Title IX's Indelible Impact On APU Athletics

This article originally appeared on ZU News.

Azusa Pacific has had a memorable year in athletics with the football team taking home the conference title and the baseball team climbing as high as number three in the NCAA Division II national rankings. Both of these teams represent the men’s side of sports, which can sometimes dominate media coverage in comparison to women’s sports.

Women’s sports often seem underrepresented, even though there are three more women’s sports than men’s at APU; there are 10 women’s sports teams and only seven men’s. This may seem a bit lopsided, and in some ways it is, but it is not without reason.

APU must comply with Title IX, like all schools that receive federal funding. Title IX is a law that was passed in 1972 which makes sure women have the same opportunities as men at all colleges and universities. One of the biggest parts of this is making sure females have equal opportunities as males in athletics.

“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance,” the law states according to the U.S. Department of Education.

In the past 45 years, Title IX has caused serious debate concerning collegiate athletics. Many universities have had to shut down men’s sports programs in order to stay Title IX compliant. Fortunately, APU has not been one of them, according to athletic director Gary Pine.

“The impact of Title IX over the history of APU is seen in the numbers. We have 17 sports, 10 women’s sports and seven men’s sports, almost a two-to-one ratio,” Pine said. “If you go back 40 years ago, we had about two women’s sports and probably about seven men’s sports at that time too. We have grown quite a bit over the years with our women’s sports offerings.”

Pine said that APU did have to cut men’s wrestling in the 70s, but it was a financial decision unrelated to Title IX. And although APU has not cut any men’s sports because of Title IX, there have not been any men’s sports added since it passed.

“We have not added a men’s sport since 1972 when we started men’s soccer, but Title IX and the growth of women’s sports in high schools have allowed us to have continued and sustained growth of women’s teams,” Pine said.

On the other side, there are now five times as many women’s sports at APU than there were in 1972. Women’s track and field was added in 1981. Softball was added in 1986. Women’s tennis was added in 1999. Women’s swimming & diving, acrobatics and tumbling, and water polo were all added in 2008-09.

There is still the issue that there are three more women’s teams than men’s teams. This is because the football team has over 100 athletes on the roster. The four sports that women have and men don’t have a total of 56 athletes, only about half of football. In fact, women make up a little less than half of APU’s student athletes.

“One of the challenges for a small liberal arts school like us is that our student population is about 65 percent women and 35 percent men. One of the prongs of Title IX says that your athletics should reflect your student body. Our athletics is about 54 percent men and 46 percent women, not quite half and half,” Pine said. “That makes it a challenge. We don’t meet that aspect of Title IX but we meet a couple others including showing a history of adding women’s sports.”

This would seem to create cause for concern, that are still more male athletes at APU despite the infamous ratio. There are several misconceptions about this and about Title IX, according to April Hoy, the Director of Sports Medicine and Wellness.

“We were given statistics that women being the underrepresented sex have less scholarships across the nation in the NCAA. That’s actually not true at APU,” Hoy said. “Even though we have more male student athletes, our women get a higher percentage of scholarships.”

One of the other misconceptions Hoy mentioned was that APU did not have to comply with Title IX.

“I think for a long time there was a rumor that since we’re a private school, Title IX didn’t apply to us. That’s not true, it does,” Hoy said. “It’s something that we’re continually wanting to add support resources to make sure we’re equitable. It is a priority for us.”

Pine also emphasized that Title IX was a priority for the athletics department. He said that Title IX isn’t just about adding sport’s teams – it’s about making sure the athletes get the same opportunities in terms of scholarships, coaching, equipment and travel.

“One of my goals is to make sure that the 10th runner on the cross-country team here had just as wonderful of an experience as the starting quarterback. I don’t want the number of spectators to determine the value of an experience,” Pine said. “The value comes from the opportunities, the coaching/mentorship that’s provided, the athletic [financial] aid.”

Payton Williams, the Director of Compliance and Academic Support, noted that APU has done well at this.

“The experience between athletes is very similar across the board,” Williams said. “Opportunity-wise with resources we provide, we’re on par with making sure it’s the same for females and males.”

Title IX remains controversial even 45 years after it was passed. Stephen Hinkel, associate sports information director, said that the spirit behind the law when it was passed differs from how it is enforced today, a source of controversy. However, Hinkel still commended what Title IX has done.

“The idea of women in sports wasn’t a prevalent concept prior to the passage of Title IX. I’ve seen the benefits of it first hand at the different schools I have worked at. I’m not entirely sure what the landscape of women’s athletics would look like without Title IX,” Hinkel said.

Water Polo Rebounds With Another OT Win

This article was originally published in ZU News.

The Azusa Pacific water polo team has already outmatched their win total from last season with three weeks left to go in the season. They currently sit at 12-10 overall. After piecing together a five-game winning streak, which was followed by two losses, the Cougars are back on the right track.

The Cougars last loss came against Hartwick, the 18th ranked team in the country. They held tight with Hartwick through the first three quarters, behind only one goal 7-8, before Hartwick rallied for four straight goals to win 12-8.

“We played really well. We never gave up and kept fighting throughout the whole game and I think we had good teamwork and communication throughout,” senior center Alex Paxton said.

Paxton was one of eight players to score during that game.

“We’re not just a one-man team,” junior goalkeeper Erica Marquez said. “That goes to show how we’re pretty evenly spread across the board. We have a strong team.”

Marquez did not score a goal, but she had more steals than the rest of the team combined with five, and seven saves in total. She noted the significance of teamwork that APU played with. This aspect of teamwork was seconded by head coach Julie Snodgrass.

“Tenacious would be a good word to describe how they play,” Snodgrass said. “They play with good teamwork, and it shows on the stats.”

Junior attacker Britt Harris noted how physical Hartwick played, something typical of east coast teams.

“They’re one of the most aggressive teams we’ve played. It’s like you have to play water polo and fight for your life,” Harris said.

Harris noted that this game was very challenging, but not the hardest that they’ve played. During the five-game win streak, the team had several players suffer injuries.

“Everyone felt like they needed to step up in a sense because we had a few starters out,” Harris said. “It’s a group effort. We never felt like we were down and out of it. We played to the last second.”

During the win streak, the Cougars outscored their opponents 50-19. They had wins over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges, University of Redlands, Concordia (twice) and Villanova.

“We had a lot of challenges come. Not only the wins were great, but we overcame a lot of obstacles as well,” Marquez said.

Marquez noted how different this year was than last year for the team.

“This year our team is really small but mighty. We’ve really banded together. I think overcoming obstacles has brought us closer,” Marquez said. “We just have a lot of trust in each other. We’ve spent a long time training together throughout the season.”

This year has also been a lot different for the Cougars because they haven’t played as many UC school opponents compared to previous seasons.

“Last year we played a lot of Division-I schools and just tried to stay alive. This year we had teams that we could compete with and beat,” Paxton said. “We honed in our skills. We’re a lot closer together.”

The team has five games left on their schedule, including three teams in the Top-25. Players such as Paxton believe they have a much better chance against top teams this time around.

“All of the teams in the conference are going through struggles, not just us. I think we can pull together as a team and power it out and beat a lot of teams that we haven’t in the past,” Paxton said.

Snodgrass stated that she is proud of her team’s effort and tenacity, and that she’s excited for the rest of the season.

“As a team, we’re just focused on playing the best water polo we can play,” Snodgrass said. “I think they’re on that trajectory and it’s fun to watch.”

On March 31, the Cougars earned a much needed win against Santa Clara University. In a close battle, APU won 10-9 in overtime, which is the Cougars fourth overtime game of the season.

Now the Cougars will look to use their recent win to re-gain momentum as they head down the final stretch, with only four more regular season matches remaining. On April 6, APU will play Fresno Pacific at Charter Oak High School.

With Historic Career, Nicki Sprague Isn't Done Yet

This article was originally published in ZU News.

Senior infielder Nicki Sprague is having a great season as one of the offensive and defensive leaders on the field for APU’s softball team. She helped lead them to a 19-8 record.

This great season is one of many, with Sprague taking home the PacWest Conference Player of the Year award the last three years in a row, becoming the first player in PacWest history to earn the most prestigious conference award through her first three years.

However, Sprague explained how this year is unique.

“It’s totally different this year,” Sprague said. “I’ve had a lot of fun. The chemistry’s really been there and every win has been a team effort. It’s been a season where everything has fallen into place.

She noted that she didn’t know what this season would bring, especially with a very young team compared to the past few years.

“We’re pretty new, about 50/50 new and returners. We weren’t really sure how the season was going to go, but we’ve battled through so many times when we were behind in the game. We pulled out wins that we weren’t expecting,” Sprague said.

As one of four seniors and one of two captains, Sprague has a huge role on the team. Her teammate, junior first-baseman Kayla Jimenez, noted the leadership that Sprague brings to the plate.

“She’s a great role model,” Jimenez said. “She’s a great teammate to be around if someone’s struggling or needs advice. She’s someone that you can go to and she’ll honestly tell you what you need to work on. She’s always trying to help you.”

Jimenez bats at a similar position in the lineup and has a similar style: They’re both lefty power hitters. She said that Sprague will help her when she’s not hitting well off of a pitcher, giving her advice on how to change her approach. Jimenez also noted that sometimes Sprague doesn’t even need to speak in order to motivate her.

“She’s always been really hard-working. Just seeing how hard she works motivates the rest of the team, especially me personally,” Jimenez said. “She can lead without having to talk to you personally, she’s a great example.”

Sprague sets this example in games like the one against BYU-Hawaii on March 10, where she had six RBIs. Even though that was her season high, she said the highlight of her season was sweeping rival school, Cal Baptist.

“We had a really tough season opener with Cal Baptist. They have a great program every year and we had them for the first conference games of the season. We came out and swept them and that was really memorable for me,” Sprague said.

The only other time APU has swept Cal Baptist during Sprague’s career was at the conference championships last year. She thinks this year’s team has great potential.

“I just want for us to be a team that lives up to the potential we have,” Sprague said. “I think we have an amazing amount of potential. Sometimes that’s a great thing to hear. But at a certain point you have to meet that. So my goal would be for us to meet those expectations and the potential that we have. If we do, great things will happen.”

Sprague really focused on how well her team played. She said that she plans to play each game like it’s her last at APU. Based off her performance this season, she could potentially claim a fourth player of the year award, though she said she never expected to get it.

“I want the team as a whole to have success. If awards come from that, it would be a blessing. I just hope to have a season that I can look back and be proud of, have no regrets, and leave it all on the field,” Sprague said. “It’s humbling. It’s a blessing, and an honor,” Sprague said. “It is nice to get awards. Of course you don’t do it for that reason. But it’s an honor.”

One person who has helped Sprague along the way is senior outfielder Abry Moreno.

“We went through this whole thing together. She’s made me a better player, a better teammate, a better leader. She’s the captain this year as well. She’s an awesome player and an awesome best friend. I’m just so grateful to have had her alongside me these past four years,” Sprague said.

Moreno has certainly been a big part of Sprague’s success, as has head coach Carrie Webber.

Webber had nothing but praise for the way Sprague plays.

“From the moment Nicki got here, she’s been a hard worker,” Webber said. “She’s a very intelligent softball player. Not only is she gifted athletically, but she’s gifted in the knowledge of the game as well. Because of her ability to play at a high level and articulate that to her teammates, it makes her teammates better as well.”

Webber remarked that Sprague often seems to come up in situations with the bases loaded and two outs, and she somehow almost always manages to get a hit to keep the inning going and put runs on the board.

“She’s a great leader. She’s mature and she just elevates the game of everyone around her. That’s the type of player that you want on your roster,” Webber said.

Aside from being a great leader while she’s here, Webber said that Sprague has the chance to leave behind a great legacy for other players to follow.

Yet, Sprague isn’t concerned with her legacy at the moment; she has other plans once the season is over.

“I want to take a really long nap and eat some really good food and sit and be lazy for a couple weeks. I want to live the non-athlete life for a bit and cry after it’s over,” Sprague said. “It’s really hard as a senior to not look at graduation and focus on the season, but I’m trying to do that.”

Sprague plans to be a probation officer after she graduates in May.

“I was recently in that stage where I realized I don’t know what I want to do,” Sprague said. “I kind of just left it up to God and prayed about it. I said ‘Where do you see me going at this point? Just give me anything, any sign.’ Things kind of started falling into place. I realized I know a lot of people in that area. I have a passion for justice and advocacy. So I looked up careers that go with that and a probation officer was one of them.”

In the meantime however, Sprague will be looking to finish out her senior year as a leader and as a team player, helping contribute to the success of the team. The Cougars will begin their next series at Dixie State on March 24.

Basketball Falls Short In PacWest Tournament

This article originally appeared in ZU News.

Women’s Basketball

After going 15-13 in the regular season, the women’s team made it to the PacWest Tournament in Irvine, Calif. The Cougars got past Notre Dame de Namur in the first round, but lost a heart-breaker against rival California Baptist in the semifinals, losing 86-85.

Junior guard Tara Casey led the team with 20 points against Cal Baptist, while sophomore forward Samantha Huddleston had recorded her second double-double of the season, with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

The Cougars shot a season best 52.9 percent on three-pointers (9-for-17), and in both PacWest games, APU placed six players in double figures.

Head coach T.J. Hardeman noted how well the team played.

“Our goal was to play our best at the end of the year. We feel that we were playing our best right now,” Hardeman said. “Things were going well, just down the stretch we didn’t get it done offensively. Their defense did a good job.”

Freshmen guard Zoe March helped the Cougars effort with 11 points. She noted how hard the team was playing, especially in the final quarter.

“You think in your head that you’ve worked this hard this whole game and you don’t want to give it up anymore, you want to go harder,” March said.

The Cougar’s effort came up just short, as Cal Baptist rallied from a nine point deficit to win the game. Cal Baptist was ranked as the third best Division-II team in the country, and they would go on to win their first ever PacWest Championship against Point Loma.

Junior Abigail Goodsell noted that even though the team lost, she was proud of the way they played.

“These are my favorite games, when they’re close. We’re fighting back and forth, getting baskets and taking them away. It’s fun and I’m excited for next year,” Goodsell said.

Goodsell, a transfer from Sacramento State, was one of the many first-time players for APU this year. All of the starting five were either transfers or freshmen.

“We were all new, but we’ve played a full season. This season was all about growth for us,” Goodsell said. “We set goals to make it to the tournament and win the championship and though we were just a basket short of that, we’re all coming back next year. We’re all planning on working individually and as a team during the summer.”

Goodsell said this all with a smile in a press conference immediately following the game. Handling the loss well, Coach Hardeman and his players are already looking forward to next season.

“I hate to lose, but it’s just exciting to know that we have everybody back. Last year we lost everybody. It’s gonna be fun to put to use what we learned and learn new stuff,” Hardeman said.

Men’s Basketball

The men’s basketball team also suffered a close loss in the PacWest Tournament, losing to Chaminade in the first round, 65-69. They almost managed a comeback down 67-56 with less than five minutes left in the game, putting together a 9-0 rally to bring the score within two. With 31 seconds left in regulation, Chaminade player Sam Daly hit a shot to seal his team’s win.

Men’s head coach Justin Leslie expressed how well the team played in the first half, but struggled in the second.

“I thought we played a fantastic first half,” Leslie said. “It was great, up until the last minute and a half when they were able to get two three’s. They carried that momentum over into the second half. We couldn’t get a rhythm offensively. We turned it on late, we gave ourselves a chance, but they got a tough shot and Daly hit it.”

Leslie and his players spoke with disappointment as the Cougars’ season finished earlier than it had in the past four years.

“The reality is that winning is really hard. If it were easy, everyone would do it. It comes down to being consistent in practice and in the start of the game until the end of the game,” Leslie said.

The team finished with a record of 16-15. They captured the fifth seed to make it to the PacWest Tournament.

“I just think it’s honestly a testament to APU basketball that when you get the fifth seed in the conference and win 16 games, everybody thinks the sky is falling. I think there’s a lot of teams that would like to have a season that bad,” Leslie said.

Leslie said that this game and this season would help teach his team.

“This team is a young group and has had to deal with maturing and accepting responsibility,” Leslie said. “At the end of the day, what they learn from this difficult season, we’re going to be better as a result. We will learn from this. Our program will rebound.”

Junior forward Corey Langerveld was not shy about the way he and the team played.

“I think the history of APU is very successful. I feel like we disrespected APU’s tradition. We need to learn from it and we’ve got a lot of work to do,” Langerveld said.

Junior forward and teammate Petar Kutlesic agreed with Langerveld and is looking forward to having a better campaign next season.

“We’re definitely young and we’re looking forward to working this summer,” Kutlesic said. “We’ll bring APU their glory next year.”

Swim & Dive Shines In PCSC Championship

This article originally appeared in ZU News.

The swim and diving team represented APU at the PCSC championships from Feb. 8–11 by qualifying a record number of swimmers and divers for national championships and finishing fourth overall.

Four swimmers qualified in the “B” cut in different events, two divers qualified and three separate relay teams could all be headed to nationals.

Junior distance swimmers Tamara Miller and Rosalee Mira Santa Ana both made the “B” cut in the 1650-yard free race. Miller set a school record with a time of 16:55.83, good for second overall at the championships. Santa Ana followed with a time of 17:18.01.

“On my four years on the swim team, this is the best we’ve ever done,” senior swim captain Heidi Zuniga said. “We have more girls that qualified for nationals this year than any other year. As a team we did awesome. We had some crazy fast times, a lot of season bests and personal bests.”

Sophomore Abigail Wiet made the “B” cut in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 203.31, placing fifth overall. She also qualified for nationals in the 400-yard IM (all four strokes) with a time of 4:25.18, placing third in that event.

In the 100-yard free, sophomore Elodie Poo Cheong made the “B” cut with a time of 51.95, less than two tenths of a second away from breaking the school record. Poo Cheong also made the “B” cut in the 100-yard fly with a time of 56.27, accompanying fellow APU swimmer Angel Van Hofwegen who swam slightly faster with a time of 56.21.

“It’s amazing to see how the team has grown in the past four years and how many fast girls we keep getting,” Zuniga said. “Just to see the number of girls that go to nationals, it gets bigger every year. It’s great to see their hard work pay off.”

The Cougars also qualified in the 400-free relay team for nationals with “B” cut times. The foursome of Poo Cheong, Santa Ana, Alyse Darnall and Rachel Wasko qualified with a “B” cut time of 3:31.02.

Swimming head coach Tim Kyle noted the amount of swimmers who didn’t qualify for nationals, but who had a huge impact at the conference championships by scoring points in all their respective events and cheering for the rest of the team.

“We did amazing. With swimming there’s a lot of training that builds all up towards our conference finals,” Kyle said. “We had some tremendous swimmers and a lot of athletes added value not only through points but in spirit. It was just an amazing experience for everyone.”

Kyle emphasized the significance that the conference championships and nationals have for APU, earning the university and its athletes national recognition.

“I’m proud of our team, of how we competed, how we represented APU,” Kyle said. “And I’m thankful that God gave us a fantastic weekend, and that we were able to give it all back to God.”

He noted the high expectations he has for the swim team every year, and that they met all of these expectations at the championships.

The other half of the swim and dive team, the divers, also qualified two athletes for nationals. Junior Kianna Mourer and sophomore Rachel Johns swept the 1-meter dive competition. Mourer took first overall with a score of 269.60, winning the event for the third straight season. Johns placed second with a score of 252.40.

“It went really well for me,” Johns said. “The 1-meter was my strong point during the meet and I had a lot of fun competing in it. It was my best performance on 1-meter by far this season, so I was happy with that.”

Mourer also won the 3-meter dive competition with a score of 272.25. This was a meet record, as she won this event for the third straight year as well.

Both Mourer and Johns are headed to nationals for the second time together.

“I’m excited for nationals because I know how I have to perform to make it through, unlike last year when I didn’t know what to expect,” Johns said.

The diving team scored many points, which helped the team claim fourth overall. Although they do not practice together, Zuniga noted how close they are and important to each others’ success.

“The divers are a big reason why we got fourth overall. The points that they get really helps us out as a team. We wouldn’t have placed where we did without the divers,” Zuniga said. “It’s great to see swimmers have success, but we don’t really get to see how the divers do. When we’re able to see what they do, it’s amazing. We’re lucky to have the divers as part of our team.”

Zuniga and fellow senior swimmers Rachel Allison, Sydney Escalante, Ali Gomez and Brooke Miller all finished their final meet as Cougars on Saturday.

The final roster for Nationals will be announced on Feb. 20; “B” cuts are not final until then.

New Players Grow Together Toward Success

This article originally appeared in ZU News.

Four transfers and one junior make up the five starters on APU’s Women’s basketball team. Five players who had never suited up with each other before November have put together a 13-12 season so far, with a five-game win streak that ended only last week.

The team comprised of transfers Abigail Goodsell, Gabrielle Kaiser, Tara Casey, Casey Wortley and freshman Zoe March, struggled in the first half of the season, posting a 3-7 record through the first 10 games.

“It’s definitely been difficult,” Casey said. “I know at the beginning of the season we were really struggling, but the more we got to know each other and the more we got to play together, we got more cohesive.”

This cohesiveness has clearly showed as the team has posted a 10-5 record since that point. This included the five-game win streak, with three of those victories coming in double digit margins.

“We were just playing to the potential that we can achieve,” Wortley said. “We were playing with confidence. We have confidence in each other and it showed on the court.”

One of the victories came against Dominican, in a 97-93 win in double overtime. Casey noted the significance of this win.

“It really boosted our energy,” Casey said. “We were all super positive once we won each game.”

The momentum came to a halt on Feb. 6 against Hawaii Pacific, with a 48-76 loss. A second setback came three days later with a loss to Point Loma.

“After a big loss, it helps the team pull together and work a lot harder. So, we’re going to work a lot harder after those two losses,” Casey said.

Casey was not the only one who viewed the losses as an opportunity to improve. Freshman Zoe March, the youngest of the starting five, noted that it was a kind of blessing in disguise.

“Sometimes you gotta hit a low before you’re ready to climb. We hit that low and we’re ready to climb now,” March said.

March was not shy about admitting that the team didn’t play their best during those games. But she was just as confident in their ability to bounce back.

“I expect us to win our last four games,” March said. “I know we’re capable of doing so and I know that we’re going to come out and give it our best, so I expect us to win.”

She was not alone. Wortley noted the keys to winning after the two losses.

“We just need to focus on what we’re better at, how we work together, just keep fighting and it will work out in the end,” Wortley said.

Wortley emphasized the team working together. A redshirt sophomore transfer from Iona College in New York, she came to APU because it felt like the perfect fit.

“I came in not really knowing anybody,” Wortley said. “But we’re all learning. I feel like it all works out in the end, we’re all learning and growing together which is really nice. I think we’re all on the same page now.”

She leads the team in rebounds with 141, averaging 5.9 per game. Wortley also averages 7.8 points per game. She has been a strong presence on defense with the most defensive rebounds and second most blocks.

Casey has also had a significant impact on the court for the Cougars. She transferred from Irvine Valley College.

“I really liked the whole environment at APU, the God First [motto], and I knew they would be losing a lot of players. So, I figured it’d be fun to come here and create a new team,” Casey said.

Casey has been a big part of that new team, having played the second most minutes. She also has the second most three point baskets with 56 total, and averages 9.1 points per game. She and her teammates also helped freshman Zoe March get accustomed to the college game.

“It was difficult in the beginning just getting to know everyone,” March said. “But our team is full of girls who came in here with an optimistic viewpoint ready to learn about each other and get to know each other. We’re not trying to outplay one another. It helps coming on to a team whose focus is trying to win as a team and not individually.”

March emphasized how much the rest of the team has helped her, saying they were patient with her when she was adjusting to the pace of play of college basketball.

“Coming on to a new team has been a great experience for me,” March said. “I can call these girls my sisters and I’m honestly having a blast.”

March is averaging 7.4 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. She ranks second on the team in assists (94) and third in steals (44).

Transfers Abigail Goodsell and Gabrielle Kaiser round out the starting five. Goodsell leads the team in minutes played, points per game (15.2), three point baskets (67), assists (129), and is tied with Kaiser for the most steals (45). Kaiser averages 14.9 points per game and leads the team in free throws made (94), offensive rebounds (63), and blocks (41).

After two straight losses, the Cougars got back to their winning ways, defeating Concordia 77-65 in their final home game of the season.

With only three games left in the regular season, the team still has the possibility of making the conference playoffs, depending on how they finish.

The Cougars’ next game will be at Fresno Pacific on Feb. 18.

Swimmer One Step Closer To Olympic Dream

This article originally appeared in ZU News.

Azusa Pacific junior swimmer Rosalee Mira Santa Ana hopes to swim in the Olympics someday. While her next chance will not come for another four years, she got the opportunity to swim against Olympians at the 10th Annual Asian Swimming Championships in Tokyo from Nov. 14-20.

“It was a good experience to be a part of it because the Asian Championships are only every four years,” Santa Ana said. “To be given that chance to be there is a lifetime experience that I will always remember.”

Santa Ana represented the Philippines at the Asian championships and swam against athletes from over 33 countries across Asia and Europe. European countries were invited to participate as it was designated an “open meet.”

“I just really thank God for the opportunity that he blessed me with. I had lots of adversities that I went through during the semester, but He was able to help me and give me the strength I needed to swim very well,” Santa Ana said.

Santa Ana competed and placed in three events. She got 8th in the 800 meter freestyle (free), 11th in the 200 free and 12th in the 400 free.

“I’m really thankful for the times and places I got,” Santa Ana said. “Just to travel around the world was a cool thing.”

Santa Ana will get the chance to swim against Olympians again at the 13th International Swimming Federation (FINA) World Championships from Dec. 7-11 in Windsor, Canada.

Despite her excitement, Santa Ana said she feels pressure to compete well.

“I’m a little nervous, but it preps me up to be in these world level meets,” Santa Ana said. “Just being there makes me nervous. There’s a lot of things behind the scenes that you have to do.”

This process includes going through a warm room and cold room to prepare, and then walk through specific hallways to enter the pool area and get introduced on the big screen in front of thousands of spectators.

This will be Santa Ana’s first time competing at the world championships. She doesn’t see it as her last.

“The world championships are just the next step. It’s actually the step before reaching the Olympics. I feel like it’s a stepping stone to the highest dream that I’ve been trying to reach for,” Santa Ana said.

The Olympics have been a goal of Santa Ana’s for years. She said she wants to keep getting better until she reaches that level.

“My dream [has been] to be an Olympian ever since I was young. It’s a big dream that you always think of, but I wasn’t sure if it would be a reality. Just to be a part of world level meets make me feel really humbled,” Santa Ana said. “If God gives me the chance to be in the Olympics, that would definitely be a dream come true.”

Santa Ana holds the APU record for the 500 meter free, 1000 meter free and 1650 meter free events. Right now, she is focusing on cutting time in her events to qualify for the “A” group for the NCAA Championships.

“My goal is to qualify for the NCAA Championships this year. I’m very excited if I’m given that chance again,” Santa Ana said.

Santa Ana was not able to go to the NCAA championships last year, but she went as a freshman and ranked 25th in the nation for the 500 meter free and 1650 meter free events.

Head coach Tim Kyle said he has seen Santa Ana’s growth in her time at APU.

“She’s grown in every which way: In her faith, as an individual and really just being grounded in developing. She works tremendously hard in the pool,” Kyle said.

Kyle said Santa Ana is a great representation of APU and is a supportive teammate.

“I’m proud of her for the things that she’s accomplished and I know she’s going to do great things. She has the motivation and the skill, if it’s God’s will, she could reach or attain all the goals she has set for herself,” Kyle said.

Sophomore Elodie Poo Cheong has also helped Santa Ana as a friend and fellow swimmer.

“Rosalee is a hardworking and focused person. She knows what her goals are and she will work hard for them no matter what,” Poo Cheong said. “She’s also doing a great job at balancing her studies and swimming, which is hard at a collegiate level. Competing at an international level means a lot. All the work and sacrifices she put in are paying off.”

Poo Cheong speaks from experience, having also competed at the international level. She has only known Santa Ana for about a year, but said their friendship grows every day.

“We’re really close friends and we genuinely care about the other. We share a lot, whether fun times or less fun times. We push and encourage each other in and out of the water to become better swimmers and better people,” Poo Cheong said.

Along with her goals of making it to the Olympics and NCAA championships, Santa Ana hopes to inspire and teach others to swim one day. She wants to take the stories of these championships and help others learn with them. For right now though, she’s focused on the present.

“I’m just trying my best to take it a day at a time,” Santa Ana said. “Time goes by quickly.”

Santa Ana and Poo Cheong both helped APU close out 2016 by earning “B” cut times in the 500 free, 200 free, and 50 free in the Winter Invitational. The Cougars overall as a team are 3-2 on the season and will continue their season next semester, starting out with a meet against Cal State East Bay on Jan. 14.

Rebuilding A Talented And Young Basketball Team

This article originally appeared in ZU News.

Women’s basketball faces a season of growth and improvement as the team starts five freshmen and five juniors, only two of which played for the Cougars last season.

Last year, the Cougars went 28-4 in regular season play, 19-1 in conference games, won the conference title and made it to the first round of the playoffs.

After last season, the Cougars were in need of a new group of talent, losing eight seniors and one junior. One of the seniors, Kelly Hardeman, signed a professional contract with BK Amager, a professional women’s team in Denmark.

Head coach T.J. Hardeman noted the success the Cougars had last season as well as the challenge the team would face in trying to replicate it this year.

“We get better every day,” Hardeman said. “They don’t have as much of a fallback as in other years. We’ve seen a huge increase whenever we put the practice jerseys on or scrimmage somebody else.”

Hardeman spoke from experience and said that although the girls are getting better, it will be a slow process.

“It will be a fun year, but it will be a learning year. We will definitely be better at the end of the year,” Hardeman said.

The Cougars recruited several new players from high schools, junior colleges and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) level. Several of these players will be starters for APU in their first year at the school.

“It seems that at this point, [the old and new players are] getting along very well. They’re very much like a growing sisterhood,” Hardeman said. “They compliment each other and compete hard against each other.”

Hardeman said he wants the girls to aim for the PacWest championship again, believing that aspiring for anything less would be selling themselves short.

“We feel like that’s what we want to get to. We have good enough talent to get there. It’s gonna take a lot of work and who knows how quick that happens, but that’s our goal,” Hardeman said.

Despite their youth, they are a better offensive and shooting team this year. However, they are working to improve their defense, especially when it comes to rebounds.

“That’s an area where we’re working very hard, to try to show up our rebounding,” Hardeman said. “If we can do that, we shoot the ball well and we’ve got some nice players with some inside presence who want the ball and can do stuff with the ball inside. I think we have a good combination of weapons that work well together.”

One of those players is freshmen guard Zoe March. She is from the Fresno area and got to play near home last week when APU had an exhibition match against Fresno State.

“Going back home and playing there and seeing family and friends in the stands was a lot of fun. It was a special moment for me,” March said.

March has experienced a tough physical transition from high school with practice and weights, but an easier transition on the team itself.

“Because it’s a new team, everyone’s on the same level and everyone’s experiencing the same things. We get to experience new things together, which has made it easier,” March said.

One of the few returning players who helped facilitate the transition is junior guard Joelle Tampien. She noted the strengths of the team last year compared to this year.

“Last year, that team had been together for two years, so we knew each other’s tendencies and got along really well,” Tampien said. “Transitioning to this year, we have a lot of talent, we’re just working on the whole chemistry part. I have pretty high expectations for this team.”

The Cougars are currently 1-1 after defeating Cal State Dominguez Hills 70-68 in their first game of the season. They lost to Cal Poly Pomona on Nov. 12, 56-67.

The Cougars will play their next game at Cal State Los Angeles on Tuesday, Nov. 15.

Cross Country Preps For NCAA Championships

This article originally appeared in ZU News.

The Azusa Pacific cross country team battled through mud and rain in Hawaii on Oct. 22 to finish third overall in the men’s competition and fifth overall in the women’s. Juniors Jeremy Porter and Eileen Stressling led the Cougars, with Porter finishing fourth for the men and Stressling taking fifth for the women.

“The conditions were hilariously bad. It would have been funny if we didn’t have to run,” Stressling said. “We taped our shoes to our feet so they didn’t come off in the mud. Your foot would just go down in the mud and not come up for a while.”

Stressling is the defending conference champion and is prepared for the NCAA championships after having to run in Hawaii.

“It was just hard. There’s no way to run it except to keep going. You just can’t let go at any point,” Stressling said.

Porter’s fourth place finish was the same as last year. Yet, he viewed the conference championships differently than Stressling.

“It was a really fun meet. I think I prepared well for it and I think I did well, just focusing on staying in the same place as last year,” Porter said. “I really had to work for it, but it was a good race overall and I’m happy with my performance.”

The team prepared for the conditions in Hawaii by running in the mountains. Porter said he thought the practice paid off and is excited for the NCAA Division II West Region Championships.

“I’m looking forward to going out there and competing against some guys that I haven’t competed against so far this year,” Porter said. “My expectations are just to finish in the top 20, hopefully the top 15.”

Porter finished 21st at the D-II West Championships last year, and he must finish in the top five overall to move on to the D-II National Championships. Stressling also has a shot to make it to the nationals, although she can finish up to sixth overall.

“It’s definitely going to be better. We’ve seen [Hawaii] so we can do anything,” Stressling said. “We’ll all have each other’s back. That’s something we’re working on, wanting everyone to be successful.”

Stressling is the most experienced member of the women’s cross country team as a junior. There are three sophomores and three freshmen who make up the rest of the team.

“We’re really young,” head coach Preston Grey said.

Grey has been coaching the APU team for 12 years. He said he is proud of how the team ran in Hawaii despite the conditions.

“The course conditions were probably the worst we’ve ever ran in, so that made it a challenge, but we’ll learn a lot from that meet,” Grey said. “It was basically a tough mudder.”

Grey thinks that Stressling could represent APU as an All-American for the second year in a row.

“I think she definitely has a shot to do that again. The west region is the deepest and toughest region in the country for sure. Everybody’s got a good runner. Getting out of there as an individual is a hard thing to do,” Grey said.

Grey is shooting for the team to finish in the top 10. He thinks both teams have a chance, though the women have a better shot if everything lines up.

“This is the time of year that we all get excited about and train for. We’re just looking to run really well at the regional meet and take that on a positive note and build from there,” Grey said.

At the conference championships, Porter finished with a time of 27:32.09, only 42 seconds behind the first-place runner. Also representing the Cougars, junior Cody Drisko added All-PacWest second team honors by finishing 14th overall at 28:28.91. Senior Aaron Potts placed 26th overall, a minute behind Drisko at 29:28.08.

Sophomore Jake Kleist was the Cougars’ fourth finisher, placing 31st overall at 29:44.69. Freshman Kurt Hake rounded out the team’s top-five by placing 55th overall at 31:37.12. APU scored 121 points, four more than the next place finisher Fresno Pacific.

Stressling finished at 23:39.67, and sophomore Elise Larson finished 16th overall, clocking in at 24:47.68 and earning All-PacWest third team honors. The women’s fifth place finish was only one point behind Hawaii Pacific and four points behind Academy of Art.

The NCAA D-II West Region Championships will be held on Nov. 5 in Billings, Montana. The NCAA D-II National Championships will bring the season to a close on Nov. 19 in Saint Leo, Florida.

Cougars Win Big In Program's 500th Game

This article originally appeared in ZU News.

Azusa Pacific beat rival Humboldt State 45-13 on Oct. 15 in the program’s 500th game, led by the efforts of junior quarterback Andrew Elffers and a three-headed rushing attack.

The Cougars jumped out to an early 7-6 lead, and didn’t let the Lumberjacks score again until the game was well into the fourth quarter.

Sophomore running back Kurt Scoby broke through a group of Humboldt defenders on the two-yard line to open up scoring with a 17-yard touchdown.

Humboldt countered with a score of their own on the next drive, when Humboldt quarterback Robert Webber hit wide receiver Richard Doctor for a 50-yard touchdown. APU blocked the point after touchdown and never lost the lead.

On the next APU drive, Scoby fumbled the ball and Humboldt recovered. The Lumberjacks appeared to have some momentum until they fumbled, and APU sophomore linebacker Aaron Berry recovered the ball and returned it 62-yards for a touchdown.

“I picked it up and I took it five yards and the ref didn’t say anything. I looked to the side and I saw a couple other [teammates] who I knew would block for me, and I took it to the house,” Berry said. “I just ran for dear life.”

Berry’s touchdown was a momentum changer as it appeared that Humboldt was on the verge of scoring again and taking the lead.

“Coach says that we all put a brick onto this wall that APU has built. Every player that has played here has added on to the wall. It’s just amazing that I was able to put another brick up on that wall,” Berry said.

The Cougars forced a three and out on Humboldt’s next drive. APU also punted on their next drive, but came up with a field goal on the following series.

On their last drive before the half ended, Elffers connected with senior wide receiver Ethan Zeidler for a 28-yard catch that would have set the Cougars up for first and goal if they hadn’t drawn an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. The penalty was one of seven Cougar penalties during the game that cost the team 60 yards. The offense was able to make up for their mistake, and Elffers was able to overcome this and hit Scoby for a seven-yard touchdown.

“In football, you don’t want to let your emotions get too high or too low. Mistakes will happen, yet it is not about the mistakes but how you come back from them,” Elffers said.

The Cougars led at halftime 24-6. On the second-half kickoff, the Cougars went for an onside kick, which Humboldt recovered in APU territory. The Cougars were able to defend their decision by forcing a second three and out.

Neither team scored during their first three drives of the second half. APU had two turnovers during this span, which the Lumberjacks were unable to capitalize on. Humboldt went for a fourth down conversion but failed. APU took over on downs and junior running back Aaron Baltazar ran for a 40-yard touchdown on the first play of the drive. Junior running back Chris Solomon led the team in rushing on the night, racking up 68 yards on six carries.

“It’s great to see Baltazar get out there. It’s really exciting to see Chris Solomon be able to be in there also and get some carries,” head coach Victor Santa Cruz said.

The Cougars scored again twice before the end of the game on an 18-yard touchdown run by Elffers and a 10-yard touchdown pass by quarterback Chad Jeffries.

Humboldt managed to score once more, but the game was well out of reach with only three minutes remaining.

Speaking to the occasion of the 500th game, head coach Victor Santa Cruz believes it was an important moment for APU, for both current and former players, coaches and students.

“This 500th game marked a special opportunity in life to come out and display a lot of what this school represents,” Santa Cruz said. “It makes a statement about what this program has stood for, about what the alumni are a part of.”

Santa Cruz saw how special this game was, highlighted by hundreds of APU students wearing a commemorative 500th game shirt. He also noted the importance of big plays in a game such as this one.

“Big plays beget big plays. You can sense the frenzy on the sideline start to take over,” Santa Cruz said.

This game was especially important for APU to bounce back, as it followed the Cougars’ first loss of the season.

“Last week’s loss was a great lesson, a teachable moment, and our guys took the teaching,” Santa Cruz said. “Within themselves, they wanted to grow more and get after it.”

This was APU’s second time playing GNAC rival Humboldt State this season. They won the first meeting 38-27 on Sept. 10.

“In the GNAC, we have a very competitive league,” Elffers said. “It’s hard to beat a team twice, but that’s part of the joy of playing in this league. Our team accepts the challenge and we’ll battle any team that comes in front.”

Coach Bo Beatty has seen the success this year and through hundreds of the program’s previous games. Beatty is a linebacker coach that played for APU in 1992 and ’93 and has been coaching for the Cougars since 1995.

“This team to me this year is special because I’m watching first-teamers coach up second-teamers. Guys truly care about each other and enjoy their success,” Beatty said. “To me, when a guy cares more about his teammates than he does himself, that’s when I think you’re onto the right thing.”

After another dominant performance at Simon Fraser on Oct. 22, the Cougars defeated the Clan 57-0 and tied an NCAA Division II record with three pick-six plays on defense.

The Cougars moved up four spots over the past two weeks in the AFCA D-II Coaches Poll, jumping to 15th in NCAA Division II football.

The Cougars will play their next game against Central Washington at APU’s Homecoming game on Oct. 29. The game will have major implications as both teams are fighting to finish in first place of the GNAC. APU beat Central Washington 27-17 on Sept. 17, but since then, the Wildcats have been on a four game winning streak.

APU is currently 7-1 on the season and remains undefeated in GNAC Conference play.