January 2008 Archives

GWEN KREMER

Claremont-Mudd-Scripps

Swimming

The lowdown: The senior backstroke specialist got off to a slow start because of sickness but has been a key to the Athenas success in the last four years. Won the 200 individual medley (2:19.55) in a recent dual meet against Whittier. Took third in the 200 back (2:17.01) in a dual meet with Division I Loyola Marymount. Is in her fourth year in the program, her best season being a sophomore year in which she earned all-conference honors in the 200 back and as part of the 200 medley relay.

Age: 21

Hometown: San Diego

High school: Rancho Bernardo High School, 2004

Major: Economics

Most memorable moment: Breaking a minute in the 100 backstroke.

Most embarrassing sports moment: My goggles fell off in a 200 backstroke race in college.

Role model: Jesus Christ

Person most influential in your athletic success: Steve Marksbury (cub swimming coach)

Last good book you read: Perelandra

Favorite movie: Remember the Titans

Can’t miss television shows: Law and Order: CI

Favorite vacation spot: Hawaii

Favorite food: Sweet potatoes

Best advice anyone has given you: Speed  in the butterfly is distance over the water.

Pre-game ritual or superstition: A long warm-up

What’s in your CD player/iPOD? Jars of Clay

Other hobbies: Sewing

What do you want to be doing in five years?: Working on public policy research in Washington.

The University of La Verne women's basketball team is all alone in first place in the SCIAC standings after defeating the University of Redlands 71-61 Saturday at Currier Gym in Redlands.

Both squads came into the contest tied atop the SCIAC with respective 5-0 records. The Leopards, who trailed 36-33 at the half, outscored Redlands 38-25 in the final 20 minutes to claim victory and snap the Bulldogs' eight-game win streak.

La Verne (13-4, 6-0 SCIAC) pulled away down the stretch getting key baskets from Trenecca Jones, Marissa Raya and Emily Carrillo. The biggest shot, however, came from point guard Lindsey Shiomi, who sank a three-point basket with under two minutes left to help secure the win. The Leopards shot 51.7% from the field in the second half.

The Leopards also hit 10 three-point field goals and forced 17 Bulldog turnovers. La Verne also held Redlands to 3-of-16 shooting (18.8%) from three-point range.

Jones posted her ninth double-double of the season with game-highs of 22 points and 10 rebounds. Ashley Paul connected on five three-point baskets en route to 15 points, while Carrillo and Raya added 13 and 10 points, respectively. Carrillo finished a perfect 6-of-6 from the field.

Redlands (12-4, 5-1 SCIAC) used an 11-2 run late in the first half to lead by three at the break. The Bulldogs were successful in the early going getting several buckets off Leopard turnovers. Mackenzie Smith tallied 12 points for Redlands while Laura Murphy chipped in with 10.

ULV returns to action next Thursday as it makes the short trip to Claremont to take on the Athenas of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. Tip time is 7:30 pm.

KELLY GOERES

University of Redlands

Swimming

The lowdown: The sophomore has been a key performer for the Bulldogs in the sprint freestyle and relay events. Posted a second-place finish in the 50 free (26.62) and was part of the winning 200 medley relay in last weekend’s 164-71 win over Occidental. Is coming off a stellar freshman campaign in which she qualified for the NCAA Championships as a member of the 200 free, 400 free, 800 free and 200 medley relay teams. Contributed as a member of the Redlands record-holding 400 free relay team (3:32.19) at the SCIAC championships. Also helped the 200 medley relay (1:50.47) and 800 free relays (7:48.37) to second places. Individually she  won the 100 free (52.72) while taking second in the 200 free (1:56.37) and fourth in the 200 IM (2:11.64).

Age: 19

Hometown: Tigard, Ore.

High school: 2006

Major: Biology (chemistry minor)

Favorite athlete: Michael Phelps

Favorite team: Denver Broncos

Role model: My mom and dad

Can’t miss TV show: Amazing Race, So You Think You Can Dance

Most embarrassing moment: There are way too many.

Most memorable sports moment: Touching out another girl at SCIACs last year to win the 100 by 0.02 seconds, hearing my team scream Och Tamale as I stood on the podium and then getting a hug from coach who told me I missed the school record by another 0.02 seconds.

Person most influential in your athletic success: Andy Carlisle (my coach from home). He has been my coach since I joined my club team when I was 12.

Celebrity you most want to meet: Shia LaBrouf

Favorite food: Seafood aldredo

Favorite movie: The Sound of Music (It’s a classic)

Last good book you read: Pride and Prejudice

What’s in your CD player/iPod: Augustana, Colbie Caillat, Tyrone Wells, My Chemical Romance and the Hairspray soundtrack.

Other hobbies: Napping, eating, reading and watching movies.

Favorite vacation spot: Any of the Hawaiian Islands

Best advice anyone has given you: Make sure you love yourself before you try to love someone else.

Pre-game ritual or superstition: I stand on the block and clap my hands six times (my favorite number). It started when I was in middle school and was swimming on a club team. I thought every athlete had to have some sort of thing to be successful.

What would you like to be doing in five years: I would love to be going to dental school. I am looking at schools in Oregon, California, Colorado and Washington.

The All-American Football Foundation honored Head Coach Mike Maynard and Offensive Coordinator Jeff Thomas with individual awards at the 89th Banquet of Champions on December 20, 2007, in Las Vegas, NV.  Maynard received the Johnny Vaught Head Coach Award while Thomas earned the Mike Campbell Top Assistant Coach Award for Small Colleges.

In 20 years at the helm of Bulldog football, Maynard owns an overall career mark of 121-62 and an 88-24 record against Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) foes.  His teams have won 10 conference championships while making five NCAA playoff appearances.  During the 2007 campaign, he led the Bulldogs to an 8-2 overall record with a 5-1 SCIAC mark, resulting in a share of the conference title and a spot at the NCAA Championships.

In 2005, Maynard was inducted into the Bulldog Bench Intercollegiate Athletic Hall of Fame for his coaching success and contributions.  In 1999, the University of Redlands recognized Maynard for his involvement and leadership with the prestigious Frank J. Rice Memorial Award for Community Service.  After guiding Redlands to its first SCIAC title in 10 years and its first-ever postseason berth, Maynard was named the 1990 American Football Coaches Association West Region Coach of the Year.

“I join the All-American Football Foundation in applauding and recognizing Coach Maynard’s work as a head coach and educator,” commented Director of Athletics Jeff Martinez. “The University is fortunate to have him on staff as a faculty member and head coach, and it is outstanding that he has been recognized among his peers.”

Following a standout playing career at the University of Redlands, Thomas has served as an assistant coach for the Bulldogs since 2003.  He became the Offensive Coordinator in 2007 and immediately made an impact.  Under his direction, the 2007 Bulldogs earned more than twice the number of points per game and nearly 75 more first downs than their opponents.  In addition, the Bulldogs established a new school record for total offense in a single game with 667 yards against Whittier College.

“In just his first season as the Offensive Coordinator, Coach Thomas did an excellent job of building and bringing our offense together,” stated Maynard.  “Redlands’ record-setting offense was a direct result of the expertise and hard work of Coach Thomas, the offensive coaching staff, and our amazing players.  It pleases me that he has received this recognition, which he so deserves.”

Thomas originally worked with the Redlands receivers and tight ends during the 2003 season.  He moved into a full-time assistant position in 2004 and coached the defensive backs and special teams.

By Michelle Gardner

Staff writer

The cast of players might have changed, but the road to a SCIAC championship in men’s basketball is probably still going through Occidental College.

The Tigers (10-1) are ranked No. 21 in the NCAA D3hoops national poll heading into conference play, which starts today. The Tigers have company in that select group as conference foe Cal Lutheran (10-1) is ranked for the first time at No. 24.

So the four area teams will face a formidable challenge. Three of the four teams will be at home for their openers tonight, with Redlands (5-6) hosting Caltech (1-9), much-improved La Verne (6-5) at Pomona-Pitzer (5-5) and Occidental (10-1) traveling to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (6-5).

“They (Occidental) had some seniors last year, but I think people are realizing now that their supporting players from last year are better than people realized,” Pomona-Pitzer coach Charlie Katsiaficas said. “Those guys have stepped up in more significant roles this year, and they’re off to a great start.”

Among the departed Tigers is 2006-07 Player of the Year Sam Betty. Senior guard Connor Whitman has picked up where Betty left off, averaging a conference-best 19.4 points a game. The Tigers also inherited a 6-foot-10 sophomore in UC Riverside transfer Sean Anderson.

Occidental already has a big victory in hand, beating Plattsburgh State (N.Y.), ranked in the Top 25 at the time. Cal Lutheran got an even bigger one, beating then-No. 3 Wisconsin Stevens Point.

“Those games show what those teams are capable of,” Katsiaficas said. “You have to look at those two teams as the favorites.”

The Sagehens, led by steady senior Jabarri Reynolds, have won three of their past four games.
“We have put together a few solid games, so it is nice to have some momentum going into conference,” Katsiaficas said.

All four area teams are within a game of .500, with the most surprising being La Verne, now under the direction of former player Richard Reed. The Leopards already have won more games than they did all of last season and tuned up for their conference debut with a victory over La Sierra on Wednesday.

The biggest question mark in the conference is the University of Redlands. The Bulldogs are in transition, with Jim Ducey taking over from the retired Gary Smith. With that change comes a new style of play as the Bulldogs go from up-tempo to a more conventional set offense.

So no one is quite sure where the Bulldogs will factor in since they haven’t played a traditional game with their current personnel. Ducey said he met with the team when he first was given the job and informed his players they would be returning to a more normal game.

“No one was really surprised,” Ducey said. “I don’t think they expected me to run what they had been running.”
Ducey is keeping a busy schedule since spring sports have started; he also directs the women’s tennis team. But he still has found a way to scout his upcoming opponents.

“I have seen every team play at least twice. Every team has got some weapons, so it should be interesting,” he said. “We have progressed pretty much as I thought we would. We’re not as good as we can be, but we’re getting better.”

The Stags have been on the winning side of some close games — four of their six victories have come by a total of 14 points, the most recent being a two-point decision over La Sierra on Monday.

Like the women, the men will hold a conference tournament at the end of the season. The winner earns the automatic playoff berth that had previously gone to the regular-season champion.

By Michelle Gardner

Try and tell University of La Verne women’s basketball coach Julie Kline that her team is the favorite to repeat as SCIAC champion. She doesn’t want to hear it. It doesn’t matter that she didn’t have a senior a year ago, or the returning cast includes reigning conference Player of the Year Trenecca Jones. The veteran coach doesn’t want the burden of that kind of pressure.

“I don’t like that label,” she said. “It’s a new year. Teams are different. No one is giving us anything. We have to go out and earn it again.”

Practice games are over. The eight teams start their conference schedules tonight. The Leopards (7-4) will have their hands full as Occidental (7-3) makes a visit to Frantz Athletic Court at 7:30.

Other local teams will be in action as Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (1-9) travels to Redlands (7-3) and Pomona-Pitzer (1-9) hits the road for a game at Cal Lutheran (4-5).

Kline has seen most of the other teams play and said her team will be challenged, starting with tonight’s opponent. Occidental is led by Western Kentucky transfer Brianne Brown and Stacie Roshon, whose 17.8 scoring average is second among conference players.

“Occidental did a great job of recruiting and they’re going to be very tough,” Kline said. “And Cal Lutheran beat Chapman, which none of the rest of us have done. We lost to them twice.”

La Verne returns four key starters in Jones, senior guards Melissa Raya and Lindsey Shiomi and sophomore forward Emily Carrillo. Senior forward Leslie Elrod drew several starts last year but freshman Ashley Paul has worked her way into the lineup. Raya leads the conference in scoring (18 ppg) and scored her 1,000th career point last month.

Only three teams head into conference play with winning records; the other is Redlands. The Bulldogs are directed by first-year coach Rich Murphy. He is replacing Jim Ducey, who now is coaching the men’s team.
Murphy, previously an assistant at Division II Humboldt State, isn’t sure what to expect but said that doesn’t matter.

“I have seen a couple teams in person and seen a couple others on film and I think we can compete,” he said. “But I’m not worried about other teams. I am more concerned with what we’re doing because that is the only thing we can control.”

Redlands, which won its last three nonconference games, does have an easier schedule in the early going. Its first three games are against teams that have won a combined four games.

The Bulldogs are led by steady senior guard Valarie Katayama and sophomore forward Meghan Yetman.

Claremont-Mudd-Scripps always has challenged in years past but is going through a transition. All-conference post player Cameron Hanson is out with a torn knee ligament. The Athenas also lost two players who went to study abroad and one who chose not to play. Count two others who graduated, and coach Jodie Burton is without six key players from a year ago.

“We have already gotten better in a short time but we’re going to take our lumps,” she said. “I have never quite had a year like this. To win a championship, you have to be lucky, not just good and we haven’t gotten a break.”

The SCIAC, like many other sports, is going to hold a conference tournament at the end of the basketball season that will determine the automatic qualifier for the NCAA Division III playoffs instead of the regular-season champion advancing.

La Verne would appear to be one of the teams with the most to lose, but Kline is taking the change in the playoff system in stride.

“We’ll see how it plays out because I might change my mind,” she said. “The season should count for something, but it is also good to have the team that is playing best at the time go on.”

Murphy agreed.

“It is what it is. We know what we have to do,” he said. “If we’re good enough, then we’re good enough.”

Men’s basketball teams kick off conference play on Saturday with all eight teams in action.

By Michelle Gardner

Staff Writer

REDLANDS — The teacher taught the students well. Maybe a little too well.
The University of Redlands posted a 108-100 nonconference win over visiting Grinnell College Sunday at Currier Gymnasium.

The contest marked the return of former coach Gary Smith, who directed the Bulldogs for 27 years but is now a volunteer assistant at Grinnell, a Division III school in Iowa.

Under Smith, the Bulldogs adopted a run-and-gun offense that produced a national scoring record of 132.4 points per game in 2005-2006.

Grinnell actually ran that system first and led the country in scoring for 11 straight years before Redlands broke its record.

Redlands (5-6) runs a more traditional offense now under Smith’s successor Jim Ducey, but that didn’t make Sunday’s game, arranged by Smith before he retired, less interesting.

Smith was acknowledged before the game to a standing ovation. He was greeted by several friends and former players right up until tipoff and remained in the gym long after the finals seconds ticked off the clock.
He admitted it felt different standing on a court that bears his name as a visitor.

“It was a little bit surreal,” he said. “You think once the game starts you can put that out of your mind. But then you see (Dave) Thomas, (Daniel) Markus, (Matt) Loretz, guys you coached. It does pull at you.”
Appropriately enough the game was tied at 48 at the half, with Dave Thomas completing a 3-point play in the closing seconds.

Grinnell’s last lead came at 82-81 with 8:25 to play, but Thomas nailed a 3-pointer, the only one for Redlands, to give the Bulldogs an 84-82 edge.

The host team led by as many as 13 at 102-89 with 2:36 to go. The Pioneers (8-2) got closer with three 3s but Redlands secured the game at the free-throw line, with Thomas making two and Patrick Coffey hitting 4-of-4 over the last minute.

“We never thought the game was over,” said Thomas, who played for Smith for three years in the uptempo offense. “We know how fast a 10-point lead can go away.”

Ducey said his team didn’t do much to prepare for Grinnell, although it likely helped that his players knew what to expect, having played that system themselves.

“We worked for 15 to 20 minutes a day on our press break but that was about it,” Ducey said. “As much as we wanted to win this game, we have conference play coming up and none of the other teams we’re going to be facing play like this. We were more worried about that than this one game.”
Smith and Ducey both credited Redlands assistant Donald Brady with coming up with the game plan. Brady played in the offense under Smith and coached with him after he graduated.
The Bulldogs’ strategy was to go with the tempo, but kick the ball back out if no high-percentage shot was available.

The Bulldogs scored 82 points in the paint to 22  for Grinnell. Redlands also benefited from a huge 49-30 lead on the boards with Loretz and Matt Dietrich snagging 10 each.

“We didn’t think that just running with them would work,” he said. “We were going to take the easy shot if we had a fast break or even a 2-on-1 but if it wasn’t there we didn’t want to force it. That is what the teams that beat us would do.”

Redlands shot 67.2 percent (43-for-64) and were led by Loretz with 25 and Daniel Markus with 16. Dan Selway had 13 points and eight assists.
Grinnell shot 41.5 percent (34-for-82), including 21-for-52 from long distance. John Grotberg managed his season average of 30 points and was 8-for-20 from long distance.

“It was great to see coach Smith again and it was fun to run that offense,” Thomas said. “But it is also nice to go back to more normal basketball.”

It was announced late last month that the University of Redlands men’s water polo team gained two members on the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) All-American First Team.  Senior center Ryan Hall (Bellevue, WA) and junior driver Andrew Becskehazy (Surfside, FL) gained the honor after helping the Bulldogs earn a solid sixth-place finish at the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) Championships with an overall record of 22-14.

Hall concludes his impressive career at Redlands with his fourth-consecutive First Team selection.  He finished the 2007 season with a team-leading 52 goals, ranking 37^th in the nation, while also topping his teammates as the best defensive player with 53 steals and 32 ejections drawn.  In addition, Hall was the only Redlands competitor to receive WWPA All-Tournament accolades with his spot on the Second Team.

After three stellar seasons with the Bulldogs, Becskehazy stepped into the spotlight in 2007 with his inaugural All-American award.  He notched 39 goals to go along with a team-leading 33 assists, which helped Redlands rank eighth in the nation offensively.  Becskehazy also garnered 31 steals and 18 ejections drawn on defense, revealing his well-rounded abilities.

In addition, Bulldog senior driver Tony Rona (Mercer Island, WA) and sophomore center Brendan Meaney (Palm Desert, CA) were also recognized as Honorable Mentions.

For a complete list of the ACWPC All-American teams, please log onto www.collegewaterpolocoach.org.