WWU sport clubs to represent Western at nationals

Western Washington University sport clubs have had a successful spring, with many of the teams competing in postseason play at regional or national tournaments across the country.

For the first time in Western history, the women’s lacrosse team secured a first place win at the division one NWWLL Collegiate Conference Championship. Team president and senior Chelsea Hultz (Snohomish) is one of three co-captains, along with senior Linnea Whisman (Seattle) and junior Hannah Gose (Seattle). Looking back on a remarkable season, Hultz said she is proud that two Western players were named MVPs in the league: sophomore Amanda Hultz (Snohomish), who plays attack, and junior Kate Ades (Portland, Oregon), who plays defense.

“That was really exciting because they’re both really good players and it’s nice to get some recognition on our team,” said Hultz.

The team of 20 Western students came close to qualifying for an invitation to the National Championships May 5 to 9 in Virginia Beach, Va.

According to senior Seth Kotzman (Shawnee, Kan.), team captain of the men’s ultimate team, Dirt, this has been one of the most successful seasons in team history. Western is currently ranked 27th in the nation, competing against Division 1 and Division 2 teams. The team placed first at the Stanford Open in February to qualify for the Stanford Invite, a tournament drawing some of the best collegiate teams in the country. In the conference tournament earlier this month, Western placed fifth, defeating the University of Washington for the first time since 2009. At the regional tournament May 2 and 3 in Walla Walla, Dirt earned its first-ever trip to nationals in Milwaukee, Wisc., where it will compete on Memorial Day weekend.

The tennis team qualified and competed at the Tennis on Campus National Championship April 9 to 11 in Cary, N.C. Western is the only team out of 500-plus club teams nationwide to have competed at nationals for 17 consecutive years. From the team of nearly 50 students, seven were chosen to attend the championship tournament: Cooper Anderson (Yakima), Nick Jarvis (Gig Harbor), Youngha Kim (Edmonds), Manuel Larrain (Sammamish), Sierra Southworth (Maple Valley), Shelby Hill (Kirkland) and Vanessa Woo (Edmonds).

Senior Cooper Anderson, the team president, said the importance of club’s journey goes far beyond the chance to compete at nationals

"The club tennis team has been the single most influential experience in my four years at WWU," he said. "I had the chance to lead my fellow teammates in victory and in defeat, all the while learning about myself and having fun along the way."

Anderson has been part of the club’s leadership for the past three years and was honored for his contribution to the team as the 2014 United States Tennis Association's Tennis on Campus National Leader of the Year.

"My experience as the WWU Club Tennis team president and as a Western Club Sport athlete can be summed up in a few words," he said. "Absolutely amazing."

Nick Jarvis will be taking on the role of team president next year with help from team members Manuel Larrain, Nate Englund and Zoe Jovanovich.

After finishing 8-3, the men’s lacrosse team won the PNCLL Collegiate Conference Championship and qualified for the second consecutive year to compete at the MCLA National Championships May 11 to 16 in Irvine, Calif.

The men’s crew team, coached by Jack Marolichwill be competing in May at the ACRA Nationals in Georgia. Also, the team president, senior Carl Smith (Phoenix, Ariz.), was selected to compete for Team USA alongside 25 of the nation’s best collegiate rowers at the World University Games this summer in Gwangju, South Korea.

The cycling team will be sending three riders to nationals in Asheville, North Carolina May 8 to 10. Team president Michael Simecek (Seattle), Ben Peterson (Seattle) and Chris Carter (Oceanside, Calif.) will represent Western.

The equestrian team will send two riders, team president Whitney Fleming (Bainbridge Island) and senior Hanifah McGovern (Lopez Island), to nationals in Springfield, Mass. Fleming will be riding in the Cacchione Cup, and McGovern will be competing in the practicum portion of the Teresa L. McDonald IHSA Scholarship Challenge.

The men’s rugby team placed first at the NCRC Championship, securing Western an automatic bid to regionals held at UC Davis. The team of roughly 25 students faced teams from UC Davis, Arkansas State and Cal State Long Beach. For team president and senior Nick Solimano (Seattle), the road to regionals was paved with hard work and a dedicated team.

“After losing to UW at home 10-0 during the season, we faced them again in the NCRC finals and beat them 29-22. It was an important win for us and helped us reach our goal of qualifying for regionals.”

The team lost at regionals to UC Davis, 51-10.

The women’s ultimate team, whose members proudly refer to themselves as Chaos, is ranked 21st in the nation. The traveling A Team of 22 women has a second consecutive trip to nationals at the edge of their fingertips. Western placed in the top six at regionals, just missing out on a trip to nationals.

Just before that tournament, team co-president Rosemary Widenor (Eugene, Ore.) said she saw tremendous growth in the team this season.

"As a team, we have worked through injuries, personal tragedies and unforeseen hardships that have brought us together as more than a team, but a family," she said. "No matter how the season ends, the relationships we have formed between these 22 women are something everyone can carry with them."

This year, Chaos strove not only to become better Frisbee players, but to become better people. Through workshops focusing on leadership, confidence and thriving in the face of adversity, they have grown in ways which will help them succeed both on and off the field.

The men’s baseball team had their eyes set on competing at nationals as well. At the tail-end of a winning season, the team lost a tiebreaker against Eastern Washington University on May 3, 8-6, and missed out on the chance to go to regionals. Two years ago, Western qualified for nationals in Florida and placed third overall. According to Team President Brad Williams (Olympia), this year’s team had the talent to make it to Kentucky.

“It is just a matter of playing up to our ability. We have a really great group of guys this year and we have a lot of fun playing,” he said.

The women’s volleyball club team qualified and competed at nationals in Kansas City earlier this month.