GoHuskies Magazine: Oct. 2017

IN THIS ISSUE

OCTOBER 2017

From The Athletic Director’s Desk . . . . 2 Former women's soccer standout Havana McElvaine takes the lead in social justice reform. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 10 Questions With ... goalkeeper Saif Kerawala. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 A look through the lens of basketball’s Matisse Thybulle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Krista Vansant’s Nov. 8 jersey retirement has special meaning for Carly DeHoog. . . 25 The Shot ...

Huskies build houses in Costa Rica . . . 28

Krista Vansant

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GOHUSKIES VOLUME 11 / ISSUE 3 / OCTOBER 2017

For Information on Advertising, Please Call Scott Boone at (206) 221-3071.

GoHuskies Magazine is published seven times a year by Washington IMG Sports Marketing, in conjunction with the University of Washington Athletic Department.

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EDITOR Brian Beaky WRITERS Mark Moschetti

FROM THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR’S DESK

W

hen the editorial leadership of GoHuskies magazine shared their vision for an issue showcasing the many non-sporting facets of our student-athletes, I knew immediately that this would develop into one of my favorite issues.

Since I began working here at the UW 19 years ago, the privilege to develop relationships with student-athletes and see their many talents has been — far and away — my favorite part of my work.

Student-athletes are at the core of everything we do in the department of athletics, and the ability to help them develop into productive, wellrounded citizens after their athletic career is done is something I am incredibly passionate about.

We view our department as a natural extension of this world-class University. Our coaches serve as our professors, and the experience students receive through practice, competition and other team activities amounts to one of the most powerful classrooms we could ever hope to design.

Whether pursuing artistic passions, challenging educational pursuits, social causes or other interests, the full lives that these students lead always amaze me. They balance many time demands, and I am honored to know that our department can help support them as they explore their interests and begin to find out who they really are.

I can’t imagine a better place to do it than here at the University of Washington.

Jennifer Cohen

I hope you enjoy this chance to see a window into the robust lives of our student-athletes away from athletic competition, and that you recognize the difference that your support makes in our pursuit to develop a well-rounded student. Together, I believe we can use the passion of sport to help develop a remarkable group of leaders who will have a profound impact on the city of Seattle and beyond. GO HUSKIES!

PHOTOGRAPHERS Matthew Lipsen (cover), Don Jedlovec, Jonathan Moore, Red Box Photography, UW Athletics ADVERTISING

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Seattle Cuba Jamaica Dominican Republic Chile Brazil Havana McElvaine Ghana Nigeria India Sri Lanka A champion for racial equity and social justice, Husky women’s soccer standout

is exploring what it means to be black in America — and around the globe.

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CHANGING THE GAME

f you ask a group of six-year-olds what they want to be when they grow up, there’s a good chance most of them will say “athlete.” In reality, the vast majority of those kids will wind up doing something else — but Havana McElvaine was determined to beat the odds.

It started when she joined the local rec soccer team, the Pink Flamingos, because all her friends had. They kicked the ball around the park every weekend, playing until the golden summer sun dipped below the horizon.

“I loved it,” says the Denver native.

Soon, the game turned into more than a hobby — it was her life.

“By the time I was 13 or 14, I said, ‘OK, I’m really going to do this,’” she says.

By 15, she was getting calls from the University of Washington. The UW was one of the first universities that recruited McElvaine, who

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earned her bachelor’s in sociology in 2017.

“I remember sitting in Coach Gallimore’s office when I was a junior in high school and hearing her offer me a scholarship,” she says.

“My mom and I just looked at each other like, ‘What? That’s huge.’ Someone cared enough about me doing something I loved that they were willing to support it so I could do it without any financial burden, and that’s a massive privilege.”

For McElvaine, soccer — not school — had always been her sole identity. When she became a Husky, that all changed.

“The first time I saw myself as someone who could be both good at soccer, and scholarly, was when I got to the UW,” says McElvaine, a four-year defender for the Huskies.

“The culture of my team and of the entire athletic department is that it’s cool and important to do well in school. My athletic ex-

perience was only as valuable as how I supplemented it with my academics, and vice versa.”

As an incoming freshman, McElvaine wasn’t set on a major. She knew she liked talking about race and equity and social justice, but when she enrolled in Professor Alexes Harris’s course, “Race and Ethnicity in the United States,” she discovered that not only could she study these topics that were so personal to her, but there were other women of color already doing it.

“That was the first time I’d ever had a professor who looked like me, and that was transformative,” she says. “Her class is what sparked my interest in sociology and looking at these problems in a really scientific, pragmatic, critical way.”

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McElvaine and her mentors (from left): Lesle Gallimore, Head Coach, Husky Women’s Soccer; Dorothy Bullitt, Senior Lecturer, Evans School; Alexes Harris, Professor, Department of Sociology.

“Havana is committed to and passionate about justice.

She’s one of those students most professors wish they had in their class. She makes you think about the question you just asked, and think about it differently.”

Alexes Harris, Professor Of Sociology

Social Justice Takes Center Field

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n Sept. 23, 2016, McElvaine dropped a bare knee on the damp playing field of Husky Soccer Stadium as “The Star-Spangled Banner” rang through the loudspeakers.

The moment was inspired by then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who had opted one month earlier not to stand during the pregame national anthem. Instead, he sat on the bench, arms crossed. It was a quiet response to a polarizing issue: police brutality against people of color.

A movement took hold as athletes across the country sat, kneeled, raised fists and linked arms for their own causes, sparking a nationwide conversation about human rights.

The day before she took a knee, McElvaine had watched footage of the shooting of Terence Crutcher, a black man killed by a police of-

ficer in Tulsa, Okla.

“I’d seen a bunch of videos before,” she says, “but with this one, I just couldn’t get myself together. I couldn’t control my crying.”

At practice, McElvaine powered through her drills, but her coaches and teammates knew something was wrong.

“The next day, before the national anthem, Coach Gallimore looked at me and said, ‘Havana, if you want to kneel, you can,’” recalls McElvaine. “I hadn’t even thought about kneeling, but in that moment, she really knew me better than I knew myself. She enabled me to be in solidarity with a movement I cared about, and that was really powerful for me.”

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Ghana Nigeria

Sparking a Community Conversation

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major priority supported by the UW’s Race & Equity Initiative, the movement for racial equity and social justice was also top of mind for McElvaine’s teammates and other student-athletes.

“It became apparent that we needed to initiate these uncomfortable conversations and build a community around these topics,” she says.

So, her team created a new culture where they opened up the floor and talked about everything, looping in coaches, administrators and academic advisors.

“It was this really poignant time for all of us to be student-athletes and to have this platform and this space to talk,” says McElvaine, who stepped into a leadership role as a senior and team captain.

For McElvaine, the poignancy ran even deeper. In her 21 years, she’d always seen her identities as separate: On the field, she was a soccer player. In the classroom, a student. In her community, a champion for change. Now, she was everything at once.

During her four years at the UW, McElvaine learned about education and policy reform and public housing. She helped a professor track how children’s perceptions of race and identity change over time. Then, for her senior honors thesis, she created her own research project, analyzing the impact that repeated video exposure to police violence and shootings has on black male college students.

In a series of focus groups with black men on campus, McElvaine asked them what it meant to see these incredibly violent incidents happening in real time — over and over again.

“The conversations were heavy,” says McElvaine, “but so important.”

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India Sri Lanka

The Opportunity of a Lifetime

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t wasn’t until she attended the 2017 Black Student-Athlete Summit in Austin, Texas, that McElvaine realized she didn’t have a deep-rooted knowledge of the history of racial identity, despite spending every day talking and thinking about it.

“There was this huge disconnect,” she says. “I have this really narrow understanding of black history not only in the U.S., but globally — the history of where I came from and why I’m here.”

Understanding black history became the inspiration for her Bonderman Fellowship: an eight-month, donor-supported, international

“I was proud beyond belief when Havana was selected for the Bonderman.

She’ll soak in each and every one of her experiences abroad, and I know that whatever she does down the road will be impactful.”

Lesle Gallimore, Head Coach, Husky Women’s Soccer

Continued on page 13

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TWO GREAT SCHOOLS ONE GREAT TRADITION The Apple Cup is a Washington tradition and one of the great rivalries in all of college sports. Whether you’re cheering for the Dawgs or screaming for the Cougs, Boeing is proud to be the title sponsor of this annual matchup between two great competitors.

You can make a difference in the lives of student-athletes like

Havana McElvaine

and help build winning teams for years to come by donating to The Game-Changer Campaign for Husky Athletics.

Gifts of any amount are welcome.

Be a part of something spectacular, big and transformational today!

Learn more. Become a Game-Changer today. uwtyeeclub.com 206-543-2234 • tyeeclub@uw.edu

CHANGING THE GAME journey designed to enable students to “explore, be open to the unexpected and come to know the world in new ways.” n January 2018, McElvaine will embark on a solo, nine-country trip spanning North America, South America, Africa and Asia, tracing the African diaspora and the transatlantic slave trade as she connects with people around the world.

“I want to use this experience to immerse myself and learn all I can about black history globally,” says McElvaine, the first Husky studentathlete to be awarded the prestigious fellowship. “I want to answer questions like, ‘Is my experience here as a black woman specific to America? Is it specific to me? Is it a universal experience? How do black women around the world think about race and equity and how those things interact with gender and activism and social justice?’”

Then, she hopes to bring what she’s learned back home.

“I’m most excited to see how other people are finding ways to build community and connect with each other, in spite of all the challenges happening around the world. Whatever work I go into, whether that’s in athletics or some other sphere, I’m excited to inspire change and fight for social justice.”

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“Havana’s journey to figure out who she was and what she stood for was one of the most interesting examples of soul-searching I’ve witnessed in a young person.”

Lesle Gallimore, Head Coach, Husky Women’s Soccer PAGE 13

10 QUESTIONS WITH...

MEN’S SOCCER GOALKEEPER SAIF KERAWALA Where is the most interesting place you’ve ever traveled to?

“I traveled to Pakistan and then Mumbai, India, with my family for a couple of weeks.”

If you were to create a slogan for your life, what would it be?

“Live life passionately. ”

What are three things on your personal bucket list?

"Visit Thailand, watch a soccer game in Europe, and go skydiving."

What is your favorite thing about living in Seattle?

"I love living in a big city that seems to always have new things to explore and see. I appreciate the diversity of the people and the feeling of opportunity."

What is something the coaching staff has taught you off the field?

"To be balanced in all areas of life. Coach Clark repeatedly has told us that it’s very difficult to excel in just one area of life. He says that if you can find that equilibrium in school, soccer and your social life, you will find yourself succeeding more and being happier."

Who were your favorite players growing up? Please explain why?

"My favorite players growing up were Ronaldinho and Kasey Keller. Ronaldinho played the game in an elegant and graceful way and always had a smile on his face. Kasey Keller revolutionized goalkeeping in MLS, raising the bar that much higher. He was extremely successful with the Seattle Sounders and for the National Team."

Can you talk about some of the experiences that have been opened up to you through the sport and how they have changed your life?

"The main experience that opened up to me was the opportunity to play collegiate soccer at a top-level institution. Being given that opportunity has changed my life, as it has introduced me to people I may never have met and has helped me develop as a soccer player and an adult. Another experience that opened up for me through soccer was the chance to play in the Lamar Hunt Open Cup with the Seattle Sounders FC 2, which was an incredible experience. Playing at a high level like that helped me prepare for college and have a strong idea of where my skill set was compared to where I want to be in a couple of years."

Why did you choose to come to UW? "I chose to come to the UW because it is an exceptionally respected university that also offers one of the best soccer programs in the country. There were numerous factors that went into my decision, including the degree I wanted to focus on, the coaching staff, the players and the location of the school."

Describe your experience at UW so far? What has been the most exciting or challenging thing to happen to you?

"My experience at UW has been extremely gratifying. While I have been pushed to what I thought were my physical, mental and emotional capacities, this has allowed me to extend out of my comfort zone. The most challenging thing for me was coming in and redshirting my freshman year. While I knew I was going to, it was still difficult for me to find my place in the team, even though I didn’t play at all. I doubted my worth to the team, but in the end, it was the most beneficial thing I could have done at that stage in my career."

What do you dream/imagine for yourself? In your sport? In life?

"In my sport, I hope to finish out my time at UW, and hopefully pursue the game at a professional level, either in the U.S. or somewhere else around the world. In life, I hope to have a family that can rely on me as a good father and husband. I hope to be in a comfortable situation that allows me to experience the life I want to live."

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A WORK OF

ART

When he’s not on the court, Husky hoops junior MATISSE THYBULLE takes inspiration from his namesake.

Introduction By Brian Beaky Editor • GoHuskies Magazine

B

asketball has been good to Matisse Thybulle. It’s brought him notoriety and success, and helped pave the way for a scholarship to one of the top Universities in America. If all goes well, it will someday pay the bills.

But, basketball doesn’t define him. For all the inspiration Thybulle might take on a daily basis from the likes of Golden State’s Steph Curry, he takes just as much from National Geographic’s Steve Curry (whose “Afghan Girl” photo is considered one of the most famous ever taken).

While young hoopsters nationwide model their games after LeBron James or Kevin Durant, Thybulle would be just as happy to be compared to Ansel Adams.

Talent has charted a career for Thybulle on the basketball court. But it’s passion that puts him behind the camera.

“I only recently got into photography just a year ago because I really enjoy nature and exploring,” Thybulle says. “Photography was a great way to allow me to do that and just capture the moments in the way that I see them.

“Living in Seattle is like a photographer’s playground, because in 30 minutes in any direction, you have mountains, water, beaches, city life and more,” he adds. “This is the most unique city I’ve ever been to and I love using photography to capture how I see it.”

It’s fitting that a young man named for one of the greatest artists of all-time would find a passion in art. That’s why we’re turning over the next eight pages of this “More Than Athletes” issue to celebrate not Thybulle’s dunks or Pac-12 leading steals total from 2017 — those are things he does, but they’re not who he is — but rather, to his photography. Each of the following photos were taken by Thybulle in the Seattle area over the last year (besides, obviously, the one on this page), and include captions he’s written explaining the inspiration behind each shot.

In an issue celebrating all that student-athletes can be, Matisse Thybulle gives us a look behind the curtain at who he really is, and the unique perspectives that catch his eye.

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1

Snoqualmie Falls with my girlfriend, Cierra.

2

3

The view from Kerry Park on New Year’s Eve in Seattle.

4

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It took a long time to get the settings just right on this photo from Alki Beach. It was a moment when I realized I had an understanding of what it took to get the perfect picture.

My amazing sister Chloe at sunset on JosĂŠ Rizal bridge.

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Not much beats these kind of views in Seattle on a summer night.

6

Really cool underground basketball court below Haggett Hall in North Campus.

7

The power of Snoqualmie Falls.

8

The band lined up right as the football team was about to rush the field. This is one of my favorite pictures.

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9

My friend Matthew in Seattle on one of our rainy days.

10

I loved the diagonal lines that make up the walls of the Seattle Public Library in this picture.

11

The composition between the iconic cherry blossoms and the American flag really stood out to me.

12

I loved the juxtaposition of the Space Needle and the sculpture at Kerry Park here.

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Legends

Former Huskies Courtney Thompson and Krista Vansant — soon to be enshrined together in the Hec Ed rafters — have had a profound impact on senior Carly DeHoog.

o

STORY • CARLY DEHOOG INTRODUCTION • BRIAN BEAKY

n Nov. 8, in conjunction with Washington's home tilt vs. Pac-

12 rival Stanford, the University of Washington will retire the

jersey of All-American Krista Vansant, where it will rise to the rafters alongside that of fellow All-American Courtney Thompson.

In anticipation of the event — tickets for which are still available at Go-

Huskies.com — we asked current senior Carly DeHoog to reflect on her time playing with Krista, and the ways in which both Krista and Courtney have influenced her life and career.

Thompson Vansant C ourtney Thompson and Krista Vansant are two alums from our Washington volleyball program that hardly need any introduction from me. Their volleyball careers here at UW and continued careers after college have allowed them to compete at the highest collegiate, international and National Team levels. They both represent and model excellence on and off the court.

And this season, our team is incredibly fortunate to have these Washington legends helping our program.

In our first meeting at the start of fall camp in August, head coach Keegan Cook told the team he had a special guest to help us out this season — and up walked two-time U.S. Olympian Courtney Thompson to the front of the room. An immediate excitement was felt by everyone — both from the energy that Courtney brings wherever she goes, and

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from myself and my teammates, who all appreciate how successful Courtney has been throughout her volleyball career.

We are grateful that we are getting an opportunity to learn from her, because this is a chance that not all college athletes have, to learn from one of the best in their sport.

In the past month, we have met with Courtney numerous times. In our meetings, she has worked on our mental training, challenging us — both individually and as a team — to consider how our success isn't limited by simply our physical capabilities, and how our thoughts and mind can be used as tools to help us succeed.

Courtney has worn the purple and gold; she's walked in our shoes — hearing personal

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Legends Thompson Vansant

stories from her as to how she has brought what she is teaching us into her own volleyball training makes learning from her more relatable. The mentorship that Courtney gives the team will help us be successful both on the court, during this and future volleyball seasons, and also into life beyond volleyball.

I've had a similar experience with Krista Vansant, though that one I was lucky enough to witness up close.

During my first two seasons, I got to play and compete alongside Krista, and saw first-hand the work ethic it took to have the type of success she achieved. Krista led our team by example, and let her actions set the tone for the rest of the team. Her discipline in the daily routines of student-athlete life, both in school and in volleyball, made a big impression on me as a young freshman. The approach she took every single day — to get just a little bit better, keep improving and always be learning — inspired me while we were teammates and continues to now, when I’m training in the gym with the current team.

However, the biggest impact Krista made on me is through her character, and how she carries herself off the court. In 2013 and 2014, when she received numerous awards for her accomplishments, her humility and selflessness remained constant. These days, as she helps our staff with the daily operations that allow us to be successful, she approaches her job with the same character I first saw from her on the volleyball court, displaying a strong work ethic and a selfless attitude.

Courtney and Krista had incredible success in volleyball while at the University of Washington and are two players that many volleyball athletes — not just at Washington, but nationwide — look up to as role models. I admire them for their accomplishments on the court, but even more for how they carry themselves off the court.

My teammates and I are extremely fortunate to have the chance to learn from these two remarkable women, and are grateful that they have returned to our program to help shape the next generation of Husky volleyball players, and support us in the pursuit of our goals.

They continue to be examples for us every day in to always strive to be our best, both on and, especially, off the court.

When Krista's jersey heads up the Hec Ed rafters on Nov. 8 to hang alongside Courtney's, I'll think about the incredible plays, huge wins and dominant performances that helped them get there. But mostly, I'll think about what they've meant to me, the kind of people they've taught me to be, and the many ways they continue to impact our program today.

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PURPLE PASSPORT Photographs by RED BOX PICTURES

More than 25 UW student-athletes partnered with a nonprofit, Courts for Kids, this past summer, to build a multi-sport court in a remote village in Costa Rica.

“Many of the people in the community don’t have much, at least compared to American standards, but the people in this community are genuinely happy and content,” says Husky gymnast Michaela Nelson. “They’ve given me a new perspective of what it means to be grateful and caring.”

To purchase Husky Athletics photography, visit www.HUSKIESPHOTOSTORE.com PAGE 28

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