Westmont Magazine Warriors Winning Ways
After winning back-to-back NAIA national champion-ships, the women’s soccer team began the fall sports season ranked first in the nation. After their first five games, the defending national champions were 5-0, out-scoring their opponents by a combined total of 29-1.
But an upset loss to Notre Dame de Namur University in overtime dropped them to 5-1, and they also tied Point Loma, another nationally ranked team. By mid season, they had compiled a 8-1-1 record and held a No. 5 national ranking.
As hosts of the 2003 NAIA National Tournament, the Warriors are guaranteed a berth in the playoffs, no matter how their season ends. The team’s dominant showing in the last five years (three championships and five trips to the nationals) led NAIA officials to move the tournament to Santa Barbara for two years. The games will take place at Santa Barbara City College’s La Playa Stadium.
Women’s Volleyball
The women’s volleyball team plays in the toughest division in the NAIA. They began the season with a No. 8 national ranking, but losses to Golden State Athletic Conference rivals dropped them to No. 19. Their mid-season record was 10-6, 4-4 in the GSAC.
Men’s Soccer
A young men’s soccer team, rebuilding after losing a number of seniors, was 5-6-0, 2-1 in the GSAC at mid season. Victories over GSAC members Hope International and Point Loma showed the potential of this team. The Warriors played well against UC Santa Barbara, a nationally ranked NCAA team, losing 2-0.
Cross Country
The men’s and women’s cross country teams participated in three invitational meets so far, including the 23rd annual Westmont Invitational, where both teams finished third. Both squads lost seniors and have relatively young runners. At the Biola Invitational, freshman Kevin Buecher finished second individually in 26:54, a personal best. As a team, the Westmont men finished eighth, as did the women.
Fans can follow the Warriors on the Westmont Web site. Click on Athletics near the top of the page. This site consistently wins awards for excellence and provides detailed information about all the teams.
Crawford to Coach Baseball
Rob Crawford, a player for the 1983 and 1984 Westmont baseball teams, has become the new head baseball coach after serving for a year as an assistant coach. Previously, he coached at the high school, college and semi-professional levels, serving as head coach at Skagit Valley College in Mt. Vernon, Wash., from 1998-2000. During that time he also developed and managed the inaugural City of Bellingham semi-pro team in the Pacific International League (PIL), winning the 1999 PIL championship and advancing to the NBC World Series in Wichita, Kansas. He was named the PIL Coach of the Year. He also spent five years coaching on the high school level.