By Josh Hughes
As winter briskly sets in, Western’s athletics prepare to amp up for an exciting quarter. After women’s soccer won the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II (D2) tournament this past fall, the winter sports teams intend to keep up Western’s excellent track record as a D2 school. While our consistently title-winning women’s rowing team will have to wait another quarter for their spotlight, a plethora of other teams will undoubtedly have their moments to shine over these next few months.
Men’s Basketball:
Western’s men’s basketball team has already won two games this quarter, against Alaska and Alaska-Anchorage, and they’ll have at least seven home games in the next month and a half. Since Carver is still under construction, home games will be held at Whatcom Community College (WCC). Men’s basketball had an impeccable fall quarter, winning 11 of their 15 games, so expect an equally exciting winter for them.
Last December, Western’s Taylor Stafford scored 44 points against UC San Diego, leading Western to victory in a 104-81 game. Last year, the team tied for 6th in the Greater Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) tournament as the number six seed, and this year they are expected to place with good standing in the tournament, which takes place the first weekend of March, followed by the NCAA DII Tournament.
Most home games can be broadcasted on KBAI Radio at 930 AM, or online at wwuvikings.com
Track & Field:
The indoor season of Western’s track and field team starts with the UW Indoor Preview meet on January 14, which kicks off a string of UW meets over the next few months. The team never performs at Western during the indoor season, but after the UW events they will have a chance to go to the GNAC Championships in Nampa, Idaho, in late February.
The outdoor track and field season starts in spring quarter, where the team will travel to Tacoma for a Puget Sound University meet. Over the quarter, the team will travel to Texas, Oregon and California, to name just a few of the cities that will hold meets from March to late May.
Senior javelin thrower Bethany Drake has recently come into the spotlight for competing in the U.S. Olympic Trials and being named GNAC Field Athlete of the week on multiple occasions throughout last year. Expect her senior year to only improve upon her unparalleled track record at Western, along with plenty other runners, jumpers and throwers at Western.
Women’s Basketball:
Like the men’s team, Western’s women’s basketball has already kicked off the quarter with two wins, one against Northwest Nazarene and the other against Central Washington. Also playing at WCC, they will have eight home games over the next month or so, followed by the chance to compete in the GNAC Tournament and eventually the NCAA DII Tournament.
Their ranking within the division, which has just recently improved from 23 to 22, places them at good standing for the season, and with their recent wins the team is expected to have a successful few months.
Senior Taylor Peacocke had quite the year last year, scoring a place on the GNAC All-Academic Team and starting and playing in all 28 games, and this year she should continue to be at the top of her game. Games can also be streamed online at wwuvikings.com or heard on KBAI Radio at 930 AM.
Softball:
Lastly, Western’s softball team will start the year off on February 2, where they will play Hawaii-Pacific as the away team. Their season, unlike the other winter sports, should extend deep into spring quarter, culminating in the GNAC Championships in Lacey, WA, in early May.
Last year, four players, Emily Benson, Kali Patterson, Alexie Levin and Emma Blauser all made it into the 2016 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Softball All-Conference Team, led by first-baseman Benson, a junior. Benson hit the single season home run record last year with 12 home runs, so the next few years she has even more time to grow as an athlete and show her talents for the team.
While the team has quite a few away games this year, they will make their first home appearance against Montana State-Billings on March 4, which kicks off their busiest month of the season.
Western sports have plenty to offer during winter quarter, so go outside and support the athletes and teams! Go Vikings!
