Archive for the ‘Women’s Golf’ Category

Happy new decade

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010 | Johann Qua Hiansen

The naughts (2000s) were quite a decade for Washington University Athletics. Eight of the school’s 17 NCAA Division III national championships and 76 of 135 University Athletic Association titles were captured in this span of ten years. The national titles include the first men’s titles of any sort with Men’s Basketball (2008 and 2009) and Men’s Tennis (2009).

Women’s basketball added two (2000 and 2001) while volleyball added three (2003, 2007, and 2009). Other programs have been to the national championship game for the first time in their history this decade including the softball team (2007) and women’s soccer (2009). Women’s basketball has also fallen in two national championship games including

Several individual NCAA national titles were also won in the 2000s. Michael Slavik won the 50 yard freestyle while teammate Eric Triebe captured the 200 freestyle in 2006. Alex Beyer took the 400 individual medley title in 2009 with an NCAA record breaking time of 3:51.45. In the indoor track and field NCAA championship meet of 2008, Morgen Leonard-Fleckman brought Wash. U. the first pole vaulting title in school history.

What’s ahead in the 2010s?

Washington University athletic programs have seen unparalleled success and continue to grow. The women’s golf program started in 2008 has already climbed to the fifth spot in the latest national rankings. Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams were ranked first in preseason polls. The men’s tennis team currently holds the number three ranking while their female counterparts are ranked 15th. The men’s swimming team is eighth while the women rank 12th. This is just in 2010.

For those out there who aren’t fans of rankings, Wash. U. has given plenty of food for thought. The women’s soccer team was ranked number 17 when they faced top ranked Messiah College in the NCAA Division III National Championship game a month ago.  The Bears were number four in the country when they took down #1 Juniata College to win the national championship.

The men’s cross country team was unranked and defeated several ranked squads in NCAA Regionals before racing to their best ever finish (seventh) at the NCAA National Championship Meet. As the women’s team came in tenth, this was the first time in school history that both squads finished in the top ten of the national championship meet in the same year.

We can’t wait to see what happens next. Student Life will be covering all the varsity sports action.  Here are the New Year resolutions for this blog and the sports section as a whole.

  1. Blog a minimum of once a week.
  2. Have at least two other contributors by the end of February.
  3. Continue working with other UAA schools to create a central sports news site.
  4. Expand coverage of Washington University club sports.
  5. Utilize more multimedia where appropriate.

Tags:, , ,
Posted in Cross Country, Fall Sports, Men's Basketball, Men's Soccer, Men's Tennis, sportslog, Swimming, Volleyball, Winter Sports, Women's Basketball, Women's Golf, Women's Soccer | No Comments »

The Changing Seasons

Sunday, November 1st, 2009 | Johann Qua Hiansen

With the falling leaves and colder temperatures as a backdrop, the fall sports have begun to reach the end of their seasons.

Congratulations are in order to the women’s cross country team for winning UAAs and the men’s team for taking fourth. Junior Taryn Surtees repeated as individual champion and we’ll see how the team looks at Regionals in Wisconsin.

The No. 3 volleyball team steamrolled through the Bears Classic in preparation for UAAs and an automatic NCAA tournament bid. Seniors Erin Albers and Laura Brazeal were recognized on Friday night before the Bears dismantled the Wildcats of Culver-Stockton College. Congratulations to these two great seniors for all of their accomplishments.

The only other home action was swimming and diving. Every year swimmers seem to get faster and faster from the start. Freshman Meg Powers took control with two individual first place finishes, a second place finish in the 2oo back and a first in the 400 free relay. On the men’s side, junior David Chao was the lone Wash. U. swimmer to win an event against Div. I SIUE on Friday. Chao also contributed to the meet clinching 400 free relay at the end as the Bears edged DePauw by four points overall.

Both men’s and women’s soccer picked up wins against Brandeis on Friday. The men’s team fell to NYU while the women picked up an OT victory on a header by senior Becca Heymann. The women have the better chance of taking the conference with a tie and five wins so far.  The Lady Bears are only one point ahead of Rochester. The Bears must beat Chicago to capture the outright title or tie to share the title.. If they lose and Rochester wins, the Lady Bears will be second.  The men will need several upsets and win their Chicago game for a shot at sharing the title.

Women’s golf leapt up the rankings  to No. 5 without playing in a tournament.

Just two weeks remain till the first men’s basketball game the season and a few days before an exhibition women’s game against SIUE. Both Wash. U. teams are ranked preseason No. 1.

Tags:, , , , , , ,
Posted in Cross Country, Fall Sports, Football, Men's Basketball, Men's Soccer, sportslog, Swimming, Volleyball, Winter Sports, Women's Basketball, Women's Golf, Women's Soccer | No Comments »

It’s Been Awhile

Monday, September 28th, 2009 | Johann Qua Hiansen

Last weekend was fairly quiet for Wash. U. sports. There was only one varsity game on Friday night with the women’s soccer team triumphing over Division I Southeast Missouri State University 4-1. Senior Caryn Rosoff  continued her offensive tear with yet another hat trick, her second in just as many games. UAA conference play will be interesting starting this weekend against Emory University. The forwards including sophomores Emma Brown, Lee Ann Felder and Rosoff seem to be a cohesive offensive unit now.

Volleyball took a complete break from practice after last Wednesday’s victory over Fontbonne University. They resume practice today so I look forward to seeing how they do at the first UAA Round Robin at Rochester this weekend.

Men’s soccer bounced back from their first loss of the season with a 1-0 win over Greenville. I’ve been seeing a lot of players scoring their first goals recently. It just shows how each player is a threat.

Men’s tennis continued their dominance of the ITA Central Regionals. Senior John Watts picked up his fourth individual title while juniors Isaac Stein and Max Woods captured the doubles title.

Women’s golf ended a very successful fall season with a second place finish at the Millikin University Fall Classic. The Lady Bears pulled off a two stroke victory over regional rival Illinois Wesleyan.

Football will have a season defining game this weekend against Rhodes College at home.After the 46-0 rout at the hands of Wittenberg University a few weeks ago, the football team needs to make a statement in order to salvage the season.

W.I.L.D., the semi annual concert is also this Saturday so it’ll be curious to see what the fan dynamic is like.

Ahead in Student Life coverage:

  • Interviewing the Bear mascot
  • More alternative story formats
  • Columns
  • And a lot more

Stay tuned for more exciting news

Tags:, , , , , , ,
Posted in Cross Country, Fall Sports, Football, Men's Soccer, Men's Tennis, sportslog, Volleyball, Women's Golf, Women's Soccer | No Comments »

Heavy thoughts and musings

Sunday, September 13th, 2009 | Johann Qua Hiansen

Lynn Imergoot Memorial

I went to the Lynn Imergoot memorial service at Graham Chapel on Sunday afternoon. For those who are unaware, Imergoot passed away on July 24 in a car crash. Imergoot was the former head women’s tennis coach and an assistant athletics director. Her last position was as the assistant director of intramural and club sports.

I was impressed with the turnout of staff, students, friends and family. Each of the people present was a testament to Imergoot’s influence. Her legacy reaches far beyond her family and deep into many of the successful varsity and intramural sports available at Wash. U.

Women’s Golf

Wash. U’s fledging golf program made a big statement, dispatching two top-20 teams at the Wartburg Invite. The Bears first place finish in a field of 22 was their strongest performance in their two year history. Freshman Hannah Buck continues to impress spectators with a third place finish. The full story will be in Wednesday’s issue but look to the golf team to go far this season.

Men’s Soccer

It must be frustrating to have so many ties for the men’s soccer team. I caught a bit of Sunday’s game against Rhodes College and the team overcame a 1-0 deficit to knot the score at 1-1. Wash. U. has had the opportunities yet struggle to finish off their opponent. It was another double overtime tie. The Bears need some wins in the upcoming games.

Women’s Soccer

The Bears displayed their dominance and resilience this weekend with a 3-1 win over No. 21 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps followed by a 10-0 rout of Grinnell College on Saturday evening. It’s a pretty big statement when the top scorer, Emma Brown, didn’t even account for half the team’s goals. Brown finished with a hat trick while Lee Ann Felder had two. Five other Wash. U. players chipped in a goal as well. Hopefully the team doesn’t get overconfident and end up playing sloppy in their Michigan road trip.

Women’s Volleyball

This weekend illustrated the depth and potential of the volleyball team. With Vicki Blood and Erin Kasson sitting out part of the weekend, freshman Marilee Fisher and sophomore Lauren Budde stepped up. The two seem to bei in rhythm. Kristen Thomas continues to consistently deliver some strong kills. Wash. U. looked a little sloppy in their 3-0 loss to Ohio Northern but battled back or set the tone early in their other matches. Whitewater looked to be in control in the final match before Fisher sparked a slumbering Wash. U. offense. With Whitewater beating Ohio Northern, the Bears split the title.

The upcoming Teri Clemens Invitational is one of the toughest tournaments in Division III. Should Wash. U. win the tourney, the Bears will make a strong statement heading into the future. The odds are against No. 8 Wash. U. with arch rival No. 2 Juniata, No. 6 University of La Verne and No. 7 University of St. Thomas in contenton.

Tags:, , , , , , , ,
Posted in Fall Sports, Men's Soccer, sportslog, Volleyball, Women's Golf, Women's Soccer | No Comments »

Big River Running Early Bird

Sunday, September 6th, 2009 | Johann Qua Hiansen

Saturday morning was cold, dark and rainy. Most students would have been in bed when the women’s four kilometer run started at 9:00 a.m or when the men’s six kilometer run began at 9:30 a.m.

Despite the early hour, Washington University athletes were up for a test against the elements and talented opponents. Conditions on the course were grueling at best. Rain slicked grass made for a slippery slope on portions of the course in Forest Park’s Central Field. Mud was bountiful with shoes submerging at least an inch for every step a runner took.

The Wash. U. women took first beating out Division I schools Xavier University and St. Louis University. The men took second in a field of 17 schools behind Xavier. Times weren’t that important in this meet given the tough conditions. Talking with the runners showed how though Wash. U. has both a men’s and women’s team, both are in the same family.

Throughout the meet, the men would cheer on the women while the women would do the same. No one left until everyone had finished. Numerous Wash. U. track & field athletes were also acting as guides and helped run the meet.

The three top men’s finishers: sophomore Michael Burnstein, freshman David Hamm, and sophomore Malik Nabulsi hadn’t even been running for Wash. U. last year. Senior Molly Schlamb, who finished first for the women, had to overcome injuries throughout most of last season.

From my observations, the team continued to cement their team bond through the difficulty of the meet. The experience will also help them if they encounter adverse conditions in other meets.

Tags:, , , ,
Posted in Cross Country, Fall Sports, sportslog, Women's Golf | No Comments »