State House, Senate honor Evergreen athletics

OLYMPIA, WA - March 1, 2005- Both houses of the Washington State Legislature will honor The Evergreen State College's athletics program this legislative session.

The house of representatives recognized the exceptional performance of Evergreen's men's soccer team Feb. 9, and Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles of Seattle will introduce a resolution in the senate later this week honoring extraordinary performances by the Evergreen crew team as well as the women's soccer, and women's basketball teams.

The men's soccer team won their first-ever NAIA Region I championship with shutout victories in their 2004 season, and reached the quarterfinals of the NAIA national championships after a 2-1 victory over the reigning national champs, the University of Rio Grande.

In that victory, the Evergreen men also ended Rio Grande's 63-game winning streak. Senior Joe Gjertsen, who holds The Evergreen State College record in scoring, was named as the Cascade Collegiate Conference player of the week twice, Conference player of the year, All-Region and All-American.

Other players honored were Senior Nate Ford, who booted the winning goal against Rio Grande, juniors Greg Preciado, Zephyr Titus, and sophomore Dan Jones. Team coach Tom Boatright was named the Region I coach of the year.

State Reps. Gary Alexander, Sam Hunt and Pat Sullivan sponsored the house resolution honoring the men's soccer team.

Junior Alisha White of the Evergreen's women's soccer team was named to the NAIA All-America team. The Geoducks finished with eight victories in their last 10 games.

Senior Heather Hyde and sophomore Jenny Olson were named All-Cascade Conference in women's basketball as Evergreen recorded its best-ever overall record and highest finish in the Cascade Conference.

The Evergreen women's crew team competed in the Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia, Pa. last spring - the nation's largest collegiate event, and out rowed a number of NCAA Division I schools.

On the web: www.evergreen.edu/athletics