The Willamette Bearcats are the athletic teams of

Willamette University Willamette University is a Private university, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college with locations in Salem, Oregon, Salem and Portland, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest college in the Western United ...

Salem, Oregon Salem ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County, Oregon, Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, w ...

, United States. Competing at the non-scholarship

National Collegiate Athletic Association The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates College athletics in the United States, student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, and Simon Fraser University, 1 in Canada. ...

(NCAA)

Division III In sport, the Third Division, also called Division 3, Division Three, or Division III, is often the third-highest division of a league, and will often have promotion and relegation with divisions above and below. Association football *Belgian Third ...

level, the school fields twenty teams. Most teams compete in the

Northwest Conference The Northwest Conference (NWC) is an intercollegiate athletic conference which competes in the NCAA's Division III. Member teams are located in the states of Oregon and Washington. It was known as the Pacific Northwest Conference from 1926 t ...

with their primary rivals being

Linfield College Linfield University is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college with campuses in McMinnville, Oregon, McMinnville, and Portland, Oregon. Linfield Wildcats athletics participate in the Northwest ...

. The main athletic venues of the school are

McCulloch Stadium McCulloch Stadium is a 2,500-seat outdoor stadium in the Northwestern United States, located in Salem, Oregon. Built in 1950, the multi-use facility serves as home to Willamette University's football and track & field teams, and high school foo ...

, Cone Field House, and Roy S. "Spec" Keene Stadium. Willamette moved to the NCAA's Division III in 1998 after previously being a

National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) established in 1940, is a college athletics association for higher education, colleges and universities in North America. Most colleges and universities in the NAIA offer athletic schola ...

(NAIA) institution.Earley, Steve. "Big-time problems looming: Focus on Small Colleges", ''The Oregonian'', November 27, 1997, p. D2. The 1993, men's basketball team won the school's only team national championship, while the 1997 football team lost in the national championship game. Willamette University was founded in 1842 in what is now Salem, Oregon.Willamette University.
Northwest Conference. Retrieved on December 4, 2008. A small liberal arts school, it has an enrollment of 1,997 undergraduates and 564 graduate students for a total student population of 2,561. Intercollegiate teams for the university are football, men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball, men's and women's swimming, men's and women's tennis, women's volleyball, men's and women's golf, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's track & field and women's lacrosse. In April 2018, the university announced the creation of the first women's varsity triathlon program in Oregon and ninth in NCAA Division III. The triathlon program began competition in 2021.

Varsity teams

Basketball

From 1923 until 1974 the basketball team played home games at the Willamette Gymnasium, now the Theatre Playhouse. The men's team won or shared the conference title in 1949 to 1952, and 1958 to 1960. The Bearcats appeared in the NAIA Division I men's basketball national tournament 3 times;

1960 It is also known as the "Year of Africa" because of major events—particularly the independence of seventeen African nations—that focused global attention on the continent and intensified feelings of Pan-Africanism. Events January * Janu ...

1972 Within the context of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) it was the longest year ever, as two leap seconds were added during this 366-day year, an event which has not since been repeated. (If its start and end are defined using Solar time, ...

1975 It was also declared the ''International Women's Year'' by the United Nations and the European Architectural Heritage Year by the Council of Europe. Events January * January 1 – Watergate scandal (United States): John N. Mitchell, H. R. ...

. The Bearcats lost in the first round each year. In

1993 The United Nations General Assembly, General Assembly of the United Nations designated 1993 as: * International Year for the World's Indigenous People The year 1993 in the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands had only 364 days, since its ...

, the men's basketball team won the NAIA Division II national championship,English, Reid. "AD leaves large void to fill", ''Statesman Journal'', November 1, 2000, p. 4B. with coach Gordie James winning national coach of the year honors.

Football

The Willamette football team started in 1894, winning their first game against

Pacific University Pacific University is a private university in Forest Grove, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1849 as the Tualatin Academy, the original Forest Grove campus is west of Portland. Affiliated with the United Church of Christ, the school mainta ...

18 to 4, and finishing the season 1–4–1, losing four games and tying another against the Salem YMCA. In 1895, they went 2–2, including two losses to the University of Oregon and one win against

Oregon Agricultural College Oregon State University (OSU) is a public land-grant research university in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. OSU offers more than 200 undergraduate degree programs and a variety of graduate and doctoral degrees through all 11 of the universit ...

, today's Oregon State University. During the early years of the program teams played a hodgepodge of other teams including games against the school's alumni, the

University of Oregon School of Law The University of Oregon School of Law is a public law school in the U.S. state of Oregon. Housed in the Knight Law Center, it is Oregon's only state funded law school. The school, founded in 1884, is located on the University of Oregon campus i ...

, the

Chemawa Indian School Chemawa Indian School (''pronounced:'' "Chih-MAY-way", ) is a Native Americans in the United States, Native American boarding school in Salem, Oregon, United States. Named after the Chemawa band of the Kalapuya people of the Willamette Valley, ...

, the

Multnomah Athletic Club The Multnomah Athletic Club (MAC) is a private social club, social and sports club, athletic club in Portland, Oregon, United States. It was founded in 1891 as the Multnomah Amateur Athletic Club, a coordinating body for team and individual spor ...

Hill Military Academy Hill Military Academy was a private, University-preparatory school, College preparatory military academy in Portland, Oregon, Portland in the U.S. state of Oregon. Opened in 1901, it was a leading military boarding school in the Pacific Northwest ...

Reed College Reed College is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1908, Reed is a residential college with a campus in the Eastmoreland, Portland, Oregon, E ...

, Mt. Angel College, and the Vancouver Barracks among others. In 1926, Willamette was a founding member of the Northwest Conference along with Pacific, rival

Whitman College Whitman College is a private liberal arts college in Walla Walla, Washington. The school offers 53 majors and 33 minors in the liberal arts and sciences, and it has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9:1. Founded as a seminary by a territorial l ...

, the

College of Puget Sound The University of Puget Sound is a private liberal arts college in Tacoma, Washington, United States. It was founded in 1888. The institution offers a variety of undergraduate degrees as well as five graduate programs in counseling, education, oc ...

, and the

College of Idaho The College of Idaho (C of I) is a private liberal arts college in Caldwell, Idaho. Founded in 1891 by Rev. William Judson Boone as a Presbyterian college, it is the state's oldest private liberal arts college and has an enrollment of over ...

, and is still a member of the conference. On December 6, 1941, the team played the

University of Hawaii A university () is an educational institution, institution of tertiary education and research which awards academic degrees in several Discipline (academia), academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase , which roughly ...

in Honolulu, losing 20 to 6 in what was supposed to be the first of two post-season games. The following day, December 7, 1941, Japan attacked the nearby naval base at Pearl Harbor, stranding the team on Hawaii.Shock and Resolve: Oregon Reacts to Pearl Harbor.
Oregon State Archives. Retrieved on December 4, 2008. The military pressed the team into service to defend the island from possible invasion by giving the players rifles, having them lay barbed wire, posting them to defend storage tanks above the city, and using them as police. Willamette's team and boosters were able to leave aboard the ocean liner SS ''President Coolidge'' on December 19, and arrived in San Francisco on December 25. Willamette Smith Auditorium

During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, the school played abbreviated schedules, and did not field a team in 1945, with a return to normalcy in 1946. The school had previously not fielded teams in 1897 and 1898 due to the

Spanish–American War The Spanish–American War (April 21 – August 13, 1898) was fought between Restoration (Spain), Spain and the United States in 1898. It began with the sinking of the USS Maine (1889), USS ''Maine'' in Havana Harbor in Cuba, and resulted in the ...

and in 1918 due to

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. Willamette played their first game at the new McCulloch Stadium in 1950, beating

Central Washington Central Washington is a region of the U.S. state of Washington between the western and eastern parts of the state extending from the border with the Canadian province of British Columbia in the north to the border with the U.S. state of Oregon i ...

, 21–0. Previously teams played at Sweetland Field, named after former athletic director and coach Dr.

George Sweetland George James Sweetland (August 5, 1872 – March 29, 1954) was an American physician as well as a coach of many sports including basketball, track and field and American football, football at several universities. Early life Sweetland was born i ...

, located on campus where the school's Quad is situated south of Waller and Eaton halls. In October 1997,

Liz Heaston Elizabeth Heaston Thompson (born 1977) is an American athlete who is the first woman ever to score in a college football game. She accomplished this feat on October 18, 1997 as a placekicker for the Willamette Bearcats football team of Willamet ...

became the first female player in a college football game, kicking two extra points in the game at McCulloch against Linfield. The team was coached by future

Boise State Boise State University (BSU) is a public research university in Boise, Idaho, United States. Founded in 1932 by the Episcopal Church, it became an independent junior college in 1934 and has been awarding baccalaureate and master's degrees It ...

and

Colorado Colorado is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States. It is one of the Mountain states, sharing the Four Corners region with Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. It is also bordered by Wyoming to the north, Nebraska to the northeast, Kansas ...

coach

Dan Hawkins Dan, Danny or Daniel Hawkins may refer to: * Dan Hawkins (American football) (born 1960), American football coach and former player and sportscaster * Daniel Hawkins (politician) (born 1960), American politician in the Kansas House of Representat ...

, who led the team to a 40–11–1 record from 1993 to 1997. In 2008, Willamette ended the regular season undefeated at 10–0 and winning a conference championship. The team was ranked as high as fourth in Division III, and won first round playoff game. The team lost in the second round of the playoffs to defending champion Wisconsin-Whitewater, 30–27, and finished the year 11–1. Willamette's team has won conference championships in the Northwest Conference 23 times, most recently during the 2008 season.Football: History.
Willamette University Athletics. Retrieved on December 4, 2008. Other championships were in 1929, 1934 to 1938, 1940 to 1942, 1946, 1947, 1954, 1958 to 1960, 1967, 1968, 1971, 1995 to 1997, and 1999. Willamette made the playoffs in 1968, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2004, and 2008. The 1997 team made the school's only appearance in a national championship, losing to 14–7 to the

University of Findlay The University of Findlay (UF) is a private Christian university in Findlay, Ohio, United States. It was established in 1882 through a joint partnership between the Churches of God General Conference and the city of Findlay. UF has nearly 80 ...

in the NAIA title game. Willamette and the conference moved to the NCAA's Division II in 1998. The university's overall record through the 2008 season is 472–374–38 and a .555 winning percentage. Former head coach Ted Ogdahl holds the school records for most victories at 98 and for most seasons at the school with 20, compiling a 98–64–10 mark from 1952 to 1971. Roy "Spec" Keene is in second place in both categories with an 84–51–6 record over 17 seasons from 1926 to 1942.

Soccer

From 1987 to 1991, the Bearcat women won five straight NAIA District II titles. In 1998, the women's soccer team compiled a 19–1–4 record and lost in the NCAA Division III national semifinal game. The team finished 16–1–2 in 2003, but missed the playoffs after finishing in second place in the conference."Willamette University 2003-04 highlights", ''Statesman Journal'', May 16, 2004, p. 2J. From 1997 to 2004 the women's team had a 74-game home unbeaten streak. The women won conference championships from 1993 to 1999.

Track and field

The men's track team won conference championships in 1951 to 1953, 1961, and 1966. From 1981 to 1987 the men's track and field team won seven consecutive conference titles, coached by Charles Bowles. Beth Fitzgerald won the 800m national championship in 1999, while Jimmy Watts won the title for the decathlon.Gibby, Susan
Salem Online History: Willamette University.
Salem Public Library. Retrieved on November 14, 2008. Race walker Olympian Andrew Hermann graduated from the university in 1993. From 2002 to 2006, both the men's and the women's track teams won consecutive conference titles.Smith, Brian. “Bearcats”, ''Statesman Journal'', April 23, 2006, p. 1B. The men's team was led by multiple NCAA champion and later Olympic runner

Nick Symmonds Nicholas Boone Symmonds (born December 30, 1983) is an American YouTube personality and retired Middle distance track event, middle-distance runner from Boise, Idaho, who specialized in the 800 meters and 1500 meters. At Willamette University, he ...

from 2003 to 2006. The Bearcat women had last won a title in 1978.

Other sports

In 2002, the men's cross country team placed fifth at the Division III national championship after winning their second conference title in a row.“Willamette University 2002-03 highlights”, ''Statesman Journal'', May 18, 2003, p. 2G. The women's cross country team had its highest finish in 2003, placing eighth at the Division III championship after winning a their second conference championship in 2002. Men's golf won conference titles in 1999 and 2003. The volleyball team won five straight conference championships from 1992 to 1996.“Willamette University 1996-2000”, ''Statesman Journal'', May 14, 2000, Special p. 2N. In 2006 and 2007, Sarah Zerzan won the

NCAA Division III NCAA Division III (D-III) is the lowest division of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the United States. D-III consists of athletic programs at colleges and universities that do not offer athletic scholarships to student- ...

individual title in cross country. The swimming program at the school started in 1974. From 1978 to 1982 swimmer Steve Koga was an All-American four times after winning five national title. Softball was added at Willamette in 1981. From 1985 to 1999, the softball team had a losing record each season except 1993. In 2000, the team was ranked for the first time in the program's history. That season the team opened its first home field, located next to the city's railroad station on land donated by the railroad. Nikki Franchi became the school's first All-American in softball in 2008 while setting school records for strikeouts and wins in a season. The Bearcats baseball team's career leader in wins as a coach is David Wong with 286. He coached the team for 13 seasons from 1991 to 2003 and earned a 286-220-3 record. In 1950, 1953, 1955, 1969, 1986, 1998, and 2001 the baseball team won the Northwest Conference title. Willamette used to field a wrestling team. Willamette had a women’s varsity rowing team which was disbanded in spring of 2016. This led to a lawsuit organized by twelve former athletes, Fawcett v. Willamette. Later settled in a TRO, it led to the addition of two women’s sports.

Facilities

Both the track and fields teams and the football team host home events at

.Facilities.
Willamette University Athletics. Retrieved on December 4, 2008. Built in 1950, it is two blocks south of the Willamette campus, with Salem Hospital in between. Next to the stadium is Roy S. "Spec" Keene Stadium, home of the baseball team. Completed in 1989, it includes batting cages. Both stadiums are next to Salem's

Bush's Pasture Park Bush's Pasture Park (90.5 acres) is a public park and botanical garden in Salem, Oregon, United States. It is the site of the Asahel Bush House, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974, and is now operated as the Bus ...

used by the cross country teams for their annual home meet. The softball field is located south of the Tokyo International University of America campus on the east side of 13th Street. The Lestle J. Sparks Center is the main indoor facility for the school, and contains Cone Field House and Henkle Gymnasium. Sparks was built in 1974 and expanded in 1995. Home basketball games are held in Cone Field House, with swimming meets and volleyball matches also held at Sparks. Sparks contains the offices for the athletic program as well as training facilities. Adjacent to the building on the south is the soccer field, with the main tennis courts nearby. The golf teams do not have practice facilities or venues on campus.

Culture

The Bearcats official colors are cardinal and old gold. Willamette's original colors of cardinal red and gold were selected in 1895. Fight Bearcats Fight is the official fight song for the school, and Ode to Willamette is the university's Alma Mater.Department Information: History.
Willamette University Athletics. Retrieved on December 4, 2008. Blitz is the current mascot, who replaced Barney the Bearcat. Willamette's official booster organization is the Willamette Bearcat Club.English, Reid. "Athletic director oversees 20 different college sports", Statesman Journal, November 7, 2001, p. 4B. The Willamette Athletic Hall of Fame was started in 1991 with 16 inductees. As of 2008 the hall had inducted 67 former athletes, 9 coaches, 12 teams, and 10 others.

Linfield University Linfield University is a private liberal arts college with campuses in McMinnville, and Portland, Oregon. Linfield Wildcats athletics participate in the NCAA Division III Northwest Conference. Linfield reported a total of 1,755 students after ...

to the north in McMinnville is Willamette's main rival. The Bearcats began facing the Wildcats in football in 1902.

Team national championships

*Men's basketball, 1993 NAIA Division II *Men's team handball, 1974 & 1975 USA Team Handball College Nationals - Men's Division

References

External links

* {{Northwest Collegiate Rowing Conference