W Club

Chad Trexler '11 (in pool) glances at the scoreboard to learn what his celebrating teammates already know – that he just broke a school record. The men's team had its best-ever campaign in 2010, placing second during the NWC regular season. Jenn Blomme, named Coach of the Year for men's swimming, also coaxed a young women's team to a third-place showing.

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Matching Academic & Athletic Success

Whitman College, one of the top liberal arts colleges in the nation, has long been known for excellence in academics. The W Club – a membership group comprised of alumni, parents, and friends of the college – is committed to helping Whitman's varsity athletic programs achieve the same level of excellence.

Making a Difference in Young Lives

Courtney Brewer '11, part of a strong first-year volleyball class in 2009, led the NWC in hitting percentage.

The W Club is focused on making a difference in the lives of Whitman's student-athletes, working with the college to develop and maintain athletic programs that put our student-athletes on equal footing with their rivals around the country.

The W Club enthusiastically supports the efforts of these students as they successfully balance rigorous academic study with enthusiastic competition in intercollegiate athletics.

We invite you to join us in investing in Whitman's talented students-athletes. 

Special Fundraising Efforts

The W Club is moving forward with targeted fundraising initiatives aimed at helping our student-athletes achieve competitive excellence, both within the Northwest Conference and on the NCAA Division III regional and national stages. The W Club board is soliciting additional support for a variety of priorities, including:

Recruit fly-In program: To ensure that outstanding student-athletes have the opportunity to visit the Whitman College campus.

Competitive national travel: To provide exciting experiences for our students and raise Whitman’s visibility through competition against strategic NCAA Division III programs outside our region.

Assistant coaching: To support our highly talented coaching staff by adding resources that will enable the recruitment of elite student-athletes.

Varsity Athletics at Whitman College

Approximately 20 percent of Whitman students compete on one of 14 varsity athletic teams (seven for women and seven for men).

Whitman is a charter member of the Northwest Conference and competes as part of NCAA Division III, which is founded on a philosophy that varsity athletics is a direct extension of the classroom.

From the President of the W Club

George Osborne '66
W Club President

My fondest hope for the W Club is that it will serve as a vehicle for the development of a strong and lasting spirit of support for Whitman athletics.

Our goals are to encourage enthusiastic alumni attendance at athletic events as well as generate financial support. For those of us who care about Whitman athletics, now is the time to step forward to help the college build a varsity athletic program that is comparable to its outstanding academic reputation.

Please join us as we seek to provide the best possible experience for the exceptional student-athletes who represent Whitman in the Northwest and around the country.

Dean Snider,
Athletic Director

From the Athletic Director

Whitman Athletics is pleased to partner with our alumni, parents, and friends as we pursue athletic excellence.

Increased budget and staff support and outstanding new facilities are notable demonstrations of this commitment. It is this combination of an increased institutional commitment and new, active alumni participation that, I believe, will make a significant impact on Whitman athletics.

Please join the W Club – together, we can build on the proud tradition of Whitman athletics.

Statement of Purpose

Varsity athletics at Whitman College play a critical role in encouraging creativity, character, and responsibility among student-athletes.

Along with Whitman’s tradition of academic rigor, varsity athletics uniquely contribute to intellectual vitality, leadership, flexibility, and a determination to succeed in a diverse and changing world. To enhance and support the role of varsity athletics at Whitman, the purpose of the W Club is to:

• Provide an effective and sustaining voice for varsity athletics to be an integral part of a liberal arts education at Whitman College.
• Support the expectation that achievement and excellence are fundamental to a Whitman education — both inside and outside the classroom.
• Engage students, alumni, parents, faculty, and Whitman College as a whole in a wide array of activities in support of Whitman varsity athletics.
• Provide financial support along with the college to help ensure that the overall excellence of Whitman is reflected in its varsity athletic programs.

Make a Donation to the W Club

The tennis teams, along family, friends, and alumni, were all smiles at the 2010 NWC Championships after the men won their third straight title and the women placed second. Matt Solomon '10 was named male Player of the Year while John Hein was voted women's Coach of the Year.