LINFIELD UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S SOCCER VERSUS WHITMAN • OCTOBER 9, 2022

CROSS COUNTRY

Sept. 2 Linfield Harrier Classic 1 p.m.

Sept. 16 Ash Creek Invitational 5 p.m.

Oct. 1 Charles Bowles Invitational 9 a.m.

Oct. 16 Lewis & Clark Invitational 11:15 a.m.

Oct. 29 NWC Championships 10 a.m.

Nov. 13 NCAA III West Region Champ. 11 a.m.

Nov. 19 NCAA III National Championships TBA

FOOTBALL

Sept. 3 Huntingdon 6 p.m. CDT

Sept. 17 Redlands 1 p.m.

Homecoming

Oct. 1 Puget Sound 1:30 p.m.

Oct. 8 Whitworth 1 p.m.

Oct. 15 Pacific 1 p.m.

Oct. 22 Pacific Lutheran 1:30 p.m.

Family Weekend

Oct. 29 George Fox 1:30 p.m.

Nov. 5 Willamette 1 p.m.

Pacific Office Automation Hall of Fame Game

Nov. 12 Lewis & Clark 1 p.m.

MEN’S SOCCER

Sept. 1 Multnomah 7 p.m.

Sept. 3 Eastern Oregon 4 p.m.

Sept. 5 College of Idaho Noon

Sept. 11 La Verne 11 a.m.

Sept. 12 Lewis & Clark 7 p.m.

Sept. 17 Pacific Lutheran 2:30 p.m.

Sept. 18 Puget Sound 2:30 p.m.

Sept. 24 George Fox 2:30 p.m.

Sept. 25 Pacific 2:30 p.m.

Oct. 1 Whitman 2:30 p.m.

Oct. 2 Whitworth 2:30 p.m.

Oct. 9 Willamette 2:30 p.m.

Oct. 15 Whitworth 2:30 p.m.

Oct. 16 Whitman 2:30 p.m.

Oct. 22 Pacific 2:30 p.m.

Oct. 23 George Fox 2:30 p.m.

Oct. 29 Puget Sound 2:30 p.m.

Oct. 30 Pacific Lutheran 2:30 p.m.

Nov. 5 Willamette 1:30 p.m.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Sept. 1 Multnomah 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 3 Warner Pacific 4 p.m.

Sept. 9 North Central 11 a.m. CDT

Sept. 10 Grove City/Centre 11 a.m. CDT

Sept. 17 Puget Sound Noon

Sept. 18 Pacific Lutheran Noon Sept. 24 Willamette Noon

Sept. 25 Lewis & Clark Noon

Oct. 1 George Fox 11 a.m.

Oct. 2 Pacific Noon

Oct. 8 Whitworth Noon

Oct. 9 Whitman Noon

Oct. 14 Puget Sound 5 p.m.

Oct. 16 Pacific Lutheran Noon

Oct. 22 Willamette Noon

Oct. 23 Lewis & Clark Noon

Oct. 29 George Fox Noon

Oct. 30 Pacific Noon

Nov. 5 Whitworth 11 a.m.

Nov. 6 Whitman 11 a.m.

VOLLEYBALL

Sept. 2-3 Pacific Coast Classic

2 New England 9:30 a.m.

2 La Verne 2 p.m.

3 Whittier 9 a.m.

3 Redlands 11:15 a.m.

Sept. 9-10 Oregon Trail Classic

9 Austin College 6 p.m.

10 1 p.m.

Sept. 16 7 p.m.

Sept. 17 6 p.m.

Sept. 20 6 p.m.

Sept. 23 7 p.m.

Sept. 24 6 p.m.

Sept. 28 7 p.m.

Oct. 1 6 p.m.

Oct. 7 7 p.m.

Oct. 8 7 p.m.

Oct. 14 7 p.m.

Oct. 15 6 p.m.

Oct. 21 7 p.m.

Oct. 22 6 p.m.

Oct. 26 7 p.m.

Oct. 29 6 p.m.

Nov. 3 7 p.m.

Nov 4

UC-Santa Cruz Willamette Lewis & Clark St. Martin’s Pacific Lutheran George Fox Pacific Puget Sound Whitman Whitworth Willamette Lewis & Clark Pacific Lutheran George Fox Paciic Puget Sound Whitworth Whitman 7 p.m.

WOMEN’S GOLF

Sept. 24-25

Oct. 1-2

8-9 NWC

MEN’S GOLF

Sept. 10-11

Sept. 24-25

Oct.

Classic

SPOTLIGHT

a forever friend

During her four years as a member of the Linfield soccer team, Erin Isbister has found her voice as well as her passion

by MARISSA DOLSON

Erin Isbister has explored and learned many passions throughout her journey at Linfield University. She considered a broad range of opportunities within her major, leading to some pretty compelling career choices.

As Isbister approaches her last semester at Linfield, she is one step closer to earning her degree in exercise science. When she first arrived at Linfield in the fall of 2019, Isbister had her heart set on attending a physical therapy school and becoming a physical therapist. But the vast opportunities Linfield presented allowed for room to explore new and interesting passions.

“Through my time at Linfield, I learned about different career paths,” she says. “I learned that I didn’t love physical therapy as much as I thought. Through connections I made at Linfield, I found something that I’m very passionate about and absolutely love. I’m now planning on becoming a medicolegal death investigator.”

Though it may sound morbid to some, the role of a medicolegal death investigator is to explore the causes of suspicious, violent, unexplained or unexpected deaths.

Before coming to Linfield, Isbister says she was very shy and introverted. The small class sizes allowed her to flourish and become comfortable building relationships with class mates and professors.

Isbister is among a large senior class on the women’s soccer team. Although she faced challenges at times in the classroom, her teammates describe her as very outgoing and vocal when she’s in a competitive atmosphere on the soccer field.

“Erin can be loud and exuberant when she wants to be,” says her fellow goalkeeper Emma Mulligan. “Once you truly get to know her, she is weirder and more amazing than you could have imagined. She’s full of knowledge, some of which you don’t want to question. I be lieve that she’s a true example of a lifelong learner.”

Isbister hasn’t always just played soccer. She had started out figure skating. As a third-grader, Isbister found she had a competitive drive that would fuel her as she grew older and older.

“My mom got me started in skating when I was 3,” she says, looking back. “My dad was deployed in Iraq and skating was a way to keep me busy and not miss my dad as much. I skated competitively for six

years until I was 9. It got to the point where I was going to the rink early in the morning before school and again in the after noon and that was a lot for me as a third grader. I went to one of my friend’s soccer tournaments one weekend, came home, and told my mom ‘I want to try that.’ So they signed me up for soccer the next season. I still like to go ice skating for fun.”

Since breaking out of her shell and becoming comfortable with the uncomfortable, Isbister has made the most of her time and relationships. As her time at Linfield draws to a close, Isbister says she is grateful for the people she’s met along the way and those who have supported her.

“The relationships I’ve built with teammates and class mates have made my experience that much more memorable. I have made lifelong friends (at Linfield) that have ultimately changed my life.”

Isbister is supported by her mother, Keri, and her father, John. Back home in Orange, California, her parents are her leading supporters, she says, despite the long distance.

“They have always been my No. 1 fans and shaped me into being responsible, mature, and hard-working.”

Though Isbister is an only child, she grew up with some strong role models who consistently inspired her to keep up the hard work, push through the challenging times in the classroom and overcome adversity she has faced as a collegiate athlete.

“My older cousin Kaylie has always been the biggest role model. Growing up, I always looked up to her and how hard she worked to achieve her goals and knew I wanted to work hard just like her.”

Isbister’s extracurricular activities have also had a big influence on her life. She thoroughly enjoys supporting and helping her peers and classmates, which explains her hard work outside of the classroom. Her favorite class at Linfield as been anatomy, so much so that she now serves as a teaching assistant in the anatomy lab. She enjoys the hands-on experience and how it correlates to the information she learned throughout the course.

Isbister is also a physiology tutor. Whether she realizes it or not, Isbister has had a drastic influence on her friends and team mates. Says Mulligan: “Erin is the kind of friend you look at and you’re not really sure how you became friends with them but you’re glad you have had the opportunity to be part of their life. Because without an Erin in your world, you don’t really know which direction life would have taken you.”

Balancing school, athletics, work, exploring new passions, and maintaining previous passions all at the same time is challenging. But Isbister has made tremendous growth by using the resources available at Linfield and finding her forever friends.

AND LACROSSE COMPLEX

THE DREAM OF A MODERN soccer and lacrosse facility at Linfield University has become reality at last.

Linfield director of athletics Garry Killgore spearheaded a vision for a $1.55 million project to revamp the current soccer and lacrosse facility. Completion of the project’s first phase was completed in December 2020. Phase 2 will get underway once funding is secured.

The vision for substantially upgrading the Linfield Soccer and Lacrosse Complex has been discussed for many years. With the help of private funding from a cross-section of donors, the project is proceding in two phases.

In Phase 1 of the project, the natural grass field was converted to FieldTurfTM, providing Linfield teams an ideal year-round practice and playing surface while substantially reducing maintenance and game setup costs. The field was draped with branded mesh screening, providing for a more intimate and enclosed setting. Six enclosed storage spaces to house team equipment and supplies are included in Phase 1.

Phase 2 calls for a new seating for 250 spectators as well as an adjoining paved plaza. It includes construction of a new pressbox on the west side of the field. Phase

2 could begin as early as 2021.

Dressing rooms for the women’s lacrosse and men’s and women’s soccer and teams are included as part of a multi-purpose structure planned for the stadium’s northwest corner. The new building will also contain a dressing room for visiting teams and game officials, restrooms and a concession stand.

Under the leadership of Linfield alumnus Rob Gloeckner of Tarkett Sports, the grass field was converted to a FieldTurfTM surface. The custom-branded storage containers are being furnished by Boxwell co-founder Rod Bolls, a former Wildcats soccer player.

Erin

Steve simmons

THE WILDCATS match breakdown

THE RECORDS

Linfield enters the week with a 2-4-4 overall record and a 0-3-3 Northwest Conference mark as the first half of NWC play comes to an end. Whitman is tied for eighth place with Linfield at 4-5-0 overall and 1-5-0 in NWC play.

LINFIELD AT A GLANCE

The Wildcats are coming off three straight ties. They rank third in the NWC with 20 goals, 11 coming in their season-opening win against Multnomah on Sept. 1. Izzy Chauls and Emily Hyde both notched their first goals of the season last week. It was the first goal of Hyde’s Linfield career. Laney Green leads the team with four goals while Janae Lewis and Ruby Lacktrup have three apiece. Five ‘Cats, including Lewis and Chauls, have two assists on the year. Emilee Miller is 2-4-4 in goal with 34 saves.

WHITMAN AT A GLANCE

The Blues have lost three straight matches, their last win coming in 3-1 fashion over Pacific on Sept. 24. Lindsey Honhart has carried the attack with five goals on 11 shots, six on goal. Molly Beaulieu has two goals on the year while Carolina Gonzalez and Kayla Gustafson have two assists apiece. Paige Nelson leads the team with 720 minutes played. Hannah Hagler is 3-30 in goal with 15 saves in her nine appearances.

THE SERIES

Linfield and Whitman have met 53 times. The ‘Cats are 29-20-4 in those matches. The ‘Cats have not lost to the Blues since 2014. Since then, they have gone 12-0-1, outscoring the Blues 35-7. The ‘Cats won both meetings in 2021 by scores of 2-1.

NAME

HT. YR./EL.

HOMETOWN / PREVIOUS SCHOOL

Emma Mulligan GK 5-10 Jr./Jr. Seattle, Wash. / Bishop Blanchet

Jaeda Doctolero M 5-1 So./So. Honolulu, Hawaii / Hawaii Baptist Academy

Yahaira Rodriguez F 5-1 So./So. Woodburn, Ore. / Woodburn

Ellie Friedrichsen D 5-6 Jr./Jr. Snohomish, Wash. / Jackson

Megan Sweeney D 5-4 Sr./Sr. Tualatin, Ore. / Tualatin

Kahiau Bonacorsi D 5-7 Jr./Jr. Makawao, Hawaii / Kamehameha Maui

Kami Echiverri D 5-3 So./So. Kahului, Hawaii / Maui

Bella Hanna D 5-9 Fr./Fr. Lakewood, Wash. / Lakes

Makenna Blix F 5-8 Sr./Sr. Beaverton, Ore. / Beaverton

Emily Hyde M 5-5 So./So. Silverton, Ore. / Silverton

McCall Bennion M 5-4 Sr./Jr. Boise, Idaho / Capital

Callie Kawaguchi F 5-3 Sr./Sr. Beaverton, Ore. / Baylor U.

Riley Omonaka M 5-2 Jr./Jr. Renton, Wash. / Lindbergh

14 Sidra Griffin M 5-7 So./So. Duvall, Wash. / Cedarcrest

15

Kamahie Samudio D 5-5 So./So. Lahaina, Hawaii / Kamehameha Maui

16 Raylynn Bucher D 5-6 Jr./Jr. Spokane, Wash. / East Valley

17 Jordan Stoner M 5-5 So./So. Bend, Ore. / Bend

18 Izzy Chauls M 5-7 Sr./Sr. Woodinville, Wash. / Woodinville

19 Abbie Bach D 5-5 Jr./Jr. Happy Valley, Ore. / Clackamas

20 Kathryn Pearson M 5-3 Fr./Fr. San Ramon, Calif. / Dougherty Valley

21 Mia Curtaz M 5-2 Fr./Fr. Novato, Calif. / Redwood

22 Ruby Lacktrup M 5-4 Fr./Fr. Seattle, Wash. / Holy Names Academy

23 Anna Dazey D 5-6 So./So. Corvallis, Ore. / Corvallis

24 Emma Sammartino M 5-3 Sr./Sr. Eagle, Idaho / Bishop Kelly

25 Laney Green F 5-10 Sr./Sr. Redding, Calif. / Shasta

Andrea Thompson M 5-4 So./So. Puyallup, Wash. / Rogers

Jasmine Williams D 5-5 Jr./Jr. Auburn, Wash. / Auburn Riverside

Sydney Pfleiger D 5-9 So./So. Beaverton, Ore. / Beaverton

Sarah Matsuba M 5-6 So./So. Corvallis, Ore. / Corvallis

31 Reese Jones D 5-5 Fr./Fr. Lake Forest Park, Wash. / Shorecrest

Jenna Stanley D 5-6 Fr./Fr. Puyallup, Wash. / Puyallup

Janae Lewis F 5-4 Fr./Fr. Gig Harbor, Wash. / Peninsula

Sofia Pietrok D 5-4 Fr./Fr. Portland, Ore. / Grant

Jillian Sipila M 5-0 Fr./Fr. Black Diamond, Wash. / Tahoma

Erin Isbister GK 5-4 Sr./Sr. Orange, Calif. / El Modena

Alexa Fritz GK 5-5 Fr./Fr. Bend, Ore. / Bend

Angela Munoz F 5-4 Fr./Fr. San Diego, Calif. / Mission Hills

Caylin Gadbery D 5-4 Fr./Fr. Salem, Ore. / Sprague

Emilee Miller GK 5-7 So./So. Beaverton, Ore. / International School

Safely

WHITMAN BLUES

Lindsey Pasena-Littlesky

Fr. Hermiston, Ore. / Hermiston

Hanna Lynch GK 5-3 Jr. Fircrest, Wash. / Bellarmine Prep

Hannah Hagler GK 5-7 Jr. Richland, Wash. / Richland

Rocio Lybarger-Yanes D 5-4 So. Berkeley, Calif. / Berkeley

Anika Patel D 5-5 Fr. Bellevue, Wash. / Newport

Lorelei Starr F 6-0 Fr. Shoreline, Wash. / Shorecrest

Carolina Gonzalez D 5-6 Sr. Albany, Calif. / Albany

Molly Beaulieu M 5-8 So. Bend, Ore. / Summit

Reece Wharton M 5-4 Jr. Woodenville, Wash. / Redmond

Neftali Segovia-Cruz M 5-4 Jr. Walla Walla, Wash. / Walla Walla

11 Isabella Lucky F 5-6 Fr. Coeur d’Alene, Idaho / Coeur d’Alene Charter

12 Haley Cornelison M 5-3 Sr. Los Gatos, Calif. / Notre Dame

13 Ella Johnson D / M 5-8 Fr. San Jose, Calif. / Branham

15 Ella Schneider D 5-5 So. Solana Beach, Calif. / Torrey Pines

16 Camryn Pettenger-Willey M 5-9 Jr. Wilsonville, Ore. / Wilsonville

17 Riley Glendinning F 5-3 Sr. Alameda, Calif. / Bishop O’Dowd

18 Kavita Getchell M 5-3 So. Bellevue, Wash. / International School

19 Elizabeth Williams D / M 5-8 Sr. Grants Pass, Ore. / Grants Pass

20 Virginia Hunt F 5-7 So. Birmingham, Ala. / Indian Springs

21 Kayla Gustafson F 5-6 Sr. Redwood City, Calif. / Carlmont

22 Lise Arrouye M 5-6 Jr. Redmond, Wash. / International School

24 Gracia Larson D 5-7 Fr. Vancouver, Wash. / Columbia River

25 Paige Nelson F 5-4 So. Camas, Wash. / Camas

26 Lindsey Honhart M 5-4 Jr. Redmond, Wash. / Redmond

27 Chaney Heinbaugh F 5-6 Jr. Dublin, Calif. / Dublin

30 Sequoia Strandberg D 5-8 Fr. Colorado Springs, Colo. / Coronado

33 Emily Badgley GK 5-6 Jr. Durango, Colo. / Animas

HEAD

COACH:

(third

HEAD COACH STEVE SIMMONS

Steve Simmons is in the third year of his second tenure as Linfield women’s soccer coach. He is also in the midst of his fourth year as Linfield Assistant Athletic Director and Director of Soccer.

Simmons brings 15 years of Division I coaching experience at Oregon State and Northern Illinois, in addition to serving five years as head coach of the Linfield men’s and women’s soccer and women’s lacrosse programs from 1996 until 2000.

Simmons, who owns a career record of 190-166-31 in 20 seasons as a collegiate head coach, oversees the men’s and women’s soccer teams, and serves as an advisor to the women’s lacrosse coaching staff.

During his first tenure at Linfield, he took over a men’s team that went 1-15-0 in 1995 and led the Wildcats to three seasons of

double-digit wins, including a 21-1-1 mark in 2000.

Most recently, Simmons spent nine years as head coach of the Oregon State men’s soccer program where he won 63 games in his first seven seasons, including a Pac-10 runner-up finish in 2009. Prior to Oregon State, Simmons compiled a 59-473 record in six seasons as head coach at Northern Illinois.

He began his coaching career as an assistant at his alma mater, Concordia University-Portland, in 1990 before heading to Gonzaga University in 1994 as an assistant coach. A head coaching position followed the next season at Division III Whitworth University. Simmons led Whitworth to a 9-8-2 record in his first season to earn NWC Coach of the Year honors before moving on to Linfield.

The Linfield University TopCat Club serves as a support organization to the 21 NCAA Division III varsity sports teams and the more than 500 students who participate in athletics each year. Each year, support from the TopCat Club is essential to maintaining and expanding each of these programs.

The mission of the TopCat Club is to provide students with an outstanding athletic and academic experience and to strengthen the overall competitiveness of the overall Linfield athletics program.

At Linfield, we continually strive to improve programs and facilities so that our teams may compete at the highest level. Roughly 75 percent of the athletic department’s annual operating budget comes from the university’s general fund. The remainder is generated through a wide variety of external sources, including annual gifts to the Linfield TopCat Club.

To learn more about giving opportunities, please visit the TopCat Club website at www.linfieldtopcat.com.

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Back row (l to r): Abbie Bach, Ellie Friedrichsen, Jordan Stoner, Sidra Griffin, Anna Dazey, Sydney Pfleiger, Laney Green, Bella Hanna, Kahiau Bonacorsi, Makenna Blix, Izzy Chauls, Jenna Stanley, Raylynn Bucher, Reese Jones.

Middle row: Head Coach Steve Simmons, Assistant Coach Erin Lutz, Callie Kawaguchi, Angela Munoz, Caylin Gadbery, Sofia Pietrok, Andrea Thompson, Megan Sweeney, Kamahie Samudio, McCall Bennion, Ruby Lacktrup, Janae Lewis, Emma Sammartino, Assistant Coach Madi Reimer, Assistant Coach Zayn Khan.

Front row: Emily Hyde, Jaeda Doctolero, Yahaira Rodriguez, Kami Echieverri, Mia Curtaz, Alexa Fritz, Erin Isbister, Emma Mulligan, Emilee Miller, Sarah Matsuba, Kathryn Pearson, Riley Omonaka, Jillian Sipila, Jasmine Williams.

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NCAA WOMAN OF THE YEAR

Maggie Fiocchi, a recent graduate of Linfield University and its women’s tennis program, is one of two Northwest Conference representatives under consideration for the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year award.

Fiocchi, who in May completed bachelor’s degrees in economics and psychology, is one of 151 nominees who were selected by confer-ence offices to move forward to the selection committee for Top 30 con-sideration for the Woman of the Year award. A total of 577 nominations were considered.

From the list of the Top 30 nominees, the Woman of the Year Selection Committee will announce nine finalists, three from each NCAA divi-sion. The NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics will review the finalists and name the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year at the NCAA Convention in January in San Antonio, Texas.

The Kennewick, Washington, resident was a four-time ITA Scholar-Athlete and a four-year honoree on the Linfield Dean’s List. She complet-ed four years at Linfield with nearly perfect 3.97 grade point average.

On the tennis court last spring, Fiocchi compiled a 13-2 record in singles, including a spotless 9-0 mark against NWC competition. She was equally as effective in doubles, rolling up a 14-3 record and an 8-1 total within NWC play.

golinfieldwildcats.com

Tennis star Maggie Fiocchi is one of 151 nominees under consideration for NCAA Woman of the Year

milner, stallard to handle soccer play-by-play

The Linfield Sports Network continues to bring fans live action of all home Linfield soccer matches in 2022. Fans can enjoy live video webcasts and play-by-play commentary on their computer, tablet, mobile device or Smart TV.

Live coverage begins 15 minutes prior to the start of each match. Broadcasts include a complete postgame wrap-up with analysis and statistical breakdown.

Linfield junior Isaac Milner begins his second season as the play-by-play voice of Wildcats men’s and women’s soccer. Milner started his broadcasting experience with the LSN last season covering soccer, providing color commentary on basketball broadcasts, handling occasional play-by-play duties for volleyball, basketball and softball as well as providing crucial production support on football, softball, tennis and swimming webcasts.

Senior Jack Stallard, a current member of the Linfield men’s basketball team, will also mix-in as an occasional play-by-play commentary voice. Stallard started out in broadcasting for the LSN last spring, calling play-by-play for baseball and softball.

LSN live broadcasts are under the direction of the athletic department’s Broadcast Operations Coordinator, Joe Stuart. In his second year in the position, Stuart oversees all technical production and management of LSN broadcasts as well as providing play-by-play commentary on football, basketball, baseball and softball webcasting in addition to assisting with other athletics communications needs.

All LSN broadcasts, both live and on demand, can be accessed at golinfieldwildcats.com/watch or in the Linfield Athletics app on mobile, tablet or smart TVs.

isaac milner

Volleyball great Amy Peterson headlines a list of six former Linfield standouts scheduled for induction in November

Six former athletes are set for induction this fall into the Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame. The honorees will be enshrined Saturday, November 5, in Ted Wilson Gymnasium following that afternoon’s football game.

The 24th Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame class includes Amy Peterson ‘97 (volleyball), Matt Craven ‘97 (football, track & field), Staci Doucette ‘12 (softball), Drew Fisher ‘12 (football), Kasey (Kuenzli) Williams ‘08 (women’s tennis), and Sonté Wong ‘01 (football, track & field). The Hall of Fame induction banquet, presented by Pacific Office Automation, begins at 6 p.m. with a social hour starting at 5 p.m.

Tickets for the Hall of Fame event must be purchased in advance online at www.linfieldsports.universitytickets.com

LINFIELD IN

Linfield University is the No. 1 liberal arts college or university in Oregon, according to Washington Monthly’s 2022 College Guide and Rankings. And for the fourth consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report magazine has named Linfield University one of the best liberal arts colleges in the nation when it comes to social mobility.

In U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 rankings, Linfield was named the top liberal arts college in Oregon and No. 57 in the nation on the “Top Performers in Social Mobility” list.

The social mobility category measures how well universities graduate students who received federal Pell Grants. Students receiving these grants typically come from households whose family incomes are less than $50,000 annually, with most money going to students with total family incomes below $20,000. Of Linfield’s 1,762 undergraduate students last year, 480 individuals (27%) were Pell Grant eligible.

Linfield was also the highest ranked institution in Oregon on the “Campus Ethnic Diversity among National Liberal Arts Colleges” list and was recognized for the second consecutive year among the publication’s list of “Best Undergraduate Nursing Programs.”

U.S. News & World Report isn’t the only national publication recognizing Linfield’s commitment to improving the lives of students. Recently, Washington Monthly released its 2022 rankings, naming Linfield the No. 1 liberal arts college in Oregon and among the Best Bang for your Buck in the West.

Linfield skyrocketed into the top 100 top liberal arts colleges in the country – coming in at No. 66 – after being ranked 112th in 2021.

Washington Monthly ranks four-year schools based on their con tribution to the public good in three broad categories: social mobility, research and providing opportunities for public service. The full rankings can be found at washingtonmonthly.com/2022-college-guide.

Linfield named the top-rated liberal arts school in Oregon

NEW

Justin Salge has been hired as assistant baseball coach, Linfield baseball coach Dan Spencer announced recently.

Salge will oversee the outfielders and work with the hitters. He will also take a prominent role in athletic event operations, playing key role in coordinating on-field logistics and student operations crews on football game days.

“I am incredibly ecstatic about being hired here at Linfield,” said Salge. “Being able to learn and develop as a coach under Dan Spencer is something I’m really looking forward to.”

Salge comes to Linfield from the University of Texas at Austin, where he served as the baseball program’s camp specialist while simultaneously serving as a recruiting counselor within the Office of Admissions.

His coaching experience includes stops as head baseball coach with the Power Summer Collegiate League, at North American University and Houston Community College, and assistant coaching roles with the Houston Summer Collegiate League and San Antonio College. Salge is a birddog scout for the Tampa Bay Rays and has operates his own private baseball instruction business.

Salge received a bachelor’s degree in history from Stephen F. Austin University and followed by earning a master’s degree of education from Midwestern State University. He is approaching completion of a doctorate degree in global sport leadership from East Tennessee State University. Additionally, Salge completed a hitting and pitching certification course from Rapsoda, a data-driven baseball training technology program.

He expects to lend his experience to multiple areas of the Linfield baseball program. “Respectfully, I think I can help the program everywhere: baseball analytics, baseball strength, developing the JV program while also assist-ing the varsity program in all capacities.”

Salge, a native of Aransas Pass, Texas, is enjoying the milder climate and the engaging people he’s met in Oregon.

“I’ve never been to the Pacific Northwest until now. It’s very homey. People here are open, encouraging and welcoming. Joining the Linfield staff has been a tremendous experience.”

New to Yamhill

The Linfield baseball coaching staff adds experienced assistant Justin Salge from Texas