By Kevin Kihlstrom
Sports Information Intern

Despite the fears of many of their parents, the Westmont Women’s Soccer team will be traveling to three countries over the summer. They will be the first women’s team to make a missionary trip to Africa through the Sports Outreach Institute. The team will also play in some games including one against the Rwanda Women’s national team.

“Our main concern is safety and that’s what we are going to be watching out for all the time,” Head Coach Rebecca Mouw said. Much of the concern comes from the parents of the team. Mouw however, has much faith in the trip’s organizer Russ Carr. Carr used to coach for Westmont from 1966-1982. He is the leader of the Sports Outreach Institute. Mouw said, “He has been to Africa many times and the people we are going to be with are workers for the organization from Africa. They know what is safe and what is not safe.”

Thirteen Westmont athletes were honored on Thursday night at the Twelfth Annual Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete Awards Dinner which was held at Fess Parker’s Doubletree Resort. Athletic Director Dave Wolf served as this year’s host for the celebration which is sponsored by the Pacific Beverage Company and Peter and Gerd Jordano. Golden Eagle recipients possess at least sophomore standing and maintain at least a GPA of 3.25.

Russell Smelly, cross country head coach, presented the Golden Eagle Award to seniors Luke Oliver and Jessica Goulder to the gathering. Oliver, a religious studies major with a 3.88 GPA, helped the Warriors return to the NAIA National Championships as a team this last fall for the first time since 2001. The return to nationals was the culmination of a four year goal by the NAIA All-American Scholar-Athlete. Last May, Oliver competed in the marathon at the NAIA National Championships and plans to do the same this year in his final collegiate competition.

Written by Guillaume Doane
First appeared in the Montecito Journal
Feb. 23-Mar 8, 2006
Reprinted by permission

If they raise enough money and if they receive their parents’ approvals, the Westmont College women’s soccer team this summer could become the first women’s team to make a missionary trip to Africa through the Sports Outreach Institute. If or when they amass $100,000, the 24 players and three coaches will be off for 17 days to Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya playing soccer, doing volunteer work in hospitals, schools and churches and evangelizing through the Sports Outreach Institute, a Virginia-based Christian missionary organization.

“It’s going to be a unique experience for everyone involved- being part of the bigger picture,” said Anna Gropp, a Westmont junior who plays on the soccer team. “When you’re in college you rarely get to be part of that.”

In addition to being named to the All-NAIA Region II Women’s Soccer Team, Anna Gropp, Heather Brown and Amy Lawson have also received honorable mention recognition on the NAIA All-American team.

Gropp, of Corona, California, recorded three goals and nine assists this season for the Warriors (12-3-4, 5-2-3), including two assists in regional play and one against Houghton (NY) in the national quarterfinals. “Due to teammates’ injuries, Anna has moved from her natural position as a forward,” said head coach Rebecca Mouw. “She has made a tremendous adjustment at midfield. Her ability to take people on, combined with her field savvy, give us opportunities going forward.”

Westmont freshman forward Amy Lawson has been named to the 2005 NAIA All-Tournament Team. The honor was awarded to 13 athletes from the 20 teams that participated in the 2005 NAIA National Championship Tournament held in Olathe, Kansas.

Lawson scored three goals in the tournament, two against Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) and one against Houghton (N.Y.) to help the Warriors advance to the semifinals. The Warriors tied 1-1 with Martin Methodist (Tenn.) in the semifinals, but did not advance to the final game when they were outscored on penalty kicks 3-4. Martin Methodist went on to win the national championship by defeating Lee (Tenn.) by a score of 1-0.

Senior Katie Schick, who holds a 3.99 GPA as a liberal studies major, has been named to the 2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® Women’s Soccer Team. Schick was selected to the college division first team. She is the second Warrior to receive the award - the first being Katie Gardinier in 2000 - and the eighth honoree from a Golden State Athletic Conference institution.

A defender for the Warrior soccer team, Schick started all 87 games of her four-year career and was twice named to the All-GSAC team. She is also a two time NAIA and GSAC Scholar-Athlete selection and last year was honored as the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table Scholar-Athlete of the Year from Westmont College.

Seven Westmont student-athletes, four from women’s soccer and three from cross country, have been honored as 2005 Daktronics-NAIA All-America Scholar-Athletes for their excellence in the classroom and in athletic competition.

Seniors Katie Schick of Irvine and Katie Estrada of Fountain Valley each earned the recognition for the second year in a row. Schick is a liberal studies major with a 3.99 GPA and Estrada has earned a 3.86 GPA as a communication studies major. As a defender for the Warriors, Schick started every game of her four year career. Estrada, who transferred to Westmont from The Master’s College following her freshman year, has provided valuable experience at the midfield position this season.

Westmont’s run in the national tournament came to an end yesterday in the semifinals as the Warriors tied Martin Methodist 1-1 through two overtime periods before falling short on penalty kicks 4-3. The Warriors ended the season with a record 12-3-4 and a tremendous showing throughout the NAIA championship tournament.

Head coach Rebecca Mouw expressed disappointment that the team would not have a chance to play for the national championship, but was very pleased with the Warrior’s performance. “Martin Methodist is the real deal,” noted Mouw. “They are a very talented team at every position. But our women worked very hard and played very well against them.”

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