Sports Spotlight

Top moments from the 2018-19 season

Wright, King Become National Champions

An individual national championship represents the pinnacle of any track and field athlete’s career. For Annie Wright and Sarah King, it happened twice in three months.

In May, Wright won the women’s heptathlon on day two of the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Geneva, Ohio, with 5,101 points. A day later, King joined her atop the podium, winning the women’s 400 meters with a time of 54.68 seconds – a school record.

Previously, in March, King won the women’s 400 and took second place in the women’s 200 at the NCAA indoor championships. Wright, meanwhile, won the women’s pentathlon with 3,729 points – the third-best score in Division III history. At the conclusion of the season, she was named Women’s Field Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

Lacrosse Team Earns First NCAA Postseason Appearance

The lacrosse team went undefeated in conference play, won its fourth consecutive Northwest Conference championship, and in May earned its first-ever trip to the NCAA Division III Women’s Lacrosse Championship. Lois Ray earned NWC Player of the Year honors, leading the conference in goals and assists.

George Fox Teams Win Six Conference Championships

In October, the men’s cross country team tied with Pacific Lutheran to claim a share of their first-ever Northwest Conference championship. It was the first of the season, but wouldn’t be the last, as five more teams – women’s basketball, lacrosse, women’s golf, women’s track and field, and men’s track and field – also ended conference play in the top spot.

All that winning helped the Bruins achieve a best-ever second-place finish in the Northwest Conference All-Sports Trophy standings, and also resulted in five conference coach of the year honors: John Smith (men’s and women’s track and field), MaryJo McCloskey (women’s golf), Michael Meek (women’s basketball) and Katie Mastropaolo (lacrosse).

Football Team Breaks Scoring Record

In November, the George Fox football team scored 41 points in the first half and went on to beat Puget Sound 62-48, setting a school record for total points scored in one game.

Women’s Golf Team Finishes Seventh in Nation

Ranked as high as second in the nation during the season, this May the women’s golf team finished tied for seventh out of 25 teams at the NCAA Division III Women’s Golf Championship in Houston. The finish was tied for fifth-best in school history and came during the program’s 10th straight NCAA postseason appearance. MaryJo McCloskey, meanwhile, was named West Region Coach of the Year for the fourth time.

Women’s Track and Field Team Finishes Third in Nation

The women’s track and field team maintained consistent excellence throughout the season, finishing third in the nation in both the NCAA indoor and outdoor championships. As a result, Adam Haldorson was named Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. John Smith, meanwhile, was named Women’s Head Coach of the Year in the West region by the USTFCCCA.

Monkhouse Makes Swim Team History

In the swim team’s inaugural season, Aspen Monkhouse became the first Bruin to compete at the NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships in March, finishing 24th out of 63 swimmers in the women’s 50-yard freestyle with a time of 23.68 seconds.

Green-Richards Hits Scoring Milestone

In November, Mason Green-Richards reached 1,000 career points in just the fifth game of his senior season. He would go on to finish his career as the university’s 10th all-time scorer with 1,402 points.

Lackey Claims Top Spot at NWC Tournament

In April, Joshua Lackey of the men’s golf team shot a 5-under 67 at the Northwest Conference Championships, earning tournament medalist honors and setting a school record in the process.

Coppolino Takes Helm of Women’s Basketball Team

In April, Michael Coppolino was named new head women’s basketball coach, replacing Michael Meek, who a month prior accepted an offer to coach the women’s basketball team at the University of Portland. Coppolino led Mount Saint Mary College of New York to a 35-1 conference record the past two seasons and was twice named Skyline Conference Coach of the Year. He’ll look to continue a winning tradition at George Fox that includes three Final Four appearances and a national championship in 2009.