Put simply, Faidley is one of the most prolific players in Whitman basketball history. And he merits this distinction, of course, not only for his efforts this season, but in light of them alongside the remarkable track record of his four years of play.
Scoring has certainly been the name of the game for Faidley. He led the NWC in that category each of the past two seasons, averaging 20.4 points per game this year. Faidley also departs Whitman as the school’s second all-time leading scorer, having tallied a whopping 1,720 points.
The pair that will be inevitably linked in Whitman soccer history merit honorable mention for this distinction.
Axelrod, the NWC Defensive Player of the Year and All-Conference First Team player, led the conference in goals against average, save percentage, shutouts and minutes played.
Phillips led Whitman in scoring each of the past three years, and made his second consecutive All-Conference First Team this season.
The duo traveled to England this past March to train with professional and semi-professional teams, as well as one club, Stoke City, a member of the world-renowned English Premier League. They each hope to pursue soccer after graduation, either abroad or closer to home.
This season he was selected as a member of the All-NWC First Team. He also earned conference Student-Athlete of the Week twice, an award he won six times total over the course of his career.
And as if this were not enough, Faidley, after entertaining the idea for a number of years, joined Whitman’s varsity baseball team as a relief pitcher this season, appearing in 10.1 innings.
As those around him would attest, Faidley served his team with loyalty and passion, as good a teammate as he is a player. Men’s basketball coach Eric Bridgeland gave Faidley nothing but praise.
“Chris Faidley is the epitome of a leader,” Bridgeland wrote in an e-mail. “He sacrificed everything for his teammates this past season. Chris is one heck of a basketball player; his talents on the court, however, pale in comparison to the kind of person he is.”
Faidley hopes to pursue a basketball career overseas after graduation, and he is currently in the midst of training for this opportunity.
Reflecting on the past four years, Faidley emphasized the enjoyment he drew from attending Whitman. After spending a disheartening first year at Seattle Pacific University, he transferred in the hopes of discovering a more rewarding experience: which is exactly what he found.
“I stepped into a great situation,” Faidley said. “What made it great for me was being here.”
