Archives for : April2012
Linfield alumnus coach Chris Casey announced at a press conference his new position as the head coach of George Fox University’s newly revived football program, which is set to kick off in fall 2014 as part of the NCAA Division III and Northwest Conference after a 45 year hiatus of the sport.
Casey, who is currently the coach for Aloha High School football, will finish one more season with the team this fall before his transition to George Fox.
“It’s a win-win deal to be able to coach my last year at Aloha and take the job at George Fox, I couldn’t ask for a better situation as a coach,” Casey said in a “Bald-Faced Truth” radio show interview with John Canzano, sports columnist for The Oregonian.
The transition will be a return home for Casey, as the Newberg local is no stranger to the Bruins’ campus.
“My brother and I were ball boys for the baseball and the last football team. We literally grew up on campus,” said Casey in a phone interview.
All seven children of the Casey family were born in Newberg and many family members, including his parents, still live there. Casey’s brother, George Fox alum Pat Casey, served as the Bruins’ head baseball coach before leaving to coach OSU baseball while another brother serves as Newberg’s police chief.
Casey was a four-sport student athlete at Newberg High School. Graduating with the class of ’76, he went on to play for Mt. Hood Community College during the ’76 and ’77 seasons and began his Linfield career in 1978. Although a shoulder injury and surgery made ’78 and ‘79 red shirt years for Casey, he returned to play the defensive side of the ball as a strong safety in ’80 and ’81.
After graduating from Linfield, he went on to coach at Dalles High School before returning to his alma mater as an assistant football coach, recruiting coordinator and baseball coach from 1985-94.
Casey then took his experience to Whitworth in Spokane, Wash., to serve as an assistant football coach until 2004.
When Casey played as a Wildcat, defense coordinator Mike Riley (1977-82) and head coach Ad Rutschman gave Casey what he described as “a very positive experience.” Casey remarked that his attraction to small college teams prevails in their value of athletics.
“My coaching philosophy and mentorship come from coach Rutschman. He is such a moral, ethical person and very successful on top of it,” Casey said in a phone interview.
In addition to his time working with coach Rutschman, Casey’s ties to the community were some of the strong considerations for George Fox Athletic Director Craig Taylor.
“GFU and the Casey family go back a long way,” Taylor said in a phone interview.
“Chris is a person of very strong faith, I think there’s a real strong connection.”
Reportedly, a number upward of 80 candidates showed interest in the position, but Taylor was drawn to Casey’s football traditions.
“Chris rose to the top of a very strong candidate pool for a variety of reasons,” Taylor said.
With a total of 30 years as a player and coach, and 22 years in the NWC, Casey’s experience in the football community is extensive. His “play to excellence” attitude has earned him a reputation that has been widely recognized.
Casey was titled 6A Coach of the year in 2010, as he guided the once struggling football program of Aloha to the Oregon High School Class 6A Championship; a story that Taylor calls “amazing.”
Aloha wasn’t the only down-and-out program Casey invested in. During his 10 years coaching at Whitworth, he brought the team to a league title after it had been falling flat in the conference.
“Wherever he’s been, the program has risen,” Taylor said.
Casey plans to do the same with the revival of the Bruins football program, fully aware of the challenges ahead.
“We have to develop an identity, develop tradition and player leadership, those things are all going to take time,” Casey said.
“It’s not the challenge, but how you approach the challenge,” he said.
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Chrissy Shane/Staff writer
Chrissy Shane can be reached at linfieldreviewsports@gmail.com.
With nationals drawing closer, seven Linfield track athletes competed April 27 at Lane Community College in Eugene, Ore., in the Titan Twilight.
On the men’s side, senior Eric Weinbender finished second in the 1,500-meter run, crossing the finish line in four minutes, 2.31 seconds. In mid-distance, freshman Colin Nelson took third in the 400, finishing 50.70.
For the women, junior Melany Crocker was runner-up in the 100, finishing at 12.59, and placed third in the 200 with a time of 26.18.
Freshman Audrey Lichten managed to shave a full five seconds off her career-best time in the 800, finishing fifth in 2:19.05.
Seniors Catherine Street and Misty Corwin finished 1-2 in the pole vault, with Street clearing the bar at 13 feet, 1 inch and Corwin achieving a season-best at 11 feet, 7¼ inches.
Head coach Travis Olson said he is optimistic about the upcoming meets.
“I feel like the season has gone very well. I certainly expect [Street] to contend for a national title,” Olson said.
In other field events, sophomore Anna LaBeaume won the hammer throw with a heave of 151 feet, 9 inches and also placed third in the shot put with a throw of 36 feet, 2.75 inches.
“I am really proud with the way the team competed this year,” Olson said. “They really worked hard and I feel like it has paid off.”
In the end, the meet was scored with the Linfield women taking fifth of 10 teams and the Wildcat men finishing sixth of nine.
The Wildcats will host the Linfield Twilight on May 4 at Maxwell Field.
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Caleb Goad/Staff writer
Caleb Goad can be reached at linfieldreviewsports@gmail.com.
Hey ’Cats. There’s been a whirlwind of activity in the last few weeks as spring athletics wind down and begin getting geared up for the playoffs. An impressively high number of Linfield spring teams have captured post-season berths or remain close in the hunt, so I’d like to dole out a few shout-outs and take a look at who’s playing through and who’s staying home.
The men’s golf team wrapped up a fourth Northwest Conference title in the past five years April 22. Senior Alex Fitch putted his way to first place in the tourney, his staggering seventh individual tournament title this season. A pair of promising freshmen in Connor Mangnuson and Taylor Klopp also netted fourth and sixth-place finishes, respectively. The team will take its talents to Orlando, Fla., to play for the NCAA title later in May. On the other side of things, women’s golf played hard at the NWC tourney but couldn’t climb any higher than fifth on the second day.
On the same day that the Linfield softball team dropped the NWC tourney crown to Pacific Lutheran, the women’s tennis team took its 13-0 conference record into the NWC Championship match against Whitman and got swatted 5-1. Besides ending an impressive 13-game conference winning streak, it also put the team in jeopardy of staying home for the playoffs despite its solid overall record of 13-5. The NCAA’s most recent release of regional rankings has Linfield slotted at eight, with senior ace Abby Olbrich individually ranked eighth and her doubles team sophomore Caroline Brigham ranked sixth. Keep in mind that the top 12 teams will be selected for regional berths. The regional selections will be announced May 6 for tennis and May 7 for softball.
Meanwhile, senior pole vaulter Catherine Street has captured another record, this time breaking the Division-III national record for outdoor pole vault with an impressive clear of 13 feet, 9.75 inches. The clear secured her fourth consecutive NWC crown and earned her a chance to claim the NCAA outdoor crown to go with her previously earned indoor championship earlier in the semester. While Street was soaring, sophomore Anna LaBeaume tossed her way to a repeat title in the shot put and a first-time championship in the hammer throw. Overall, the ’Cats finished third in the NWC meet and have a few opportunities to qualify individuals and the team for the NCAA championships in May.
Finally, the Linfield baseball team appears to have hit free-fall mode. The team is 2-8 during its past 10 games and currently sits on a five-game losing streak heading for what looks to be its final four games of the season. At fourth place in the NWC and with a 21-15 overall record, things aren’t looking so great for a regional berth. Last week, Linfield dropped out of the NCAA’s Top 30 rankings as well as www.d3baseball.com’s Top 25.
With only a few precious games or meets left on the docket, now is the time to get out for some Linfield sports. Our men and women will be on the road come playoff time, so give your love now while you still can.
Good luck in the playoffs to our post-season qualifiers, and congrats to all for a successful spring season.
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Chris Forrer/Sports columnist
Chris Forrer can be reached at linfieldreviewsports@gmail.com.
When looking back on the season for the Linfield baseball team, I was left with a bunch of what-ifs, wondering why it didn’t do as well as expected with the team that it had this year. Was it the coaching? Or, was it the attitude of the players?
The ‘Cats were ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation this year. This, however, did not last, and now the baseball team is no longer in the top 25 in the Division-III rankings. As I poured over the games I had watched, I tried to understand why they were unable to be the dominating team the polls had predicted they would be.
At the end of last season, the Wildcats had a team batting average of .315 with 44 games under their belt. This year, however, after 34 games, their team batting average was .285. Not only was team batting average lower, but its runs scored average was also lower. In 2011, their average runs per game was 6.95, but in 2012, this statistic dropped to 6.24. In 2011, the Wildcats never lost a best of three series, while in 2012, the ‘Cats lost the best of three series against Pacific University, George Fox University and Whitworth University.
Another scoring statistic that haunted the team was that if it was trailing this year beyond the fourth inning, it only won three of those games. So, before I blame it all on their batting, the pitching staff must bear some of the fault if the hitters averaged six runs a game. Opponents’ batting average against the pitching staff was .232 in 2012, while in 2011 it was .241.
The ERA of the Wildcat pitchers was 2.92 in 2012 and 2.81 in 2011. Although the pitchers’ ERA was 2.92, the defense in the field behind them faltered this year. The average runs per game against Linfield in 2012 was 3.76. In 2011, it was 3.63. Due to errors, Linfield, on average, gave up one more run a game in both years.
When breaking down the averages of the season, it’s hard to understand what went wrong for the Wildcats. They played similarly to 2011, but instead of taking first in the NWC with 20 wins and 4 losses, they ended in fifth place with 15 wins and nine losses.
The difference this year was that the ‘Cats didn’t score in games where they needed to score. Due to errors, pitching stayed in innings longer then they should have, and when they had to string hits together to score runs, they failed to do so. It wasn’t that they lacked talent or that the coaches ruined the games for them, instead, it was just unfortunate circumstances, such as great pitching and poor hitting or great hitting combined with poor pitching and fielding against teams they had to beat.
Perhaps the most shocking statistic from the two years was not what the team did, but the fan turnout. In 2011, total home attendance was 2,435 averaging 202 people a game. In 2012, however, total home attendance dropped to an average of 97 people a game.
So, perhaps for success the ‘Cats just need a little more fan support to get them through next year.
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Carson Crepeaux/Staff writer
Carson Crepeaux can be reached at linfieldreviewsports@gmail.com.
Linfield may see one of its own in the Olympics one day. Senior Catherine Street, a pole vaulter on the track and field team, holds the all-time NCAA Division-III outdoor record and has won the conference title four years in a row.
On April 20 at the Northwest Conference Championships, Street cleared the bar at 13 feet 9 3/4 inches, setting a new Division-III record.
Street began her athletic career as a gymnast, but stopped before high school.
“I knew I wanted to go out for track my freshman year, but I had bronchitis and couldn’t run,” Street said. “When my high school head coach found out I was a gymnast, he stuck a pole in my hand and the rest is history.”
In college, Street has had to learn to balance pole vaulting with her education. Street hasn’t been able to train with the team the last couple of years because she is at Linfield’s nursing campus in Portland.
“I’m lucky that I get to vault with my club coaches while I’ve been at the Portland campus,” Street said.
Street has had to find time to train around working 12 hour shifts at the Randall Children’s Hospital for her senior practicum. Her training consists of pole vault technique, sprints, gymnastics work and weight training.
While Street has to work hard, she said she loves everything about the sport.
“The thing I love most about pole vault is the moment of free falling after you’ve cleared a big bar, and you know you’ve made it,” Street said. “Best feeling in the world.”
Along the way, Street has had some fierce competitors to contend with. Abby Schaffer from Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pa., is one of Street’s biggest rivals. The two will get the opportunity to face off in the NCAA Division-III Outdoor Championships in Claremount, Calif., starting May 24.
“Schaffer and I have been going back and forth on the national level,” Street said. “She always brings it at big meets.”
Street also respects fellow Linfield pole vaulter, senior Misty Corwin, as a competitor.
“She’s had some bad luck this season so far, but give her one good day and we are going to have two Linfield vaulters over 4.00 meters this year,” Street said.
Street has been lucky to have people to help hone her talents in the sport. At Linfield, she has received help in the mental realm of the sport.
“Vaulting is 90 percent psychological,” Street said. “At Linfield, I have had a lot of support from my coaches.”
Street has improved physically in the sport as well.
“I think she’s gotten faster,” said Travis Olson, the track and field head coach. “She’s always been pretty sound on her technique, but you also have to be fast.”
After graduating in the spring, Street plans to continue her pole vaulting career. This time, she is setting her sights higher than a Division-III record: the Olympics.
“I hope to qualify for the Olympic Trials, but that’s not where I’m going to stop,” Street said. “I hope to find a job close by so I can keep training and become an elite vaulter. I love vaulting too much to stop after my Linfield career is over.”
Street has set her sights on big goals, but with her impressive work ethic, we just may see Street compete in the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.
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Meghan O’Rourke/Opinion editor
Meghan O’Rourke can be reached at linfieldreviewopinion@gmail.com.
Continuing a break from Northwest Conference games, the Wildcats baseball team traveled to Lewiston, Idaho, to compete against the Lewis-Clark State University Warriors on April 27-29.
The Wildcats started their final game ready to play. Scoring the first run of the game was junior Jordan Harlow off a double hit by junior Tim Wilson. The Warriors tied the game with a run during their turn at bat in the first inning.
Linfield continued to struggle to score despite earning at least one base hit every inning until the sixth inning. The Warriors pulled ahead during the fourth inning when they scored five runs. Sophomore Justin Huckins took over for senior pitcher Robert Vaughn during the fifth inning.
The Wildcats fell further behind when Lewis-Clark State scored its seventh run in the fifth inning. Making a comeback, Linfield scored its second run when senior Ryan Larson scored off an error made by Lewis-Clark State’s third baseman, only the first of eight runs in the seventh inning. Despite a strike out by Harlow, Wilson was able to score off a wild pitch.
Lewis-Clark State switched pitchers only to be scored off of by sophomore Kenny Johnson, after a single to left field hit by junior Kyle Chamberlain. Junior Zach Boskovich was walked, allowing Wilson to score. After a second pitching change on the Warriors side, the Wildcats continued to score off of errors made by Lewis-Clark State. Also to score during the seventh inning was Chamberlain, sophomore Kramer Lindell and Boskovich, rounding the Wildcat’s score up to nine.
Not letting the Warriors score during the seventh inning, the Wildcats moved into the eighth inning keeping their lead. However, the Wildcats were unable to score during the inning.
The Wildcats made it through the eighth inning without letting the Warriors score, keeping the score 9-7. Starting the final inning, both Boskovich and Lindell made it on base and advanced to second base and third base off a sacrifice bunt by senior Jesse Boustead. Larson hit a fly ball to right field that was caught, but allowed Lindell to score, putting the Wildcat’s score at 10-7.
Not allowing the Warriors to score during the remainder of the game, Linfield won 10-7.
Despite having a strong pitching team, the Warriors were only able to hold off the Wildcats during the first two games.
“They have good pitchers ranging from guys with high velocity to guys that hit their spots. So far they have had clutch hitting that has helped them beat us,” junior Zach Manley said in an email.
Starting the series off, the Wildcats couldn’t push through Lewis-Clark State’s defense, losing the first game 4-0.
Drawing out the second game of the series, the Warriors continued to out-score the Wildcats. Linfield had a tough start to the game, as the Warriors managed to score their first run in the first inning. After earning its first run, Lewis-Clark State was held off by Linfield till the seventh inning.
Scoring its first run during the sixth inning, Wilson hit a home run to right field. Tied going into the seventh inning, the Warriors pulled ahead, scoring by three runs. Retaliating against Lewis-Clark State, Linfield scored four runs regaining the lead in the eighth inning.
Earning the first run of the inning was Wilson off a double hit by Johnson. Scoring two more runs, Johnson and Lindell were able to make it to home off a single hit up the middle by Chamberlain.
The final run scored for Linfield was Boskovich, who scored off of a sacrifice bunt hit by junior Michael Hopp. While having a momentary lead, the Wildcats were shut down in Lewis-Clark State’s final inning when it scored four runs, ending the game 8-5.
Despite losing two games during the series, the Wildcats fought hard and won their final game.
A rematch between the two teams is scheduled for May 4. Linfield will also play against Pacific Lutheran University on May 5 and George Fox University on May 6.
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Kaylyn Peterson/Sports editor
Kaylyn Peterson can be reached at linfieldreviewsports@gmail.com.
It’s Stanley Cup season, and I still can’t figure out why Canada likes hockey so much. Oh yeah; it’s the fighting. Anyone who has been to a hockey game most likely looks forward to the chance of witnessing an impromptu brawl on ice skates.
Well, “Goon” takes this prospect from the fan’s mind and runs away with it to the wildest extents. “Goon” is a comedy in the hockey-movie genre, and though it is plenty funny, the other aspects of the movie working together make it more than the sum of its parts and certainly more than a comedy. Maybe one of the most effective aspects of the film is its cast.
“Goon” stars Sean William Scott, and unfortunately, this may be enough to turn some people away. Scott has been regularly type cast since his debut in “American Pie,” unable to transcend the role of “Stifler.” Scott has been condemned to play “Stifler” with a different name throughout his career. This has led most viewers and critics to not take him and his movies seriously.
Luckily, for the movie and his career, Scott owns the role as the amiable bruiser, Doug Glatt, and presents a character that is downright impossible to dislike. Eugene Levy joins Scott from “American Pie” to play the role of Doug’s father, a smart, well to-do businessman who thrusts the same expectations on his son. Allison Pill, who some may remember as Kim Pine from the “Scott Pilgrim” movie, plays Doug’s love interest and the die hard hockey fan in distress, Eva. And, Liev Schreiber plays the perfect villain, as Doug’s big bad rival, Ross Rhea.
There are also the members on Doug’s team who make up for most of the comedy in the movie, and though they are pretty much insane, they become lovably insane as the movie progresses. The story gives us a chance to know and identify with these characters and makes their key roles effective.
Doug is a simple bouncer at a bar in his hometown. However, he’s unhappy. His job as a bouncer leaves him unfulfilled and he only wants to find “his thing”—the one thing that he is good at. He has come to terms with the fact that he is not cut out for more academic pursuits, but his parents continue to pressure him into a proper line of work.
One night, at a hockey game, Doug gets into a fight with a hockey player from the visiting team, and with ease, knocks his lights out. The coach from the home team notices Doug’s talent, calls him up the next day and slaps a pair of skates on him. Without knowing how to skate, or even play hockey, Doug fights his way to the big leagues, truly mocking the sport.
Along his way to glory, Doug must save Eva from her lame boyfriend and confront his parents’ expectations, his identity as merely an entertaining brute and his role as a team player. While at the same time, a threat looms in the background as the even more brutal hockey legend, Ross Rhea, steadily approaches Doug to duke it out on the ice. Everything hangs in the balance as Doug discovers his calling, and it turns into a fun, albeit gruesome, ride.
Like “21 Jump Street,” “Goon” is more than a comedy. It has its dramatic moments and is filmed with a beautiful expertise one does not see in comedy films before 2010. I assure you these things only add to the whole experience. If you want to catch “Goon,” you will have to catch it in an Art house theatre in Portland or more conveniently, On-Demand.
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Ian Storey/For the Review
Ian Storey can be reached at linfieldreviewculture@gmail.com.
Up and coming Seattle—based artist Philana released a memorable debut album, “Arrows for Everyone,” on April 14.
This indie-pop group is led by the natural, dynamic talent of Philana Goodrich, who grew up on Orcas Island, which is off the coast of Washington.
As the daughter of artists, it is not surprising that she is as gifted, inspired and driven as her work conveys.
For the past two years, she has found herself performing around the Seattle area with group members Jordan Clark (drums), Scotty X (Bass), Derek DeGroot (Saxophone/Tambourine) and Chaz Altman (Trumpet/Keys/Electric Guitar).
As they continue to make a name for themselves, Philana’s voice continues to resonate in every listener they’ve encountered.
Philana’s musical flair can be easily accepted as genuine and strong. Through her collaboration of talents as writer, vocalist and pianist, she is able to create a passionate listening experience.
Her voice displays an unwavering confidence that has successfully broken through the clutter that too much of pop is today.
The endless instrumental abilities of this group allow for extensive versatility, which also contributes to the interest and enjoyable nature of this album.
Even if it is classified as pop, you can’t help but pick up on undertones of R&B, soul and jazz richly embedded throughout the tracks. Contemporary and traditional have found a happy medium in “Arrows for Everyone.”
It is evident that her soul is imprinted in each track on this album. There is an incredibly refreshing nature regarding a genuine performance like the one she displays within the pop music sphere.
Philana’s voice, in addition to the carefully constructed instrumentals in “Boarders,” promotes a real, down-to-earth sensation that builds off of each component in a succinct, raw fashion that sounds effortlessly flawless.
This album is beautifully overwhelmed in versatility through vocal tone, lyrics and instrumental diversity.
Each track deserves your fullest attention, and I think you will find that Philana will quickly earn it, whether you’re ready for it or not.
Tune in to listen to Philana on KSLC 90.3 FM. You can also listen online at www.linfield.edu/kslcfm or stream through the latest version of iTunes.
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Brinn Hovde/KSLC Music Director
Brinn Hovde can be reached at kslcmusic@gmail.com.
Size matters… Or does it?
In short, no, it does not. Penis size is a big focus for men, when in reality, size plays a small role for women.
Porn has given many men the idea that the average penis size is much bigger than it really is. One of the most famous men in the porn industry, Ron Jeremy, is reported as having a penis more than nine inches long. This idea of average can make men feel inadequate.
Firstly, the men are in those videos because they have a big penis, just like the women are in them because they are skinny with big, fake breasts.
Secondly, ouch!
The average length penis is between two and four inches while flaccid, and five and six inches when erect: much smaller than Ron’s.
There are also different penis shapes. Some can be slightly bigger at the head, circumcised or uncircumcised, and they can bend in different directions. Bending has nothing to do with how a man places his penis when he puts clothes on. The bend is natural and can even be helpful in some positions.
Why doesn’t size matter? Women are more mentally stimulated when it comes to sex. The way her partner talks to her and makes her feel will do more for her in the end.
Also, the average depth of a woman’s vagina is three to four inches. If a man’s penis is too long, it can hit the cervix, possibly causing pain to the woman.
Additionally, if the penis is too wide, it can cause painful stretching of the vaginal walls.
Physically, women are stimulated mostly in the first two inches of the vagina, where there are more nerve endings. Think outside the vagina. Most women are stimulated more or only by the clitoris.
There can be size differences that prevent a couple from feeling much on both sides. This is where sexual fitness comes in. Find a position that will angle the vagina differently. Try raising her hips by placing a pillow under them. With the man behind the woman on her knees, she can relax her head and upper back all the way to the floor. The man can also angle his penis to rub against the wall of the vagina.
All in all, it’s the motion of the ocean that can make the difference for both partners. And that is the long and short of it.
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Bailey can be reached at linfieldreviewbailey@gmail.com.