Athletics

Coffman is Selected Second Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America

2009-06-21T08:54:31Z

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University senior runner Maddie Coffman (Boise, ID/Boise HS) has been chosen as a Second Team selection on the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America College Division Women's Cross Country and Track and Field Team, as selected by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

In addition to achieving outstanding success in the classroom, Coffman earned NCAA All-America status two seasons in cross country and one season in track and field.

Coffman, who graduated this spring, majored in Biology. She achieved a 3.79 grade point average through the Fall 2008 semester.

She won Northwest Conference titles in the 800-meter run and the 1,500-meter run in track and field this spring, and qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 1,500 and the 5,000-meter run. She placed fourth in the finals of the 1,500 with a Willamette record time of 4:30.58, as she claimed All-America honors. Later on the same day, she placed 14th in the 5,000. In 2007, she finished ninth in the 1,500-meter run at the NCAA Championships.

In the fall of 2008 Coffman placed fourth at the NCAA Division III National Championships in cross country with a time of 21:05.97. She also won individual West Region and NWC titles during the cross country season. She placed 11th at the NCAA Championships in 2007. Coffman earned All-America honors in cross country in 2007 and 2008.

CoSIDA District VIII includes colleges and universities in the western United States. Players nominated for the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team were starters or key reserves with cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher (4.0 scale). Each athlete was at her current college or university for at least one academic year.

The College Division includes athletes in NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and the NAIA. Willamette is a member of NCAA Division III and competes in the Northwest Conference.

For More Information:
Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

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Platano and Lackman Receive ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Recognition

2009-06-16T00:53:01Z

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University student-athletes Chris Platano (Jr., Myrtle Point, OR/Myrtle Point HS) and Drew Lackman (Sr., Gig Harbor, WA/Gib Harbor HS) have been named First Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VIII on the College Division Men's Cross Country and Track and Field Team, as selected by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Athletes named First Team All-District are eligible for the ESPN The Magazine College Division Academic All-America Team. The list of All-America selections is scheduled to be released on Thursday, June 18.

Platano also was named First Team ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District in 2007-08. He is majoring in Economics and owned a 3.93 cumulative grade point average through the Fall 2008 semester. He is a Kemper Scholar.

This spring, Platano won the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Northwest Conference Championships with a personal-best time of 9:32.33. He also placed sixth in the 5,000-meter run and helped Willamette achieve its sixth NWC men's team title in the past eight years. Previously, he finished seventh in the steeplechase at the NWC Meet in 2007 and 2008.

In cross country, Platano placed 18th at the NWC Championships in 2007. He was 20th in the NWC in 2008. Willamette won the NWC men's cross country title in 2007 and took second place in the team standings in 2008.

Lackman achieved two NWC individual titles in track and field this spring, as he won the 110-meter hurdles in 15.36 seconds and claimed first place in the 400-meter hurdles in 55.98 seconds. He graduated from Willamette in May with a major in Economics. He held a 3.58 GPA through the Fall 2008 semester.

He recorded an NCAA Division III provisional qualifying mark of 54.13 seconds in the 400-meter hurdles this year. It was his career-best time and moved him into seventh on WU's all-time Top 10 list.

Lackman ran the third leg of Willamette's 4 x 400-meter relay team that finished third in the NWC in 2007 and 2009. He placed second in the NWC in the 110-meter hurdles in in 2007, was fourth in 2008 and took eighth in 2006. He also registered a fourth place finish in the NWC in the 400-meter hurdles in 2008 and was sixth in 2007.

CoSIDA District VIII includes colleges and universities in the western United States. Players nominated for the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team were starters or key reserves with cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher (4.0 scale). Each athlete was at his current college or university for at least one academic year.

The College Division includes athletes in NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and the NAIA. Willamette is a member of NCAA Division III and competes in the Northwest Conference.

For More Information:
Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

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Coffman, Lewis and Edholm Earn ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Honors

2009-06-16T00:50:03Z

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University has placed three student-athletes on the First Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VIII College Division Women's Cross Country and Track and Field Team, as selected by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Willamette's selections were senior Maddie Coffman (Boise, ID/Boise HS), senior Molly Lewis (Fox Island, WA/Gig Harbor HS) and junior Christina Edholm (Pleasanton, CA/Foothill HS).

Coffman competed in cross country and track and field. Last fall, she placed fourth at the NCAA Division III National Championships in cross country with a time of 21:05.97. She also won individual West Region and Northwest Conference titles during the cross country season. She placed 11th at the NCAA Championships in 2007. Coffman earned All-America honors twice in cross country.

She won NWC titles in the 800-meter run and the 1,500-meter run this spring, and qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 1,500 and the 5,000-meter run. She placed fourth in the finals of the 1,500 with a Willamette record time of 4:30.58. Later on the same day, she placed 14th in the 5,000. In 2007, she finished ninth in the 1,500 in Division III.

Coffman, who graduated this spring, majored in Biology. She achieved a 3.79 grade point average through the Fall 2008 semester.

Lewis participated in cross country during the fall and graduated in December of 2008. She majored in Spanish and achieved a 3.99 cumulative GPA. Lewis was named All-West Region in 2007, when she placed 21st in the Region, and in 2008,when she took 18th place. She was 14th at the NWC Championships this past fall to earn Second Team All-NWC honors.

She was a scoring runner toward Willamette's team total at the 2008 West Regional and was the fourth finisher for the Bearcats at the 2008 NCAA Championships. She helped WU take 15th place in Division III.

In track and field, Lewis placed fourth in the pole vault at the NWC Championships in 2007. She cleared 10'0" for the Bearcats.

Edholm was a key thrower for the WU women's track and field team this spring in the shot put, discus and hammer. She earned Northwest Conference titles in the shot put in 2008 at 37'7.25" and in 2009 at 39'5.25". She also placed fourth in the discus and fifth in the hammer at the 2009 NWC Championships.

She helped Willamette win its eighth consecutive NWC women's team title in track and field this spring. The Bearcats claimed the championship with 196.5 points for a margin of victory of 46.5 points.

In 2008, Edholm not only won the NWC shot put title, but also earned a fifth place finish in the discus and placed eighth in the hammer. She was fifth in the NWC in the discus as a freshman in 2007. She ranks fourth on WU's all-time list in the hammer throw with a top distance of 137'2" and is 10th all-time in the shot put.

Edholm is a double major in Mathematics and Physics. She owned a 3.76 GPA at the end of the Fall 2008 semester.

The College Division includes athletes in NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and the NAIA. Willamette is a member of NCAA Division III and competes in the Northwest Conference.

For More Information:
Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

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Symmonds Wins 800-Meter Run at Prefontaine Classic in 1:45.86

2009-06-08T06:18:55Z

EUGENE, ORE. -- Former Willamette University runner Nick Symmonds '06 won the 800-meter run at the Prefontaine Classic for the second time in three years, as he registered a time of 1:45.86 against a stellar international field on Sunday, June 7 at Hayward Field. Symmonds also won the 800 at the Prefontaine Classic in 2007.

RACE RESULTS

Prefontaine Classic
800-meter Run
At Hayward Field, Eugene, Ore.
June 7, 2009

In Sunday's race, Symmonds finished 0.35 seconds in front of Alfred Yego of Kenya, who took second in 1:46.21. Yego won the bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, where Symmonds reached the semifinals. Christian Smith of the U.S.A. was third at 1:46.36 and Gary Reed of Canada was fourth at 1:46.37.

The U.S.A. achieved a 1-3-5 finish, as Khadevis Robinson took fifth in 1:46.64. Yuriy Borzakovkiy of Russia, the 2004 Olympic champion, was sixth at 1:47.05, and Ahmad Ismail from Sudan, who won the Olympic silver medal in Beijing, was seventh in 1:47.83. Elijah Greer of the U.S.A. placed eighth with a time of 1:49.15.

Symmonds pulled into the lead with about 200 meters remaining, after starting his kick sooner than normal.

"The pace was slow enough and I felt good enough, that I thought 'I've got to take the lead a little bit earlier'," Symmonds commented.

He was pleased by the support from the crowd at Hayward Field.

"I love 'em," he said of the fans in Eugene, "You know, all of my fastest times have come from Hayward Field. Hopefully, I'll just keep laying some fast ones down this summer."

At Willamette, Symmonds won seven NCAA Division III national championships. He earned four 800-meter titles and won the 1,500-meter run three times.

For More Information:
Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

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Hafkey Chosen First Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District

2009-06-03T23:39:36Z

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University rower Kara Hafkey (So., Mesa, AZ/Glencoe HS, OR) has been named First Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VIII on the College Division women’s at-large team, as selected by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Hilary Andrus (Jr., Chimacum, WA/Chimacum HS) was selected for the Second Team. Hafkey and Andrus were two of 23 athletes in a variety of sports who were chosen for the Academic All-District Team.

Athletes named First Team All-District are eligible for the ESPN The Magazine College Division Academic All-America Team. The list of All-America selections is scheduled to be released on June 11.

Hafkey competed as the stroke on Willamette's varsity lightweight eight+ and was 2-seat on the second varsity eight+. The WL8+ was ranked 18th in the nation on May 20 based on points in the U.S. Rowing Poll for all three NCAA Divisions and club teams. Hafkey is majoring in Spanish and Psychology and owns a 3.95 cumulative grade point average.

Andrus, the co-captain of the Bearcat women's rowing team, recently was named First Team All-America by the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA). She is majoring in Mathematics and has a 3.61 GPA.

This summer, Andrus will participate in two U.S. Rowing Women’s National Team Pre-Elite Camps in Indiana. She was named All-Northwest Collegiate Rowing Conference this season after helping the Bearcats tie for second place in the women's team standings at the NCRC Championships.

Willamette's WV8+ concluded the regular season with a #9 national ranking in the NCAA Division III Poll conducted by the CRCA. The WV8+ also was selected for the NCAA Championship Regatta and took third place in the Petite Qualifier, before placing fifth in the Petite Final to finish 11th overall.

The College Division includes athletes in NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and the NAIA. Willamette is a member of NCAA Division III and competes in the Northwest Conference. Athletes were eligible for the women's at-large team if they competed in bowling, fencing, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, rowing, skiing, swimming, tennis or water polo.

For More Information:
Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

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Stalker Earns Third Team All-America Honors from D3Baseball.com

2009-06-02T01:16:07Z

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University senior first baseman Kyle Stalker (Bellevue, WA/Sammamish HS) has been named Third Team All-America by D3Baseball.com for his efforts during the 2009 season. Stalker led the Bearcats with a .455 batting average, smacked a team-high 15 home runs and topped the WU lineup with 52 RBIs.

A total of 70 players were honored by D3Baseball.com. Sixteen athletes were named to the First Team, with 17 on the Second Team, 17 on the Third Team and 20 on the Honorable Mention list.

Earlier this spring, Stalker who chosen First Team All-Northwest Conference for the second consecutive year. He also was selected Second Team All-West Region by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA). He was named First Team All-West Region and Third Team All-America by the ABCA in 2008.

In four years at Willamette, Stalker played in 126 games with 122 starts. He achieved a career batting average of .339 with 150 hits in 443 at bats.

Stalker set career records for the Bearcats by blasting 51 home runs, registering 161 RBIs and pounding out a .772 career slugging percentage. He walked 74 times and scored 106 runs. On defense, he achieved a .990 career fielding percentage with 555 putouts, 38 assists and just six errors.

This year, he led the Northwest Conference with his .455 average and 15 homers. He connected for 45 hits in 99 at bats and walked 26 times. He earned an impressive .960 slugging percentage and finished the season with a .556 on-base percentage. He was solid on defense, as he provided 191 putouts and 16 assists with two errors for a .990 fielding percentage. His batting average and slugging percentage set WU single season records.

Stalker helped Willamette attain a 21-17 overall record this spring, including 18-13 (4th place) in the NWC. WU ranked sixth in NCAA Division III with 1.39 home runs per game. The Bearcats earned a .313 team batting average, while hitting 53 home runs and scoring 7.39 runs per game.

Stalker also had an outstanding season as a junior in 2008. He set school records with 22 home runs and 63 RBIs. He hit .361 and saw action in 39 of 40 games. He batted .382 with runners in scoring position and led WU with 27 walks. He earned a .469 on-base percentage and scored 44 runs. On defense, he achieved a .991 fielding percentage and was involved in 35 of Willamette's 38 double plays.

In 2008, Stalker ranked first in NCAA Division III with 0.56 home runs per game and finished second with 1.62 RBIs per game. In 2009, he finished second in Division III with his .960 slugging percentage and was third with 0.45 home runs per game. He also ranked 10th in the nation with 1.58 RBIs per game.

Kyle Stalker on Willamette's All-Time
Baseball Top 10 Lists

Single Season Offense
Batting Average, .455, 1st (2009)
Home Runs, 22, 1st (2008); 15, 2nd (2009)
RBIs, 63, 1st (2008); 52, 3rd (2009)
Slugging Percentage, .960, 1st (2009)
Runs Scored, 38, 8th tie (2009)
Walks, 27, 8th tie (2008)

Single Season Defense
Putouts, 319, 5th (2008)

Career Offense
Home Runs, 51, 1st (2006-09)
RBIs, 161, 1st (2006-09)
Slugging Percentage, .722, 1st (2006-09)
Runs Scored, 106, 6th (2006-09)
Walks, 74, 7th (2006-09)
Batting Average, .339, 8th (2006-09)
Hits, 150, 9th tie (2006-09)

Career Fielding
Putouts, 555, 7th (2006-09)

For More Information:
Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

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Willamette Rowers are Fifth in Petite Final

2009-05-30T18:50:03Z

CAMDEN, N.J. -- The Willamette University women's varsity eight+ took fifth place in the Division III Petite Final at the NCAA Championship Regatta on Saturday, May 30 at Cooper River Park. As a result, the Bearcats finished 11th overall in their first appearance at the NCAA Championships.

LIVE SCHEDULE AND RESULTS

NCAA Championship Regatta
At Cooper River, Camden, N.J.
May 29-31, 2009

LIVE MOBILE MINISITE
SCHEDULE AND RESULTS

NCAA Championship Regatta

Willamette's varsity eight+ included stroke Geneva Hooten, 7-seat Kelsey White, 6-seat Hilary Andrus, 5-seat Christina Thorburn, 4-seat Sarah Schroeder, 3-seat Morgan Iveson, 2-seat Karina Hoogstede and bow Larissa Stiglich. Erica Soma was the coxswain.

The Bearcats fell behind at the start of the Petite Final, as WU trailed the top boats by approximately four seconds after 500 meters. Willamette lost additional ground on its way to the 1,000-meter mark, but gained momentum over the final 1000 meters.

During the final 500 meters, the Bearcats registered the third-fastest time for the final quarter of the race. WU's time for the last 500 was 1:43.63, as the 'Cats trailed only the first boat from Smith College (Mass.) at 1:41.76 and the second boat from Bates College (Maine) at 1:43.26.

Smith won the Petite Final with an overall time of 6:47.12. The top boat from St. Lawrence University (N.Y.) was second at 6:51.75, while Bates was third at 6:53.73.

The second boat from Trinity College (Conn.) took fourth at 6:57.17. Willamette trailed Trinity by 6.45 seconds at the halfway mark of the race, but cut the deficit to 3.38 seconds at the finish, as the Bearcats placed fifth in 7:00.55. WU edged past the second boat from Ithaca College (N.Y.), which took sixth in 7:00.66.

In the Grand Final, the top boat from Williams College (Mass.) claimed the NCAA title in 6:28.04. The winning margin was 2.73 seconds over the first boat from Bates, which finished second at 6:30.77. The first boat from Trinity took third in 6:36.03. Rounding out the Grand Final were Ithaca's first boat in fourth at 6:39.16, the second boat from Williams in fifth at 6:42.00, and the first boat from the University of Puget Sound in sixth at 6:47.47.

Finishes in the Grand Final resulted in the top six places in the standings, while results in the Petite Final filled seventh place through 12th place. Each of the seven NCAA member institutions selected for team berths in the regatta raced two eights during the competition. The two at-large selections, Willamette and Washington College (Md.), each raced one entry.

The Third Final, which determined 13th place through 16th place in the standings, was won by the boat from Washington College in 6:59.52. The second boat from Puget Sound finished second in 7:04.81. Completing the standings in the Third Final were St. Lawrence's second boat in third place at 7:12.50 and the second boat from Smith in fourth place at 7:14.55.

Williams won its fourth consecutive NCAA team championship with 24 points from its first and fifth place finishes in the boat standings. Bates was second in the team standings with 19 points, while Trinity placed third with 17 points. Ithaca took fourth place with 15 points and Puget Sound was fifth with 12 points. Smith and St. Lawrence tied for sixth place with nine points apiece. As at-large entries, Willamette and Washington College were not included in the team standings.

NOTE: The NCAA Championship Regatta includes all three divisions of women's rowing. Although Division III is through competing, there will be several Division I and Division II races on Sunday. A link to Saturday's live webcast is located near the top of this release. The NCAA and host Villanova University also are providing Sunday's live webcast. Coverage of the NCAA Championships also is available at row2k.com.

For More Information:
Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

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Six Willamette Rowers Earn CRCA National Scholar-Athlete Honors

2009-05-30T00:13:06Z

The College Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) has announced their National Scholar-Athletes for the 2009 season and six members of the Willamette University women’s team are on the list.

To be named a CRCA National Scholar-Athlete, students must have a 3.5 cumulative grade point average or higher during their career. Student-Athletes must be at least sophomores in eligibility and row in 75% of their institution’s races.

Willamette's list of honorees included Hilary Andrus (Jr., Chimacum, WA/Chimacum HS), Geneva Hooten (So., Vancouver, WA/Mountain View HS) and Christina Thorburn (So., Boulder, CO/Niwot HS), who compete on the women's varsity eight+. Andrus is pursuing a degree in Mathematics, Hooten is working toward a degree in International Studies and French, and Thorburn is majoring in Exercise Science. Andrus also was a National Scholar-Athlete in 2008.

Sophomore Kara Hafkey (Mesa, AZ/Glencoe HS, OR), from Willamette's varsity lightweight eight+ and second varsity eight+, also received Scholar-Athlete recognition. She is majoring in Spanish and Psychology.

Also qualifying for the Scholar-Athlete honor was sophomore Kendra Kennedy of Anchorage, Alaska (Robert Service HS), who rows with the women's lightweight eight+. She is majoring in Economics.

Finally, sophomore Linnea Schuster (Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) received Scholar-Athlete status. She is working on a degree in Film Studies and Japanese. Schuster is the coxswain on several of the Willamette men’s boats.

The Willamette University women's varsity eight+ was selected for the NCAA Division III National Championship Regatta this season. Earlier this spring, the Bearcats tied for second place in the overall women's team standings at the Northwest Collegiate Rowing Conference (NCRC) Championships.

For More Information:
Sara Brooks, Assistant Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

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Bearcats Take Third in Petite Qualifier, Advance to Petite Final

2009-05-29T19:55:32Z

CAMDEN, N.J. -- Willamette University was in sixth place after 500 meters, but the Bearcats finished strong to take third place in the Petite Qualifier on Friday, May 29 and earn a spot in the Division III Petite Final at the 2009 NCAA Championship Regatta, hosted by Villanova University at Cooper River. Willamette and five other women's eight+ crews will compete in the Petite Final at 11:15 a.m. (EDT)/8:15 a.m. (PDT) on Saturday, May 30.

LIVE SCHEDULE AND RESULTS

NCAA Championship Regatta
At Cooper River, Camden, N.J.
May 29-31, 2009

LIVE MOBILE MINISITE
SCHEDULE AND RESULTS

NCAA Championship Regatta

LIVE VIDEO & AUDIO WEBCAST
SATURDAY ONLY

NCAA Championship Regatta

The second boat from Bates College (Maine) won the Petite Qualifier in 6:53.27. Bates had the best time over the first 500 meters at 1:39.81 and the second 500 meters at 1:41.55 to build an early lead. Ithaca College (N.Y.) took second place, as its second boat finished in 6:56.47. Willamette's third place time was 6:58.12.

Willamette trailed five boats after the first 500 meters, but the Bearcats were within 2.36 seconds of third place, which was held by the University of Puget Sound's second boat. WU had a solid second 500 meters and passed the second boat from Smith College into fifth place.

The 'Cats concluded the Petite Qualifier with the fastest splits for all seven entries over the final two 500-meter segments. Willamette rowed through the third 500 in 1:44.52, nearly one-and-a-half seconds better than the next fastest time of 1:46.08 by Ithaca. The Bearcats held fourth place entering the final 500.

WU's final 500-meter split was 1:45.24. Only Bates at 1:45.79 also finished with a split below 1:46.

Willamette passed Puget Sound, as the Loggers' took fourth in 6:58.44. Washington College (Md.) placed fifth in 7:02.17. Smith was sixth at 7:09.08 and the second boat from St. Lawrence University (N.Y.) was seventh in 7:18.59.

Washington and the second boats from Puget Sound, Smith and St. Lawrence will compete in the Third Final on Saturday. Boats in the Third Final will place 13th through 16th overall.

Willamette and the second boats from Bates and Ithaca will fill half of the entries in the Petite Final. Also moving into the Petite Final were the first boats from St. Lawrence and Smith and the second boat from Trinity College (Conn.), which finished fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively, in the Grand Qualifier on Friday. The Petite Final will determine seventh place through 12th place in NCAA Division III.

The top three boats from the Grand Qualifier -- the second boat from Williams College (Mass.) and the first boats from Ithaca and Puget Sound -- earned berths in the Grand Final, set for Saturday at 11:30 a.m. (EDT).

Williams won the Grand Qualifier in 6:46.27, with Ithaca in second at 6:47.34 and UPS in third at 6:57.96. Also participating in the Grand Final will be the preliminary heat winners, which were the top boats from Williams, Bates and Trinity. The winner of the Grand Final will claim the NCAA Division III title.

Each of the seven NCAA member institutions selected for team berths in the regatta have two eights entered in the competition. The two at-large selections, Willamette and Washington College (Md.), each have one entry.

NOTE: The NCAA Championship Regatta includes all three divisions of women's rowing. Although Division III will be through competing on Saturday, there will be several Division I and Division II races on Sunday. A link to Saturday's live webcast is located near the top of this release. The NCAA and host Villanova University also are providing Sunday's live webcast. Coverage of the NCAA Championships also is available at row2k.com.

For More Information:
Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

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Bearcats Finish Fifth in Heat #2 at NCAA Championship Regatta

2009-05-29T18:31:03Z

CAMDEN, N.J. -- Willamette University took fifth place in NCAA Division III Heat #2 as the 2009 NCAA Championship Regatta got underway on Friday, May 29 at Cooper River. The Bearcats will compete in the Petite Qualifier, also on Friday, at 2:30 p.m. (EDT)/11:30 a.m. (PDT).

LIVE SCHEDULE AND RESULTS

NCAA Championship Regatta
At Cooper River, Camden, N.J.
May 29-31, 2009

LIVE MOBILE MINISITE
SCHEDULE AND RESULTS

NCAA Championship Regatta

LIVE VIDEO & AUDIO WEBCAST
SATURDAY ONLY

NCAA Championship Regatta

Rowing for Willamette were stroke Geneva Hooten, 7-seat Kelsey White, 6-seat Hilary Andrus, 5-seat Christina Thorburn, 4-seat Sarah Schroeder, 3-seat Morgan Iveson, 2-seat Karina Hoogstede and bow Larissa Stiglich. Erica Soma was the coxswain.

The first boat from Bates College (Maine) won Heat #2 and earned a spot in Saturday's Grand Final with a time of 7:06.09. The University of Puget Sound took second place in 7:19.52 and the second boat from Trinity College (Conn.) finished third in 7:20.23. UPS and Trinity will participate in the Grand Qualifier on Friday for a chance to advance into the Grand Final.

Bates also took fourth in Heat #2, as its second boat finished in 7:20.44. Willamette was fifth in 7:30.31. All of the NCAA Division III races at the championships feature women's varsity eight+ and women's second varsity eight+ boats.

In Heat #1, the top boat from Williams College (Mass.) earned a spot in the Grand Final with a winning time of 7:04.30. The first boats from Smith College (Mass.) and St. Lawrence University (N.Y), took second and third, respectively, to move into the Grand Qualifier.

Heat #3 was won by the first boat form Trinity, which advanced into the Grand Final with a time of 6:58.10. Ithaca College (N.Y.) placed second and the second boat from Williams was third, as both crews earned berths in the Grand Qualifier.

Joining Willamette in the Petite Qualifier will be Washington College (Md.), along with the second boats from Ithaca, Puget Sound, Bates, Smith and St. Lawrence. The top three boats in the Petite Qualifier will advance into the Petite Final on Saturday, May 30 at 11:15 a.m. (PDT). The remaining four boats will move on to the Third Final, set for 11:00 a.m. (PDT) on Saturday.

The Grand Final will determine first place through sixth place in the NCAA Division III Championship. The Petite Final will be a battle for seventh through 12th and the Third Final will determine 13th through 16th.

For More Information:
Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

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Willamette Women's Rowing Starts NCAA Championships on Friday, May 29

2009-05-28T22:49:32Z

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University women's varsity eight+ will begin competing in the NCAA Championship Regatta on Friday, May 29 at Cooper River in Camden, N.J. The Bearcats will open the regatta in NCAA Division III Heat #2 at 8:15 a.m. (EDT)/5:15 a.m. (PDT). Action will continue later on Friday, as well as on Saturday, May 30. A total of 16 shells are vying for this year's NCAA Championship.

LIVE SCHEDULE AND RESULTS

NCAA Championship Regatta
At Cooper River, Camden, N.J.
May 29-31, 2009

LIVE MOBILE MINISITE
SCHEDULE AND RESULTS

NCAA Championship Regatta

LIVE VIDEO & AUDIO WEBCAST
SATURDAY ONLY

NCAA Championship Regatta

Each of the seven NCAA member institutions selected for team berths in the regatta will have two eights entered in the competition (varsity eight and second varsity eight). The two at-large selections, Willamette and Washington College (Md.), each have one entry (varsity eight).

It will be Willamette's first time competing at the NCAA Championship Regatta. The Bearcats have no seniors on this year's squad.

Willamette is one of three varsity eights placed in Heat #2, which also includes two second varsity eights. The other top varsity boats are from Bates College (Maine) and from WU's Northwest Collegiate Rowing Conference (NCRC) rivals at the University of Puget Sound. Second varsity eights in the heat are from Trinity College (Conn.) and from Bates.

Heat #1 in the Division III races will get the opening day started at 8 a.m. (EDT)/5 a.m. (PDT). The heat will feature the varsity eights from St. Lawrence University (N.Y.), Williams College (Mass.) and Smith College (Mass.), plus the second varsity eights from Puget Sound and Ithaca College (N.Y.).

Heat #3 will complete the first round. It will include varsity eights from Washington, Ithaca and Trinity, along with second varsity eights from St. Lawrence, Williams and Smith.

The winner of each preliminary heat will advance into Saturday's Grand Final to compete for the NCAA title. The second and third place finishers in each heat will race in the Grand Qualifier at 2:45 p.m. (EDT) on Friday. Entries finishing fourth, fifth or sixth in each preliminary heat will move into the Petite Qualifier at 2:30 p.m. (EDT) on Friday.

The top three boats in the Grand Qualifier will receive berths into the Grand Final, where they will join the winners of the preliminary heats to battle for the top six places overall. The Grand Final is slated for 11:30 a.m. (EDT) on Saturday.

Boats placing fourth through sixth in the Grand Qualifier will progress into the Petite Final at 11:15 a.m. (EDT) on Saturday. The top three boats in the Petite Qualifier also will advance into the Petite Final, which will determine seventh place through 12th place. The last four finishers in the Petite Qualifier will go into the Third Final on Saturday at 11 a.m. (EDT) to decide 13th place through 16th place.

For More Information:
Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110.

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Andrus Named First Team All-America by the CRCA

2009-05-28T20:50:29Z

SALEM, ORE. -- The Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) recently announced its NCAA Division III Pocock All-America Team for the 2009 season. Willamette University's Hilary Andrus (Jr., Chimacum, WA/Chimacum HS) was among the players named First Team All-America.

The CRCA made its selections based on a short list of criteria: strength of schedule, regular season record, end of season regatta results, nomination rank, coach’s comments, and 2,000-meter erg score.

Andrus is a co-captain on this year’s squad. This summer, she will participate in the U.S. Rowing Women’s National Team Pre-Elite Camp in Indiana. She was named All-Northwest Collegiate Rowing Conference this season after helping the Bearcats tie for second place in the women's team standings at the NCRC Championships. She also contributed to the Willamette women’s varsity 8+ earning a #9 national ranking and a trip to the NCAA Division III Championships.

Willamette's WV8+ took fourth place out of seven boats at the NCRC Championships, as the Bearcats finished behind three other nationally ranked teams from Western Washington University, the University of Puget Sound and Seattle Pacific University. WU also placed fourth behind the same three boats at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships.

Joining Andrus as First Team All-America selections were Natalie Jones (Trinity College), Katie O’Driscoll (Ithaca College), Nicole Ritchie (Bates College), Katherine Robinson (Williams College), Sam Smith (Williams College), Elizabeth Stokes-Cawley (St. Lawrence University), Eliza Van Lennep (Smith College) and Allison Prevatt (Williams College).

Andrus was the only athlete from the West coast to be named First Team All-America. Kat Jenkins of Pacific Lutheran University was named Second Team All-America. Overall, 18 NCAA Division III women's rowers received All-America honors.

For More Information:
Sara Brooks, Assistant Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6219

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Robinson is Chosen First Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District

2009-05-28T19:37:02Z

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University graduate student Tyler Robinson (Sr. elig.), a member of the Bearcat golf team, has been named First Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VIII on the College Division men’s at-large team, as selected by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Robinson was one of 11 athletes in a variety of sports who were chosen for the Academic All-District Team.

Robinson is working toward an MBA degree at the Atkinson Graduate School of Management and owns a bachelor’s degree from Willamette with a major in Economics. His undergraduate grade point average was 3.92. He has a 3.94 GPA in his master’s degree work at Atkinson.

While using his final year of eligibility on the WU golf team during the 2008-09 season, Robinson recorded a low round of 75 and a two-day score of 161 at the NWC Fall Classic. He registered a 36-hole score of 162 at the NWC Spring Classic and finished at 165 for two rounds at the Willamette Invitational.

Athletes named First Team All-District are eligible for the ESPN The Magazine College Division Academic All-America Team. The list of All-America selections is scheduled to be released on June 9.

CoSIDA District VIII includes colleges and universities in the western United States. Players nominated for the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team were starters or key reserves with cumulative grade point averages of 3.3 or higher (4.0 scale). Each player was at his current college or university for at least one academic year.

The College Division includes athletes in NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and the NAIA. Willamette is a member of NCAA Division III and competes in the Northwest Conference. Athletes were eligible for the men's at-large team if they competed in fencing, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming, tennis, volleyball, water polo or wrestling.

For More Information:
Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

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Shevlin Hired as Head Coach of Willamette Men’s and Women’s Swimming

2009-05-26T19:11:50Z

SALEM, ORE. – Willamette University has hired Leslie Shevlin as the new head coach of the Bearcat men’s and women’s swimming teams. Shevlin has been the assistant women's swimming coach at the University of New Mexico for the past four years. She previously was an assistant coach at Duquesne University.

“She brings a wealth of coaching knowledge and experience,” Director of Athletics Mark Majeski said. “She has served as the primary recruiter at both of her previous institutions and is skilled at finding and enrolling talented student-athletes. She also has worked with the Lobo Aquatics Club at UNM, an age group and masters club program similar to the Bearcat Swim Club in Salem.”

Shevlin will begin working at Willamette on July 15. She replaces Al Stephenson, who has taken a job as the swimming club coach at a new YMCA in Andover, Kan., near Wichita.

“I am very happy to be the new head swimming coach at Willamette University,” Shevlin said. “I am excited to be a head coach for the first time. I am ready to bring my knowledge of swimming and my leadership skills to Willamette. The campus was beautiful and I enjoyed everyone I met while on my interview.”

Shevlin earned a Bachelor's of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in 2003. She majored in Communication Studies. She received a Master of Arts degree in Liberal Studies from Duquesne in 2005.

She was a graduate assistant swimming coach at Duquesne for two seasons. She had a variety of duties, including coordinating road trips, team building and recruiting. She was the primary recruiter for several of Duquesne's top swimmers.

After completing her master's degree, Shevlin was hired as an assistant coach at UNM. She was the main coach for the Lobos' distance freestyle swimmers. She also worked with the head coach to prepare team workouts and was a key recruiter for the New Mexico team.

While working at UNM, she also served as an assistant swimming coach for the Lobo Aquatic Club. She was the primary coach for the 8-and-under age group and also assisted with other age groups as needed. She also was an assistant coach at the U.S. Air Force Academy Summer Camps in 2007 and 2008.

Shevlin said that she looked forward to coaching in the Northwest Conference. Willamette is one of eight NWC members competing in men's and women's swimming.

“The Northwest Conference is a great conference for Division III swimming on both the men's and women's sides.” Shevlin said. “My goal is to bring Willamette into the higher ranks of that conference. I am familiar with the swimming in the area and know that the Pacific Northwest continually turns out great students and athletes. I am ready to recruit in the area and use my past and future contacts to build a strong program.”

She has a plan with three primary areas of focus for developing the Willamette teams. The first goal is to work with and improve Willamette's returning swimmers.

“I need to get to know my current swimmers and first meet their needs and begin getting them more competitive and fit in preparation for a great season,” Shevlin said. “There will be some changes with things like practice … and how we focus mentally for the road ahead, but to be competitive we need to become a team.

"My next focus for rebuilding will be recruiting.” Shevlin added. “I will immediately begin the recruiting process for next year, seeking out swimmers who can be held to the high academic standards of Willamette as well as the high standards I will be setting for the team.

“My third main focus for rebuilding is community outreach,” Shevlin noted. “I know the swimmers would like more support from the Willamette student body and as a team, we also need to reach out to the community for support. Those things will begin once our season starts.”

Shevlin looks forward to being the head coach for the Bearcats. She will be moving to the Salem area with her husband, who is relocating to Oregon from his job in New Mexico.

“I am very excited to become a head coach,” Shevlin said. “I know that it is a difficult task and it will take a lot of hard work and patience to make it work. I have had the good fortune to work with many successful head coaches who have prepared me well. I am excited to take what I have learned as an assistant coach, and as a student-athlete myself, and implement what has become my own coaching style into my own program.”

For More Information:
Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

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Coffman Sets School Record of 4:30.58, Finishes Fourth in NCAA 1,500-Meter Run

2009-05-23T21:19:46Z

MARIETTA, OHIO -- Maddie Coffman (Jr., Boise, ID/Boise HS) set a Willamette University record with a time of 4:30.58, as she finished fourth in the 1,500-meter run at the 2009 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Marietta College on Saturday, May 23. Marie Borner from Bethel University (Minn.) won the 1,500 with a Don Drumm Stadium record time of 4:27.41.

MEN'S RESULTS

NCAA Division III Track & Field
National Championships
At Marietta College (Ohio)
May 21-23, 2009

WOMEN'S RESULTS

NCAA Division III Track & Field
National Championships
At Marietta College (Ohio)
May 21-23, 2009

CHAMPIONSHIP WEBSITE

NCAA Division III Track & Field
National Championships

Coffman broke the previous WU record of 4:31.52, set by Sarah Zerzan in 2007. In the process, Coffman added track and field All-America status to her list of career accomplishments. She earned All-America honors in cross country by placing 11th at the NCAA Championships in 2007 and by taking fourth place in 2008. Coffman's previous top time in the 1,500 was 4:32.99 in 2007.

Also on Saturday, Coffman was one of three Willamette runners to compete in the 5,000-meter run. Kimber Mattox (Fr., Bend, OR/Bend HS/Cornell Univ.) took 12th place with a time of 17:44.12. Coffman finished 14th in 18:16.05 and Jena Winger (Sr., Bonney Lake, WA/Sumner HS) placed 15th in 18:28.78. Ayla Mitchell from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh won the 5,000 in 17:14.52.

Three Bearcats achieved All-America honors during the NCAA Championships. In addition to Coffman, WU's other All-America performers were Grant Piros (Sr., Newberg, OR/Newberg HS), who took seventh place in the javelin with a throw of 195'2" on Thursday, and Mattox, who finished sixth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 10:41.32 on Friday.

For More Information:
Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

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