team with 11.5 tackles for losses. Robinson has registered 93 career tackles. His impact on the game goes beyond his statistical totals. He often draws a double-team from opponents, which creates space for other defenders to make plays. Even while blocking one offensive lineman or one running back, Robinson can divert that player’s attention.

“Sometime’s I might be keeping an offensive lineman contained to let our linebackers make plays,” Robinson said. “I want to be a team player, but to also make big plays.” Robinson has helped Willamette achieve a combined record of 19-3 over the past two seasons. In 2008, WU won the Northwest Conference title, went 10-0 in the regular season, qualified for the NCAA Division III Playoffs and finished the year 11-1. In 2009, the Bearcats earned an 8-2 overall record, including 5-1 (2nd place) in the NWC. As a founder and former president of Willamette’s Black Student Union, Robinson has worked to develop quality programs during Black History Month and to help all students enjoy their time at Willamette. “One of our main goals is to provide a ‘comfort place’ for black students on campus,” Robinson said. “Anyone is welcome to come to any of our meetings.”

Robinson said that the BSU began in 2008 with five or six members and has expanded to as many as 20 to 25, with about a dozen active members. Each year as part of Black History Month, the club sponsors a panel discussion, brings in a guest speaker, provides a movie night and holds a dance. All of the events are open to the entire campus. In 2010, the group sponsored a panel discussion about “White narrative” and held an open microphone night with poetry and songs. The BSU also arranged for damili ayo (lower case name preferred) to be the guest speaker. As in previous years, the month’s activities ended with a dance. “We like to end with a little fun,” said Robinson, who currently serves as one of five members on the BSU Executive Council. Robinson has been able to expand his ever-widening group of friends by participating in the Hawaii Club. The Hawaii Club sponsors the annual Lu’au at Willamette, one of the biggest events on campus each year.

“You never know how far “Now I have a lot of Hawaiian friends,” Robinson said. a smile and a handshake He also has friends as a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. He served as the house manager and the vice president, can go in affecting has and is now the social chairman. in a Greek organization provided me with opportunipeople’s lives.” “Being ties,” he said. WU Team GPAs

(Cumulative through Spring 2010)

Men’s Swimming Women’s Cross Country Women's Soccer Women's Rowing Women’s Track & Field Women’s Swimming Women’s Golf Men’s Cross Country Men’s Tennis Men’s Rowing Women’s Tennis Volleyball Softball Men's Golf Men’s Track & Field Women’s Basketball Men’s Soccer Baseball Football Men’s Basketball

3.56 3.47 3.46 3.43 3.40 3.39 3.39 3.31 3.30 3.25 3.24 3.19 3.15 3.14 3.13 3.00 2.94 2.83 2.80 2.77

Overall Average

3.09

His opportunities related to SAE have included a leadership school at the end of his sophomore year involving several of the largest fraternities in the United States. A side benefit was that the leadership meetings were held during a cruise that included a stop in Guadalajara, Mexico. Robinson said that it was great to find out about the national structure of various fraternities. He also realized even more about his leadership potential. It’s now one year later and Robinson has been elected president of ASWU, the student-run campus government organization at Willamette. He became president on April 29 and will lead ASWU during the 2010 –11 academic year. “I was tired with how things were working and I figured this needed to change. Why aren’t we spending the students’ money on things to make student life better here on campus?,” Robinson said regarding his desire to run for office. “I felt that things needed to change for the better.” Robinson ran unopposed, but still put his political skills to work. “I’m a competitive person,” he said. “I ran as if I was running against someone.” Campaigning meant meeting people, shaking hands and discussing issues of importance to Willamette students. Even now, he continues to put an emphasis on greeting people in a positive way. “You don’t have to keep politicking,” Robinson noted. “I’m not. That’s just how I am. You never know how far a smile and a handshake can go in affecting people’s lives.”

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Walter Robinson

leaders

champions track and field teams. Ironically, it was WU’s former women’s basketball coach, the late Bruce Henderson, who inspired Mattox to attend Willamette.

”She is a very unique athlete with a tremendous capacity to achieve.”

“I was planning on playing basketball and soccer. As I narrowed my search down to a few schools and came to visit Willamette, the main thing that made me pick WU was Bruce,” Mattox said.

Since arriving, Mattox has racked up a plethora of athletic achievements. She was chosen as one of five finalists for the 2009 Ad Rutschman Small College Women’s Athlete of the Year Award.

Stands Out Competes in Soccer, Cross Country, Track and Field By Sara Brooks ‘07

If junior athlete Kimber Mattox feels at all strained by her workload at Willamette, you would not know it from talking to her.

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“I have loved everything about my Willamette experience so far,” Mattox said. “The academics have been challenging, especially with the time commitment of sports, work and other campus activities, but I feel like I have learned so much over the past two years.”

All-America

Hilary Andrus (Sr.) Rowing 1st Team All-America 1st Team All-Region 1st Team All-NCRC

Ralph Pineda (Jr.) Football 3rd Team All-America 1st Team All-Region 1st Team All-NWC NWC Defensive Player of the Year

All-Region

Jessica Barry (Fr.) Softball 2nd Team All-Region 1st Team All-NWC

Ron Carter (So.) Football 3rd Team All-Region 1st Team All-NWC

Lacey Ellingson (Sr.) Rowing 2nd Team All-Region

Lea Griggs (So.) Rowing 1st Team All-Region

Scott Hirschberger (Sr.) Football 3rd Team All-Region 1st Team All-NWC

Karina Hoogstede (So.) Rowing 2nd Team All-Region

Tina Patel (Sr.) Cross Country 1st Team All-Region

Joe Penkala (Sr.) Football 3rd Team All-Region 1st Team All-NWC

Chris Platano (Sr.) Cross Country 1st Team All-Region

Nicholas Rebol (Jr.) Cross Country 1st Team All-Region Track & Field 1st Team All-NWC

Stefan Redfield (Jr.) Cross Country 1st Team All-Region 1st Team All-NWC Track & Field 1st Team All-NWC

Mica Romero (So.) Softball 3rd Team All-Region 1st Team All-NWC

Mitchell Rowan (So.) Baseball 1st Team All-Region 1st Team All-NWC

Sarah Schroeder (So.) Rowing 2nd Team All-Region 1st Team All-NCRC

Heidi Hunt (So.) Rowing 1st Team All-Region

In track and field, Mattox was named 2009 NCAA Division III West Region Women’s Track Athlete of the Year and was the 2009 NWC Women’s Athlete of the Meet. She has won individual NWC championships in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (twice), the 1,500-meter run and the 5,000-meter run. Mattox earned All-America honors after finishing sixth in the steeplechase at the 2009 NCAA Division III Championships. She also finished 12th in the NCAA in the 5,000-meter run. This year, she achieved NCAA provisional qualifying times of 10:41.78 in the steeplechase and 4:36.06 in the 1,500. She went on to place ninth in the NCAA in the steeplechase. Mattox holds the Willamette record in the steeplechase with a time of 10:38.05 in 2009. She set the Charles Bowles Track record of 10:48.71 this spring. In her first season on the cross country team this past fall, Mattox earned First Team All-NWC and All-West Region honors. She placed sixth at the NWC Championships and was 15th at the West Regional. She was named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team. Mattox’s boundless energy also helps her on the soccer field, where she earned Honorable Mention All-NWC recognition as a midfielder in 2009. “Kimber — a soft spoken, ever humble, die-hard athlete — continues to impress me,” said Head Coach Hillary Arthur of the WU women’s soccer team. “She is a very unique athlete with a tremendous capacity to achieve.” Mattox’s success is not limited to athletics. She has earned a 3.85 GPA and is currently working as a research assistant for Oregon Research Institute as part of a clinical study related to Parkinson’s Disease.

After graduating from Bend High School in Bend, Ore., Mattox headed off for her freshman year at Cornell University in “We are studying the effects of different types of exercise on Ithaca, N.Y. Mattox did well at the Ivy League school, but physical performance and symptoms in Parkinson’s Disease 2,700 miles proved to be too far from home. patients. I do the assessments on our participants and I get “The main reason I transferred to WU was to be closer to home to meet some great people. and at a smaller school. The strong tradition of academics “This next year will be important in preparing me for whatever and the opportunity to compete in athletics were appealing will come after Willamette. One thing that I have come to to me,” she said. realize as the seniors are graduating this year is that college Mattox, a senior academically in 2010 –11, has thrived at truly flies by and there are so many great experiences and Willamette since arriving in the fall of 2008. The exercise opportunities. I just hope to make the most of my time at science major competes on the soccer, cross country and Willamette,” Mattox said.

Cameron Mitchell (Sr.) Basketball Jostens Award Finalist 1st Team All-Region (D3Hoops) 2nd Team All-Region (NABC) 1st Team All-NWC

Matt Parker (Jr.) Cross Country 1st Team All-Region 1st Team All-NWC

First Team All-NWC

Natalia Agarycheva (Jr.) Tennis 1st Team All-NWC NWC Player of the Year

Michael Baumgartner (Fr.) Tennis 1st Team All-NWC

Tristan Bodding-Long (Sr.) Track & Field 1st Team All-NWC

Leo Castillo (So.) Cross Country 1st Team All-NWC Track & Field 1st Team All-NWC

Evin Colignon (Jr.) Track & Field 1st Team All-NWC

Nate Dick (Sr.) Track & Field 1st Team All-NWC

Jaela Dinsmore (So.) Track & Field 1st Team All-NWC

Ben Donovan (So.) Track & Field 1st Team All-NWC

Christina Edholm (Sr.) Track & Field 1st Team All-NWC

Theresa Edwards (Fr.) Track & Field 1st Team All-NWC

Lukkes Gilgan (Sr.) Football 1st Team All-NWC

Neal Howard (So.) Track & Field 1st Team All-NWC

T.C. Lee (Jr.) Baseball 1st Team All-NWC

Cory Lowe (Sr.) Football 1st Team All-NWC

Jennifer Luecht (Sr.) Track & Field 1st Team All-NWC NWC Co-Athlete of the Meet

Lydia Marsalli (Sr.) Track & Field 1st Team All-NWC

Kimber Mattox (So.) Cross Country 1st Team All-NWC Track & Field 1st Team All-NWC

Matthew Merritt (Fr.) Track & Field 1st Team All-NWC

Andy Meuser (Sr.) Track & Field 1st Team All-NWC

Brandi Miller (So.) Track & Field 1st Team All-NWC

Erynn Rebol (Fr.) Track & Field 1st Team All-NWC

Scott Schoettgen (Jr.) Football 1st Team All-NWC

Gwen Schulze (Sr.) Swimming 1st Team All-NWC

Rachel Siebuhr (Fr.) Track & Field 1st Team All-NWC

Stephanie Skelly (So.) Soccer 1st Team All-NWC

Arlin Taylor (Jr., SS) Football 1st Team All-NWC

Marc Whitehead (Sr.) Rowing 1st Team All-NCRC

Joshua Wong (Fr.) Tennis 1st Team All-NWC

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Mattox

Top Athletic Honors for 2009–10

By Jamie Timbrell ’06, MBA’08

Houser Set at WU

senior spotlight

Agarycheva Searches Finds Contentment and Far and Wide, Success with Bearcats

The hard work is paying off. Fresh off a season where she was named Northwest Conference women’s tennis Player of the Year, Agarycheva has high hopes for her senior season.

“I grew up playing tennis with him at the Vancouver Tennis Center,” Agarycheva said. “He gave me all the inside details. I checked it out and liked it.”

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“Next year looks really good,” Agarycheva said. “We have a really good freshman recruit who replaces the senior that left. There might be another girl that is looking (at WU). If she comes here, we would be outrageously good.” Agarycheva originally planned to pursue NCAA Division I tennis at the University of Northern Colorado, but was unhappy there and transferred to Portland State University midway through her freshman year. After the Portland State coach left, she transferred to Clark College in her hometown of Vancouver, Wash., for her sophomore year.

The rest is history. The Prairie High School graduate finished her junior year with a 20-4 singles record, including 14-1 during the NWC schedule. At the prestigious Ojai Tournament in California, she was the highest placing unseeded player, making it to the round of 16. As a result of her success, she was ranked #4 in the West Region and earned a trip to compete in the singles bracket at the NCAA Championships. Agarycheva helped the Bearcats achieve a 12-9 dual match record. The Bearcats took fourth place in the NWC with a 10-6 record during the conference’s double

With the top four players, including Houser, all returning from last year, Willamette men's tennis looks strong. The Bearcats have high hopes for the year after a runner-up finish at the NWC Tournament to nationally ranked Whitman College in 2009–10. “The team is really young,” Houser said. “Assuming we get a couple more recruits then we will definitely have a really good team.” Houser didn’t always envision himself as a Bearcat. He planned to walk on at Portland State University, but when plans fell through at the last moment, he remembered playing in a tournament against Jon Endrikat, the former head tennis coach at Willamette. Houser gave Endrikat a phone call and soon found himself sporting the cardinal and gold. “I thank God every day it happened because it’s been one of the best experiences of my life,” Houser said. “Everyone is obviously very knowledgeable here, but they also really care about you. They want to make sure that you are not just getting by, that you really understand what is going on, and that you will be prepared to go through the rest of your life using what you learn at Willamette to make you a better person.”

round-robin schedule. She claimed a 12-7 overall record in doubles, including 10-5 with sophomore partner Shannon Palmer. Agarycheva and Palmer were chosen as the second alternate doubles team from the West Region for the NCAA Championships. Agarycheva is a rhetoric and media studies major. She plans to pursue a career in communications and is considering earning a master’s degree in the field after Willamette. “I didn’t want to dedicate all of my life to tennis but I wanted balance because I knew I loved the sport. If I went Division I it would be all of my life and I would be unhappy again,” Agarycheva said. “With Willamette, I feel there is a healthy balance here. “I’ve been to other universities. The education here is phenomenal. I really admire the professors here and I’ve never felt that anywhere else,” Agarycheva said.

“He’s made a world of difference, best coach I’ve ever had. From what I can tell, one of the best coaches in the conference by far,” Houser said about Krauel. “He played tennis at a high level at the University of Portland. He understands the strategy of the game and what it takes to be successful.” As an exercise science major, Houser isn’t sure what his exact career trajectory will be, but whether it’s coaching or physical therapy, he knows he wants to stay involved with tennis. Outside of the courts and the classroom, Houser is the president of the Willamette Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). The SAAC serves as the intermediary between athletes and the administration to help alleviate problems and to provide student athletes with a voice.

“Being a student-athlete is hard. You definitely have to keep your priorities straight. It’s difficult, but I wouldn’t change it for anything.”

2 3 | s enior spotlight

Even when there isn’t a tennis match, Natalia Agarycheva is often found practicing her volleys and serves at one of Willamette’s six tennis courts. Matthew Houser, a long-time friend and captain of the men’s tennis team at Willamette, convinced her to transfer to Willamette for her junior year.

He began taking lessons and by the time he was 14 he was in his first USTA Champs Tournament. His passion for the game has since turned him into a veteran on the Bearcats’ tennis roster.

Success on the courts wasn’t always easy for Houser. He has gradually improved his winning percentage from 26.3% as a freshman, to 63.2% as a sophomore and then to 72.2% (13-5) as a junior. He attributes much of this improvement to current Head Coach Toby Krauel.

By Jamie Timbrell ’06, MBA’08

The team practices four times a week, but for Agarycheva an off day is a chance to get extra work in at the courts or in the fitness center.

Matthew Houser, the senior captain of the Willamette University men’s tennis team, says he started playing tennis when he was nine years old and it took off from there.

Mitchell Rowan (So., DH) First Team All-NWC Max Stepan (Jr., C) Second Team All-NWC Chris Torgerson (Jr., RHP) Honorable Mention All-NWC; Pitcher Student-Athlete of the Week (March 30) Sky Kelley (Fr., RF) Honorable Mention All-NWC

baseball

Tyson Giza (Fr., CF) Honorable Mention All-NWC

HEAD COACH Aaron Swick (2nd year)

Northwest Nazarene University Baseball Invitational Awards

ASSISTANTS Mike Doran, Bert Hunter, James Shier

Doug Bloom (Jr., SS) All-Tournament Team

RECORD 16-22 (12-12 NWC) NWC FINISH 4th place tie HIGHLIGHTS The Willamette baseball team went 8-4 over the second half of the conference schedule to tie for fourth place in the Northwest Conference standings at 12-12. The Bearcats finished the season at 16-22 overall.

T.C. Lee (Jr., LF) All-Tournament Team Mitchell Rowan (So., DH) All-Tournament Team Chris Torgerson (Jr., RHP) All-Tournament Team Nate Bender (Jr., RHP) All-Tournament Team

WU had just one senior, right-handed pitcher Scott Martin. Several players provided leadership at the plate, as Mitchell Rowan (So., DH) topped the team with a .403 batting average, T.C. Lee (Jr., LF) batted .389 and Max Stepan (Jr., C) hit .345. Rowan led WU with 12 home runs. Lee tied for the team lead with 15 doubles and earned a .457 average in NWC games. Rowan was named First Team All-West Region. Rowan and Lee were chosen First Team All-Northwest Conference. Stepan received Second Team All-NWC honors. Chris Torgerson (Jr., RHP) shut out high-scoring Pacific Lutheran 7-0 on March 28 and was later chosen Honorable Mention All-NWC. The Bearcats typically started four or five freshmen in the lineup. Two of the first-year players earned Honorable Mention All-NWC honors. Sky Kelley (RF) contributed a .374 batting average, while Tyson Giza (CF) was 14 of 18 on stolen bases. Willamette hit 85 doubles, seven triples and 35 homers. The Bearcats stole 80 bases in 38 games. In addition to Giza, other top base stealers were Bloom (15 of 17), Rowan (13 of 13) and Lee (11 of 15).

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Honors and Awards ABCA All-West Region Mitchell Rowan (So., DH) First Team NWC Awards T.C. Lee (Jr., LF) First Team All-NWC

each year to the top player in NCAA Division III according to athletic accomplishments, community service and academic success. It took the Bearcats awhile to recover following the graduation of six seniors and the retirement of longtime head coach Gordie James at the end of the 2008–09 season. WU was 3-13 overall and 0-7 in the NWC at one point, but the Bearcats hit their stride in the final nine games. Under the guidance of first-year Head Coach Kip Ioane, Willamette went 6-3 at the end of the season, including a 5-1 record in the final six contests. The Bearcats played an up-tempo style and developed a quality halfcourt game that allowed the team to score 80 or more points in 13 of its last 14 games. The Bearcats broke the century mark in a 105-93 win at Linfield College on Feb. 6. Mitchell recorded 20 double-doubles during the year. He finished his WU career with 1,200 points and 791 rebounds. Including his freshman season at the University of Redlands, Mitchell earned 1,342 points and 959 rebounds in college. Five Bearcats averaged in double figures. Mitchell’s 21.1 points per contest led the way. Taylor Mounts (So., Post) averaged 14.2 points per game, while Ryan Meehan (So., Wing) added 11.5, Marcus Holmes (Jr., G) contributed 11.0 and Terrell Malley (Fr., G) provided 10.7. Honors and Awards

men’s basketball HEAD COACH Kip Ioane (1st year) ASSISTANTS Mike Plank, Nelson Lomax, Josh Erickson RECORD 9-16 (6-10 NWC) NWC FINISH 6th place tie

WEST REGION FINISH 2nd place, Score of 64

NWC FINISH 9th place

NCAA NATIONAL FINISH 20th place

HIGHLIGHTS The 2009–10 Bearcats finished the season 4-21 under the direction of first-year Head Coach Anne Lapray. Willamette grabbed non-conference wins against William Jessup University and Whittier College. In conference play, the Bearcats swept the season series against Pacific Lutheran University, capturing two victories over the Lutes.

POSTSEASON NCAA Division III West Regional

Juniors Alex Zennan and Keilyn Fujioka were named Honorable Mention All-NWC for their efforts during the season. Zennan ranked third in the NWC in scoring, as she averaged 14.6 points per game and scored 364 points during the season. She scored a season-high 27 points in three different games. She achieved double-figure scoring in 20 of the Bearcats’ 25 games. Fujioka, who previously earned Honorable Mention All-NWC honors following her freshman year, averaged 10.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game during the 2009–10 season. She ranked second in the conference in rebounding and she was second in blocked shots (54, 2.16 avg.). Honors and Awards NWC Awards

Jostens Trophy

Keilyn Fujioka (Jr., Post) Honorable Mention All-NWC

Cameron Mitchell (Sr., Post) Finalist (1 of 10)

Alex Zennan (Jr., G) Honorable Mention All-NWC

D3Hoops.com All-West Region

Bruce Henderson Memorial Capital City Classic Awards

Cameron Mitchell (Sr., Post) First Team NABC All-West Region

Keilyn Fujioka All-Tournament Team

Cameron Mitchell (Sr., Post) Second Team NWC Awards Cameron Mitchell (Sr., Post) First Team All-NWC; Student-Athlete of the Week (Dec. 15, Jan. 5, Feb. 5 and Feb. 16)

HIGHLIGHTS Senior post Cameron Mitchell had an exceptional season to lead the Bearcats. Mitchell ranked first in the Northwest Conference with 21.1 points per game and 12.5 rebounds per game. He finished the year second in the NWC in field goal percentage at 57.9% and tied for second with 1.24 blocked shots per game. Mitchell was named First Team All-NWC for the second consecutive season. He also earned First Team All-Region honors from D3Hoops.com and Second Team All-Region recognition from the National Association of Basketball Coaches. He was one of 10 finalists for the Jostens Trophy, which is awarded

RECORD 4-21 (2-14 NWC)

HEAD COACH Anne Lapray (1st year) ASSISTANTS Sara Brooks, Kevin Eakin

HIGHLIGHTS Willamette won the Northwest Conference championship for the eighth time in the last nine seasons. The Bearcats were led by sophomore Leo Castillo in second place, junior Matt Parker in third place and junior Stefan Redfield in fourth place. All three earned First Team All-NWC honors, while junior Nicholas Rebol placed eighth and was Second Team All-NWC. Head Coach Matt McGuirk was chosen NWC Coach of the Year for the seventh time. The Bearcats took second place at the NCAA West Regional to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA National Championships, where Willamette placed 20th as a team. At the West Regional, Parker was fifth and Redfield was eighth. Overall, five Bearcats earned All-West Region recognition. Willamette’s top finisher at the National Championships was Redfield, who placed 58th overall. Parker finished 72nd. Senior Chris Platano received the NCAA Elite 88 Award for having the highest cumulative grade point average among all 276 men’s cross country competitors at the NCAA Championships. Willamette runners took second through sixth place at the WU Grass Course Meet early in the season as the Bearcats claimed first place in the team standings with a score of 20. Later in the season, Willamette won the team title at the Mike Hodges Invitational at Clackamas Community College by one point over a team from the University of Oregon. The Bearcats received the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Award with a combined cumulative team grade point average of 3.463. Platano, Rebol and Redfield were individual All-Academic selections.

Matt McGuirk Coach of the Year (7th overall) Leo Castillo (So.) First Team All-NWC, 2nd place Matt Parker (Jr.) First Team All-NWC, 3rd place Stefan Redfield (Jr.) First Team All-NWC, 4th place Nicholas Rebol (Jr.) Second Team All-NWC, 8th place NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Chris Platano (Sr.) ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Chris Platano (Sr.) Third Team, Cross Country/Track & Field ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VIII Chris Platano (Sr.) First Team, Cross Country/Track & Field (3rd consecutive) USTFCCCA Team Academic Honors NCAA Division III USTFCCCA Men’s All-Academic Team Award (3.463 GPA) USTFCCCA Individual All-Academic Honors Chris Platano (Sr.) Nicholas Rebol (Jr.) Stefan Redfield (Jr.) NWC First Team Scholar-Athlete Chris Platano (Sr.)

Willamette qualified for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Award with a combined cumulative team grade point average of 3.558. Patel and Mattox were individual All-Academic selections. Honors and Awards NCAA All-West Region

Chris Platano (Sr.) NCAA Elite 88 Award

WEST REGION FINISH 7th place

NCAA All-West Region

POSTSEASON NCAA Division III West Regional Individual entry at NCAA Division III National Championships Finish: Tina Patel placed 92nd

Shane Adversalo (Sr.) tied for ninth place at the NWC Spring Classic with a 152 (78-74). Robbie Beard (Sr.) shot a 76 to tie for second place in Willamette’s dual meet with Pacific and was fourth at the Willamette Invitational with a 76. Adversalo placed 14th at the Pacific Invitational at 153 (75-78). In the fall, Adversalo shot 154 (79-75) to place fourth at the George Fox Invitational. Adversalo placed sixth during the fall Pacific Invitational at 152 (76-76) and was sixth at the NWC Fall Classic with a 149 (78-71). Willamette finished in eighth place at the NWC Championships. Beard had a strong second day and finished with a 164 (85-79). Adversalo earned a 78.2 stroke average during the year. Beard achieved a stroke average of 79.9.

NWC Awards Kimber Mattox (So.) First Team All-NWC, 6th place ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VIII Kimber Mattox (So.) First Team, Cross Country/Track & Field

WOMEN’S GOLF HEAD COACH Noah Horstman (1st year)

USTFCCCA Individual All-Academic Honors

ASSISTANT Brian Trowbridge

Kimber Mattox (So.) Tina Patel (Sr.)

NWC FINISH 8th place HIGHLIGHTS At the Willamette Invitational in the spring, Haylee Chung (Fr.) finished tied for fifth place and Serena Cualoping (Fr.) tied for eighth place as the Bearcats took second in the team standings.

ASSISTANTS Brett Franz, Christopher Sabato, Bobbi Wright NWC FINISH 5th place

HIGHLIGHTS Noah Horstman became the new head coach of the Bearcats prior to the fall season. He replaced retiring head coach Steve Prothero, who led the Bearcats for 44 seasons.

Tina Patel (Sr.), 9th place Kimber Mattox (So.), 15th place

HEAD COACH Matt McGuirk (6th year)

NCAA National Awards

NWC FINISH 1st place, Score of 32 (8th title in last nine years)

At the West Regional, Patel took ninth place and Mattox finished 15th. Both runners earned All-West Region recognition.

WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

Honors and Awards

USTFCCCA RANKING 17th in NCAA Division III

Sophomore Kimber Mattox achieved a sixth place finish at the Northwest Conference Championships. She earned First Team All-NWC honors. Mattox, who also competed in women’s soccer during the fall, helped WU place fifth as a team at the NWC Championships and seventh at the NCAA West Regional.

NCAA Division III USTFCCCA Women’s All-Academic Team Award (3.558 GPA)

HEAD COACH Matt McGuirk (6th year)

Matt Parker (Jr.), 5th place Stefan Redfield (Jr.), 8th place Leo Castillo (So.), 13th place Chris Platano (Sr.), 20th place Nicholas Rebol (Jr.), 23rd place

HIGHLIGHTS Tina Patel capped a strong senior season by competing as an individual at the NCAA Division III National Championships in Cleveland, Ohio. Patel placed 92nd overall in the field of 280 runners.

USTFCCCA Team Academic Honors

MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

ASSISTANTS Brett Franz, Christopher Sabato, Bobbi Wright

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Team entry at NCAA Division III National Championships Top finishers: Stefan Redfield placed 58th, Matt Parker placed 72nd

NWC Awards

MEN’S GOLF HEAD COACH Noah Horstman (1st year) ASSISTANT Brian Trowbridge NWC FINISH 8th place

In the fall, WU finished second at the Linfield Invitational and third at the George Fox Invitational. Chung tied for third at the Linfield Invitational, where she shot an 85, her lowest round of the season. Tanya Schiller (Sr.) and Jayleen Morris (Sr.) also participated during the 2009–10 season for Willamette. The Bearcats will lose both seniors to graduation. WU finished eighth at the NWC Championship and eighth in the overall conference standings.

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2009–10 Team Recaps

Honors and Awards D3Football.com All-America Ralph Pineda (Jr., ILB) Third Team

FOOTBALL HEAD COACH Mark Speckman (12th year) ASSISTANTS Glen Fowles, Nate Naggi, Tony Cassinerio, Brandon Bennett, Mark Hauze, John Horner, Justin Nesbitt, Casey Noack, Chuck Pinkerton, Ryan Rufener, John Scott, Josh Scott, Darryl Smith, Tanner Smith, Tim Speckman RECORD 8-2 (5-1 NWC) NWC FINISH 2nd place HIGHLIGHTS The Bearcats achieved an 8-2 overall record in 2009, while taking second place in the Northwest Conference at 5-1. Willamette has earned a combined record of 19-3 (.864) over the past two seasons. After starting quarterback Ryan Whitcomb was injured in the first game of the season, Willamette was led on offense by two talented freshmen at quarterback. Brian Widing and Kevin Ramay had outstanding seasons. Widing completed 60.6% of his passes (60 of 99) for 887 yards and nine touchdowns. Ramay was 40 of 72 passing (55.6%) for 625 yards and nine TDs. Despite missing two games due to injury, senior tailback Deon Horne led the Bearcats with 463 rushing yards. Jamiere Abney, a sophomore, added 348 yards on the ground. Another sophomore, Chad Pollard rushed for 311 yards, while freshman Terrell Malley contributed 270 rushing yards. Scott Schoettgen (Jr., WR) led Willamette’s receivers with 49 catches for 840 yards and 14 touchdowns. Pollard caught 15 passes for 279 yards and three TDs.

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Inside linebackers Andrew Ross (Sr.) and Ralph Pineda (Jr.) ranked first and second on the team in tackles. Ross recorded 87 total tackles, while Pineda registered 81 tackles. Pineda was named Third Team All-America and First Team All-West Region by D3Football.com. Earning Third Team All-West Region honors were Scott Hirschberger (Sr., C), Joe Penkala (Sr., OT) and Ron Carter (So., DT).

Deon Horne (Sr., TB) Honorable Mention All-NWC Bubba Lemon (Sr., CB) Honorable Mention All-NWC Mikey Lemon (Jr., FL) Honorable Mention All-NWC Jose Green (Jr., TB) Special Teams Student-Athlete of the Week (Oct. 6)

NCAA Division III All-Star Team vs. Mexico (Tazon de Estrellas)

Ralph Pineda (Jr., ILB) First Team Ron Carter (So., DE) Third Team Scott Hirschberger (Sr., C) Third Team

Ralph Pineda (Jr., ILB) First Team All-NWC; NWC Defensive Player of the Year; Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week (Oct. 6, Oct. 27) Ron Carter (So., DT) First Team All-NWC Lukkes Gilgan (Sr., FS) First Team All-NWC Scott Hirschberger (Sr., C) First Team All-NWC Cory Lowe (Sr., DE) First Team All-NWC Joe Penkala (Sr., OT) First Team All-NWC Scott Schoettgen (Jr., WR) First Team All-NWC; Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week (Nov. 10) Arlin Taylor (Jr., SS) First Team All-NWC Jamiere Abney (So., TB) Second Team All-NWC Luis Guerra (Jr., OG) Second Team All-NWC

U.S. ROWING COLLEGIATE POLL 13th in all Divisions (Lightweight Varsity Eight) NCRC FINISH 4th place tie

HIGHLIGHTS The rowing team had a strong showing at the WIRA Championships where the team earned the prestigious Efficiency Trophy. This was the first time WU has ever received the Efficiency Trophy.

D3Football.com All-West Region

NWC Awards

CMAX NATIONAL RANKINGS 7th in NCAA Division III (Varsity Eight)

POSTSEASON Competed at WIRA Championships

Scott Hirschberger (Sr., C) Cory Lowe (Sr., DE)

Joe Penkala (Sr., OT) Third Team

CRCA/U.S. ROWING NATIONAL RANKINGS 12th in NCAA Division III (Varsity Eight)

MEN’S ROWING HEAD COACH Susan Parkman (5th year) ASSISTANTS Todd Vogt, Chase Cunitz NCRC FINISH 7th place POSTSEASON Competed at WIRA Championships HIGHLIGHTS Willamette’s men’s pair of Patrick Cully (Fr.) and Colton Miller (So.) finished in fifth place in the Grand Final at the WIRA Championships. The men also finished in fifth place in the varsity 8+ Third Final at WIRA. At the NCRC Championships, the men’s varsity eight from Willamette crossed the line with a time of 6:50.97, earning fifth place. Marc Whitehead (Sr.), a team captain, was named All-NCRC for his strong academic and athletic success. NCRC Awards Marc Whitehead All-NCRC

At the Head of the Charles Regatta, Willamette, which received an at-large bid in the women’s college 8+ race, finished in 9th place in the event. Willamette’s entry in the women’s collegiate 4+ took 14th place at the HOCR. The Bearcats were consistently ranked in multiple national polls throughout the season. Senior Hilary Andrus was selected to participate in the Women’s Under-23 National Team Camp sponsored by U.S. Rowing. The camp was held during the summer of 2010. Honors and Awards US Rowing Awards Hilary Andrus (Sr.) Pre-Elite Athlete Identification Camp, Nov. 14, 2009; Women’s Under-23 National Team Camp, Summer 2010

Chad Pollard (So., WR) Second Team All-NWC

Hilary Andrus (Sr.) First Team (2nd consecutive)

Walter Robinson, II (Jr., DE) Second Team All-NWC

WIRA Awards

Mitchell Rowan (So., PK) Second Team All-NWC; Special Teams Student-Athlete of the Week (Oct. 13) Edward Salceda (Jr., OT) Second Team All-NWC Matt Banta (Sr., OLB) Honorable Mention All-NWC Harmon Bruno (So., OLB) Honorable Mention All-NWC; Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week (Sept. 15)

Honors and Awards

Hilary Andrus (Sr.) All-NCRC

NSCAA Scholar All-Region

NWC Awards

Mark Bennett (Sr., GK) Casey Dineen (Sr., MF) Luke Lagattuta (Sr., MF)

Stephanie Skelly (So., MF) First Team All-NWC

ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VIII Kara Hafkey (Jr.) Second Team Emily Mitchell (Sr.) Second Team CRCA National Scholar-Athletes Anna Akins (So.) Hilary Andrus (Sr.) Kate Burns (So.) Karina Hoogstede (So.) Heidi Hunt (So.) Emily Mitchell (Sr.) Sarah Schroeder (So.) Larissa Stiglich (So.) Kelsey White (So.)

Willamette Team Efficiency Trophy Hilary Andrus (Sr.) First Team All-WIRA Lea Griggs (So.) First Team All-WIRA

WOMEN’S ROWING

Heidi Hunt (So.) First Team All-WIRA

HEAD COACH Susan Parkman (5th year)

Lacey Ellingson (Sr.) Second Team All-WIRA

ASSISTANTS Todd Vogt, Chase Cunitz

Karina Hoogstede (So.) Second Team All-WIRA Sarah Schroeder (So.) Second Team All-WIRA

Barry was chosen Second Team All-West Region. Romero was named Third Team All-West Region. Honors and Awards NFCA All-West Region

NWC Awards

Emily Wigington (Sr., D) Second Team All-NWC

Casey Dineen (Sr. MF) Second Team All-NWC

Andrea Rowan (Fr., MF) Second Team All-NWC

Erik Kaufman (So., F) Honorable Mention All-NWC

Alex Batzer (Jr., F) Honorable Mention All-NWC

Luke Lagattuta (Sr., MF) Honorable Mention All-NWC

Kimber Mattox (So., MF) Honorable Mention All-NWC

Jessica Barry (Fr. OF) First Team All-NWC

ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VIII

Mica Romero (So., SS) First Team All-NWC; Hitter StudentAthlete of the Week (March 9)

Emily Wigington (Sr., D) Second Team NSCAA Scholar All-Region Emily Wigington (Sr., D) First Team

The women’s varsity 4+ and the women’s junior varsity 8+ each grabbed first place finishes in the Grand Finals at the WIRA Championships. The women’s varsity 8+ and the women’s lightweight 8+ each finished in second place against impressive competition.

CRCA All-America

Andrew Ross (Sr., ILB) Second Team All-NWC; Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week (Oct. 20)

NCRC Awards

Jessica Barry (Fr. OF) Second Team Mica Romero (So., SS) Third Team NWC Awards

Kelli Snyder (Fr., C) First Team All-NWC Bri Compton (Jr., RHP) Second Team All-NWC; Pitcher Student-Athlete of the Week (April 6) Talissa Huntsman (So., 3B/RHP) Second Team All-NWC, Utility Sierra Lessel (So., OF) Second Team All-NWC

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Susie Krewer (So., 2B) Honorable Mention All-NWC

HEAD COACH Hillary Arthur (2nd year)

Nichole Robertson (So., OF) Honorable Mention All-NWC

ASSISTANTS Colleen Johnston, Kayla Calton

MEN’S SOCCER HEAD COACH Nelson Larson (4th year) ASSISTANTS Travis Pease, Anthony Trejo RECORD 6-13 (5-9 NWC) NWC FINISH 5th place HIGHLIGHTS Willamette finished the 2009 season with a 6-13 overall record, including 5-9 (5th place) in the NWC. The Bearcats lost four 1-0 games early in the season, but scored 27 goals in their final 15 games. A 2-1 overtime victory over arch rival Linfield College in the final game of the season allowed WU to finish fifth in the NWC. The Bearcats swept their season series against George Fox University and Whitman College. WU defeated George Fox 3-2 on the road and 4-2 at Sparks Field. Against Whitman, the Bearcats prevailed 2-1 on the road and 3-2 at home. Senior midfielder Casey Dineen scored six goals during the season and was chosen Second Team All-NWC. Earning Honorable Mention All-NWC honors were sophomore forward Erik Kaufman and senior midfielder Luke Lagattuta. Kaufman led the Bearcats in scoring with 20 total points on nine goals and two assists. Lagattuta scored three goals and earned a team-high six assists to tie Dineen for second in scoring with 12 points.

Nicole Wallace (Sr., 1B) Honorable Mention All-NWC

RECORD 9-9-2 (8-7-1 NWC) NWC FINISH 3rd place HIGHLIGHTS Willamette finished the season with a 9-9-2 overall record. The Bearcats captured third place in the NWC with an 8-7-1 conference mark. The team swept conference opponents Lewis & Clark College and Pacific Lutheran University, with two wins against each opponent. Sophomore Stephanie Skelly was named First Team All-NWC after scoring six goals (12 points), including three game-winning goals, during the season. Andrea Rowan made an immediate impact when the freshman scored in her first collegiate game against Northwest Christian University. Rowan finished the season with three goals and two assists to earn Second Team All-NWC honors. Senior Emily Wigington, who played defender throughout her career, scored two goals during her final season at Willamette. Her goal against Pacific Lutheran was the game-winning goal in a 2-0 victory on Oct. 11. She was named Second Team All-NWC. Willamette turned Sparks Field into a tough place for competitors to visit, boasting a 6-2-2 home record during the season. Overall, it was the Bearcats’ 22nd season at .500 or better in the past 24 years.

SOFTBALL

Alex Watilo (So., RHP) Honorable Mention All-NWC

HEAD COACH Damian Williams (12th year) ASSISTANTS Lance Gilgan, Laura (Milne) Dix, Liz Gilgan RECORD 28-12 (20-8 NWC) NWC FINISH 2nd place HIGHLIGHTS For the second season in a row the softball team finished in second place in the NWC. The Bearcats achieved a 20-8 record in conference play, which included series sweeps against Whitworth University, Lewis & Clark College and the University of Puget Sound. WU went 28-12 overall including 10-4 at home. In early March, Willamette took part in the Division III Leadoff Classic in Panama City, Fla. WU earned a 4-2 record at the highly competitive tournament. Mica Romero, Jessica Barry and Kelli Snyder earned First Team All-NWC recognition for their efforts during the season. Romero broke WU’s single season records for doubles with 17 and walks with 32. Seven other Bearcats earned Second Team All-NWC or Honorable Mention honors.

MEN’S AND WOMEN’S SWIMMING HEAD COACH Leslie Shevlin (1st year) RECORD Women’s: 1-6 (1-6 NWC) Men’s: 0-7 (0-7 NWC) NWC FINISH Women: 7th place in regular season, 7th place at NWC Championships Men: 8th place in regular season, 8th place at NWC Championships HIGHLIGHTS The WU swimming teams had several athletes post career-best times at the NWC Championships. Senior Gwen Schulze finished second in the 100-yard butterfly and third in the 200-yard backstroke, earning All-Northwest Conference Honors in both events.

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Hirschberger and defensive end Cory Lowe (Sr.) played in Mexico in the Tazon de Estrellas (Bowl of the Stars) as members of the Unites States All-Star team from NCAA Division III.

Hanna Connett (Jr.) and Kayla Kosaki (Fr.) each finished in 14th place at the NWC Championships, Connett in the 1,650-yard freestyle and Kosaki in the 200-yard butterfly. On the men’s side, Ian McGahan (Fr.) swam his way to a 16th place finish in the 200-yard butterfly. Honors and Awards NWC Awards Gwen Schulze (Sr.) All-NWC, 100-yard butterfly (2nd place), 200-yard backstroke (3rd place)

Baumgartner and senior Luke Lagattuta achieved a 13-4 record in doubles. Matthew Houser (Jr.) and Micah Mack (Sr.) were 12-5 in doubles. Honors and Awards ITA West Region Rankings Willamette 10th in Team Rankings Joshua Wong (Fr.) 27th in Singles Wilson/ITA Small College Northwest Regional Matthew Houser (Jr.) Quarterfinals in Singles Joshua Wong (Fr.) Quarterfinals in Singles Matthew Houser (Jr.) and Michael Baumgartner (Fr.) Quarterfinals in Doubles NWC Awards Michael Baumgartner (Fr.) First Team All-NWC; StudentAthlete of the Week (March 2 and March 30) Joshua Wong (Fr.) First Team All-NWC

Tennis Championships held in Fredericksburg, Va. Agarycheva was defeated by #3 seed Julia Browne of Tufts University (Mass.) in the first round. Overall, Agarycheva achieved a 20-4 record in singles action this spring. She was 14-1 in the Northwest Conference during the regular season and was chosen NWC Player of the Year. In addition to competing in singles, Agarycheva combined with Shannon Palmer (So.) to form Willamette’s top doubles team. Agarycheva and Palmer were selected as the second alternate doubles team from the West Region for the National Championships. During the fall of 2009, Agarycheva reached the championship match of the Wilson/ITA Small College Northwest Regional before finishing in second place. Agarycheva and Palmer also took second place in doubles at the Wilson/ITA Northwest Regional. Honors and Awards NCAA National Tournament Natalia Agarycheva (Jr.) Selected to compete in singles at the NCAA Division III Championships ITA West Region Rankings

MEN’S TENNIS

Natalia Agarycheva (Jr.) 5th in Singles

HEAD COACH Toby Krauel (2nd year)

Wilson/ITA Small College Northwest Regional

ASSISTANT Owen Suagee

Natalia Agarycheva (Jr.) Finals in Singles, 2nd Place

RECORD 13-8 (11-5 NWC) NWC FINISH 3rd place tie NWC TOURNAMENT 2nd place HIGHLIGHTS The Willamette men’s tennis team achieved a 13-8 overall dual match record, including 11-5 in the Northwest Conference. The Bearcats tied for third place in the NWC standings and were seeded #3 for the NWC Tournament. WU ended the season ranked #10 in the West Region, which includes teams in Texas, California and the Pacific Northwest.

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Willamette won its first round match at the NWC Tournament against the University of Puget Sound, 5-0. WU outlasted Linfield College, 5-3, in the semifinals and fell to Whitman College, 5-1, in the finals. Freshmen Joshua Wong and Michael Baumgartner were selected First Team All-NWC. Wong ended the year ranked #27 in the West Region. He earned a 14-5 regular season record and reached the Round of 16 at the Ojai Tournament to finish the year at 16-6.

WOMEN’S TENNIS HEAD COACH Becky Roberts (10th year) ASSISTANT Kasia Carr RECORD 12-9 (10-6 NWC)

Natalia Agarycheva (Jr.) and Shannon Palmer (So.) Finals in Doubles, 2nd Place NWC Awards Natalia Agarycheva (Jr.) First Team All-NWC; NWC Player of the Year

NWC FINISH 4th place NWC TOURNAMENT 5th place

Natalia Agarycheva (Jr.) was selected as one of 32 student-athletes to compete in the singles bracket at the 2010 NCAA Division III Women’s

NWC FINISH 2nd place, Score of 185 POSTSEASON NCAA Division III National Championships HIGHLIGHTS Willamette finished in second place at the Northwest Conference Championships. The Bearcats scored a total of 185 points. Whitworth University claimed the team title. Paul Winger (So.) won two events and competed on two winning relay teams. He took first place in the 200-meter dash in 21.98 seconds and was first in the 400-meter dash with a time of 48.98 seconds. It was his second consecutive NWC title in the 400. He led a 1-3-4-6 finish by the Bearcats in the 200. Winger helped WU defeat the rest of the NWC in the 4 x 100-meter relay and the 4 x 400-meter relay. WU’s time in the 4 x 100 relay was 42.87 seconds. Also running for Willamette were Nate Dick (Sr.), Neal Howard (So.) and Tristan BoddingLong (Sr.). The 4 x 400 relay team included Andy Meuser (Sr.), Matthew Merritt (Fr.), Bodding-Long and Winger. They won the event in 3:20.45. Howard was second in the 200-meter dash in 22.40 seconds and BoddingLong was third in 22.43. Howard earned third place in the 100-meter dash in 11.06 seconds. Stefan Redfield (Jr.) placed second in the 1,500-meter run in 3:58.54. Leo Castillo (Fr.) was third in the 1,500 at 3:59.47 and also finished third in the 5,000-meter run at 15:23.32. Ben Donovan (So.) won the 3,000meter steeplechase in 9:24.70. Nicholas Rebol (Jr.) took second place in 9:27.22. During the season seven Bearcats achieved provisional qualifying marks for the NCAA Division III Championships. Evin Colignon (Jr.) competed at the NCAA meet in the decathlon and finished 13th. Honors and Awards NCAA National Championships

POSTSEASON Individual entry at NCAA Division III National Championships for Natalia Agarycheva HIGHLIGHTS The Bearcats finished the season 12-9 overall and 10-6 in the Northwest Conference. WU earned regular season sweeps against Pacific University, George Fox University, the University of Puget Sound, Pacific Lutheran University and Lewis & Clark College.

USTFCCCA REGIONAL RANKING 3rd in West Region Team Index

Evin Colignon (Jr.) Competed in the decathlon NWC Awards

MEN’S TRACK AND FIELD

Tristan Bodding-Long (Sr.) All-NWC, 4 x 100-meter relay (1st place), 4 x 400-meter relay (1st place)

HEAD COACH Matt McGuirk (7th year)

Nate Dick (Sr.) All-NWC, 4 x 100-meter relay (1st place)

ASSISTANTS Brett Franz, Christopher Sabato, Soren Sorensen, Gery Ellibee, Bobbi Wright, Tyler May

Ben Donovan (So.) All-NWC, 3,000-meter steeplechase (1st place)

Neal Howard (So.) All-NWC, 4 x 100-meter relay (1st place), 100-meter dash (3rd place), 200-meter dash (3rd place)

Three Bearcats achieved provisional qualifying marks for the NCAA Championships. Mattox met the qualifying standard in the steeplechase and won the won the event at the Oregon Relays in 10:41.78. She earned a provisional mark in the 1,500 with a time of 4:36.06 at the Oregon Twilight.

Matthew Merritt (Fr.) All-NWC, 4 x 400-meter relay (1st place), 400-meter hurdles (3rd place) Andy Meuser (Sr.) All-NWC, 4 x 400-meter relay (1st place)

Mattox set a Charles Bowles Track record when she won the steeple at the Charles Bowles Spring Break Classic in 10:48.71. Later, she took ninth place in the steeplechase at the NCAA meet.

Paul Winger (So.) All-NWC, 200-meter dash (1st place), 400-meter dash (1st place), 4 x 100-meter relay (1st place), 4 x 400-meter relay (1st place)

WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD

Evin Colignon (Jr.) All-NWC, Decathlon (2nd place)

ASSISTANTS Brett Franz, Christopher Sabato, Soren Sorensen, Gery Ellibee, Bobbi Wright, Tyler May

Kimber Mattox (So.) Competed in the 3,000-meter steeplechase

USTFCCCA REGIONAL RANKING 3rd in West Region Team Index

Jennifer Luecht (Sr.) Co-Athlete of the Meet; All-NWC, 200-meter dash (1st place), 400-meter dash (1st place), 4 x 400-meter relay (1st place)

Nicholas Rebol (Jr.) All-NWC, 3,000-meter steeplechase (2nd place) Stefan Redfield (Jr.) All-NWC, 1,500-meter run (2nd place) Leo Castillo (So.) All-NWC, 1,500-meter run (3rd place), 5,000-meter run (3rd place) Josh Clothier (Jr.) Field Student-Athlete of the Week (March 16) Provisional Qualifiers for NCAA Division III National Championships Trevor Bassett-Smith (Sr.) Hammer Throw, 180' 5'' Josh Clothier (Jr.) Shot Put, 50' 10.25'' Evin Colignon (Jr.) Decathlon, 6,472 points Ben Donovan (So.) 3,000-meter steeplechase, 9:21.80 Brandt Nevin (Jr.) Javelin, 194' 4'' Nicholas Rebol (Jr.) 3,000-meter steeplechase, 9:24.29 Stefan Redfield (Jr.) 5,000-meter run, 14:42.26; 1,500-meter run, 3:53:30 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Chris Platano (Sr.) ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Chris Platano (Sr.) Third Team, Cross Country/Track & Field ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VIII Chris Platano (Sr.) First Team, Cross Country/Track & Field (3rd consecutive) NWC First Team Scholar-Athlete Chris Platano (Sr.)

HEAD COACH Matt McGuirk (7th year)

NWC FINISH 1st place, Score of 161 (9th title in a row) POSTSEASON NCAA Division III National Championships HIGHLIGHTS Willamette won its ninth consecutive Northwest Conference team title in 2010. The Bearcats finished in first place with 161 points to edge out George Fox University, which scored 156 points. Jennifer Luecht (Sr.) won the 200-meter dash in 25.36 seconds and took first place in the 400-meter dash in 57.30 seconds. She ran the anchor leg on Willamette’s victorious 4 x 400-meter relay, which also included Erynn Rebol (Fr.), Lydia Marsalli (Sr.) and Jaela Dinsmore (So.). Luecht won four NWC titles in the 200 during her career. She also earned back-to-back titles in the 400. Including relays, she was a 10-time NWC champion. She was named Co-Athlete of the Meet this spring. She took second place in the 400 at the Oregon Twilight with a time of 58.43 seconds. Kimber Mattox (So.) won the NWC 1,500-meter run with a time of 4:44.11. She also won the 3,000-meter steeplechase by nearly 26 seconds. It was her second straight NWC championship in the steeplechase. Rebol led a 1-2 finish in the 800-meter run. She clocked in at 2:22.34 at the NWC Meet. Theresa Edwards (Fr.) placed second at 2:22.60. Freshman Rachel Siebuhr took first place in the triple jump with a distance of 36' 2''. Christina Edholm (Sr.) earned second place in the shot put with a toss of 37' 10.50''. Head Coach Matt McGuirk tied for NWC Women’s Coach of the Year honors with John Smith from GFU. It was the seventh consecutive year that McGuirk has received the award.

Honors and Awards NCAA National Championships

NWC Awards

Jaela Dinsmore (So.) All-NWC, 4 x 400-meter relay (1st place) Lydia Marsalli (Sr.) All-NWC, 4 x 400-meter relay (1st place) Kimber Mattox (So.) All-NWC, 1,500-meter run (1st place), 3,000-meter steeplechase (1st place), 5,000-meter run (3rd place); Track Athlete of the Week (March 9, March 16, April 13) Erynn Rebol (Fr.) All-NWC, 800-meter run (1st place), 4 x 400-meter relay (1st place) Rachel Siebuhr (Fr.) All-NWC, Triple jump (1st place) Theresa Edwards (Fr.) All-NWC, 800-meter run (2nd place), 1,500-meter run (3rd place) Christina Edholm (Sr.) All-NWC, Shot put (2nd place); Field Athlete of the Week (March 16) Brandi Miller (So.) All-NWC, 400-meter hurdles (3rd place) Provisional Qualifiers for NCAA Division III National Championships Jennifer Luecht (Sr.) 400-meter dash, 57.30 seconds Kimber Mattox (So.) 3,000-meter steeplechase, 10:41.78; 1,500-meter run, 4:36.06 Katie Peterson (Jr.) Javelin throw, 134' 1''

VOLLEYBALL HEAD COACH Tom Shoji (2nd year) ASSISTANT Becky Horn RECORD 11-13 (8-8 NWC) NWC FINISH 5th place HIGHLIGHTS In 2009, the Willamette volleyball team had its most successful season since 2004, finishing the year at 8-8 in the Northwest Conference and 11-13 overall. The Bearcats concluded the season with a bang, winning six of their final eight matches to finish fifth in the NWC. WU’s final match of the season, a 3-0 victory over George Fox University, was indicative of just how far the Bearcats had come in one season. WU swept two matches each from rivals Linfield College and Whitworth University during the year. Jessie McGraw capped-off a great career by earning Second Team AllNWC honors. McGraw had 271 kills during the season and led the team in several statistical categories. McGraw provided leadership on a young Bearcat squad, as the team began moving toward becoming a conference title contender. Two players, Julie Stutzman and Molly Blankenship, earned Honorable Mention All-NWC recognition. Stutzman returned from studying abroad in Austria to lead the team with a .277 hitting percentage. Blankenship, a transfer student, was a consistent serving threat for the Bearcats and ranked first on the squad with 25 service aces and was second with 236 kills. Honors and Awards NWC Awards Jessie McGraw (Sr., OH) Second Team All-NWC

ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VIII

Molly Blankenship (Jr., OH) Honorable Mention All-NWC; Student-Athlete of the Week (Oct. 20)

Kimber Mattox (So.) First Team, Cross Country/Track & Field

Julie Stutzman (Sr., MH) Honorable Mention All-NWC

Lydia Marsalli (Sr.) Second Team, Track & Field Jaela Dinsmore (So.) Second Team, Track & Field

NWC First Team Scholar-Athlete Jessie McGraw (Sr., OH)

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Jenna Larrow (Sr.) cruised to a ninth place finish in the 1,650-yard freestyle. Teammate Lauren Ballinger (Fr.) swam to a 10th place finish in the 100-yard freestyle. Kara Koetje (So.) also had a strong performance at the NWC Championships, finishing in 11th place in the 200-yard butterfly.

the Softball Field By Sara Brooks '07

Damian Williams arrived at Willamette in 1998 to take over a softball program that was 8-90 in its previous three seasons. Now, 12 seasons and 248 wins later, Williams has developed a program that consistently challenges for the Northwest Conference title.

“The biggest thing that I think he instilled in his players while I was there was Willamette University pride,” commented Liz Gilgan ’07. “He held our team to a higher standard, in that we did not want to be the average student-athlete, but we wanted to excel in every way possible including classroom, personal life and on the field.” But Williams is not just encouraging his players to get involved, he is doing the same. He has served on the Spirit Committee, Judicial Board, Retention Committee, Standards Committee and Countdown to Kickoff Board. With 12 seasons under his belt, he is now a veteran in the athletic department. His consistently strong program and continued involvement on campus make him a quintessential role model for the younger coaches. “When I first started here, I was always in Dave Wong’s office (baseball) and Gordie James’ office (men’s basketball),” said Williams. “Those guys were my mentors. Now I have

Bill Trenbeath, the director of athletics at the time, knew he was getting a coach with the potential to turn a losing program into a winning one when he hired Williams. Before joining WU, Williams had transformed the softball team at Shoreline Community College in Seattle, Wash. The Lady Dolphins were at the bottom of the conference when he took the reigns as a 23-year-old head coach. Four years later, the team had qualified for the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) Championship Tournament with a 25-12 record. In his first season at Willamette, the team finished 11-28. The following year the Bearcats earned a 25-10 record and Williams was named NWC Coach of the Year. The turnaround (+14 wins) was the best by any team in NCAA Division III that season. Since his arrival, Willamette has gone 248-185 (.572). The team has finished second in the NWC four times and third twice. Williams has coached numerous All-Conference and All-Region selections, as well as one All-American, Nikki Franchi ’08. How does Williams explain his ability to transform a program and then maintain a high level of excellence? “We built our program around three words: trust, loyalty and patience,” said Williams. “Today, we continue to use those words as the foundation for WU softball.”

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Williams recognizes that Willamette is a place for his student-athletes to branch out and grow into well-rounded people. His players understand that if they are loyal to their team and represent their team well on campus, good things will happen. “We will defend the program and each other at all costs,” said Susie Krewer ’12. “I can honestly say I would do anything for any one of my teammates, coaches and the program. Damian has created this type of environment.” WU softball players are present at almost every athletic event, cheering in the stands or working the games. Williams also makes sure his players get involved in clubs and committees on campus.

Top: Head Softball Coach Damian Williams (left), Talissa Huntsman, Cirbi Anthony ’09 and Carolyn Cava in Sãmoa. Middle: The group from Willamette, including Head Baseball Coach Aaron Swick (top right), pose with the youth group in their host village. Bottom: Youngsters from another village take a break during a softball clinic conducted by Williams and the rest of the Willamette group.

coaches stopping by my office to ask for advice. It is great to be able to keep the chain going in the department.” In addition to his work on campus, Williams has made sure to create opportunities for himself and his players to experience the world beyond Willamette. In the summer of 2009, he and three of his players, Cirbi Anthony ’09, Carolyn Cava ’12 and Talissa Huntsman ’12 traveled to Sãmoa. Aaron Swick, Willamette's head baseball coach, also made the trip. While there, they organized a softball clinic for a group of locals of all ages. Damian and the players stayed in various villages on the island, even spending one night on the beach. The trip changed Huntsman’s outlook on life. “I feel these kinds of trips are important for student-athletes because we need to experience the world and learn how to enjoy life,” Huntsman said. “When I was there I learned the meaning of a happy life — loving and respecting everything you have and to work hard for what you want.”

“When I was there I learned the meaning of a happy life — loving and respecting The group did not limit everything you themselves to softball. Sports are very popular have and to in Sãmoa and the work hard for Willamette group eagerly embraced this. what you want.” “In one village we spent time in, we played volleyball and basketball with community youth,” said Cava. “We played on asphalt courts and most of the kids didn’t have shoes. They loved playing sports; they laughed and joked the whole time. Sometimes sports can get so serious. Playing with the kids in Sãmoa was a nice reminder of why most of us played sports in the first place.” Williams has made two trips to the NCAA Division I Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City to work at NCAA Youth Education through Sports Clinics. The YES Clinics provide sport instruction, teach life skills and promote good sportsmanship. Two players accompanied Williams on each trip. Williams also participated in a trip to London as a part of the USA Athletes International group and went on a separate trip to Australia. In the fall, the entire team will go on a rafting and camping trip. A camping trip has become a tradition for the softball team under Williams’ direction. “We try to create opportunities for these kids to grow during their time here, whether that is on the field or hiking up a mountain,” concluded Williams. “The trust, loyalty and patience that they learn to value in this program not only makes them better players, it helps make them better people.”

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Williams Inspires Beyond

coach spotlight

Bearcat Athletic fund When you give to Willamette University Athletics, you invest in our student-athletes and the future of our outstanding athletics program. We intend to make your giving experience as simple and as direct as possible. Contact the Office of Annual Giving at 866-444-2239 with your questions.

Bearcat Athletic Endowments The Department of Athletics continues to build and benefit from the generosity of donors who have established endowment funds, which provide income to support athletics in perpetuity. If you are interested in establishing a new fund, please contact Andrew Schmidt in the Office of Annual Giving at 503-370-6952. • Gifts of $50,000 or more establish an athletic endowment and provide the donor with a permanent naming opportunity. Interest earnings from an athletic endowment fund will annually support the athletic team, program or department of the donor's choosing. • Donors of athletic endowments receive an annual report from the University on the financial status of their endowment fund. Rowing Fund: Established by former Trustee Bill Webber, enabling the crew team to purchase a new racing shell trailer.

“Not unto ourselves alone are we born! I feel giving back, even just a little bit, is my responsibility as a former student-athlete. I was given the opportunity to thrive at Willamette because of the generosity of others and it’s my obligation to help provide someone else the same opportunity. Every donation helps, even if it’s a small amount. I contribute what I can now and look forward to the day when I can give more. I know that my support helps our teams compete successfully. I enjoy seeing our teams win, and winning takes resources. My annual gift helps coaches find and develop the best student-athletes, which maintains competitive programs.” — Matt Benjamin ’02, MBA’05 Football, Baseball

Investing in Athletics Andrew Schmidt joined the university’s Development team on June 7th as Associate Director of Annual Giving in charge of Athletics fundraising. In this newly created position, Schmidt will be responsible for enhancing external support of the athletics program, including annual gifts, special events and volunteer leadership.

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Schmidt is a graduate of Sewanee: the University of the South and worked in his alma mater’s annual giving office for two years before joining the Tennessee Chapter of the Nature Conservancy as Donor Relations Manager in 2007. “I look forward to working with the alumni, parents and current student-athletes who are contributing to the winning tradition at Willamette. My objective is to seek out the additional resources necessary for the University’s student-athletes and coaches to compete successfully — regionally and nationally — thereby allowing them to do their part in bringing honor, recognition, and high public regard to Willamette University. Thank you so much for your generosity in supporting the Bearcat Athletic Fund.” aschmidt@willamette.edu | 503-370-6952

Football Fund: Supports the team’s travel expenses, including trips to Minnesota and California in 2009. Men’s Basketball Legacy Fund: Established in September 2009 by Larry ’60 and Shannon Lynn to honor legendary Bearcat coaches, John Lewis (1947–74) and Gordie James (1987–2009). Jim Booth Hall of Fame Fund: Named in honor of Jim Booth ’64, who lettered 11 times in four sports during his career at Willamette.

Then & Now: Our commitment to Bearcat Athletics Thanks to our former Bearcat athletes, our successful NCAA Division III programs — cross-country, track & field, soccer, tennis, volleyball, basketball, baseball, softball, rowing, golf, swimming and football — have already established a history of excellence that serves as a guide for each new season. Yesterday and today, Willamette Bearcats have many faces — young people of various means, from all walks of life who share a common passion for and dedication to their sport. Then and now, Willamette’s student-athletes are putting in the extra time and energy, sweat and effort, to excel in the classroom and on the field. Indeed, they are leaving a legacy for future generations. Your gift to the Bearcat Athletic Fund, will directly benefit the needs of the department. Unrestricted funds are always needed for equipment, facilities, recruitment, team travel, day-to-day support for coaches and staff, and much more. Thank you for investing in Willamette University’s Athletics program. Your support assures a legacy of athletic excellence at Willamette.

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Brooks Houser Doug Houser Jeb Hubbs Rock Hudson Tom Huecksteadt and Kathy Pfeffer Al Hughes Jeff and Belinda Huntsman Rod and Faith Ines Kip and Kelly Ioane Tim Iveson Tom and Barbara Jackson Craig Jackson Kenneth Jacobson Olof and Joanne Jacobson Norene Jenkins TJ Johns Betsy Johnson Susan Johnson Gary Johnson Keith and Kimberly Johnson Maurice Johnson Virginia Johnson David Jones and Ann Yvonne Walker Courtney Jones Mary Jones Robert and Becki Jones Brian Jones Rolf Junge Keith Kaufman and Nancy Loss Rich Kawana Bill and Tammy Kelm Skip and Janet Kenitzer Megdy Khoury Carly Killam Robert and Virginia Kime John King Kit and Charis Kittelson Clair Kittelson Bob Klindworth Dennis and Gail Knapp Jim Kniffin Harvey Koepf Steve and Ann Koga C.J. Koll Kevin Kompolt and Jenna Calk Edna Kondo Ronald Korvas Kamal and Lori Kotaich Beth Kowal Dick Krebs Mark and Helena Krikorian Drew Lackman Bill Lagattuta and Vera Watson Linda Laine Jessica Lammers Kurt and Holly Lange Larry Large Charles Larkin Jenna Larrow Stasia Larsen Nelson Larson Jen Lavely Law Offices of Adam Green Thomas Lawson and Dina Rasor Cal Lee Ben Leipzig Ian and Catherine Leslie Bill Leslie John Lessel Mark and Tracie Lessel John Lew Ken Lilly Mark and Debbie Lipke Jim Litchfield Rich and Jacquie Litchfield Ronald Long and Heidi Bodding Derek Louch Scott and Linda Lucas Kevin Macrae John and Joan Macy Barbara and Tim Mahoney Brian Mahoney Ali Maki Marion Malley Pat and Tracey Manning Richard and Sandy Mannini Everett Marchioli and Faye Treadaway David Maresh and Suzanne Baptista-Maresh

Walter and Helen Margie Marlin Marsh Charles and Lisa Martin Robert Matsumoto Noelle Matthews Russell and Maydell Mau David and Nobuko Mau Eric McDowell Matthew McGuirk Robert McKinney Wendell and Diane McLin Jerry McNerney Al and Coreen Mehrtens Ruben Menashe Ruben and Theresa Mendoza Stuart and Joan Mensinger Andy Meuser Frank Meyer and Melinda Woodward Craig and Reyna Meyers Alice Michaels Warren and Jennifer Michelsen Microsoft Mike Miles Nancy Miller and Mark Robinson Allen Miller and Maureen Callaghan Brian Miller ‘91 Arlene Miller Con Miner John Mistkawi Michael and Arlene Mitchell Michael Mitchell and Barbara Thompson William Mitchell Daniel Montag Vicki Moran Ken and Jenni Morrison Jamie Morton and Paige Orthmeyer Laura Moseng Ned Moser Carlos and Gabriela Mosqueda Bud Moynihan Joe Much Carolyn Much Munn Ag Services, LLC Mike and Robin Murto Aaron Nagata Eeb Naylor Matt Nelson Randy Nelson Dick Nicholl Linda Nicholl Kaprice Nicholson David and Ruth Nielsen Mark Nockleby Linda Nordgren Lefty Nordhill Lucia Norris Tara O’Connor James O’Hanlon Burke and Lin O’Leary Kent and Jacqueline Ohara John Olinger Bob Olson Nate Oltmans Clifton and Ellen Onaga Thomas and Helen Oppat Bill and Sara Orr Jean Orth Jon Osborne Susan Parkman Ethan Patashnik and Jennifer Sims Larry Paulson Zoe Pearson Jenny Pedersen La Verne Peralta James Perez Brian Perko Barry and Sue Ann Perlin Chuck and Bonnie Peter Laura Petersen Cliff Peterson Carl and Mary Pfeiffer Chad and Julie Pfleiger Scott Pike Kevin and Diane Pinelli Jeffrey and Marla Pingree Pioneer Enterprises

Charles Pohl and Patricia Blatter Sunheaven Farms Aaron Swick Swain Porter Kambiz Tahmaseb Portland General Electric Richard and Patricia Tangeman Company Matt Tanigawa Portland/Vancouver Pat Tate Rowing Assoc. John and Laurie Tatlock John and Bobbie Prange Ron Taylor Renee Purdy Arlin Taylor and Barbara Lewer Jeremy Raaen and Amy Andrea Teefy Astle-Raaen Ed Temple Debbie Radakovich Robert and Marian Thomas Joe Radakovich Shawn and Carrie Gary Raid American Family Mutual Insurance Thompson Wayne and Sandra Ramay and Subsidiaries Paulits and Damra Thompson Robert and Irene Ranck Gordon and – Ruth ThomsonWI 53783 Robert and Catherine Ranck Home Office Madison, Dave Titus Tobias Read William Tobey and Julianne Scott and Susanne Redfield Lundberg Bill and Sue Reid © 2007 002879 – 9/07 Tom Toombs Tom and Beth Reil Chris Torgerson Dietmar and Lois Renker Travel Connection Salvador Reyes Bill and Maxine Trenbeath Peter and Nora Ribbens Cathy Tronquet Ramona Richards Mary Turner Dave and Rebekah Rigsby Tursi’s Soccer Supply Leah Rinfret Becky Roberts 1230 BBallMens TVTI BW.indd 1 Kerry Tymchuk Dave and Lori Robertson Eric Uggen Kurt and Barbara Roesner Robert and Nancy Van Galder Mike and Brigitte Roesner Michael and Susan Vartain Brady Rogers Fermin and Arlene Vergara Rick Rosenbloom Jim Vidal Janet Roumagoux Eddie and Patricia Vivenzi Becky Rucker Tracy Walker Thomas and Anna Rudd John Wallace Bryan Ruttkay Larry and Heidi Walsh Michael Ryan Tom Warren Miles Sandgathe Don and Jean Watilo Tatsumi and Annette Sato Mark Watson James and Kathleen Scariot Tom Watson Jerry Schilf Caitlin Waugh John and Karen Schilf Lee Weaver Francis Schilf Rik and Theresa Schmidt Mark and Ellie Weisbard Erik Schmidt and Stacy West Wells Fargo Bank Bryan Schmidt Dennis Wheeler Bud and Kevin Schmidtbauer Mike and Heidi Whitcomb Keith Schulze Roger and Kathy White Gwen Schulze White Glove Building Betty Schwieterman Maintenance Mary Jo Scott Don and Lynn Whitehead John and Christina Semenza Emily Wigington Bob and Bea Sendelbach Buz Wilfert Suzie Sendelbach Dick Wilkins Micheal Seraphin Willamette Rowing Club Clifton and Brooke Serres Jean Williams Betty May Settecase John Williams Lynn Shannon George and Laurie Williams Daniel Shapiro Jimmy Williams Michael Sheedy Damian Williams April Shelide Williamsen & Bleid Wilma and Bob Sheridan Phillip Wilmarth Sherman Sherman Johnnie Matt and Melissa Wilmot & Hoyt LLP John Winterscheid Leslie Shevlin Bob Withers Tom Shoji Marty Wolf Siemens Building Cumman and Jane Wong Technologies Raymond Wong Tim Simmers John Wood Traci Siriprathane Michael Worden Edward and Alicia Skelly Bruce and Linda Wright Don Slayton BJ Wright William and Beth Slonaker Gerard and Martha Wyrsch Kevin and Caroline Smith Daniel and Barbara Yatabe Kenneth Smith Todd Yorke Jordyn Smith Zillah Veterinary Clinic, Inc Jeb Smythe Reid Snowden Joe and Nancy Snyder Allan and Patrice Solomon Glenn Soma and Winona Heyer-Soma Melvin and Cindy Sorensen Coral Sorensen Mark and Sue Speckman Skip Spence Matt Stashin Stas Stavrianeas Dan and Kristi Steadman Mike Steglic Rianne Stephens Ronald and Lynn Stiglich Steve Stocker Summer Lake Store

Bearcat Athletics Business Partners

Whether it’s running faster, jumping higher, throwing farther or any of the Partner with Bearcat Athletics. For information about the Business Partners program, contact Mark Majeski at countless other goals these athletes work toward503-370-6420 every day—they or visittry our website at willamette.edu/bearcatclub. harder with their fans’ loyal support. That’s why at American Family, Bearcat Athletics would like to thank all of our Business Partners for 2009–10. These businesses provide we’re happy and proud to join the cheering section. Go team! a wide range of support, including cash and in-kind donations of goods or services. Our student-athletes are (And hooray for the fans.) deeply appreciative of these business partners.

Company

10/5/07 10:48:37 AM

The Willamette university Travel Center

La Margarita Express Traditional Mexican Restaurant Catering Services • Chimichangas • Nachos

DINE IN & TAKE OUT Equitable Building

Halton515 Tractor Subway Salem Emblem Chemeketa Street N.E. Salem, OR 97301 www.lamargaritaexpress.com

Comfort Suites(503)371-7960 Salem Parr Lumber Mission Mill Museum Proud Sponsor of Bearcat Athletics!

3 5 | f eatur e d busin ess partne rs

2009–10 Bearcat Athletic Fund Donor List

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