A fierce Wolves team clawed their way to two wins this past week on Jan. 11 and 13. Improving their win-loss mark to 15-1 overall and 8-1 in GNAC play, they first played at Saint Martin’s, getting the decisive victory, 79-71. They maintained their successful week in Seattle defeating Seattle Pacific, 83-79. Marching in first were the Saints with a 10-4 record, ranked fourth overall in the GNAC. Leading the charge, was Saints’s guard Luke Chavez with 17.2 points per game while forward Tavian Henderson is shooting 78 percent on the season, a top mark in the GNAC. Senior forward Tanner Omlid led the Wolfpack, however, running the score up to a 41-30 lead after a 15-0 run early in the first half. The Saints came back in the second half and kept biting at the lead, cutting the margin to as low as three at one point. A 19-point, six-rebound, three-assist, two-block and two-steal stat line on the night by Omlid as well as 24 points in bench production kept the Saints at bay. In front of the Saints in the GNAC standings is the Seattle Pacific Falcon squad that landed on Jan. 13 sporting a 5.6 rebounding margin versus its opponents.
Omlid again was everywhere on the stat board. The second game was a mirror image of the first as the Wolves led by double-digits for most of the half and pinning the Falcons, 51-40. The Falcons were a different team, however, and managed to pull ahead, 79-78, with a minute remaining in the game.
Wolves forward JJ Chirnside came up big on the defensive end grabbing two clutch steals and a block in waning seconds. Omlid finished the night with 20 points.
The Wolves head back home, first in a red out night opposite Central Washington on Jan. 18 and an alumni night game against Northwest Nazarene on Jan. 20.
Who is Dustin Nading? In the flesh, “he’s a guy from Longview, Washington, currently running track and field, and studying exercise science at Western.” Here’s a runner, who in 2016 finished in either second or first for his team in five total meets. Then, in 2017, he was part of the Wolves’s indoor national championship team in distance-medley-relay. He’s also a student closing in on graduation with a goal of earning his doctorate degree in physical therapy, while looking towards a professional track and field career after Western. He’s a son who admires his father Jeff Nading the most, and a reading and video game enthusiast among other things. “Obviously one of my main interests aside from running in general, is following and watching sports, even when I’m not participating. But reading is something I care tons about. You know: new literature, old literature; fiction, non-fiction.” With allocation and timing being two important things in running, if there’s time for it, he’ll enjoy his leisures playing Fortnite, a video game. What is Fortnite? “So you start out by dropping into a map with 100 other people, you try to be the last one alive, and you get one life. It’s a pretty fun online game.”
The game has brought along with it a sort of bonding experience for Nading and many of his teammates who also play. “Most of my hobbies revolve around things you can build relationships in.” When not on the track or in the lounge, Nading’s in the lab applying science with athletic performance. A junior majoring in exercise science — his favorite course in the field? “Probably physiology of exercise. It really digs into what goes on when your doing different activities, aerobically or anaerobically,” he said. “A lot of times, you’ll go out and do a hard workout and you’ll feel this burning in your muscles, and you’re like ‘why does it hurt like that, why’s that happening?’ and a lot of what that class was was just getting to the cellular level and asking ‘How does your body respond to different kinds of exercises and why you feel the way you feel.’”
It’s all about figuring out the means to your end Nading explained. “So I think understanding things like that makes you not only a better athlete, or better academically, but makes you better at almost every other aspect of your life.” Back on the track, Nading put that and everything into view this past Saturday, on Jan. 13 at the indoor track preview in Washington, his home state. He ran the 3,000 meters finishing sixth overall and set a new GNAC record time of 8.11.67. That bettered teammate David Ribich’s 2017 mark by two seconds; Nading received the GNAC athlete of the week award afterwards. There he was also guided by several teammates in multiple events. Overall, the team broke five records. It’s been quite a year for Nading and the Wolves. They’re fresh off competing in the Cross Country Nationals back in December, where the men’s team finished 21st overall. And after winning indoors in 2017, the Wolves look to repeat in the current indoor event. Looking back on the indoor meet last year, he took time to reflect on his championship teammates. “Those are people,” speaking about seniors Ribich and Joshua Dempsey “who’ve made great athletic performances and people I respect immensely.” With sights always set on the track, he has a dynamic view of it. “There’s so many great athletes and role models to learn from. And one of the greatest things about it is is it’s so extensive. There’s a niche and place in the track world for almost everyone whether that’s running or watching which going back to the hobbies is something I enjoy because even when I’m not performing there’s always some performance you can learn from.” For Nading, these are things and people he emulates and applies to improve his own performance and athletic ability. “Every time I step on the line, I race for excellence. I’m representing my school but above all else, I’m representing my teammates and one thing going through my mind is I’m going to run to the best of my ability. I’m going to do all of the little things to get the big result in the end.” Passing the baton, Nading gave advice for young up and coming runners, advising them to, “Believe in your teammates, and invest early in the sport because the sport will invest in you and that goes from paying attention to performances, watching, to working on your technique, to putting in the time for working out and bettering yourself … but if you invest in the sport in every aspect, you will undoubtedly get a return more than would you have expected.” Contact the author at journalsports@wou.edu
It was on Jan. 5 through Jan. 7 in Pensacola, Florida, that the Wolves flag football club earned their shot at competing for a national flag football championship.
The result, however, went unfavorably for the team, unable to grab wins in pool play for tournament seeding. They entered play first against Tennessee Tech in a losing effort, 14-19, before their historic season concluded against Central Florida, 12-21. On the experience of playing at a large platform in Florida, a rarity for Western, junior quarterback Cody Chimienti viewed it as a learning tool, “I didn’t have super-high expectations being that none of us had ever been there before … but now that we’ve had a feel for the sort of competition there, we’re looking forward to returning.” In the same way that the Wolves competed against bigger schools with a larger crop of athletes in and around the Washington-Pullman area, so was the case in Florida. But if anything, the teams in Florida were larger. Teams like the previous ones, Rutgers University and Loyola-Marymount are all division one schools, and this tournament had more of them. Getting their first piece of the competition, Western struck with a rainbow pass for the beginning touchdown against Tennessee Tech. After trading scores, and with three minutes left in the second half, Tennessee scored the go-ahead touchdown to seal the game. Versus Central Florida, Western again jumped out early, scoring a touchdown on the first drive. After scoring again late in the second half on an 80-yard play, they couldn’t adjust to the unique attacking offense of UCF, going down.
“For our first time as a team,” said Chimienti, “for Western, going to Pullman and Florida, I think it was a pretty big accomplishment.” Speaking on the significance of the season and on the accomplishment, Chimienti spoke optimistically for the future commenting “I think it’s going to open doors for the future and potential athletes to want to come join us.”
The women’s basketball team traveled up to Alaska to play two conferences games on Jan. 11 & 13, securing their second road win of the season in the process.
On Thursday, the 11, the Wolves were up against the conference leading Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves. The Wolves kept the game highly competitive to start, with the score being 23-17 at the end of the first quarter.
As the game went on though, the Seawolves proved why they are the sixth ranked team nationally. The Wolves surrendered a 23-9 second quarter, and were not able to get any momentum after, suffering a 85-53 loss.
Turnovers were a key issue in the game, as the Wolves coughed up the ball 24 times. Juniors Savannah Heugly–a forward and guard Kennedy Corrigan lead the team in points, with both topping double figures scoring 14 and 11.
The second game of the week was also played on the road, this time against the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. Coming into the game, the Nanooks had struggled recently against conference opponents, losing all games against GNAC opponents.
The Wolves made sure that streak continued on Jan. 13, and picked up their second road win in the process. The play on the defensive end contributed a large part to the win, as the Wolves were able to grab 12 steals and hold Alaska-Fairbanks to 31.1 percent shooting.
Heugly was once again a key contributor. The junior scored 20 points, had 13 rebounds and stole the ball four times in the victory. Shelby Snook came in the game as a substitute to score 18 points, helping the team out score Fairbank’s bench by 16.
The game was in the paws of the Wolves for a large portion of the 74-54 victory. The Wolfpack hope to make something of a run in the next three games, all at home. Next on tab are the Montana State Billings Yellowjackets in a red out game. Tipoff is set for 5:15 p.m.
With conference play starting for most GNAC teams over winter break, this past week’s games on Jan. 4 and 6 were crucial for the Wolves. After winning their first conference game, the team went into a Jan. 4 game against the Simon Fraser Clan on a three game skid against conference foes.
Unfortunately, that slide continued against the Clan, as the Wolves lost 81-67.
The game had one major difference between the teams — free throws. Simon Fraser took 32 shots from the charity stripe, compared to just 13 for the Wolves. Overcoming that large disparity proved to be too much as the Clan capitalized on getting the Wolves in foul trouble.
Kennedy Corrigan lead the team with 16 points, shooting 6-11 from the field. The Wolves also were able to force Simon Fraser into 19 turnovers in the losing effort.
The game on Jan. 6 brought much more excitement and was a landmark victory. The Wolves defeated the Western Washington Vikings for the first time since Feb. 23, 2008. The 18 game losing streak against the VIkings was snapped during the 54-50 victory.
Corrigan started off hitting a barrage of early three pointers, helping secure a 21-14 lead at the end of the first quarter. The defense from the Wolves was a key factor in this victory, holding Hannah Stipanovich, the 11th highest scorer in the GNAC (13.1 ppg), to just four points.
With the game locked in at 48-48 in the final minute, the Vikings got out to a late two point lead with a layup with just 54 seconds left. In the last forty seconds, the Wolves were able to draw three late fouls against the Vikings. Junior Shelby Snook had two free throws with just 16 seconds lefts to put the Wolves up on top 52-50.
The Vikings had an opportunity to steal the victory or tie the game, but missed their golden opportunity to tie as Corrigan secured the rebound and was fouled immediately after.
Coming off a huge victory before winter break may lead to some momentum going into this week, as the team will be traveling up to Alaska. Thursday, Jan. 11, the team will be taking on GNAC conference leader Alaska Anchorage. They finish up the trip up north by playing against the University of Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks on Saturday, Jan. 13.
The previous week’s games on Jan. 2 and 6 were big for the men’s basketball team, as the Wolves captured two outstanding wins. This brings the winning streak to six, helping contribute to a 13-1 overall record.
On Tuesday, Jan. 2, the Wolves drew their first win of the week against Concordia, 71-60. The team played great defense against the Cavaliers’s high scoring duo of Jarrett Gray and Christopher Edward, the 7th and 8th leading scorers in the GNAC conference. Coming in averaging over 33 points per game between the two, the Wolves held them to 20 points combined.
Seniors Malik Morgan and Vince Boumann lead the way for the Wolves, both contributing 17 points in the victory. Points came easy in the paint on Tuesday, with 40 of the 71 points coming from shots near the basket, as the Wolves continued to show they are one of the best teams in the GNAC.
On Saturday, Jan. 6, the Wolves took on the Montana State University Billings Yellowjackets, picking them apart in a 92-68 win.
From the opening tip, the offense was in tune, jumping out to a 46-28 lead in the first half. The Wolves had a balanced attacked the whole game, with six players scoring in double figures.
Three of those players, Demetrius Trammell, Janvier Alaby and JJ Chirnside, reached double figures while coming off the bench. Every player who saw the court on Saturday had points on the board for the Wolves, making it impossible for the Yellowjackets to keep pace.
The key stats for the Wolves in this game were the field goal percentages. Shooting 63.8 percent, the team simply had their way offensively while putting up 92 points. The defense was locked in as well, which forced the Yellowjackets to struggle from the three point line (6-25) while attempting to get back into the game.
Before this week, the Wolves were ranked 14th nationally in the NABC/Division II rankings, and could be on the rise after these two wins. As conference play moves on in the coming weeks, the Wolves are currently ranked second in conference record (5-1), number one in points per game (86.6) and number one in margin of victory (19.1).
The Wolves will be on the road this week, taking a trip to Washington to first play St. Martin’s on Thursday, Jan. 11. The team will then take on Seattle Pacific, who is currently on a three-game winning streak, on Saturday, Jan. 13.
With an 8-6 record, the Seattle Seahawks football season is in flux. With only a few weeks left until the playoffs, they lie in the flock of many other teams contending for the Super Bowl. Their season’s still in the air but as the phrase goes: any given Sunday, any team has a chance.
Up until this point for the ‘Hawks, it’s been any given play, any given athlete and any given will towards pushing them through to postseason play. But the season’s been anything but a given.
Quarterback Russell Wilson has been tasked with more to give from his shoulders this year. He has accounted for 82% of Seattle’s offense this season, a first in NFL history, which means he’s been passing and running for most of the teams plays.
Consider the next hypothetical miraculous play as a summation to the Seahawks’s season: After an opposing defensive lineman caught a stitching of Wilson’s jersey in efforts to tackle him down, the elusive Wilson would free from the grips of the 6-foot-4-inch 270-pound lineman, keeping the play alive. Before anyone on the field, in the stands or at home watching knew it, the “scramble drill” was in effect whereby Wilson then ran towards the sidelines evading more defenders, and finally threw a 30-yard dash across his body out towards receiver Doug Baldwin, who then snagged the ball for a first-down in tight coverage.
That pretty much sums up Seattle’s season so far. They’ve found ways to win, and at other unfortunate times, came up short.
For as long they’ve had success, it’s been through the heart of a player like Wilson and through such unbelievable plays. One could say Seattle’s had many other players like the MVP potential through his first six seasons. Many would argue defensive safety Earl Thomas being the heart and soul of the defense, as he has been for as many games he’s played. But he went down with a broken leg last year, which also helped break Seattle’s hopes at a second Super Bowl.
For a long while cornerback Richard Sherman was also the backbone of the defense. Now Sherman’s out for this season with a torn achilles. And many other key defensive ball-hawkers of the famed “legion of boom” defense have gone down with him. For most of the season and because of the injuries, Seattle’s also had play around a depleted running back crew, a few young and inexperienced offensive lineman whose main job is to protect Wilson and block for those ‘backs, and an ailing defense, the latter of which most successful teams have.
Many argue that, without a running game or key impactful players like those aforementioned, it would be insurmountable for the ‘Hawks to reach a plateau as high as the Super Bowl — playoffs even.
I’d argue: the New England Patriots. Out of the five championships won by the ‘Pats in the Tom Brady era, three of those championships are also included as three of the four worst Super Bowl-winning rushing performances ever. Brady’s rarely ever had a lethal rusher playing behind him.
The New Orleans Saints have also had successful seasons, around their lone 2010 championship, primarily provided by a pass heavy offense.
But what New England’s had is what Seattle could potentially have — a system where a passing and running game work in tandem. In other words, quick short throws and yards gained after the catch.
Seattle has shown glimpses of that system this year. With the defense struggling and not bringing the boom like in years past — a top five defense since 2012 — mostly due to injuries, they’ll have to rely a lot on that system. Added to it is an offensive line also struggling. And so it is that very scramble drill mentioned earlier that they’ve become accustomed to. With Wilson’s vital organs still intact, the team has managed and have worked around their weaknesses, and the scramble, from what it looks like, is something they’ll continue to use to their advantage. Seattle, and in particular Wilson, is fortunate to have something Brady doesn’t have. Brady’s never been a threat on the ground running with the ball, something Wilson clearly has had under his belt. With many disadvantages, Wilson, the scramble, along with his canon of an arm, and the rest of the ‘Hawks are all still viable assets. Seattle’s also fortunate to have a record that places them just outside of a wildcard position for the playoffs.
The question is, can the ‘Hawks successfully and consistently be pass oriented? How many more magic tricks does the boom have up their sleeve in time for the potential playoffs that’s soon ahead?
