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DECEMBER 2021
IN THIS ISSUE
From the Athletic Director’s Desk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 The Return . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4
Women's Basketball Preview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Men's Basketball Preview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Men's Soccer Title Run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Volleyball Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 10 Questions with Clement Chidekh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 UW Tennis Teams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 XC Round-up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Husky Crew . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 The Shot: Goooal! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 GoHUSKIES
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FROM THE DESK OF COACH JAMIE CLARK VOLUME 15 / ISSUE 3 / DECEMBER 2021
For Information on Advertising, Please Call Brandon Forbis at (206) 695-2562. GoHuskies Magazine is published five times a year by Huskies Sports Properties, in conjunction with the University of Washington Athletic Department.
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H
usky Nation, What a special thing it is to be a Washington Husky. We are bonded in a unique way. Through adversity, we show grit and determination. Passion, purpose and committed service are non-negotiables. The humble pursuit of growth and development motivates us to push beyond limitations. For these reasons and more, I am so thankful to be in this family and to work with such an inspiring group of student-athletes. This season, this team was a joy to coach. The team culture could be described as close-knit, intrinsically motivated, fun and playful, focused and goal-oriented, and perhaps most importantly… process-driven. They enjoyed the process of becoming a team, learning together, collectively overcoming obstacles, and growing as a group. Our team succeeded because of this sense of unity and connectedness. We will do our best to continue representing the UW and showcasing the principles of grit, humility, committed service and growth mindset in all that we do. Thank you for your support. We have the best
Jamie Clark
fans in the nation! You led the PAC-12 in attendance and broke the Husky Soccer Stadium singlegame attendance record. Our stadium was electric! Every match, we knew our fans would be there to create an exciting and energetic atmosphere. The experience of playing in front of you will be something this team will remember for the rest of their lives. Thank you for making a difference. Go Dawgs!
EDITOR Dick Stephens WRITERS Bob Sherwin, Mark Moschetti PHOTOGRAPHERS UW Athletics ADVERTISING
Brandon Forbis, Molly Mueller (206) 695-2562 brandon.forbis@ HuskiesSportsProperties.com DESIGN Robert Becker
Football & Men’s Basketball Flagship Radio Station: 950 AM KJR Seattle Sports Radio
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GO HUSKIES. GO COUGARS. GO FURTHER TOGETHER. Boeing is proud to bring together students, fans and families for the annual Boeing Apple Cup Series. As a key employer in Washington, what matters to our community and employees matters to us. That’s why we’re thrilled to celebrate the historic match-ups and timeless traditions with all of you—because we go further together.
boeing.com/washington
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Safety and spirit are as important as purple and gold as indoor Husky athletics heat up winter Pac-12 competition
BY MARK MOSCHETTI CONTRIBUTING WRITER
W
inter is on the way. So is basketball. And gymnastics. Indoor track and field, too. Washington Huskies fans are also on the way. With action now shifting exclusively to Hec Edmundson Pavilion / Alaska Airlines Arena, and Dempsey Indoor, UW fans will be welcomed back to those venues after a season of not being able to root for their favorite teams and athletes in person. The men’s and women’s basketball seasons have tipped off already. Those games will be mixed in with the start of Pacific-12 Conference play. The men open conference play at home Jan. 12 versus California. The women, under the direction of new head coach Tina Langley, start off against Stanford on New Year’s Eve at 7 p.m. Gymnastics gets going after the holidays, with the first home meet set for Jan. 22 against California at 1 p.m. Indoor track and field at Dempsey Indoor opens on Jan. 15 with the UW Indoor Preview, with action beginning at 9 a.m. and continuing throughout the day. As has been the case throughout the fall for football, volleyball, and soccer, fans can expect some differences from the last time they were able to visit the arena and the indoor track facility back in the winter of 2020. • Following guidelines issued by King County, facemasks will be required at both venues, regardless of vaccination status, and UW athletics personnel will enforce that. The only time masks can be removed is while eating or drinking items purchased at the concession stands. • All fans age 12 and older will be required to provide proof of vaccination That proof can be in the form of the actual CDC COVID-19 vaccine record card, or a photo of that card; a printed certificate or QR code from MyIRMobile.com, or other immunization record from within or outside the United States, including from your healthcare provider. A photo or photocopy of that card also is acceptable. • Fans who do not have a vaccine card must provide a copy of a COVID negative PCR or Antigen COVID-19 test that is FDA-approved and taken within 72 hours of the event and administered by a healthcare professional. • In following King County’s mandate, no personal ID is needed with the vaccination card / negative test. • Fans under age 12 are currently exempt from the vaccine card or negative COVID test requirements. As was the case during the fall, all ticketing will be mobile only. Fans will need to download tickets to their device prior to arrival. Print-at-home tickets are no longer available. Fans who do not have a smartphone can contact the Husky Ticket Office at (206) 543-2200 or e-mail to tickets@ uw.edu for assistance. Concession and souvenir purchases will require the use of a credit or debit card. Cash will not be accepted.
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BY BOB SHERWIN • CONTRIBUTING WRITER
With a new coach and new 6-9 center, UW women look at a turnaround 2021 campaign
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ancy Mulkey came into the 2021-22 basketball season never having scored a point for the Washington women’s team, yet she may be considered among the best players ever to put on a Husky uniform. At the very least, no Husky player has ever reached the height the 6-foot-9 Mulkey has achieved. In a most uncommon circumstance, the Huskies women’s team this season will be built around Mulkey, a newcomer entering her fifth (COVID added) season. The center — the tallest player ever to play for the Huskies — is a highly decorated transfer from Rice University. This past spring, she followed her former Owls’ coach, Tina Langley, to Seattle. Langley, named UW’s head coach in April, takes over the declining Husky program (7-14 last season) after six successful seasons at Rice. She finished with a school record .674win percentage (126-61) that included a 44-4 conference record over the past three years. PAGE 6
Mulkey, essential during those past three years (after playing one season at Oklahoma), has played in 108 career games, amassing 1,160 points with 447 rebounds, 105 assists and a remarkable 328 blocks. Last season, Mulkey averaged 15.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.5 blocks. She was the MVP of the 2021 Women’s NIT tournament, won by Rice. “Nancy is someone who can do so many things well. She can shoot the ball, handle the ball on the perimeter and, obviously, can be very effective in the post,” Langley said. “She makes her team better at both ends of the floor. Her skill set is pretty tremendous.” Mulkey, who announced her transfer on May 2, is one of 20 candidates on the Watch List for the Lisa Leslie Award (nation’s top center). She was a semifinalist last season.
Continued on page 8 GoHUSKIES
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NANCY MULKEY, who announced her transfer on May 2, is one of 20 candidates on the WatchList for the Lisa Leslie Award (nation’s top center). She was a semifinalist last season. GoHUSKIES
PAGE 7
Schwartz has a career 47 percent shooting average (50.6 percent last season), is 39.8 percent from behind the 3-point arc and 84.2 from thefree-throw line.
Junior Haley Van Dyke
“She can shoot the ball exceptionally well, can handle well and plays four positionsfor us,” Langley said of Schwartz.
Junior T.T. Watkins
Sophomore Lauren Schwartz PAGE 8
Three weeks after Mulkey signed on, another Owl player followed Langley and Mulkey to Washington. Lauren Schwartz, a 5-11 sophomore forward, Rice's second leading scorer (13.1 point average) a year ago, transferred in on May 21. She started 56 games for the Owls over the past two seasons and is a pure shooter. She is a career 47 percent shooter (50.6 percent last season), 39.8 percent from behind the 3-point arc and 84.2 from the free-throw line. “She can shoot the ball exceptionally well, can handle well and plays four positions for us,” Langley said of Schwartz. In five WNIT games last season, Schwartz averaged a team-high 20.0 points and shot a remarkable .633 (38 of 60) from the field and .533 (8 of 15) behind the arc. Three weeks after Schwartz arrived, a third quality transfer with a strong winning legacy joined the Husky family June 14. Trinity Oliver, a 5-9 junior guard from Baylor, played 88 games for the Bears, vital to Baylor’s 126-7 record (70-2 in the Big 12) over the past four years. She was part of Baylor’s 2019 national championship team. The new faces/new places off-season frenzy didn’t end there. Not even. The Huskies added an assortment of incoming freshmen. They are 6-1 forward Marisa Davis-Jones, Gatorade Player of the Year in Arizona, 5-10 guard Avery Vansickle from Colorado, and 6-2 forward Olivia Pollerd from Australia. Two other players who we haven’t seen since the 2019-20 season have returned. Guard T.T. Watkins opted out all last season over COVID concerns. The 5-11 junior had played two previous years for the Huskies with 29 appearances, 11 starts. Also, guard Missy Peterson from Edmonds, Wash., missed last season after a knee injury. The 5-11 senior guard had played in 79 games, starting 50. There are also ‘like-new’ freshmen. They are 6-0 guard Jess Finney of Arizona, who became eligible in December and played in 14 games; 5-11 guard Jayda Noble from Colbert, Wash., who played in 11 games, eight starts; and 6-2 forward Alexia Whitfield, limited to just 12 games off the bench last season because of injury. Waiting for everyone to finish their introductions are four returning players who were significant contributors last season. Junior forward, 5-11 Haley Van Dyke from California, is the leading returning scorer, 12.0 PPG and was second in rebounds at 5.8 RPG. She started 20 of 21 games. Senior guard, 5-9 Alexis Griggsby started
Continued on page 11 GoHUSKIES
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For players such as Mulkey, who received an extra year of eligibility — granted by the NCAA because of 2020 COVID restrictions — it has been unforeseen serendipity.
18 of 20 games, averaging 5.7 PPG. Junior center, 6-4 Darcy Rees from Australia, averaged 8.3 PPG in 19 appearances, six starts, and 5-11 redshirt freshman guard Nia Lowery played in all 21 games with eight starts. They all had the option to transfer during the transition but decided to remain a Husky. So, for those keeping score, that’s six brand new players (three transfers; three freshmen), joining four returning players with plenty of past playing time, three not so much time, and two who we haven’t seen in more than a year. “We’re a team, coming off a lot of injuries, that trying to get all on the court together became very important,” Langley said. “New people on the court with different skill sets, so learning each other has been a slow process but one I think our studentathletes have been very committed to.” She said that bringing together all the disparate elements into a cohesive unit is a challenge. But one of many. “I think there are a lot of challenges. There’s a new offensive system. There’s a new defensive system. There’s a new philosophy. There’s a new culture. Everything is new,” Langley said. “That’s what makes it also exciting and fun. But challenging.” For players such as Mulkey, who received an extra year of eligibility – granted by the NCAA because of 2020 COVID restrictions – it has been unforeseen serendipity. Players not only can extend their athletic experience but also enhance and augment their interpersonal and leadership skills. GoHUSKIES
“It’s another opportunity to continue growing,” Langley added. “We all know that we grow as leaders through college. To get an extra year to be part of a team and understand the culture to help younger players understand that is such a great blessing as you’re preparing to go into the workforce. It’s a little more leadership experience.” Langley will use the eight-game non-conference schedule to sort out the starting lineup, the rotation and elusive team chemistry. Further complicating her preparation is uncertainty over her players’ health. The team needs to be careful with Peterson, recovering from her ACL surgery last year. Rees has had a temperamental foot injury that has caused her to miss games the past two seasons. Other players have nagging injuries that will need an economy of minutes early. Langley hasn’t shifted her focus to the Pac-12 Conference yet but she says she knows its reputation. She calls it “the best conference in the country.” Stanford is a perennial competitor, having won the NCAA title three times with two runnersup and 14 Final Four appearances since 1984. USC has a couple crowns and five other conference schools have at least one Final Four appearance, including both Washington and Oregon State in 2016. Last season, Stanford won the NCAA title, beating Pac-12 rival Arizona in the finals, 54-53. “We can be better by the end of our non-conference,” Langley added, “if we continue to stay true to our process.”
“I think there are a lot of challenges. There’s a new offensive system. There’s a new defensive system. There’s a new philosophy. There’s a new culture. Everything is new,” Langley said.
Senior Missy Peterson
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FULL CIRCLE PAGE 12
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With seven new players on the roster, UW men take the floor with homegrown transfer portal talent
H Senior Jamal Bey
BY BOB SHERWIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
e ading into his fifth campaign as the Washington Men’s Head Basketball Coach, Mike Hopkins has the rather unique and discordant task of replacing players who used to play here with players who used to play here. For those who haven’t kept track of the whirling transfer portal, it goes like this. The Huskies’ roster was depleted from last season’s 5-21 team when six players entered the transfer portal last spring. They’re gone, off to other schools. Taking their place on the court and bench will be four players who grew up and played basketball in the Seattle area. They’re coming back home to a familiar setting, surrounded by encouraging faces. They are: 6-3 guard Terrell Brown, from Garfield High School then Arizona and Seattle University; 6-3 guard Daejon Davis, another Garfield Bulldog and a graduate transfer from Stanford; 6-4 guard P.J. Fuller, a third Garfield grad who spent two years at Texas Christian University; and 6-7 forward Emmitt Matthews, who played at Tacoma’s Wilson High School followed by three seasons at West Virginia. “These four guys are elite defensive players and have elite toughness,” Hopkins said. The departed include: guard Erik Stevenson to South Carolina; guard Marcus Tsohonis to Virginia Commonwealth; guard Nate Pryor to New Mexico State; guard RaeQuan Battle to Montana State; forward Hameir Wright to North Texas State; and forward J’Raan Brooks to UC San Diego. The Huskies also have three other newcomers, another local, incoming 6-11 freshman Jackson Grant from Olympia High School; 6-11 junior forward Langston Wilson, the No. 2 junior college transfer in the country; and a freshman forward from a world away, 6-8 Samuel Ariyibi, from NBA Africa Academy, Nigeria. Seven new faces added to the UW roster in what amounts to a restructured Husky core. If nothing else, the four Seattle transfers give the team instant experience, as the transfer portal — and the NCAA’s decision to permit college athletes to have one extra (COVID) season — have reshaped the UW roster as well as collegiate sports.
Continued on page 15 GoHUSKIES
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Junior Nate Roberts Brown and Davis, who are first cousins, are in their sixth and fifth years, respectively. Matthews has three seasons done with two to go while Fuller also has finished two seasons with potentially three remaining. “It’s unbelievable. Our program really benefits from it,” Hopkins said. “We lost some guys but were able to get some really good players. They have experience playing college basketball. They have experience being college athletes. That’s a huge advantage. That experience can play dividends.” They come back to Seattle bearing various gifts. Brown, who Hopkins said, “is the toughest man in the building,” likely will be among the better scorers on the team. He averaged 20.7 points for Seattle U. in 2020, finishing 20th in the nation. Brown, who helped Garfield win back-to-back state championships (2014-15), also finished second in the nation last season in assist-to-turnover ratio, 90 assists to 23 turnovers. Davis finished his Stanford career sixth among the school’s all-time assists leaders. He started 97 of 104 games during his four years, scoring 1,064 points and collecting 369 rebounds. “He’s our floor general,” said Hopkins. “A guy who can make everyone around him better.” Hopkins said Fuller is a player who can do many things well. Move the ball, share the ball, shoot the ball and “is very disruptive on the defensive end.” He added that Matthews’ main strength is on defense. “His potential,’’ he said, “is limitless in terms of ceiling.” Of all the locals, the most intriguing is Grant, a recruiting coup who was a McDonald’s All-American and one of the top 35 prep players in the country. He’s young, a bit thin, a bit raw, but already on course. “He’s a really good offensive player. He’s just scratching the surface of what he can be,” Hopkins said. “Midway through the season, he’s going to have a major impact on the program.” The newbies join three returning Huskies who made significant contributions last season: 6-6 senior guard Jamal Bey, the highest returning starter at 10.3 points per game with 25 (of 26) starts; 6-11 junior forward Nate Roberts, who averaged a team-high 5.7 rebounds per game; and 6-7 junior Cole Bajema, who transferred from Michigan last season and played in 24 games. He is from Lynden Christian High School.
“It’s unbelievable. Our program really benefits from it,” Hopkins said. “We lost some guys but were able to get some really good players. They have experience playing college basketball. They have experience being college athletes. That’s a huge advantage. That experience can play dividends.”
Senior Emmitt Matthews Jr.
Junior Cole Bajema
Continued on page 17 GoHUSKIES
Grad Daejon Davis
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SeniorJamal Bey
Hopkins and his staff are using the non-conference season to pull together various skill sets from various players coming from divergent places into an efficient team. The most logical players to bind the bunch would be those returning players, Bey, Roberts and Bajema. Bey and Roberts started 51 of 52 games while all three played in 76 out of a possible 78 games. Bey is the only remaining Husky who played on the 2019 team that advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Roberts, at 6-11, 265 pounds, may show his less experienced inside teammates how to operate under the hoop. “Cole is probably our most improved player during the preseason,” Hopkins said. “He improved his game and his body. He’s probably our best shooter. He’s going to help a lot.” Hopkins hopes his team’s hallmarks this season will be two elements not readily apparent in the stat sheet – toughness and defense. New players such as Matthews and Brown on the wings come with gritty reputations, as do Langston Wilson and Roberts inside. Ariyibi, the young developing talent from Nigeria with a 6-foot-11 wingspan, could be effective everywhere else. The team will press more and weave man defense more into the mix. “That’s how you become a better team,’’ Hopkins said. “At the end of day, it’s about developing them and putting them in a system that works, which we have (in 2019). It means believing in each other.” GoHUSKIES
Pac-12 home play begins Jan. 12th
Junior P.J. Fuller
Wednesday • January 12th • 7 p.m. VS Cal Saturday • January 15th • 3 p.m. VS Stanford
Grad Terrell Brown Jr. PAGE 17
TOP JUNIOR
Gio Miglietti
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NCAA TITLE RUN
MEN'S SOCCER
JUNIOR
Charlie Ostrom
FRESHMAN Ilijah Paul
rolled through one of the best seasons in Husky history
E
BY BOB SHERWIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
ven though the irrepressible Washington Huskies soccer team came up empty in their NCAA championship match against Clemson, the season was as full as any in school history. The Huskies (18-2-2), the No. 2 seed in the 48team tournament field, fell to No. 8-seeded Clemson (16-5-2), in the title match, 2-0, on Dec. 12 in Cary, N.C. A game-opening, ultra-quick goal by the Tigers’ Isaiah Reid might have been the difference. UW keeper Sam Fowler attempted a clearing kick inside the 18, but it fell awkwardly off his foot and Reid deflected it. Reid then covered the ball and quickly shot it into the open net after just 27 seconds had expired. Fowler (Issaquah, Wash.) had entered the tournament — combined with backup Andrew Morrison (Houston) — with the best save percentage (0.86) and shutout percentage (0.625) in the country. The goal altered the game plan for both teams, as Huskies were forced to gradually press forward, especially in the second half, while Clemson covered the back end more efficiently with the luxury of a lead. The Tigers were reinforced when Reid
GoHUSKIES
scored a second goal, on a header in the 15th minute. "We did a lot of things right, we just needed one little crack," UW coach Jamie Clark told the media after the game. “Credit to Clemson's defense because they hung in there tight, and they did just enough to withstand a lot of pressure in that second half." Despite the setback, it closed out a historic season for the Huskies, who reached the College Cup for the first time in school history — with their best record in history. UW had opened the season with a record 12 straight victories, won six matches against ranked opponents, five wins in overtime, and were, for the week of Oct. 18, ranked No. 1 in the country. Washington also had two players, center back Ryan Sailor (Colorado) and midfielder Dylan Teves (Renton), named first-team All Americans. Sailor finished second on the team with six goals and two assists. Teves lead the team with 12 goals and five assists.
JUNIOR
Kendall Burks
Continued on page 20 PAGE 19
SENIOR
Achille Robin
JUNIOR
Lucas Meeks
Husky's defeat of historical NCAA power Indiana sent a shock wave across the U.S. that UW means business.
SENIOR
Ryan Sailor
FRESHMAN
Kalani Kossa-Rienzi
FRESHMAN
SOPHOMORE
Christian Soto
Portland's defeat of Seattle U. in the NCAA opening round and UW's victory over Portland established that the Pacific Northwest is ruled with purple and gold in 2021.
It is believed that Teves is the first player in collegiate history to have back-to-back hat tricks in postseason play. He opened the tournament with three goals against Portland in a 3-1 victory. He followed that with three more against powerful Indiana, including the game-winner in overtime, 3-2. It was a confidence-building victory over Indiana, eight-time NCAA champion and seven-time runner-up, including last season. The Hoosiers jumped ahead 1-0 and 2-1 but Teves responded each time, helping the Huskies push it into overtime. He closed out the comeback victory with a goal in the 97th minute, his fifth game-winning goal this season. It just got tougher for the Huskies in the elite eight against then unbeaten Saint Louis, a 10time NCAA champion. Gio Miglietti (California) scored two first-half goals and the Husky defense clamped down in the second half to advance to the College Cup for the first time in their 59-year soccer existence. Georgetown, ranked No. 1 in the country earlier in the season, faced the Huskies in the semifinals. Lucas Meek (Mercer Island) and Charlie Ostrem (Richmond Beach) each scored a first-half goal. For Ostrem, who curled in a beauty from outside the box and into the right corner, it was just his second goal of the season (along with a team-leading nine assists) to propel the Huskies into the finals against the Tigers. Earlier in the tournament, Clemson had knocked off No. 1-seeded Oregon State, on penalty kicks. The Beavers were the only other team to beat the Huskies during the season, Oct. 22 on a penalty kick in the 87th minute, 3-2. It meant that the fate-favored Tigers won the national title by knocking off the No. 1, No. 2 and
EDITOR’S NOTE: For latest NCAA news visit GoHuskies.com and click on soccer.
Ilijah Paul PAGE 20
GoHUSKIES
ON THE ROAD TO THE NCAAs
For 20th year UW Volleyball wins 20 times or more and finish deep in NCAA championship tourney run BY BOB SHERWIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
olleyball is a game of momentum and the Washington Huskies this season experienced both ends of the spectrum. After a 7-1 start to the fall season, the Husky women volleyballers lost back-to-back September games to Utah (at home after being up 2-0) and at Washington State. At the time, UW coach Keegan Cook said no team is immune to adversity. “I tell the players,’’ he said, “it’s not a matter of if, but when.” Yet Cook believed that his team would restore itself. “I have complete confidence,” he said, “in how we are going to be in December.” The Huskies did lock in, reeling off 19 victories in their next 20 matches, advancing to the postseason for the 20th season. Indeed, the Huskies (26-5), seeded 15th in the 64-team field, rode that momentum into the December NCAA Volleyball Tournament's opening rounds. They easily earned straightset victories over Brown and Hawaii. Those victories sent the Huskies to a quarterfinal match at No. 2-seeded Texas (27-1) on Dec. 9. It was UW’s fourth straight trip to the quarters, the ninth time in 10 years and the 17thtime overall. And there would be more to come. For the first two sets, the Huskies played steady and confidentPAGE 22
ly, undeterred by the playoff pressure or oppressive courtside crowd, winning 25-19 and 25-20. They led 15-10 in the third, just 10 points from advancing to the elite eight. Things then started slipping away for the Huskies. At times, they appeared out of position and sorts while the Longhorns’ front line suddenly awakened and began hammering down winners. Texas won 15 of the last 21 points for a 25-21 third-set victory. The comeback initiated an inexplicable momentum shift. The Huskies couldn’t muster any sort of rally against the Longhorns aggressive onslaught. Texas won the fourth set, 25-9, and the fifth (to 15), 15-9. It was the first time all season the Huskies scored fewer than 16 points in any regular set. “You have to give (Texas) credit for doing everything at a higher level. I thought they created some huge plays at the end of the third set when things really mattered,’’ Cook told the media afterward. “I'll think about that third set for a while, but that's sports.” The loss denied the Huskies a return trip to the Final Four, where they advanced last spring. With all but one starter back from last season’s 20-4 team, there were higher expectations. However, it
was not a season of despair. After their 0-2 start in Pac-12 play, the Huskies finished with a 17-3 conference record for their seventh title. Their only other conference loss was a threeset decision to UCLA on Oct. 31. They then closed out the season with eight consecutive victories, including avenging their earlier loss to the Cougars, 3-1. That win gave them their second straight conference championship. The steadiness of the team’s veteran players allowed the Huskies to overtake the Bruins. They were led by three All-Americans, first team junior setter Ella May Powell (Arkansas), who had 1,283 assists this season, first team outside hitter senior Samantha Drechsel (Woodinville), second on the team in points, and second team junior outside hitter Claire Hoffman (Oregon), the team points leader. Drechsel, Lauren Sanders and Emma Calle, fifth-year seniors, all were part of a school-record 118 victories. The previous record was 117. Freshman libero Lauren Bays (Orange County, Calif.) and outside hitter Canadian Emoni Bush (Campbell River, B.C.), significant contributors this season, are among the underclassmen poised to continue the Husky traditions. GoHUSKIES
Lauren Bays
Emoni Bush Marin Grote
Claire Hoffman
Keegan Cook
Samantha Drechsel GoHUSKIES
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UW TENNIS STANDOUT
CLEMENT CHIDEKH BY MARK MOSCHETTI CONTRIBUTING WRITER
D
uring the fall tennis season, Washington junior Clement Chidekh kept accomplishing things that hadn’t been accomplished in a long time advancing deep into the draw at different tournaments, including two of the three collegiate ‘majors.’ A native of Lyon, France, Chidekh is in his second season with the Huskies and put together an 11-3 singles record, which included numerous victories against ranked players. In this issue’s ‘10 Questions,’ Chidekh talks about what got him to Seattle and to the UW, what inspires him to play at such a high level, and what he enjoys doing when he’s not on the court or in the classroom.
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What weighed in on your decision to come to Seattle and join the Huskies? “I was at a point in my life where I needed a framework and motivated people around me if I wanted to get back on track. Having Chris Russell contact me at that time was an incredible opportunity for me. The University of Washington is all about athletic and academic excellence, so it was an honor to be able to be a part of such a school and to be coached by Matt Anger. I immediately felt the professionalism and motivation of the coaches and they were very supportive of the admission process. I couldn't have made a better choice.’’ What parts of the city have you been able to see, and what has been your most fun experience in Seattle so far? “I unfortunately don't have that much time to visit, but I have had the chance to hike around and see a bit of the city. We are blessed with a wonderful campus and spending time at the Quad in the spring and watching Mount Rainier from the fountain are always wonderful quiet moments. I love going to Gasworks Park in the evening to watch the reflection of Seattle downtown on the water. I realize how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful place and I always miss Seattle when we I'm traveling!’’ What do you enjoy most about playing tennis? “Tennis is such an all-around sport, but it is first and foremost a game. I have a lot of fun on the court and what I enjoy most is combining the athletic aspect with the tactical side, thinking when you are tired, finding solutions while panting. I love math and every match is a problem for me to solve. As long as the last point is not lost, there is always a way to win.’’ If you weren't playing tennis, what sport would you play and why would you do it? “I would play soccer, I started out doing both sports because my father was an amateur soccer player. I would love to do a team sport. I am a generous person and I love to go the extra mile for my teammates and my friends. It is an incredible opportunity for me to play tennis on a team and represent such an institution as UW. Nothing can motivate me more.’’ Is there a particular player who has been an inspiration to your career? “Of course, I watch a lot of tennis on TV so a lot of professional players have inspired me. But it's mostly all the players that have beaten me in my life that have shown me the way by highlighting the things I still need to work on. Defeat is my biggest inspiration.’’
GoHUSKIES
What experiences have opened up for you through tennis, and how have these experiences influenced your life? “Having the chance to come here is the biggest experience that tennis has opened up to me so far by allowing me to become a better teammate, a better student and a better person. All the encounters that tennis has given me have allowed me to move forward in my life. All the work we did with my teammates and the coaches this past season allowed me to play against players I was watching on TV, like Gasquet and Pouille, and win my first professional title. But more important, It allowed me to wear the UW colors high this fall on the courts, even if we always want more. All the matches I've won since I've been here are also the victories of my teammates, my coaches, and all the people who work in the athletic department and who put us in the best conditions every day. There is no better feeling for me than hard work paying off. Only sport can give you those feelings.’’ Is there a famous place where you have not yet played, but dream of playing one day? “Obviously Wimbledon, the temple of tennis. I haven't had the chance to play on grass yet. When Coach Matt tells me about it, it makes me dream even more and I take a lot of pleasure to watch his matches against the greatest on these courts.’’ When you are not on the tennis court or studying, what do you like to do in your free time? “I try to rest as much as possible because the days are very busy. I like to spend time with my teammates and bond with them. I also watch a lot of tennis I use my free time to keep improving. The best players are always thinking about their game. They eat tennis, drink tennis, breathe tennis. I am also a soccer fan and watch my favorite teams' games on the weekends when I have time.’’ What are some things on your personal to-do list that you haven't done yet? “I love hiking and Washington is one of the best places in the world from that perspective. I hope to have time to do one around Mount Rainier that I love to admire so much. Visiting Pike Place Market is also on my to-do list. Besides being a mythical place in Seattle, it will be a lot of memories for me because I used to go to the market with my parents every Wednesday in my hometown.’’ If you could invite a famous person to dinner, either a current or past person, who would it be — and why? “I would invite Thomas Pesquet, the French astronaut. He is my inspiration because of the values he embodies: hardworking, dreamer, generous, humble and empathetic. While waiting to invite him, I'm taking advantage of being able to sit at the same table as Matt Anger. who taught me and still has a lot to teach me in tennis and in life.” PAGE 25
UW TENNIS 2021
NET GAINS Led by aces Chidekh and Wong, Husky tennis teams noticed from coast-to-coast
JUNIOR CLEMENT CHIDEKH
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S F
CHIDEKH BY BOB SHERWIN • CONTRIBUTING WRITER
irst time since 1998. Then 1999. Then 2003, 2005 and 2015. That became quite a successful pattern on the tennis courts this fall for University of Washington star Clement Chidekh. The Husky junior, a native of Lyon, France, had a fabulous fall for himself to start off his second year as a Husky. Chidekh powered his way to an 11-3 record in singles. Along the way, he became the first UW player in a long time to do not just one thing, but multiple things. • In early October, Chidekh reached the semifinals of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-American Championships in Tulsa, Okla. He was the first Husky since Alex Slovic in 2007 to get that far in one of the two collegiate fall season “majors” and the first to do so in the All-American Championships since Alex Vlaski in 2003. Along the way, he defeated four ranked players in the course of three days.
• Chidekh then made it all the way to the semifinals of the ITA National Fall Championships in San Diego, the second national fall major. It is one of the most elite fields of the season, with just 32 players making it into the draw.
• Later in October, playing on Washington’s home courts at the Nordstrom Tennis Center, Chidekh reached the championship match of the ITA Northwest Super Regional tournament. He took the first set against Stanford’s Arthur Frey, but Frey came back to take the next two and the match, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1. The last Husky to make the finals of that tournament was Mitch Stewart in 2015. Competing as the No. 1 seed, Chidekh scored straight-set victories in the first round and in the round of 16. Then in the quarterfinals, he got past Ohio State’s J.J. Tracy, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2. That put him into the semis against 28th-ranked August Holmgren from the University of San Diego. Both players were in their second major semifinal of the year, and after splitting the first two sets, Holmgren ultimately prevailed, 6-0, 1-6, 6-3. Chidekh’s only three defeats of the fall season were to one tournament champion and two tournament finalists. He was the first Husky ever to reach the semifinals of both fall majors in one year. (The third of the three college majors is the NCAA Championships during the spring portion of the season.) Robert Kendrick reached the semis of the All-American Championships in 1998 and the National Indoor Championships in 1999.
Continued on page 28 GoHUSKIES
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UW Women’s Team Summary
W
SENIOR
VANESSA
WONG
Wong is just the fourth woman in UW history to reach triple digits in the win column.
FORTIN WONG
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ZPUANCIC
hile Chidekh was making his presence known on the men’s side during his first year as a Husky, Vanessa Wong was doing likewise during her fifth year on the women’s team. On Nov. 6 Wong recorded her 100th career singles victory by defeating Nikki Redelijk of Pepperdine in the quarterfinals of the Jack Kramer Invitational in Rolling Hills Estates, California, 7-5, 6-3. A native of Toronto, Wong is just the fourth woman in UW history to reach triple digits in the win column. Kristina Kreszewski remains on top with 111 wins from 1998-2001. Venise Chan racked up 101 from 2008-11. Wong is tied for No. 3 on that list with Dea Sumantri, who played for the Huskies from 2002-05. Wong came into the fall ranked No. 14 nationally. Although she ultimately fell short against Pepperdine’s Shiori Fukuda in the Kramer semifinals on Nov. 7, she finished this portion of the schedule with a 100-31 record – a .763 win percentage that actually is the highest among the four Washington players who have hit the century mark for wins. The second-highest percentage in that group is Chan’s .737 (101-36). The Kramer Invite was an especially successful outing for the Huskies. Sophomores Astrid Olsen and Sarah -Maude Fortin and senior Nika Zpuancic all reached the quarterfinal round. Freshman Kelly Leung from Hong Kong enjoyed an impressive first season of collegiate competition. She won the singles invitational draw at the ITA Northwest Regionals, posting four consecutive straight-set victories. She and sophomore Yolanda Lin from nearby Sammamish just across Lake Washington from Seattle, to win the invitational doubles portion of that tournament. On the men’s side, junior Ewen Lumsden reached the ITA Super Regionals quarterfinals.
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FINAL
KICK Men’s and women’s HUSKY HARRIERS finish the season sprint to final in fine fashion PAGE 30
Senior Allie Schadler
T
BY MARK MOSCHETTI • CONTRIBUTING WRITER
he colors and the seasons change every September. But when leaves are done dropping in November, one thing never seems to change: When it’s time for the NCAA Cross Country Championships, the University of Washington women’s and men’s teams are packing up for the national meet. That certainly was no different this autumn as the Huskies earned an opportunity to race in their second cross country nationals in a span of eight months. They made the most it. Led by All-American performances from Allie Schadler on the women’s side and Brian Fay on the men’s, both UW teams ran to top-15 finishes at the national gathering on Nov. 20 at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Fla.. The women were 11th and the men were 13th – the fifth time in school history both programs reached the top 15 on the biggest racing stage of the season. It also was a jump for both programs from the 2020 nationals – which actually took place in March 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic. In that race, the women were 13th and the men 25th Schadler polished off her career by placing 25th, thereby earning her second straight AllAmerican award. Fay, a senior from Ireland racing in his first NCAAs, was 38th. “It was really a pretty good day,” program director Maurica Powell said of the women’s race in an interview with gohuskies.com. “Even though we were ranked 23rd, we thought we could be top-10, and we came up just short. The attitude and the effort were on point and they kept battling the whole way.” Head coach Andy Powell was just as pleased with the men’s performance. “It was a solid effort and a really consistent month of racing for our men, starting with GoHUSKIES
Pac-12s, then Regionals, and today,” he said. “Brian Fay was great today and showed how talented he is, and I’m excited for his track season. We have a lot of men poised for some great things on the track – those who raced here today and many more beyond these seven.” Lacing up their racing shoes at NCAAs It has become a most pleasant pre-Thanksgiving habit for the Huskies. Both teams have earned national bids for five straight seasons. The last four of those have been under the direction of the Powells. In fact, this marks the 15th straight season that the UW women have been on the national starting line. Both teams earned their tickets to Tallahassee by coming with strong outings at the West Regionals on Nov. 12 at Haggin Oaks Golf Course in Sacramento, Calif. Led by West Region men’s champion Kieran Lumb and women’s top-10 placer Schadler, the two teams earned automatic qualifying berths by placing second to Stanford in their respective races. The regional runs in Sacramento capped a steady climb for the Huskies between mid-October and mid-November. Washington’s teams had a less-than-stellar day on Oct. 15 at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational in Madison, where the men were 14th out of 31 schools and the women were 15th out of 36. Lumb, a senior who had transferred from the University of British Columbia, made his UW debut and placed 44th. Haley Herberg, a junior and a returning AllAmerican, was 49th in the women’s race. The Huskies stepped things up considerably by the time of the Pacific-12 Championships on Oct. 29 in Salt Lake City. On that day, Fay was ninth and Lumb was 10th in the 8,000-meter men’s race, as UW was third with 68 points. Herberg moved up four places in the final 2,000 meters of the 6,000-meter women’s race to grab the No. 8 placing, leading UW to fourth in the team standings. Then came that more-than-stellar day at West Regionals in Sacramento. Lumb moved forward into the pack of leaders late in the race. Coming toward the finish line, it was Lumb, Stanford freshman Charles Hicks, and Oregon senior Cooper Teare kicking for the title. Lumb’s kick turned out to be the best of the speedy bunch, and he came across the finish line of the 10,000-meter race in a course record-setting time of 29 minutes, 28.5 seconds. Then it was Hicks in 29:29.5 and Teare in 29:29.7. That made Lumb the second Husky in a row to win the men’s regional title. No UW runner had ever won it until Jim Jordan did so in 2019. The 2020 meet was canceled.
Senior Kieran Lumb
Both teams have earned national bids for five straight seasons. The last four of those have been under the direction of the Powells.
Junior Haley Herberg
Continued on page 32 GoHUSKIES
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The Huskies had three in the top 20 and all five in the top 25 for 84 points.
5287 4912 3456 7891 VALID THRU
03/24 LEE M. CARDHOLDER
The Huskies had their first three runners ahead of their respective counterparts from Stanford at the finish line, but the Cardinal had the edge in the Nos. 4 and 5 spots to eke out a five-point victory, 61-66. “We didn’t get cute with it and we said, ‘Let’s run together,’” Andy Powell told gohuskies.com after the race. “It was a really good team effort and they were all up in the front. They were talking and communicating with each other like a normal practice. I think that energy helped propel Kieran to the win.” Schadler and Herberg were with the lead pack for a good chunk of the 6,000 meters in the women’s race. In fact, Herberg was the front-runner mile mark (1,600 meters) and at 1 ½ miles (2,400 meters). Schadler was among the top 15 all the way, eventually finishing 10th in 20:12.2. Herberg was right behind in 11th, clocking 20:15.5. Stanford was well in front of the team race, with four in the top 10 and all five scorers in the top 20 for 42 points. The Huskies had three in the top 20 and all five in the top 25 for 84 points. “The plan was just to run a really business-like, straightforward race, and they executed really well,” Maurica Powell said.
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GoHUSKIES
6.125 × 9.25 SPINE: 1
FLAPS: 3.5
FEAR NO MAN
DON JAMES, THE ’91 HUSKIES, AND THE SEVEN-YEAR QUEST FOR A NATIONAL FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
MIKE GASTINEAU
FOREWORD BY NICK SABAN The inside sTory of one of The mosT elecTrifying college fooTball Teams of all Time augusT 2021 $29.95 HC
“Fans oF the Don James era and anyone who loves college football are in for a gourmet feast. In meticulous yet breezy detail, Mike Gastineau recounts n 1984 the University of Washington the greatest team in Washington HusHuskies won every game but one, rankkies football history. Never-before-told ing second in national polls. For most storiescoaches, about the indomitable Steve Emtsuch a season would be a career man, the irrepressible Joesecond Hobert, pinnacle. But for DonBilly James place and the savviness coordinators motivated him of to set aside what heJim knew about football and Gilbertson rethink the game. Lambright and Keith lightJames up made radical changes to his coaching phithe drama of James’s pinnacle achievelosophy, from recruitment to becoming one ment.”—Art Thiel, Sportspress Northwest of the first college teams willing to blitz
I
on any down and in any situation. His new
“the passage oF time approach initially failed,has yet made it finally culminated inofone the most explosive teams the greatness theof1991 Washington in college football mystical, history. Huskies seem almost and it In Fear No Man, Mike Gastineau takes incredible effort to humanize them recounts the riveting story of Don James while also appreciating their team criminally and the national champion he built. underrated significance college footUndefeated, the 1991 to Huskies outscored opponents by an average of 31 points ball. Mike Gastineau accomplishes thisper game on their way to winning the Rose difficult task and then some in a definiBowl and a national championship. The tive account of these national champions. team included twenty-five future NFL playThis book frames properlygripping all the account dimeners, and in Gastineau’s sions of Don James’s masterpiece of aand they come alive with all the swagger joy they brought to the game. A brilliant team.”—Jerry Brewer, Washington Post examination of one of college football’s coaches and teams, Fear No Man “mikegreatest gastineau pulls back the is the inspirational story of an improbable purplejourney curtain and gives the reader an that led to one classic and unforunvarnished, up-close, and surprising gettable season.
view of what was happening behind the scenes. If you care about University of Washington football, this is a must-read.” —Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times “as someone who has been Fortunate to grow up around the University of Washington, I can recall firsthand how special the ’91 season was. A team and staff led by Don James, an individual who had an incredible impact on me, put together one of the most notable seasons in Husky history that will be forever remembered on Montlake. This book tells that story.”—Jen Cohen, University of Washington Director of Athletics
AvAilAble At bookstores And online · uwApress.uw.edu
Skimming Surface THE
HUSKY ROWING TEAMS bring magic again to the waters on Montlake Cut
T
BY MARK MOSCHETTI • CONTRIBUTING WRITER
he weather wasn’t great and the course was shortened. But they were racing. For the University of Washington rowing teams, that ultimately was what mattered more than anything else. After missing out on the 2020 Head of the Lake Regatta — their signature fall schedule event — when it was canceled by the coronavirus pandemic, the Huskies were back on the route from Lake Union, through the Montlake Cut, and onto Lake Washington. On a foggy first Sunday of November, the Husky men cruised to victory in the men’s collegiate open 8+ race, finishing 29 seconds in front of Oregon State. Washington also won the second varsity eight event. The women were even more dominant, snagging the top two spots in the championship race. Because of the conditions, the course was shortened from two miles from its usual length of three. Even so, head women’s coach Yasmin Farooq and head men’s coach Michael Callahan were just glad to be out there — and generally liked what they saw — especially from the younger Huskies, many of whom were rowing in their first collegiate competition. “The championship eights race — with two UW boats — was a great opportunity to provide our rowers with a terrific competitive experience — one they can build on,” Farooq told gohuskies. com. “We were able to see an excellent group of freshmen — including walk-ons in their first month of rowing — competing for the first time in the JV eights race.” Added Callahan, “I am excited by the perfor-
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mance of our second varsity and our freshmen. They look like a very solid class.” While the Head of the Lake is always a redletter day on the Washington fall rowing calendar, the men came fashioned another red-letter day for themselves two weeks prior that on Oct. 24 at the Head of the Charles in Boston. Rowing in third place at the final checkpoint before the finish line of the three-mile event on the Charles River, the Huskies surged past both Dartmouth and Yale on the final stretch. With senior coxswain Zach Casler making his varsity debut, Washington, which was in first place early on before dropping behind reached the wire in 13 minutes, 59.432 seconds. That was fast enough to edge Dartmouth by two seconds (14:01.513) and Yale by three (14:02.459) in the 57th annual version of the race. When the 2022 spring championship season arrives on the calendar, the UW women certainly will head into it with some momentum. They made sure of that on Nov. 13 when they closed out their brief fall schedule with a dominant performance at the Head of the Lagoon Regatta in Foster City, California. The Huskies put together 1-2 finishes in the collegiate eights and the collegiate fours. The eights comprised crews who had competed in pairs and fours earlier in the day. The boat coxed by senior Nina Castagna logged a winning time of 17:59.1, and the second one, coxed by junior Carina Baxter, clocked 18:10.5.
Continued on page 36 GoHUSKIES
GIVE for resilience, for strength, for championship moments,
to transform the lives of student-athletes. Support Husky student-athletes by making a gift at uwtyeeclub.org.
WOMEN'S HEAD COACH
Yasmin Farooq
MEN'S HEAD COACH
Michael Callahan
Haley Stoker, a junior from Bellingham about 85 miles north of Washington’s campus, stroked the victorious four, while Claire Surbeck, a sophomore from just across Lake Washington in Bellevue, stroked the secondplace shell. “It was a special end to the fall season on the road with a racing squad comprised of people of every level of experience — from freshmen walk-on rowers to fifth-year seniors,” Farooq said after the race. “The Lagoon is a challenging and beautiful course. We had some excellent intrasquad competition in pairs (UW was the only school with pairs entries — six altogether) and then got to face more West Coast crews in the fours and eights.” Washington’s rowers will spend the winter months focusing on training for the spring, with that season beginning in next March. The women will be up first, competing in Las Vegas on March 5, while the men will set their sights on the Class Day Regatta on March 19.
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GoHUSKIES
GIVE for resilience, for strength, for championship moments,
to transform the lives of student-athletes. Support Husky student-athletes by making a gift at uwtyeeclub.org.
Photographs by RED BOX PICTURES
GOOOOAL!
Charlie Ostrem celebrates after scoring what would be the game-winning goal in Washington’s College Cup semifinal win over Georgetown
To purchase Husky Athletics photography, visit www.HUSKIESPHOTOSTORE.com
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