The Falcon   |   Volume 83, Issue 52

Published 5/22/13   |   Log In

Falcons end-of-the-year recap

Published: May 30, 2012

By Falcon sports staff

Men’s Soccer

2011-2012 record: 14-4-2 (7-2-1 in GNAC)

Finish: Second round of NCAA West Region Tournament

Head coach: Mark Collings, four years

Athletes leaving: 5

Returners: 17

Newcomers: 8

Exceptional athlete: Junior defender Jon Pearman was named First Team All-American last year. He was also named the 2011 GNAC Defender of the Year.

Women’s Soccer

2011-2012 record: 17-3 (13-1 in GNAC)

Finish: First in GNAC, leaving in first round of NCAA playoffs

Head coach: Chuck Sekyra, nine years

Athletes leaving: 6

Returners: 18

Newcomers: 7

Exceptional athlete: Junior forward Megan Lindsay led the GNAC in goals scored (12) and tallied the third-most assists in 2011 (8).

Volleyball

2011-2012 result: 21-7 (15-3 in GNAC)

Finish: First in conference, leaving in first round of regionals

Head coach: Chris Johnson, six years

Athletes leaving: 4

Returners: 11

Newcomers: 5

Exceptional athlete: Sophomore Nikki Lowell holds the SPU record for the highest single-season hitting percentage (.382) and single-match hitting (.833), both set two seasons ago.

Men’s Cross-Country

2011-2012 result: Won three meets

Finish: Sixth place at GNAC meet

Head coach: Erika Daligcon, four years

Athletes leaving: 3

Returners: 13

Newcomers: Unknown

Exceptional athlete: Junior Seth Pierson raced in the 8k and 10k during the season and finished first among SPU runners — 26th overall — at regionals.

Women’s Cross-Country

2011-2012 result: Three second place finishes

Finish: Fifth at GNAC, sixth at regionals

Head coach: Erika Daligcon, four years

Athletes leaving: 3

Returners: 6

Newcomers: Unknown

Exceptional athlete: Sophomore McKayla Fricker placed first in the GNAC Indoor Track & Field Championships in the 800m in 2011. This should give her a lot of confidence next season.

Men’s Basketball

2011-2012 record: 23-8 (13-5 in GNAC)

Finish: Lost in NCAA West Region Tournament Championship

Head coach: Ryan Looney, three years

Athletes leaving: 3

Returners: 12

Newcomers: 4

Exceptional athlete: Sophomore guard David Downs led the Falcons with 15.6 points per game. Last year, he was named the GNAC Freshman of the Year. Downs will continue to be the primary ball handler for the Falcons.

Women’s Basketball

2011-2012 record: 18-9 (12-6 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference)

Finish: Leaving in first round of GNAC Tournament

Head coach: Julie Heisey, seven years

Athletes leaving: 3

Returners: 10

Newcomers: 5

Exceptional athlete: Sophomore forward Katie Benson will be the focal point of the Falcons offense next year. Benson led the team last season with 14.7 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. She earned All-GNAC Second Team in 2011-2012 and was the co-GNAC Freshman of the Year the previous year.

Gymnastics

2011-2012 result: Won three meets

Finish: Semifinalist at USA Gymnastics Collegiate Championships

Head coach: Laurel Tindall, 35 years

Athletes leaving: 8

Returners: 14

Newcomers: Unknown

Exceptional athlete: Junior Stephanie Wagner held the top SPU score on the balance beam with a 9.825. She made event finals in the USAG Championships on the beam, earning a 9.775.

Men’s Track and Field

2011-2012 result: One second-place finish

Finish: Sixth at GNAC Indoor Championships, seventh at GNAC Outdoor Championships

Head coach: Karl Lerum

Athletes leaving: 2

Returners: 19

Exceptional athlete: Junior Ryan Endresen is a three-time winner of the 400 hurdles at the Western Washington Twilight Meet.

Women’s Track and Field

2011-2012 result: Four wins

Finish: First at GNAC Indoor Championships, First at GNAC Outdoor Championships

Head coach: Karl Lerum, seven years

Athletes leaving: 11

Returners: 19

Exceptional athlete: Junior Katy Gross competes in hurdles, high jump, long jump and triple jump. After performing well during her junior year, she now looks to fill the shoes of graduating senior heptathlete Ali Worthen.

Women’s Crew

2011-2012 result: Two boats reached Dad Vail Regatta final day

Finish: Varsity-eight placed seventh at Dad Vail

Head coach: Keith Jefferson, 22 years

Athletes leaving: 4

Returners: 11

Newcomers: Unknown

Men’s Crew

2011-2012 result: One boat reached Dad Vail Regatta final day

Finish: Novice-four placed sixth at Dad Vail

Head coach: Keith Jefferson, 22 years

Athletes lost: 3

Returners: 7

Newcomers: Unknown

Exceptional athlete: Junior Phillip Mach has been a part of the varsity crew for two seasons. As a sophomore, Mach was a member of the varsity-four team that won the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships.

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