Staying Connected
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STAYING CONNECTED NEWSLETTER OF THE VARSITY CLUB | WINTER 2013 INSIDE THIS Membership Update ISSUE 1 Upcoming Events Membership Update Help us 2-3 Alumni Spotlight spread the Mike Redmond, Baseball ’92 word to former 4-5 Reunion Recaps teammates by 6 Career Planning wearing and Mentoring- Career Athletes, or displaying GAMP and Hire A Zag your Varsity Club t-shirt, lapel pin 7-8 Catching Up and window cling. Send photos to: Colleen (McCambridge) [email protected] Thompson, Cross Country/Track Eric Thompson, Cross Country/ Track 9 In Memory Momentum is starting to take place with the have banded together and are actively Patricia (Staunton) Etchart-Rifle growth of the Varsity Club membership. Back encouraging their peers to jump on board 10 Where Are They Now in October of 2012, we were at 44 members and be the model team in this race. Thank All In The Family and now at the conclusion of January you to all of our Varsity Club members for Compliance Corner 2013, the club membership has grown to helping spread the word, and a special thank 85 members across 14 sports. In the team you to the many involved Baseball alumni for race, Baseball continues to maintain a your efforts in showing your pride and being strong lead with 20 members followed by a Zag For Life! UPCOMING Men’s Basketball at 12. Baseball alumni EVENTS Senior Athlete Networking Social April 22 Women’s Soccer Alumni Tournament Zag for Life! April 27 - All Day Evening of Excellence: A Celebration of Student-Athlete Achievement in 2012-13 April 29 Contact Us Cross Country/Track Alumni Reunion and Awards Celebration May 4 - Bloomsday Weekend Heather Gores Associate Athletic Director/ Melony Lloyd Senior Woman Administrator Administrative Assistant 509.313.3599 509.313.3981 [email protected] [email protected] 1 GONZAGA VARSITY CLUB | WINTER 2013 ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT by Justin Trujillo Mike Redmond ’92, Baseball It was the 1990 season and Gonzaga University baseball was on the “I grew up in Spokane and I love this place,” Redmond explained. tail end of a weekend trip in Oregon. The Bulldogs had already swept “All my friends are here and when I played through the minors and a doubleheader against the University of Washington and were down big leagues, I always looked forward to coming back. Honestly, it’s 10-2 in the backend of a doubleheader with Oregon State University. my style. Nobody besides my friends knows who I am in Spokane. I The Zags needed one more win for the perfect weekend when coach can live my life in the offseason and I love it.” Steve Hertz made a declaration. Redmond played for the Zags from 1990-93 along with his twin “Coach Hertz promised us a steak dinner if we could come back brother Pat. At the time, the baseball program was a member of the and win,” former Zag catcher and current Manager of the Miami Pacific-10 Conference. Marlins, Mike Redmond shared. “I was catching the last game of the “Obviously having the opportunity coming out of Gonzaga Prep series and we were down big. Late in the to play at Gonzaga was great,” Redmond game he made the offer and I ended up said. “I was recruited by a couple of hitting the game winning grand slam as a other schools, but I really wanted to be a freshman.” Bulldog. For me, it was a great opportunity The ball Redmond crushed flew out of and I hoped I would have a chance to play the park into the parking lot in left field, as a freshman. I am not sure I could have where incidentally it hit one of the cars the got that any other place. Zags drove down to Corvallis with. Back “Also, going to Gonzaga and playing with then, the team drove to games instead of my brother Pat was special. We were very flying. fortunate to go through that experience “We went home happy with the steaks together and I will never forget it. I got a lot from coach,” Redmond reflected. “It was of playing time and was fortunate enough definitely one of my all-time memories.” to move on and make the big leagues,” Redmond, a Spokane native, is now the Redmond stated. current manager of the Miami Marlins. He Redmond excelled in a Bulldog uniform was introduced as the 13th manager of and was named first-team all-conference the organization Nov. 2. for Gonzaga in 1991 and 1992. Players “I am not surprised at all,” current gravitated towards him and he was a Gonzaga University baseball head coach leader for the program. Even with all the Mark Machtolf who recruited and coached success on the field, Redmond appreciates Redmond his first season at GU, said. “If you would have told me 15 what he received off of it. years ago, then maybe I would be surprised. As his career unfolded “My education was important,” Redmond said. “I probably was and he showed interest in managing I knew he would succeed. He not the best student but I worked hard at it. The coaches and deserves this opportunity and will do great with it.” everyone were always on us to go to class. The school has such a Despite the 3,000 miles that distance Redmond and his roots, great reputation in the Northwest and I feel lucky to be a part of that his ties with Spokane and Gonzaga have never been tighter. in the classroom.” “It was not only baseball that made Gonzaga special, it is the family and community.” - Mike Redmond 2 GONZAGA VARSITY CLUB | WINTER 2013 As Redmond progressed in the majors, so was Gonzaga Dunedin squad. He compiled a 155-115 record (.574) in his two University’s name. During his 13 seasons as a player, including seasons as a Minor League manager. Redmond was also named a World Series championship in 2003 with the Marlins, he often 2011 Midwest League Manager of the Year. donned his Gonzaga shirts. In 2012, he managed Dunedin to the Florida State League “People ask me about Gonzaga because I wear my shirts,” playoffs where his Blue Jays would lose to eventual-champion Redmond confessed. “My first few years as a player, people would Lakeland. Shortly after the Miami Marlins job opened, and in short ask me where Gonzaga was. I would have to explain to them where order, Redmond was announced to be taking over the revamped and Spokane was located. People tell me GU has a heck of a basketball young roster. Considered a players manager there is little concern team, but I always remind them that it has a great baseball program he will not be successful, just like when he stepped into the box too.” against Oregon State 23-years ago. Redmond also played professionally for the Minnesota Twins and “It was not only baseball that made Gonzaga special,” Redmond Cleveland Indians. The right-handed hitter finished his career with a said. “It is the family and community. It’s hard to describe that to .287 batting average and recorded 4,003 putouts, 308 assists with people outside the university. But if you go there, you feel it and only 18 errors. Even with the demands of playing pro ball, he made understand. That’s what I love the most.” an effort to attend alumni baseball games and came back to hit on campus before spring training. “I only missed one or two,” Redmond said. “Those were only because my team was in the playoffs or World Series. I came back because I love the Gonzaga family. I have so many great friends I made through the school with guys I played with and guys I didn’t play with. I love coming back.” After his days as a player were over, Redmond was a natural fit to manage. In 2011 he became the manager of Toronto’s Class A FEATURED PHOTOS TOP: Florida Marlins (2003) MIDDLE: At bat with the Minnesota Twins 2ND PAGE TOP: Press Conference being named the new manager of the Miami Marlins 2ND PAGE BOTTOM: Behind the plate with the Twins 3 GONZAGA VARSITY CLUB | WINTER 2013 Men’s Basketball December 28, 2012 It was a great atmosphere in McCarthey Athletic Center to celebrate the Men’s Basketball alumni homecoming with a marquee matchup against Baylor University. Alumni had the opportunity to enjoy a pre- game social, halftime socials before joining the team and coaches for a post-game celebration. Thank you to all our alumni who were able to attend and those who travel from as far as California and Michigan to enjoy the special day. REUNION RECAP FEATURED PHOTOS TOP ROW: Larry Brown, Bill Suter, Chuck Thomas, Gary Lechman, and John Brodsky 2ND ROW LEFT: Rob Slaughter and Deeann Graa 2ND ROW RIGHT: Brad Pinney, Marshall Pinney, Faith Pinney and Tonyia Pinney 3RD ROW LEFT: The Chalich Clan (Jeri and George Chalich center sitting) 3RD ROW RIGHT: Elaine and Tom Monforton, Pat and Linda Connors 4TH ROW: Scott Spink, Kelley Spink, Coy Spink, Ty Spink and Kasey Spink 4 GONZAGA VARSITY CLUB | WINTER 2013 Women’s Basketball January 5, 2013 Women’s Basketball alumni were welcomed home with a great victory over WCC opponent Santa Clara University. The day began with the opportunity to attend shooting practice and watch the Zags prep for the afternoon game. Alumni also attended a pre-game Bulldog Club social and in the post-game social had the opportunity to mingle with other alumni as well as members of the teams and coaching staff.