FACES IN THE CLUB The MAC Climbing Team continues its ascent with a big win in the Regional Championships at the Bend Rock Gym on Nov. 9. Four members claimed first-place in their respective categories, capturing the team championship. “This is the first time we’ve placed first in all four of the upper categories in bouldering,” says Head Coach and Outdoor Supervisor Drew White. “For me as head coach, this is five years of planning, building and investing in the right coaches and athletes. I’m most proud that we’ve been able to develop the talent within MAC.” This year saw 260 athletes qualify for the event, meaning that MAC performed better than ever even as the sheer volume of competition reached its zenith. The first-place finishers were Lauren Smith in the Female Junior group; Tori Siegel, Female Youth A; and Gabriel Laurent, Male Youth A. In addition, MAC climber Brett Walker recently won the regional championship for male juniors in Colorado. To submit information for Faces in the Club, contact Managing Editor Tony Roberts at 503-517-7220 or troberts@themac.com.
Former MAC runner Bryn McKillop continues to set the pace in Cross Country at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. She finished her senior year strong by coming in runner-up in the National Championships in Eslah, Illinois. With her help, the CMS Athenas ended the season in the top 15 in the country. Her goal sophomore year had been to place in the top 50 and help her team place in the top 10. Overall, she appears to have succeeded admirably! McKillop’s secondplace finish also puts her in CMS’s record books by tying the best previous finish in the school’s history. McKillop previously attended Cleveland High School, where she competed in soccer, basketball and track.
When Kaija Perkiomaki came in fourth in the Columbia River Triathlon & Fitness Festival’s sprint distance event, it felt like a first-place finish to her. She’d worked hard to better her stroke and endurance with MAC Water Fitness Supervisor Lisa Best, who says, “I was proud of her placing fourth on her very first triathlon!” As for Perkiomaki, she reports that, “The swim was easier than I expected! The water in the Columbia was warm, and swimming in the lake helped me get used to not being able to see. And luckily, we were swimming downstream. My lessons and tips from Lisa immensely helped. Don’t think I would have been able to do that so comfortably without our preparation time together!”
Statistically speaking, one marathon in a lifetime is more than most humans run. Now, imagine running seven marathons in seven continents in seven days! MAC member Jared Blank sets out to accomplish that feat this month when he takes part in the World Marathon Challenge. The event begins in Antarctica, and then continues to Africa, Australia, Asia, Europe, and finally South and North America. This journey will cost him roughly $50,000, in addition to months of training. The Winged M will feature a longer piece on Blank in the coming months, but until then, those who’d like to follow his adventures can do so on Instagram @ inmotional, or by checking out his blog, www.inmotional.run.
Sometimes it takes a champion to shape a champion. That isn’t to say that 6’6”, 200-pound Cole Turner wouldn’t have excelled without the coaching of 1987 MAC scholar athlete Joe Bushman at Clackamas High School, but it probably didn’t hurt, either. The wide receiver capped an incredible senior season – in which he caught 76 passes for 1,325 yards and 24 touchdowns – by helping Clackamas win the OSAA 6A State Championship. Turner committed to play for the University of Nevada in September, but after his senior campaign, he generated interest from several Power Five programs, including Oregon State, the University of Oregon, the University of California, the University of Utah and others.
JANUARY 2018
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