Sports - Local Colleges

POSTED: Thursday, May. 29, 2008

WWU NOTEBOOK: Vikings sign Alaska standout

Western Washington University men’s basketball coach Brad Jackson announced Wednesday that forward Cameron Severson, who was the 2007 Class 3A Player of the Year and scored 1,684 career points at Petersburg (Alaska) High School, has signed a scholarship agreement to play for the Vikings.

The 6-foot-4 Severson was a threetime Alaska all-state choice, earning first-team honors as a junior and senior and second-team recognition as a sophomore. A three-time first-team Region V all-conference choice, he averaged 21 points, 10 points, 4.5 assists, 2.4 blocks and 1.8 steals as a senior on a 21-5 team that won a third straight league title and placed fourth at state.

Petersburg also won the Region V Crossover game between the 3A small and 4A large school champions, the first time in the contest’s 24-year history that it had been accomplished on the large school’s home floor.

The state’s Player of the Year as a junior, Severson led Petersburg to a 25-3 record and the state championship, scoring 31 points versus Eielson in the title game. That season he averaged 20.5 points, 12.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.5 steals and 2.0 blocks. Severson was a second-team all-state pick as a sophomore on a 21-7 team that finished fifth at state.

3 VIKINGS EARN TRACK HONORS

Three members of the Western Washington University outdoor track and field team were named to the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All- America team announced Wednesday.

The trio includes Heidi Dimmitt, Monika Gruszecki and Keith Lemay.

All three had outstanding performances at the NCAA Division II National Outdoor Track & Field Championships last week. Gruszecki, a junior from Wenatchee, placed second in the women’s javelin; Dimmitt, a sophomore from Lynnwood, took fourth in the 400-meter women’s hurdles; and Lemay, a senior from Lynden, finished sixth in the men’s 800.

It was the second All-America honor for Gruszecki, who was a national champion last year.

Gruszecki, who entered the competition as the seventh seed, had a throw of 152 feet, 3 inches in the javelin, bettering her career best by over five feet.

Dimmitt, who also competed at nationals last year, had a personal-best time of 1:00.52, the second-fastest in school history, as she placed fourth in the 400 hurdles.

Lemay was originally ranked just 20th in the 800 and only received an invitation to nationals after two athletes were scratched because of injuries. He made the most of his opportunity, placing sixth with a 1:51.62 clocking.

Lemay reached the finals by running a personal-best 1:51.33, the thirdfastest time in school history, to place second in his preliminary heat.

KOPPENBERG, PACKER HONORED

Two members of the Western Washington University men’s golf team, junior Jake Koppenberg and senior Sean Packer, have been named to the Golf Coaches Association of America/NCAA Division II All-America team.

Koppenberg was a second-team pick and Packer was a third-team choice.

Koppenberg posted a school-record 71.3 scoring average, tying for 28th place at nationals and finishing in a tie for second at the West Regional. He had 11 rounds in the 60s, including a school-record 10-under-par 62 in the final round at the Grand Canyon Invitational to take medalist honors. He placed among the top 10 in eight tournaments, winning once, finishing second four times and placing third once.

Packer had the second-highest national finish in school history as he tied for third at the NCAA II championships, just one stroke behind the coleaders. He finished with a 72.3 scoring average, shooting six rounds in the 60s and placing among the top 10 in six tournaments.

3 ROWERS NAMED ALL-AMERICANS

A school-record three members of Western Washington University’s No. 1-ranked varsity eight have been named to the 2008 Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association/NCAA Division II Pocock Women’s Rowing All-America team announced Tuesday.

Recognized for the second straight year was stroke Staci Reynolds, while No. 7 seat Metta Gilbert and No. 4 seat Samantha Marikis were selected for the first time. All three will be going for a fourth straight national title this weekend at Lake Natoma in Gold River, Calif. The Vikings have been ranked No. 1 all season long, receiving every first-place vote.

VARELIA SIGNS TO PLAY GOLF

Nick Varelia, a senior at Kentwood High School, has signed a national letter of intent to play men’s golf this fall at Western Washington University; making that announcement was Vikings coach Steve Card.

Varelia tied for 11th place at the Class 4A state tournament last week at the Avalon Golf Course, helping Kentwood finish third. The Conquerors also were South Puget Sound League and district champions.

Last summer, Varelia placed sixth at the Washington Junior Golf Association Championships.