From courts to fields, it’s certain that Whitman athletes have been giving competition their all at the Northwest Conference (NWC). As the different teams make their way through their seasons, each strive for success.
The NWC is a NCAA Division III conference based in Washington and Oregon. Comprised of nine colleges and universities from these two states, each school sends athletes to compete within the NWC, and to the greater NCAA Division III National Championships. As one of the charter members of the Conference, Whitman sends athletes to nearly every sporting event in the NWC.
Teams that have already competed in the NWC have had a successful turnout, but Fall athletes more broadly are reflecting on the training and work that went into preparing for the Conference.
“I feel that my relationship with golf has improved,” first-year student on the golf team Camila Yoo said.
For Yoo, the NWC was a bonding experience for athletes, because they go through so many of the same things.
“I look up to my captain a lot,” Yoo said, explaining how her captain embodies a positive and energetic presence in the team. Since golf is physically and mentally taxing, the team always strives to have a positive mindset.
The teams’ dedication paid off, with both the men’s and women’s teams taking second at the NWC Fall Classic that was hosted on Oct. 14.
Similarly, first-year volleyball player Courtney Cline experienced intense competition as a source of bonding.
“Going through the competitive nature of volleyball got [the team] to bond a lot more,” Cline said.
The volleyball team has also been traveling all around the Northwest to compete against other colleges. Despite high-stakes matches like the one on Oct. 25, where Whitman claimed a victory over Linfield, Cline finds the competitive nature of volleyball relaxing.
“Learning how to play in the game and be so focused and locked in makes everything go away,” Cline said. “I get to be in my own space playing volleyball and the stresses from school and relationships outside volleyball just disappear for a bit.”
First-year cross country runner Lily Kamila feels excited as the team gears up for their NWC championship in Salem, Oregon on Nov. 2.
“I feel good about my first season. I’m feeling confident going into the Conference that there’s gonna be a lot of fast times,” Kamila said.
Kamila looks forward to competition because on the team many personal records have been broken in the past few races, including her own. As the team runs up to 40 miles a week, their training has already paid off, with the men’s team taking first and the women’s team taking second at their most recent meet at Lewis and Clark on Oct. 19.
Kamila attributes the team’s closeness to the fact that they always cheer and support each other in the races when they finish before their peers.
“The progress I’ve had makes me really hopeful for the next few seasons,” Kamila said.
For athletes, the NWC stands for more than just a sports tournament. Instead, participation is an active commitment that allows athletes to find a community that shares many of the values they do, and the time and commitment they put into their work is a true testament to Whitman’s spirit. As the rest of the sports teams start their seasons, students are encouraged to stop by a game and cheer them on! After all, they are some of the teams that bring gold to Whitman.
