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2014 GNAC BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GNAC Staff DAVE HAGLUND Commissioner A native of the Pacific Northwest, Dave Haglund is in his third year as commissioner of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Haglund took over as the second commissioner in GNAC history in January, 2012. As the league’s chief administrative officer, he oversees all facets of conference operations, including marketing, media relations, scheduling, officiating, finances, and championships. Prior to assuming the GNAC post, Haglund spent 4 1/2 years as commissioner of the Cascade Collegiate Conference. During his stint in the CCC, Haglund spearheaded efforts to attract 10 national championships to the Pacific Northwest -- four in men’s cross country, four in women’s cross country, and two in men’s golf. His leadership resulted in more than $350,000 in sponsorships and gift-in- kind contributions for the events. BRIDGET JOHNSON TETTEH Assistant Commissioner Bridget Johnson Tetteh, a two-time NCAA All- American in track and field at Western Oregon University and former coach at the NCAA Division II and Division III levels, is in her second year as assistant commissioner. Johnson joined the GNAC staff in August 2012 after spending the previous four years as associate head coach for the Pacific (Ore.) University track and field and cross About The GNAC country programs. From 2006-2008, she was on the coaching staff at Western With members in five states and the province of Canada, and with a strong Oregon. presence in or near the largest city of each, the Great Northwest Athletic Conference At the GNAC, Johnson’s primary areas of focus are NCAA compliance and has established itself as one of the top NCAA Division II athletic conferences in the championships administration. She also serves as the conference office Senior nation during its 12 ½ year history. Woman Administrator. Founded in 2001, GNAC teams have had a remarkable 76 NCAA Division II Johnson competed in track and field at Western Oregon between 2003 and Top 10 national team finishes in 14 of the 16 sports it sponsors. 2006. During her career, she won four GNAC titles (heptathlon in 2005 and 2006, GNAC basketball teams have produced 23 of the 76, including 11 by the men 100 hurdles in 2006 and 4x400 relay in 2005) and twice earned NCAA Division II and 12 by the women. All-American honors in the heptathlon (2005-06). Two years ago Western Washington University defeated the University of Montevallo (Ala.) 72-65 in the NCAA Division II national championship game as SUPPORT STAFF millions of fans watched the game televised nationally on CBS. Bob Guptill is in his 13th year as the information director for the Great Last year the Vikings, after defeating Seattle Pacific in the West Regionals finals, Northwest Athletic Conference and has been involved in collegiate sports reached the national semifinals before losing. WWU also reached the regional finals information for the past 35 years, including 20 years as the sports information in 2006. Former GNAC member Humboldt State reached the regional finals in 2002 director at Central Washington University and one year with the PacWest and the national semifinals in 2004. Conference. Alaska Fairbanks advanced to the regional finals in 2004 and 2005. Seattle Evan O’Kelly joined the GNAC staff as a full-time media relations assistant Pacific reached the national semifinals in 2006 before advancing to the regional finals last fall. O’Kelly is a 2013 graduate of Linfield College with a Bachelor ofArts in each of the past two seasons. Alaska Anchorage was a national semifinalist in in finance. He is involved in all aspects of the conference’s publicity efforts, and 2008. serves as the main contact for men’s and women’s soccer, women’s basketball, On the women’s side. Seattle Pacific has had six Top 10 finishes since 2003, baseball and men’s and women’s golf. playing in the national championship game in 2002, reaching the national Nick Schmidt, a 2007 graduate of Western Washington University, is in his quarterfinals in both 2005 and 2010 and advancing to the regional finals in 2003, second year as an intern for Championships and Marketing for the GNAC. He 2006 and 2008. oversees all local marketing and promotion efforts surrounding the tournament, Western Washington was a regional finalist in 2002 and reached the national in-game entertainment and logistics, as well as assisting in coordination of the semifinals last year. Alaska Anchorage has reached the Elite 8 three times since 2008, tournament schedule. placing third in 2008 and 2009 and fifth in 2012. Last year Simon Fraser advanced Kelsea Azurdia, who earned a Bachelor of Science, Business Management to the regional finals where they lost to Western Washington. and Human Resources degree from the University of Idaho, is a GNAC GNAC teams have won three national team titles. In addition to the 2012 Championships intern. She has been actively involved with the GNAC Soccer Western Washington men’s basketball team, former GNAC member Seattle Championship, the NCAA DII Cross Country Championship, the GNAC University won the 2004 NCAA Division II national men’s soccer title before moving Basketball Championship, the GNAC Track and Field Championship and the up to the Division I level. Seattle Pacific won the 2008 NCAA Division II national upcoming GNAC Women in Sports seminar. women’s soccer championship. ON THE COVER Pictured on the cover (clockwise, from top left) are six of the outstanding student-athletes in the GNAC - Erin Chambers, Simon Fraser University; Bobbi Knudsen, Montana State University Billings; Chelsea Haskey, Saint Martin’s University; Richard Woodworth, Western Washington University, Travis Thompson, University of Alaska Anchorage, and David Downs, Seattle Pacific University. 2 • @GNACSports 2014 GNAC BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP Tournament Preview Men: Falcons Hope To Defend GNAC Title Seattle Pacific, which defeated Western Washington 72-70 to win last year’s title, will be looking to repeat in the fourth annual GNAC Men’s Basketball Championships. The Falcons, ranked fourth in last week’s NCAA West Regional poll, come into the tournament as the No. 1 seed and will be looking to wrapup an automatic berth for next week’s regional. Western Washington, the two-time defending regional champion, is seeded second and was ranked seventh in the regional poll. Also fighting for an automatic berth in next week’s regional is third-seed Alaska Fairbanks, fourth-seed Alaska Anchorage, fifth-seed Western Oregon and sixth-seed Montana State Billings. Two years ago MSUB won the title as the fifth-seed. SPU was the No. 2 seed last year. Seattle Pacific (24-5), with its No. 4 regional ranking, likely will qualify for the regional, regardless of what happens this week. Western Washington, if it doesn’t win the tournament, will be on the bubble for the regional. The other four, however, must win this week to extend their seasons. SPU, which is led in scoring by David Downs (20.1) and Patrick Simon (16.6), will be looking to secure its 10th consecutive NCAA berth, the Seattle Pacific’s Katie Benson ranks second in the GNAC in both scoring (19.4) and longest streak in the nation. Simon leads the nation in 3-point shooting rebounding (9.1). converting 53.6 percent (75-of-140). Five players are averaging in double figures for Western Washington, rebounds per game, and junior Kayleen Goggins (10.8 ppg) is averaging the including Richard Woodworth and Austin Bragg, who average 17 ½ points second-most points on the team and has started all 29 contests for MSUB. apiece. The ‘Jackets were dealt a blow when GNAC-leading rebounder Janiel Woodworth also leads the Vikings in assists (100) and steals (38). Bragg Olson (10.4 rpg) suffered an injury and she will not be available for the is the team leader in both rebounds (9.0) and blocks (48). GNAC Championships. Alaska Fairbanks is making its second straight post-season appearance A season after advancing to the NCAA Division II Final Four, Western after missing the post-season the previous seven years. Leading the Washington (17-9, 13-5) earned the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in the Nanooks are Ronnie Baker (14.7 ppg) and Andrew Kelly (12.7 ppg, 8.8 2013-14 championships. rpg). Leading the way for WWU are junior guard Katie Colard (13.9 ppg) Travis Thompson is UAA’s top scorer, averaging 21.5 points. Both and senior post Sarah Hill (10.4 ppg). Colard is among the top 3-point Thompson and Kyle Fossman (16.7) finished the regular-season making shooters in the GNAC at 40.4 percent (74-for-183) from downtown, while 107 three-pointers. Hill ranks No. 3 in the conference in rebounding at 9.0 per game. Rodney Webster has come off the bench 23 times to lead Western Alaska Anchorage (19-7, 12-6) picked up the No. 3 seed after winning Oregon in scoring (14.8). five of its final six games. The Seawolves are led by Alli Madison (13.2 pgg), Jonathan Mesghna (15.2) and Austin Hudson (14.3) are MSUB’s and Jenna Buchanan (9.5 ppg) who is the second-leading 3-point shooter in top scorers. Kalob Hatcher (12.5) is one of the nation’s top playmakers the GNAC at 42.3 percent (33-for-78). contributed 7.7 assists per game. Freshman guard Kiki Robertson (10.8 ppg) leads the GNAC and is among NCAA leaders in steals with 3.3 per game. Women: MSUB Takes Top Seed Into GNAC Tourney Simon Fraser (17-8, 12-6) earned the No. 4 seed, thanks in large part to Living up to the hype of being the preseason favorite, No.

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