Yote Notes – Dec. 4, 2007

Mike Safford Jr. – Sports Info. Director

msafford@collegeofidaho.edu

 

 

 

 

ATHLETIC NEWS:

 

SPECIAL NOTE TO SEASON TICKET HOLDERS: All basketball season ticket holders are reminded that third weekend’s Wendy’s Classic basketball games are not a part of the 2007-08 season ticket package.  Tickets must be purchased separately from the season ticket package, as proceeds from the ticket sales will go to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.  Reserved seat holders can purchase their normal seats through Thursday by calling Dave Hahn at 459-5835.  All remaining tickets will go on sale on Friday

 

FIRST COYOTE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION DINNER: The first Coyote Athletic Association dinner of the 2007-08 season is set for Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. in the Simplot Dining Hall.  To RSVP for the event, contact Dave Hahn at 459-5835.

 

LOOKING AHEAD TO STANFORD: A week from Sunday, the Coyote men’s basketball team plays an exhibition game at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif.  Tickets for the game can be purchased in the C of I block at Maples Pavilion for $25.00, by contacting the C of I alumni office at 459-5300.  There will also be a pre-game function (with President Bob Hoover and C of I All-American R.C. Owens) at the Gordon Biersch Brewery in Palo Alto from 4:30-6:30 p.m. – the cost is $35.00 at the door and includes beer and wine, along with a choice of four entrees.

 

HOGUE NAMED ALL-AMERICAN: College of Idaho middle blocker Katie Hogue was named Monday to the NAIA Volleyball All-America Team as a Second-Team selection, as the NAIA and the American Volleyball Coaches Association announced the squad in Kansas City, Mo.  Hogue becomes the first two-time All-American in program history, as the Sparks, Nev., native was a Third-Team selection as a junior.  She was named Cascade Conference Freshman of the Year in 2004, and earned All-CCC and All-NAIA Region I honors in 2005, 2006, and 2007.  She holds The C of I school records for blocks and block assists in a game, along with aces, blocks, and attack percentage in a season.  Hogue recorded 1,307 kills in her career, third-best in program history, 183 aces, fourth-most by a Coyote, and holds the school record with 571 career blocks.

 

HOPPER OPENS TRACK SEASON WITH NAIA MARK: Tyler Hopper met an NAIA "A" mark, while Katie Ball set a school record as The College of Idaho opened up the indoor track season at the Jackson's Invitational in Nampa on Saturday.  Hopper, fresh off an outstanding cross country season, was nosed out at the tape by Jesse Fassler of Portland State in the 1,000-meters, but his time of 2:31.79 was well under the NAIA automatic qualifying time.  Ball, who was an All-Cascade Conference socer player this fall, ran the fastest 1,000-meter time in C of I history, placing seventh in 3:08.78.  Just behind her was Stephanie Sparks (3:08.88), as was Jayne Saunders (3:17.00).

 

 

MEN’S BASKETBALL (3-7, 1-1 CCC): Yotes set to help Dave Thomas Foundation in hosting 1st Annual Wendy’s Classic

 

COMING UP: Hosting Wendy’s Classic (to benefit Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption) – Friday – Northwest Nazarene vs. Westmont, 6 p.m.; College of Idaho vs. Montana-Western, 8 p.m.; Saturday – Northwest Nazarene vs. Montana-Western, 6 p.m., College of Idaho vs. Westmont, 8 p.m.

 

LAST WEEK: vs. No. 11 Oregon Tech (L 73-68), vs. Southern Oregon (W 83-72)

 

RADIO/INTERNET: All 30 regular-season games and both exhibition games will be broadcast live in the Treasure Valley on 1490 KCID-AM, the Home of the Coyotes.  Sports information director Mike Safford returns for his seventh-year as Voice of the Coyotes, with the pregame show begining 20-minutes prior to tip-off each night.  The weekend games will also be simulcast online via The C of I athletic website at www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/caa/radio.htm.  Both of Montana-Western’s games will be carried live in Dillon on 1490 KDBM-AM – with C of I SID Mike Safford calling the action, while both Northwest Nazarene games will be carried live in the Treasure Valley on 950 KNJY-AM with Craig Stensgaard calling the action and on the web at www.nnusports.com.

 

YOTES TO HOST WENDY’S CLASSIC: Last season, both The College of Idaho and Northwest Nazarene collaborated to try and get more home games during the upcoming years.  What transpired was the Wendy’s Classic, a four-team tourney that will shift year-to-year from The C of I and NNU.  It marks the first time since the 2002-03 season that the Yotes will host two non-conference tournaments during the same season.

 

PROCEEDS TO HELP CHARITY: Along with outstanding basketball this weekend, the Wendy’s Classic will also help a very deserving charity.  All ticket sales for the Friday night session will benefit the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and their support of Wendy’s Wonderful Kids-Idaho.

 

NOT IN SEASON TICKET PACKAGE: To help with the charity donation, tickets to the Wendy’s Classic were left out of the 2007-08 C of I basketball season ticket package.  Tickets are currently on sale in the athletic marketing office (Sterry Hall 305) or by calling Dave Hahn at 459-5835.  Reserved season ticket holders have until Thursday afternoon to secure their seats for the Wendy’s Classic – all tickets will be released to the general public on Friday.

 

ABOUT THE TEAMS: Three good teams head to the Wendy’s Classic, making the event an outstanding weekend of hoops.  For the first time since they left the Cascade Conference following the 1999-00 season, Northwest Nazarene will return to the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.  The Crusaders (5-0) are off to their best start since 2003, with four of their five wins against NCAA Division II competition.  Tim Hills club is led by forward Kendall Gielow (15.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg), the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Week, along with guards Tyler Roberts (11.8 ppg, 5.4 apg) and Justin Parnell (10.8 ppg, 2.7 apg).  After a 1-5 start to the season, Montana-Western has found their stride, notching victories in their last two games against Montana State-Billings and Minot State.  The Bulldogs (4-7) who dropped a 66-57 decision to The C of I on Nov. 10, are led by guards Layne Glaus (12.5 ppg, 3.3 apg) and Gus McDonald (11.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg), along with post Aaron Sims (11.0 ppg, 7.4 rpg).  The Yotes and Western have met 53 previous times, with The C of I holding a 36-17 series edge dating back to 1942 (a 30-27 C of I win), including ten wins in a row.  The final team is Westmont College of Santa Barbara, Calif. – a NAIA Division I member of the Golden State Athletic Conference.  The Warriors (3-2) have wins this season against Dominican, Holy Names, and San Diego Christian, with losses to Azusa Pacific at Cal Baptist.   Westmont is led by Dan Rasp (13.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg), Tyler Dutton (12.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg), and Boise’s own, Josh Ware (5.8 ppg, 4.2 apg).  The Yotes and Warriors have met once before – 54 years ago, with The C of I and R.C. Owens notching the win, 81-75.

 

NEXT YEAR, TOURNEY HEADS TO NAMPA: As part of the arrangement of the Wendy’s Classic, the tournament shifts to the NNU campus next season, with games in the Johnson Sports Center.

 

OWEN BREAKS OUT: After a ultra-difficult start to his senior season, guard Josh Owen (Caldwell, Idaho / Vallivue HS) broke out of his funk in a big way, scoring a career-high 29 points in the win Saturday against Southern Oregon.  He hit 10-of-16 shots from the field, including five treys to help the Yotes break a five-game losing streak.  In the win, Owen moved into ninth-place on the all-time scoring list with 1,175 points – and now is third all-time in three-pointers made (203) and attempted (537), fifth in field goal attempts (918), eighth in assists (244) and steals (131), and tenth in field goals made (383).

 

MAGGARD HAS CAREER NIGHT: Also having a coming-out party on Saturday night was J.R. Maggard (Caldwell, Idaho / Vallivue HS), who notched career highs with 16 points and nine rebounds in the win.  Since joining the starting line-up at the Westminster Holiday Classic, the senior has averaged ten points and four rebounds per game, while connecting on 17-of-23 field goal attempts.

 

CHAMP LEADS THE NAIA IN STEALS: Guard Bryan Champ (Boise, Idaho / Borah HS) continues to show why he was named 2007 Cascade Conference Defensive Player of the Year.  The junior recorded a career-high seven steals against Southern Oregon – the seventh time in eight games that Champ has recorded three-or-more steals in a game, while recording at least two steals in 18 of his last 20 outings.  He not only leads the CCC in steals per game (3.5) – but leads the NAIA Division II in the category.

 

FIRST CASCADE CONFERENCE TOP-SIX:  The first Cascade Conference Top-6 Coaches Poll was released on Monday – with Warner Pacific claiming the top spot.  They are followed by Eastern Oregon, Oregon Tech, Northwest, Evergreen State, and The C of I.  The first NAIA Division II national poll of the regular season will be released on Wednesday.  The preseason NAIA Division II poll was released on Oct. 31, with three teams from the CCC in the Top-25.  Warner Pacific was ranked No. 3, Oregon Tech was ranked No. 11, and Eastern Oregon was ranked No. 18.  The Yotes earned 13 points in the poll, listed in the Others Receiving Votes category.  The C of I has a streak of 15 consecutive years of Top-25 rankings on the line in 2007-08.

 

CASCADE CONFERENCE STATS: The Yotes have struggled this season in the CCC statistical rankings, sitting in seventh or worse in ten of 12 statistical categories compiled by the league office.  The Yotes do lead the league in turnover margin (+4.2), while ranking No. 4 in steals per game (9.0). The squad is No. 7 in team defense (71.8), No. 8 in assists per game (11.9), field goal percentage (.431), three-point percentage (.281), and free throw percentage (.684), No. 9 in scoring margin (-5.9) and blocked shots per game (1.7), No. 10 in scoring offense (66.0), and No. 11 in rebound margin (-8.7) and opponents field goal percentage (.489).  Individually, three players rank in the CCC Top-10 – Bryan Champ leads the league in steals per game (3.5), Josh Owen is eighth in three-pointers per game (1.8), and Kurt Nielson (Rexburg, Idaho / Eastern Utah CC) is No. 9 in blocks per game (0.8).

 

CASCADE CONFERENCE LEADERS: Scoring Average – Wade Douglas (CRB) 23.4, Scott O’Gallagher (WP) 22.7, Nate Menafee (ESC) 20.8, Eric Taylor (CAS) 20.4,  Josh Jarrett (NCC) 19.7; Rebound Average –Ryan Barker (CAS) 8.4, Jarrett 8.0, Christian Cavanaugh (OIT) 7.9, Joshua Wetzler (OIT) 7.9, Douglas 7.9; Field Goal Percentage – Wetzler .731, Douglas .626, Julio Feliciano (ESC) .618, Greg George (NU) .608, Cavanaugh .600; Assist Average – Ryan Fiegi (OIT) 6.6, Jeremy Templeton (EOU) 5.2, Jesse Alvarez (CU) 4.8, Jguwon Hodges (OIT) 4.0, Kao Saelee (CAS) 4.0.

 

TECH ESCAPES WITH WIN: Miles Daley hit a three-pointer with just over two minutes remaining, giving Oregon Tech the lead for good, as the No. 11 ranked Owls survived a C of I upset bid, topping the Coyotes 73-68 Friday night.  After Josh Owen canned a trey with 2:54 left to give The C of I a 64-63 lead, Daley was spotted open in the left corner and drained the triple.  He would then knock home another trey with just under a minute left to provide the dagger.  The Yotes jumped out to an 11-2 lead and led the entire first half, thanks to 53-percent shooting.  However, OIT forced the hosts to miss 12 of their first 13 three-point attempts in the second half, themselves hitting three straight treys midway through the second half to build a 53-44 edge.  Ryan Fiegi led all scorers with 28 points and 12 rebounds, with Jguwon Hogges adding 12, Daley 11 points and nine rebounds, and Josh Wetzler ten points and ten boards.  The Yotes got 18 points and seven rebounds from Bryan Champ and 12 points and six assists from Owen.

 

YOTES END LOSING STREAK: Josh Owen scored a career-high 29 points, helping the Yotes end a five-game losing streak with an 83-72 victory over Southern Oregon on Saturday night.  Owen, who hit five three-point baskets on the night, nailed a trey early in the second half that built the Coyotes lead to 49-38.  However, the Raiders would respond, scoring eight in a row to cut the margin to three.  But the Yotes turned to Owen, who converted a runner, then connected on a pair of long-range bombs, as The C of I built a 15-point margin and cruised to the win.  Two other Coyotes had career nights - as Steffen Spinks (Manteca, Calif. / East Union HS) scored 20 points, including 10-of-11 shooting from the line, and J.R. Maggard notched 16 points and nine rebounds.  Bryan Champ was the defensive star, recording seven steals to go along with six points.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information on the Coyotes, head to the official homepage of The C of I men’s basketball – www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/mensbasketball.htm.

 

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (4-2, 1-1 CCC): Lady Yotes begin five-game road trip with games against No. 7 Carroll and No. 12 L-C

 

COMING UP: at Wells Fargo Invitational, Lewiston – Friday vs. No. 7 Carroll, 4 p.m. (PST); Saturday vs. No. 12 Lewis-Clark State, 4 p.m. (PST)

 

LAST WEEK: vs. Oregon Tech (W 74-66), vs. Southern Oregon (L 78-73).

 

INTERNET/RADIO: All 20 College of Idaho women’s basketball Cascade Conference games will be carried live on the internet at www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/caa/radio.htm with Mike Safford Jr. calling the action.  In addition, all ten CCC road games will be broadcast live on the radio in the Treasure Valley on 1490 KCID-AM.  This weekend, Saturday’s game at Lewis-Clark State will be broadcast live in the Lewis-Clark Valley on 950 KOZE-AM with Brian Danner providing the play-by-play and simulcast online at www.koze-sports.com.

 

SUCCESS IN THE ACTIVITIES CENTER: The Lady Yotes have held a distinctive home court advantage over the years in the J.A. Albertson Activities Center, recording a 103-43 all-time record. 

 

LADY YOTES ON THE ROAD FOR OVER A MONTH: Following the loss to Southern Oregon on Saturday night, the Lady Yotes will begin a long journey away from the friendly confines of the Activities Center.  The C of I will play seven consecutive road games during a 41-day period – trips to Lewiston, Portland, Nampa, Eugene, and La Grande, before finally coming home on Jan. 11 for a game vs. Northwest.

 

LA GRANDE VS. LEWISTON?: Originally, the Lady Yotes were supposed to be in La Grande this weekend for the Aramark Classic, hosted by Eastern Oregon.  However, just as the Best Western Caldwell Inn and Suites Lady Yote Classic was scrapped due to a lack of teams, so was EOU’s tourney.  Therefore, The C of I will put the chains on the bus and travel US-95 through Central Idaho to Lewiston for the Wells Fargo Invitational – making their first appearance on the Lewis-Clark State campus since the 2000-01 season.

 

CAN THEY SLOW DOWN THE SAINTS?: The trip starts out with a bang, as the Lady Yotes meet Carroll College, one of only five unbeaten teams remaining in the NAIA Division I.  The Saints (10-0), currently ranked No. 5 in the Victory Sports Network and No. 7 in the NAIA Division I polls, have dominated opponents this season – averaging 88 points a game and holding a staggering 37-point victory margin.  In fact, Carroll holds the largest victory margin in the NAIA this season – defeating Fisher College of Maine 113-16, while not allowing an opponent to break the 60-point barrier.  Coming off a second-round appearance at the NAIA Tournament, the Saints are led by guards Jolene Fuzesy (19.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg) – the current Frontier Conference Player of the Week – and Danielle Maloney (12.4 ppg), along with forward Hannah Heidenreich (11.1 ppg, 10.5 rpg).  The two teams have met eight previous times, with the Saints holding a 6-2 edge.

 

REMATCH WITH L-C STATE: Success has not been with the Yotes when facing Idaho rival Lewis-Clark State, as the Warriors (9-2) have won all eight previous meetings, including a 110-68 win over The C of I in Salt Lake City last year.  L-C – ranked No. 12 in the NAIA and No. 15 in the VSN Top-25 polls, have won seven games in a row since dropping back-to-back road games to Azusa Pacific and Hope International.  The Warriors, who average 82 points a game, are led by forward Mandy Troutt (18.0 ppg, 8.6 rpg) and guards Jade Fulbright (11.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg) and Breianna Gaines (11.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg).

 

VANDER ESCH HOLDING A STEAL PARTY: Picking up where she left off last season, Coyote forward Christon Vander Esch (Riggins, Idaho / Treasure Valley CC) continues to be a thorn to opponents offenses.  The junior leads the Cascade Conference and ranks No. 5 in the NAIA Division II in steals per game (4.2) – recording at least two steals in all six games this season.  Dating back to last year, Vander Esch has recorded a steal in 32 of the 35 games played in her career – including a school record 11 steals vs. Willamette during the 2006-07 season.

 

HILL HAVING SCORING FRENZY: The top option for the Lady Yotes this season has been forward Denise Hill (Eugene, Ore. / Boise State U.), who is averaging 21 points a game over her last four outings.  Hill, who ranks second in the league in field goal percentage (.613) and third in scoring average (18.0), has scored in double-figures in all six games this season – jumping to ten games in a row, dating back to last season.

 

CASCADE CONFERENCE TOP-6: The first Cascade Conference Top-6 Coaches Poll was released on Monday and looked much different than the preseason tabulation.  Eastern Oregon remained at No. 1, followed by Southern Oregon and The C of I.  Oregon Tech was fourth, with Corban and Warner Pacific rounding out the poll.  The first NAIA Division II national poll will be released on Wednesday.  No Cascade Conference team was ranked in the preseason NAIA Division II Top-25 poll, released on Oct. 31, nor were CCC teams ranked in the latest Victory Sports Network NAIA-II Top-25.  However, both The C of I and Eastern Oregon were among the teams receiving votes. 

 

LADY YOTES LEAD NAIA IN STEALS PER GAME: As a team, the Lady Yotes lead the league in steals per game (17.8) and turnover margin (+8.7), rank third in three-point field goal percentage (.379), and scoring offense (80.0), is fourth in assists per game (15.5) and scoring margin (+8.2), and fifth in free throw percentage (.686) and field goal percentage (.432).  The C of I nationally leads the NAIA in steals per game and is sixth in turnover margin.

 

INDIVIDUAL CASCADE CONFERENCE NUMBERS: Six different Lady Yote players rank in the Top-10 in CCC statistical categories.  Denise Hill is second in the CCC in field goal percentage (.613), is third in scoring average (18.0), fifth in steals per game (2.3), and seventh in rebounds per game (8.5).  Christon Vander Esch leads the loop in steals per game (4.2), ranking fifth in free throw percentage (.813), and sixth in blocked shots (1.0).  Also in multiple CCC categories are Whitney Owen (Caldwell, Idaho / Vallivue HS), who is third in steals per game (2.7) and tenth in three-point percentage (.375), and Kayla Brewer (Arco, Idaho / Butte County HS), who is second in three-point percentage (.550) and eighth in three-pointers made per game (1.8).  Rounding out the group are Ashley Wolfe (Boise, Idaho / Walla Walla CC), who is fourth in three-point percentage (.500), and ShaNae Horner (West Jordan, Utah / Snow CC), who is No. 6 in three-point percentage (.462).

 

CASCADE CONFERENCE INDIVIDUAL TOP-FIVE: Scoring Average – Emily Gray (NCC) 20.3, Crystal Idrogo (OIT) 18.5, Denise Hill (C of I) 18.0, Brittany Bowsher (NU) 17.2, Raquel Morin (CAS) 16.8; Rebound Average – Jackie Speer (SOU) 10.0, Te Awhina Aranui (CAS) 9.9, Cora McVey (OIT) 9.7, Gray 9.9, Sheena Henderson (EOU) 9.2, Jennifer Solberg (ESC) 9.1; Field Goal Percentage – Emily Goette (CRB) .635, Hill .613, Tiffanie Ulmer (EOU) .568, Ann Snodderly (CU) .559, Chelsey Muri (SOU) .554; Assist Average – Meagan Miyasaka (OIT) 6.0, Jenny Fiso (EOU) 5.2, Kailey Bostwick (CRB) 4.7, Phibean Mulatu (CAS) 4.7, Amy Croll (NCC) 4.0.

 

YOTES NOTCH OPENING CCC WIN OVER OIT: Late three-pointers from Ashley Wolfe and Katee Brewer (Arco, Idaho / Butte County HS) helped the Lady Yotes open CCC play with a 74-66 victory over Oregon Tech on Friday night.  With the win, the Lady Yotes extended their win streak to four games and handed the Lady Owls their first loss of the season.  After seeing a 14-point first half lead erased, the Coyote got the Wolfe trey with 2:20 remaining to give The C of I a 66-61 edge.  Following an OIT bucket, Brewer knocked home the triple from the right wing with 1:07 left and the Yotes canned free throws to ice the win.  Denise Hill had 14 of her 22 points in the first half, as the Yotes built a 24-10 edge, but watched as OIT closed the period with a 9-0 run and eventually took a 57-54 lead in the second half, but could not hold on. 

 

SOUTHERN WINS SHOOT-OUT WITH C OF I: Chelsey Muri scored a career-high 32 points lifting Southern Oregon to a 78-73 road win at The C of I Saturday night in the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.  Southern used a 12-1 run in the second half to build a 61-51 edge with nine minutes remaining, but watched as the Lady Yotes battled back, clawing within 70-69 on a Denise Hill ten-footer with two minutes left.  However, the Raiders got a lay-in from Jackie Speer to push the lead to three, then forced three straight turnovers to notch the win.  The Yotes, who had a four-game win streak snapped, saw all five starters score in double figures, led by Hill with 19 points and eight rebounds.  Whitney Owen had 12 points, with Kayla Brewer and Christon Vander Esch each scoring ten points.

 

ABOUT THE COACH: Reagan Rossi is in her seventh season as head coach of the Lady Yotes. During her tenure at The College of Idaho, the native of Mukwonago, Wisc. has compiled a 101-87 overall record, with six consecutive appearances in the Cascade Conference Tournament.  The 35-year-old took a 2001-02 team that had only one returning starter and only four players with extensive collegiate experience, and brought the Lady Yotes to within one game of the national tournament.  During the 2004-05 season, she did it again.  The squad, which had just two players with considerable experience with the Coyotes, won 20 games, and dropped the CCC Tournament title game to Western Baptist, 60-57.  This past season, she took a squad with one returning starter and five true freshmen and won 19 games, earning an NAIA Top-25 ranking, and advancing to the CCC semifinals.  Rossi was no stranger to The C of I, as she was a member of Todd Corman's inaugural coaching staff for two seasons, and was on the bench when the Coyotes took to the floor for the first time on Nov. 4, 1995 against Carroll College, ending an 18-year hiatus of women's basketball at the school.  Rossi has an extensive background in coaching -  having been an assistant coach at Georgetown (Ky.), a fellow NAIA institution, along with Morehead State (Ky.), an NCAA Division I program.   Before coming to The C of I in 1995, Rossi was an assistant coach with the Skagway High School boys' varsity team in Skagway, Alaska.   A 1994 graduate of Saint Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa, Rossi played four years of college basketball for the Queen Bees.  Two of her teams qualified for the NAIA National Tournament, including the 1993-94 squad which advanced into the "Sweet Sixteen."  She was the starting point-guard for two seasons, averaging ten points and six assists per game during her senior season.  In 2006, she was inducted into the Mukwonago High School Hall of Fame.  She and husband Rudy live in Caldwell - and have three-year-old twin daughters, Maggie and Darby.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information on the Lady Yotes, head to the official homepage of The C of I women’s basketball – www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/wmensbasketball.htm.

 

 

SWIMMING: Yotes break 12 records in recording their best finish ever at Northwest Invitational

 

LAST WEEK: at Northwest Invitational – Men 4th out of 8 teams, Women 5th out of 8 teams

 

COMING UP: Idle until January 12 at Pacific Lutheran

 

YOTES COMPLETE MOST SUCCESSFUL NORTHWEST INVITE: The College of Idaho swim teams had a banner weekend at the two-day Northwest Invitational, hosted by Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore.  The Coyote men, competing with just five members, finished fourth out of eight teams in the meet – recording 328 points, nearly 200 points more than their previous best in their three trips to the NWI.  The Lady Yotes placed fifth out of eight teams – with their 338 team points well over 200 more than their previous best.

 

WALKER HAS PHENOMINAL MEET: The Yotes were paced by Casey Walker (Caldwell, Idaho / Skyview HS), who single-handedly recorded 44 points to The C of I total.  The freshman had the fastest preliminary time in the 100-backstroke and took second in the final (55.07).  He also had a third-place finish in the 200-backstroke (2:02.81) and fourth-place finish in the 200-medley (2:02.30) – improving his NAIA Automatic “A” qualifying marks in each event, while setting a school record in each event.

 

GREEN CONTINUES TO SWIM WELL AT NWI: After taking home two championships last year at the Northwest Invitational, sprinter John Green (Pleasanton, Calif. / Foothill HS) continued to impress at the event.  The junior had the fastest preliminary time in both the 50 and 100-freestyle events – taking second in the 100 (48.76) and third in the 50-free (22.22), improving his NAIA “A” marks in both events.  Green also extended out to the 500-free, where he met the NAIA Bonus Cut “B” qualifying mark in 5:16.63 – good enough for a C of I school record.

 

SAVELL ADDS OPTIONS TO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: Top Lady Yote swimmer, Alphonsina Savell (Caldwell, Idaho / Caldwell HS) continued to add options for her at the NAIA Championships, as the junior met the NAIA “B” marks in the 50-free (26.48), 100-free (57.99), and 400-medley (5:16.34).

 

JUDD MEETS NAIA MARK IN TWO EVENTS: After having her NAIA “A” mark erased by the NAIA two weeks ago, breaststroke specialist Ellen Judd (Missoula, Mont. / Sentinel HS) trained hard in preparation for the NWI.  It paid off, as Judd met the NAIA “A” mark in the 200-breast (2:39.64) and reached the “B” mark in the 100-breast (1:14.33).  It is the second straight season that the sophomore has qualified in both events.

 

RECORDS BROKEN AT NWI: A total of 12 school records fell at the Northwest Invitational – seven by the men and five by the women.  Along with the aforementioned three marks from Casey Walker and the one mark from John Green, Scott Mikelonis (Boise, Idaho / Boise HS) set a new record in the 200-breaststroke (2:31.92).  The Coyotes also set new relay records in the 400-medley (3:55.98) and the 800-free (7:50.54).  On the women’s side, Alphonsina Savell set a new record in the 400-IM (5:16.34), Annie Younggren (Island City, Ore. / La Grande HS) broke her own record in the 200-free (2:08.24), while Annie Kerrick (Lewiston, Idaho / Lewiston HS) set the new record in the 200-backstroke (2:30.39).  The Lady Yotes also recorded a pair of new relay records – setting new marks in the 400-medley (4:35.96) and the 800-free (9:29.88).

 

YOTES AMONG TOP-20 TIMES IN THE NAIA: Four C of I swimmers are among those listed on the first NAIA Top-20 list, released on Monday.  Casey Walker ranks in the Top-20 in three events – No. 8 in the 100-back, No. 9 in the 200-back, and No. 14 in the 200-IM.  John Green ranks in the Top-20 in two events – No. 8 in the 100-free and No. 11 in the 50-free, as does Alphonsina Savell, who is No. 13 in the 200-breast and No. 14 in the 100-breast.  Ellen Judd rounds out the individuals on the list, as she is No. 16 in the 200-breast.  Five men’s relays and four women’s relays are also listed by the NAIA.  The men’s 800-free relay is No. 2 in the NAIA, with the 400-free relay at No. 5, both the 200-medley and 400-medley relays at No. 7, and the 200-free relay at No. 8.  The women’s 400-free relay is No. 9, the 400-medley relay is No. 11, the 200-free relay is No. 12, and the 200-medley relay is No. 13.

 

NAIA AUTOMATIC QUALIFIERS: Casey Walker – 100-backstroke, 200-backstroke, 200-IM; John Green – 50-freestyle, 100-freestyle; Alphonsina Savell – 100-breaststroke, 200-breaststroke; Ellen Judd – 200-breaststroke; Ashlee Byrnes (Vancouver, Wash. / Columbia River HS) – 200-butterfly; Men’s 200-freestyle relay; Men’s 200-medley relay; Men’s 400-freestyle relay, Men’s 400-medley relay, Men’s 800-freestyle relay; Women’s 200-freestyle relay; Women’s 200-medley relay; Women’s 400-freestyle relay, 400-medley relay.

 

NAIA BONUS CUT QUALIFIERS (must have at least one “A” qualifying time): Casey Walker – 100-butterfly; John Green – 500-freestyle; Alphonsina Savell – 50-free, 100-free, 200-IM, 400-IM; Ellen Judd – 100-breaststroke.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more on the Coyote swim team, head to the official homepage of The C of I,

 

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