WildcatTHE NEWSLETTER FOR ALL L INFIELD ATHLETICS

Soccer’s 14 victories sets record Winter 2011

The question came up during football season: Why does the athletic department charge its fans $12 to watch the video webcast of Linfield’s home games? Like all businesses, we strive to maintain a balanced budget. There are expenses involved in producing the webcasts. Every dollar of pay-per-view revenue is split down the middle with Stretch Internet, which manages all the pay-per-view transactions and whose servers host the webcasts. Next, there are personnel expenses (cameramen, director, broadcasters) and maintenance and repair of the equipment that must be factored into the equation. During the regular season, around 50-75 viewers pay the $12 fee to watch the game, the same amount as a reserved covered seat at the Maxwell Field grandstand. Viewers from great distances regard this expense as a bargain, compared with flying to McMinnville from, say, Hawaii, to see the game in person. Others feel as though the cost is too high. When Linfield advances to the playoffs (a time when interest in games is peaking), the fiscal dynamics change dramatically. Right off the top, the NCAA requires a $500 rights fee per game in order for the college to be allowed to webcast. Linfield cannot charge its usual $12 fee per NCAA regulations and also must pay Stretch Internet around $1,000 to host each playoff event, a rate that varies depending on the number of viewers. Once in the playoffs, viewership goes through the roof. For the recent Linfield-Cal Lutheran playoff game, a total of 1,462 viewers watched the game on their computers. Bottom line: Linfield took in roughly $2,000 in revenue this fall but paid out in excess of that figure in order to finance just one playoff webcast. For those alumni and fans who tuned in, we hope you enjoyed this valuable (yet expensive) outreach.

MEN’S BASKETBALL A retooled Linfield men’s basketball team must find its identity and pull out a few more wins to achieve its goal of returning to the Northwest Conference playoffs in 2011-12. The ‘Cats return eight players from last year’s seventh-place squad, but lost their two top scorers to graduation. No one will be missed more than four-time all-star K.C. Wiser, who supplied 23.1 points and 8.2 rebounds per game in 2010-11. Zach Anderson is more than capable of

stepping up to the task after averaging 9.8 points per game last year. Head coach Larry Doty also expects big production from freshman big man Andrew Batiuk. Not only

a talented player, but a smart one too, the 6-foot-9 center could make some noise in just his first collegiate season. Doty has confidence in the offensive abilities of returners Zach Meikle, Michael Moreland and Josh Rodrigues. The trio combined for 9.5 points per game a season ago, but should put up bigger numbers with increased opportunities this year.Defense and rebounding are two keys to success for Linfield, particularly with senior forward David Lee slowly working his way back from injury. Now in his 25th year as coach at his alma mater, Doty entered the season with 321 wins, just three behind Hall of Fame coach Ted Wilson on the program’s coaching victories ladder.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Second-year head coach Robin Potera-Haskins fields a team that embraces the concept of playing as a team and is committed to working hard to rebuild the program. Headlining the roster is two-time all-NWC performer Gretchen Owens. The senior guard led the league in scoring last year at 19.9 points per game, and there is little doubt she will again be one of the conference’s top scoring threats in her final season as a Wildcat. Kaely Maltman, a second generation Wildcat and an honorable mention selection a year ago, looks to improve upon a

“tremendous” freshman campaign. Potera-Haskins said the sophomore forward has the potential to be one of the league’s top players. Also returning for the ‘Cats are seniors Brynna Fuller and Nicole Barton. The two veterans will be heavily relied upon to help provide leadership to a large batch of newcomers, which includes 11 green, but talented, freshmen. One of Linfield’s top recruits is Katelyn Henson out of Camas, Wash. Despite missing her entire senior year of high school due to injury, the freshman forward committed her summer to returning to pre-injury form. Tyra Barawis is also expected to get significant playing time this year. The only 6-foot player in the program, the freshman provides a big presence in the paint. Other newcomers expected to contribute right away are forward Chelsie McConville, shooting guard Sarah Mason and point guard Alex Christensen.

SWIMMING The Wildcats are gifted with two deep squads, which should allow head coach Gary Gutierrez greater flexibility in creating meet lineups and give the team the opportunity to practice at a heightened level of training. Freshmen Brandi Halemano, Kelcie

Kimura, Maggie May, Tori Nickerson and Taylor Schroeder are all expected to contribute to the success of this year’s club. Top returners include Rhiannon Ladwig, Stephanie Longmate and

Natalie Groat. Four veterans headline the men’s squad, including Sean Iwamasa, Miles Phillips, Lee Rivers and Seth Ruwitch. Among the promising newcomers are true freshmen A.J. Wagoner and Ian Coker, as well as junior-college transfer Chris Purdy, whose athleticism will be an asset to the team.

Winter sports seasons underway

Zach Anderson ’13

Gretchen Owens ’12

Lee Rivers ’14

For the past three-plus years, coaches at Linfield and all other NCAA Division III schools have been restricted from using text messaging to communicate with prospective student-athletes. Originally adopted in 2008 when highly touted prospects were getting inundated with text messages from coaches, the rule sought to protect top prospects from getting hit with high mobile phone bills due to all the text messages flooding in. Since then, times have changed. The majority of prospect-aged individuals use text messaging as their No. 1 mode of communication. It is difficult and at times awkward for a coach not to respond via text if a prospect chooses to get in touch that way. Today, most text messaging plans have a low-cost option or allow for unlimited text messages. Low-cost or no-cost options mitigate the financial concern that originally prompted the current legislation. Linfield coaches are still accountable to the rule that prohibits them from texting prospective student-athletes. However, in January 2012, the Division III membership will vote on reversing the rule to allow text messaging as a medium for communication throughout the recruiting process. If adopted, the new rule would become effective immediately. A reversal of the text messaging rule would not deregulate current legislation regarding social media platforms, such as Facebook. The NCAA sees such sites as “‘personal’ space that should not be invaded by coaches in the recruiting process,” (NCAA Division III 2012 Official Notice). It would also not change any of the other forms of communication used to connect with prospects being recruited. Coaches would still be able to contact prospects via telephone, mail, email and facsimile. Within Division III rules, there are no restrictions as to when or how much a coach can contact a prospect via these modes of communication. So stay tuned for a possible rule change, and stay in compliance!

Evan Wilson, a four-year basketball letterwinner, was a member of two Northwest Conference championship teams. As a senior in 2000-01, he started all 27 games, averaging 11.2 points per game to help Linfield reach the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.

Where are you living and what career path have you set for yourself?I live in Portland with my wife, Mandy, and our 3-month-old daughter, Tess. I work at Pacific Crest Securities, a technology-focused boutique investment bank. Broadly, we help mutual funds and hedge funds decide which stocks to buy and sell. Specifically, I’m an analyst that focuses on entertainment stocks, especially video games.

What were the clinching factors in your decision to attend Linfield?Initially, I had planned to leave the state for college and focus on academics. However, Coach Larry Doty was a very effective salesman in convincing me that I could get a great education and play basketball all within a close proximity of my family. Fortunately, those things proved to be true. Seeing the great facilities and hearing from others about Linfield’s solid regional reputation also helped.

What are your fondest memories of competing in basketball at Linfield?In 1999, we were 20-5 and won Linfield’s first conference championship in men’s basketball since 1979. Certainly it’s always fun to be on top, but it was especially true after going 7-17 in 1998, which was my most difficult year in basketball. We really bonded as a team and the students and fans couldn’t have supported us more. Seeing the CatPack go berserk was a treat.

In what ways are you applying what you learned at Linfield in the classroom and on the basketball court to your personal and professional life?The lessons from basketball are innumerable, but one is a Doty classic: “Don’t act like you’re working hard. Work hard.” Beyond basketball, Linfield’s

culture prompted me to become a much more well-rounded person. I wrote for the Linfield Review, was a student senator and hosted a sports talk show and did play-by-play for KSLC. Those were all things I had no idea I was interested in until people asked me to participate. Now, writing and speaking publicly has become a huge part of my job.

What were some of the greatest obstacles you had to overcome during your days at Linfield?Honestly, there were many as I’m sure is true for most student-athletes. Injuries can have an unbelievable impact on your outlook and it certainly did for me. Campus starts to feel awfully big when you are on crutches. Also, the added stress of meager personal finances can take some of the joy out of the experience of being out on your own for the first time.

What classes did you enjoy the most and who were your favorite professors?Scott Chambers’ classes and his January term trip to New York were essentially what turned me on to finance. Learning about the stock market in 1998 through 2001 was fascinating given the historical context. Other memorable classes included a Jan-term astronomy class that was nothing short of mind-boggling, Martin Dwomoh-Tweneboah’s computer science classes and taking calculus from Stephen Bricher, who I’m sure is still as much of a force of nature with a piece of chalk as he was in 1997.

Do you stay in touch with teammates and follow the basketball program from afar?

Absolutely. Most of my best friends are from in and around the basketball program. I keep in touch with Coach Doty and make it out to a few games every year. I also still follow the football team closely. After my four years, I was itching to move on and see what was next. However, now I’m envious of those who still get to put on a Wildcat uniform and I know that most of my contemporaries feel the same way.

Where Are They Now? Evan Wilson

FOOTBALL Linfield ended its record 56th consecutive winning season much as it did in 2010, with players and coaches pondering what might have been in the wake of a second-round exit from the NCAA Division III playoffs. After beginning the season without a proven quarterback and with major injuries to two returning all-stars, did the 2011 team overachieve by rolling to the program’s third straight (and 35th overall) conference championship? Or did Linfield underachieve by surrendering a 20-point lead in the playoffs and failing to take the next step in advancing to the NCAA quarterfinals? The questions are not easily answered. What is certain is that no matter Linfield’s record, the path to the national championship game was a field of landmines, with powerful title-worthy opponents awaiting the Wildcats in each advancing round. Linfield ended another successful campaign with 10 wins in 11 games, while leading the conference in total defense and topping the Division III statistics with a team-record 47 quarterback sacks. The season included a season-opening 24-14 victory over nationally ranked Cal Lutheran, and dominating wins over Northwest Conference foes Puget Sound (73-7), Pacific (49-6), Pacific Lutheran (45-7) and Lewis & Clark (47-14). The ‘Cats were rematched with Cal Lutheran in the first round of the NCAA playoffs, beating the Kingsmen 30-27 in a thriller at Maxwell Field. Linfield’s season ended in Dover, Del., where a powerful Wesley team overcame a 27-7 deficit, scoring 42 unanswered points in a winner-take-all second-round playoff game.

WOMEN’S SOCCER The ‘Cats finished second in the NWC, just one win from seizing the program’s first league crown. In achieving its highest-ever league finish, the club also set a program record for wins with a 14-3-3 overall record, including 13-2-3 in conference action. Linfield started out the year 5-1, but then suffered a huge blow when reigning conference player of the year Emily Fellows went out with a season-ending injury. Any team could have folded under such adversity, but not the resilient Wildcats. After an initial stumble – a tie to George Fox and a loss to Willamette – Linfield got back on track with a win over Whitman, and only lost once the rest of the year. There certainly was no shortage of great performances from the ‘Cats. A program-record eight players were named to the all-NWC squad, including four first team selections, but many more contributed to the record-breaking season. Three of those receiving all-conference nods were veterans MacKenzie Doty, Anna Sours and Christine Tamamoto, who all received first team accolades. Doty was the team’s leading scorer, totaling eight goals in her final season as a Wildcat. Sours contributed four goals and a team-high five assists and Tamamoto added four goals and four assists. Defensively, the ‘Cats were nearly impenetrable, giving up just 15 goals over 20 matches, the second-lowest total among league teams this year. In addition, the club set program records for most shutouts (10) and lowest goals-against average (0.72). Jenna Quiring and Emily Allison anchored a tough back line. Quiring, the team’s “steady-eddie” on defense, was Linfield’s fourth representative on the NWC first team. Goalkeeper Apolonia Martinez was stellar in just her first year as a starter, setting Linfield’s individual single-season record for goals-against average (0.52) with eight shutouts.

Football, women’s soccerhighlight fall sports

The climb to a championship season is not an easy one. Many things need to fall into place for that championship banner to be placed on the wall. In the quest for a championship, the pressure to win becomes intense and in many cases, this causes programs to try to take shortcuts to attain a championship. Some major-college programs have stooped to cutting corners in recruiting or have committed a variety of other violations in hopes of bringing a championship home. There exists a definite facilities arms race with stadium expansions and team recreational centers becoming more commonplace. Division III athletics are predicated on the concept of level playing fields unaffected by athletic-related financial aid. Student-athletes make choices about which college to attend based on four basic evaluative criteria. They search for an institution they believe fits them academically, athletically, socially and economically. That said, many differences remain in what Division III institutions offer related to these four components. Each sets its own entrance requirements and has varied strengths in its curriculum. Each has different commitments to their athletic programs and there are many differences among facilities. More and more Division III programs are increasing their coaching staffs or at least increasing allocated dollars directed to coaching. Financial aid packages vary and depend greatly on the resources available. The social climate also varies. Some Division III schools are small and private while others are state- supported and have larger enrollments. To put that championship banner on the wall takes a special culture.It requires the necessary resources to recruit student-athletes who ultimately will make their choice based on their belief that they are going to receive a quality education, be a part of a program they feel they can integrate into, and have the social atmosphere they are looking for that is affordable to them.

Josh Hill ‘13

The Holiday Season. A time for presents, family and friends, and…community service? For many people (maybe even you!) volunteering is an annual tradition just as important as exchanging gifts and enjoying a colossal feast with family and friends. Every day, I receive an e-newsletter from the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics. While I naturally gravitate toward the marketing articles for promotional ideas, for me, the highlight of these daily newsletters is the section devoted to community service. With more than 400,000 student-athletes across all three divisions of NCAA competition, the number of people receiving aid through athletics never ceases to amaze or inspire me. Here at Linfield, our student-athletes recognize the importance of service, and assume the responsibility to help others with enthusiasm. As advisor to the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, I have the wonderful opportunity to witness firsthand the positive influence our student-athletes have in our community. Over the past year and a half, SAAC has organized weekly appearances at a local elementary school’s recess sessions and raised nearly $550 for a community program that provides meals to needy families. New this year is our partnership with Special Olympics, which gives our student-athletes the chance to teach skills to athletes with different abilities. Through serving as positive role models for young and impressionable students, helping to put food on the table for local families and sharing a love for sports with a unique community, our student-athletes touch many lives. With so many in need, it would be easy to adopt a pessimistic attitude about how much change we can actually bring to those facing hardship. Instead, I find it comforting, hopeful and inspiring to know that our Wildcats, along with hundreds of thousands of other student-athletes, are actively working to make this world a better place for all.

CROSS COUNTRY Focused, deep and talented, the Linfield cross country programs certainly lived up to their potential in 2011. Both squads finished third at the Northwest Conference Championships, each improving on their team performances from a season ago. The women in particular were right in the thick of things, scoring just 10 points more than league champion Lewis & Clark. Two weeks later, the women placed fifth at the NCAA West Regional; the men were seventh. Though there were several talented runners on the men’s side, senior Scott Gage emerged as the clear leader, placing first for the Wildcats at seven of eight team competitions. He was also the only Linfield runner to race at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, where he placed 124th overall and first among Northwest Conference competitors. Joe Gladow was another bright spot for the Wildcat men. Only a sophomore, he earned all-region honors by placing 31st at the regional meet, good for 11th among runners representing the Northwest Conference. On the women’s side, four stood out from the rest of the pack: Mimi Seeley, Nelly Evans, Shanna Peaden and Madison Trowbridge. Seeley, Evans and Peaden earned all-region honors, placing 24th, 20th and 26th, respectively, at the NCAA West Regional meet. Seeley followed up a stellar freshman season with a solid sophomore campaign, earning all-conference honors for the second straight year with a seventh-place finish at the NWC Championships. Evans was consistently the club’s No. 2 runner, but finished first for the ‘Cats at the Linfield Preview and the NCAA West Regional.

VOLLEYBALL Gaining confidence and experience with each passing match, the Linfield volleyball team grew leaps and bounds over the course of the season. At 11-14 overall, the Wildcats were three victories better than the previous season. Though the gains appear modest, Linfield coach Shane Kimura was able to spur his young team to greater heights using a cluster of first-year players. With a defensive-minded approach centering around honorable mention All-America libero Samantha Lau, Linfield ranked second in the NWC in digs per match (18.0). Freshman outside hitter Kailana Ritte-Camara ranked eighth in the NWC in kills per set

(2.82). Freshman setter Audrey Frazier enjoyed a solid debut season, ranking fifth in the conference in assists per game (7.03).

Middle blocker Victoria Thompson was another bright spot, averaging 1.71 kills and 0.61 blocks per set.

With 582 digs, Lau led the NWC in that category for the third straight season while breaking her own school record. Lau was accorded first team all-NWC honors and was cited as the league’s Libero of the Year.

Lau graduates as Linfield’s all-time leader in digs (1,881).

MEN’S SOCCER Offense and wins were hard to come by for the Wildcats, who wrapped up a seventh-place finish in the NWC. The ‘Cats got out to a good start, defeating NAIA program Northwest Christian 1-0 in Linfield’s opening game of 2011. But preseason hopes of finishing in the top half of the league quickly faded as Linfield went 0-9-1 over its next 10 matches. The only points during that stretch came from a 1-1 double-overtime tie against George Fox. The second Wildcats-Bruins matchup resulted in Linfield’s sole conference win: a 2-1 road victory in Newberg. The win snapped a streak of four consecutive shutouts, and marked the highest scoring output for the ‘Cats all year. Linfield nearly squeaked out another victory, or at least a tie, the next day against Pacific, but the Boxers scored in the waning minutes of the second overtime period to deal the ‘Cats a heartbreaking loss on their home field. First-year player Xavier Reed provided the majority of the scoring, tallying two goals, both of which came against George Fox. Geoff Kunita contributed one goal and a team-high two assists, and Danny Snelgrow, Eric Gutierrez and Cody Escott each added one score to Linfield’s meager total. Four different goalkeepers saw time in the net, but Cody Tipton and Scott Goodman combined for 15 of 17 starts. One bright spot on defense was the selection of Zach Farrington to the all-NWC team as an honorable mention consideration. The senior, who started all four years at Linfield, graduates with the third-most career minutes in program history.

Linfield’s sense of community is one of its most endearing qualities, according to 2011 Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Emily (Baker) Chadwick ‘98. A two-sport standout in women’s soccer and track and field , Chadwick’s remarks resonated with the gathering of 150 supporters at Ted Wilson Gymnasium during the college’s annual Hall of Fame induction banquet Nov. 12. “Being part of the Linfield community has been just as important to me in my years beyond college,” Chadwick said during her acceptance remarks. “Linfield taught me more than I ever thought possible. I learned to set goals, plan for success and to persevere. Big things can happen in a small and special place like Linfield.” Chadwick’s comments were echoed by the six additional individual inductees and members of the 1981 volleyball team during acceptance speeches at the 14th annual event. Football All-American Steve Boyea ‘85, said he also learned the importance of setting goals. An orthopedic surgeon today, Boyea was

a pivotal player during the football program’s runs to the 1982 and 1984 national titles. NAIA All-America football lineman Dave Burdett ‘88 recalled many of the life lessons he learned under the tutelage of Hall of Fame coach Ad Rutschman ‘54. “Coach Rutschman taught us to ‘practice until you’re perfect.’” Robert Raffalo ’65, a baseball and swimming standout and one of the early members of Linfield’s famed “Hartford Connection,” characterized his induction as “surreal.” “Why did I come to Linfield?” he asked the audience. “Because the coaches saw something in me. They were looking for good athletes with strong work ethics - men of character who they knew they could develop academically and spiritually.” Football and track all-star Lynn Reed ’82 called his arrival at Linfield one of the best decisions he ever made. “At Linfield, I learned that you’re not going to get anything handed to you. You must go out and earn it.” National championship swimmer Beth (Slaughter) Whittle ’97, one of the most decorated women’s athletes in Linfield history, said she “cannot imagine a better place than Linfield to have spent four great years learning and swimming. I can’t wait for the day when my kids are old enough to be shopping for colleges. I’m so proud to be a Linfield graduate and thankful for the opportunities the college and the swimming program have given me.” Fred von Appen ’65, a four-year football letterman who spent his career coaching at the major college and professional levels, described the ways in which his coach, Paul Durham ’36, “left an indelible impression.” From Coach Durham, von Appen learned the values of fair play, commitment, dedication, and how to treat people right.

“In light of what is taking place in college athletics today, Linfield is an exemplary place,” he said. The 1981 volleyball team, the first women’s program to play for a national title, had special character and overcame adversity to advance through the losers bracket to the championship match. Accepting the enshrinement on behalf of her teammates, Susan (Holm) Allsop ‘84 recalled the ways in which Coach Shane Kimura ‘78 pushed and encouraged the team to reach their full potential. In addition to Holm, team members included Carolyn (Pearce) Kraus ‘82, Kim Albee ‘84, Jan (Wise) Barker ‘82, Suzie Bell ‘83, Jill (Pluim) Hill ‘83, Linda Johnson-Spraker ‘85, and Phyllis (Bloch) Shelton ‘85. Since its inception in 1998, a total of 113 individuals and eight teams have been enshrined in the Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame. A commemorative plaque of each inductee is on permanent display in the Paul Durham Foyer of the Linfield Athletics Complex.

Softball stadium named Del Smith, a trustee emeritus of Linfield, was honored for his long-time support of the college when the Board of Trustees approved the naming of the softball stadium as “Del Smith Stadium.”

The announcement was made last month at the Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame banquet.

Smith, founder and owner of Evergreen International Aviation, Inc., served on the Linfield Board of Trustees from 1975 to 2009. He has supported the college through numerous gifts and by providing internships to hundreds of Linfield students at his local businesses. Many of those interns went on to work full time at Evergreen after graduation. “Del Smith’s support of Linfield students, both athletically and academically, has changed the lives of countless young people,” said President Thomas L. Hellie.

“It is fitting that we recognize his support by naming the softball stadium in his honor. His gifts have been instrumental in the development of our softball program into the national spotlight.” In recent years, the Linfield softball team has also become nationally known – winning two national titles in the last five seasons. Upgrades to the softball grandstand, press box and fencing have aided in the success of the program and have been made possible by Smith’s generosity.

Athletics Hall of Fame welcomes 2011 inductees

Emily (Baker) Chadwick ’98

Fred von Appen ’65

Scott Brosius ’88 can add the words “gold medal” to his already impressive resume. The Linfield graduate and current Wildcats coach stepped outside of his comfort zone this fall to coach the 18-under USA National Team at the 2011 COPABE 18U/AAA Pan American Baseball Championships in Cartagena, Colombia. Team USA defeated Canada 12-2 in eight innings to capture the gold medal. Brosius handpicked the squad from a list of high school all-star players during a pair of training camps in North Carolina and Florida. When dates for the final training camp were changed at the 11th hour, eight players dropped out for a variety reasons. Team USA flourished nonetheless under Brosius’ leadership. The Red, White and Blue went undefeated in the tournament, outscoring nine international opponents by a combined score of 88-8. Facing Canada in the championship game, the U.S. trailed for only the second time in the tournament, 1-0 in the top of the first inning, but the deficit lasted just a half-inning before USA exploded for seven runs to take the lead. Brosius spent the better part of November with the squad, away from his family, Linfield, and the comforts of American life. He missed Thanksgiving entirely as Team USA battled Puerto Rico in an opening-round game, and was abroad on his son’s birthday.

Still, he wouldn’t trade his international experiences. “The opportunity to wear a USA jersey and bring home the gold medal is definitely a career highlight for me,” Brosius said. Though it seems unlikely his international exposure will tempt any potential recruits to McMinnville, Brosius returned to Oregon feeling as if Linfield will benefit in the long run. “I really believe these experiences have made me a better coach. They’ve stretched and challenged me,” he said. “I worked with some very talented assistant coaches and learned some different things from different people.” Though virtually every player on the Team USA roster is already penciled in as a major-college or professional prospect, Brosius said there aren’t many differences between his Linfield players and the USA all-stars in the way team members interact with one another. “The guys did a lot of spontaneous things. It’s refreshing to see kids with such bright futures come from all over the country and band together like that. I often had to remind myself they were still 17-year-old kids. Yet they were able to truly put away all their personal ambitions to play for the love of their country.” Spending several weeks living and competing in a South American country gave Brosius pause. “Seeing people’s standard of living (in Colombia) really lends great perspective,” he said. “You realize how good we have it. You come home a bit more thankful for all the things we have in this country.”

Scott Brosius leads Team USA to Gold Medal in Colombia

By Scott Brosius ‘88 One of the most amazing things about my time with Team USA in Colombia was our daily trips back and forth from the field. Most of our games were played at the main stadium, which was about 30 minutes from our hotel, and a secondary site over an hour away. Traffic was so heavy in Cartagena that we needed a police escort for each trip. This escort consisted of one police officer on a motorcycle with no lights or siren. Problem was, people in Colombia don’t listen to the police, so the escort wasn’t very effective. That’s where Jason came into play. “NASCAR” Jason was our bus driver and boy could he drive. He just flew around people, many times passing our police escort, with the horn blaring the whole time. It was the most comical and scary thing I’ve ever seen. He would just pull in front of oncoming traffic without the slightest hesitation. Jason would pass cars, motorcycles, or donkeys, on two-lane roads with other cars coming right at us. It was a constant game of chicken that luckily we always won. Jason just relished his job of getting us to the field on time. We took different routes to the field each day for security or traffic reasons, so we got to see a lot of Colombia. Especially going to Turbaco, the secondary field. In the hour it took to get there, we passed through some amazing neighborhoods. But Jason always had some good music for us along the way. He would turn the radio up for the guys and most days we had some good Reggae going. While music or traffic didn’t seem to bother Jason, a typical trip to the field consisted of at least 20 moving violations in the U.S. We did things with that bus that I’ve never done on a bicycle, much less a car! Every day we were greeted by Jason, a big smile on his face and wearing a USA hat and shirt! After we won the gold medal that final night, he had the radio blaring, was singing right along with the whole team to “No Worries,” and driving like a madman back to the hotel!

In Scott’s Words

Players and coaches celebrate Team USA’s gold medal victory over Canada at the 18-under Pan American Championships in Cartagena, Colombia. Manager Scott Brosius (18) headed the team.

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Happy HolidaysFrom the L infield Wildc ats!

This month in Linfield HistoryDECEMBER 8, 1984: The Wildcats football team trails defending champion Northwestern 22-0 with just over three minutes remaining in the third quarter before rallying for a 33-22 victory in the NAIA national championship game at McMinnville’s Wortman Stadium. John Gray’s field goal with 3:02 left in the third

quarter are Linfield’s first points but the Wildcats score the next 30 to capture their second national title in three seasons. Touchdowns by Keith Machida, Greg Hodgkinson, Tim Nacrelli and Mike Sigman play a part in the amazing comeback.

DECEMBER 17, 1991: Ad Rutschman announces his retirement as head football coach after 24 seasons. Rutschman’s football teams won three NAIA Division II national championships, reached the postseason playoffs 13 times and won 15 conference titles. He retires with a career record of 183-48-3 (.788).

DECEMBER 27, 1999: Down eight points with 32 seconds to play, the Linfield men’s basketball team storms back for an 84-81 overtime victory over Southwestern University (Texas) at the Alamo Shootout in San Antonio. Derek Grace, Linfield’s 7-foot-1 center, tips an inbounds pass under the basket, where Grant Ebright scoops the ball up and hits a basket as time expires that forces overtime.

Ian Lefebvre, who served as Linfield College men’s soccer coach and director of soccer for five seasons, has resigned his position, according to director of athletics Scott Carnahan. Lefebvre cited the need to spend more time with his family as the reason for his departure. He lives in Beaverton while commuting between Linfield and his English and social studies teaching job at Skyview High School in Vancouver, Wash.

“Ian leaves Linfield on good terms,” Carnahan said. “We wish him the best and appreciate his contributions to helping build a successful soccer program, both on and off the field.” In five years, Lefebvre compiled a 33-54-4 record as coach. His best season came in 2007 when he led the Wildcats to a 9-8-1 overall record. His teams finished no higher than sixth place in the Northwest Conference and dropped to seventh place this past fall. A search is underway for a replacement. Interested candidates may submit applications for the part-time position through the college’s Human Resources website.

Soccer coach departing

Ian Lefebvre