Class of 2007 transformed Whitworth athletics

Growing up on campus, I’ve witnessed many exciting moments in Whitworth sports. But most have come in the last four years.

This graduating class of 2007 has helped transform sports at Whitworth from the occasional great team (i.e. 1996 men’s basketball team, for whom I can still recite the whole roster), to a consistent tradition of powerhouse sports teams.

For example, maybe the most exciting sports event I’ve been to in my lifetime was the Elite Eight soccer game held here in 2005. The men’s team, led in part by current seniors Kevin Bostock, Niko Varlamos and Ali Seyedali, fielded a charging comeback on Trinity to tie the game up at 1-1, heading to OT. This, of course, would not have happened without Bostock’s point-blank save late in the game or then-redshirt junior, now senior, Chris Johnson’s late goal to tie the game.

The rest was history as Todd Sabrowski sealed the deal, scoring the decisive sudden-death goal to send the team to the Final Four and an eventual third place finish.

Or take the football team, whose senior leadership from Joel Clark, Michael Allan and Steve Honeyman, to name a few, led the Pirates to our first ever 10-0 season. First ever. In 100 years. And now Allan is playing for the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL.

Or cross country where Jeff Grassley’s consistency provided leadership for the younger runners, or where Julie Lauterbach’s quiet, yet dominating performance also provided a spark. Lauterbach, if you recall, even raced one of the biggest meets of her life barefoot.

Women’s soccer would have one of the best senior classes in history if not for injury, but Nicole Starkey, Megan Johnson and Katy Jones, all starters or significant role players, is still a lot to lose.

The senior class in basketball is probably one of the best, if not the best, in college history. Bryan Williams’ steady and dominating performance was Steve Nash-like. He scored when he had to, but he mostly set up teammates. And, oh yeah, he was named the MVP. Jon Young’s sharpshooting, James Jones’ consistency and his ability to step up in big games (just look at his 2005-06 stats against nationally-ranked UPS) and Kevin Hasenfus’ ability to dominate the paint and boards let to a record-breaking season.

Lindsay Davis’ ability to hit home runs (and occasionally grand slams) will be sorely missed on the softball diamond and the tennis team will miss Michael Carlson’s consistency. No matter who we were playing, we knew we had a chance in Carlson’s match.

Rachael McCoola was All-NWC for tennis her senior year, while current senior Katie Troxell was All-NWC her freshman year.

In all this senior class has been a part of eight NWC Championship teams, including 10 nationally-ranked teams. They’ve hosted national championship tournament games. They’ve produced three All-Americans, three NWC MVP’s (a fourth was injured and redshirted a year), had nine First Team All-NWC selections and another 11 were named Second Team. This senior class has helped produce eight NWC Championships and many more runner ups. This senior class helped Whitworth win our first All-Sports trophy ever and has led Whitworth to two runner-up performances since.

Needless to say, this class has been one for the ages. I’m privileged to be part of it.