A Full Weekend

As far as weekends go in the world of Boxer athletics, it does not get much more action packed.

In Forest Grove between Friday and Sunday, we had four soccer matches, two volleyball matches and a swim meet. If that weren't enough, the swim team swam on the road on Saturday, the women's wrestling team dueled out of the area and the cross country team ran at the NWC Championships. It's part of what those of us in the sports information business call the "crossover season." It keeps us on our toes...but gives us plenty to write about.

Here are some stories and observations that you didn't see in the weekend's releases...
THE SURPRISE OF THE WINTER?: I may be all wet in calling the Pacific women's swim team the surprise of the winter only week into competition, but it is already obvious that coach Alec Webster has seen his recruiting class pay off in great ways. The Boxers looked incredibly strong in Friday's NWC Sprint Pentathlon. Their third place finish is something that the team has never done (in any invitational-style meet) since the team was brought back in 2002. Even more promising is the fact that all five of the Boxers' top finishers in the meet are new to the team. That includes four freshmen.

Much of the difference can be seen in Eileen Bringman. A sophomore transfer, Eileen comes to Pacific after one year as a Division I swimmer at Cleveland State (yes, as in Ohio). She finished fourth overall. EDIT: While Eileen came close, it was Becky Hattersley who broke the Pacific record for the 50-yard freestyle. The record was one of the oldest on the books, having been set in 1984. Eileen, though, was just two-hundreths of a second behind!

I am looking forward to learning more about Eileen's story. What I do know is this...she is incredibly talented. At Cleveland State, Eileen qualified for the 2007 Horizon League Championships in two events and placed in the "B" finals in both the 200 freestyle and the 200 backstroke. What's even more impressive is, according to Webster, she had only four years of high school & club swimming under her belt before college...and was good enough to go Division I. That will yield losts of dividends for the Boxers over the next three years.

THE LONG ROAD BACK: Sunday was Senior Day for the Pacific soccer teams, and it was a fitting end for Tessa Krebs. The senior from Puyallup, Wash., had to sit out all of the 2007 season with a knee injury and much of the 2008 women's tennis season. She worked hard to get back to the courts a year later, becoming the Boxers' most successful player depsite being limited to doubles matches for much of the year.

The soccer season held a lot of unknown variables. A lot of newcomers had proven to be worthy of playing time and the knee still caused some problems early on. In the end, though Tessa proved to be a critical part of the defense. She has played in 13 matches and started nine. On Senior Day, Tessa played all 90 minutes and had a couple of good looks at the goal.

I got to know Tessa last year, when she workied for me keeping stats for the soccer teams while she rehabed. I found her quiet and unassuming, but one of the nicest and reliable people you could have on your team. I am sure Joy Boswell felt the same.

THE ROAD CUT SHORT: Things were not supposed to end this way for Brandon Porter. Instead of being able to enjoy being part of two lopsided victories for the men's soccer team over Puget Sound and Willamette, Brandon spent it on the bench. His should-have-been senior game was nixed when he tore his meniscus and LCL ligaments in last weekend's victory over Linfield. Brandon, who is junior in elegibility, is on track to graduate in May. He has not ruled out a return for the fall term, but a decision is far from made.

It was a shame to see it end for yet another one of the good guys. Like Tessa, Brandon is also one of nicest young people you could come across. He is also one of the hardest workers on the field and a key cog in a powerful Pacific defense that has allowed just 14 goals all season. I would love to see him back for the 2009 season to be a part of what could be a real special Pacific squad. We'll wait to see if we get the $15,000 decision.

Brandon's parents, Wade & Sanya Porter, made the hour trip from Canby to see the game depsite the fact that Brandon wasn't playing. They enjoyed the view from the Pacific press box as Sanya is recovering from chemotherapy and was advised to stay out of the elements. One of the best views they had ever had for a game, they commented.

SPEAKING OF PRESS BOXES: For many years, the press box for Pacific soccer games was a pop-up on the sidelines of Tom Reynolds Field. This meant many games in the rain where I prayed that the wind wouldn't blow just right and short out the computers we used for the music and stats. Needless to say, I do not take the press box at Lincoln Park Stadium for granted.

I was especially thankful for it today, when the Pacific women played through a downpour that equaled none seen before for a Boxers' soccer match. The Boxers and Bearcats spent much of the first half playing through an absolutely torrential downpour. I would guess at least an inch of rain fell during the half. At times, it pounded hard enough on the bleachers that we were left to watch the referee to see if a foul had been called. We couldn't hear the whistle.

For weather events, the downpour could equal that found in Pacific's women's lacrosse match against Oswego State on Mar. 28. That day saw the wind blow and the rain fall along with snow and hail all in the first half. And, yes, the sun showed through in the second half.

SIDELINE BANTER: Before Sunday's men's soccer team, I had a chance to talk with former Pacific standout Travis Pease, who is now an assistant coach at Willamette. Pease was part of Pacific's powerhouse teams in 1995 and 1996 and was selected as a First Team All-NWC defender in 1996. He was part of an impressive group that included Pacific Hall of Famers Zack Chown and Ean Lensch.

PARENTAL BANTER: One of the fun things this weekend was getting to meet some of the parents of our soccer players. They have been some of the most ardent supporters of our team, and a group I don't get to interact with too much. A note to all parents...if you catch me at a game, when I have a free moment when I am not running for stats or announcing lineups, please come by and introduce yourselves. I love putting faces to names.