UW men’s crew eyeing third Pac-10 title in four years | The Seattle Times UW men’s crew eyeing third Pac-10 title in four years Originally published May 14, 2010 at 6:26 pm Updated May 14, 2010 at 8:31 pm California, which won the race last year, is likely to again be UW's fiercest challenger. The races are Sunday at Lake Natoma in Rancho Cordova, Calif. Share story Christian Caple It wasn’t the No. 1 Washington men’s varsity crew that everyone had their eyes on last week as Sunday’s Pac-10 championships at Lake Natoma in Rancho Cordova, Calif., approached, nor was it the other three teams in the conference ranked in the top 20. Everyone was more concerned about the weather, a notoriously brutal, scorching downside to the otherwise highly regarded course. “I don’t think it will be as big of an issue,” UW men’s coach Michael Callahan said, referring to last season’s 100-plus degree temperatures during the race.

“We’ve been looking at the weather, and it looks like it’s going to be cooler.” Forecasts in the mid-70s and a modified racing schedule that has both the men’s and women’s crews racing just one flight in the morning — as opposed to a morning heat followed by another in the scorching midafternoon — have the Huskies feeling a little, well, cooler leading up to this year’s conference races. Most Read Stories Unlimited Digital Access. $1 for 4 weeks. And it figures to be another good one for the Washington men, who have torn through the Pac-10 schedule en route to the top ranking in the latest USRowing poll. No. 2 California, which won the race last year, is likely to again be UW’s fiercest challenger. All that has the Huskies, winners of two of the past three Pac-10 championships, thinking about a repeat of last year’s sweep at the IRA national championships. “That’s on everyone’s mind, definitely,” UW junior and varsity captain Ty Otto said. “We have a lot of new guys in the boat, people that haven’t raced in the varsity level.

We have a lot of people that are just really eager to make their mark on the program and get that (IRA title) for themselves.” The UW women, who head coach Bob Ernst thinks have finally sorted out their final personnel groupings, will be rowing in the No. 6 slot after several close losses earlier this year. Ernst said he thinks his squad is beginning to peak. “That varsity eight race for the women, when you figure that five of the top 10 crews in the rankings are all in the same conference, that just doesn’t happen anywhere in any sport,” Ernst said. The men’s varsity eight race begins at 11:30 a.m., and the women compete at 11:50. Christian Caple Incoming Huskies Racking Up Awards By Athletic Communications on March 13, 2012 6:47 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks The Washington women's basketball program has enjoyed a successful first season under new coach Kevin McGuff, having enjoyed a recent berth to the WNIT . But looking at the accomplishments of the incoming Dawgs (all from the state of Washington), it's hard not to be optimistic about the future of the Husky program.

We'll start with Katie Collier, the first McDonald's All-American to sign with Washington. Collier, a 6-2 forward from Seattle Christian High School, was recently named the Seattle Times' Player of the Year - as much for her on-court accomplishments and her noted battle with leukemia off of it. Collier would sometimes play games following chemotherapy treatments, but never let it be the excuse for a loss or poor performance. Heather Corral had a season to remember at Prairie High School in Vancouver, Wash. The 6-1 wing not only led her team to 3A State Championship at the Tacoma Dome, but also secured the Tacoma News-Tribune's Player of the Year Award . Corral, whose sister Ashley was a four-year letterwinner at USC, is a versatile forward who can score, rebound, defend and set up teammates. Even better for Corral, the state title came after the senior missed the previous two tournaments with knee injuries. Photo Gallery: WBB Alumni Game By Athletic Communications on February 27, 2012 9:54 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks Before the Huskies took on Washington State at Alaska Airlines Arena on Feb.

26, two groups of former Dawgs tipped off their biennial "Alumni Game." The get together featured Huskies from all generations, such as Loree Payne, Megan Franza, Shannon Kelly (who now works in the UW Athletic Department), Sara Mosiman and Elise (Niemela) Woodward, the 950 KJR-AM personality. Other alums were also involved. Giuliana & Gioconda Meniola served as coaches. Same with Storm CEO Karen Bryant. We posted a few of our best images from the game. The group was honored at halftime of the Huskies' 60-56 win over the rival Cougars. By Athletic Communications on January 13, 2012 7:48 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks If you haven't seen it already, it's worth taking a few minutes to watch the recent King5 special on Seattle Christian's Katie Collier, a 6-3 forward who has signed a Letter Of Intent to play basketball for Kevin McGuff at Washington. Before the season, Collier was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia and has been undergoing treatments at UW Medical Center.

But that hasn't dampened Collier's incandescent personality, or her drive to have a terrific senior year at Seattle Christian. Right now, Collier is attempting the unthinkable - undergoing chemotherapy treatments while playing basketball. "I would feel so much worse if I wasn't playing," Collier told King5's Chris Egan. Collier is part of the 2012-13 incoming class at Washington, McGuff's first full recruiting class as the new leader of the program. Happy Thanksgiving From UW WBB By Athletic Communications on November 24, 2011 2:47 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Repeat it with us: no matter how it looks, don't understate the value of a road victory. This was the post mortem discussion after the Huskies beat UC Santa Barbara, 46-37, on Wednesday night. Sure there are plenty of areas where the Dawgs struggled, but an away win against a quality Big West conference opponent is not something to take for granted. So head coach Kevin McGuff let them enjoy it for a night.

Then it was back to work early Thanksgiving afternoon, when the Huskies returned to the Thunderdome for a two-hour workout. The emphasis now was San Diego State, a physical, athletic team that should see time in the Top-25 rankings. As for now, it's time for Study Hall and Thanksgiving dinner. The team is headed to manager Amanda Johnson's house in Manhattan Beach, Calif., where a sizeable feast awaits. Hard to beat the drive down on Highway 101, one of the most scenic roads in the world. After dinner, it's a late bus to San Diego and checking into a downtown hotel. In the spirit of the holidays, GoHuskies.com talked with a few of our student-athletes to find out what they're thankful for this season. Regina Rogers: I am thankful for my fifth year and being able to play with these wonderful coaches and my team this year. Kristi Kingma: I am thankful for my family and that I get to play at a school close to home. And that I get another year with my wonderful teammates and coaches.

Mercedes Wetmore: I am thankful for my family and also being able to play close to home and play for one of the best universities in the country. I'm also thankful that everyone is mostly healthy. Aminah Williams: I am thankful for my family and to be a part of such a great program with a great group of girls. Blawg/Photogallery From WBB Trip To Santa Barbara By Athletic Communications on November 23, 2011 2:06 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The first road trip under Coach Kevin McGuff is now in full swing. On a beautiful afternoon here on the California coast, the Huskies are in the midst of shootaround at the Thunderdome, the UC Santa Barbara on-campus gym. One thing McGuff has repeatedly instilled with his young team is the importance of shootaround. The hour-long workouts aren't just a time to put up shots and get acquainted with the gym's sightlines.

Instead, the first-year UW coach is stressing "game speed and game shots." Washington spent the workout going over what to expect from the Gauchos, a 2-2 team that has played well this season in their home gym. As far as game settings, it's hard to picture a better road trip venue than Santa Barbara. Nestled next to the Pacific Ocean, the team was able to check out the pier in town and walk along the beach. For a group of sun-starved Seattleites, this was a clear winner. The logistical part of the trip has gone smoothly as well. A two-hour flight brought the team out of rainy Seattle to Burbank, Calif., on Tuesday night. Then it was off to In-N-Out, the iconic California burger chain, for a late dinner. The 90-minute bus ride to Santa Barbara was split between sleeping coaches/administrators in the front, and an impromptu karaoke party in the back. Tip-off tonight is at 7 p.m. from the Thunderdome. GoHuskies.com will have a live chat, or you can listen to Steve Sandmeyer's call on 1150am KKNW.

Secondly, here are a few photos from the trip. Kristi Kingma Q&A By Athletic Communications on November 2, 2011 5:05 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks Senior Kristi Kingma, who is out for the 2011-12 season with a torn ACL, answered a few questions recently about her injury and rehabilitation for the next issue of Dawgs Digest magazine. Look for the story in next month's issue! Here are a few excerpts from the interview: How has Abdul Gaddy, who recently underwent the same issue, helped and encouraged you? "Abdul's been so great ever since I tore my ACL. He reached out to me and was like 'Hey I'm praying for you, you're in my thoughts' and every time I see him in the weight room or the training room, he's always asking me how I'm doing. Obviously, it's not great that he went through that, but it's great to have someone who so recently went through it and to see him having success so quickly after surgery, it definitely gives me hope that I'll follow in the same footsteps as him.

He hasn't really given me advice, but he'll see me in the training room and be like 'Yeah, that hurts' or 'Yeah, I remember that' or 'I understand what you're going through'. [He's] just saying that everything is going to be ok." How has your role on the team changed since getting injured? "It's so much different because, last year, I was mainly the vocal leader on the court, pulling people into huddles, calling plays, and I can't do that this year. I can't be on the court this year. I'm still leading but more from the sidelines and more of my work or my role on the team is more just encouragement than ever before. Now I'm sitting on the sidelines and actually watching, so I can directly see [what's happening]. It gives me a chance to learn, a chance to see a new perspective." Why should Husky fans and others come watch the UW women's basketball team this season? "Husky fans should come watch us this season because we've got a really good mix of senior leadership [and also] young players.

I think anytime you mix young players with older players, it's exciting, because the young players are fun and energetic and they have so much energy and the older players are savvy veterans who just know how to get work done. I think that's a good mix and I think we're really going to surprise people this year and if you haven't seen Coach McGuff coach, you're really going to enjoy his sideline...gestures." The McGuff Press Conference By Athletic Communications on April 6, 2011 11:12 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks Kevin McGuff had a whirlwind couple of days on his first trip to Seattle as the new women's basketball coach at the University of Washington. He breezed into the Emerald City on Monday night, had meetings on campus all day Tuesday and then flew back home to Cincinnati on Wednesday. McGuff plans to spend a couple of days in the Queen City before returning to Seattle and getting a head start on his new duties as head coach. His press conference on Tuesday piqued the curiosity of the Seattle media, which showed up en masse when the new coach introduced himself. Seattle Times columnist Steve Kelley made a few calls and talked with people connected with the Xavier program.

Each came away with nothing but positives about McGuff, leaving Kelley to believe McGuff is the ideal fit for UW . McGuff is so clearly the right person to lead the foundering Washington women's program that it almost doesn't need to be said. He won't light up a news conference with a lot of glib one-liners. He won't pirouette and pli?© on the sideline like John Calipari, but he is as solid as a Dwight Howard screen. And his teams play an entertaining, up-tempo, defense-first system that will be reminiscent, but not a replica, of Lorenzo Romar's men's program. In his nine-years at Xavier, McGuff built a top-10 program. The Musketeers played in the postseason every year and made six trips to the NCAA tournament. The past two seasons, his teams have been undefeated in the Atlantic-10 Conference. Roundup Of McGuff Coverage By Athletic Communications on April 4, 2011 8:25 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks The University of Washington announced some exciting news Sunday afternoon with Xavier's Kevin McGuff leaving a highly successful program to become the ninth women's basketball coach in UW history.

During McGuff's tenure at Xavier, his teams reached the postseason in each of his nine seasons, including six NCAA Tournament appearances. McGuff's move to Seattle created more than a few ripples both here and in Cincinnati. Here are a few of the best stories on the announcement. First was the report from UW Director of Writing Gregg Bell , who had a chance to talk with McGuff and athletic director Scott Woodward prior to the announcement. Jayda Evans from the Seattle Times notes that McGuff's team s want to have "an identity." He described his style as "physical and fast, with an emphasis on defense and rebounding." Jayda has more on her blog about the commitment Woodward has made to building a top-notch women's basketball program at UW. Here's the reaction from the Cincinnati.com , which notes that McGuff was impressed with Woodward's vision and the expanded footprint of the Pac-12 Conference. More good nuggets on the McGuff move from Cincinnati.com Xavier beat writer Shannon Russell.

Los Angeles: Huskies Base For Next 10 Days By Athletic Communications on March 3, 2011 12:58 PM | No Comments Rain and fog set the scene in Los Angeles when the Huskies plane touched down at LAX last night, ensuring plenty of jokes from Angelenos that we brought the Seattle weather with us. L.A. will be the team's home for what could amount to 10 more days, as Washington has games at UCLA & USC, followed by the Pac-10 Tournament. This was a popular topic with media members leading up to the trip, many asking how the team would stay focused with the challenge of spending so many days away from UW. But the Huskies know this is a business trip, albeit an extended one. Six possible games are in play for Washington, and that's the focus going forward. Interesting enough, the Huskies shared their flight to LAX with their rivals from Washington State. Off the court, though, the players are always friendly and cordial with one another. For example, Mercedes Wetmore chatted with former Auburn-Riverside teammates Ireti Amojo and Katie Grad.

A slight weather delay meant the team had lights out not long after arriving at the team hotel. Plenty of sunshine greeted them the next day, particularly when the team bussed out to Westwood for shootaround at UCLA. Considering the number of former Bruins players and coaches making the trip, there were plenty of visitors afterward who stopped by to say hello. Huskies Arrive In Pullman By Athletic Communications on February 26, 2011 8:50 AM | No Comments A bracing wind greeted the Huskies after the team stepped off the airplane at Spokane International Airport. As frosty as the temps were in Seattle when the team took off, the conditions on the eastern side of the state were downright arctic. Before making the trek down to Pullman, the Huskies stopped at a downtown Spokane mall to have dinner. As the bus made its exit off the highway, Spokane native Jeneva Anderson pointed out "the most dominant high school basketball program in the state" to her teammates - Lewis & Clark. This drew a lot of boos from her teammates, many of whom went to Seattle schools. After dinner, the team settled into the bus for the 90-minute ride.

Along the way, the Huskies watched an extended version of the highlight video that played during their team banquet last week. The elongated clips showed jumbotron snippets that are shown during halftime, video the team doesn't get to see because they're in the locker room. When the team arrived in Pullman, the thermostat did them no favors. The temperature was a brisk -6 degrees, and the UW-issued parkas offered little resistance to the biting winds howling across the Palouse. Thankfully, the hotel offered plenty of heat. The Huskies schedule for Saturday includes scout film on Washington State and then an hour of shootaround at Beasley Coliseum. Tip off tonight is at 5:30 p.m. (PST) and the game can be seen on FSN NW. Final Home Weekend For Women's Hoops & Sarah Morton By Athletic Communications on February 17, 2011 9:44 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks Sarah Morton is an understandably big focus for the Washington women's basketball program this weekend. The senior will play her final two home games of her career against the Arizona schools, and she's admitted that emotion might get the best of her this weekend.

There have been a couple of noteworthy features on Morton, and we'll start with Gregg Bell's (GoHuskies.com Director of Writing) excellent piece on Morton's decision to stay for Tia Jackson's inaugural season at the UW. "Once I signed, I was a Husky for life," Morton said. "I always wanted to come here. I love the school. I liked the girls on the team. It was close to my family. There were more aspects than just basketball. And when I met Coach J, I knew I liked her from Day One." Next up is Jayda Evans' piece in the Seattle Times on Morton and how she headlines the Huskies' brand of basketball - toughness, grit and physical play. "She's the first four-year player that's gone through the system with me and just to see her growth ... she's been tremendous," Jackson said. Scott Johnson of the Everett Herald also chimed in with an excellent article on not only Morton's final home stand but the importance of the WBCA "Pink Zone" game to Coach Jackson, who last year dealt with the death of her mentor to lymphoma.

Huskies Touch Down In Berkeley By Athletic Communications on February 9, 2011 10:48 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks Thanks to a delay, the Huskies arrived in Northern California a few extra hours than they anticipated. But given how just about every team member is now armed with the complete Apple arsenal of toys (iPod, iPad, iPhone, etc.), the two-hour wait went about as smooth as possible. Prior to leaving for the airport, the Huskies watched about 30 minutes of film, going over the scout for their upcoming game against the Golden Bears. Then it was time to grab a snack and head onto the bus. With the clear weather in Seattle, the Huskies had pristine views of Mt. Rainier, the Space Needle and Lake Union on their drive to SeaTac. Once the team arrived in Oakland, it was time to board the charter bus and scoot over to Berkeley. Kristen Fyffe, the team's director of basketball operations, gathered the cell phones and delivered instructions for the next day, such as time for breakfast, shootaround, etc. Meanwhile, Coach J and one of our managers tickled the ivory on the lobby piano.

The Huskies and Cal play an important game tomorrow at 7 p.m. (PST). The Golden Bears are 9-2 at Haas Pavilion, but the Dawgs do have some bragging rights after the initial meeting earlier this year. GoHuskies.com will have a live chat available so fans can follow along during the game. Huskies Visit Ronald McDonald House By Athletic Communications on January 27, 2011 12:19 PM | No Comments Throughout the season, the Washington women's basketball team has made periodic visits to the nearby Ronald McDonald House in Sand Point to visit sick children. On Wednesday night, the Huskies again spent a few hours of their time at RMH. The Ronald McDonald House is an independent charity that allows families with seriously ill children a place to stay during hospital trips. During a two-hour visit, the Huskies chatted, played video games and made drawings with about a dozen children. Part of the reason the Huskies enjoy these visits so much is because it offers children with grim outlooks a positive moment. "The kids are just so cute," said Mackenzie Argens. "It means a lot to be able to spend time with them.

It's special to us to be able to give back. It also puts things in perspective." An invitation was extended for the children to attend the Huskies' Apple Cup game against the Cougars this Sunday. The Huskies (7-10, 2-6) are looking to snap a two-game losing streak as they welcome their rivals from across the state to Alaska Airlines Arena. Kingma Now Blogging For ESPN By Athletic Communications on January 13, 2011 9:28 AM | No Comments For much of the season, Kristi Kingma has been blogging about her experiences as a UW student-athlete for GoHuskies.com. Turns out, Kingma had a knack for blogging, which is why ESPN asked her to begin relaying some of those same anecdotes and experiences for their audience. You can check out her column for Hoop Gurlz each week. In her debut, Kingma wrote about how injuries not only affect the psyche of an athlete, but the resources that Division I programs have to get the injured player on the court quicker. This weekend, UWTV is also running a segment during the broadcasts of the women's basketball games against the Bay Area schools about Kingma and her blog.

Be sure to check it out. Women's Basketball Arrives In Corvallis By Athletic Communications on January 6, 2011 11:11 AM | No Comments The bus ride from Seattle to the Willamette Valley took just over four hours, delivering the Huskies to Corvallis in anticipation of their game against Oregon State tonight (7 p.m.). During the ride, the team munched on Jimmy John's sandwiches, watched a movie (Despicable Me) and hastily formed a singing group to provide lyrics to Sarah Morton's guitar chords. But once at the hotel, it was time to collect cell phones and turn out the lights. The schedule on game days remains static for much of the season. Each morning starts with breakfast at the team hotel, followed by a few hours of rest before shootaround. In Corvallis, the Huskies have the luxury of having a hotel in walking distance of Gill Coliseum , the site of tonight's game.

During breakfast, the Huskies flipped open the local newspaper to find a story about tonight's game in the Corvallis Gazette-Times, which notes that both teams will be "desperate" for a win following an 0-2 start to the Pac-10 season. Additional morning reading should also include this excellent feature on Marjorie Heard in the Everett Herald. Heard, a Snohomish native, plays with such a physical style that she's quickly won over fans at Hec Edmundson Pavilion. The frosh forward is averaging 7.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. Okay, almost time for shootaround at Gill. Back later with more info before tonight's game and throughout the Oregon swing. UWTV Commercial For Huskies Women's Basketball By Athletic Communications on January 5, 2011 9:51 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks As you probably know, UWTV will broadcast eight Huskies home games this season. The university-owned television station will also be highlighting the great stories our student-athletes have to tell throughout the year.

Make sure to tune in (Channel 27) and check out all the hoops action if you can't be at Hec Edmundson Pavilion. Jeneva Anderson's Return Provides Depth For Huskies By Athletic Communications on January 5, 2011 9:39 AM | No Comments Falling face first on the court at Hec Edmundson Pavilion wasn't exactly the moment Jeneva Anderson envisioned in her return to basketball. But after taking a few moments to make sure she was intact, Anderson rose up and smiled. Anderson's return from offseason hip surgery should provide the Huskies with something they sorely need right now - depth. The 6-0 wing from Spokane will provide valuable minutes off the bench, alleviating the burden on the starters to play 35+ minutes, particularly Charmaine Barlow, who has been clocking in some overtime at the small forward position. Just don't expect it to be a smooth right out of the gate. "It was great getting back out there," Anderson said. "I was definitely nervous. Three months not playing at that level, it's hard to just come back." Anderson is one of the players Coach Tia Jackson had designs on filling a variety of roles coming into the season.

A product of powerhouse Lewis & Clark High School, Anderson was a touted recruit from the Eastern side of the state. She played sparingly her freshman season at Washington, but displayed knowledge of the game that intrigued the coaching staff. She worked hard over the offseason to cement a stronger role on the team, but was sidetracked after UW's medical staff discovered a torn ligament in her hip. Surgery corrected the problem, but the four-month rehabilitation process wiped out the first two months of the season for Anderson. "I needed to get healthy," Anderson said. "Immediately after the surgery I felt better. It was that quick." In her debut, Anderson recorded a rebound while finishing 0-for-4 from the field. Chalk that up to nerves. But as Anderson assimilates more into the squad with more five-on-five drills in practice, she should become more of a scoring & rebounding threat. Anchorage Day II: Huskies & Huskies By Athletic Communications on November 22, 2010 11:32 PM | No Comments ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The first thing that threw everyone off was the late sunrise.

Our first instinct is to look out the window and if it's still dark, then you know you have a few more Zs to catch. Not the case in Alaska, where the sun didn't come up until 10 a.m. Other than that, everything is good in the Great White North. The Huskies had a productive day of study hall, an open practice at Sullivan Arena, a closed practice at Chugiak High School and film. There was also the banquet, where an improv group " Scared Scriptless " pulled Kristi Kingma and Coach Jackson onto the stage to take part in the show. During the skit, Kristi and Coach J had a horn and a bell as props. Two actors were impersonating the coach & student-athlete. If what they said fit in with how the person was, you rang the bell. If it was wrong, you squeezed the horn and the actor would shift gears. It was quite humorous. The banquet was a great opportunity for the student-athletes to mingle with players from every team. The coaches all got up and spoke to the crowd, sharing plenty of warm appreciation for the Great Alaska Shootout .

But the best part of the day was post-practice at Chugiak HS, when the Huskies had the chance to pet and play with a group of real huskies - actual Iditarod race dogs. This was an extra hour outside in sub 20-degree weather, but no one seemed to mind. Especially since Karen Gunderman in the equipment room hooked everyone up with warm parkas for the trip. After the banquet was over, the Huskies had some scout film to watch. The team did take a few moments to catch the men's team and their impressive victory (jaw-dropping, actually) over Virginia. All for now. We'll continue to provide tidbits and other material from the Great Alaska Shootout. Make sure you catch Kristi Kingma's blog for GoHuskies.com. Road Trip Continues: On To Anchorage By Athletic Communications on November 21, 2010 9:31 PM | No Comments Over the course of the Great Alaska Shootout, check with the Dawg Blawg to get everything from behind-the-scenes with the Washington women's basketball team... ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- It starts to hit you on the drive out of Ted Stevens International Airport.

There's the snow-frosted pines, the majestic mountains in the distance and the cold wind howling through the air. Yep, the Huskies have made it to Alaska. The team is in the Great White North for the next four days to take part in the 33rd Annual Great Alaska Shootout , which begins Tuesday at 9 p.m. (PST) against Kent State. Washington landed in Anchorage this afternoon after an almost four-hour flight from Seattle. The stay at home was short following the BYU trip, so the team had the entire day off Sunday. Once in Alaska, the players & coaches went to dinner at the Sourdough Mining Company , where everyone feasted on steaks and fresh Alaskan seafood. It's a ubiquitous Anchorage dining experience, and our waiter said that Duke & North Carolina had shared our same dining experience in year's past. Did we say the team had the day off? Well, scratch that. There was film to watch from the BYU game, a nod to the Husky football program's "Tell the Truth Mondays." It's clear that the coaching staff was not pleased with what transpired at BYU, so a film session was in order to correct some flaws.

The team has a day of practice booked at a nearby high school tomorrow, so there's an opportunity to improve on the court as well. There's also a great city/region to explore. There's nothing quite like Alaska, and the Huskies are thrilled to be here. Huskies Land In Provo By Athletic Communications on November 19, 2010 6:00 PM | No Comments A group of loose, relaxed Huskies have landed in Utah in prep for the team's game at BYU on Saturday afternoon (12 p.m. PST). Right now, the Washington women's basketball team is at the Marriott Center on the campus of BYU, about halfway through their two-hour practice. The goal is to put the team in the right frame of mind heading into the first road game of the season, a place where the Huskies won't have the friendly crowd at Hec Ed to lean on. One thing visiting fans will notice at the Marriott Center is its enormous size. The building sits 23,700 and when full can be one of the most intimidating atmospheres for all of college basketball.

Secondly, it was pretty cool to look in the rafters and see Danny Ainge's jersey hanging up there. Part of what makes trips like these fun for the team is the bonding that goes on. That's why Jackson schedules jaunts around the country early in the season, so the team can coalesce together away from the pressure of school, social life, etc., back home in Seattle. The trip to Utah begin before sunup with a 6 a.m. flight to Salt Lake City. Many of the student-athletes were at the Washington football game against UCLA the night before, so there was a lot of sleeping Dawgs on the short trip to the Beehive State. After a quick breakfast of pancakes at IHOP, the team bussed downstate to Provo, where they decamped at a downtown hotel. After lunch and film work, the team bussed on-campus to the Marriott Center for practice. Upon return to the hotel, the rest of the night until curfew is there's. A full gallery of pictures from the first day of the road trip is available on the team's Facebook page . You can also swing by GoHuskies.com to check out the game notes and find links to GameTracker and Live Audio.

Women's Hoops Visits Ronald McDonald House By Athletic Communications on October 26, 2010 2:48 PM | No Comments Regina Rogers said it was an "eye-opening" trip. The Husky center was part of a women's basketball delegation that made the short trip over to the Laurelhurst/Sandpoint Ronald McDonald House , a place that provides services for seriously or terminally-ill children in the region. During the visit, the Huskies brightened the spirits of the children at the house, where they spent most of their time playing games. Rogers, who grew up in the Skyway section of Seattle, makes it a point to assist with disadvantaged and sick children. It's part of an effort she makes to get to know the community beyond the UW campus. "I've felt blessed to go," Rogers said. "I've been through some things growing up, but I can't even imagine what those kids are going through right now." Visits such as these are a fabric of the women's basketball program at Washington. Last year, t he Huskies made frequent trips to Seattle schools to discuss healthy eating and the benefits of physical fitness.

Rogers said initially the trip was tough because her grandmother Cora passed away from cancer and many of the children at the RMH are afflicted with the disease. "I was happy that I could go there," Rogers said. "It puts thing in perspective. I'll be here worrying about basketball practice and these kids are here fighting for their lives, but yet they don't have a care in the world." Women's Basketball Reports To UW Tuesday By Athletic Communications on September 13, 2010 2:39 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks SEATTLE - Looks like summer is almost over. And while the weather here in the Pacific Northwest is cooling off, it also means basketball season is approaching. On Tuesday, the Washington women's hoops team will reconvene on-campus for meetings and fitness testing, the unofficial kickoff to the start of the 2010-11 season (the team is not able to officially practice together until October). Most of the players, though, spent their summers here at Washington working on their games and spending time in the weight room. Here is the schedule for the student-athletes Tuesday, Sept.

14 12:00pm - Team Reports to Seattle 1:00pm - Team Meeting in Rose Auditorium 2:00pm - Returner's Meeting in Rose Auditorium 4:00pm - Team dinner at Coach J's Wednesday, Sept. 15 6:45am - 1.5 Mile Test at the UW Track 8:00am-10:00am - Breakfast in Conibear Shellhouse 12:00pm-2:00pm - Lunch in Conibear Shellhouse 2:00pm - Peel Back Test in East Gym 2:30pm - Open Gym in East Gym 4:00pm - Lift Melissa Erickson Benefit On Aug. 28 By Athletic Communications on August 17, 2010 12:50 PM | No Comments On Aug. 28th, there will be a benefit to raise funds for ex-Washington women's basketball player Melissa Erickson , who is going through a tough fight with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , more popularly known in the U.S. and Canada as Lou Gehrig's disease.

The benefit is a Ring Around The Needle pub crawl through the lower Queen Anne neighborhood (near Key Arena and Seattle Center) from 1-5 p.m. Proceeds are $50, but guests who pre-register can attend for $40. Costs include drink tickets and a t-shirt. During her playing days (1997-2001), the 6-3 forward wowed fans at Hec-Ed with her physical style. During her senior season at UW, the Huskies reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. For more background information on Erickson's fight, read this column from the Seattle Times' Steve Kelley. Augustavo Realizes Coaching Dream By Athletic Communications on June 17, 2010 5:22 PM | No Comments During her senior season at Washington, Michelle Augustavo fostered a passion to coach. Since then she's put her efforts into learning the craft, whether it was picking the brains of her mentors or taking on an intern-level position at Seattle University . Recently, Augustavo realized her goal when she was named an assistant coach at Sacramento State .

She'll take on the responsibilities of a full-time coach, with her duties ranging from budgeting, scheduling, and recruiting, along with player development. Augustavo played two seasons Washington, having transferred back home from the University of San Diego. While the Bothell native and former Bishop Blanchet star was a deadly outside threat, she made it quite clear to everyone around the program that she was destined for a future in coaching. Two years ago, she spoke with GoHuskies.com about the topic, noting how she used to pepper Huskies coach Tia Jackson with questions whenever she was around the basketball offices. The two would even break down game film during the early morning hours. "To know that she now gets to start this new venture in her life makes me proud," Jackson said. "There is no doubt in my mind that she will do fabulously." Once Augustavo graduated from Washington after the 2009 season, she set about tapping into Jackson's extensive network of contacts in the profession. Augustavo then moved to Seattle U, where she served as an intern for the women's hoops program in 2010. It's a similar path to the one former student-athlete Sami Whitcomb also hopes to forge.

The two-time All-Pac-10 honoree is interning with the Huskies over the summer, and during the season she was a frequent guest in Jackson's office, where the two would discuss goals and the steps necessary to achieve them. Women's Basketball Adds Walk-On By Athletic Communications on May 25, 2010 2:21 PM | No Comments The Washington women's basketball team will add a walk-on to its roster next season, and the name should be familiar with fans of the men's program. Kassia Fortier, whose father Paul is an assistant coach with the men's basketball team, will be the fourth player to join the Huskies for the 2010-11 season. Fortier played her prep ball at Skyline High School , where she averaged 14 points and five rebounds per game. She also led her the Lady Spartans in steals with 64. The 5-10 wing player was selected first-team all KingCo in 2009 and was a team captain.

In addition, Fortier ran track for Skyline, competing in the 4x100 and the 4x200, qualifying for states in both events. Hec Ed floor getting a new coat! By Athletic Communications on April 26, 2010 2:04 PM | No Comments If you have been in Hec Edmundson Pavilion over the last week or so, you've noticed a little renovation going on. The playing floor is undergoing its annual refinishing process. Every spring contractors are hired by UW athletics to come in and sand, repair, repaint and refinish (say that three times fast!) the floor. The entire process takes around five weeks and, since they started on April 19, should be completed around May 24. Certainly, it's a little strange to see the floor stripped of its finish and without the familiar purple and white paint. Check out the photo to the right, taken by UW communications assistant Jeremy Cothran. In the meantime, Washington's men's and women's basketball and volleyball teams are conducting off-season workouts, practices and pick-up games in the East Gym and Marv Harshan Court, which are adjacent to the arena - just off the concourse areas.

By Athletic Communications on April 19, 2010 12:57 PM | No Comments Last week at their awards banquet, the Washington women's basketball team unveiled the 2009-10 highlight video. Coordinated by Sarah Pfeifer (who heads up the team's video department), the clip is a 10-minute montage to the Huskies' season, featuring a long list of the great plays that made this year special. Check it out. Catch Up With Mackenzie Argens & Women's Hoops By Athletic Communications on April 14, 2010 4:03 PM | No Comments As the Washington women's basketball team gets back in the midst of offseason workouts & conditioning, we were curious to see how the student-athletes are adjusting. On the women's basketball team page of GoHuskies.com, you can check out an interview Kristi Kingma did with Mackenzie Argens . The duo talk about a myriad of topics related to their sport, most importantly the grueling 6 a.m. sufferfests the team is currently undergoing at the Sports Performance Center as they gear up for the summer and the 2010-11 season.

But you'll also learn a few other off-the-court items about Argens as well, so be sure to check out the video. Huskies Back in the Weight Room By Athletic Communications on April 13, 2010 11:31 AM | No Comments Sure, last night's banquet for the women's basketball team was fun for everyone involved, but not so much when the student-athletes had a 6 a.m. wake-up call the next morning. The Huskies had an appointment with strength coach Matt Ludwig at the sport performance center on-campus, and the early reaction was that the session was, well, not pleasant. Coach Lud ran the team through a circuit of dumbell bench presses, squats, core work, a farmer's walk and then put the team in a competition with the cardio machines. "I'm so tired right now," said forward Mackenzie Argens when asked about the workout. The goal for the program is to re-introduce the student-athletes to weight training before the heavy lifting occurs during the summer. Starting next week, the team will begin individual drills with the coaches to work on fundamentals, shooting, etc.

Another Accolade For Women's Hoops Recruit By Athletic Communications on April 2, 2010 2:59 PM | No Comments Mercedes Wetmore keeps piling up the awards from what has been one of the more stellar careers for a Washington prep athlete in recent memory. The Auburn-Riverside point guard was today named the 2010 Associated Press Washington State Player of the Year . The winners are chosen by sports editors and writers around the state. Throughout her career, all Wetmore has done was win three Class 4A state titles and 104 games. The Ravens finished the season 29-0 and Wetmore was named the Gatorade State Player of the Year - yet another prestigious award in her collection. The 5-7 Wetmore is part of a three-person recruiting class for the Huskies next season. Welcoming Two New Interns To Athletic Communications By Athletic Communications on March 31, 2010 12:39 PM | No Comments These are busy times at the University of Washington's Athletic Communications' department with Spring Football getting underway. So it's helpful to have a few extra hands around the offices at Graves Hall.

This week, two student-athletes in Kristi Kingma and Sarah Morton from the women's basketball team will be joining the department as interns. They'll be helping in all facets of Athletic Communications. Both are communications majors at UW and have an interest in building their resumes for media-related opportunities when they graduate. Student-athlete interns are not uncommon at Washington. Last quarter, we had Bart-Jan Caron from the crew team, as well as Anita Campbell from track. The year before, Michelle Augustavo joined us for the spring quarter, just to name a few. A Few Women's NCAA Tournament Connections Come Together By Athletic Communications on March 23, 2010 10:47 AM | No Comments College basketball is a tight-knit world, so it's no surprise there are some Huskies connections with the four teams who played when Bank of America Arena the NCAA Tournament over the weekend. The current director of basketball operations, Wingate Smith , used to be a student-manager for Sylvia Hatchell at UNC. Smith greeted Hatchell during her team's open practice and said hello to a lot of his former coworkers.

Sarah Pfeifer , the current video coordinator for the women's team at UW, was recruited by and played for Texas A&M coach Gary Blair when he previously coached at Arkansas. Pfeifer was a volunteer at the Tournament, and was seated in the crowd for a Blair press conference when the Aggies coach noticed her. Already a big hit with the media for his entertaining press conferences, Blair took a moment to recognize his former student-athlete, who blushed at the attention. "The girl sitting right behind you used to play for me too. And I only got to coach her for one year. That was my miniature Rambo back there because she could make things happen back there. She'd run through brick walls, and she ran through too many, they couldn't keep her healthy after we got through with her that one year.

She's doing a good job up here; she's teaching y'all how to say "y'all" and all that stuff." Huskies Have (Finally, Whew) Arrived In Corpus Christi By Athletic Communications on March 21, 2010 8:59 AM | No Comments After a long travel day, the Huskies are in the middle of practice Texas A&M Corpus Christi's gym. It took Washington almost 15 hours from Seattle to South Texas, which included a flight up to Vancouver, B.C., a 3-hour wait, and then a long flight to Houston. Director of Operations Wingate Smith filled us in on all the info this morning, and gave GoHuskies some insight into the travel schedule. "I mean it was long. Took forever to get here. Had to go through customs twice," Smith said. "Hung out in the Vancouver airport, one of the top 3 airports of all time." While in Canada, the Huskies took advantage of the free Wi-Fi in the airport to catch up on the NCAA Tournament, which CBS streams online for free.

Other players took naps and made sure to rest adequately, knowing there would be a short turnaround time with the game today (2 p.m. PST). Once on the flight to Houston, the Dawgs watched their men's team thump New Mexico with Continental Airlines providing all passengers with personal DirecTV in their seats. When the team landed, it was time to gather luggage and jump on the bus to Corpus Christi, a four-hour ride. Smith said the team watched a couple of movies on the ride down, and then hit the hotel and went directly to bed. The Huskies game will be streamed online through KKNW . Fans can also follow on the women's basketball Twitter feed ( @uw_wbb ) and the feed for the local paper, The Corpus Christi Caller-Times ( @callersports ). Husky Hoops Radio Show Podcast By Athletic Communications on March 16, 2010 7:03 AM | No Comments The final Lorenzo Romar and Tia Jackson radio shows, which originated live from Anthony's at Shilshole last night, are now available for download via GoHuskies.com or iTunes.

Click here to download the Lorenzo Romar Show Click here to download the Tia Jackson Show Huskies Signee Wetmore Named Gatorade WA Player of the Year By Athletic Communications on March 11, 2010 8:01 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks LOS ANGELES -- Washington signee Mercedes Wetmore already has three state titles on her resume. But now the point guard can add something even more impressive. Earlier today, Wetmore was named the Gatorade Washington Girls Basketball Player of the Year , one of the most prestigious awards in the country for prep sports. The 5-8 guard from Auburn-Riverside led the Ravens to a state title this year, scoring 17 points in an overtime victory over Mead. Overall, she averaged 17.3 ppg in addition to the 3.97 GPA she pulled in the classroom. She also tallied almost six rebounds and four assists per game. Wetmore is one of three recruits the Huskies have signed for the 2010-11 season.

Follow The Dawgs In Los Angeles For Pac-10 Tourney By Athletic Communications on March 10, 2010 9:14 PM | 2 Comments LOS ANGELES -- On road trips with the Huskies, there are a few certainties. For example, Christina Rozier will start singing and dancing at random times on the bus. Or trainer Jenn Ratcliff reads a book poolside when the sun peeks out. But the one definitive guarantee is that student-manager Lars Phillips will put away a Kobayashi-esque amount of food at dinner. Unfortunately, GoHuskies did not have video available, but most of the coaches and staff were around at dinner tonight to witness the matchstick-thin Phillips finish off nearly every leftover plate after the players retired back to the hotel. Pasta, chicken, desert; it didn't matter, Lars spared nothing. "Man, that's impressive," the waiter said in awe. Outside of the circus eating, the Dawgs had a relaxing dinner at the Westin Bonaventure tonight, making for a relaxing night before the team plays Oregon State tomorrow at the Galen Center. Now the Huskies are buckling down with the books at study table.

Upon arrival to the City of Angels, sunshine and clear skies greeted the Huskies as they exited LAX and took a charter bus towards downtown. After some rest, the team headed westward to Culver City, where a date with a basketball gym awaited. The team practiced for just 90 minutes, trying to keep things light with the Huskies set to potentially play four games this weekend. All Tournament participants are staying at the Los Angeles Marriott, which is decked out in signage promoting the tournament. A big "WELCOME" sign met the players when everyone checked in, and then the team was whisked away to their private dining room for lunch. In typical LA fashion, the hotel is surrounded by palm trees and skyscrapers, while the "Hollywood" sign is visible off in the distance as you drive in from the highway. Later this evening, the rest of the teams started filtering in from their various home bases. Everything kicks off tomorrow; should be a lot of fun. Big Hoops Weekend On Television By Athletic Communications on March 10, 2010 8:59 AM | No Comments The craziness that is March Madness begins this week and there is tons of hoops on television for Husky fans!

The annual men's and women's Pac-10 Tournaments take place tonight through Sunday and the NCAA Selection Show will air Sunday afternoon on CBS and, for the first time ever, will be streamed on NCAA.com . Here is a schedule of Husky-related hoops on television this week. As usual, check your local listings for the time and channels for FSN, FSN Northwest or CBS in your area. College Rowing Teams HQ - row2k.com, Rowing and Sculling for Rowers and Scullers Team - Pac-12 Champs, IRA Ten Eyck Champs Varsity 8 - Pac-12 Champs, IRA Champs 2nd Varsity 8 - Pac-12 Champs, IRA Champs 3rd Varsity 8 - Pac-12 Champs, IRA Champs Freshmen 8 - Pac-12 Champs, IRA Champs Varsity 4 - Pac-12 Champs, IRA Champs Returning Varsity 8+ Athletes - 2 2016 Seniors - 6 2016 Outlook “This team is all about hard work and trusting the process in place that has led us to success these past few years.

We have world-class talent and a lot of youth, and we are excited to see the two combine. This should be another exciting and successful year for Washington Rowing.” -Head Coach Michael Callahan Team - Pac-12 Points Champs, IRA Ten Eyck Team Points Champs Varsity 8 - Winner of the Cal/Washington race, Pac-12 Champs, IRA Champs 2nd Varsity 8 - Winner of the Cal/Washington race, 2nd at Pac-12s, 3rd at IRAs Freshmen 8 - Winner of the Cal/Washington race, Pac-12 Champs, IRA Champs 3rd Varsity 8 - 2nd at IRAs Varsity 4 - Pac-12 Champs, IRA Champs Returning Varsity 8+ Athletes - 6 2015 Seniors - 14 2015 Outlook “The team is driven by the opportunity to make history through winning a 5th consecutive Varsity 8+ title and 9th consecutive Ten Eyck Trophy for each other.

They are committed to leaving Washington Rowing in a better place than it was when they came into the program.” -Head Coach Mikael Callahan 2012 USRowing Fan's Choice Awards - Collegiate Rower of the Year While USRowing maintains a strong and long tradition of rewarding excellence in rowing, 2012 marks the second year that the rowing community will be invited to participate by nominating and voting for their favorite athletes and coaches of the year through the second annual USRowing "Fan's Choice" Awards. Vote now! 2012 USRowing Fan's Choice Awards - Collegiate Coach of the Year While USRowing maintains a strong and long tradition of rewarding excellence in rowing, 2012 marks the second year that the rowing community will be invited to participate by nominating and voting for their favorite athletes and coaches of the year through the second annual USRowing "Fan's Choice" Awards. Vote now! The Sport of Rowing: The University of Washington Dynasty Peter Mallory brings us the next block of chapters from The Sport of Rowing: Ch. 44. Hiram Conibear; Ch. 45. George and Dick Pocock; Ch.

46. The Conibear Stroke; Ch. 47. The Ernest Barry Stroke; Ch. 48. The Birth of Modern Orthodox Technique; Ch. 49. George Pocock.s Greatest Contribution; Ch. 50. Migration of the Conibear Stroke Returning Varsity 8+ Athletes - 6 2014 Seniors - 12 2014 Outlook "In an extremely strong Pac-12 field this year, Washington will look to senior and returning leadership in the varsity 8 to stay competitive this year. With six returning athletes out of the top boat from last year this shouldn't be an issue. Among those six returners are four seniors: Maddie Johnston who coxed the eight to their third place finish at Pac-12s and fifth place finish at NCAAs, Patricia Obee, Ruth Whyman and Kirstyn Goodger. Their experience, talent and leadership will be invaluable to the Huskies this season. "The UW will also look to capitalize on the talent out of their undefeated novice eight boat from last season that ended their reign last year with a gold medal at Pac-12s.

These rowers in addition to the strong athletes out of the 2V8 and the four will be fighting hard to move up into higher boats creating more competition and pushing the whole team to be better." -Head Coach Bob Ernst Varsity 8 - 3rd at Pac-12s, 6th at NCAAs 2nd Varsity 8 - 4th at Pac-12s, 8th at NCAAs Varsity 4 - 2nd at Pac-12s, 6th at NCAAs Novice 8 - 4th at Pac-12s Returning Varsity 8+ Athletes - 6 2013 Seniors - 10 2013 Outlook "The whole Pac-12 Conference is going to be tough this year. USC has a lot of talent, Stanford and California have Olympians coming back, UCLA had a great showing last year and I don’t expect anybody to sag. The Cougars will be good and Oregon State will be good so it’s going to be a real knock-down, drag out season.

It will be really important for us to go to San Diego and do a good job because it will be our only chance this season to race a lot of our Pac-12 competition before the Championship in May. When I look at the talent, not only are our varsity crews going to be really competitive in our conference, but the JVs will be too. Not many teams lost too many people, so it’s just going to be stiff competition the entire season. "I think we have good leadership. We have a really, really young team again this year, so our seniors will be our players to watch. Madison Culp, a world champion, is back and Marie Strohmayer is another senior and she’s doing the best that she’s ever done here. One blessing that we got was getting Victoria Nenchev back. She took a year off to try to make the Olympic Team and she’s come back blazing. She’s doing a great job and pushing for a spot in the Varsity boat. She’s another year more mature and she’s stronger and fitter than she’s ever been, so we are really expecting good things from her. It’s going to be an exciting season!" -Washington Coaching Staff

Question: The UW Huskies won the Pac-10 conference title in what sport, this last Sunday, when the men edged California?
Answer: Crew