Schmidt reaches top spot

The Vanguard women’s basketball team had one of its best seasons ever and was easily the most dominant program on campus. But everyone involved is looking to next season as one that will eclipse it.

The Lions finished the season 31-2, 20-0 in the Golden State Athletic Conference. They were ranked No. 1 throughout the season.

But they ended with a loss to Lubbock Christian, 69-59, in the semifinals of the NAIA Division I Championships. Despite the sudden end, the Lions set a school record with a .939 winning percentage and won the GSAC regular-season title for the fourth straight time.

Forward Kelly Schmidt finished the season with 2,181 points, allowing her to become the school’s all-time leader, and was named NAIA Player of the Year. The junior, who was later named the school’s Female Athlete of the Year, averaged 20.7 points and 7.3 rebounds, while shooting 57.8% from the field. She also repeated as GSAC Player of the Year.

Jessica Richter was named first-team All-American, Rachel Besse was voted to the third team and point guard Tiari Goold received honorable mention.

Richter, a 5-foot-10 junior guard who transferred from Syracuse, averaged 20.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.0 steals.

Besse, a 6-3 junior center, averaged 12.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks.

Next year could be even sweeter for the Lions as all five starters return.

While the basketball team was setting milestones, the cross country team was doing the same, only on a smaller level.

Vanguard had its most national championships qualifiers in the program’s history and is looking toward an improved 2006, after losing only one senior.

At the national championships, Vanguard finished 13th among 28 schools. It was the Lions’ best showing at nationals and they finished the season No. 18 in the NAIA.

Freshman Grace Jepngetich finished 17th with a time of 18 minutes, 7 seconds.

Jepngetich finished second at the Region II meet.

The top-30 finish at nationals earned Jepngetich All-American recognition.

Fellow freshman Rebecca Sopp finished 54th with a time of 18:54.

Both Sopp and Jepngetich were named to the All-Region II team. Sopp finished 10th at the Region II meet.

The volleyball team also achieved success with a 23-11 record. It was the second-most wins in school history.

Vanguard won its final three matches of the regular season to advance to the playoffs for the second consecutive year.

Vanguard, sixth in the GSAC, garnered a No. 7 seed in the Region II Tournament. The Lions fell in four games to eventual national champion Cal Baptist.

Former Newport Harbor High standout Marissa Cothran was named All-GSAC for the second consecutive year. Cothran, a senior setter, led the team with 11.3 assists a game and 42 service aces.

While other teams kept advancing, the tennis program was still chasing the nation’s elite.

The Lions advanced to the quarterfinals of the 24-team national tournament for the third straight season, and were ranked No. 6.

But Vanguard lost, 5-0, to No. 3 Azusa Pacific, with which it had split two conference matches.

Vanguard finished 19-6 and was second in the conference.

Freshman Hana Jurcovicova ended the season ranked No. 13 in the NAIA. She was named first-team All-American and Rookie Player of the Year.

Team captain Amy Brown was named second-team All-American for the second straight year and sophomore Damia Donkervoort received honorable mention.

The soccer team made the playoffs for the first time since 2001 with a record of 10-6-2.

But the Lions were knocked out in the first round with a 3-0 loss to Westmont.

The Lions were fifth in the GSAC and were ranked as high as No. 22 at one point.

Coach Kerry Crooks resigned in April after six years as the head coach. Men’s coach Randy Dodge will coach both teams next season.

Juniors Stacia Hoover, Heather Hutton and Marissa Welliver were All-GSAC selections.

For Hoover, it was her third such honor and the defender was also named first-team All-Region II for the second straight year.

Hutton led the Lions with 11 goals, seven assists and four game-winning goals, while Welliver, a goalie transfer from UC Irvine, allowed less than a goal a game and posted six shutouts.

Rachel Bomgren was a standout at shortstop on the softball team which finished 26-29. It was 6-18 in conference to finish sixth.

Bomgren, a junior, was named All-GSAC and All-Region II for the second time in her career. She was also chosen second-team All-American after hitting .482 with five home runs and 32 RBIs, while starting every game for the Lions.

Senior Jenny Thune finished fifth in the final of the 1,500 meters with a time of 4:37.51 at the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

The GSAC champion qualified for the event with the seventh-fastest time of the season in the NAIA.

Thune posted her second-fastest time to advance to the finals and was named All-American for the fourth time.

Also at the national outdoor meet, Laura Bowman was ninth in the 3,000 steeplechase (11:41.33) and Jepngetich finished eighth in the 5,000 in 17:48.98.

Sopp was ninth in the 10,000 and 13th in the 5,000 at the same meet.