News release date: May 27, 1997
Whitman College Honors 39 Students
with "Scholar Athlete" Recognition
WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- A total of 20 women and 18 men have been honored as
1996-97 Scholar Athletes at Whitman College.
The honor is given to students who letter in at least one varsity sport, maintain a
cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher, and receive a favorable
recommendation from the
coaching staff.
Lee Coleman, a swim coach and professor of physical education
who retired this year, began Whitman's Scholar-Athlete program
in the spring of 1985 (click here for a
year-by-year listing of past Whitman Scholar Athletes).
"It is very appropriate to honor those athletes who are exceptional
students as well," Coleman
said. "This is what
college athletics should be all about."
Six Whitman seniors were named Scholar Athletes for the fourth time in four years at
Whitman. They are Dorothy Metcalf, cross country/track; Thuy Ha Nguyen, tennis; Josh
Carney, cross country/track; Christopher Oze, student athletic trainer; Alex Rolfe, cross
country/track; Zach Vestal, cross country skiiing.
An alphabetical list of the 1996-97 Whitman Scholar Athletes follows below.
Women Scholar Athletes
Cindy Allen, sophomore economics major; 1995 graduate of
Coeur d'Alene High School, Coeur d'Alene, ID; daughter of Robert L.
& Susan Allen, Hayden Lake, ID. Allen, a
member of swim team, earned scholar athlete honors for the second time in two years. She
holds the Whitman school record for the 200-yard backstroke.
Katie Berger, freshman, 1996 graduate of Bremerton High
School, Bremerton, WA;
daughter of Douglas & Cheryl Berger, Bremerton, WA. Berger competed on the women's
swim team, which placed 10th at the NAIA national championships for the third consecutive
year.
Castle Funatake, senior biology major; 1993 graduate of La
Salle High School,
Milwaukie, OR; daughter of Cynthia Kim, Portland, and Paul Funatake, also of Portland.
Funatake, a member of the swim team, earned first-team All-American honors as a member
of the women's 800-yard freestyle relay team, which placed seventh in the NAIA national
championships. She also earned honorable mention All-American honors with the 200- and
400-yard relay teams, both of which placed 10th at nationals. The 200-yard relay team set a
new Whitman school record.
Paula Johnson, sophomore foreign languages & literatures
(Spanish) major; 1995
graduate of Billings High School, Billings, MT; daughter of Thomas
& Judy Johnson,
Billings, MT. Johnson was a starter on the women's basketball team. She averaged 5.1
rebounds and 4.2 points per game.
Amy Kushner, freshman, 1996 graduate of McMinnville High
School, McMinnville, OR;
daughter of Paul & Joan Kushner, McMinnville, OR. Kushner, a member of the track team,
competed on the 400- and 1,600-meter relay teams. She also competed in the 400 meters,
placing eighth in the conference championships.
Wendy Lilliedoll, junior English major; 1994 graduate of
Davis
High School, Davis, CA;
daughter of Jerald & Suzanne Lilliedoll, Davis, CA. Lilliedoll was a starting defender on the
women's soccer team, which finished with a 12-6-1 record and earned a spot in the
conference playoffs. Whitman opened the season by winning seven of its first eight games --
six by shutouts.
Shannon Lipscomb, freshman, 1996 graduate of Sprague High
School, Salem, OR;
daughter of Paul & Donna Lipscomb, Salem, OR. Lipscomb was a member of the women's
alpine ski team, which won its fourth consecutive Northwest Conference title and then
captured the U.S. Collegiate Ski Association's national championship.
Nicole Marshall, freshman, 1996 graduate of Sehome High
School, Bellingham, WA;
daughter of Kenneth & Veronica Marshall, Bellingham, WA. Marshall was a sprinter on the
track team and a forward on the soccer team. Despite missing several soccer games due to
injury, she scored four goals to help Whitman post a 12-6-1 record and qualify for the
conference playoffs.
Stephanie Meier, junior history/religion major; 1994 graduate
of Kennedy Memorial
High School, Burien, WA; daughter of Ronald & Donna Meier, Seattle,
WA. Meier, a
middle blocker on the volleyball team, served as team captain. She led Whitman in solo
blocks (22) and block assists (67), was second in digs (297) and third in kills (168).
Dorothy Metcalf, senior geology major; 1993 graduate of
Fort
Collins High School, Ft
Collins, CO; daughter of Keith & Joyce Metcalf, Fort Collins, CO. Metcalf, a member of the
cross country and track teams, earned scholar athlete honors for the fourth consecutive season.
Her fall cross country season was cut short by injury and she was unable to compete in the
spring track season. Metcalf had competed in the NAIA national cross country championships
in her first three seasons, and she won the conference 10,000 meters title during her junior
track season.
Erica Morley, freshman, 1996 graduate of Newport High
School,
Bellevue, WA;
daughter of Barbara Overstreet, Bellevue, WA, and Tim D. Morley, also of Bellevue. Morley
was recognized for her work as a student athletic trainer.
Emily Nelson, freshman, 1996 graduate of Service High
School, Anchorage, AK;
daughter of James & Martha Nelson, Anchorage, AK. Nelson was on the women's soccer
team and the women's cross country ski team. In two individual events at the U.S. Collegiate
Ski Association's national championships, Nelson placed fourth and sixth. She also helped
Whitman place second in the relay event. As a team, the women's cross country ski squad
placed second at nationals.
Thuy Ha Nguyen, senior biology major; 1993 graduate of
Benson
High School, Portland,
OR; daughter of Viet Nguyen & Kim Ha, Portland, OR 97202. Nguyen played No. 3 singles
and No. 3 doubles on the women's tennis team, which claimed a share of the Northwest
Conference of Independent Colleges championship. This was the fourth time in four seasons
that Nguyen has earned scholar athlete honors at Whitman.
Joan Ogle, junior English major; 1994 graduate of Blanchet
High School, Seattle, WA;
daughter of Beverly Ogle, Seattle, WA. Ogle, who missed most of the swim season while
studying in Europe, earned scholar athlete honors for the third time in three seasons. She
shares a Whitman school record in one of the swimming relay events.
Laura Santa, sophomore English major; 1995 graduate of
Flathead High School,
Kalispell, MT; daughter of John & Carol Minnick Santa, Kalispell, MT. As a member of the
women's soccer team, Santa earned Whitman's Most Improved Player award at the end of the
season. The soccer team finished with a 12-6-1 record and earned a spot in the conference
playoffs.
Lina Shanley, freshman, 1996 graduate of Mountain View High
School, Bend, OR;
daughter of Tom Shanley, Bend, OR, and Deborah Shanley, also of Bend. Shanley was a
member of the women's tennis team, which finished the season as co-champion of the
Northwest Conference of Independent Colleges. She won the second-flight consolation bracket
title at the conference championship tournament.
Anna Stewart, sophomore politics major; 1995 graduate of
Newport High School,
Bellevue, WA; daughter of Doug & Kathy Stewart, Bellevue, WA. Stewart, a member of the
women's soccer team, earned scholar athlete honors for the second time in two seasons.
Whitman finished its season with a 12-6-1 record and qualified for the conference
championships.
Chrissy Vaughn, freshman, 1996 graduate of Redmond High
School, Redmond, WA;
daughter of William & Marilyn Vaughn, Redmond, WA. Vaughn was a forward on the
women's soccer and part of a balanced scoring attack that led Whitman to a 12-6-1 season
record. Vaughn scored three goals and added an assist during the season.
Wendy Wilford, junior chemistry major; 1994 graduate of
Service High School,
Anchorage, AK; daughter of Thomas & Mary Wilford, Boise, ID. Wilford was a member of
the volleyball and track teams. She earned Most Inspirational honors on the volleyball
team and was among team leaders in digs, kills and blocks. She competed in the long jump
and triple jump with the track team.
Molly Willis, senior biology major; 1993 graduate of
Crescent
Valley High School,
Corvallis, OR; daughter of Tim & Sandra Willis, Corvallis, OR. Willis, a defender on the
women's soccer team, earned all-conference honors for the third consecutive season. She
spearheaded a Whitman defense that shut out six of its first eight opponents en route to a
12-6-1 record and a spot in the conference playoffs. This is the third time in three seasons
Willis has received scholar athlete honors at Whitman.
Men Scholar Athletes
Jack Baker, freshman, 1996 graduate of Morris High
School, Longview, WA; son of
Timothy & Patricia Baker, Longview, WA. As a freshman, Baker was a
starter on the men's junior varsity basketball team. He also saw limited
playing time with the men's varsity team.
Eric Bartee, freshman, 1996 graduate of Crescent Valley
High
School, Corvallis, OR;
son of Kathleen Bartee, Corvallis, OR, and David Bartee, also of Corvallis. Bartee was a
member of the men's varsity tennis team.
Josh Carney, senior biology major; 1992 graduate of
Pocatello
High
School, Pocatello,
ID; son of Kathleen Lacey, Pocatello, ID. Carney, who led the Whitman men's cross country
team to a conference championship two years ago, earned scholar athlete honors for the fourth
time in four seasons. His senior season was cut short by injury.
Mike Craven, junior economics major; 1993 graduate of
Ferris
High School, Spokane,
WA; son of James & Carolyn Craven, Spokane, WA. Craven, a key member of the men's
alpine ski team, earned scholar athlete honors for the third time in three seasons. Whitman ski
teams captured their third consecutive all-around titles at the U.S. Collegiate Ski Association's
national championships.
Scott Daukas, junior politics major; 1994 graduate of
Westwood
High School, Mesa, AZ;
son of Frank & Nancy Daukas, Tempe, AZ. Daukas, who holds Whitman school records in
several swimming events, missed most of the swim season while studying in Europe. He was
one of six male swimmers around the country who earned NAIA Academic All-American
honors this year.
Chris Fuller, freshman, 1996 graduate of the Seattle
Academy of Art & Sciences, Seattle,
WA; son of Robert & Mele Fuller, Edmonds, WA. Fuller was a member of the men's soccer
team.
Christopher Garratt, freshman, 1996 graduate of Bellarmine
Preparatory, Tacoma, WA;
son of Robert & Barbara Garratt, Tacoma, WA. Garratt was a member of the men's baseball
team.
Gene Hansen, sophomore history major; 1995 graduate of
Walla
Walla High School,
Walla Walla, WA; son of Norman & Margaret Hansen, Waitsburg, WA. Hansen, a member
of the men's golf team, earned scholar athlete honors for the second time in two seasons.
Barrett Hogue, freshman, 1996 graduate of Cherry Creek High
School, Englewood, CO;
son of Linn & Lois Hogue, Englewood, CO. Hogue was a member of the men's baseball
team.
Cliff Mah, junior chemistry/biology major; 1995 graduate of
Benson High School,
Portland, OR; son of Ken & Sylvia Mah, Portland, OR. Mah earned scholar
athlete honors
for the second consecutive season as a member of the men's tennis team.
Daniel Moore, sophomore physics major; 1995 graduate of
Bear
Creek High School,
Lakewood, CO; son of Stanley & Kathryn Moore, Morrison, CO. Moore was a member of
the men's cross country and track teams.
Christopher Oze, senior chemistry/geology major; 1993 graduate
of Bainbridge High
School; son of Robert & Constance Oze, Bainbridge Island, WA. Oze,
who earned scholar
athlete honors for the fourth time in as many years, was recognized for his work as a student
athletic trainer.
Alex Rolfe, senior history major; 1993 graduate of Sentinel
High School, Missoula, MT;
son of O. W. Rolfe, Missoula. Rolfe earned scholar athlete honors for the fourth time in four
seasons as a member of the cross country and track teams. He was unable to compete in
either sport during his senior year, however, because of injury. During his junior season,
Rolfe won the conference cross country title, competed in the NAIA national championships
for a second consecutive year, and earned NAIA Academic All-American honors.
Rob Tonnsen, freshman, 1996 graduate of Billings High
School, Billings, MT; son of
John & Loretta Tonnsen, Billings, MT. In his first season with the men's soccer team at
Whitman, Tonnsen earned honorable mention all-conference recognition. A midfielder,
Tonnsen scored three goals and added three assists during the season.
David Toomey, junior economics major; 1994 graduate of
Montgomery High School,
Santa Rosa, CA; son of Catherine Jones, Miami, FL. Toomey, a member of the men's cross
country team, earned scholar athlete honors for the third time in three seasons. He also earned
NAIA All-American Scholar-Athlete honors.
Haroon Ullah, sophomore politics major; 1995 graduate of
Richland High School,
Richland, WA; son of Muhammed & Zarfashan Ullah, Richland, WA. Ullah, a key member
of the men's tennis team, earned scholar-athlete honors for the second time in two seasons.
Ullah and his doubles partner came within one victory of defending their conference doubles
title and returning to the NAIA national championships.
Zach Vestal, senior geology major; 1993 graduate of Boise
High
School, Boise, ID; son
of Robert & Bonita Vestal, Boise, ID. Vestal, a member of the cross country ski team,
earned scholar athlete honors for the fourth time in four seasons. He also received Academic
All-American recognition for the fourth time.
Mike Zotter, junior history major; 1994 graduate of Lincoln
High
School, Portland, OR;
son of James & Mary Zotter, Portland, OR. Zotter, a key member of the men's soccer team,
earned scholar athlete honors for the third time in three seasons.
CONTACT: Dave Holden, Whitman News Service, (509) 527-5902
Email Address: holden@whitman.edu