CONTENTS SPORTS QUARTERLY Summer 2013
ON THE COVER
Dog-Tired Achiever 8 Lauren Hein has a dog back home named “Cholida,” which in Korean means “I am tired.” But the term just as easily could have applied to her. In addition to being a goalie on the Bears’ women’s soccer team, Hein recently graduated with honors in molecular and cell biology and worked at a nearby pet hospital. Now, she plans to attend vet school as the next step in her education.
FEATURES Triple Threat 10 Early Riser 28 When Hammed Suleman, Cal’s leading triple You can describe Isaac Howell as a “morning per- jumper, prepares to perform at a track & field meet, son.” After four years of training as a swimmer at everyone in attendance seems to notice. Standing Spieker Aquatics Complex at 6 a.m., Howell traded 6 feet, 3 inches tall, he simply commands the at- his swimsuit for an oar and, as a fifth-year senior, tention. Now after several injury-plagued seasons, made the trek from Berkeley to Briones Reservoir including a redshirt year in 2011 that kept him on in Orinda for 7 a.m. men’s crew practice this past the sidelines for nine months, the rest of the track academic year. & field world should start to take notice, as well.
Species Preservation 14 The Base Paths Less Traveled 30 The hard-working, do-it-all mentality that served Strolling across campus in a flowing tank top, Kyle Marsh so well on the pitch has translated well high-wasted cutoff shorts and a pair of Chuck Tay- to the classroom. The soccer player has parlayed lors with her long, blond locks falling from a hip- his academic success into a Pac-12 Postgraduate pie headband across her forehead, Britt Vonk looks Scholarship that he hopes will give him, and in turn less like a softball player and more like she came others, a deeper understanding of the environment straight out of a late-1960s Berkeley postcard. For in order to protect and preserve endangered species. the Netherlands native and Golden Bear infielder, Cal has been a perfect fit.
Builders Among Bears 22 The second of a three-part series on Builders of DEPARTMENTS Berkeley recognizes three families whose commit- LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS...... 2 ments to Cal Athletics are made as testaments to a future vision of Golden Bear excellence. Across the SIDELINE REPORT...... 4 board, these families understand the importance of WHERE ARE THEY NOW?...... 16 the student-athlete experience for the well-round- SEASON REVIEWS...... 18 ed individual and the vital role Intercollegiate Athletics plays in the spirit of the University of ATHLETIC DEVELOPMENT...... 22 California. ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT...... 34
SUMMER 2013 1 LETTER from Director of Athletics Sandy Barbour SPORTS Dear Friend of Cal Athletics: QUARTERLY ith the summer months upon us, many of our student-athletes are taking well-de- served breaks from the rigors of the academic and competitive year. Yet, despite Issue 44 – Summer 2013 the fact that collegiate competitions are on hiatus until late August, training and ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATION Wpreparation for the fall and beyond continue for most of our Golden Bears in DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS: order to remain in top condition and be ready for what the upcoming seasons will bring. Sandy Barbour DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS/CHIEF OF STAFF: Inside our offices at Cal Athletics, the hard work en- Teresa Kuehn Gould dures, as well. For us to grow as a department, we must DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS/COO: constantly assess all facets of our operations to foster Solly Fulp continuous improvement and look at what’s next. How EXECUTIVE ASSOCIATE AD/ can we do things differently? How can we do things bet- DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT: Phil Esten ter? This exercise is not for change sake, but for us to be- SENIOR ASSOCIATE AD/INTERCOLLEGIATE SERVICES: come more effective and efficient in everything we do. Foti Mellis And in so many ways, we are doing just that. Over the SENIOR ASSOCIATE AD/CFO: past year, we opened a beautifully renovated Memorial David Secor Stadium to the entire Cal community; helped launch the EDITORIAL STAFF Pac-12 Networks; entered into a partnership with UREL 349 Haas Pavilion around our Annual Fund solicitations; instituted our Gold Berkeley, CA 94720 Standard sales and service model; installed lights and a EDITOR: Herb Benenson scoreboard at Evans Diamond, which helped attendance CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: and ticket income double from 2012; revamped our facilities financing plan for Memorial Scott Ball, Dean Caparaz, Doug Drabik, Miquel Jacobs, Stadium and the Simpson Center into a more diversified strategy that takes advantage of Anton Malko, Kyle McRae, Tim Miguel, Jonathan new revenue streams; launched a facilities master plan; and so much more. Okanes, Mara Rudolph DESIGN: All of these actions are intended with one objective in mind – to provide our stu- Evan Kerr dent-athletes with the resources and conditions they need to excel in every aspect of PHOTOGRAPHY: their collegiate experience. In 2012-13, we extended our streak of having at least one John Todd (GoldenBearSports.com), Michael Pimentel, Michael Burns, Richard Ersted, Tim Binning, Joel Capra, national champion to 40 years in a row with a title at the Collegiate Rugby Championship Kelley Cox, Todd Drexler/SE Sports Media, John Dunbar, 7s tournament, a victory by our women’s varsity eight at the NCAA rowing regatta, and a Doug Drabik, Evan Kerr, Don Feria, Patrick Merrill, Nathan combined six individual NCAA crowns in men’s golf and men’s and women’s swimming Phillips, Casey Valentine, and Russ Wright among others & diving. On the academic front, our women’s golf team achieved the highest team grade- ATHLETIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE point average in our recorded history when it posted a 3.46 GPA for the fall semester. 195 Haas Pavilion Berkeley, CA 94720 More stories about the aspirations and accomplishments of our student-athletes can be (510) 642-2427 found in the following pages of this issue of the Cal Sports Quarterly. [email protected] Since its founding nearly 150 years ago, our campus has been a leader in innova- ATHLETIC TICKET OFFICE tion, and Cal Athletics should be no different. It is something we must search out every (800) GO BEARS day. For only as we improve our service and support to our For daily updates on Cal Athletics, including schedules, press releases and player profiles, visit the depart- student-athletes and the entire Cal community will we meet ment’s official website at CalBears.com. the challenges that lie ahead. ON THE COVER I hope you have a great summer, and I’m looking forward to A member of the Cal women’s soccer team, Lauren seeing you on campus when our teams return to the playing Hein plans to go to veterinary school after graduating earlier this year with a 3.98 GPA in molecular and cell field this fall. biology and earning an Oscar Geballe Postgraduate Scholarship (photo by John Todd, GoldenBearSports.com). Go Bears,
Sandy Barbour
Director of Athletics General Manager: Mike Kohler (510) 643-4825 [email protected]
The Cal Sports Quarterly is published four times per year by the University of California Athletic Department.
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The Cal Sports Quarterly is published four times per Call 510.647.0720 to speak to a banker today. Or visit www.mechanicsbank.com for more information about our year by the University of California Athletic Department. flexible business lending options. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. Loans pursuant to credit approval. Bears Run National Championship Streak to 40 Years in a Row olden Bear teams and student-athletes added to Cal’s long list of national championships Gin 2012-13, capped on June by a triumph by rugby at the National College Championship 7s tour- nament and a one-second victory by the women’s varsity eight at the NCAA rowing regatta. The first Bears to step to the top of the victory platform this year were swimmers, who wrapped up Rachel Bootsma their seasons in late March. Caitlin Leverenz (200- yard individual medley), Rachel Bootsma (100 backstroke) and Elizabeth Pelton (200 backstroke) won in the women’s races, while Tom Shields captured both the 100 and 200 butterfly in the NCAA men’s meet. In golf, Max Homa finished three shots clear of the field at 9-under par to become the first Cal male to win medalist honors at the NCAA Men’s Golf Championships. Overall, Golden Bears have secured 85 national team titles in 15 different sports in their history, as well as a combined 264 crowns in swimming and track & field relays, tennis doubles, rowing boats and individual events.
Max Homa Games are More Cal Athletic Hall of Fame Growing by 8 Members Fun with a Group here’s nothing like hearing the Victory Cannon fire, watching the TCalifornia Marching Band play, and cheering your Cal football team onto vic- ight distinguished Gold- key contributor to 2002 NCAA tory with your best friends at beautifully en Bears have been championship renovated Memorial Stadium. selected for enshrine- Sean Lampley (men’s Now you can make new memories E ment into the Cal Athlet- basketball, 1998-2001) – a and save money at the same time while ic Hall of Fame, a list that 2001 Pac-10 Player of the sitting together with your friends, fami- includes Olympic med- Year who was also voted ly or co-workers. The Cal football group alists, NCAA champions, MVP of the 1999 NIT when tickets program is great for any event All-Americans, school-record he led the Bears to the title – alumni reunions, birthdays, anniver- holders and a conference player Heather Petri (women’s wa- saries, church group and team outings, of the year. ter polo, 1997-99, 2001) – the only community organizations, employee Formal induction ceremonies are athlete in school history to win a medal get-togethers, and more. scheduled for Friday, Oct. 18, at the an- in four different Olympics Groups of 20 or more receive a dis- nual Hall of Fame banquet at the Greek Trisha Stafford-Odom (women’s counted ticket price, a video board wel- Orthodox Church Conference Center in basketball, 1989-92) – a two-time come and other benefits. For pricing in- Oakland, and the new inductees will be first-team All-Pac-10 selection who formation and to book your group today, introduced at halftime of Cal’s Oct. 19 led the Bears to their first two NCAA call our Gold Standard Sales and Service football game vs. Oregon State at Memo- Tournament berths team at (800) GO BEARS (462-3277) and rial Stadium. Information on tickets to Todd Steussie (football, 1990-93) – press 3 or visit CalBears.com/tickets. the banquet, which is open to all Cal fans, 1993 first-team All-American offensive can be found online at bigcsociety.org. tackle enjoyed 14-year NFL career Joining the Hall as the 28th induction Staciana Stitts (women’s swim- class are: ming, 2000-03) – 14-time All-American Rick Brown (men’s track & field, won a gold medal in the 400 medley re- 1971-74) – four-time Pac-8 champion lay at the 2000 Olympics still holds school record in 800 meters T. Gary Rogers ’63 (Hall of Fame Ser- after 41 years vice Award) – former Cal rower has been Candace Harper (softball, 1999- long-time contributor to the Golden Bear 2002) – All-American third baseman was crew program
4 cal sports quarterly More Water Closer to Becoming a Reality n May 15, the UC Board of Regents approved a plan to build a new aquatics facility on campus, a project that Owill benefit Cal’s swimming & diving and water polo programs, as well as the entire campus and area swimming communities that currently use Spieker Aquatics Complex. Fundraising for the $15 million center is well underway and work will begin once the entire amount has been committed. The pool will be located in a parking lot west of the Tang Center between Bancroft Way and Durant Avenue on a site approved by the campus Capital Projects Committee. As one of only three NCAA schools to sponsor four aquatics teams – men’s and women’s swimming & diving and men’s and women’s water polo – the Bears are constrained by a lack of water some competitions, which will free up time for recreational, PE with only the current Spieker pool available. Once the new facility and master’s swimming at Spieker. The majority of Cal’s meets opens, it will host the majority of the teams’ practices, as well as and matches will remain at Spieker Aquatics Complex. 2013 Football Home Schedule Aug. 31 Sat Northwestern 7:30 p.m. ESPN2 Sept. 7 Sat Portland State 2:00 p.m. Pac-12 Networks Sept. 14 Sat Ohio State 4:00 p.m. FOX Oct. 5 Sat Washington State* TBA TBA Oct. 19 Sat Oregon State TBA TBA Nov. 2 Sat Arizona TBA TBA Nov. 9 Sat USC# TBA TBA *Homecoming #Joe Roth Memorial Game Kickoff times and television selections for TBA dates will be announced either 12 or six days prior to each game Single-Game Ticket On-Sale Dates Tuesday, July 23 at 9 a.m. Cal Community Encouraged to Buy Tickets Early ESP participants and 2013 season-ticket s the Cal football season approach- Stadium,” said Rob Kristiniak, Cal’s direc- holders (MBB/WBB/FB/VB) who are do- es, tickets are expected to be in tor of ticket sales. nors at the $10K+ level A high demand for the 2013 season, Current season-ticket holders, donors Wednesday, July 24 at 9 a.m. specifically for the season opener against to Cal Athletics and letterwinners will 2013 season-ticket holders (MBB/ Northwestern, Ohio State two weeks later receive priority access to buy single-game WBB/FB/VB) who are donors at the and the match-up with USC. Cal fans are tickets before the general public. In addi- $1,200+ level encouraged to buy single-game tickets as tion, these groups will enjoy “locked in” early as possible to beat the rush. pricing that will not fluctuate. Single-game Thursday, July 25 at 9 a.m. “With limited inventory, we’re calling tickets for the general public will be 2013 season-ticket holders (MBB/ on our donors and season-ticket holders subject to dynamic pricing that will WBB/FB/VB), Cal Athletic letterwinners to use their benefits and buy additional increase based on a variety of factors. and donors at the $5,000 level who are single-game tickets during their presale For more information on single-game not season-ticket holders dates so we can own our turf and create tickets, pricing and seating, visit Friday, July 26 at 9 a.m. a true home field advantage at Memorial CalBears.com/tickets. Donors to Cal Athletics at $4,999 and under, e-newsletter subscribers, social media fans, CAA member presale (via promo code subject to dynamic pricing) Tuesday, July 30 at 9 a.m. General Public (if available)
SUMMER 2013 5 REPORT
Golden Bear Team Award Highest cumulative GPA Women’s Golf – 3.46 GPA Big C Most Improved Team Award SIDELINE Most improved team GPA Softball Tom Hansen Conference Medal Outstanding senior male and female student-athlete Male – Tom Shields Cal’s Golden Bear Award winners for having the highest GPA on their respective teams in 2012-13. (men’s swimming) Female – Layshia Clarendon Golden Bears Saluted at Honors Luncheon (women’s basketball) Neufeld Scholar-Athlete Awards al Athletics recognized the best of the Year award for Highest GPA among graduating student-athletes and brightest of its nearly 850 women’s basketball Male – Michael Perretta (men’s crew) Cstudent-athletes with a host of this past season. Female – Lauren Hein (women’s soccer) awards and postgraduate scholarships Lindsey Ziegen- at the annual Academic Honors Lun- hirt, a senior softball Pac-12 Postgraduate cheon held May 7 at Haas Pavilion. The player, provided the Scholarships event is co-sponsored by the Big C Soci- student-athlete ad- $3,000 awards for graduate work Isaac Howell (men’s swimming) ety and the Athletic Study Center. dress to the crowd Caitlin Leverenz (women’s swimming) Lindsey Ziegenhirt The Tom Hansen Conference Medal, and spoke about the Kyle Marsh (men’s soccer) presented to the top male and female unique experiences she has had at Cal Robin Rostratter (volleyball) senior student-athletes at each Pac-12 over the past four years. school, went to men’s swimmer Tom “From the rigorous academic work- Oscar Geballe Shields and Layshia Clarendon of wom- load to the intense competition of Postgraduate Scholarships $5,000 awards for graduate work en’s basketball. Shields was a multi- the Pac-12 Conference, Berkeley stu- Lauren Hein (women’s soccer) time NCAA champion during his career, dent-athletes are continuously chal- Sara Isakovic (women’s swimming) including victories in the 100- and 200- lenged,” Ziegenhirt said. “But challeng- Lindsey Ziegenhirt (softball) yard butterfly this year, while Claren- es define us, and overcoming them gives don led the Golden Bears to the Final us the courage to take on more. It’s this Jake Gimbel Prize and Four for the first time in school history courage that separates Cal athletes from Anna Espenschade Award Exemplifying Golden Bear spirit and earned the Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete all the others.” Male (Gimbel) – Marin Balarin (men’s water polo) Female (Espenschade) – Summer in the Country for Several Golden Bear Teams Caitlin Leverenz (women’s swimming) everal Cal teams Joseph McDonnell Kavanagh are spending parts Award Sof their summer Exception improvement in break traveling, training academic pursuits and competing interna- Tierra Rogers tionally, including the (women’s basketball) Bears’ women’s water Walter A. Haas Jr. polo squad that will rep- Community Service Award resent the United States Contribution to community service at the World University Leilani Alferos (women’s gymnastics) Games in Russia. the World University Games against The first team to take to the air was squads from seven other countries. women’s soccer, which left Berkeley im- “To represent your country is a huge mediately after spring final exams to vis- deal,” Cal coach Richard Corso said. “It’s it Costa Rica May 20-29. Later this sum- not only a great trip for training and mer, the Cal women’s basketball team competition, but it gives a chance for the will travel to China Aug. 17-25. young players to play at a very important Perhaps the most significant trip will tournament.” be the one taken by women’s water polo, Under NCAA rules, teams can take an which will be in Kazan, Russia, from July international tour once every four years, 6-17. The Bears will send a team of 13 and each of these trips were privately and compete under the USA banner at funded.
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©2013 The Sherwin-Williams Company. Dog-Tired Achiever Aspiring Veterinarian Lauren Hein Worked, Studied and Played Around the Clock at Cal
By Jonathan Okanes
auren Hein has a dog back home “I’d have practice in the morning, go straight from practice to named “Cholida,” which in Korean class, and then go straight from class to work. I was exhausted,” Hein said. “I took a lot of naps. Naps were the best thing ever.” means “I am tired.” Oh, and by the way, Hein also found time to study – a lot. LLooks like the residents at the Hein household may have She completed her degree with a 3.982 GPA, which earned her been misidentified. the Neufeld Scholar Athlete Award for having the highest GPA Hein recently completed an impressive and exhausting ca- of any graduating female student-athlete on campus. Hein was reer at Cal. In addition to being a goalie on the Bears’ wom- also the recipient of an Oscar Geballe Postgraduate Scholar- en’s soccer team, Hein took a rigorous academic workload and ship, which recognizes devotion to Cal and the combination of graduated with honors with a degree in molecular and cell bi- scholarship and athletic competition. ology. In addition, she worked nearby an emergency pet hos- “Every athlete at Cal deserves recognition,” women’s soc- pital, oftentimes working late shifts and then showing up to cer coach Neil McGuire said. “But as far as the combination of soccer practice the next morning. academic standards and character, I don’t think I’ve coached a
8 cal sports quarterly Hein’s retirement lasted until the second day of fall camp. Backup goalie Kat Messinger, a former club teammate of Hein’s, suffered a sea- son-ending knee injury. Hein had already decid- ed she was going to go visit the team that day. It ended up being a more permanent return. finer athlete than Lauren. She’s the unsung hero of Cal wom- “I was talking to the en’s soccer.” “Every athlete at team, trying to figure out Hein fondly refers to her childhood home in Tustin, Calif., as Cal deserves recog- how we were going to “The Zoo.” She grew up with dogs, cats, turtles, snakes and rats, nition. But as far move forward. I remem- among others creatures. Hein said as early as age 7, she was as the combination ber thinking that I wish telling people she wanted to be a veterinarian. Lauren were still here,” One thing was for sure: Hein seemed destined to wind up of academic stan- McGuire said. “Then I in the medical field in some capacity. Her mother, Susan, is a dards and charac- saw her walking through nurse and her father, Mike, is an x-ray technician. Hein said ter, I don’t think the gate.” she considered going to medical school when she was in high I’ve coached a Hein agreed to come school, but when she got to Cal and started volunteering at the finer athlete than back for her senior year. Berkeley Animal Shelter, it reinforced her childhood dream to She started one game become a vet. Lauren. She’s the and shut out Nevada on “I was surrounded by the health practice,” Hein said. “I knew unsung hero of Cal Sept. 23. It meant an- I loved science and math, so medicine it was. I didn’t know if women’s soccer” other season of juggling I wanted humans or animals. My mom always told me I was – head coach soccer, schoolwork and going to end up with animals. She could tell that I had a special Neil McGuire animals. passion for the animals.” “I don’t understand During winter break of her freshman year, Hein got the op- how she did it,” Messinger said. “Not only was she saving ani- portunity to shadow a vet in Newport Beach, Calif., who was a mals, she would come to practice every morning and had the friend of the family. That motivated her even more to get more highest GPA in one of the toughest majors. Just from a personal experience. She joined the Cal Pre-Vet Club, and it was there standpoint, Lauren Hein is a person I aspire to be like academ- she met another student working at PETS, an emergency ani- ically and athletically. It’s inspiring to look at someone who mal hospital in Berkeley. Hein contacted the clinic and got a job worked so hard. For a number of us, she was a person to look as a tech assistant. up to.” Hein would either work from 4-midnight or 6 p.m.-2 a.m., Like her teammates, Hein made an impression on her co-work- making for some bleary-eyed 8 a.m. soccer practices. ers as well. In the short time she volunteered at the Berkeley “I had people telling me I was incredibly crazy,” Hein said. “I Animal Shelter, Hein was put in charge of mentoring new volun- would take one- or two-hour naps on the days I had work so teers. She also got involved with the “Bad Rap” program, which those nights I wasn’t too exhausted. But there were sometimes focused on socializing pit bulls. I was so exhausted and they could see it. I lost a little bit of Despite no professional experience, Hein immediately start- focus. It wasn’t something that concerned them because I al- ed performing a variety of duties as soon as she started her ways had the right attitude at practice. I busted my butt. Even job at PETS. She restrained animals, placed catheters, adminis- if I only got four or five hours of sleep the night before, I was tered injections and took X-Rays. trying my hardest during conditioning.” “I hate to gush, but I thought she was really one of the most Hein started seven games as a sophomore in 2010, but when mature pre-vets I’ve worked with,” said PETS head registered Emily Kruger won the No. 1 job the following season, it became vet technician Lisa Phoenix. “What she brought to us was just an apparent her playing time was diminishing. Hein was the maid amazing sense of teamwork. She was so easy to work with and of honor at her sister’s wedding in September of last year, and so truly helpful. She was there to support the team. I was always with the preparations for that, along with her strenuous aca- disappointed when she had a soccer game and couldn’t work.” demic obligations, Hein decided not to play her senior season. And Hein saw the team concept at PETS as well, comparing “I think toward the middle of my junior year, I started to re- the dynamic at the animal hospital to the one she regularly saw alize that soccer wasn’t my end-all,” Hein said. “Making sure I on the soccer field. could get the grades I wanted and get the experience in order “It’s a team. There’s the receptionist, the techs and the doc- to continue as a vet was what was important. Soccer wasn’t tor – and they all have to work together for a set goal of win- stopping me from that. So soccer became fun. Not that it wasn’t ning, which is saving the animal’s life,” Hein said. “I feel like fun before, but when the pressure was off that I don’t need to the doctors are the goalies. As a goalie, I was always the one play to have fun, it was actually really nice.” directing people where to go. I was the final end-all.”
SUMMER 2013 9 Triple¯ hrea Hammed Suleman Has Overcome T Injuries to Become One of the t Best Jumpers in Cal History
By Herb Benenson
When Hammed Suleman, Cal’s leading triple jumper, prepares to healthy Suleman could become a fig- perform at a track & field meet, everyone in attendance seems to ure on the triple jump scene for many notice. Standing 6 feet, 3 inches tall, he simply commands the attention. years down the road. And after several frustrating seasons, including a redshirt And when he raises his arms and encourages others to start rhythmically year that kept him on the sidelines for clapping before he starts down the runway on his way to the sand pit, fans and w nine months in 2011, Suleman appears competitors alike heed his wishes. headed towards such accolades. Suleman returns their participation Suleman arrived at Cal after capturing the state high school with a smile, and the support appears to triple jump title in 2009, and as a freshman in Berkeley, he was drive him to hop, skip and jump as far as a conference finalist in both the triple jump and long jump. The he is able. He is engaged with the fans, and following year, he captured the MPSF indoor title in the triple they with him. jump with a then-lifetime-best effort of 52-10.75. He later Through three competitive seasons at placed 12th at the NCAA Indoor Championships and expected Cal, Suleman ranks as one of the best in much more out of himself once he turned his attention out- school history in the triple jump, and for doors. Hammed Suleman much of the 2013 season, he was No. 2 However, a hard-to-diagnose ailment put Suleman on the in the country in the event having leapt 53-4.50 at the Texas shelf by mid-March 2011 with pain in his lower leg. After ini- Relays in March. Yet that distance provides only a glimpse at tially believing the injury was a stress fracture, then a muscle what is possible for the junior out of Deer Valley High School problem, Cal’s medical staff determined Suleman had nerve in Antioch. entrapment and soft tissue compression, which put pressure “He has a great combination of speed and power,” director on a nerve and resulted in painful takeoffs. of track & field Tony Sandoval said. “If you look at triple jump- Although Suleman had success in the interim – he returned ers, they get better with age. I see him as an elite international to become the 2012 Pac-12 runner-up in the long jump and triple jumper down the road. I think the fact that we finally got also qualified for NCAA regionals in the triple jump – he just him healthy is going to bode well for his future.” started coming around in 2013 after undergoing several surgi- Given the inner drive he possesses to reach his potential, a cal procedures to relieve tension in his leg. Continued on page 13 10 cal sports quarterly The Faculty Club Special Events Weddings Meetings & Conferences
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(510) 764-2000 POPE DENTAL One of the top jumpers in school history, “I love talking to kids Hammed Suleman believes he will only and giving them my get better with time. experiences and try to make it easier for them so they don’t make the same mistakes I did. I try to help them get the most of this position in their life, especially underprivileged kids. There are certain distractions in the community that can sidetrack you from “I’ll give them encouragement what you need to do.” and try to be a younger coach and kind of relate to them,” Suleman – Hammed Suleman said. “I have a good relationship with the teachers and the princi- pal. It’s always a good feeling when I go back and feel welcome.” While a student at Deer Valley Continued from page 10 HS, Suleman took up track & field Suleman still has good and bad days, but overall, he believes because his older sister ran for the team. At first he tried a lit- the disappointment of the past two years is behind him. tle bit of everything before an assistant coach encouraged him “It’s been a winding road, up and down,” Suleman said. “But to become a jumper. His first year, he managed only 16 feet in I’m still blessed to be here and trying to stay positive and live the long jump (“Nothing impressive,” he said). He improved to out every day the best that I can.” 22-6 in the long jump and 46 feet in the triple jump by the end In particular, Suleman’s 53-foot jump at the Texas Relays of his junior year, but he still wasn’t where he wanted to be. earlier this year assured him that he can do so much more. “I was so motivated to be the best that I can, that whole sum- “It gave me a lot of confidence knowing that on that particu- mer I got on a regimen,” Suleman said. “I was on the track by lar jump, I put my hand back (on the landing), which took more myself running stairs. I couldn’t be on the bottom like I was the away from the jump,” Suleman said. “To have done that tells me year before. It really motivated me to see what I could do, to see I’m on the right track. I’m just staying positive.” how much work I could put in and see what the effects were.” Suleman continued his upward trajectory at the Pac-12 Adding to the incentive was a conversation Suleman had Championships. On the opening day, he captured the confer- with Cal associate head coach Ed Miller. Suleman asked if Cal OPE ENTAL ence title in the long jump with a distance of 25-11.50, and a would recruit him, and Miller replied that the Bears would P D day later, he was runner-up in the triple jump. In June, Suleman take a look once he reached 49-50 feet. qualified for the NCAA meet in the long jump, as well. In Sandoval’s words, Suleman “exploded” his senior sea- Suleman’s natural upbeat attitude translates very well to his son, picking up an extra five feet in the triple jump and reg- social welfare major and intended career path. Although he istering a best of 51-2. Although Cal was late to get into the would like to train and compete after he graduates next year, a recruiting mix, Suleman eventually chose to become a Gold- master’s degree in social work is a clear goal. en Bear and is taking advantage of his time in Berkeley. Not “I love talking to kids and giving them my experiences and only is he relishing the teaching he receives from his event try to make it easier for them so they don’t make the same coaches, but he constantly scours the internet for videos of mistakes I did,” Suleman said. “I try to help them understand triple jumpers to pick up as many tips as he can. certain things that they’re going through. I try to help them “Is it going to work for me? How does it work for them? I try get the most of this position in their life, especially under- to diagnose everything about it,” Suleman said. “What muscles privileged kids. How are you going to help yourself? How are are they using, are their arms parallel to their legs, how much you going to get better? What if this doesn’t work out? I try speed, what is their strength-to-weight ratio? I just try to break to give them the best advice that I can. There are certain dis- everything down. The triple jump is a very technical event. Do tractions in the community that can sidetrack you from what one little wrong thing and you feel so much pain. When every- you need to do.” thing goes right, it feels very good.” Suleman speaks from the experience of regularly returning With one more season at Cal and hopefully many more com- to his high school in Antioch and talking with members of the petitive years after that, Suleman hopes that the triple jump current track & field team about the challenges that lie ahead. feels good to him for a long time.
SUMMER 2013 13 Kyle Marsh Hopes to Make the World a Safer Place by Better Understanding the Species Environment Preservation By Dean Caparaz ’90
he hard-working, do-it-all mentality that served Kyle Marsh so well on the pitch has translated well to the classroom. The soccer player has parlayed his academic success into a Pac-12 Postgrad- uate Scholarship that he hopes will give him, and in turn others, a deeperT understanding of the environment in order to protect and preserve endangered species.
A product of Santa Rosa High School, Marsh played for three seasons – and redshirted one year due to injury – on the Golden Bear team. He graduated with his degree in conservation and re- source sciences this past May. Marsh came to Cal completely focused on soccer. He dreamed of someday play- ing professionally, as head coach Kevin Grimes’ lauded program has produced several players who are still active at the next level. Over the years, Marsh watched as many of his former team- mates, including A.J. Soares, Servando Carrasco and Hector Jimenez, left Cal to become pros. Kyle Marsh (center) celebrates on Goldman A speedy mid- Field with Cal teammates Tony Salciccia (10) fielder/defender, and Kyle Lunt (23). Marsh appeared in a total of 38 games for the Bears and start- advance to the next level, Marsh realized ed 20 times. An inju- that reaching the pro ranks was going to ry sidelined him in be a long shot. 2010, forcing him to “That was my aspiration in the begin- Kyle Marsh the sidelines when ning,” Marsh said, “and obviously it shift- Cal produced arguably its best season ed to a more realistic future for myself in program history with a berth into the and something that I can control a lit- NCAA quarterfinals. Personally, Marsh tle bit better with schoolwork and hard similar, and you work as hard in both. had his most outstanding year in 2011, work than I could with soccer. Once I Athletes are usually pretty competitive, when he started 11 games and scored got here I found another passion. That’s so doing the best you can always is just the first two goals of his career. This when it started to shift a little bit more kind of a mindset you’re stuck in.” past fall, he started in nine of 15 games towards education and my classes. Marsh worked in two different re- played and scored twice more – in a 4-1 “Actually, it was a big shift,” Marsh ad- search positions as a senior. One en- win over Central Florida and a 5-0 rout mitted. “I was always super passionate tailed analyzing data about coyote of Houston Baptist. about soccer, and that’s what pushes any activity over the previous four years. But over the years, his focus changed. athlete to be their best. And then when The other position was part of the Despite seeing many of his teammates you find a passion in school, it’s pretty Undergraduate Research Apprentice
14 cal sports quarterly Like many newcomers in Berke- ley, Marsh became aware of academic pursuits he didn’t know existed be- fore arriving on campus. And a class he took as a freshman not only piqued his interests, but sent him in a direction that will shape his post-Cal career and inspired him to try to do his part of make the world a better place to live, a sentiment shared by so many others on campus. “In my freshman year I had a sem- inar class that was on environmental issues and green energy, and that kind of sparked my interest because I didn’t know that was an actual area of study until I got to college,” Marsh said. “And then that led to taking Biology 1B. My GSI (graduate student instructor) was a conservation biologist from Madagas- car, and he was talking to me about his research and everything that he’d been doing. That definitely opened my eyes to a possibility that I didn’t know existed. It was definitely something that I was very interested in, and that’s shot me on this path.” With conservation biology serving as Marsh’s favorite area of concentration within his major, his “path” has led him towards protecting wildlife and the en- vironment. “To be able to prevent a species from going extinct is a dream of mine that I will always strive for, and with the education I received here I know that it is possible,” he said. Now a young Cal alumnus, Marsh is spending his summer in Yosemite National Park, though he’s not sight-see- ing, at least not in the conventional sense. He is assisting a Cal graduate stu- dent in her research of Dark-eyed Juncos, “which are these tiny birds,” March said. “We’ll be catching them, taking DNA sam- ples, banding them and watching them. [We’re] doing a study on how clutch size (the number of eggs that a bird lays in one nesting) goes down or how clutch size changes as elevation changes.” Marsh hopes to take at least one year Program (URAP), in which he assessed scholarship, along with swimming’s off from school to do research, prepare the quality and catalogued the sound Caitlin Leverenz, volleyball’s Robin Ros- for the GREs and decide what he wants recordings of East African Sunbirds for tratter and Isaac Howell, who competed to pursue in graduate school before re- the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology as in swimming and crew. In collecting his newing his studies. well as for the Ph.D. student he worked Pac-12 award, Marsh rubbed shoulders “My ultimate goal is to earn a Ph.D. in bi- with. with other high achievers in both the ac- ology or ecology,” he said. “After graduate Marsh’s emphasis on his schoolwork ademic and athletic realms. school all I know is that I want to be us- resulted in him claiming Pac-12 All-Aca- “It’s pretty impressive,” Marsh said. “It ing my knowledge to better our society’s demic honorable mention notice in 2011 makes me pretty proud to be part of this understanding of our natural world and and 2012. He also earned the conference group of people.” prevent species from going extinct.”
SUMMER 2013 15 WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Roy Jackson Loving His Role
By Kyle McRae
hen Roy Jackson was a high school senior at nearby St. United States and moved to the Los Mary’s College High School in Berkeley, he was a standout Angeles area in 2002. linebacker on the school’s football team. By the time he While he was there, like most aspiring ac- had graduated from Cal in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in tors, he did lots of jobs to make ends meet. W “I’ve never gone to my tax lady with less American studies, Jackson was a three-year letterwinner who had seen than 6 or 7 W-2’s, ever,” said Jackson, who action at linebacker, safety, rush end and fullback. admitted that many of those were for jobs But those are far from the only roles audition,” Jackson said. “When you’re not in the acting profession. “Many days I the one-time walk-on has played. on the field, you know there are 70,000 looked at it and said ‘I have a degree from “When I came to Cal I always knew I people in the stands, but you don’t see Berkeley and I’m doing this.’ But you do wanted to do something in entertain- them or hear them because you’re just so what you have to do to survive.” ment,” said Jackson, who eventually tuned in to what you’re doing. Walking Finally in 2007, Jackson got his big earned a football scholarship. into an audition or being on stage or on break when he landed a role in the Ice It didn’t take long for Jackson to figure set is similar.” Cube movie First Sunday and then did a out that he wanted to become an actor. series of television shows and movies. “The bug bit me,” Jackson said. “I found “At one point, people were telling me my calling and I knew what I wanted to do.” that it seemed like they were seeing me Although Jackson never officially on TV every week,” Jackson said. changed his major to theater, dance and There have been ups and downs but performance at Cal, it wasn’t long until a mostly steady stream of work since, he was taking drama classes and quickly including a recent gig earlier this year immersed in the field. Jackson not only on Law & Order: SVU, which films in studied the craft on the Berkeley cam- the New York City area where Jackson pus, but he also trained at the American Roy Jackson in an episode of It’s Always Sunny moved recently. in Philadelphia Conservatory Theater and performed Jackson has more projects in the works with the African-American Shakespeare The multiple roles Jackson played and is positive about his future. Company in San Francisco. while at Cal were just a beginning. “I always say choose something that Now, Jackson can draw parallels be- After spending five months teaching you’re into and everything else will fall in tween football and acting. English and doing some modeling work place,” Jackson said. “Do what you love.” “Playing football at Cal prepared me in Santiago, Chile, following gradua- That’s something Jackson has been for getting on stage and going into an tion, the aspiring actor returned to the doing for a long time.
16 cal sports quarterly Is pain getting in the way of your active lifestyle? If so, get help from the best hospital in the Bay Area. The Orthopaedic Institute at UCSF Medical Center has advanced the frontiers of orthopaedic science, so it’s no surprise that more than half of the city’s best orthopaedic surgeons practice here. For our FREE Guide to Common Orthopaedic Symptoms, visit UCSFOI.com Baseball Men’s Crew Women’s Cross Country al baseball, with up to five freshmen in its starting young Cal men’s crew program overcame several al’s young squad, which featured only one senior Cline-up, won five extra inning games and had six Achallenges throughout the season to earn podium Cand one junior in the regular lineup, showed great walk-off wins in 2013. The Bears, (23-31, 10-20), were finishes in four of the five grand finals and place third promise with top finishes in several races in the fall. led offensively by junior catcher Andrew Knapp, who bat- overall at the IRA National Championships in Lake Among their races, the Bears won the USF Invitational ted .350 with a team-leading 16 doubles, eight home Natoma in early June. Cal’s varsity eight finished fifth, and the Hornet Jamboree, placed fourth at the Panora- runs and 41 RBI. Knapp, a third-team All-American and while the Bears placed second in the varsity four, and ma Farms Invitational in Virginia, 10th at the Wisconsin second round draft pick, also paced Cal with 22 multiple third in the second varsity eight, freshman eight and Invitational, and eighth in the Pac-12 Championships. hit games and 11 multiple RBI games. Two Bears who open four. Earlier, Cal captured the Copley Cup at the Sophomore Kelsey Santisteban represented Cal at the have bright futures are 6-7 freshman right-hander Ryan San Diego Crew Classic and posted victories against NCAA Championships in Louisville, Ky., after posting a Mason, Cal’s No. 1 starter (5-3, 3.76 ERA), and fresh- Wisconsin and Oregon State in dual action. The Bears season-best time of 19:15 in the 6,000-meter course man center fielder Devin Pearson (.302, eight doubles, secured a Pac-12 title in the varsity four and finished in the NCAA Regionals. The second-year standout two home runs, 17 RBI, seven stolen bases). Evans second as a team at the conference championships placed 70th overall at NCAAs. Santisteban earned All- Diamond saw some major upgrades in 2013, as well, in May. For 2014, Cal returns the entire varsity eight Pac-12 second-team honors after finishing ninth overall with the installations of lights and a new video score- crew, including All-Pac-12 selections Cole Reiser and at the conference meet. board. Jovan Jovanivic, and all but two in the second varsity eight boat.
2012-2013 sports reviews Andrew Knapp Allen Crabbe Layshia Clarendon
Cole Reiser Kara Kohler Chris Walden Kelsey Santisteban Lara Kruggel Men’s Basketball Women’s Crew Field Hockey nder the direction of Mike Montgomery, Cal com- he Bears capped another stellar season with an al finished third at the NorPac Tournament under Upleted its winningest five-year stretch in more than TNCAA championship in the varsity eight in early June C18th-year head coach Shellie Onsted and went 50 years with a 21-12 record. A top-two finish in the in Indianapolis. Coupled with a second-place finish by 8-12 on the year. Sophomore Lara Kruggel was named Pac-12 for the second consecutive season culminated the second varsity eight and petite final win by the var- to the NFHCA All-West first team and was tabbed the with a third-round appearance in the NCAA Tournament. sity four, Cal placed second overall as a team in the NorPac West Offensive Player of the Year after leading After opening with a victory over UNLV, Cal was elimi- NCAAs – just two points shy of a team title. The Bears the Bears with 18 goals and 44 points. Kruggel fin- nated by Final Four participant Syracuse, 66-60. Junior continued a remarkable run of six straight top-three ished 11th in the nation in points per game at 2.20 and Allen Crabbe became Cal’s third Pac-12 Player of the finishes at the NCAAs and nine of the last 10. Guid- already holds down the 10th position on Cal’s all-time Year in the last four seasons. A third-team NABC and ed by wins in the second varsity eight and varsity four, points list at 67 with two seasons remaining. Junior Sporting News All-American, he averaged 18.4 points Cal earned its sixth consecutive Pac-12 team crown. Shannon Elmitt earned second-team All-West honors and 6.1 rebounds to also earn first-team All-Pac-12 Juniors Kara Kohler and Agatha Nowinski collected all- after tallying nine assists on the season, and senior honors. Crabbe declared for the NBA Draft following league honors for the second season in a row, while se- Rachelle Comeau was named to the NorPac All-Tour- the season, ending his decorated collegiate career. niors Lynn Anderson and Maggie Simpson were named nament team. The Bears also featured nine players on The Bears welcome back four of five starters in 2013- coaches’ association National Scholar-Athletes. the NFHCA National Academic Squad. 14, including two-time All-Pac-12 guard Justin Cobbs, along with the addition of a top-20 recruiting class. Montgomery enters his 32nd year of collegiate coach- Men’s Cross Country Football ing as the NCAA’s ninth-winningest active Division I al’s young roster was comprised of several first- espite a 3-9 final mark, Cal’s 2012 season was not coach with 656 victories. Cyear Golden Bears, including seven freshmen. Dwithout highlights as the Golden Bears returned to Among their results during the fall, the Bears placed a renovated Memorial Stadium with much fanfare. Cal ninth at the Pac-12 Championships and 13th at NCAA drew a sellout crowd of 63,186 to its first game back in Women’s Basketball West Regionals. Sophomore Chris Walden paced the Strawberry Canyon on Sept. 1, and although the Bears he 2012-13 season turned into a record-breaking one team in two of the four events he competed in, placing dropped a 31-24 decision to Nevada, there was tre- Tthat culminated in Cal winning the first Pac-12 regu- 23rd overall in Virginia and 62nd overall at the NCAA mendous enthusiasm about the arrival of football back lar-season title in program history and advancing to the Regionals. With top returner Collin Jarvis redshirting, in Berkeley. The highlight of the season came against NCAA Final Four with a 32-4 record. Head coach Lindsay Cal received contributions from freshmen Leland Later UCLA when the Bears put together their best game Gottlieb was named a finalist for the Naismith National and Matt Carpowich, as well as first-year Bear in junior with a 43-17 dismantling of eventual Pac-12 South Di- Coach of the Year award in addition to being named the transfer Agustin Alva. The senior trio of Matt Petersen, vision champion Bruins on a night in which Memorial Pac-12 Coach of the Year by the media after leading her Renaud Poizat (paced Cal with second-place finish in Stadium was rededicated. The most notable individual team to a 17-1 conference record that included a 67-55 Sacramento) and Simon Schmidt also contributed to highlights included Keenan Allen becoming the school’s win at Stanford to end the Cardinal’s 81-game confer- Cal’s lineup throughout the season. all-time leader in receptions and Brendan Bigelow’s ence winning streak. The Bears earned a No. 2 seed in 81-yard touchdown run in a hard-fought 35-28 loss at the NCAA Tournament behind the play of senior Layshia Ohio State that was the longest by an opponent in the Clarendon’s 16.4 points and 4.0 rebounds per game stadium’s history. that ultimately led to her being selected No. 9 by the Indiana Fever in the 2013 WNBA Draft. Clarendon, as well as junior Gennifer Brandon, earned All-America honorable mention honors.
18 cal sports quarterly Men’s Golf Women’s Gymnastics Men’s Soccer al completed a historic season in 2012-13, so he Golden Bears opened the season with their high- al ended the year with a winning record at 8-7-3 and Cstrong that despite falling in the NCAA Champion- Test score in two seasons, a result that propelled Cwith several Pac-12 accolades for performances on ships’ match-play semifinals, the Bears were still the them into the national top 25 for nearly half the year. Cal and off the pitch. Senior Tony Salciccia garnered an All- nation’s No. 1 team according to final rankings by Golf- finished the regular season by setting the second-high- Pac-12 first-team selection, while junior defender Ryan week and Golfstat. Cal set a modern-era NCAA record by est team score in program history in Haas Pavilion on Neil, sophomore goalkeeper Kevin Peach and sopho- winning 12 of 14 stroke-play events, including the stroke- Senior Night, a 196.525. At the Pac-12 Championships, more midfielder Seth Casiple collected second-team play portion of the NCAA Championships. Michael Kim where the Bears finished seventh, first-year head coach placement. Cal’s midfield general, Salciccia led the earned National Player of the Year honors and was joined Justin Howell was honored with the Pac-12 Gymnastics Bears in points (16), tied for first in goals (5) and as a first-team All-American by Max Homa and Michael Coach of the Year award, and freshman Serena Leong ranked second in assists (6) – setting career highs in Weaver. Joël Stalter and Brandon Hagy also earned sec- received the program’s first-ever Freshman/Newcomer each category. Senior defender Ted Jones, sophomore ond-team All-American recognition. Homa became Cal’s of the Year title. Senior Mariesah Pierce and junior Ali- defender Christian Dean and sophomore forward Ste- first-ever individual medalist at the NCAA Champion- cia Asturias were named to the All-Pac-12 second team, fano Bonomo earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention. ships and added a Pac-12 individual title. Five players while seven Bears earned Pac-12 All-Academic honors. Sophomore midfielder Omid Jalali (3.90 GPA) earned – Homa, Kim, Weaver, Stalter and Hagy – were individual The squad capped off its most successful season in re- a Pac-12 All-Academic first-team spot, with Salciccia medalists at least once during the season and earned cent history with its first team berth to NCAA Regionals taking a position on the second team with six others All-Pac-12 honors. Head coach Steve Desimone was the since 2007, where Howell was recognized by his peers gaining honorable mention status. National Coach of the Year and Pac-12 Coach of the Year. as the West Region Coach of the Year.
Keenan Allen Max Homa Nicola Rossler Takahiro Kawada Serena Leong
Megan Takacs Seamus Kelly Tony Salciccia Ifeoma Onumonu Jolene Henderson Women’s Golf Lacrosse Women’s Soccer ead coach Nancy McDaniel’s team earned its 14th enior attacker Megan Takacs ended her Cal career al garnered a slew of accolades – including forward Hconsecutive bid to the NCAA Regionals in 2013, Swith another outstanding season, winning the MPSF CIfeoma Onumonu’s Pac-12 Freshman of the Year where the Bears finished 18th with a youthful lineup Player of the Year award for the second straight year, as award and spot on the All-Pac-12 first team – during a that will return four of five regulars next season. Junior well as being named to the West All-Region first team season that concluded with a run to the second round Nicola Rössler paced Cal with a top-25 finish at the Pac- for the second consecutive season. In the Bears’ final of the NCAA Tournament. The Bears won at Pepperdine, 12 Championships and a top-40 showing at the NCAA game, the semifinals of the MPSF Tournament, Takacs 1-0, in the NCAA first round before falling at San Diego Regional, finishing with a team-best 75.0 stroke aver- became Cal’s all-time leader in career goals, wrapping State, 2-1, to finish 16-6 overall. Onumonu led Cal in age. Freshman Hannah Suh had a team-high six rounds up her tenure with 148 goals. Fellow senior Melissa points (28), goals (11), assists (6) and game-winning of par or better and shot 75.3 in her first collegiate Humphrey paced the Bears with 29 assists, which goals, also pacing all Pac-12 freshmen in points, goals season that included a round at the NCAA West Region- ranked 24th nationally, and she wound up her career and gamewinners. Senior midfielder Betsy Hassett al where she shot a one-under 70. Suh led the Bears No. 2 on Cal’s all-time list with 74. Junior goalie Megan joined Onumonu on the all-conference first team after with two top-five finishes on the year, and her 69 at the McGinnis, a first-team All-MPSF selection and ended totaling points (17), goals (6) and assists (5). Hassett Spartan Invite was the lowest round of the year for the the campaign sixth in the country in save percentage also earned a spot on the NSCAA Scholar All-America Bears. Cal also had another freshman, Carly Childs, in and 10th in total saves. Under the tutelage of head first team. Four Bears claimed All-Pacific Region status: the lineup as well as sophomore Morgan Thompson, coach Ginger Miles, the Bears enjoyed a stretch of six Onumonu (first team), Hassett (first team), junior de- who earned one top-five finish on the season. straight games without allowing more than 10 goals, fender Emi Lawson (second team) and junior midfielder finishing the season with a record of 9-7 and 6-2 in Kaitlyn Fitzpatrick (third team). conference play. Men’s Gymnastics he young 2013 Cal men’s gymnastics squad fin- Softball Tished the season ranked seventh in the country Rugby ollowing a 2-2 start in opening weekend, the Cal following a trip to the NCAA Men’s Gymnastics Champi- he Bears capped head coach Jack Clark’s 30th Fsoftball team tore through its schedule and pro- onship’s 12-team Qualifier. Six Golden Bears advanced Tyear at the helm and the team’s return to Witter duced a 22-game winning streak before opening Pac- to the individual event preliminaries, with freshman Rugby Field after a two-year absence with their first 12 play with a sweep of Utah. Against the Utes, senior Takahiro Kawada and sophomore Jonathan Liu earning 7s title at the 2013 Collegiate Rugby Championship, ace Jolene Henderson became the winningest pitcher spots in the finals and receiving All-American status. which followed an undefeated regular season in spring in program history after notching her 120th victory. The Earlier in the season, Cal took down defending national 15s. Cal won the inaugural season of the PAC Rugby Golden Bears went on to win conference series against champion Illinois, 427.00-425.650, at home in Haas Conference, took its eighth straight UCLA Tournament Arizona and Oregon State and earned their 28th con- Pavilion in the final contest of the regular season. At and swept UBC for its seventh straight “World Cup” secutive postseason bid – the longest active streak in the MPSF Championships, the Bears finished third, and series. In the spring postseason, Cal defeated Navy in the country. The Bears fell to hosting Michigan at the junior Matthew del Junco and sophomore Jonathan Liu the semifinals of the Varsity Cup National Champion- Ann Arbor Regional, finishing 38-19 overall, but were were recognized as MPSF All-Academic selections. ships, then fell just three points short to BYU in the recognized with numerous awards. Henderson was final for an overall spring 15s record of 21-1. In June, lauded as a Top 10 finalist for USA Softball Player of the team won the program’s first 7s championship in the Year and the Senior CLASS Award, while Lindsey its fourth trip to the CRC, where teams showcased Ziegenhirt was named Capital One Academic All-Ameri- the Olympic code of the game heading back into the\ can and the Pac-12 Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Summer Games in Rio for 2016.
SUMMERsummer 2013 2011 19 Men’s Swimming & Diving Women’s Tennis Volleyball he Cal men’s swimming and diving team, under the al, seeded eighth, reached the quarterfinals of the he Bears set a program-record by making their 11th Tdirection of 2013 Pac-12 Coach of the Year David CNCAA Championships after winning three straight Tstraight trip to the NCAA Tournament, where they Durden, placed second at the NCAA Championships, postseason matches. The Golden Bears ended the lost in the first round to North Carolina. Cal finished falling just shy of a third consecutive national title. season with a 19-6 record, after posting a 9-1 (sec- an injury-plagued season 15-16 with a handful of land- Senior standout Tom Shields won 2013 NCAA crowns ond place) Pac-12 mark. Fifth-ranked sophomore Zsofi mark moments. The biggest came in November when in the 100 and 200 butterfly to conclude his career Susanyi, eighth-ranked junior Anett Schutting and the Bears went on the road and defeated No. 2 Oregon with 11 national titles and 17 Pac-12 championship 43rd-ranked freshman Klara Fabikova all compet- in a five-set thriller. Cal also knocked off No. 8 Hawaii victories. The Bears captured the 2013 Pac-12 meet, ed in the NCAA singles championship, with Susanyi in Honolulu during a preseason tournament. Individu- upending Stanford’s streak of 31 straight conference reaching the round of 16. Both Susanyi and Schutting ally, senior middle hitter Shannon Hawari emerged as team titles, and also finished the 2012-13 dual meet earned All-America honors in singles, along with All- one of the top players in the Pac-12, earning All-Pac-12 season a perfect 7-0, including a dual-meet win over Pac-12 first-team status. Amanda Augustus earned first team honors after ranking fourth in the conference the Cardinal for the first time since 2005. Freshman the Wilson/ITA Northwest Coach of the Year award, with a .370 hitting percentage and tied for ninth with Josh Prenot, who won the conference title and set a while Tayler Davis was named the Senior of the Year 1.20 blocks per game. She also ended her career as new school record in the 400 individual medley, was and Fabikova claimed the Player to Watch honor for Cal’s all-time leader with a .367 hitting percentage. Se- named the 2013 Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year. the ITA Northwest region. nior middle hitter Kat Brown, meanwhile, became the Bears’ all-time leading blocker with 509 in her career.
Tom Shields Caitlin Leverenz Ben McLachlan Zsofi Susanyi Ray Stewart
Amanda Hunter Shannon Hawari Collin Smith Emily Csikos Oski
Women’s Swimming & Diving Men’s Track & Field Men’s Water Polo al posted its eighth consecutive top-five finish at he Golden Bears produced a pair of Pac-12 cham- ead coach Kirk Everist’s squad finished the 2012 Cthe NCAA Championships by taking second place Tpions during the 2013 season in Ray Stewart and Hcampaign 17-8, winning seven of its last eight at the national meet in Indianapolis. The Bears collect- Hammed Suleman. Stewart captured the 110-meter matches, including upending No. 2-ranked UCLA, 12-9, ed three individual titles at NCAAs – Caitlin Leverenz hurdles crown in a personal-best 13.43 seconds to in the MPSF tournament semifinal. The Golden Bears won the 200 individual medley, freshman Rachel keep him as the No. 2 performer in school history. He had six players named All-Americans, led by first-team Bootsma claimed the 100 backstroke and freshman also won the 2011 title before missing all of the next selection Collin Smith. As a junior, Smith led the Bears Elizabeth Pelton broke her own American record to win season due to knee surgery. Suleman, meanwhile, won in scoring with 61 goals and had a team-high 31 as- the 200 backstroke. Pelton took home the Swimmer of the long jump with a lifetime-best 25-11.50 while he sists. He was twice named MPSF Player of the Week the Meet award for her exploits, which included seven was also runner-up in the triple jump. Earlier in the year, during the regular season, including Oct. 20 after scor- All-America honors. At the Pac-12 Championships, the Ethan Cochran set a Cal freshman record in the discus ing six goals in a 14-8 Big Splash victory over Stanford. Bears compiled victories in the 200 breaststroke (Lev- with a throw of 188-8. As a team, the Bears defeated Sophomore Aleksa Saponjic, who won a bronze medal erenz), 200 backstroke (Pelton), 200 IM (Pelton), 100 Stanford in the annual Big Meet and took first place a competing for Serbia at the 2012 London Olympics, backstroke (Bootsma), 200 butterfly (Bootsma), 200 home triangular meet against Virginia and Michigan. On was a second-team All-American, while senior Marin freestyle (freshman Rachael Acker) and 400free relay. the conference level, Cal was third at the MPSF Cham- Balarin earned third-team honors. The Bears also Pelton also claimed the Pac-12 Swimmer of the Meet pionships and eighth at the Pac-12 outdoor meet. had three honorable mention All-Americans – Hunter honor. The Bears ended the regular season with a 7-2 Gettelfinger, Jon Sibley and Colin Mulcahy – and 10 dual-meet record, capped off by a win over Stanford in players who were ACWPC All-Academic honorees. the Big Meet. Women’s Track & Field wo Bears qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Champi- Tonships in long jumper Malaina Payton and triple Women’s Water Polo Men’s Tennis jumper Amanda Hunter. Payton placed 10th in the com- he Bears had another successful season under al reached the NCAA Championship round of 16 for petition with a mark of 20-7, while Hunter established a Thead coach Richard Corso, compiling a 17-7 record Cthe third consecutive season, but for the second personal best with her distance of 43-3.25 to take 12th. and ending the year ranked No. 5 in the country. Senior straight year, Virginia ended the Golden Bears’ post- Both athletes finished third in their respective events All-American Emily Csikos returned from a one-year hi- season run. The Bears wound up with a 16-10 overall at the Pac-12 meet. During the Big Meet at Stanford, atus to train with the Canadian National Team and led record and finished at 5-1 (third) in the Pac-12. Juniors Shelby Ashe set a Cal freshman record with a throw of her Cal squad with 49 goals, giving her a 2.04 average Ben McLachlan and Campbell Johnson competed in 201-10 in the hammer. Among other highlights, Kelsey which ranked seventh in the MPSF. Csikos also finished the NCAA singles tournament, falling in the round of Santisteban ran the No. 3 5000-meter time in school her career with 216 goals, making her the all-time 64, while Johnson and senior co-captain Christoffer Ko- history when she was clocked in 15:50.18 at the Pay- scoring leader in school history. Junior Ashley Young, nigsfeldt fell in the round of 32 in the NCAA doubles ton Jordan Invitational, and Charnell Price moved into who was a third-team All-American as a freshman, had championship. Konigsfeldt and Johnson claimed the Cal’s all-time top five in both the 100 meters (11.46) another strong campaign with 36 goals. Sophomore Pac-12 Doubles Team of the Year award. Johnson – a and 200 meters (23.55). During the indoor campaign, Savanna Smith averaged 6.16 saves per game in her transfer from Georgia – earned the Pac-12 Newcomer the Bears were eighth at the MPSF meet, and they took first season as the Bears’ starting goalie, and Pippa of the Year honor and the regional ITA Norwest Player ninth at the Pac-12 outdoor meet. Saunders was one of the top freshmen in the MPSF to Watch accolade. Senior co-captain Riki McLachlan, with 13 goals. Cal defeated 11 ranked teams during who sat out much of the spring with an injury, made an the season. The Bears also hosted the MPSF Champi- inspirational return to the court at the start of NCAAs. onships, in which the Bears finished fifth.
20 cal cal sportssports quarterlyquarterly It’s perfectly clear University that of California Eye Center Free parking with your appointment next to the Eye Center. is the better team. Go Bears!
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UCE_SpringSports_2013.indd 1 4/4/13 10:45 AM More Builders Among Bears Within Legions of Bear Backers Are Builders of Berkeley
By Anton Malko
n this, the second of a three-part series, we continue to and knowing that I’m doing the best I recognize crucial members of the campus community who can at everything I do.” Gordon, who became a Builder of have made Cal Athletics a significant part of their giving I Berkeley in 2003, is first and foremost history. These Builders of Berkeley, so called for their total gifts an alumnus of the University. But his to the University in excess of $1 million, are among the names devotion to Cal baseball has also earned etched in granite on a monument outside of Doe Library for their him an enshrinement in the Cal Athletic comprehensive commitments to California. Hall of Fame as a Service Award recipi- ent in recognition of his lasting and vital challenge of saving Cal support of Cal Athletics. baseball from elimination A founder of the Bear Backers program in 2010-11. and member of the Athletic Director’s Gordon and the Friends Advisory Board, Gordon also received of Cal Baseball have since the Chancellor’s Citation for Leadership done even more than and Contributions to the University of come to its financial res- California in 2012. Three years earlier, cue; in 2013, the team his law school awarded him the Boalt played night games for Alumni Association’s Citation Award. the first time under the Cliff Higgerson came west from Illi- lights at Evans Diamond nois to the No. 1 public university in the with a new scoreboard world and was in Berkeley for less than showing balls, strikes a day when he decided he would stay. and high-definition re- He called enrolling at Cal for his MBA, plays, thanks to this for- which he received in 1966, “the best ward-thinking group. decision I ever made. I was in Berkeley Stu and Florianne Gordon “I am really proud of about nine hours and I said, ‘I’m never Stu Gordon received his bachelor’s that,” Gordon said. “I can’t tell you how going to live east of Grizzly Peak Ridge degree in political science in 1962 and rewarding that is for me. The difference again.’ That was in 1965 and I’ve lived Juris Doctor from Berkeley Law in 1965. is amazing, the abundance of kids after up to it.” A senior partner at Gordon & Rees LLP, the game shaking hands and talking with Higgerson arrived thanks to the in- he put his Cal education to perhaps the the players and coaches. What inspires spiration of his wife, Judith, who herself ultimate test when he undertook the me is the feeling that I’m contributing had fallen in love with the area after
22 cal sports quarterly visiting with her father from the East he views men’s basketball head coach supports people of all economic back- Coast. “She was the prime mover and I Mike Montgomery as “a very sound grounds,” he said. “Cal got more charita- thank my lucky stars that she wanted investment.” ble contributions last year than any year to live in the Bay Area,” he said. Togeth- Higgerson supports Cal Athletics for in history, and that was great.” er they went on to become Builders of uncomplicated reasons. “I give to Athlet- The Steinys have committed long-term Berkeley in 2005. ics because I enjoy it and think it worth- support to Athletics through the Endow- while,” he said. “I want to ment Seating Program. “I consider it an help do what it can on the honor to be a part of the ESP program athletics side to be suc- for the next 40 years,” said Steiny, who cessful. I’m going to keep also sits on The Cal Parents Board, is a contributing and I’m glad CAA Cal Advocate and a member of mul- the athletic department is tiple committees with the UC Berkeley working so hard to drive Foundation. new donors.” Steiny echoed a common refrain that The first in his the true and ongoing builders of excel- three-generation Stan- lence at this University are its students ford family to attend Cal, who strive to achieve on a daily basis Richard Steiny received with amazing results. “Those are the his bachelor’s degree kind of kids you want to hire and put to in political economy in work in your company, because they’re 1979. Three years later, going to be so driven,” he said. “Cal is so his wife, Lisa, received impactful on these young people and her degree in mass com- that’s what makes me so excited about Cliff and Judith Higgerson munication and in doing giving. I love to donate to help people While it was the weather that initial- so, joined her parents and sisters as Cal purpose their own path to success.” ly captured Higgerson, the academic vi- graduates. Each year another “class” of inductees tality of Berkeley was the second blow The Steinys’ gifts to Cal Athletics has its names etched in granite outside that left him smitten. “Cal’s intellectual have been tremendous, but that sup- of Doe Library to recognize them as the commitment, its open-mindedness, was port does not constitute the majority newest Builders of Berkeley. They will the second reason that I never wanted to of their giving to the University, which join the ranks of other cherished donors leave,” Higgerson said. made them Builders of Berkeley in 2008. whose goal remains the same: to provide A no-nonsense individual who works While that honor goes as a venture capitalist partner at Palo to Social Sciences, the Alto’s Walden International and lives in Steinys’ ongoing love af- Menlo Park, Higgerson contends with a fair with the Golden Bears lot of pride from friends and colleagues makes it crystal clear the who root for a rival institution located importance Cal Athletics closer to his daily life on the peninsu- holds in their lives. la. That proximity to Stanford only re- “The funding of Ath- inforces his belief in the importance letics is the spirit behind of the flagship campus for the public our giving to academics,” universities in the state of California, explained Steiny, who is a among whose merits are Intercollegiate co-chairman of Genworth Athletics. Financial Wealth Manage- “Athletics represents people and ment. “Without the cama- teaches discipline,” Higgerson said. “To raderie of Athletics, we succeed you have to be disciplined and would have a hard time get organized, which everyone at Cal has getting gifts to the aca- Lisa and Richard Steiny demonstrated to become part of that demics side. If it weren’t community. In the long term of life, that for my ties to Cal through Athletics, I just support to the mission of the University discipline is ultimately important.” wouldn’t be as engaged with the school.” in its pursuit of excellence. The Higgersons maintain season tick- Once engaged as donors, the Steinys To learn more about the Build- ets to both men’s basketball and foot- have never wavered in their role to main- ers of Berkeley, please contact Nancy ball, and were significant donors to the tain Cal’s reputation, and they are heart- McKinney, Director of Donor Steward- Simpson Center for Student-Athlete ened to see more people take on that ship for University Relations, at (510) High Performance. Higgerson is bullish same responsibility. “People are starting 643-7664 or nlmckinney@berkeley. on Golden Bear football entering 2013 to understand that the state is not our edu. To deepen your commitment to Cal because head coach Sonny Dykes strikes primary source of revenue any longer Athletics, contact the Office of Athletic him as “the kind of leader that can be and that we need to keep our public mis- Development at (510) 642-2427 or email successful,” while down at Haas Pavilion, sion of being a fantastic University that [email protected].
SUMMER 2013 23 unning through the bedrock of support for the University are the Build- ers of Berkeley, who have in each case donated $1 million or more to RCal. Many of these generous donors support Cal athletics in a significant way. Listed below are those who have given at least $50,000 of their University lifetime contributions to Intercollegiate Athletics. Across the board, these indi- viduals and families recognize the importance of the student-athlete experience for the well-rounded individual, the merits of Athletics as a pillar in pursuit of excellence and the vital role Intercollegiate Athletics plays in the spirit of the University of California. We thank these donors, listed here alphabetically, for their vital support and apologize for the incomplete list that accompanied Part I of this three-part story in the spring issue of Cal Sports Quarterly.
CALIFORNIA ATHLETICS BUILDERS OF BERKELEY
The Ralph E. and Richard N. and Rhoda H. Goldman Richard H. Morrison Marla H. Andersen Family John L. and Margaret B. Gompertz Clara B. and Daniel B. Mulholland Trudy L. and William F. Ausfahl Elizabeth Marsteller Gordon Noel W. and Penelope B. Nellis Mel and Vera Bacharach Stuart M. Gordon S. Victor and Leta H. Nelson Barbara and Gerson Bakar Frederick L. and Roberta O. Greenlee Kent and Patricia Newmark Dado and Maria Banatao Glenn and Robin W. Gulvin Robert G. and Dwight and Nancy Barker Evelyn D. and Walter A. Haas Jr. Sue Douthit O’donnell Kathy and Frank Baxter Peter E. and Mimi Haas David H. and Phyrne M. Osborne Richard H. and Carolyn P. Beahrs Colleen and Robert D. Haas Lisle and Roslyn Payne Stephen D. Bechtel Jr. Elise S. and Walter A. Haas Lawrence E. and Mary Peirano Kenneth E. and Patricia R. Behring Michelle and Cyrus Hadidi The Edward H. and Robert B. Beim and Nancy C. Beim The William W. Halford Jr. Family Barbara B. Peterson Family Richard C. Blum and Dianne Feinstein Jean H. and Will C. Hall William V. Power William E. Brown and The Harry and Betsy Hathaway Family Kenneth B. Rawlings Sharon Bonner-Brown Clarence E. Heller Linda Erickson Rawlings Robert L. and Alice M. Bridges The Hellman Family David L. Redo and Judy L. Redo Barbara Burnham The Leo and Florence Helzel Family In Sik and Isabel Rhee Bryan Cameron William A. and Sally M. Hewlett The Tahir Family Beverly B. and Arlington C. Charter Clifford H. and Judith D. Higgerson Helen Wills Roark Alice V. and Michael N. Chetkovich Ken and Jean Hofmann T. Gary and Kathleen Rogers Natalie Cohen Russell D. and Lydia P. Hogan Richard V. and Ellen Sandler John E. Cook Jr. and Sandra G. Cook Thomas R. and Ruth Ann Hornaday Frank J. and Mary Schlessinger Kathleen G. Correia and Preston B. and Betty H. and Eugene A. Shurtleff Stephen A. Evans Maurine M. Hotchkis Nat Simons and Paul and Judith Cortese James V. and Betty R. Huhn Laura Baxter-Simons Janet M. and William F. Cronk Grant and Suanne Inman Barclay and Sharon Simpson Frithjof Jon and Ellen Giusti Dale Judith Woolsey Isaac Nadine M. Tang and Bruce L. Smith Milt and Carol David Stacy and Paul Jacobs Barbara C. and Larry W. Sonsini Frederick J. and Kathi De Grosz Jeffrey A. and Deni D. Jacobs Carol and Warren E. Spieker Jr. The J. DeBenedetti Family The Stephen F. Keller and Catherine and Tod Spieker Wiiliam S. and Mary Jane Detwiler Sarah Mage Keller Family Richard and Lisa Steiny Patricia L. and James W. Dieterich Jr. Dolorous and Kenneth C. Knight Paul H. Stephens and James K. and Jean S. Dobey Mary Dee Artal Karp Elle Mcadam Stephens Shannon M. Drew and Daniel E. and Yvonne C. Koshland John P. Stock Marilyn Shehan Drew James M. and Catherine P. Koshland Cleo C. and Robert A. Stoker Roger C. Dunn and Lou Curtice Dunn The Marian E. and The Katharine Wallace Marji and Phil Dunn Daniel E. Koshland Jr. Family Thompson Family David R. Eckles and Allene H. Wong Robert J. Lalanne and John L. and Margaret P. Tormey David J. and Jane Epstein Millicent C. Lalanne Michael and Nancy Torres Robert J. and Christine Feibusch Doris S. and Theodore B. Lee Charles N. and Elizabeth H. Travers Doris and Donald G. Fisher Georgia Lee Charles T. and Louise H. Travers The William S. Floyd Jr. Family Edward H. and Lynn B. Little Catherine M. and William F. and Grace H. Ford Irving and Shirley Loube Eugene E. Trefethen Jr. Donna and Gary Freedman William and Iona Main Tomas S. Vanasek David A. Friedman and Ora Main-Geyer Paul and Linda White Paulette J. Meyer Brian L. and Jennifer A. Maxwell Jan and Buzz Wiesenfeld Phyllis K. and Howard A. Friedman Ross and Irma G. McCollum H. Michael and Jeanne Williams John Burdette Gage and Jeffrey and Ashley McDermott Robert W. Witter and Linda Schacht Gage Janet A. McKinley Marilyn A. Witter Theodore H. and Frances K. Geballe George A. Miller The Witter Family Douglas E. and Lisa M. Goldman Laurie Cockburn Morrison Douglas H. and Jane E. Wolf
24 cal sports quarterly
Untitled-22 1 11/1/11 1:25 PM faces in the crowd Jim French Former Drum Major Loves Cal’s Tempo
im French was unflustered when he arrived at Cal in 1965 from his home- Jtown of Garberville, Calif. (population 913 in the 2010 U.S. Census). He joined the the University of California Marching Band that fall and became its Drum Major in 1968. In 1969 he received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science as a Phi Beta Kap- pa and then earned his Juris Doctor from Berkeley Law in 1972. Beyond the circle on his calendar around Sept. 14, when French knew the lay of the land in Berke- The Ohio State University Marching Band is scheduled to join ley because it was already ingrained in his the Buckeyes as they play the Golden Bears at Memorial Sta- family tree, with Cal degrees also held by dium, French is generally excited about the direction of Cal his mother, father, uncle, his uncle’s wife Athletics under the leadership of Director Sandy Barbour. and both of Jim’s brothers. Once enrolled, “I have just have nothing but admiration for Sandy Barbour French displayed much of the resolve toward accountabili- and what she’s done for the program in terms of bringing excel- ty that defines the student-athlete experience, striving for lent coaches to the Athletic Department, people that understand excellence without shirking challenges. He seized opportu- how to motivate kids and get results while at the same time bal- nities to travel with the band, including its 1968 tour of Cal- ancing academics,” he said. “I’m looking forward to a very excit- ifornia and its 1970 tour of Japan as well as its bicentennial ing football season because we could see things we haven’t seen tour in 1976. before including, hopefully, a Rose Bowl on the horizon.” Early Riser After Four Years as a Swimmer, Isaac Howell Makes the Transition to Rowing By Doug Drabik
You can describe Isaac Howell as a “morning person.” After four years of training as a swim- world. He grew up with a deep interest in architecture, but mer at Spieker Aquatics Complex at 6 a.m., athletics captured his focus for much of his childhood and Howell traded his swimsuit for an oar and, extended into college. That changed with his collegiate as a fifth-year senior, made the trek from swimming career complete, and he ventured to Harvard, Berkeley to Briones Reservoir in Orinda enrolling in a six-week architecture introductory summer for 7 a.m. men’s crew practice this past program. academic year. “I realized last year I wanted to do architecture … I remem- “Rowing workouts were almost like bered I liked it,” Howell explained. “The Harvard program was Isaac Howell sleeping in relation to swimming,” Howell a simulation of what first semester of grad school was like and joked. “I woke up at 6 a.m. instead of 5:20 a.m. It was nice to get I loved it. After I finished that program, I created a portfolio a little late start to the day.” and applied to the top architecture programs in the country to Howell played an important role in Cal’s two national see what would happen.” championships in his four seasons in Howell, who is a multiple Pac-12 the pool. After his NCAA eligibility in All-Academic honoree, designed a swimming expired in March 2012, he creative portfolio in a short period to headed for a new chapter in his life. submit along with his graduate school Howell had planned to spend his application. In just weeks, he was of- fifth year of school as a regular student fered enrollment in the highly-regard- without the daily grind of practices, ed Taubman College graduate program but his competitive drive needed a at the University of Michigan. new challenge. He chose to exercise an “I am so excited for this opportunity,” NCAA rule that gives student-athletes said Howell, a Long Beach, Calif., na- a five-year window to compete with a tive. “I made my first trip there in April maximum of four years allowed in each and got to meet with some of the archi- sport. With his swimming career com- tects. It is very similar and at the same pleted, Howell decided to move from time very different from Berkeley. I am racing in a pool to racing on a much looking forward to the challenge.” larger body of water. This spring, Howell was one of four “Being an athlete has developed into Cal student-athletes to receive a presti- a lifestyle for me,” Howell said. “I enjoy gious Pac-12 Postgraduate Scholarship, training and enjoy competing, and I which awards him $3,000 towards his wasn’t ready to give that up. I felt I still graduate studies at Michigan. had room to grow athletically.” Howell, who graduated from Cal Howell’s transition from swimming in May, plans to utilize his bachelor’s to rowing didn’t occur overnight. He With his swimming eligibility complete, Isaac Howell degree in political economy in his ar- entertained the idea after a number of took up rowing for his final year at Cal. chitectural work, having focused on friends suggested he would succeed in crew and introduced economic development in his major. the sport to him. “It is really interesting how you can use architecture to af- “I was interested in rowing at the beginning of last summer, fect economic growth,” Howell said. “By designing different but I wasn’t sure if I would feel the same way at end of the sum- landscapes, you can create environments that have positive ef- mer,” Howell explained. fects on urban areas. I want to concentrate my work on large- With his future plans on the water undecided at the time, scale projects in urban environments that affect the greatest Howell’s focused on learning more about the architecture number of people.”
28 cal sports quarterly Early Riser After Four Years as a Swimmer, Isaac Howell Makes the Transition to Rowing
Applying his educational background and skills from politi- “I think it was an easy transition for him because he was well- cal economy to architecture should come easy after complet- trained,” Agnini said. “Isaac had a ton of core strength coming ing a seamless transition from swimming to rowing at an elite in which helped him on the erg. A lot of people have a hard level. A two-time NCAA qualifier and conference finalist in time with the erg right away and Isaac didn’t, which helped his multiple events as a swimmer, Howell made one of Cal’s top confidence and caught our attention. three boats in less than a year rowing. “I’m trying to convince him to keep rowing,” Agnini added. “He is “I think what helped me was the concepts of the sports are strong enough physiologically and his numbers are good enough very similar,” Howell said. “You are moving something through to be on the national team. It will take a couple years for him to water, either your own body or a boat. You need length, you figure it out rowing-wise, but I think someone that is as diligent need connection to the water, and you need to have power and consistent as him will figure it out. I think he is limitless.” and drive. There is a recovery motion in both swimming and Howell’s Cal rowing career ended at the IRA national cham- crew. While the concepts are sim- ilar, the application of those con- cepts is very different. Rowing is “Being an athlete such a unique motion that is not re- has developed ally applicable anywhere else. I felt into a lifestyle very humbled my first time on the for me. I enjoy water.” training and After beginning some light train- enjoy competing, ing on the erg throughout the and I wasn’t summer to stay in shape, How- ready to give ell contacted the coaches and ex- that up. I felt pressed his interest in trying out for the crew program when classes I still had resumed last fall. room to grow “I figured ‘let’s try it out.’ athletically.” There is nothing to lose,” How- – Isaac Howell ell said. “I was very apprecia- tive to the coaches for letting me try out and have an pionships on June 2, but he didn’t have much time to reflect on opportunity.” his latest athletic challenge with orientation at Michigan June Howell has been a member of the novice eight this season, 25 in Ann Arbor, Mich. winning all but one race entering the Pac-12 Championships. “My experience at Cal was not how I planned it to be, but “He did a really good job and improved every week,” men’s it couldn’t have been any better,” Howell said. “What learned crew coach Mike Teti said. “He is exactly what we want, a mod- in the pool, in the classroom, in the weight room, and in the el student, a model citizen and a really good rower. We were boathouse helped me grow and had a tremendous impact on really happy to have him on the team.” the person I am today.” Associate head coach Luke Agnini, who oversees the novice His time at Cal also impacted his internal alarm clock, which eight boat, sees a lot of potential for Howell in the sport. is now set for sometime between 5:20 and 6 a.m.
SUMMER 2013 29 The Base Path Less Traveled Softball’s Britt Vonk Finds Berkeley the Perfect Place to Be
By Mara Rudolph
THAT’S GOOD
trolling across campus in a flowing tank top, high-waisted cutoff shorts and a pair of Chuck Taylors with her long, blond locks falling from a hippie headband acrossS her forehead, Britt Vonk looks less like a softball player and more like she came straight out of a late-1960s Berkeley postcard. It’s easi- er to imagine her lying in the sun on Memorial Glade reading a book than picture her speeding along the base paths around a softball diamond. The Netherlands transplant moved halfway across the world meditating, and especially loves meeting new people at area for her athletic scholarship after turning heads in Europe for food-truck gatherings. her impressive performances with her club team and the 2008 “It’s something that reminds me of home,” Vonk said. “There’s Dutch Olympic squad. Instead of meeting Berkeley’s eccentric- a bunch of people that I don’t even know, and we all come to- ities with culture shock, she welcomed them. It was perfect fit gether and eat food. Everyone is welcome.” when you consider that Vonk’s journey has been less about Now preparing for her senior year, Vonk has settled in to her “finding herself,” and more about embracing it. American home and gets to play the sport that she describes “There are so many different types of people here,” Vonk as her life every day while getting a world-class education. But said. “It was very different, very new, and I liked it from the be- it didn’t always seem that Vonk would be able to play softball ginning. I’ve always been free-spirited, but it grew more when and attend a university simultaneously. It took a journey from I got here. I’ve met so many new people – so many great people Holland to the U.S. and China to make it happen. – that are on the same page and feel the same way about hav- Vonk’s global expedition began at age 10, when she tagged ing a free spirit and inner peace. Berkeley’s the perfect place.” along to a friend’s softball practice with the Tex Town Tigers Vonk loves the surrounding nature, which is perfect for in her hometown of Enschede, a city nearly 100 miles from Continued on page 33 30 cal sports quarterly THAT’S GOOD 32 cal sports quarterly
13ALA0927_8.5x11_EMSL_CalBerk_Ad_CTO.indd 1 6/11/13 4:09 PM
Job: 13ALA0927 DESCRiPTioN: EMSL Cal Berkeley Ad moDiFiED: 6-11-2013 4:08 PM lEaD EPRo: SE laST EPRo: Scott Engelhardt
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blEED 8.75” x 11.25” GuTTER None FoNTS, imaGES & iNKS 47.1MB; 18.59%), alaScrpt4c.eps (378KB; 97.24%) Creative Direction Initials account Services Initials PDF Send To: Initials TRim 8.5” x 11” PaNElS None Fonts Reviewed Reviewed liVE 7.5” x 10” None Inks Approved To Proofreader FolDED None Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black Approved Images Copy Writing Initials DEliVERablE High res PDF X/4 with fonts outlined 74362604_20_CmYK_R.tif (CMYK; 1038 ppi; 68.5MB; Reviewed CliENT aPPRoVED 28.88%), TreeHousePoint_R.tif (CMYK; 466 ppi; Approved DESTiNaTioN 30.9MB; 64.26%), Gettyimages_138182940_R. Print Production Initials tif (CMYK; 995 ppi; 80.8MB; 30.15%), Gettyim- Proofreading Initials PDF Sent: Initials Cal Berkeley Quarterly Reviewed ages_94157954_R.tif (CMYK; 1007 ppi; 17.6MB; Reviewed PRoDuCTioN aPPRoVED 29.77%), 149862152_7_R.tif (CMYK; 1613 ppi; Approved NoTES: All art is retouched Continued from page 30 Amsterdam on the German border. Growing up, Vonk’s life was team yet. People were still getting cut, and everyone was feel- surrounded with sports. Her father, Theo, was a professional ing the pressure. I didn’t think I would even get a chance. It soccer player and is now a head coach; her mother, Tanja, was helped me play really well. I hit crazy numbers, played really a professional water polo player; and her brother, Kaj, and two well on the field.” half-brothers played soccer. Scheduled to play with the Dutch junior squad in the 2008 “My parents never pushed me into a sport, they just allowed European Championships in Germany, Vonk assumed that me to pursue whatever I wanted to do,” Vonk said. when she landed in Holland, it would be the end of her run Softball caught on, as did track & field in high school. But with the national team. unlike the American youth sport “The next day, I got the call to culture, sports weren’t included in join the Olympic team. I cried,” Vonk’s daily curriculum. she said. “Here in the U.S., you play so Vonk was one of 15 softball many different sports in school,” players named to the Dutch Olym- Vonk said. “Back home, the school pic delegation at the 2008 Beijing system is very different. We don’t Games. At 17, she was the young- include sports in school, so I used est of the 240 Dutch athletes in to go to school and then play for China. my club team in my spare time. It “I wasn’t truly aware of the scale was always kind of a struggle be- of what I was doing,” Vonk said. cause I was playing at a pretty high “My teammates practiced for it for level, sometimes traveling, and four years. I came in three months they didn’t have a combination of before the Olympics, and I didn’t both. They treated me the same as have that same dream. Going to every other student while I put so the Olympics was a far-off goal, much other time into sports.” but it all happened so fast that I By 2006, Vonk was playing came back and I don’t think I fully with the Dutch Junior Team. She realized the magnitude of it. You loved softball, and when she can’t compare that experience to heard about combining school anything.” and sports as student-athlete in Though she hadn’t grasped the the United States, she was excited magnitude of her accomplish- but unsure if it was an option for ment, others did. Linda Wells, one her. She only knew of a handful of of Vonk’s coaches with the nation- Dutch players who were recruited Britt Vonk has been a fixture in the Cal infield during her first three al team and head coach at Arizo- by American universities. seasons in Berkeley. na State from 1989-2005, recom- “When I look at all of my team- mended Vonk to Cal head coach mates here, they had probably already committed when I was Diane Ninemire. In the fall of 2009, Ninemire sent assistant just learning about the possibility of being a collegiate athlete,” coach John Reeves to scout Vonk in Huntington Beach, Calif., Vonk said. “It wasn’t something I had dreamed about my whole where Vonk’s team traveled for a weekend showcase. life. It was something I wanted to do but didn’t know if it was “Coach John was the only coach from all the schools who possible for me.” approached me personally,” Vonk said. “I connected with him Her athletic prowess proved it was possible. Vonk was 16 right away, so that first impression of Cal was already really when coaches approached her to ask if she would be interest- good.” ed in stepping up to practice with the Dutch National Team af- She signed in the spring of 2010, hopped on a plane and ar- ter she was awarded “Best Hitter” following the MastenBroek rived in the Bay Area a day before classes started in August. Tournament. Though initially she was homesick, once softball practice With just a week before the national team was set to leave for started she embraced her new life, finishing the season with a a month-long training session in the United States, one of the .415 batting average, which was good for fourth in the Cal sea- athletes injured herself. Coaches asked Vonk if she’d like to fill son record book. Vonk was also tabbed Pac-10 All-Freshman, in for the injured player. Most of the team members had trained all-region and second-team all-conference. She has since car- together for four years to try to make the Olympic squad, but ried that success into subsequent seasons, and along the way when Vonk stepped onto the diamond for the team’s American has found plenty of moments of “inner peace.” tour, she was the one turning heads. She made her debut in the “Part of my free spiritedness is about living in the now,” opening game against the Philadelphia Force as a pinch-hitter. Vonk said. “Experiencing everything we have at this moment As pinch-hit in the following day’s game, she collected her first and just being present in the present. One day, I walked up to base hit and scored her first run. By the third game, Vonk was the C painted on the hill overlooking the stadium. On that walk a starter in the middle infield, reaching base three times and up there, you can see everything. There’s a swing on a super scoring once. big tree, and you can swing and feel like you’re swinging into “I played in a way where I had no pressure,” Vonk said. “All Berkeley. You see the whole Bay Area. It’s beautiful. How could those girls, they were nervous. They still hadn’t finalized the I not feel blessed and happy with my life?”
SUMMER 2013 33 ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
Sara Isakovic Takes Advantage of the ‘Privilege’ of Attending Cal
By Miquel Jacobs
“Education is a privilege.” Those aren’t exactly the words you expect to hear from a 24-year-old NCAA champion who also happens to be the first person from Slovenia to win a medal in swimming at the Olym- pic Games. More likely, you might expect something along the lines of “competing is a privilege” or “representing your coun- try is a privilege.” Yet those first four words are something that Sara Isakovic has lived by her entire life. Isakovic grew up as a world traveler, learning four languages while living in In- donesia, Malaysia, Dubai and Slovenia. As a child, she didn’t fully comprehend that the reason her family moved around so much was a result of the Yugoslav wars that prevented her Serbian father from en- tering her mother’s home country of Slo- Sara Isakovic venia due to the lack of a passport. All that mattered to the young girl was swimming in the hotel pools and the vast seas that make up the Indian Ocean while her pilot father shuttled her brother, mother and in the world where you can combine athletics and academ- herself across Europe and Asia. ics,” said Isakovic, who won an Olympic silver medal in the Traveling the world also had other effects, as she saw and 200-meter freestyle in 2008 and an NCAA title in the 100-yard learned things that would alter her outlook on life. butterfly in 2012. “It doesn’t exist in Europe. It doesn’t exist “As a little kid, it struck me to see the poverty in some coun- anywhere else with a campus environment where you swim tries and how the children were in the streets,” Isakovic said. here, live here and go to school here. In Slovenia, you either “It was always built in me to not take school for granted and decide to be a professional athlete or a student. A lot of very that you get to learn (compared to what others had the oppor- good athletes across this globe never finish school. It breaks tunity to do). It was also an influence from my parents, but to my heart because I feel like as an athlete, we’re capable people be in those environments and able to see it for myself as a little in all fields. girl, I always thought that I am so lucky that I get to go to school “That whole concept just shaped me into really believing to learn.” that education is the biggest privilege,” Isakovic continued. “No The family eventually left Dubai after five years and returned one can take your education away from you. I know no one can to Slovenia where Isakovic could have an actual swimming ever take my swimming successes away from me, but it’s not coach and team after learning under her mother. Despite her ever-lasting. It’s ‘I’ve done what I’ve done,’ but the other 60 or great successes in the pool, she knew from the start that her 70 years in my life I want to do something that I’m also really endgame was to use the sport as an opportunity to come to the passionate about.” United States and continue her education. A pair of friends on Isakovic credits the U.S. system not only for giving athletes the California swim team made Berkeley the runaway choice the opportunity to study and compete concurrently, but also and sole option as a place of higher learning. for the passion that professors display to students that en- “I decided to come to the U.S. because this is the only place courages the learning process and makes it “easier” than the
34 cal sports quarterly goal of discovering more about the intricate workings of the human brain as it relates to successful athletes. Isakovic regularly attended Bunge’s office hours and spoke of obtaining research experience before going to graduate school, a conversation that led to joining Bunge’s research lab beginning with the January 2013 semester. Another stroke of luck came during a holiday break when she got in contact with accomplished neuroscientist Justin Feinstein, who loved Isakov- ic’s idea of finding out what makes some athletes resilient while others crash in the face of adver- sity. Feinstein put her in touch with Dr. Martin Paulus at UC San Diego, whose “Opti-Brain” re- search is in the process of conducting studies on elite performances in stressful situations with an emphasis on Olympic athletes, U.S. Navy SEALS and U.S. Marines. The goal is to discover whether there is something in the brain that allows some people to push to extreme limits, a subject that hit close to home with Isakovic, who herself has com- peted at the highest levels. “It always fascinated me that no matter what rank you are in the world, there is always a point where some people just drop off and they aren’t able to cope with the stress and pressure at all,” Isakovic said. “It’s all mental, and I’m fascinated about this connection of mind and body. A single thought of doubt could choke up and freeze your body. Some athletes dedicate their whole life to their sport, but one tiny mental breakdown or doubt, even something subconsciously from pre- Sara Isakovic is vious experiences, doesn’t allow you to perform. I leaving Cal as an want to solve that. It is my dream of trying.” Olympic medalist, NCAA champion and Isakovic’s primary goal is to find out whether recipient of an Oscar there is an area of the brain that helps define this Geballe Postgraduate resilience so that it can be trained, much like the Scholarship. resilience training that Cal swimmers endure un- der head coach Teri McKeever. Isakovic credits the authoritarian type of success of the program on this brand of training at learning that exists in the outdoor Spieker Aquatics Complex compared Europe. to the controlled, indoor pools that most athletes “The European ste- in the country use. reotype is that school Isakovic’s dedication to athletic and academic ex- in the States is ‘easier,’” Isakovic said, “but it’s ‘easier’ because cellence has led to her being honored with an Oscar Geballe Post- we are the luckiest students in the world to have such awe- graduate Scholarship, an award given to three seniors at Cal each some relationships with professors who are approachable and year that recognizes devotion to Cal and the belief in the value of willing to help. In Europe, students don’t enjoy the process of combining scholarship and intercollegiate athletic competition. learning as much or engage in the material because there is no After studying under Dr. Paulus in La Jolla and hopefully relationship between professors and students.” helping to uncover how the brain works in elite performers, That relationship factor, as well as the ability to take classes Isakovic will use the Geballe Scholarship to pursue clinical psy- and learn what it is that interests you – as opposed to the Eu- chology with a focus on neuropsychology. And as she’s done ropean method of declaring an area of study right out of high her entire life, she will take every advantage of the privilege school – is something that has allowed Isakovic to discover her that is education. thirst for psychology. As a freshman at Cal, Isakovic took the “I’m beyond grateful for my scholarship at Cal,” Isakovic said. breadth of her core requirements while also signing up for and “For me, that is the biggest reward through swimming that I falling in love with psychology. She credits professor Kaiping could have possibly imagined. I wouldn’t change my scholar- Peng with jumpstarting her interest in the field, and further ship education at Cal for 50 gold medals. I tell that to every- work in Dr. Silvia Bunge’s neuropsychology class, “The Devel- body. Without coming to Berkeley, none of this would have oping Brain,” in the fall 2012 semester solidified her career happened.”
SUMMER 2013 35 ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
Hard Work Pays Off in the End By Scott Ball
or senior water polo player Marin Balarin, the old adage “hard work High, Balarin had to work his way up the plays off” certainly rings true in the summation of his career at Cal. ranks on the Bears’ water polo team to see FConsidered the heart and soul of the 2012 squad by head coach any playing time. After scoring two goals as Kirk Everist, Balarin earned the 2013 Jake Gimbel Prize as the best exam- a redshirt freshman and competing in 11 ple of the true Golden Bear spirit among this year’s class. matches as a sophomore, he had a break- out year as a junior, totaling 19 goals with Perhaps making the award more special 28 ejections earned and was the recipient of the Peter J. Cutino is the fact that Balarin’s nomination came Award as the team’s most improved player. from freshman teammate Colin Mulca- Then as a senior captain, Balarin became one of the top play- hy, a rare instance when the vast majori- ers in the MPSF and a third-team All-American. He was select- ty of recommendations are submitted by ed to the MPSF All-Tournament Team after helping Cal win sev- coaches or academic advisors. The Gimbel en of its last eight matches, including upending No. 2-ranked Prize, which has been presented since the UCLA, 12-9, in the conference tournament semifinal. Balarin 1930s, recognizes a graduating male stu- finished the 2012 campaign leading the team with 51 ejec- Marin Balarin dent-athlete for successful integration of tions earned and third in goals with 41. He concluded his Cal academic and athletic pursuits. career with 68 goals, and was selected national and conference “The Jake Gimbel Award is just a fantastic honor for Marin,” All-Academic three straight years. Everist said. “He tried every position except goalie and was “It was wonderful to be recognized by my team,” said Balarin. always been willing to battle for a spot and learn. For him to “I knew coming to Cal that I didn’t have as much experience as become a starting player and the other guys who had played team captain as a senior was for the U.S. National Team or in so great to watch. He is a leader Europe, but I knew that Cal had and someone whom I am very a great combination of athletic proud to have coached.” and academic excellence that Born in Zagreb, Croatia, Balar- would help me grow. There in moved to Berkeley as a one- were moments when I felt like year-old when his father, Felice, giving up because water polo is was earning his doctorate at an ultra-competitive sport, but Cal. After attending Berkeley I kept on pushing and working High School, where he was one on making sure the coaches of the Yellow Jackets all-time knew that I wanted this more top water polo players with a than anything. And the coaches school-record 210 goals, Balar- kept their promise that if I kept in chose to attend Cal and major on working hard I would get an in applied mathematics. The Balarin family on Senior Day (from left): father, Felice; Marin; opportunity. It all worked out Despite being a star at Berkeley sister, Zanna; and mother, Vera well for me.”
36 cal sports quarterly
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