Yote Notes – Jan. 23, 2007

Mike Safford Jr. – Sports Info. Director

msafford@collegeofidaho.edu

 

 

 

 

 

 

ATHLETIC NEWS:

 

C-TOWN FIGHT NIGHT RETURNS: After great success last year, both the ACI baseball team and the Caldwell High football team have joined forces again for the Second-Annual C-Town Fight Night.  The amateur boxing event will take place at O’Connor Fieldhouse on February 7, with the first bout set for 7 p.m.  Tickets are currently on sale – for tickets, call Josh Hegstad at 459-5862, or by email at jhegstad@collegeofidaho.edu.

 

HALL OF FAME SET FOR FEBRUARY 3: A former runner, a former coach, and a national championship winning team will be inducted into the ACI Athletic Hall of Fame, during ceremonies set for Feb. 3 on the Caldwell campus.  Northwest Conference champion sprinter Bernie Hamilton and longtime baseball coach Tim Mooney will become the 30th and 31st individuals in the ACI Athletic Hall of Fame, with the 1995-96 Men’s Basketball Team joining two other squads in the exclusive group.  Festivities will begin with a 12:30 p.m. induction luncheon, sponsored by Wendy’s, in the Simplot Dining Hall.  A special ceremony will also take place that evening at halftime of the men’s basketball game vs. Cascade College. To reserve tickets to the Wendy’s Hall of Fame luncheon, contact Dave Hahn at (208) 459-5835, or by email at dhahn@collegeofidaho.edu.

 

INDOOR TRACK, TENNIS, BASEBALL, SOFTBALL INCHING CLOSER: The Coyote indoor track team is set to open their slate Saturday at the University of Washington Indoor, while the baseball and women’s tennis teams will open regular-season play the weekend of Feb. 10-11 (with the softball team hosting an exhibition game against the College of Southern Idaho).

 

TAILGATE PARTY: The ACI Alumni Office will be holding a tailgate party prior to the Coyote basketball games vs. Warner Pacific on Friday, Feb. 2.  To RSVP, contact Mary Bitner at 459-5300.

 

MEN’S BASKETBALL (15-3, 9-2 CCC): No. 9 ranked Yotes complete 4-0 homestand, head to Puget Sound region to meet Northwest and Evergreen State

 

COMING UP: at No. 20 Northwest, Friday, 7:30 p.m. (PST); at Evergreen State, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. (PST)

 

LAST WEEK: vs. Corban (W 95-87), vs. Concordia (W 87-81).

 

RADIO / INTERNET BROADCAST: All regular-season men’s basketball games will be broadcast live in the Treasure Valley on 1490 KCID-AM, the “Home of the Coyotes.”  Mike Safford will have all the action this weekend on the Home of the Coyotes, 1490 KCID-AM – America’s Best Music.  Both games are women’s-men’s doubleheaders, with airtime set for 6:10 p.m. (MST)  Each game is also carried live on the Internet via the ACI athletic website at www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/caa/radio.htm.

 

NO LIVE STATS: Both Northwest and Evergreen State do not provide Live Stats.

 

COYOTES CLINCH PLAYOFF SPOT: With their win against Concordia on Saturday night, the ACI men’s basketball team clinched its tenth-consecutive berth in the Cascade Conference postseason tournament, set to begin on Feb. 21.  The Yotes have won the CCC postseason title four times (in 1996, 2001, 2003, and 2004) – with the team posting a 12-3 mark in tourney play under Mark Owen.

 

ATTENDANCE TOPS THE CCC (AND THE BIG SCHOOLS?): So far this season, the Coyotes have averaged 1,607 fans a game – the highest average attendance in the Cascade Conference.  ACI average is nearly 400 more fans than the University of Idaho draws per night (1,211), and double that of Canyon County rival, Northwest Nazarene (804).  In fact, the Yotes biggest draw of the year (2,300 against Oregon Tech) was bigger than Boise State’s home date with Montana State, more than three different Idaho State home games, and bigger than any crowd at the U of I this season.  In fact, the largest crowd to watch a basketball game in Idaho (prior to the BSU-Hawaii game on Saturday) was the ACI-NNU exhibition on Nov. 2, when 4,852 fans watched the Yotes top the Crusaders, 88-80.

 

HOME SWEET HOME: The big crowds have helped make the J.A. Albertson Activities Center one of the toughest gyms in the Northwest to play.  Since the facility opened in 1991, ACI has posted a 174-39 all-time record on its hardwood (.817 win percentage), including a 99-24 mark in CCC play (.805 percentage).

 

THE MOVE TO NO. 9: Fueled by an upset of Oregon Tech ten days ago, the Coyotes jumped five spots in last week’s NAIA Division II national poll, moving into the Top-10 for the first time this season, settling at No. 9.  ACI has maintained its perfect mark in the NAIA Division II, as the Yotes have been ranked at least once in the Top-25 every season since the NAIA split into two divisions in 1991 (The Coyotes were the very first No. 1 ranked team in the NAIA Division II, topping the initial poll during the 1991-92 season). The Cascade Conference had five teams in the Top-25 – Warner Pacific ranked No. 4, Oregon Tech at No. 12, Eastern Oregon at No. 17, and Northwest at No. 20.  It was the first time in loop history that five CCC teams were in the NAIA Top-20.

 

18-STRAIGHT YEARS: For the last 18 years, the ACI men’s basketball team has been in the Top-25 at least once each season – including all seven years under Mark Owen. The following are the high-water mark each season since Coach “O” has been at the helm

 

2000-01                         No. 24              2001-02                         No. 8                2002-03                         No. 15

2003-04                         No. 3                2004-05                         No. 5                2005-06                         No. 16

2006-07                         No. 9

 

YOTES SECOND IN CCC POLL: By sweeping their weekend set, the Coyotes remained at No. 2 in the latest CCC coaches’ poll.  Unbeaten Warner Pacific continues to hold the top spot, followed by ACI.  Oregon Tech is third, followed by Eastern Oregon, Northwest, and Southern Oregon.  The coaches’ poll is released each Monday morning, with the NAIA Top-25 poll released each Wednesday afternoon

 

CAREER NUMBERS: Three different Coyotes are currently climbing the career record book lists.  Josh Owen (Caldwell, Idaho / Vallivue HS) currently ranks No. 3 in free throw percentage (.868, 158-of-182 attempts), is No. 4 all-time in three-point field goals made (162) and attempted (420), is No. 5 in three-pointers made (159), and is in the Top-15 in steals (106) and assists (200).  The junior needs just 72 points to become the 15th ACI player to record 1,000 points in his career.  Senior Brandon Nielsen (Twin Falls, Idaho / Big Bend CC) is No. 10 in three-point attempts (330) and is in the Top-15 in three-pointers made (118), while fellow senior, Ike Stafford (Auburn, Wash. / Salt Lake CC) is in the Top-15 in three-pointers made (126) and attempted (276).

 

NORTHWEST LOOKS FOR SWEEP: ACI will put their 3-1 road mark in CCC play on the line this weekend, opening a road swing in the Puget Sound region with a Friday tilt at Northwest.  The No. 20 ranked Eagles (16-7, 6-5 CCC)have played well at home this season, recording an 8-2 mark in the cozy Northwest Pavilion, including four-straight.  NU is coming off a pair of road losses at Southern Oregon and Oregon Tech, but look to top ACI in Kirkland for the fifth-straight time (dating back to the 2003-04 season).  John Van Dyke’s club is paced by Aaron Sawyer (17.3 ppg, 8.2 rpg), who had 36 points and 12 rebounds in the loss Saturday at OIT, outside gunner Chris Keller (13.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg), and post Stephen Ishmael (13.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg) – and defeated the Yotes, 87-85 in late December.  It is the 23rd all-time meeting between the teams, with ACI holding a 14-8 edge, dating back to 1998.

 

EVERGREEN LOOKING FOR 40 MINUTES OF SOLID PLAY: Saturday, the Yotes head to Evergreen State, as the host Geoducks (7-15, 3-8) look to play 40 minutes of action against ACI.  The Greeners played the Coyotes even for 30 minutes in their first meeting this season, only to watch ACI use a 36-8 second half run – which included four ESC technical fouls, to runaway with a 111-87 victory.  ESC has lost eight of their last nine games, including a 72-60 setback tonight at Northwest Christian – but two of the losses were by two points or less.  Adam Moore (21.0 ppg, 5.2 rpg) is one of the more athletic players in the league, and is complemented by shooting guard Greg Shadowvine (14.8 ppg, 2.5 apg).  It is the 17th meeting between the teams, with ACI holding a 12-4 edge, including a 5-1 mark in Olympia.

 

CONFERENCE LEADERS: Scoring Average – Scott O’Gallagher (WPC) 24.0, Adam Moore (ESC) 21.0, Alex Hartman (CU) 18.7, Josh Jackson (WPC) 18.7, Ike Stafford (ACI) 18.4; Rebound Average – Paul Carollo (EOU) 9.1, Joshua Wetzler (OIT) 8.3, Aaron Sawyer (NU) 8.2, Jalonta Martin (WPC) 7.2, Tayo Cotton (CAS) 7.0; Field Goal Percentage – Derek Brown (EOU) .684, Craig McGee (ACI) .602, Erion Moore (SOU) .599, Carollo .594, Neil Fryer (EOU) .586; Assist Average – Levell Hesia (OIT) 5.3, Jeremy Templeton (EOU) 4.8, Jesse Alvarez (CU) 4.7, Dwain Hicks (ESC) 4.6, O’Gallagher 4.4.

 

AMONG THE LEAGUE LEADERS: As a team, the Coyotes lead the Cascade Conference in four statistical categories – steals per game (13.8), three-pointers made per game (11.3), turnovers forced per game (24.7) and turnover margin (+9.1).  Individually, Ike Stafford leads the loop in three-pointers made per game (3.6), while ranking No. 4 in free throw percentage (.826), and No. 5 in both steals per game (1.7) and scoring average (18.6).  Josh Owen leads the league in steals per game (2.5), is second in the league in three’s made per game (2.8), and is third in free throw percentage (.833). Also among the league leaders are Brandon Nielsen, who is seventh in three-pointers made per game (2.3), Bryan Champ (Boise, Idaho / Borah HS), who is second in steals per game (2.3), Craig McGee (Boise, Idaho / Centennial HS), who is second in field goal percentage (.602), sixth in blocks per game (0.8), and seventh in rebounds per game (6.7), and Donnel Garner (Scottsdale, Ariz. / Chaparral HS), who is fourth in steals per game (1.9).

 

ON THE NATIONAL FRONT: As a team, the Yotes lead the NAIA Division II in turnover margin, ranking second in both three-pointers made per game and steals per game, and third in scoring average.  Individually, Ike Stafford ranks second in the NAIA in three-pointers made per game and Josh Owen is sixth in steals per game.

 

SLUGGISH COYOTES TOP CORBAN: Five ACI players scored in double figures, as the No. 9 ranked Coyotes defeated Corban College, 95-87, Friday in the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.  The Yotes, who trailed 16-8 early in the game, used a 16-2 run to close the opening half to take a 51-38 to the locker room.  ACI would lead by as many as 16 in the second half, only to watch Corban cut the margin to 84-78 with five minutes remaining.  However, Ike Stafford drained his third of four three's on the night, putting the game out of reach.  Stafford led the Yotes with 21 points, with Josh Owen adding 15.  Craig McGee had 14 points and nine rebounds, J.R. Maggard (Caldwell, Idaho / Vallivue HS) had 11 points and nine boards, and Brandon Nielsen added 11 points.

 

YOTES NOTCH KEY WIN VS. CONCORDIA: All five Coyote starters scored in double figures as ACI completed a sweep of their four-game homestand with an 87-81 victory over Concordia Saturday night.  ACI broke a 32-32 tie at the 4:10 mark of the first half with an 11-0 run, to take their biggest lead of the opening period.  However, Jim Bertelson hit his fifth three-pointer of the period at the horn to pull the Cavaliers within 43-39.  The Coyotes would score the first six points of the second half and CU would not get closer than four points the rest of the game.  Brandon Nielsen led all players with 20 points, with Josh Owen adding 17 for the victors.  Ike Stafford had 13 points and six rebounds, Craig McGee had ten points and seven rebounds, while Bryan Champ recorded his first collegiate double-double, scoring ten points and grabbing a career-high 11 rebounds.

 

MORE INFORMATION ON THE COYOTES: For game stories, statistics, and information regarding the ACI men’s basketball program, head to the official site Coyote Basketball: www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/mensbasketball.htm.

 

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (14-6, 10-1 CCC): No. 25 Lady Yotes take two-game lead on road to Northwest and Evergreen State

 

COMING UP: at Northwest, Friday, 5:30 p.m. (PST); at Evergreen State, Saturday, 5:30 p.m. (PST)

 

LAST WEEK: vs. Corban (L 101-88), vs. Concordia (W 74-61)

 

RADIO/INTERNET BROADCAST: All Cascade Conference women’s road games will be broadcast live in the Treasure Valley on 1490 KCID-AM with Mike Safford calling the play-by-play.  Each of the remaining seven games will also be carried live on the Internet, via the ACI athletic website (www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/caa/radio.htm).  Air time for this weekend’s radio broadcasts will be at 6:10 p.m. (MST), with tip-off scheduled for 6:30 p.m. (MST) 

 

NO LIVE STATS: Both Northwest and Evergreen State do not provide Live Stats.

 

LADY YOTES WITH TWO-GAME LEAD WITH FOUR WEEKS LEFT: The ACI women’s basketball team saw their win streak end at nine on Friday night, but maintained their two-game lead in the Cascade Conference standings.  The Lady Yotes hold a two-game edge on Corban, Oregon Tech, and Eastern Oregon – with seven games remaining.  The 10-1 start by the Coyotes is their best start in league play in school history.

 

PLAYOFFS AGAIN FOR THE LADY YOTES: ACI clinched a spot in the CCC postseason tournament with its win Saturday vs. Concordia, and has now advanced to the CCC tourney in 11 of the 12 seasons since women’s basketball was reinstated at the College in 1995.  The Coyotes have advanced to three NAIA Division II tournaments (1998 – first round, 2000 – quarterfinals, 2001 – championship game), but have never won a CCC postseason tournament (advanced to the finals in 2000, 2002, and 2005).

 

NEXT HOME WIN A MILESTONE FOR LADY YOTES: Playing at home has always been a big key for the Lady Yotes, as ACI has posted a 99-41 all-time record in the J.A. Albertson Activities Center – needing just one wins to reach the coveted 100-win plateau on their home floor.  This year’s team has excelled in Caldwell, with a 9-2 record at home.

 

TOP DRAWING WOMEN’S PROGRAM IN IDAHO: Through last weekend, the Lady Yotes have averaged more fans per game than any other women’s basketball program in Idaho.  ACI is averaging 886 fans a night, with four-straight games with 1,000-or-more fans.  Idaho State is the closest Gem State school to the Yotes, averaging 836 fans a night in Reed Gym – and is the only other Idaho school to have at least 1,000 fans see a women’s game.  Boise State (630), Idaho (475), and Northwest Nazarene (273) fall well below the bar ACI has set.

 

BACK IN THE NATIONAL POLL: For the first time since 2001, the Lady Yotes earned a spot in the NAIA Division II national rankings, sitting in the No. 25 spot in last week’s poll.  It is the first Top-25 ranking for ACI since the preseason poll during the 2001-02 season.  The Coyotes have previously been ranked as high as No. 4 in the nation - that coming in January of 2001, as ACI ended the season as the national runner-up.  Indiana Wesleyan was the unanimous No. 1 team, followed by Ozarks (Mo.), MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.), Cedarville (Ohio), and Bethel (Ind.). 

 

YOTES HOLD TOP SPOT IN CCC POLL: For the fourth-straight week, the Lady Yotes hold the top spot in the Cascade Conference weekly coaches’ poll.  ACI was the unanimous No. 1 team for the third-straight week, earning seven first-place votes (three teams did not vote).  They are followed by Corban, Oregon Tech, Eastern Oregon, Southern Oregon, and Northwest rounding out the top-six.  The CCC poll will be released each Monday and the NAIA national poll on Wednesday’s for the remainder of the regular-season.

  

SCORING PACKS A PUNCH: Through 20 games this season, the Lady Yotes lead the CCC in scoring offense, averaging 74.2 points per game – upping that to 77.9 points a night in league play.  ACI has already scored 70-or-more points in a game 15 times this season, going over the 80-point mark six times.  During the 2004-05 and the 2005-06 seasons – the Coyotes managed just nine 70-point games in each year.  The most 70-point games in a season by an ACI team is 19 – set by both the 1999-2000 and 2000-01 clubs.  Interestingly, the 1996-97 team, which holds the school record for scoring average in a season (73.4), had only 14 70-point games.

 

STEALING FRENZY: As a team, the Yotes lead the CCC and the NAIA Division II in steals per game (18.1), with the 361steals just 25 off the current school record, set in 2005. A staggering number is the fact that nine different ACI players have recorded 25-or-more steals this season – while a total of 21 other players from the nine other conference teams have accomplished the same.

 

CAN THE YOTES WIN TWO-STRAIGHT AT NORTHWEST?: Friday night, the Lady Yotes begin a string of five of their final seven games on the road, traveling to Northwest.  Last season, ACI ended a three-game losing streak in the Northwest Pavilion with a 67-63 win – and will try to win back-to-back games in Kirkland, Wash., for the first time this decade.  The Eagles (9-14, 4-7 CCC) have lost three of their last four games, but have a solid 6-2 record at home this season.  NU is led by forwards Kim Sandberg (11.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg), and Sam McCracken (10.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg), and guard Brittany Bowsher (10.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg) – part of an offensive that is averaging 68 points a game.  It is the 25th all-time meeting between the teams, with ACI holding a 19-5 edge (dating back to 1996), including an 86-65 win in December.

 

IN THE LAND OF THE GREENERS: ACI will make the trip down Interstate 5 on Saturday, meeting Evergreen State in Olympia.  The Geoducks (4-16, 2-9) had lost 11 of their last 12 games prior to Tuesday night, when they knocked off Northwest Christian, 57-46, in Eugene, Ore.  Evergreen has struggled offensively all season, averaging just 53 points a game – and ranks last in the loop in free throw percentage (.603).  The Greeners are led by CCC Newcomer of the Year candidate Jennifer Solberg (12.3 ppg, 8.1 rpg) and 2006 All-CCC selection Jenny Olson (9.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg).  It is the 20th meeting between the teams, with ACI holding a 17-2 all-time series edge (since 1999), including a Lady Yote 88-63 victory in December.

 

CONFERENCE LEADERS: Scoring Average – Nicole Brown (WP) 18.1, Whitney Clark (ACI) 17.0, Christie Weaver (EOU) 15.5, Jessi Norton (CRB) 15.0, Jessica Steigleman (CRB) 14.5; Rebound Average – Te Awhina Arunui (CAS) 10.1, Jackie Spear (SOU) 8.9, Brianne Carras (CRB) 8.0, Jennifer Solberg (ESC) 7.9, Denise Hill (ACI) 7.6; Field Goal Percentage – Carras .576, Kelsey Richards (SOU) .547, Rebekah Johnson (NU) .541, Lindsey Diaz (CAS) .541, Tosha Wilson (CRB) .538; Assist Average – Whitney Leman (EOU) 5.6, Wilson 5.5, Chelsey Zimmerman (SOU) 4.8, Kelsi Haylett (OIT) 4.0, Lindsey Wells (WPC) 3.6.

 

AMONG THE LEAGUE LEADERS: As a team, the Lady Yotes lead the CCC in steals per game (18.1), turnover margin (+7.2), turnovers forced per game (29.1), and scoring average (74.2).  Individually, Whitney Clark (Jerome, Idaho / Northwest Nazarene U.) ranks second in the loop in scoring average (17.0), is third in free throw percentage (.824), is sixth in steals per game (2.4), and eighth in three-pointers per game (1.6), with Jori Grady (Roseburg, Ore. / Umpqua CC) ranking second in steals per game (2.9) and No. 9 in assists per game (2.9).  Christon Vander Esch (Grangeville, Idaho / Treasure Valley CC) ranks third in the CCC in blocked shots per game (1.1), and is seventh in rebounds per game (7.2) and steals per game (2.4).  Also among the league leaders are Denise Hill (Eugene, Ore. / Boise State U.), who is fifth in rebound average (7.6), and Savannah Ames (Skagway, Alaska / Skagway HS), who is fourth in three-point percentage (.397) and ninth in field goal percentage (.480).  In league-only counters, Clark leads the league in scoring average (19.6).

 

CAREER RECORDS: Both Whitney Clark and Jori Grady are inching up the ACI career record book as the 2006-07 season rolls on.  Clark currently ranks No. 5 all-time in three-pointers made (85) and attempted (266), is No. 6 in free throws made (182), is No. 9 in free throw attempts (231), and is No. 10 in points scored (677).  She is also climbing the ladder in field goals made (205) and attempted (522).  Grady is No. 8 in three-pointers made (62) and attempted (164), and is No. 9 in steals (108).  She is also closing in on the top-ten in points scored (656), field goals made (232) and attempted (520), free throws made (129) and attempted (191), and assists (145).

 

CORBAN ENDS YOTES RUN AT NINE: Jessi Norton scored 24 points and Corban College hit 65-percent of their field goal attempts, as the Warriors recorded the most points every by a women's team in J.A. Albertson Activities Center history, topping ACI, 101-88, on Friday night.  The 189 combined points were also a facility record, topping an ACI 97-90 win over Concordia in 1996.  Corban used a 13-0 run midway through the opening half to break a 19-19 deadlock and look a 46-40 lead at the break.  The Lady Yotes,who saw their nine-game win streak snapped, cut the margin to 73-70, with 9:04 left, but could not get closer, as the Warriors connected on 20-of-28 shots in the second half.  ACI was led by Whitney Clark, who scored a career-high 29 points, but went 0-for-8 from outside the arc.  Denise Hill had 17 points and 11 rebounds, with Jori Grady adding 15 points for the Yotes.

 

11-STRAIGHT OVER CONCORDIA: Whitney Clark scored a game-high 24 points and ACI forced 36 turnovers as the Lady Yotes defeated Concordia, 74-61, Saturday night.  Playing short-handed due to injuries, the Cavaliers played hard throughout, connecting on 7-of-10 shots early in the contest, grabbing a 16-8 edge.  ACI would fight back, using a 12-0 run to take the lead for good - building a 15-point second half lead.   The Coyote bench was a factor, outscoring the CU reserves, 35-4.  Whitney Owen (Caldwell, Idaho / Vallivue HS) and Whitney Martin (Paul, Idaho / Boise State U.) each had nine off the bench, while starter Jori Grady had eight points, seven rebounds, and five of ACI's 26 steals.  It was the 11th-straight win for the Lady Yotes over Concordia, dating back to the 2001-02 season.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For up-to-date statistics, stories, and information about the ACI women’s basketball team, head to the official website for the Lady Yotes – www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/wmensbasketball.htm.

 

ALPINE SKIING: Coyotes have outstanding season opener, lead NWCSC team and individual standings

 

LAST WEEK: at NWCSC Qualifier #1 (49-Degrees North) - Men (2nd - Saturday, 1st - Sunday), Women (2nd - Saturday, 2nd- Sunday)

 

COMING UP: at NWCSC Qualifier #2 (Slalom) - Saturday at Brundage Mountain, Sunday at Tamarack Resort

 

MEN HAVE OUTSTANDING OPENER: The ACI men's ski team had a great start to the 2007 season last weekend in Chewelah, Wash., as the Yotes had solid performances at 49-Degrees Resort.  Saturday saw ACI finish just one-second behind rival British Columbia for the team title - despite great runs from William Moss (Bountiful, Utah / Western State Coll.), Aaron Flynn (St. Paul, Minn. / Central HS), and Kevin Makinson (Richland, Wash. / Richland HS).  Moss finished second, Flynn fourth, and Makinson sixth on a difficult giant slalom course.  The Coyotes got their revenge on Sunday, dominating the two runs (by nearly 26 seconds) - with Flynn taking the overall title, Makinson, a close second, and Moss in fifth.

 

YOTES DOMINATE MEN'S STANDINGS: As a team, the Coyotes hold a 40-point lead over British Columbia after the first weekend of competition.  Same goes for the individual standings, as Flynn, Moss, and Makinson hold the Top-3 spots in the individual standings.

 

BULLARD LEADS LADY YOTE CHARGE: Facing stiff competition from Whitman College for the first time in five years, the ACI women took home second-place finishes as a team in both giant slalom events.  Saturday saw senior captain Molly Bullard (Boring, Ore. / Sandy HS) take home a fifth-place finish, with sophomore Nicki Maxwell (Belfry, Mont. / Red Lodge HS) in eighth, as the Yotes took the top NWCSC team points (Whitman was competing as a visitor - they compete in the NCAA Division I).  Sunday saw Bullard take home second overall - including the fastest second run of the day (male or female).  Maxwell placed ninth, with sophomore Jessica Wise (Reno, Nev. / Wooster HS) in 14th.

 

ACI AT THE TOP OF WOMEN'S STANDINGS: As a team, the Lady Yotes hold a 40-point lead over British Columbia in the NWCSC standings.  Individually, Bullard holds a 15-point lead over the University of Idaho's Kristen Wick for the top spot, with Maxwell currently alone in third-place.

 

CENTRAL MOUNTAINS WELCOME NWCSC: This weekend, the eight Northwest Collegiate Ski Conference teams compete in the closest races to ACI this season - in the Central Mountains.  Saturday's slalom runs are set for Brundage Mountain, the site of the 2005 USCSA Championships.  Sunday, the NWCSC will make their debut at Tamarack Resort in Donnelly.

 

HISTORY: Since 1979, the ACI ski program (alpine, nordic, snowboard) has won a combined 21 NCSA or USCSA team national championships, along with 15 individual NCSA or USCSA national championships.  Current snowboarder Evan Williams is a two-time national champ - winning the 2005 Snowboardcross and 2006 Halfpipe championships.

 

NATIONAL RANKINGS: Both the ACI men and the ACI women were ranked No. 8 in the USCSA preseason poll, released in November.

 

ABOUT THE COACH: Ron Bonneau is in his 17th season as head coach for the ACI alpine ski programs.  During his tenure at ACI, the native of New Hampshire has seen the Coyote men's team qualify for the USCSA championships on nine occasions, with the women's team making appearances 12 times.  His 2004 women's squad finished second in the nation and fourth in the alpine combined.  The Yotes have seen much success in the 21st Century, as both the men's and women's programs, under Bonneau's direction, have won four-consecutive Northwest Collegiate Ski Conference championships, with the Lady Yotes taking home Western Region championships in 1999, 2003, and 2006.  His women's teams have advanced to eight-straight USCSA championships, finishing in the Top-8 on each occasion.  Bonneau, a graduae of Plymouth State College, replaced Tom Olson as the alpine coach in 1991 - and worked with Chris Melgaard on the nordic side, to claim the women's nordic national championships in 1994 and 1995.  During his tenure, Bonneau has coached five national champions, 30 All-Americans, and 60 All-America Scholar-Athletes

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information on the ACI alpine ski program, head to the official homepage of the Coyotes - www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/skiing.htm.

 

SWIMMING: Coyotes set to host Pacific Lutheran in lone home meet of season

 

LAST WEEK: Idle since Dec. 1-2 at Northwest Invitational

 

COMING UP: vs. Pacific Lutheran, Saturday, 1 p.m.

 

COYOTES SET TO HOST MEET: Saturday afternoon, the Coyote swim teams will host their lone meet at the J.A. Albertson Aquatics Center, as NCAA Division III member, Pacific Lutheran, makes their first appearance in the Treasure Valley.  It marks the third home dual meet in program history, as ACI hosted Lewis & Clark and Puget Sound during the 2006 season.  It will be a short-course dual, with the teams competing in nine individual events and two relays.

 

ABOUT THE LUTES: Pacific Lutheran is led by the dean of Northwest swim coaches, Jim Johnson, who is in his 29th year at the Tacoma, Wash. school.  As a member of the NAIA until 1997, PLU was a mainstay at the NAIA Championships, recording 18-straight top-ten finishes.  The 2007 Lutes are led by women's backstroke specialist, Jessie Donovan, who last week met the NCAA Division III provisional qualifier in the 100-back.  It is the second dual between the schools, as ACI and PLU met in 2006 - with the PLU men topping the Yotes, 83-71, and the PLU women winning 132-44.

 

AMONG THE NAIA'S ELITE: The NAIA released its individual and relay Top-20 times last week, with three Coyote individuals and seven relay teams on the list.  Leading the group were the men's 200 and 400-freestyle relay teams, whose times sit in seventh-place on the list, with the men's 200-medley relay at No. 10.  Four women's relays are in the Top-20, with the 200-free relay at No. 10 (200-medley at No. 11, 400-free at No. 13, and 400-medley at No. 14).  Individually, Alphonsina Savell (Caldwell, Idaho / Caldwell HS) has the 15th-fastest 100-breaststroke and 16th-fastest 200-breaststroke times.  The Yotes also have a pair in the Top-20 of the 50-free - freshman Elizabeth Peters (Woodburn, Ore. / Woodburn HS) at No. 13 and sophomore John Green (Pleasanton, Calif. / Foothill HS) at No. 19.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information on the ACI swim teams, head to the official homepage of the Coyotes, www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/swim.htm.