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Freshman golfer stands high early in season

Posted by :jprokop On : March 10, 2013
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Finishing in the top 10 in the Northwest Conference Fall Classic would be a great accomplishment for any female golfer, especially for a freshman. But Maggie Harlow did just that for the Wildcats at the 2012 edition of the tournament.

Harlow, joined her older brother, senior Jordan Harlow, at Linfield after four years at Glencoe High School in Hillsboro, Ore., where she competed in golf, basketball and soccer.

Freshman Maggie Harlow led the Wildcats’ golf team during the fall with an average round of 87.1 strokes. Harlow will compete at the Pacific University Invitational starting March 9 and 10. The event is held at the Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club in Aloha, Ore. Joel Ray/Senior photographer

Freshman Maggie Harlow led the Wildcats’ golf team during the fall with an average round of 87.1 strokes. Harlow will compete at the Pacific University Invitational starting March 9 and 10. The event is held at the Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club in Aloha, Ore.
Joel Ray/Senior photographer

An elementary education major, Harlow was able to become familiar with classes and life at Linfield during the fall.

“I was already pretty familiar with Linfield because of Jordan,” Harlow said. “I really like it here. I like the small class sizes.”

Not long into her first semester, Harlow’s golf season began, where she joined the other Linfield golfers.

“I love the coach [Brynn Hurdus],” Harlow said. “It’s fun to be in a competitive setting.”

Harlow started off the fall season decently, finishing in the middle of the pack in both of her first two tournaments.

But when the Linfield Classic came to Michelbook Country Club, Harlow’s game turned up a notch. The freshman placed first in the dual tournament versus Corban College, shooting an 81.

“My best tournament was at Michelbook,” Harlow said.

Playing great golf, Harlow was able to place 10th at the NWC Fall Classic, shooting 170 during the two rounds. Her play, along with junior Alexandria Smith’s, led the Wildcats to a fifth place finish in the eight-team tournament.

“I was happy with being in the top 10 in the conference tournament,” Harlow said. “I want to get better in the spring.”

Taking the winter off, Harlow started the spring season March 3. Going into this season, Harlow has some personal and team goals.

“I want to be more consistent,” Harlow said. “I would like to shoot in the low 80s and even break 80. I would like to place better in the Spring Classic, and I hope the team places third.”

Harlow has already started her spring campaign at the Pacific Lutheran Invitational. Harlow tied for sixth at the one day tournament.

The Wildcats continue their season at the Pacific Invitational on March 9 and 10.

 

Chris Haddeland/ Senior reporter

Chris Haddeland can be reached at linfieldreviewsports@gmail.com.

Doucette receives athlete of the year honors at Oregon Sports Awards

Posted by :jprokop On : March 10, 2013
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She has the highest batting average, highest slugging percentage, highest on base percentage, has started the most games, holds the record for the most home runs and is tied for most games played among numerous other Linfield softball records. Can you guess which 2012 graduate holds these records? If you answered Staci Doucette, you were correct.

Staci Doucette

Staci Doucette

Linfield alum Staci Doucette was recognized for her outstanding accomplishments, while playing at Linfield College. She was awarded the Ad Rutchman Small-College Athlete of the Year Award on Feb. 10 at the Tiger Woods Center on the Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton, Ore.

Keisha Gordon, a basketball player at George Fox University and Junia Limage, a runner at Concordia University were the other nominees for the female Athlete of the Year category.

Doucette knocked the other nominees out of the park as Jay Locey, former head coach of Linfield football (1996-2005) and current Oregon State University chief of staff, announced her as the winner.

“It was truly an honor to win the award, and to even be mentioned with some of the other nominees and award winners of the evening,” Doucette said.

She was a standout among the other athletes at the 61st Oregon Sports Award ceremony. Some of her career accolades include 73 home runs, 259 RBIs later and four-time All American.

She was happy to celebrate her accomplishments with her family at the Oregon Sports Awards.

Softball has always been a big part of her life, and she has her parents to thank for that. Both of her parents played slow pitch when they were younger, so Doucette has been around the game since she was very little. Her parents rarely missed her games.

She is also grateful for the support she has received from her coaches and teammates through the years. Her coaches pushed her to think about her swing mechanics and game strategies.

“I’ve had some pretty amazing coaches, namely my summer ball coach, Tom Bequette,” she said. “Obviously, [Coach] Jackson was a huge influence, as well. Also, my Linfield teammates did a great job of pushing me, and the rest of the team, to work hard every single day.”

One of her greatest contributions to the Linfield softball program was her positive leadership. She led Catball to a second place finish at the National Tournament.

“The atmosphere of Linfield softball is amazing,” she said. “The Catball philosophy has always been to do things right, not only on the field but off of it as well. We have very high standards for ourselves, and we’re often our harshest critics. Seeing how hard everybody works every single day is pretty amazing.”

As Doucette has transitioned from a college athlete to a college graduate, she has continued to commit herself to Linfield softball. Since her move to McMinnville in December, she has been serving as the assistant coach for her former Catball teammates.

“I think softball will definitely always be apart of my life,” Doucette said. “I expect to coach for quite awhile. I’m definitely going to take some time off from playing for now, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I pick it up again in a few years.”

Doucette feels honored to be apart of the Linfield softball tradition and is thankful for her family, coaches and teammates.

“I couldn’t have done any of this without my teammates, so thanks you guys.”

 

Sarah Mason/ Staff writer

Sarah Mason can be reached at linfieldreviewsports@linfield.edu

Wildcats end season with win against the Bearcats

Posted by :jprokop On : March 10, 2013
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The Wildcats women’s basketball team wrapped up the 2012-13 season with a win over Northwest Conference foe Willamette University on Feb. 19 at the Ted Wilson Gymnasium.

Prior to the game, Linfield senior Nicole Barton was honored as the Wildcats’ lone senior on senior night.

Sophomore guard Alex Christenson looks for a teammate to pass the ball to during the game against WIllamette. The Wildcats won 66-45. Christenson averaged 2.9 points per game and 39 assists. Ivanna Tucker/Sports editor

Sophomore guard Alex Christenson looks for a teammate to pass the ball to during the game against WIllamette. The Wildcats won 66-45. Christenson averaged 2.9 points per game and 39 assists.
Ivanna Tucker/Sports editor

The scoring started low for both teams, with only one basket scored in the first three minutes by Wildcats’ sophomore Katelyn Henson. At the 17-minute mark, the ’Cats started their run, extending their two-point lead to five points with 14 minutes left.

“Jumping out to an early lead is always a good indicator of how the overall game will go,” Henson said. “We set the tempo and were able to keep control of the outcome.”

The trend continued for the remainder of the first half, as the Wildcats left to the locker room with a 14-point lead, 34-20. The ’Cats scoring was helped out largely by the bench, who contributed 11 points. The Wildcats out-shot the Bearcats 47-21 percent.

With a healthy lead, the Wildcats took control of the court in the second half and continued with their success. Aided by a 41 field goal percentage in the half, the ’Cats showed their dominance, taking the game by a final score of 66-45.

Junior Kaely Maltman led the Wildcats in scoring with 15 points and shooting six of seven from the field. Henson and Maltman each added seven additional rebounds.

“I felt like collectively, as a team, we were even across the scoreboard,” Henson said. “I also thought that we played great defense and didn’t let them get many second chance shots.”

This was the third win of the season for the Wildcats, who finished with a final record of 3-19.

“Going out on a win was the perfect way to wrap up a season like this,” Henson said. “Although our record doesn’t show it, we have grown immensely over the past few months as a team, and I have no doubt that we will continue to improve as the 2013-14 season rolls in.”

 

Chris Haddeland/ Senior reporter

Chris Haddeand can be reached at linfieldreviewsports@gmail.com.

Men’s tennis struggles for better record during weekend, but still last in conference

Posted by :jprokop On : March 10, 2013
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The Linfield men’s tennis team continued its rough start to the season, losing 9-0 to Pacific University and 6-3 to Willamette University. This dropped Linfield’s Northwest Conference record to 0-6.

The match against Pacific was particularly brutal. Pacific won the three doubles matches 8-3, 8-2 and 8-1, and it won the six singles matches without dropping a set.

Sophomore Lukas Kleinman returns a ball to Pacific’s Kolin Wong on March 1. Kleinman lost the match against Wong 6-4, 7-5 (12-10). Tyson Takeuchi/Senior photographer

Sophomore Lukas Kleinman returns a ball to Pacific’s Kolin Wong on March 1. Kleinman lost the match against Wong 6-4, 7-5 (12-10).
Tyson Takeuchi/Senior photograp

The closest Linfield player to taking a set was sophomore Lukas Kleinman, who lost his singles match 6-4, 7-5 (12-10).

A good sign for the tennis team stems from the three matches it took on Saturday against Willamette. Kleinman continued his positive weekend with a singles victory, 6-4, 6-2. He also teamed up with Linfield’s No. 1, Zach Lyons, to deliver a 8-6 second flight doubles victory.

Lyons also won his singles match 6-4, 6-2 against Willamette’s No. 2. This was the first time Kleinman and Lyons had paired up this year in doubles.

When asked about his success this weekend, Kleinman said, “I just told myself that I couldn’t keep letting my team down and that I had to step up and try to give the team some positive energy heading into the second half of the season.”

As for the different doubles pairing, Lyons said, “It is a partnership that I want to continue. Luke is a great doubles player and we have a good foundation to build on.”

Lyons reflected on the losses as a way to get better.

“It was a tough weekend, especially Friday, but every loss is a learning experience…it’s a team effort and we will continue to build on what we’ve learned and continue to push ourselves,” he said.

Kleinman echoed similar sentiments when discussing the outlook for the rest of the season.

“If we keep fighting and show a little more intensity, I see us showing a lot more fight the rest of the year,” he said.

Lyons remains the only senior on the roster—the rest of the roster consists of freshmen and sophomores—and they still await a clash with three of the top four teams in the conference.

“I really like our chances of improving. We are all trying to prove ourselves and fight through some adversity,” Kleinman said.

Wins are bound to come from the rest of the team. Sophomores Micah Roos, Joel Trousdale and Ben Brewer all recorded victories last year. Roos and freshman Alex Mangan have already picked up victories this season.

The team will look to pick up its first NWC victory on March 8 in Spokane, Wash., against Whitworth University. Whitworth has a 3-2 NWC record after defeating the University of Puget Sound 9-0 during the weekend.

 

Tyler Bradley/ Sports columnist

Tyler Bradley can be reached at linfieldreviewsports@gmail.com.

 

Linfield’s winter athletics should precede spring sports’ success

Posted by :jprokop On : March 10, 2013
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Do you feel the spring air? The sun is peeking out of the clouds, temperatures are rising, Linfield sports are back in business, and I imagine birds are chirping somewhere, right? That is what birds do after all.
The winter is a strange time on the Linfield campus. For one thing, winter break empties the campus and January Term—which is almost too much fun every year—does not bring the entire student body back either. The campus feels empty, and at times, desolate.
Desolate is also a good way to describe the win columns for our sports teams during the winter.
There are only a few sports in the winter to begin with, so when our basketball teams combine for just seven wins and the swim teams finish in the bottom half of the Northwest Conference, it becomes as depressing as watching Miguel Olivo start as catcher for your favorite team.
Thankfully, the spring improves the weather, and the NWC remembers that Linfield is always a force to be reckoned with.
The softball team lost in the national championship game last year, and despite losing some key seniors, it recorded four impressive victories this weekend and sits atop the NWC standings. Being first is nothing new for this softball program, though.
The baseball team has won 10 straight games and seems to be hitting on all cylinders. This is nothing new for this baseball program, though.
During the weekend, the track team had three athletes move into the top 10 in the Linfield record books and another improve upon her mark. The track team has finished in the top half of the NWC for the past few years, so these results are nothing new for the program.
The women’s lacrosse team, which struggled to find enough numbers for the season, kicked off its season to a substantial amount of fans. Although the women lost, the sun was out and Linfield pride was at full force.
Fans will come to watch success. This is why the baseball and softball stands are filled with Linfield students. It’s why the football team draws fans in the fall, and the women’s soccer team had dedicated fans all season. The fact that the lacrosse team persevered and found a way to begin the season drew fans to the game.
Unfortunately, the winter allows the students to forget about Linfield athletics. For a school that has more athletic pride than most schools that are much larger, it is depressing that more emphasis isn’t placed on the winter sports.
Spring should be a continuation of winter success, just as winter should be a continuation of fall success. Sure, teams will have down years, but when a sport (or sports) consistently underperforms, it becomes a glaring weakness of this school.
The winter brings darkness. The sun often takes long leaves of absence, temperatures drop and birds chirp less often. This we cannot control.
But we can control Linfield sports succeeding in the winter. This spring has already reminded us of our athletic prowess, and it’s time we don’t forget about it in the preceding months every single year.

Tyler Bradley/ Sports columnist
Tyler Bradley can be reached at linfieldreviewsports@gmail.com.

Baseball team has opportunity to finish high in final standings

Posted by :jprokop On : March 10, 2013
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This Linfield baseball team is going to contend for the Northwest Conference title this year. In fact, they look like they can win it.
Picked to finish third in the NWC this year by the coaches, it’s obvious that their ceiling is much higher than third place if you watch the team.
Except you wouldn’t have known this if you judged them by their first game of the season.
When starting a baseball season, winning a game 6-0 is definitely an ideal outcome. If you are on the losing side of the coin, however, the taste in a team’s mouth is sour—not Sour Patch Kids style—and unwelcome.
Unfortunately for the Linfield baseball team, it started the 2013 season on the losing side of the coin down at a tournament in Arizona. La Verne College was the team who scored six runs. Linfield stranded 12 men on base including five men on third.
This was definitely not the way to start the season, especially considering the disappointing end to 2012. Last year’s team was ranked as high as number two in the country, but fell out of the rankings completely later in the season and finished a pedestrian fourth place in the NWC.
Luckily, Linfield righted the ship in a huge way by eviscerating Redlands University, 15-3. The team hasn’t looked back since then and has dominated in every facet of the game.
In the six games following Redlands, the pitching staff has fired three shutouts and given up a total of three earned runs. That’s a team Earned Run Average (ERA) of .5 with a strikeout per nine-inning rate of 7.32 and a walks per nine-inning rate of 1.97. That’s incredible.
The staff is due for some ERA regression—.5 is not sustainable—but a six game stretch of dominance like that with a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.71/1 means the NWC should be afraid: the pitching staff is a force to be reckoned with.
Good pitching goes hand-in-hand with good defense, and during this weekend, the defense only made two errors and both occurred in the same game. A play that was indicative of the stellar defense by the team was a diving snag by senior third baseman Michael Hopp on Feb. 24 against Oregon Institute of Technology.
The hitting has been outstanding. Even by including the La Verne game, the team has a slash line of .338/.404/.463 and the team was hitting .462 with runners in scoring position and less than two outs entering the game against Oregon Tech on Sunday.
“The way last season ended made us all work harder in the offseason…we are definitely using the disappointment as motivation and we want to be the best,” junior Jake Wiley said. “The team is playing really well right now…the chemistry we have together is amazing.”
Wylie himself launched an absolute moonshot over the left field fence in the fourth inning on Sunday, easily traveling more than 400 feet.
If this seven-game stretch is indicative of the potential of this team, they can travel like Wylie’s moonshot. It seems as if La Verne and last season are in the rear view, and the coaches probably made a mistake when putting Linfield in third place.

Tyler Bradley/ Sports columnist

Tyler Bradley can be reached at linfieldreviewsports@gmail.com.

Wildcats take down the Boxers

Posted by :jprokop On : December 1, 2012
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Ivanna Tucker/Sports editor
Freshman runningback Tavon Willis fights to break past the opposing team during the game against Pacific on Nov. 10. The Wildcats won 51-17. Willis had 36-yards on six rushes.

With playoff seeding on the line at home in their season finale, the Wildcats left nothing to chance, blasting the Pacific University Boxers 51-17.

Another dominating performance on both sides of the ball saw Linfield roll to 500 yards of total offense, while limiting Pacific to just 150 yards and sacking Boxer quarterbacks seven times throughout the contest.

The win completed an undefeated season for the ’Cats at 9-0, their third in the past four seasons.

Senior tailback Stephen Nasca capped an explosive, five-play drive with a four-yard touchdown run to pick up an early 7-0 lead, but things slowed down after that because of old problems: penalties, fumbles, and field goals.

Freshman receiver Sam Robinson coughed the ball up and Boxer quarterback P.J. Minaya promptly evened things at 7-7.

Penalties stalled the ensuing Linfield drive, but the ’Cats were able to get the lead back shortly after on a 42-yard catch-and-run by junior receiver Deidre Wiersma.

Another fumble, this one by Nasca, led to a 39-yard field goal to cut Linfield’s lead to 14-10.

The ’Cats picked up 110 yards of penalties on the day and are averaging over 94 yards per game this season.

Senior kicker Josh Kay was also 0-3 on field goal tries, missing two and having a third blocked, although both tries were from more than 44 yards.

The ’Cats finally broke free midway through the second quarter after a high snap into the end zone led to a Pacific safety.

Senior quarterback Mickey Inns marched the offense down the field before freshman tailback Jonathan Shaffer punched in an eight-yard touchdown run to make the score 23-10. Junior defensive Brynnan Hyland led the defensive charge, picking up one of his two sacks on the Boxers’ ensuing drive.

A pair of touchdown catches by sophomore Charlie Poppen from 10 and nine yards, respectively, ballooned the lead to 37-10 and sent Linfield into the half with momentum behind it.

Inns put the game out of reach with a 71-yard rocket deep downfield to sophomore receiver David Sigler that left the Boxers reeling, down 44-10.

Backup quarterback Warner Shaw added a meaningless score at the end of the third quarter before third-string sophomore quarterback Matt Yarbrough scored his first touchdown of the season on a nine-yard pass to sophomore receiver Colin Nelson to cap scoring at 51-17.

Sunday afternoon the NCAA released the bracket for the 2012 Division-III football playoffs and the ’Cats captured a No. 1 seed for the first time since 2009.

They will face an opponent from earlier in the season, although perhaps not the one most expected. Northwest Conference rival Pacific Lutheran University, which owns the third-strongest schedule in the nation, according to the NCAA, snuck into the playoffs as an at-large selection and will face Linfield on Nov. 17.

Last time the two teams met, PLU raced to a 14-0 lead before the Wildcats outlasted the Lutes 31-24.

Should they continue to win, the Wildcats will own home field advantage until at least the national quarterfinals.

Chris Forrer

For the Review 

Chris Forrer can be reached at

linfieldreviewsports@gmail.com.


Wildcats prepare for tough competition

Posted by :jprokop On : August 27, 2012
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As the fall season begins for the Wildcats, the athletic program seems to be heading in the right direction with their preparation for upcoming games.
The preseason rankings for the football team is set for them gain another conference title and placing fifth overall in the division. Women’s soccer is ranked to be competing for the title as well against the Puget Sound Loggers. The volleyball team is predicted to get fifth in the league right behind Lewis & Clark. Men’s soccer is ranked seventh, with new leadership of Linfield alumni Chuck Bechtol.
The football team has been practicing out on the field and attending meetings daily in order to prepare for their first game against Menlo on Sept 1. The Wildcats are scheduled to play Cal Lutheran on Sept 15, which was one of the closest games of the last season with a score of 30-27.
After a tough loss to the Loggers in the final season game, the women’s soccer team has been working hard to prepare for another successful season. Junior Em Fellows is returning to the field this year after sitting out last year due to a bone bruise on her knee.

“She is a big contributor scoring wise, but also she’s a really great leadership presence on the field and works hard,” sophomore Emily Ing said. “It’s awesome having her back.”

They have gained three new coaches, including someone to assist with specifically the goalies. Their preseason is scheduled against some tough competitors, starting with Cal Lutheran on Aug 31.

Men’s soccer has been working hard to improve from previous seasons. Bechtol has had a good deal of experience with coaching and is set to make the program better as time goes on. This year’s team has eight seniors, including leading scorer Xavier Reed.

The volleyball team is set to come back strong after a building season last year that had seven freshmen on the court. With only three seniors graduated, the team has a solid foundation of returners to lead them to a successful season. Sophomore Kailana Ritte-Camara is one of the team’s top offensive players and is set to make a strong appearance in this season’s matches.

The cross country team started off their practices with early morning runs each day. As a team, they bonded through movie nights and other activities. Both men’s and women’s teams are expected to have another successful season after the women finishing fifth at the NCAA West Regional and the men placing seventh. Juniors Joe Gladow and Mimi Seeley are some this year’s stand out runners.

Overall, the Wildcats are ready to take on the season with full force and aim to improve their programs as the season progresses.

 Ivanna Tucker/Sports Editor

Ivanna tucker can be reached at linfieldreviewsports@gmail.com

Blatant power protecting taints 2011 playoff bracket

Posted by :jprokop On : December 5, 2011
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I tried not to write this column. I really did. I sat on my couch and went in circles over it for an hour and a half before realizing that I’d be upset with myself if I didn’t speak my mind. I hinted at it two weeks ago in an article about the playoff bracket. Head football coach Joseph Smith has openly decried it. Analysts across the World Wide Web have scratched their heads. We’ve all come to the same conclusion:

This year’s D-III football bracket is broken and broken badly. Pundits have called this season’s playoff format a ‘Travel Bracket,’ in which teams from far out of region are grouped together, creating matchups between teams who have never before met on the turf.

The few supporters of the bracket say it facilitates ambassadorship between far-off schools in ways that aren’t possible in the regular season. But those supporters are few.

I can understand some of the benefits of building a ‘Travel Bracket,’ like getting to travel to a new region and facing East Coast programs with storied histories. But don’t be confused, folks: this is not a travel bracket. It’s a power protection bracket, no matter what the NCAA says to the contrary.

Perennial powers Mt. Union and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater have met in the NCAA D-III finals for the past six seasons, and their path to the Stagg Bowl has never been simpler than this season.

Consider their areas of the bracket, in which both received a No. 1 seed. The combined win-loss record of the teams in Union’s bracket is 70-9; Whitewater’s is 70-11. Those brackets feature, excluding the two top seeds, a paltry eight teams in the top 25 and only three in the Top 10.

That’s not a typo: half of the teams in Union’s and Whitewater’s brackets are unranked. They include such teams as 7-3 Benedictine and 6-4 Albion, who only made playoffs by virtue of winning conference titles in two of the nation’s softest regions.

For a perspective check, Linfield’s area of the bracket featured four teams in the Top 10, a combined win-loss record of 69-6 and features four of only eight schools to make the semifinals in D-III football during basically the last decade (Linfield, Wesley, Mary-Hardin Baylor and Trinity).

No team in the bracket has more than two losses and only one of them isn’t ranked in the Top 25. This bracket quadrant is disgustingly and blatantly loaded, to the point that No. 8 California
Lutheran didn’t even get a home playoff game despite finishing the regular season in the Top 10.

How can you call this anything but power protection? The NCAA is looking out for its two top contenders without even trying to conceal it. Beyond that, they’re making half of the playoffs
completely uninteresting by stuffing Union and Whitewater with cupcake teams en route to yet another Stagg Bowl matchup.

Top 10 teams get shafted, half of the bracket sucks and we get a seventh consecutive Union-Whitewater national championship; could this possibly get any worse?

Believe me when I say that this column isn’t a justification for the 49-34 drubbing the ’Cats suffered in Dover, Del.; that game was a winnable one against a talented Wesley team that Linfield just couldn’t close out. This column is frustration that even in Division-III football, where values, ethics and the love of the game trump scholarships, NFL scouts and Heisman trophies. Corruption runs deep.

I hope the NCAA listens to the chorus of ‘boos’ it’s receiving from the D-III community and gets its head on straight next season by creating a more equitable bracket. If Mt. Union and UW-Whitewater are so damn good they can prove it on the field against tougher competition, just like everybody else.

______________________________________________________________________
Chris Forrer/Sports columnist
Chris Forrer can be reached at linfieldreviewsports@gmail.com.

Spotlight: Athletes who make an impact off the field and court

Posted by :jprokop On : November 8, 2011
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Sports are driven by competitive nature.  Athletes on the field or court work hard to be successful and to do their best. When it comes to spotlighting players, people tend to focus on those who score all the points or have the most playing time. However, the athletes who don’t have the highest stats are just as important.

Men’s Soccer

Freshman Emerson Morris-North is a varsity right-back/left back on the men’s soccer team. He has played soccer since he was about four or five years old and plans on playing for the next three years.

“It’s a beautiful game,” said Morris-North. “It kept me in line throughout my life, and I really benefitted from it.”

He says he feels that his role outside of being a player is to encourage others. He points out the positive and constructive aspects of his teammates.

With a challenging season, whenever he gets the chance to actually play on the field, he goes for it.

“It was a tough season. It makes me be hopeful for the future since we have such a young team,” Morris-North said.

He bonds with his teammates through hanging out with them on and off the field.

Through his support, he was able to become an important part of the team, even as a freshman.

Women’s Soccer

For women’s soccer, Em Fellows was one of the star players last year. This season, Fellows has been on the sidelines for six weeks from a bone bruise on her knee.  Even though her injury kept her from playing, she has taken advantage of the situation and has shined as a leader and motivator.

Fellows joined the team with a high level of training and now that she observes the team, she offers feedback to the players.

“I’m not going ask of anyone anything that I’m not doing,” Fellows said.

As one of the captains, many of her fellow players look up to her.

“The whole team is playing for her,” freshman Zoe Langsdorf said.

Recently, Fellows wrote a letter addressed to the whole team, expressing what she learned throughout her experience this year.

“The season has been a blessing in disguise for me,” Fellows said in the letter. “I have learned what it means to be a teammate—not only a teammate, but a teammate who cares, worries and finds joy in the successes of the players.

Volleyball

Sophomore Michon Hunsaker has played varsity volleyball for the past two years. She has recognized that even though she isn’t one of the highest ranked players, she still has to remain positive and be an example.

“It’s important to be there for my team and work hard to improve myself and increase the level of play of the team during practices,” Hunsaker said.

During games, she looks out for ways to help the players who are usually missed while being on the court.

Hunsaker is supportive of her teammates as she hangs out with them during practices and retreats, and at sophomore-freshman dinners in Dillin after practice.

“It’s character-building,” Hunsaker said. “I make an impact off the court and am supportive of my team in a different way.”

Football

As wide receiver on the varsity football team, senior Joseph Kloucek has realized the importance of being a great contribution to a team.

“I try to challenge myself everyday to bring a positive attitude and a blue collar-like work ethic, regardless of what challenges my team or I may be faced with,” Kloucek said.

As a senior, he serves as a role model for the

underclassmen because he has had experience with the way the program functions and operates.

As one of the “behind-the-scenes” teammates, Kloucek works hard and is determined to better himself and those around him, he said.

While spending about five to six hours a day and six days a week on the field, Kloucek said he feels that he has bonded with his teammates because they share a common goal.

He continues to play, bettering him overall as a person and allowing him to be a part of something bigger.

“If it weren’t for my teammates, I wouldn’t be playing the game of football today,” Kloucek said.

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Ivanna Tucker/ Features editor
Ivanna Tucker can be reached at linfieldreviewfeatures@gmail.com.