Austin Abelar is a senior computer science and accounting major from Las Olivas, Calif. He is a four-year member of the Whitworth men’s tennis team. He appeared in both singles and doubles matches as a senior in 2010, and as a senior was 0-1 in singles matches and 0-2 in doubles.
The Whitworth swim team is losing six senior team members this year, many of whom have been with the team all four years. The men’s team is losing three seniors total, including Kris Asleson, Daniel Bergman, and Quinton Darling.
There are three senior women moving on from the softball team, all of which who are true, four-year seniors. The team is losing Ashley Carey, Lacey Kerr and Carrie Gibson.
Elise Page is a senior English major from Lake Stevens, Wash. She is a team captain and four-year letter winner for the Whitworth track and field team. Listed as a distance runner, Page has been a Northwest Conference competitor in the 800m run and 4x400m relay.
Rachel Dubes is a senior elementary education major from Quincy, Wash. She is a four-year letter winner for the Whitworth women’s golf team, and has been posting the lowest scores of her career in her final season. In her last fall tournament she shot a personal best score, and has since broken that score this spring. She has shot an average score of 90 over the course of the season.
The baseball team is losing seven seniors this year. The team is losing three pitchers in Ryan Reitmeier, Collin Gibbs, and Stephen Baranowski. Reitmeier has played of the team for two years, and played for Spokane Community College before coming to the Pirates.
Whitworth baseball made an impressive showing this weekend to honor a team from years ago. While the current Bucs swept the Whitman Missionaries, a group of 11 members of the original 1960 NAIA championship team looked on.
Three members of Whitworth’s track team had outstanding achievements this weekend in Spokane, Wash. For the men’s team, seniors Jeff Kintner and Dusty Caseria both won events on Saturday at the Duane Hartman Open hosted by the Community Colleges of Spokane.
When it comes to sports, few things are better than rivalries. It could be Kevin Garnett and the Celtics against Kobe’s Lakers. It could be Tim Wakefield’s curveball in Boston against the bat of the Yankee’s Derek Jeter.
The Whitworth men’s and women’s swim teams have found success off the blocks for dozens of consecutive seasons, making both their personal and team victories in 2009 and 2010 not at all surprising.
Whitworth made their way to the NCAA D III tennis tournament for the second straight year.
In Portland, Ore., on Saturday, April 24, both Whitworth men’s and women’s teams found themselves in the lead of the first round of the 2010 NWC Championship Tournament. This past weekend, more than 50 Whitworth students on four different teams competed in the Flag Football tournament. The Whitworth baseball team went 2-1 over the weekend in a three-game series against the Willamette Bearcats.
This is the last straw. This is the straw that broke the camel’s back. The fat lady has sung. Sports fans have been tortured long enough by NASCAR pollution of the sports world, and I’m not talking about the oval hole in the atmosphere above every racetrack.
The Whitworth softball team was very busy this past weekend playing a makeup game in Newberg, Ore., in addition to a four-game series against Willamette University at home. The five games mark the end of the regular softball season.
The Whitworth Track and Field team hosted the Northwest Conference Championship meet this past weekend, and they found a lot of success on their home turf. The men’s team dominated the competition, winning with a total score of 266 points, a whopping 86 points ahead of second-place finisher and defending champion Willamette University. The women’s team didn’t fare quite so well, finishing third overall behind Willamette and George Fox University.
Opening day for baseball was just a couple weeks ago and you know what that means? It’s time for everyone’s favorites: hotdogs, garlic fries, steroid controversies and inflated salaries!
On April 17, both the women’s and the men’s golf teams won their tournament at Whitman. The men’s and women’s teams played against Whitman College and Pacific University.
The Whitworth Men’s tennis team lost in a heartbreaking NWC opening round match on Friday, April 16. The team fell 5-4 against Pacific Lutheran University, historically one of Whitworth’s toughest opponents. The game put a somber cap on what was overall a solid season for the Pirates.
The Whitworth women’s tennis team used a successful weekend at the Northwest Conference Tournament in Yakima, Wash., to vault their way into the NCAA Division III tournament.
Despite the success that she has found on the field, it’s not wins, ERA or strikeouts that junior pitcher Jessica Mangis values most about her experience with Whitworth softball.
In a long and tough week, the Whitworth softball team played five games in the span of five days, including two double-headers against Pacific University. Despite the tiresome schedule, the team played well, winning three of their five games.
Whitworth baseball went 1-2 this weekend in a three-game series against the visiting Pacific University Boxers. Saturday’s morning game started off in Pacific’s favor as they went up 9-1 by the third inning.
Since I began writing this column last fall, it has opened up the opportunity for a lot of interesting discussions on sports. Often I am asked about my opinion on a particular athlete, team or even what’s happening in the sports world. However, in all these sports pow-wows, the question asked of me most often is not about a topic in sports, it is about how I define sport itself.
On April 10, both Whitworth men’s and women’s golf teams grabbed the lead after completing the first day at their Northwest Conference Spring Tournaments.
Losing seasons; injured players; coaching changes. The Whitworth baseball team has been through a lot in the last four years, and senior outfielder Dan Belet has been there through it all.
It was a busy weekend for the Whitworth men’s tennis team. On Friday they traveled to Portland, Ore., to take on Lewis & Clark College, and swept the Pioneers to come away with a 9-0 victory. This past Sunday, an impressive 44 teams showed up to participate in the 2v2 Volleyball Tournament. Whitworth baseball fell twice to Pacific Lutheran University Saturday in a doubleheader.
Whitworth softball faced off against Lewis & Clark College this weekend in a four-game series. Saturday’s games started the Bucs off right with a 10-2 victory. Strong performances by junior pitcher Jessica Mangis in the first game and sophomore Sami Parr in the second proved essential for the Pirate wins.
The Whitworth women’s tennis team clinched the Northwest Conference women’s tennis title with two home victories over the weekend. The Bucs first defeated Lewis & Clark College on Friday and then continued on to beat Willamette University to lock up the title on Saturday. The two games mark the end of regular season women’s tennis.
The Whitworth men’s tennis team faced a tough round of games over Spring Break, losing four straight matches on the road in California. However, the team managed to rebound, winning their fifth and final match against George Fox University.
Heading into Spring Break, some athletic teams are venturing to warmer climates to escape the crispness of Spokane. The men's and women's Track and Field team will take the long bus ride down to San Diego to compete at the Point Loma Nazarene Invitational. On the banks of the Pacific the Bucs will aim to qualify more members for outdoor nationals.
As I’m sure you all know by now, our beloved basketball team was taken down last Friday to end their season. Some analysts say it is good for college basketball teams to have a tough game or even a disappointing loss before going into tournament play, just to help them keep things in perspective. Now whether you buy into that philosophy is for you to decide, but you must remember our boys had won 25 games in a row!
The Whitworthian's David Rurik interviews basketball coach Jim Hayford to get his thoughts on this year's team.
The Whitworth men’s tennis team posted two victories this weekend, advancing to 5-3 in the Northwest Conference The first win came against the University of Puget Sound on Friday, March 12, followed by a win on Saturday afternoon versus Pacific Lutheran University.
A late run by the Whitworth men’s basketball team wasn’t enough to overcome Eastern Mennonite University as the Bucs lost in the Sweet 16 on Friday. The loss ended the team’s school-record 25 game winning streak, as well as their hopes for a national championship.
For any and all who did not watch or participate in the badminton tournament over the weekend of Feb. 27-28, there should be a gaping hole in your existence because in truth you missed an excellent tournament.
After 25 consecutive wins, the men's basketball team needs only two more victories to punch their ticket to Salem, Virginia, and the NCAA Division III Final Four. Following last Saturday's victory over Chapman University, the Bucs are now pitted against Eastern Mennonite University from Harrisonburg, Virginia. At the time of the publication of this article, it remains unclear where the Pirates will play in the next round of the playoffs. All indicators point towards No. 2 ranked Guilford College as the host school for the coming rounds in Greensboro, North Carolina.
The Chapman Panthers were dismantled, dismayed and utterly disgruntled by the Whitworth whiteout at the basketball game Saturday night. First of all, what a performance by the Bucs! They took control early and were relentless throughout. There is another article to the left of this one all about the performance on the court, but I want to take a minute to tip my hat to the sixth man.
Whitworth baseball split one game apiece with the Menlo Oaks Saturday in a double header, and won their afternoon game on Sunday.
Whitworth women’s tennis continued league dominance this past weekend on the road, extending their winning streak to eight matches and maintaining a perfect NWC record. Friday’s win came at the hands of Willamette in Salem, Ore. The team faced Lewis & Clark College and George Fox University on Saturday.
The Whitworth golf team had a strong start to the second half of their season on Saturday, with both men and women taking first in their game against North Idaho College and Whitman in Moses Lake, Wash., on Saturday.
In a record-breaking year for the Pirates, Saturday’s second-round NCAA tournament match-up against Chapman University was no exception. The Bucs extended their winning streak to 25, the longest active streak for any men’s NCAA basketball team, after destroying the Panthers 77-56 in the Fieldhouse on March 6.
For any and all who did not watch or participate in the badminton tournament over the weekend of Feb. 27-28, there should be a gaping hole in your existence because in truth you missed an excellent tournament.
Post season madness will return to the Fieldhouse this Saturday. The fourth-ranked Men's basketball team has received one of three byes given out in the NCAA Division III National Tournament. On Thursday, Clairmont-Mudd-Scripps will play Chapman University in the first round of the tournament. Thursday's victor will venture up to the Inland Northwest to take on the Bucs in the Fieldhouse this Saturday at 7:00pm. The first 300 students will get free admission to the game, but those arriving late will need to bring $3 for admittance.
Sports are an ever-present, ever-changing part of our world. Each and every game brings about the potential for something memorable. With the recent move into a new decade (yes I know it’s the beginning of March), this is an opportune time to take a look back at what the past 10 years in sports have given us.
A strong showing from the seniors on the Whitworth women’s basketball team was not enough to keep the Bucs from falling to the University of Puget Sound in the Northwest Conference tournament semifinal game on Thursday.
The Pirate women continued their quest for a repeat Northwest Conference championship Friday in the Scotford Tennis Center against the visiting Pacific University Boxers.
What could be stronger than a bond formed over four years between six women playing the sport they love? When you play on a team with the same people for a long period of time, they become like a new family. And the senior women on the Whitworth basketball team will testify to that statement.
On Friday, Feb. 26, the Whitworth men defeated Pacific University, 8-1. Saturday followed with a disappointing 5-4 loss to Linfield College.
The Whitworth Pirates men’s basketball team seized the Northwest Conference Championship this past week, becoming the only team to finish league play with a perfect 17-0 record. In two decisive victories, the Pirates beat Lewis & Clark College on Thursday in the NWC semifinal, and then went on to defeat George Fox University in the league final on Saturday. The championship earns Whitworth a spot in the NCAA Division III tournament and secures their ranking as one of the top Division III teams in the country.
The Whitworth men’s basketball team has extended the nation’s longest winning streak to 22 games. After clinching the conference championship last week, the Bucs, ranked seventh in the nation by D3Hoops.com, went on the road to win their final two league games, finishing the season with an undefeated 16-0 record in Northwest Conference play.
The Pirate women defeated Linfield 65-56 at Linfield College on Saturday. This win gave the women a 14-11 overall record and 10-6 in Northwest Conference and they have clinched the third seed in the upcoming NWC tournament.
The Whitworth Track and Field team competed this past weekend at the University of Idaho Vandal Collegiate Track meet in Moscow, Idaho. The meet was held Friday, Feb. 20, and featured many impressive performances by Whitworth athletes.
Professional athletes are gifted in ways most of us cannot even fathom. Whether it’s making a one-handed catch in the end zone, pointing out where they’re going to hit a homerun or bringing a gun to a basketball game (Why Gilbert Arenas? Why?), athletes never cease to amaze us. And that’s why we love them. We are drawn by their inexplicable, at times seemingly inhuman, abilities on the field or court.
A handful of students started spring semester strong on the weekend of Feb. 13-14, participating in Jokgu, the first intramural tournament of the new semester.
The perfect remedy for the broken city of New Orleans comes five years after Hurricane Katrina as Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees brings home a Super Bowl win on Sunday, Feb. 7.
This weekend both Men's and Women's Basketball teams return to the Fieldhouse on Friday, Feb. 12.
The Whitworth women’s basketball team went one and one on the road last weekend.
The women lost to the University of Redlands on Friday, Dec. 4, but regained their composure to defeat Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on Saturday, Dec. 5. Both games were a part of the UC Santa Cruz Classic.
Both the Men's and Women's teams are away in their tough, non-conference schedules.
The men's and women's swim team walked away from the Northwest Invitational with first and second place finishes respectively this past weekend.
Going into his 11th season at Whitworth, men’s basketball head coach Jim Hayford is ready for another great year.
The playoff season has begun for Whitworth Intramurals. This year, all teams were able to compete in the Intramural playoffs, seeded by their regular season records.
The Whitworth men’s basketball split a pair of games this weekend in St. Louis, Mo., at the Lopata Classic held at Washington University.
On Nov. 14, at the NCAA West Regionals, the women’s team placed first out of 17 teams while the men’s team placed fourth out of 16 teams.
This past week seven Whitworth football players were named to the prestigious 2009 ESPN Magazine CoSIDA Academic All-District VIII College Division football team. The team is a collection of the best student football athletes, and Whitworth players filled seven of the team’s 23 spots, showcasing the multifaceted nature of the 2009 football team.
Of all the sins to commit, heckling has got to be one of the most fun. Tearing down someone else while building yourself up–who knew it could be so fun?
There had to have been a point a few Saturdays ago when University of Southern California head football coach Pete Carroll said, “I have no idea what to do.”
The Whitworth women’s cross-country team finished sixth on Saturday at the NCAA Division III Championships in Cleveland, Ohio. The team’s sixth-place finish marks the farthest they have gone in a national competition. This marks the 16th year since the Bucs have made an appearance in the top 15, placing 11th back in 1993.
Oh those poor Cougs.
Being raised a Washington Huskies fan, it takes a lot for me to have sympathy for a rival school’s athletic program, but the Washington State Cougars truly pulled at my heartstrings during the annual Apple Cup match between the two Washington schools on Saturday, Nov. 28.
An own-goal on behalf of Hardin-Simmons University’s defense was the lone goal that put the Pirates on top of the Cowboys and sent Whitworth into the next round of the NCAA Division III tournament.
In 2010 the Whitworth men’s swim team will attempt to turn their success into an eighth consecutive Northwest Conference title. The women’s team will seek their first, after last year’s close second to Puget Sound. The team’s past success leaves a load of pressure on newcomers in the 2009-2010 season.
This past weekend marked the official start of the women’s ’09–’10 basketball season and featured two tough opening games for the Pirates. The team lost its first game against the highly ranked Lewis-Clark State Warriors on Friday, Nov. 20, but bounced back on Saturday to defeat Macalester College. Both games were played at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash., as part of the Kim Evanger Raney Memorial Classic.
This past weekend demonstrated the enthusiasm for Ultimate Frisbee at Whitworth. After a week of playoff games in the sun, rain and snow, the Ultimate Frisbee Championships were finally here.
The Whitworth men’s basketball team comes in to the 2009-2010 season ranked 16th nationally in Division III. As a well-balanced team full of talent that spans from freshmen to seniors, the Bucs look to make their way into the NCAA tournament for the fourth season in a row. Looking to better last year’s performance of 23-6 overall and 12-4 in conference play, the Bucs have their work cut out for them. This season they look to be strong at home as well.
Tell me about your experience as a basketball player and what some of your favorite memories are of that time.
After bringing home two challenge soccer league championships, Team Aspen made the jump to the big times this year by joining the power league. The season has started well for Team Aspen who has won more than half of their games to date. The team has been together for three years under various aliases.
The miles of terrain ran by the Whitworth women’s cross-country team now leads them to the Division III Championships. Last weekend the women blew away the competition, scoring 57 points lower than second-place Whitman College. Led by sophomore Dana Misterek, the Bucs will compete in Cleveland, Ohio for a chance to claim a championship.
After repeated success throughout the season, the Whitworth women’s soccer team was disappointed last Monday to find out that, once again, the bid for the NCAA division III women’s soccer championship was not theirs to claim.
The Whitworth men’s basketball team comes in to the 2009-2010 season ranked 16th nationally in Division III. As a well-balanced team full of talent that spans from freshmen to seniors, the Bucs look to make their way into the NCAA tournament for the fourth season in a row. Looking to better last year’s performance of 23-6 overall and 12-4 in conference play, the Bucs have their work cut out for them. This season they look to be strong at home as well.
After winning the Northwest Conference, the Whitworth men’s soccer team faced a daunting week of NCAA tournament play and a chance to make history.
The fall athletic season comes to a close this weekend with a full plate of event.
Visiting Menlo College stole the game from Whitworth on Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Pine Bowl to capture the 14-10 victory for the Oaks and move to a winning record (2-1) in the Northwest Conference.
The Pirates fought to continue their four-game winning streak this weekend on the road against the George Fox Bruins and the Pacific University Boxers. On Saturday, Oct. 24, the women’s soccer team clenched a 1-0 victory over George Fox University in the Northwest Conference. At the end of regulation play the game was tied at zero.
In a mixed weekend for Whitworth volleyball, the Pirates beat George Fox University on Friday, Oct. 23, but fell on Saturday to Lewis & Clark College. The two home games featured many lessons for the Pirates as they head into the final stretch of the regular season, and also showed how good they can be when they play together.
Friday, Oct. 30 will mark a break in the action for all students as they enjoy the much-needed Fall Break at Whitworth. This luxury, however, will not be extended to the fall sport athletes.
The Whitworth Pirates traveled to Morse Field Saturday, Oct. 25 at George Fox University in Newberg, Ore., and secured a conference win against the Bruins in overtime. The final score was 1-0 and the win put the Pirates 8-1-1 in conference play. The win over the Bruins also set the Pirates up beautifully in their chase for the conference title.
Team Pup and Suds has set the bar for the rest of the Frisbee world with a 6-0 record to start the season. The new Intramural team is mainly comprised of male and female upperclassmen, most of who also compete on the club Frisbee team here at Whitworth.
Have you ever noticed how many people claim to know Olympic athletes? I mean seriously, there is a designated Olympic athlete from every small town in America. Now why is that, and why have we never heard of these athletes others claim to know?
This season, men's soccer is teaching other Northwest Conference teams a thing or two, with senior defender Bryan Olson leading by example and showing that the Bucs won't make it easy for anyone to get past them.
Get to know more about interim athletic director, Warren Friedrichs
Visiting Menlo College stole the game from Whitworth on Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Pine Bowl to capture the 14-10 victory for the Oaks and move to a winning record (2-1) in the Northwest Conference.
COMMENTARY: There is something liberating about watching a sporting event with your chest exposed. No matter the occasion, you can almost always count on some fans displaying their support for their team with the use of water-based paint.
The Pirates fell to visiting Lewis & Clark College 25-19, 23-25, 25-19, 25-7 this Saturday, Oct. 24 in the Fieldhouse.
The Pirate golf team is off to a great year winning tournaments and securing a great start on the spring season. The women’s team is led by two seniors: Krystal Pitkonen and Rachel Dubes. On a team comprised mostly of freshmen and sophomores, the seniors provide a great base of support and experience.
The Bucs proved they still had some fight left in them after their 24-15 win against the University of Puget Sound on Saturday, Oct. 17.
Last week the Whitworth’s women’s soccer team played three games, losing the first to Whitman on Wednesday, then beating Pacific Lutheran University and the University of Puget Sound on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
Talking to senior Kaylee Anderson, captain of the Power League Volleyball team Dwight’s Army of Champions, the spirit of Whitworth Intramurals became rapidly apparent.
The Whitworth volleyball team went one and one this weekend, losing to Willamette University on Friday, Oct. 16, but defeating Linfield College on Saturday, Oct. 17. The loss ended Whitworth’s three-game winning streak but also showcased the team’s ability to bounce back.
The Whitworth Pirates cross-country team found the value of strength in numbers Saturday, Oct. 17, in Tacoma, Wash.
Saturday morning proved a challenge for the Pirates as they faced the visiting Pacific Lutheran University Lutes. In the first 15 minutes the Lutes had already pelted eight shots at Whitworth goalkeeper sophomore Brian Sherpe. The Pirates worked to regroup and got their play together to take advantage of a few opportunities in the remaining 25 minutes of the half.
Whitworth men’s soccer went up against Whitman on Sunday in what became their sixth NWC victory. The only goal came in the 77th minute by way of junior midfielder Justin Meyer, his fifth on the season with three coming in the last two matches.
Cousins and members of the Pirates cross-country team, junior Dana Misterek and senior Kaitlin Hildebrand are esteemed by coach Toby Schwarz as “valuable members and contributors to the team, both in competition, practice and outside those settings.”
Women’s soccer faced off against Linfield Saturday in a match that ended 1-0.
Ready. Set. Run… naked. What spices up a boring sporting event more than a streaker?
The Whitworth women's soccer team fell to Whitman today, 2-0.
An early two-touchdown deficit proved to be too much for the Pirates to handle at home on Saturday. Wildcat defense stepped up to capitalize on Pirate offensive mistakes and prevented the Bucs from finding the endzone or uprights until late in the first half.
Saturday’s game bettered Whitworth’s men’s soccer record this weekend with a 3-2 win over visiting Linfield College.
Whitworth women’s soccer traveled to Lewis & Clark on Thursday and captured their seventh NWC win, while moving to 10-2 overall and second place in the Northwest Conference.
The Pirates rolled over the visiting Chapman University Panthers on Saturday, Sept. 26, in a game marked by solid performances by offense and defense. In true homecoming game fashion, Whitworth overwhelmed the Panthers on their way to a 23-8 win.
Turnovers turned out to be the story of the first half, leading to a 2-0 halftime score despite clear offensive control by the Pirates.
Whitworth University lost on Saturday, Oct. 4, to Willamette University at McCulloch Stadium in Salem, Ore. The visiting Pirates fell 43-13 in their first conference game of the season.
COMMENTARY: There are moments in sports that drop our jaws, bring us to our feet and dampen our pants. College football fans everywhere were reimmursed in this phenomenon about a week ago as we were all reminded: miracles do happen.
This weekend the Whitworth men’s soccer team was put to the test in two conference games on Saturday, Sept. 26, at the University of Puget Sound, and Sunday, Sept. 27, at Pacific Lutheran University.
Sophomore Dana Misterek placed first in the women’s five kilometer cross country race with a time of 19:04.59 to lead Whitworth to a fourth place finish at the Eric Anderson Invitational on Sunday, Sept. 27.
The Whitworth Pirates volleyball team has been struggling to find their footing these first few weeks of conference play.
The Whitworth women’s soccer team faced two challenging opponents this weekend. The Pirates took on the University of Puget Sound on Saturday, Sept. 26, and Pacific Lutheran University on Sunday, Sept. 27. The Bucs were looking at the weekend with positive attitudes.
Growing up with strong ties to Spokane and athletics, junior Brynn DeLong is the newest addition to Pirate volleyball, currently playing outside hitter for Whitworth.
Whitworth University students swarmed the Pine Bowl for the first home game of the 2009 Pirate football season on Saturday.
Born and raised in Uganda, senior Elly Bulega comes from a family and tradition where discipline and respect are not only expected, but demanded.
The Whitworth soccer team hit the pitch over the weekend, defeating Pacific University 2-1 on Saturday, Sept. 19, before sweeping George Fox University 4-0 on Sunday, Sept. 20.
The Whitworth University women’s volleyball team fell to both Linfield College and Willamette University at home during their weekend matches. The two conference losses drop the Pirates to 0-2 in conference and 4-9 overall.
After a 3-0 win on Saturday afternoon over the visiting Pacific University Boxers, the Whitworth women’s soccer team faced off against George Fox University Sunday afternoon in their third match of conference play.
Plaxico Burress and Ron Artest just got some new company atop the sports world’s most wanted list. An unsuspecting troublemaker had one of the worst (and most costly) outbursts in tennis history a little over a week ago, emphatically re-raising the question of, "Should high-profile athletes be held to a higher standard of conduct than the general public?"
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