Yote Notes – March 5, 2009
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Mike Safford Jr. – Sports
Info. Director
msafford@collegeofidaho.edu
ATHLETIC NEWS:
SOFTBALL
DINNER/AUCTION: The seventh-annual
College of Idaho softball dinner-auction is set for this Saturday, March 7, in
the Simplot Dining Hall on The C of I campus. The event will begin with a
no-host bar and bidding on silent auction and dessert items from 6-7 p.m., with
dinner and the auction to follow. Tickets for the event are $25.00 per
person and going fast. To reserve your spot, contact Al Mendiola at 459-5113.
ST.
PATRICK’S DAY MILE SET FOR MARCH 15: The C of I track team will be hosting the first-annual Stuenenberg St. Patrick’s Day Mile road race though the
historic Stuenenberg District of Caldwell, near The C
of I campus. The race, which is a flat, fast, one mile course, is open to
runners, joggers, walkers, strollers, and wagon-pullers – and begins Sunday,
March 15, at 2 p.m. Entry fee’s are just $10 per person, or $5 for C of I
students. For more information, including a brochure, contact Pat McCurry at pmccurry@collegeofidaho.edu or by phone at
459-5085.
BUY YOUR
COYOTE GEAR ONLINE:
Fans of the Yotes can now purchase official C of I athletic apparel and gear
online at the Yotes new e-store at http://www.estoresbyzome.com/college_idaho.php
- with a portion of every sale supporting Coyote Athletics. Hats,
sweatshirts, jackets, and t-shirts are just the tip of the iceberg on the Yotes
e-store. Throughout the month of March, use the Promo Code MANIA09 and
get 20-percent off your entire purchase.
DONATE TO
THE
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (29-4): Lady Yotes to meet Hastings (
LAST WEEK: vs.
COMING UP: at NAIA Division II National Tournament,
Sioux City, Iowa – vs. No. 18 Hastings (Neb.), Wednesday, 1:45 p.m. (CT); with
win vs. No. 2 Shawnee State or Florida Memorial, Friday, 10:15 a.m. (CT)
MEDIA COVERAGE: Every game of the NAIA Division II
Tournament will be carried live online through the NAIA’s
contract with Jump.tv. Single day packages are available for $9.95
and can be purchased at www.watchnaia.com. Live Stats of every NAIA Tournament game will
also be available through DakStats, via the NAIA
website at www.naia.org.
TRAVEL/TICKET INFORMATION: The Lady Yotes will be leaving from
HISTORY
AT THE NAIA TOURNAMENT: This marks the fourth trip for the Lady Yotes
to the NAIA Tournament in the 14-year history of the program and the first in
eight years. The C of I advanced to
their first national tournament in 1998, and as the No. 16 seed, lost to
eventual runner-up Mary Hardin-Baylor (
CASCADE
CONFERENCE AT THE TOURNAMENT: In the 17 years of the NAIA
Division II Tournament, the Cascade Conference has fared well – recording a
41-31 overall record at the event. Eight
different teams have qualified for the tournament (prior to Concordia this
year), with CCC teams winning three national titles (1995 – Western Oregon,
1996 – Western Oregon, 1997 – Northwest Nazarene), three others finishing as
the runner-up (1994 – Western Oregon, 1995 – Northwest Nazarene, 2001 –
THREE CCC
TEAMS IN THE TOURNAMENT: With Concordia and Southern Oregon each
receiving a berth to
UP FIRST
–
LOOKING AT THE COYOTES QUARTER: Unlike the
NAIA men’s tournaments, the women’s bracket is split into four eight-team
quarters – similar to the 16-team regions used at the NCAA Division I level. A win by the Yotes would move them into a
second-round game against either top-seeded
FINAL
NATIONAL POLL: With the loss to Concordia in the CCC title game,
the Lady Yotes dropped one spot to No. 15 in the final NAIA Division II Top-25 Coaches
Poll. It marks the first time since 2001
that The C of I has been ranked an entire season in the Top-25. Concordia moved up one spot to No. 10, while
NEW WINS RECORD: The 29-4 start has set a new school
record for most wins in a season, eclipsing the former mark of 26, set during
the Lady Yotes run to the NAIA championship game in 2001., The C of I has
recorded their best ten, 15, 20, and 25-game starts to a season – while just
two wins away from tying the 1996 men’s basketball team for most wins by a
basketball team in school history.
MORE TEAM RECORDS BY THE WAYSIDE: As a team, the Lady Yotes have
already broke ten single-season school records during the 2008-09 season. The squad has
eclipsed the mark for wins in a season (29), winning percentage (.879), scoring
average (78.4), winning streak (21), home win streak (14), field goals made
(943) and attempted (2,365), rebounds (1,532), rebound average (46.4), and
blocked shots (201).
VANDER ESCH NAMED CCC PLAYER OF THE
YEAR: C of I forward
Christon Vander Esch (Riggins,
GALL NAMED TO ALL-CCC TEAM: Also named to the All-CCC and CCC
All-Defensive Team was Nicole Gall (
MORE ON ALL-CCC TEAM: Concordia swept the other two awards
- as coach Aaron Christian was named Coach of the Year
and Rebecca Gimeno was named Newcomer of the
Year.
MORE ON VANDER ESCH: Vander Esch
established a pair of C of I single-game school records last Friday in the
overtime win over
SINGLE-SEASON RECORD BOOK: Five Lady Yotes have already etched
their name in the single-season record book – with at least one more remaining
in the season. Christon
Vander Esch ranks No. 1 in free throw attempts (246)
and steals (109), third in blocked shots (73), points scored (548), and free
throws made (153), fourth in rebounds (301), fifth in field goals made (184),
and seventh in field goal attempts (427), while Nicole Bruce (Boise, Idaho /
Bishop Kelly HS) is fifth in blocked shots (51). Nicole Gall is on the list in eight different
categories – No. 2 in three-pointers made (91), No. 3 in three-pointers
attempted (232), steals (91), and field goal attempts (451), No. 6 in points
scored (477), No. 8 in field goals made (175), and No. 10 in blocked shots (31)
and assists (102). Rounding out the
group are Whitney Owen (
CAREER RECORD BOOK: Five Lady Yotes have found themselves
among the pages of the career record book during the 2008-09 season. Leading the way is Christon
Vander Esch, who is No. 1 on The C of I career steals
(253), rebounds (707), and free throw attempts (458) lists, is No. 2 on the
all-time blocked shots list (164), fourth in free throws made (297), fifth in
points scored (1,123), sixth in field goals made (381) and attempted (964),
eighth in assists (207), and tenth in three-pointers made (58) and attempted
(181). Whitney Owen ranks eighth all-time in free throws made (184), is ninth in free
throw attempts (266), is tenth in three-pointes made (58), while sitting just
outside of the Top-10 in steals (122) and three-point attempts (165). Nicole Gall ranks sixth in a career for
three-pointers made (91) and ninth in three-pointers attempted (232), Nicole
Bruce is fourth all-time in blocked shots (58), and Kayla Brewer (Arco, Idaho /
Butte County HS) is No. 9 all-time in steals (128), No. 10 in
three-pointers made (58), and just outside the Top-10 in three-point attempts
(168).
NATIONAL STATS: As a team, the Lady Yotes rank in the
Top-10 of the NAIA in seven different categories – No. 1in steals per game
(17.1), No. 2 in total rebounds (46.4), No. 3 in blocked shots per game (6.1),
No. 4 in offensive rebounds per game (18.3), No. 5 in turnover margin (+6.7),
No. 7 in scoring offense (78.4), and No. 10 in opponents’ three-point
percentage (.268).
GAME RECAP – C OF I 63, OREGON TECH
41: A tenacious C of
I defense limited Oregon Tech to just 22-percent shooting from the field, as
the Lady Yotes won their Cascade Conference Tournament quarterfinal match-up,
63-41, last Tuesday in Caldwell. An 11-2
run early in the first half erased an early lead for the Owls, as the Coyotes
pulled out to a 37-17 halftime lead - with the margin never falling below 20 in
the second half. Nicole Gall had a
double-double in the win, scoring a game-high 14 points, a season-high 13
rebounds, to go with six assists, three steals, and two blocked shots. Whitney
Owen added ten points, with Christon Vander Esch scoring seven points, but grabbing ten rebounds. Tech had only one player in double figures -
senior forward Amanda Johnston with ten points, as OIT struggled to a 4-for-26
shooting night from the arc.
GAME RECAP – C OF I 97,
SOUTHERN OREGON 88 (OT): Christon Vander Esch scored a school record 39 points, including 11 in
overtime, as The C of I won a wild 97-88 decision over Southern Oregon, in a
Cascade Conference Tournament semifinal on Friday night. It wasn’t easy for the Coyotes, as the teams
saw nine ties and 12 lead changes in the first half, with the Raiders leading
36-35 with 1:45 left, but a Nicole Bruce bucket and three’s from Vander Esch and ShaNae Horner pushed the
hosts out to a 43-36 halftime edge. The
C of I would open the second half on a 9-2 run to build their biggest lead of
the night at 52-38 on a Nicole Gall triple, but SOU would fight back behind
all-star post, Jacki Speer. The Raiders would use a 12-0 spurt to get
within 54-52, then take the lead at 69-68 on a Whitney
Scott three-point play with six minutes left.
Speer would break a 74-74 tie inside the final two minutes with a
three-point play, with Scott giving Southern an 80-77 lead with a pair of free
throws with five seconds left. However,
the Coyotes would get the equalizer, as Gall canned a triple with less than a
second remaining, to send the game to overtime.
Vander Esch, who set another school record
with 27 field goal attempts and had 19 rebounds, took over in the extra
session, scoring four of the Yotes five field goals and hit all three of her
free throws to earn the win, as The C of I used a 11-3 run to open overtime and
were never headed. Gall had 17 points,
Horner scored 14, and Bruce added ten points and a career-high 13 rebounds in
the victory, as the Coyotes improved to 27-0 all-time when scoring 90-or-more
points. Speer led the Raiders with 35
points and 17 rebounds, while Scott had 19 points and seven assists.
GAME RECAP – CONCORDIA
75, C OF I 66: Five players scored in double figures as
FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more on The C of I women’s
basketball program, head to the homepage of the Lady Yotes, www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/wmensbasketball.htm.
BASEBALL (7-4, 7-0 NAIA West): Yotes set to open Wolfe Field this
weekend, putting seven-game win streak on the line vs. Concordia
LAST WEEK: at Simpson (W 12-4, W
7-0, W 13-3)
COMING UP: vs. Concordia (DH),
Saturday, Noon; vs. Concordia (DH), Sunday, 11 a.m.
LIVE STATS: The Yotes are hopeful
that Live Stats will be available for the four-game series with Concordia via
The C of I athletic website at http://yotestats.i8.com/baseball/xlive.htm.
FIRST ACTION AT WOLFE
FIELD: After
spending the last 21 seasons at aging Simplot Stadium, the Coyotes will open a
new era of C of I baseball this weekend, beginning the 2009 home season in
their new digs, Wolfe Field. Located at
the corner of
FAN INFORMATION FOR
OPENING WEEKEND: Fans heading out to the ballpark will need to be prepared for
festival seating, as temporary bleachers have not been installed. The park will have a strange feel, as neither
the dugouts, nor the scoreboard have been completed. Parking will be available across the street
from the park, with admission $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for seniors and
children 17-and-under.
ARMS CARRY YOTES TO
SEVEN-GAME STREAK: The pitching staff for the Yotes has been nails over the past two
weekends, helping The C of I to seven-consecutive
wins. Leading the way is Ben Rosen (Eagle River, Alaska / Lower Columbia CC), who has tossed
back-to-back seven inning complete games, including a four-hit shutout at
Simpson on Saturday – not allowing an earned run in both starts. Andrew
Brock (
LONGEST WIN STREAK SINCE?: The seven-game winning streak is the longest for the Yotes since
winning 11-in-a-row during the 2007 season.
COMPARING OPENING SERIES
TO LAST TWO WEEKENDS: It is plain to see why the Coyotes went 0-4 during the opening
tournament in
BRUBAKER EARNS BACK-TO-BACK
HONORS: The
Coyotes have been riding the bat of outfielder Cody Brubaker (
OTHERS SWINGING A HOT
STICK: Brubaker
is not the only C of I bat that has heated up over the last two weeks. Sophomore Jordan Lanman (La
ROSEN PICKS OFF FOES: Saturday at Simpson, Ben
Rosen was his own best friend – using a stellar pick-off move to his
benefit. The junior recorded three
pick-offs during the seven inning shutout – each from first base during each of
the first three innings.
UBC TOPS NAIA WEST POLL: The first NAIA West
Baseball and NAIA Top-25 polls were released last week, with
ABOUT CONCORDIA: The Yotes open Wolfe
Field against CCC rival Concordia,
who comes to town after dropping 2-of-3 to British Columbia last weekend. The Cavaliers (6-7, 1-2 NAIA West) are led
offensively by Jimmy Rudig (.500 3 HR 10 RBI), J.J.
Berg (.364 2 HR 7 RBI), and Tommy Whalen (.474 3 HR 9 RBI), while pitchers Ross
Conway (2-1 4.50 ERA) and Ben Rue (1-1 4.50 ERA) are quality arms. CU topped the Yotes, 5-1, in February, but
the Yotes lead the all-time series, 65-28.
GAME RECAP – C OF I 8, CORBAN 6, C OF
I 3, CORBAN 2: The C
of I opened up NAIA West play on Feb. 20, sweeping a doubleheader at
GAME RECAP – C OF I 9, CORBAN 6, C OF
I 14, CORBAN 2: Cody
Brubaker had a career day at the plate, going a combined 8-for-9 with eight
RBI, as Yotes completed a four-game sweep of Corban. The senior had the go-ahead RBI single in a
three-run top of the ninth rally in Game 1, then opened the scoring of Game 2
with his second home run in as many days.
The opener saw the Yotes jump out to a 6-0
lead - getting a Diego Robles RBI single in the fourth, a three-run Brubaker
double in the fifth, with a run scoring on a fielders choice in the sixth, and
on a bases loaded walk in the seventh. Jake Bottari
was cruising until the seventh, when the Warriors (2-6, 0-4) plated six runs,
with a Steven Blum two-run double providing the big blow. However, the
Yotes would get the winning runs in the ninth, as Jake Miller was hit by a
pitch, advanced to third on successive wild pitches, and scored on the Brubaker
safety - with the squad adding a pair of insurance runs in the frame on Corban miscues. Chad
Yeggy allowed a pair of hits in the ninth, but worked
around them to pick up his second save in relief of Ben Rodwell,
who fanned two in an inning and two-thirds of relief to notch the win.
Robles and Brad Carlsen each had two hits in the
victory. Game 2 was all Coyotes, as The
C of I scored in each of the first three innings. After Brubaker's first
inning shot made it 2-0, Carlsen singled home Ray
Santiago, who led off the second with a double, to make it 3-0, and a double
steal in the third made it 4-0. The Yotes would blow the game open in the
seventh, plating seven runs - with Gavin Gamboa
providing the big blow with a pinch-hit grand slam homer. Ben Rosen picked up the complete game win,
allowing just four hits, a pair of unearned runs, and seven strikeouts. Carlsen and Robles each had two hits as part of the 17-hit
C of I attack.
GAME RECAP – C OF I 12, SIMPSON 4: Despite a long journey
the day of the game to Northern California, the Yotes ran their win streak to
five with a 12-4 NAIA West victory over
GAME RECAP – C OF I 7, SIMPSON 0, C OF
I 13, SIMPSON 3: The Coyotes ran their win streak to seven games with a
doubleheader sweep of Simpson University, winning 7-0 and 13-3, Saturday in
Redding, Calif. In the opener, Ben Rosen
tossed a complete game four-hit shutout, while Andrew Brock picked up the win
in the night cap, with six solid innings, striking out five. The Yotes hit a pair of home runs in the
doubleheader, as Cody Brubaker and Kyle Douglas went deep, and Alex O’Brien
went 3-for-8 with three RBI.
ABOUT THE COACH: The
2009 season marks the 22nd year in C of I baseball for head coach Shawn Humberger, his ninth year as Coyote skipper. During his tenure, Humberger
has compiled a 273-187-1 record, including a third-place finish at the 2002
NAIA College World Series. He has been
named CCC Baseball Coach of the Year in 2002, 2005, 2006. 2007,
and 2008, along with earning NAIA Region I Coach-of-the-Year and CCC Men's
Coach-of-the-Year for all-sports in 2002. A native of
FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information on
The C of I baseball program, head to the official homepage of the Coyotes, www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/baseball.htm.
SOFTBALL (3-5): Lady Yotes set for State of
LAST WEEK: Idle
COMING UP: at State of Idaho Tournament, Boise
– Friday vs. Boise State, Noon; vs. Idaho State, 4 p.m.; Sunday vs. Boise
State, 10 a.m.; vs. Idaho State, Noon.
LIVE STATS: Live Stats of all C of I games at the State of Idaho
Tournament in Boise will be available online, courtesy of the Boise State
sports information office at the following link, http://www.broncosports.com/liveStats/liveStats.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9900&DB_LANG=&KEY=&DB_OEM_ID=9900&KEY=
and clicking on the corresponding game.
YOTES GET WEEK OFF: Following their Winter Break trip to
Southern California for eight games, the Lady Yotes were able to take last week
off from competition, preparing for this weekend’s State of
WHO WAS HOT IN
ZILLNER NAMED PITCHER OF THE WEEK: For her efforts in
WHO WAS COLD IN
RECORD BOOK: With her two RBI at the SoCal Smash, Stacy Smith has tied Katie Zillner
atop the Coyote record book for career RBI with 86. She also extended her career record total of
home runs to 24. Also approaching a
record is Haley Butcher, who is three doubles away from the career mark shared
by Zillner and Katie Theisen
of 31.
STATE OF
ABOUT
ABOUT
COYOTES
PICKED THIRD IN CCC POLL: The top-three teams in the CCC
remained in the same place they ended 2008, as the league announced its
Preseason Coaches’ Poll on Jan. 26.
Oregon Tech, which won the regular-season title
last year, earned three first-place votes and tallied 44 points in the
balloting. Concordia, which placed
second last year and advanced to the regional tournament, received two
first-place votes and 43 points, with the Lady Yotes receiving the final two
first-place votes and 39 points. Corban, Southern Oregon,
PRESEASON
NAIA TOP-25 POLL: For the second-straight season, the Lady Yotes
earned votes in the Preseason NAIA Top-25 Coaches’ Poll, however, unlike last
season, the squad did not crack the Top-25.
The Coyotes received 21 rater points, the eleventh team listed in the
Others Receiving Votes column. Oregon
Tech was ranked No. 17 in the poll, while Concordia received 73 rater points
and was the second team listed in the Others Receiving Votes category. Two other C of I opponents were in the Top-25
– No. 3 Cal Baptist and No. 21 Cal State-San Marcos.
ABOUT THE COACH: Al Mendiola
is in his fourth year as head coach of The C of I softball program, having
compiled an 86-62 career record – having won more games than any other softball
coach in Coyote history. The native of
GAME
RECAP: CONCORDIA-IRVINE 2-4, C OF I 0-2: Concordia-Irvine used solid pitching and timely
hitting to sweep the season-opening doubleheader from The C of I, winning 2-0
and 4-2, on Feb. 18. In the opener, the
two teams played a scoreless tie into the sixth inning, when with two outs,
Alyssa Erickson launched a two-run home run to provide the only tallies of the
contest. The
Yotes mustered just four hits off starter Rachel Reekstin
- putting runners at second and third in the first, but could not score, then
adding a pair of safeties in the third, but could not plate a run. Jody Zillner allowed just four hits and struck out four, but
took the loss. Game 2 saw the Eagles
jump out to an early 2-0 with RBI singles from Carly Smith
and Shannon Walton in the first, but the Coyotes would cut the margin in half
in the third on a Haley Butcher RBI single. CUI would score a pair of
unearned runs in the fourth on a two-run single by Melanie Hansen to make it
4-1, before Donnae Carrell (Caldwell, Idaho / Middleton HS) lined a
solo home run to lead off the fifth. However, starter Sarah Frudakis was able to work out of a jam in the sixth with
The C of I having the tying runs in scoring position
to preserve the win. Butcher had the
lone multi-hit game for the Yotes, going 2-for-3, while Ashlee Leon went
3-for-3 in the Game 2 win for the Eagles.
GAME
RECAP: DAY 1 AT SMASH: The C of I split a pair of games on the opening day of the Ringor SoCal Smash Tournament in
GAME
RECAP: DAY 2 AT SMASH: Playing a pair of Top-25 teams, The C of I
upended No. 21 ranked Cal State-San Marcos, 4-0, but dropped a tough 4-1
decision to No. 3 ranked Cal Baptist at the Ringor SoCal Smash. In the
opener, Jody Zillner fired a three-hit shutout, not
allowing a hit in the final four innings, retiring the final nine batters of
the game. She helped her own cause in the third inning, leading off the
frame with a solo homer. Nikki Shumway (
GAME
RECAP: DAY 3 AT SMASH: Jody Zillner tossed her second shutout in as
many days, as The C of I won the consolation game at the tournament, topping
No. 21 Cal State-San Marcos, 4-0. The
junior allowed just four singles, walked one, and struck out four - getting
some defensive help in the win, as Stacy Smith threw out the potential tying
run at home plate to end the fifth inning.
The Yotes got on the board in the third, as after a one-out walk to Amaia Enrico (
FOR
MORE INFORMATION: For more information on the Coyote
softball program, head to the official homepage of the Lady Yotes – www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/fastpitch.htm.
SKIING:
Coyotes head to USCSA
Championships in
LAST
WEEK: at USCSA
Western Regionals, Steamboat Springs,
COMING
UP: at USCSA
National Championships,
YOTES
SET FOR NATIONALS: With a pair of fourth-place finishes at the Western Regionals,
both
HISTORY
AT NATIONALS: Over
the three decade history of The C of I ski program, the Coyotes have won 16
individual national championships and 21 team titles - with the last alpine
team titles coming in 1990. The snowboard team has picked up an
individual title each of the last four years.
WHO
THE YOTES WILL MEET: A total of 20 men's and 20 women's teams make up the alpine competition
this weekend. On the men's side, the Yotes will battle the likes of
Cornell, Colgate,
SCHEDULE
OF EVENTS:
Tuesday - Snowboard Halfpipe; Wednesday - Snowboard Slopestyle, Women's Alpine Giant Slalom; Thursday -
Snowboard Boarder-Cross, Skier-Cross, Men's Alpine Giant Slalom; Friday
- Snowboard Boarder-Cross, Skier-Cross, Women's
Slalom; Saturday - Snowboard Giant Slalom, Men's Alpine Slalom.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: For
more information on The C of I ski teams, head to the official home page of the
Coyotes, www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/skiing.htm.
TRACK:
Lady Yotes head to NAIA Indoor
Championships
COMING
UP: at NAIA
Indoor National Championships,
YOTES
HEADED TO NATIONALS: For the fifth-straight year, The C of I will be sending a contingent to
the NAIA Indoor National Championships in
HISTORY
AT INDOOR NATIONALS: In the first four years of the program, the Yotes have recorded four
All-America finishes - David Fluckiger finishing
fourth in the mile in 2005 and sixth in the mile in 2006, Tyler Hopper
finishing fifth in the 1,000-meters in 2008, and Stephanie Helm (Challis, Idaho / Challis HS) finishing
second in the 3,000-meters in 2008.
HELM
SEEDED FOURTH: A
deep field will join Stephanie Helm in the 3,000-meters on Friday, as the
sophomore looks to reach the finals for the second-straight year. A total
of 32 women will be in the race - split up into a pair of 16-runner
heats. Helm is one of four runners that have cracked the ten-minute mark
this season - including last year's national champion, Jamie Cantebury of Azusa Pacific.
DMR
LOOKING TO SCORE: Also competing for the Lady Yotes is the distance medley relay team of
Helm, Jayne Saunders (
FOLLOW THE MEET ONLINE: The NAIA will be providing real-time
race results again this year from the Mini Dome in
FOR
MORE INFORMATION: For more information on The C of I track team, head to the official
homepage of the Coyotes, www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/track.htm.
SWIMMING: Yotes headed to NAIA Championships
in
COMING
UP: at NAIA
Swimming and Diving National Championships,
YOTES
HEAD TO NATIONALS FOR FOURTH-STRAIGHT YEAR: For the fourth-straight year, The C
of I swim team has advanced individuals and relays to the NAIA Championships,
this year held on the campus of Lindenwood University
in the St. Louis metro area. The Coyotes will send a contingent of 12 -
seven women and five men's competitors.
HISTORY
AT NATIONALS: The
Coyote men have finished in the Top-12 at the NAIA meet each of the last three
seasons, including a tenth-place finish in 2007. Last year, the Yotes
recorded their most team points ever, scoring 79 points, en route to a
12th-place finish. The Lady Yotes finished in 15th place during the 2007
season, recording 35 team points.
TOP
COYOTE COMPETITORS: Look for both John Green (
FOR
MORE INFORMATION: For more information on The C of I swim team, head to the official
homepage of the Coyotes, www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/swim.htm.
TENNIS
(Men 0-0, Women 0-2): Coyote Men make
debut this weekend, Lady Yotes look to get in win column
COMING UP: Men - at Pacific, Saturday, 9 a.m. (PT); at George Fox,
Sunday, 10 a.m. (PT). Women - at George Fox, Saturday, 6 p.m. (PT), at
COYOTE
MEN TO MAKE RETURN TO COURT THIS WEEKEND: For the first time since the 2001
season, The C of I will field a men's tennis team, as the Coyotes open up the
2009 campaign with a pair of matches in the Willamette Valley. The Yotes
participated in tennis throughout the 1950s, 60s, and into the 70s, before the
sport was dropped. It was reinstated in 1997, but dropped again following
the 2001 season - in which the Yotes placed third at the NAIA Region I
Tournament.
LOOKING
AT THE TOP OF THE COYOTE LADDER: Leading the way for the Yotes is Jaron Tietsort (Caldwell, Idaho / Vallivue
HS), who at six-foot five-inches, will play both No. 1 singles and
doubles. Look for positive things as well from
two-sport athlete, Garga
Caserta (
ABOUT
THE TEAMS: The
Yotes will meet a pair of NCAA Division III schools on their trip - Pacific and George Fox. The Boxers
(2-5) have lost five matches in a row after opening the
season with routs of
LADIES
LOOKING FOR FIRST WIN: After dropping a pair of 9-0 decisions last month in
ABOUT
THE OPPONENTS: The
Lady Yotes open with an evening match Saturday at George Fox, who will be looking to
end a five match losing streak. The Bruins (1-5) have struggled in
doubles play this season, winning just three doubles points, but have had three
different players win points at No. 3 singles. Sunday morning, its off to
FOR
MORE INFORMATION: For more information on The C of I tennis program, head to the official
homepage of the Coyotes, www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/tennis.htm.
MEN’S BASKETBALL (16-15): Season Review
LAST WEEK: at Evergreen State (L 70-57) – Season
Complete
COYOTES FALL IN PLAYOFF OPENER: A 28-5 run spanning both halves
doomed The C of I, as the Coyotes lost in the opening round of the Cascade
Conference Tournament to Evergreen State, 70-57, in snowy Olympia, Wash., last
Wednesday night. The loss ends the Yotes
season - with the squad losing in the opening round of the CCC tourney for the
third-straight year, while Evergreen advanced to the league semifinals for just
the third time in program history and avenged a pair of last-second losses to
The C of I. Early on, the Coyotes
dictated the tempo, utilizing the entire shot clock each possession, building a 21-15 lead
with 5:03 remaining in the first half on a Steffen
Spinks (Manteca, Calif. / East Union
HS) lay-up. However, a Michael Ward fastbreak
lay-in and a Anthony Gallagher block of a C of I dunk attempt fueled the Geoducks, who closed the period on a 15-2 spurt, taking a
30-23 halftime lead on a Nick Moore put-back at the buzzer. Evergreen would open the second half on a
13-3 run, taking a 43-26 lead with 16-minutes left, but the Yotes would battle
back, closing within 60-55 on a Brian Bergerson (Modesto,
Calif. / Modesto CC) bucket with four minutes left - but it was as close as
The C of I would get. Ward led all
players with 22 points, with
CCC TOURNAMENT RECAP: For the first time since the 2004
season (when the Coyotes won the CCC Tournament), the regular-season CCC
champion claimed the CCC Tournament title.
Oregon Tech claimed the title with an 82-72 victory over
FOUR TEAMS TO THE NAIA TOURNAMENT: For the second time in league
history, four teams have qualified for the NAIA Division II National
Tournament, as the 32-team field was unveiled.
Oregon Tech and
MCGEE NAMED ALL-CCC, CHAMP AND
CHAMP HITS THE 1,000 MARK IN FINALE: Wednesday’s playoff game in
SINGLE-SEASON RECORD BOOK: Three Coyotes have etched their names
in the single-season record book during the 2008-09 season. Craig McGee ranks third on the free throw
attempts list (223), while he is eighth in free throws made (130) and turnovers
(93), ninth in rebounds (281), and tenth in blocked shots (37). Jabari McIntosh
finds himself No. 4 in single-season blocks (48), with Bryan Champ ninth in
steals (74).
CAREER RECORD BOOK: Four Yotes have cracked the career
record book this year – with Craig McGee leading the way in four different
categories – No. 2 in free throw attempts (461), No. 4 in blocked shots (79),
No. 6 in rebounds (560), and No. 8 in free throws made (281). Bryan Champ is second all-time in steals
(257) and is ninth in assists (232), and tenth and games played (113), with Jabari McIntosh ninth in blocked shots (48), and Kurt Nielson (Rexburg, Idaho / Madison HS) eighth in games played (115).
UP AND DOWN 2008-09 SEASON: It was tumultuous season for the
Coyotes, with many peaks and valleys – but marked the 25th winning season for
The C of I in the last 28 years. The
season started off rocky, losing the first four games, beginning the year 1-5 –
with four of the five losses to teams that at one point in the season were
ranked in the Top-25. The Yotes picked
up a pair of wins in California and opened CCC play with a road split on the
southern tour, but suffered a second-half collapse at the Wendy’s Classic
against Montana Western, then had a poor outing at home against Warner Pacific.
However, the team rededicated themselves over the Christmas season, beginning a
six-game win streak that including victories over nationally-ranked Eastern
Oregon and
LOOKING AHEAD: The Yotes lose just three seniors –
Bryan Champ, Kurt Nielson, and Ryan Sinfield (Redwood
City, Calif. / St. Francis HS) – and return a quality group of players,
including forwards Craig McGee, Jabari McIntosh, and Terriel Thomas, and guards Steffen Spinks, Brian Bergerson, Kelvin
Potts (Oakland, Calif. / Chabot CC),
and Duncan Koga (Caldwell, Idaho / Caldwell HS).
The team will also be helped by a trio of players that missed the season
due to medical redshirts – guards Tucker Long (Pocatello, Idaho / Century HS), Calen Blessinger (Blackfoot, Idaho / Columbia Basin CC), and Londale Theus (Los Angeles, Calif. / New Mexico State).
FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more on The C of I men’s
basketball program, head to the homepage of the