determined competitive focused intelligent passionate enthusiastic committed focused intelligent passionate spirited competitive strong determined
2012 CROSS COUNTRY WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY
2012 CROSS COUTNRY TEAM CAMP Black Butte — Sisters, Oregon
Team Camp
Every year the Willamette men’s and women’s cross country teams spend three days of training, bonding, and mentally preparing for the upcoming season at a team camp. The destination varies year to year, but in 2012 the team called Sisters, Ore., home for three days over the Labor Day weekend. This year’s team camp included a climb to the summit of Black Butte (at left), a five mile run through the beautiful Sisters trail system and an uphill run ending with a swim at Three Creeks Lake. The camp allows the teams to step away from campus and focus only on preparing for the upcoming season. In their short time at camp they bond as a team and set their sights on the season ahead. In past years the camp has been held in Florence, Ore., on the central coast and in Government Camp, Ore., at the base of Mount Hood. No matter the location, the teams leave with a clear vision of the upcoming season and a great experience at one of Oregon’s beautiful destinations. The 2012 Willamette University Cross Country Media Guide was written, edited and designed by Christopher Sabato, creative projects specialist, and by Robert McKinney, athletics communications director. Assistance provided by Aly Croney and Ana Sayavedra. Cover Photo: Theresa Edwards and Kevin Aubol (Photo by Sabato). Inside Photos by Sabato, Naomi Stukey and the WU Office of Marketing Communications. Back Cover Photo: Parker Bennett (Photo by Sabato).
Table of Contents
Willamette University is proud to provide opportunities for student-athletes to attain great accomplishments in athletics and in the classroom. Bearcat athletes excel on their respective teams throughout the year. Several teams have attained postseason success during recent seasons, continuing a history of excellence in Willamette Athletics.
Coaching Staff ...........................................2-4 2012 Cross Country Roster . ......................... 5 2011 Review ................................................ 6 2012 Preview................................................. 7 Bearcat Men’s Team..................................8-11 Men’s Team History..................................... 12 Commitment to Academics......................... 13 Bearcat Women’s Team..........................14-17 Women’s Team History................................ 18 Sports Medicine.......................................... 19 About Willamette University...................20-21 Athletic Facilities......................................... 22 Northwest Converence................................ 23 NCAA Division III......................................... 23 Athletics Staff............................................... 24 2011 NCAA Championships..................... IBC 2012 Willamette Schedule .................... OBC
These teams and athletes also shine in the classroom. From Academic All-District and Academic All-America selections to several Fulbright, Kemper and NCAA Postgraduate scholarship winners, WU athletes have been honored for their academic achievements. It is this combination, along with a strong commitment to community service and Willamette’s motto, “Not unto ourselves alone are we born,” that makes Bearcat Athletics great.
Willamette University Cross Country
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Matt Mcguirk Head Coach - 9th Year Email: mmcguirk@willamette.edu Office Phone: (503) 370-6898
Matt McGuirk is in his ninth year as the head coach of cross country, his 10th year as head coach of track and field and his 14th year at Willamette University.
“Willamette is the ideal place for a student who is looking for high quality academics and athletics. It’s my honest belief that if an individual chooses Willamette and decides to be successful in and out of the classroom, the opportunity will be provided.” PAGE 2
HEAD COACH
Prior to becoming head coach in 2004, he led the men’s cross country team for five years. He also was the team’s top assistant coach and recruiting coordinator from 1999-03. His ability to recruit student-athletes who succeed both in the classroom and in competition has led to the most successful teams in school history. During 2002 and 2004, the WU men’s team earned fifth place finishes at the NCAA Championships. Sarah Zerzan of WU won back-to-back individual national titles at the NCAA Championships in 2006 and 2007. The WU women’s team placed ninth in the NCAA during the 2004 and 2007 seasons. McGuirk was named NWC Coach of the Year in men’s cross country in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009. He was NWC Women’s Coach of the Year in 2004, 2007 and 2008.
McGuirk has led the WU men’s team to eight NWC titles since 2001 and the women to five straight titles from 2004-08. He has led WU to the NCAA West Regional men’s title seven times since 2002 and to the women’s West Regional title four times since 2004. He was the assistant coach when Willamette’s women won the NWC title in 2002 and the NWC and West Regional titles in 2003. McGuirk has coached the men to the NCAA Championships 10 times, with the WU women qualifying six times. He was an assistant coach when the women qualified in 2003. Since he has been at WU, both teams have earned All-Academic status every year. As Willamette’s track and field coach, McGuirk led the men’s team to a tie for third place at the NCAA Track and Field Championships in 2004, giving Willamette its first NCAA trophy in school history. The WU men’s team took fourth place at the NCAA Championships in 2005.
Brett Franz
Assistant Coach - 7th Year Email: bfranz@willamette.edu Office Phone: (503) 370-6934
Brett Franz returns to the Bearcat staff for his 7th season. In addition to working with the cross country program, Franz heads up the sprints and jumps group during the track and field season. Since 2008, athletes in the sprints and jumps have won 20 NWC individual championships and four NWC relay titles. They have earned 45 AllNWC performances. Eleven athletes have posted NCAA provisional qualifying marks, with two athletes earning All-America honors. Prior to joining the Willamette coaching staff, Franz was the head men’s and women’s cross country and distance coach at Lindenwood University (Mo.) and was the head assistant coach for the track and field teams. He worked with a squad that had 50 NAIA track and field All-Americans, including 11 NAIA champions. The Lindenwood men won the NAIA Indoor Championship, as well as a runner-up finish in outdoor track. In cross country, Franz led Lindenwood’s men to third place at the NAIA national meet and coached the NAIA individual champion and runner-up. Franz was the Heart of America Conference and NAIA Region V Coach of the Year in cross Country and the NAIA National Assistant Coach of the Year for indoor track. Franz received a master’s degree in Athletic Administration at Lindenwood. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Business from Western Oregon University.
CHRIS sabato
Assistant Coach - 8th Year Email: csabato@willamette.edu Office Phone: (503) 370-6803
Christopher Sabato has been a member of the Bearcat staff as an assistant coach for the cross country and track & field teams since 2005. Sabato works with the cross country team in the fall and coaches the pole vaulters in the spring. Prior to arriving at Willamette, Sabato spent two years at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn., where he coached the sprints and jumps. He attended Alfred University in Alfred, N.Y., graduating in 2002 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. During his collegiate track and field career, Sabato competed in the sprints, the long jump and the pole vault. Along with his coaching duties, Sabato is an administrator in the Athletics Department and hold the title of creative project specialist. He is the primary photographer for the Willamette track and cross country programs, and as routinely covers other sports as well. Sabato is responsible for timing all Willamette meets and is regionally recognized as a Finish Lynx operator. Sabato was interviewed by the New York Times to help explain the unprecidented dead heat in the 2012 Olympic Trials during the women’s 100-meter dash.
ASSISTANT COACHES
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sarah mcsweeney ‘12 Assistant Coach - 1st Year
Sarah McSweeney is in her first season as an assistant coach for the Bearcats. She competed in cross country and track and field for the Bearcats for four years. She was 4th in the steeplechase at the 2012 NWC Meet in track and field. As a cross country runner, she competed at the NCAA Championships.
SALLY VENABLE ‘12 Assistant Coach - 1st Year
Sally Venable is starting her first season as an assistant coach at Willamette. She was a runner in cross country at WU and also competed in track and field. She was 2nd in the steeplechase and the 5,000 during the 2012 NWC Meet. She ran at the NCAA Championships during the 2011 cross country season.
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Assistant Coaches
Bearcat Cross Country online
The Willamette University Cross Country and Track & Field teams have several social media outlets. You can find behind the scences comentary, video and photos. Take a look at any of links below. Willamette Cross County and Track & Field Facebook page
facebook.com/willamettetrack Willamette Cross County and Track & Field on Twitter
twitter.com/willamettetrack Willamette Cross County and Track & Field blog
willamettetrack.com
Willamette Cross County and Track & Field photo galleries
photos.willamettetrack.com The Willamette University Athletics website
willamette.edu/athletics/
2012 Bearcat CROSS COUNTRY Men’s Team Name Kevin Aubol Benjamin Beeler Parker Bennett Yonny Castillo Nathan Conrad Max Craddock Shelby Decker Josh Echols Kit Kingstad Quinn Lindley Hunter Matthies Ben Mow Jacob Shafi Daniel Swanson Michael Underwood
WOMen’s Team Yr. Sr. So. Jr. Fr. Fr. So. Fr. Jr. Jr. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. So. Fr.
Hometown (Previous School) Ellensburg, WA (Ellensburg HS) San Francisco, CA (Archbishop Riordan HS) Sisters, OR (Sisters HS) Parkdale, OR (Hood River Valley HS) Bothell, WA (Bothell HS) Wichita, KS (Wichita Collegiate School) Las Vegas, NV (Arbor View HS) Olympia, WA (Capital HS) Beaverton, OR (Beaverton HS) Monmouth, OR (Central HS) Moran, WY (Jackson Hole HS) Granite Falls, WA (Granite Falls HS) Pleasanton, CA (Amador Valley HS) Seattle, WA (Roosevelt HS) Palo Alto, CA (Henry M. Gunn HS)
Name Hannah Bressler Theresa Edwards Juliet Farnan Michaela Freeby Kellen Friedrich Stevie Gildehaus Annette Marinello Taylor Ostrander Erynn Rebol Maggie Ruwitch Amanda Tamanaha Alisha Till
Yr. Fr. Sr. Fr. So. Fr. Jr. So. Fr. Jr. Fr. Sr. Sr.
Hometown (Previous School) Oak Harbor, WA (Oak Harbor HS) Lake Tapps, WA (Bonney Lake HS) Lafayette, CA (Campolindo HS) Milwaukie, OR (Rex Putnam HS) Salem, OR (South Salem HS) Spokane Valley, WA (University HS) Corvallis, OR (Philomath HS) Soldotna, AK (Kenai Central HS) Cottonwood, CA (Red Bluff Union HS) Canby, OR (Canby HS) Honolulu, HI (Saint Andrews Priory) Richland, WA (Richland HS)
Head Coach: Matt McGuirk (9th year) Assistant Coaches: Brett Franz (7th year), Christopher Sabato (8th year), Sally Venable (1st year), Sarah McSweeney (1st year)
2012 Roster
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Where we’ve been Willamette University has a strong tradition in cross country. The Bearcats added another chapter to their history in 2011, as WU sent a total of nine runners to the NCAA Division III Championships in Winneconne, Wis. The Bearcats fielded a full women’s team, plus two individual qualifiers from the men’s team. The women’s team placed 29th at the NCAA Championships, led by Michaela Freeby in 73rd and Kaitlin Greene in 101st out of 277 runners. Also competing for WU were Theresa Edwards, Amanda Tamanaha, Sarah McSweeney, Cathy Monahan and Sally Venable. Willamette runners Leo Castillo and Kevin Aubol competed for the men’s team at the NCAA Championships. The women’s team was ranked as high as #28 in NCAA Division III and held the #29 ranking prior to the national meet. The Willamette men’s team was ranked as high as #22 during the year.
Parker Bennett
At the West Regional, WU’s women finished second and the men placed fourth. Michaela Freeby in ninth place, Kaitlin Greene (14th) and Theresa Edwards (15th) received All-West Region honors. For the men, All-Region recognition went to Castillo (4th), Aubol (13th), Ben Donovan (21st), Kit Kingstad (23rd) and Parker Bennett (34th).
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2011 Season Review
Castillo won his second consecutive individual men’s title at the Northwest Conference Championships. Willamette took second place by narrow margins in both the men’s team and women’s team standings. Earning First Team All-NWC honors for the men’s team were Castillo and Donovan. Receiving Second Team honors were Aubol and Bennett. First Team All-NWC runners for the women’s team were Edwards, Freeby and Greene.
Where we’re going Willamette enters the 2012 cross country season with a quality mix of experience and talent, as the Bearcats seek to battle for Northwest Conference and NCAA West Region titles. Willamette returns three members of the women’s team who competed at the 2011 NCAA Championships, while the men’s team returns three runners who earned All-West Region honors in 2011. Leading the women’s team will be senior Theresa Edwards and sophomore Michaela Freeby. Both earned All-West Region and First Team All-NWC recognition last year. Also returning with NCAA experience is senior Amanda Tamanaha. For the Willamette men’s team, senior Kevin Aubol leads the way after finishing eighth at last year’s NWC Championships. Junior Parker Bennett looks to move into a leadership role following his 14th place finish in the NWC last fall. Joining Aubol and Bennett as a returning All-West Region runner is junior Kit Kingstad. This past spring, Kingstad competed at the NCAA Track and Field Championships in the 1,500-meter run.
Michaela Freeby
The Bearcats will host an early-season loop run and also will host two key meets during the season. On Sept. 29, Willamette will host the 38th Annual Charles Bowles Invitational, one of the largest collegiate cross country meets on the West Coast each season at Bush’s Pasture Park. Later, the Bearcats will host the NCAA Division III West Regional at the Oak Knoll Golf Course. Willamette’s schedule also includes a trip to Wisconsin to run at the Brooks Invitational, a meet that will feature many of the top teams in NCAA Division III.
2012 Season Preview
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MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
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The road to Three Creeks Lake — The men take care of a 6 mile uphill run
Kevin Aubol
Ellensburg, Wash. (Ellensburg HS) Senior
Elisa Ahern
Yonny Castillo
Parkdale, Ore. (Hood River Valley HS) Freshman
Elisa Ahern
Aubol has competed at two NCAA Championships for the Bearcats. He has twice earned All-NWC honors, by finishing 8th in the conference meet in 2010 and 2011. At Willamette, he is majoring in Exercise Science. Top Times: 4M - 20:32.34; 8K - 25:29.08.
Castillo joins the Bearcats this season after transferring from Southern Oregon University. He is a freshman in terms of eligibility. He previously competed at Hood River Valley High School. He is the brother of former WU runner Leo Castillo. He has not declared his major.
Benjamin Beeler
Nathan Conrad
San Francisco, Calif. (Archbishop Riordan HS) Sophomore
Elisa Ahern
Bothell, Wash. (Bothell HS) Freshman
Elisa Ahern
Beeler placed 20th at the NWC Championships last fall and ran at the NCAA West Regional ... He competed in cross country at Archbishop Riordan High School. He is majoring in Exercise Science. Top Times: 4M - 21:40.70; 8K - 26:20.19.
Conrad will challenge to be one of the top runners for the Bearcats this season. He qualified for State twice as a runner at Bothell High School in Washington. He completed A.P. and honors classes in high school. He is undecided regarding his major.
Parker Bennett
Max Craddock
Sisters, Ore. (Sisters HS) Junior
Elisa Ahern
Bennett competed at the 2010 NCAA Championships. He earned All-NWC honors in 2011 by placing 14th at the conference meet. He is majoring Exercise Science. At Sisters High School, he was 3rd at the State Meet. Top Times: 4M - 21:01.61; 8K - 25:27.89.
Wichita, Kan. (Wichita Collegiate School) Sophomore
Elisa Ahern
Craddok ran for WU at the NWC Championships last season. He is the team’s only runner from Kansas. He placed 33rd at the State Championships in 2009. He is undecided regarding his major at Willamette. Top Times: 4M - 22:07.71; 8K - 27:13.08
Bearcat Men
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Shelby Decker Las Vegas, Nev. (Arbor View HS) Freshman
Elisa Ahern
Decker arrives at Willamette after competing at Arbor View High School in Nevada. He earned National A.P. Scholar recognition and received an advanced honors diploma. Plans to major in Chemistry with a minor in Chinese Studies.
Josh Echols Olympia, Wash. (Capital HS) Junior
Elisa Ahern
Echols returns for his junior season with the Bearcats following a solid sophomore year. He placed 25th at the NWC Championships in 2011. At Willamette, he is majoring in History with a minor in Chinese Studies. Top Times: 4M - 21:47.33; 8K - 26:59.47.
Kit Kingstad Kevin Aubol
Beaverton, Ore. (Beaverton HS) Junior
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Bearcat Men
Elisa Ahern
Kingstad begins his junior year after placing 23rd at the NCAA West Region Championships in 2011. He also ran for WU at the NWC Championships last year. He is undecided regarding his major at Willamette. Top Times: 4M - 21:08.36; 8K - 26:7.10.
QuinN Lindley Monmouth, Ore. (Central HS) Sophomore
Elisa Ahern
JACOB SHAFI
Pleasanton, Calif. (Amador Valley HS) Freshman
Elisa Ahern
Lindley qualified for the OSAA State Championships three times at Central High School. He was chosen First Team All-League three times. Lindley is majoring in Politics with a minor in Spanish at Willamette. Top Times: 4M - 22:25.51; 8K - 27:40.79.
Shafi shows the potential to become a key runner for the Bearcats. He competed as a midfielder in soccer and ran distance during the track and field season at Amador Valley High School in California. He has not yet declared his major at Willamette.
Hunter Matthies
Daniel Swanson
Moran, Wyo. (Jackson Hole HS) Freshman
Elisa Ahern
Seattle, Wash. (Roosevelt HS) Sophomore
Elisa Ahern
Matthies joins the Willamette cross country team after running for the 2011 State Championship team at Jackson Hole High School in Wyoming. He was named to the academic Honor Roll as a junior and a senior. He is undecided regarding his major at Willamette.
Swanson is in his second year on the WU cross country team. He took 29th at the 2011 NWC Championships. In high school, he placed seventh in the 800-meter run at WIAA State in track and field. His major is Exercise Science. Top Times: 4K - 21:17.02; 8K - 26:18.40
Ben Mow
Michael underwood
Granite Falls, Wash. (Granite Falls HS) Sophomore
Palo Alto, Calif. (Henry M. Gunn HS) Freshman
Mow was a four-year letterman and served as captain for three seasons at Granite Falls High School. He was a member of the National Honor Society at GFHS. He has not yet declared his academic major at Willamette. Top Times: 4M - 22:32.43; 8K - 27:35.43.
Underwood was a runner on the varsity cross country team at Henry M. Gunn High School for two years and was a team captain in track and field. He placed sixth at the Palo Alto City Meet in 2010 and 2011. He has not yet declared his major at Willamette.
Elisa Ahern
Elisa Ahern
Bearcat M en
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NWC Championships NWC Tea m C h a m p i o n s ( 1 9 )
1963, 1968, 1970, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1993, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009 Leo Castillo (2010, 2011) Tristan Knutson-Lombardo (2007) Ian Batch (2006) Nick Symmonds (2005) Aaron Hollingshead (2004) Jacob Stout (2003) Aaron Young (2002, 2000) Andy Libert (1986) Rob MacGinnittie (1985) Rick Groenendaal (1982, 1981) David Johnson (1980) Dave Flemming (1978, 1979) Tery Zerzan (1977, 1974) Dan Hall (1975, 1973) Don Johnson (1970) Gary Purpura (1969) Wes Armstrong (1964)
NCAA Titles and Awards NCAA We s t R e g i o n C h a m p i o n s ( 7 ) 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010
NCAA Al l A m e r i c a n s ( 7 ) Stefan Redfield (2010) Aaron Hollingshead (2004) Jacob Stout (2001, 2002, 2003) Aaron Young (2001, 2002)
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Men’s Team History
Team Records M e n 's 4 Miles
1 Dan Hall 2 Dave Fleming 3 Aaron Young 4 Jacob Stout 5 Rick LaGreide 6 Rick Groenendaal 7 Terry Zerzan 8 Robbie Wright 9 Ian Batch 10 Nick Symmonds
19:29.0 19:32.0 19:34.4 19:36.1 19:41.0 19:42.0 19:43.0 19:45.0 19:47.7 19:49.0
1975 1979 2002 2003 1979 1983 1976 1983 2006 2002
M e n 's 5 miles (8000 m)
1 Dan Hall 24:02.7 1975 2 Leo Castillo 24:24.31 2010 3 Aaron Hollingshead 24:24.3 2004 4 Aaron Young 24:24.4 2002 5 Jacob Stout 24:24.9 2001 6 David Fleming 24:26.1 1979 7 Kevin O'Connor 24:28.7 1983 8 Rick Groenendaal 24:29.0 1981 9 Ian Batch 24:30.70 2006 10 Stefan Redfield 24:31.69 2010
Leo Castillo `12
NWC Ind i v i d u a l C h a m p i o n s ( 2 3 )
Commitment to academics
Academic Awards
The track and field program makes great efforts to make sure that student-athletes have every opportunity to succeed academically. Practice schedules are often moved around academic conflicts, and missed class due to travel is kept to a minimum. Many student-athletes peform better in the classroom while in season. The track program takes great pride in the academic success of its student-athletes.
Among the Bearcats’ academically distinguished alumni are Chris Platano `10, who was a Kemper Scholar and earned an Elite 88 award; Lucas Nebert `08 and Ali Maki `09, who both won Fulbright Grants; and Natalie Muren `06, who was awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.
Student-athletes are at Willamette to get a high quality education. While many of the things you learn while a member of the team will follow you throughout your life, it’s the classroom work that will set you on a path to success.
The cross country teams routinely maintain some of the highest cumulative GPAs in the Athletic Department. Cross Country athletes have earned numerous academic awards, including six NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships and eight CoSIDA Academic All-America awards.
ABOUT THE PROG RAM
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WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
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The Sisters Trails — The women finish up a run on a dirt road in Sisters, Ore.
Bearcat Women
hannah Bressler Oak Harbor, Wash. (Oak Harbor HS) Freshman
Elisa Ahern
Michaela Freeby Milwaukie, Ore. (Rex Putnam HS) Sophomore
Elisa Ahern
Bressler qualified for the State Championships twice as a cross country runner at Oak Harbor High School in Washington. Helped Oak Harbor place third at State during the 2010 season. She is undecided regarding her major at Willamette.
Last season, Freeby placed 5th in the NWC, was 9th in the West Region and ran at the NCAA Championships. She qualified for the OSAA State Championships at Rex Putnam High School. Freeby has not declared her major. Top Times: 5K - 18:22.84; 6K - 21:54.10.
Theresa Edwards
Kellen Friedrich
Lake Tapps, Wash. (Bonney Lake HS) Senior
Elisa Ahern
Salem, Ore. (South Salem HS) Freshman
Elisa Ahern
In 2011, Edwards ran at the NCAA Championships for the second time. She was 3rd in the NWC and 15th in the West. She has been All-NWC and All-Region twice. Edwards is majoring in both Biology and Environmental Science. Top Times: 5K - 18:21.95; 6K - 22:01.61.
Friedrich qualified for the State Championships during all four years at nearby South Salem High School. She also qualified for State twice in track and field. She was an Honor Roll student at South Salem. Friedrich has not decided on her major at Willamette.
Juliet Farnan
Stevie Gildehaus
Lafayette, Calif. (Campolindo HS) Freshman
Elisa Ahern
Farnan will challenge for the top seven as a freshman. She helped Campolindo High School win the State title for California in Division III during 2010. She was a team captain for two years in high school. She has not yet declared her major at Willamette.
Spokane Valley, Wash. (University HS) Junior
Elisa Ahern
Gildehaus competed at the NWC Championships in 2009 and 2010. Did not participate in cross country in 2011, but studied abroad in Quito, Ecuador. She is majoring in Environmental Science and Spanish at Willamette. Top Times: 5K - 19:58.36; 6K - 24:34.98
Bearcat W omen
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Annie Marinello Corvallis, Ore. (Philomath HS) Sophomore
Elisa Ahern
Marinello competed at the NWC Championships for Willamette as a freshman last year. She was All-State in cross country at Philomath High School in Oregon. She is majoring in Biology with a minor in Mathematics at WU. Top Times: 5K - 19:56.49 ; 6K - 24:19.08.
TayLor Ostrander Soldotna, Alaska (Kenai Central HS) Freshman
Elisa Ahern
Ostrander qualified as an individual for the ASAA State Championships in cross country three times at Kenai Central High School. She was selected for the National Honor Society at KCHS. She is undecided regarding her major at Willamette.
Erynn Rebol
Erynn Rebol
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Bearcat Women
Cottonwood, Calif. (Red Bluff HS) Junior
Elisa Ahern
Rebol studied abroad during the fall of 2011. She also competes in track and field for the Bearcats, and won the NWC title in the 800-meter run in 2010. Rebol is majoring in Studio Art and Biology at Willamette. Top Times: 5K - 20:06.33.
Maggie Ruwitch Canby, Ore. (Canby HS) Sophomore
Elisa Ahern
Ruwitch qualified for the OSAA State Championships three times at Canby High School in Canby, Oregon. She also competed in swimming and track and field in high school. She is working toward an Exercise Science major at Willamette. Top Time: 5K - 22:04.15.
Amanda Tamanaha
Honolulu, Hawaii (St. Andrews Priory School) Senior
Elisa Ahern
Tamanaha placed 25th in the NWC in 2011 and was 29th in 2009 and 2010. She has been a competitor at the West Regional three times and at the NCAA Championships in 2011. She is majoring in Exercise Science. Top Times: 5K - 19:05.55; 6K - 23:13.10.
Richland, Wash. (Richland HS) Junior
Elisa Ahern
Till has been a consistently solid runner at WU. In 2009 and 2010, she competed at the NWC Championships and at the West Regional. She studied abroad during the fall of 2011. Her major is Environmental Science at Willamette. Top Times: 5K - 19:10.38; 6K - 24:26.96.
Stevie Gildehaus
Alisha Till
Bearcat women
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NWC Championships NWC Tea m C h a m p i o n s ( 8 ) 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
NWC Ind i v i d u a l C h a m p i o n s ( 8 ) Kimber Mattox (2010) Maddie Coffman (2008) Sarah Zerzan (2006, 2007) Kari Holbert (2002) Beth Fitzgerald (1999) Kara Crisifulli (1984, 1985)
NCAA Titles and Awards NCAA We s t R e g i o n C h a m p i o n s ( 5 ) 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
Team Records Wo men’s 5000m 1 Sarah Zerzan 2 Maddie Coffman 3 Kara Crisifulli 4 Beth Fitzgerald 5 Danya Rumore 6 Jena Winger 7 Kimber Mattox 8 Kari Holbert 9 Nattalie Wright 10 Liz Rodda
16:49.4 2006 17:18.68 2008 17:27.0 1985 17:28.8 1999 17:36.9 2004 17:55.5 2007 17:56.88 2010 17:57.4 2004 18:13.8 2000 18:20.7 2001
Sarah Zerzan (2005, 2006, 2007) Maddie Coffman (2008)
NCAA Ch a m p i o n s ( 2 ) Sarah Zerzan (2006, 2007)
NCAA Al l A m e r i c a n s ( 9 ) Kimber Mattox (2010) Sarah Zerzan (2005, 2006, 2007) Maddie Coffman (2007, 2008) Kari Holbert (2003, 2004) Beth Fitzgerald (1999)
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Wo men’s 6000m 1 Sarah Zerzan 2 Maddie Coffman 3 Danya Rumore 4 Jena Winger 5 Kari Holbert 6 Kimber Mattox 7 Michaela Freeby 8 Theresa Edwards 9 Kaitlin Greene 10 Elizabeth Hart
WOM en’s Team History
20:32.7 2006 21:05.8 2007 21:28.3 2004 21:37.0 2008 21:41.9 2003 21:46.7 2010 21:54.12 2011 22:01.61 2011 22:12.83 2011 22:14.9 2006
Theresa Edwards
NCAA We s t R e g i o n I n d i v. C h a m p i o n s ( 4 )
Sports Medicine The Willamette University’s sports medicine program provides medical support to our varsity athletes The department consists of two components: service and education. The service component includes up-to-date evaluation, treatment, rehabilitation and/or referral procedures in the event of an athlete becoming injured or ill.
Shane Wibel, ATC Erin Scharer, ATC Ken Smith, ATC Head Athletic Trainer Asst. Athletic Trainer Asst. Athletic Trainer
The education component is designed for any student interested in athletic training or other medical fields to gain valuable experience working in a clinical situation. Dylan Borden, ATC Dr. Daniel Schweigert Dr. David Thorsett PT Northwest WU Team Physician WU Team Physician
Silverton Hospital
Willamette has treatment centers at Sparks Center and McCulloch Stadium. These facilities are staffed by three full-time athletic trainers and several work study students. Students involved in the athletic training program gain valuable work experience by covering practices and games, as well as working in the treatment centers during the academic year. Our team physicians call Silverton Hospital their home and our physical therapy contractor is PT Northwest. From our three full-time athletic trainers to our doctors and physical therapists, Willamette athletes receive top notch medical care.
Sports medicine
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The First University in the West Willamette’s curriculum and collaborative learning environment allow you to explore a wide variety of subjects that are critical to helping you navigate the world around you. Whether working one-on-one with a professor, studying abroad, pursuing innovative research, interning with a business or nonprofit, or leading a campus organization, you can hone your creativity, global perspective and critical thinking for a lifetime of success. Willamette professors contribute a wide range of expertise to create a dynamic and collaborative learning environment for their students. They engage in scholarly research and publication, but they are also committed to teaching and serving as mentors and advisors.
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WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY
Since 1990, ten Willamette faculty members have been named Oregon Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation. They have been honored among the most outstanding undergraduate instructors in the country for excelling in teaching and positively influencing the lives and careers of their students. With an average class size of 14 and a student-to-faculty ratio of 10:1, Willamette provides a personal classroom experience where professors get to know you well, making it easy to find individualized help or ask questions. The life of the Willamette student is active, thought-provoking and focused on community — in the classroom and out. More than 100
student organizations, in addition to numerous athletic, leadership and service opportunities, help you develop your character in addition to your intellect — and have fun, too. Our students are engaged in communities locally and around the world. About 50% earn study abroad credit before they graduate, and 68% of students complete at least one internship while at Willamette. Academics come first at Willamette, but you still have time to compete. Our athletes, both formal and informal, have an enthusiastic network of supporters. Willamette’s NCAA Division III athletics program includes 10 men’s and 10 women’s sports and about 25% of students are DIII student-athletes. Our alumni say their time at Willamette was life-changing, and they credit their education with providing them the expertise they needed for a successful career and life — whether they went on to a job, prestigious graduate program, national fellowship or public service.
Why Willamette? NCAA and Northwest Conference competition Supportive coaching staff and team environment 25% of students are intercollegiate athletes 24% of students are multicultural Quality academics with highly engaged professors Student-faculty ratio of 10:1 Average class size of 14 50% of students study abroad 68% of students complete 1 or more internships Career development program
Salem, Oregon Located in the heart of the Willamette Valley, the university is situated ideally to access all the benefits of the Pacific Northwest. Gorgeous forests, rivers, mountains and ocean beaches nearby. A relaxed and creative culture. Vibrant arts and music scenes. And, coffee shops on almost every block. Willamette University is in the heart of downtown Salem, Oregon’s capital, a community that is large enough to provide plenty of entertainment, yet personal enough that you’ll usually run into someone you know. When you want to enjoy some of Oregon’s attractions located outside Salem, it’s easy to find a university organized trip or an informal group of friends to join you — whether you plan to snowboard on Mount Hood, catch a concert in Portland or build a bonfire at the coast.
SALEM, OREG ON
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Bush’s Pasture Park The Willamette University cross country teams call Bush’s Pasture Park in Salem, Ore., their home. The park covers over 90 acres and is just two blocks from the Willamette University campus. It is a public park highly utilized by the Willamette and Salem communities. The cross country teams use the park for training and for home meets, including the annual Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational. A 1.5 mile bark trail surounds the perimeter of the park, making it a great place for an easy run or a full workout. A total of four Willamette sports compete in the park. Baseball plays at John Lewis Field, while football plays at McCulloch Stadium, and track and field hosts meets at the Charles Bowles Track.
Minto Brown Island Park Just a five-minute jog from campus is Minto-Brown Island Park. The park is the perfect place for long runs and workouts. While many of the 20 miles of paths are paved, a bit of exploration and adventure can lead to the soft surfaces of bark paths that runners crave. This 900-acre park is a Wildlife Refuge, so keep your eyes peeled for great blue herons and beavers. The trails wind through orchards, fields, forests and a dog park. Minto-Brown is the place to go for those seeking seclusion. In the front of the park, you’ll find plenty of other runners, walkers and bikers, but once you delve into the deeper trails, it feels like you have the place to yourself.
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athletic Facilities
CHARLES BOWLES INVITational
The Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational is the largest collegeonly cross country meet west of the Mississippi River. Each year the meet draws over 1,100 athletes to Bush Park in Salem, Oregon. Anually the races play host to several nationally ranked teams from across the country and throughout NCAA Divisions I, II and III and the NAIA. The invitational is named for longtime Willamette cross county and track & field coach Charles Bowles who started the race 37 years ago.
NORTHWEST CONFERENCE Charter members included Willamette, the College of Idaho, Linfield, Pacific and Puget Sound. Albany College was added in 1931, remained for seven years, and then returned in 1949 as Lewis & Clark College. Pacific Lutheran joined in 1965 and was followed by Whitworth in 1970. The College of Idaho withdrew from the conference in 1978.
The nine private colleges and universities in Oregon and Washington that form the Northwest Conference are building a reputation as one of the top NCAA Division III leagues in the nation. The NWC is nationally competitive in a broad spectrum of sports. Formed in 1926, the NWC is 84 years old and is one of the oldest conferences in the western United States. The NWC’s current members in Oregon are Willamette, George Fox, Linfield, Lewis and Clark, and Pacific. Members located in Washington are Pacific Lutheran, Puget Sound, Whitman and Whitworth.
Whitworth dropped out in 1984 and returned in 1988. Menlo joined in 2006 as a member in football only and dropped out in 2009. The NWC originally sponsored athletic competition for men’s sports only, but joined forces with the Women’s Conference of Independent Colleges in 1984 to form the Northwest Conference of Independent Colleges. The name was shortened back to the original Northwest Conference in 1998. Also in 1998, all nine NWC members shifted affiliation from the NAIA to the NCAA. Members knew the move would foster equity, sportsmanship and a genuine concern for all student-athletes.
NCAA Division III NCAA Division III is where the true student-athlete studies and competes. The National Collegiate Athletic Association is the main governing body of collegiate sports, dividing levels of classification into three divisions. D3 institutions are largely regarded as leading academic institutions and do not offer athletic scholarships. Still, athletics in D3 is highly competitive. There are over 136,000 athletes at over 430 D3 colleges and universities and each one is studying to earn a valuable degree in preparation for the workplace while playing the sport that he or she loves. For D3 athletes, sports have been an integral part of our lives since our youth. From elementary school through high school, sports have complemented our educational experience.And as college looms, we want to continue playing the sport we love while receiving an education from a first-rate college. A D3 school is that fit.
NORTHWEST CONFERENCE & THE NCAA
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DR. Stephen Thorsett
Coaching Staff Baseball
Willamette University President Dr. Stephen Thorsett became the 25th president of Willamette University on July 1, 2011. Thorsett served previously as the dean of the Division of Physical and Biological Sciences at UC-Santa Cruz. He joined UCSC as an associate professor of astronomy and astrophysics in 1999. He was appointed to professor of astronomy and astrophysics and department chair in 2003.
Aaron Swick Men’s Basketball
Kip Ioane
About Willamette
Location.................................................Salem, Oregon Founded................................................................1842 Enrollment........... 2,027 Undergraduate; 2,827 Overall Nickname........................................................ Bearcats Colors....................................... Cardinal and Old Gold National Affiliation............................. NCAA Division III Conference.................... Northwest Conference (NWC) Field (Capacity)..................................Sparks Field (500)
Administration
Dean of Campus Life...................... Dr. David Douglass Faculty Athletic Rep...........................Dr. Kelley Strawn Associate Athletic Director.......................Judy Gordon Facilities/Operations Manager................. Rob Passage Head Athletic Trainer........................Shane Wibel, ATC Assistant Athletic Trainer................... Erin Scharer, ATC Assistant Athletic Trainer......................Ken Smith, ATC Assistant Athletic Trainer..............Deborah Cagle, ATC Athletics Comm. Director.................. Robert McKinney Administrative Assistant......................... Leslie Berning
Contact
Women’s Basketball
Peg Swadener Cross Country / Track & Field
Matt McGuirk Football
Glen Fowles Men’s & Women’s Golf
David Rigsby
Noah Horstman Men’s & Women’s Rowing
Ryan Miller
Willamette University Director of Athletics
Men’s Soccer
David Rigsby is the director of athletics at Willamette University after serving as associate dean of campus life. Rigsby was a member of the baseball team at WU for two years before his career was shortened by an arm injury. He earned a B.A. degree from Willamette in 2000 with a major in Chemistry, and later added an M.S. from Duquesne University.
Lloyd Fobi Women’s Soccer
Hillary Arthur Softball
Damian Wiliams Men’s & Women’s Swimming
Leslie Shevlin Men’s Tennis
Athletics Comm. Phone.........................(503) 370-6110 Athletics Comm. E-mail........rmckinne@willamette.edu Athletics Department Phone.................(503) 370-6420 Athletics Department FAX.....................(503) 370-6379 Athletics Web Site.......... www.willamette.edu/athletics
Rick Wood Women’s Tennis
Becky Roberts Volleyball
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A dministration and Staff
Alish TIll
Kit King Stad
Annie Marinello
Ben Mow
Tom Shoji
Kevin Aubol
Leo Castillo
Theresa Edwards
Michaela Freeby
Kaitlin Greene
Sarah McSweeney
Cathy Monahan
Amanda Tamanaha
Sally Venable
2011 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
Lake Breeze Golf Course — Winneconne, Wisconsin
2012 SCHEDULE Sept. 15
Oak Knoll Loop Run Willamette University
Independence, OR Oak Knoll G.C.
TBA
Sept. 22
at Northwest Classic Lane Community College
Eugene OR
10 a.m.
Sept. 29
Charles Bowles Invitational Willamette University
Salem, OR Bush Park
9:30 a.m.
Oct. 12
at Mike Hodges Invitational Oregon City, OR Clackamas Community College
3:30 p.m.
Oct. 13
at Brooks Invitational UW-Oshkosh
Winneconne, WI Lake Breeze G.C.
10:30 a.m. CDT
Oct. 27
at NWC Championships Pacifc University
Forest Grove, OR Sunset Grove G.C.
10 a.m.
Nov. 10
NCAA West Regional Willamette University
Independence, OR Oak Knoll G.C.
11 a.m.
Nov. 17
NCAA Championships Rose-Hulman
Terre Haute, IN LaVerne Gibson Course
11 a.m. CST
All meet times are Pacific Time unless otherwise indicated
department of athletics willamette.edu/athletics