Westmont Magazine Spring Sports Scores
After finishing 6-20 last year, the women’s basketball team could only improve. Head Coach Gregg Afman set a challenging goal for his second season with the 3-year-old team: qualify for the GSAC tournament. The team exceeded all expectations by finishing second in the conference and winning a berth at the NAIA National Tournament with the top 32 teams in the nation. Although they lost in the first round, they posted a 22-12 record, thanks to a new offensive style and a highly touted freshman class. Afman was named the GSAC Coach of the Year.
The men’s basketball team faced tough competition in the GSAC, finishing 20-9 overall and 12-6 in the conference, where they ended in fourth place.
Track and Field
The men’s and women’s track and field teams performed well at the NAIA Indoor Nationals where three relay teams and two individuals earned All-American honors.
Rebekah Reynolds finished sixth in the shot put with a personal best and school- record throw of 47’2 ½”, and Amber Nixon claimed second in the high jump with a school-record 5’7″ jump. The men’s 4 x 800 team finished fourth with Tim Meador, Joseph Stevick, Jason Finch and Matthew Torres. Both the men’s and women’s distance medley teams earned All-American status with their second- and sixth-place finishes, respectively.
At the GSAC tournament, the men finished fifth, and the women were fourth. Rebekah Reynolds won the shot put (44′ 11 3/4″), placed second in the javelin (133′ 4″) and took fifth in the hammer throw with a school-record 132′ 4″. Christa Fitzgerald was first in the 1,500 (4:46.04), and Amber Nixon took the title in the high jump (5′ 7″).
Baseball
Under first-year head coach Warren Dickey ’84, the baseball team had the benefits of a large senior class and speed in the infield, but they lost their power hitters and most productive pitcher to graduation last year. They ended the season 16-28 overall, 10-18 in the GSAC.
Tennis
Both the men’s and women’s tennis teams qualified for the NAIA Region II Tournament, which Westmont hosted in May.
The young women’s team finished the season 7-10, 6-4 in the GSAC. They put together a late-season streak, winning three matches against league rivals Biola and Vanguard and non-conference opponent Mesa State.
The men began the year ranked #19 in the nation and faced a daunting schedule that included five matches against Division 1 opponents and three against Division II teams. Sweeps over Cal Lutheran, Hope International and U.S. International were season highlights. They finished 6-13 overall, 2-5 in the GSAC.