Western Washington University Athletics

Paul Madison served 48 years at Western Washington University as sports information director from 1966 to 2015. Now, as WWU Athletics Historian, he is writing stories and having conversations with former Viking student-athletes, coaches and staff for a series entitled, "Carver Memories." Madison can be reached at paul.madison@wwu.edu or 360-650-3108.

Please CLICK on a banner to go to corresponding story. All banners by WWU graphic designer Derek Bryson. Chronological directory of stories can be found at bottom of file.

(Links in chronological order below

• May 1932 – Walt Schilaty: A sprinter ahead of his time.
• July 23, 1952 – Former WWU rowing coach Fil Leanderson won bronze medal at 1952 Olympics.
• Spring 1956 – Willis Ball achieved much on football field, more off it.
• July 18, 1959 – Western's Bill Wright breaks color line in American golf. Viking student-athlete wins 1959 U.S. Amateur Public Links
• May 1959 – Western baseball standout Roger Repoz named NAIA MVP. Played for New York Yankees alongside Mantle and Maris.
• March 2, 1960 – Vikings win regional, earn first trip to hoop nationals. Season was turning point for Western program.
• June 1960 - Don Trethewey wins the 3,000-meter steeplechase at NAIA Championships
• Sept. 14, 1966 – Don Burgess – One of Canada's all-time great rugby players. Brought sport to Western. The Right Call.
• June 3, 1966 – John Hunt sets track record that lasts 49 years.
• Jan. 31, 1968 – Western's only NFL draft pick – Dave Weedman.
• 1968 – Quiet Revolutionaries – Rich and Linda Tucker
• Summer 1968 – Australasia Tour taken by Western men's basketball team. Vikings celebrate 50th anniversary of historic trip.
• September 1968 - Small But Mighty Men's Soccer
• Oct. 4, 1969 – Western's Fraser Scott fought for World Middleweight boxing title. Just three years after playing football as freshman for Vikings.
• Nov. 1, 1969 – Western wins 'Fog Bowl,' 19-16 over Eastern Washington.
• Feb. 16, 1970 – Jim Pearson has run a mile or more every day for over 47 years.
• March 8, 1971 – "Fight of the Century" shown on closed-circuit TV at Carver Gym. First Ali-Frazier match transcended sport.
• 1971-72 - Men's Basketball: Tom Bradley - The Difference Maker
• Apr. 2, 1977 and Dec. 10, 1977 – Western makes two appearances in Kingdome, both in same year.
• 1971 to 2018 – Celebrating a Lasting Legacy. History of WWU Women's Basketball.
• 1972 – Terri McMahan and Title IX. Viking volleyball captain goes on to HOF career as coach and athletic director.
• March 16, 1972 – 'Big Blue of 1972.' 1971-72 WWU men's basketball season was one for the ages.
• Oct. 1972 – New life for Olympic Swim Star Kaye Hall.
• March 3, 1973 - Women hoopsters play first game at Carver Gym.
• Spring 1973 - IRA and first female coxswains highlight Western men's rowing.
• Spring 1973 – Wendy Taylor and Mike Vorce set school hurdle marks that still stand.
• May 24, 1975 – Butts Giraud – Robust personality, adventurous life.
• Nov. 20, 1976 – Vikings play first post-season football contest, beat PLU 48-28.
• March 12, 1977 – Joni Slagle and Vikings vanquish Boise State in regional final. Avenge 32-point home loss to Broncos.
• Apr. 9, 1977 – Former Viking pitcher one of area's elite horse trainers. Frank Lucarelli threw only perfect game in Western history.
• Dec. 1978 – WWU makes historic road trip. Men's and women's basketball teams travel together to Oregon and northern California.
• Nov. 3, 1979 – Pat Locker first to reach 4,000 career rushing yards.
• May 18, 1980 – One Man's Tale: 'Surviving Mount St. Helens' by former Western basketball player Terry Clayton.
• 1976-81 field hockey Scarlett Kanistanaux 'In Her Own Words.'
• March 14, 1981 – Jo Metzger-Levin still regarded as best of the best in women's basketball.
• May 23, 1981 – Women's 4x800 meters, only Viking relay to win national title
• May 22, 1982 – Despite obstacles, Blake Surina succeeds. WWU's first decathlon All-American and much more.
• May 7, 1983 – Former Viking athlete Larry Nielson scales world's tallest peak. Becomes first American to climb Mt. Everest without bottled oxygen.
• Nov. 16, 1983 – Makin' noise, Ex-Renton star Jackie Nelson turns up volume at WWU. Story writer Jeff Kramer survives 1992 L.A. riots.
• Nov. 26, 1983 – Despite lack of height, 1983-84 Vikings tough to beat, fun to watch.
• May 19, 1983 - Indefatigable Norm Bright a long-distance legend.
• 1984 - WWU Women’s Lightweight Eight won 1984 WNCRC title
• Oct. 28, 1984 – Western women's soccer sets national record with 38 straight wins.
• May 29, 1984 – Grant Dykstra becomes WWU career scoring leader in men's basketball despite nearly losing arm as youngster.
• May 26, 1984 – Joan Williamson uses borrowed javelin to win national title.
• Oct. 22, 1988 – A Golden Tribute to Iron Men. 1938 Football Team, Undefeated and Untied.
• Nov. 29, 1985 – Western women's basketball great Carmen Dolfo survives car accident.
• 1985-1991 – Inspirational Vikings: Michael Dahl and Donna Monette
• June 5, 1987 – Pee Wee Halsell named cross country and track & field coach at WWU.
• Oct. 4, 1987 – Ken Sager becomes first WWU athlete to play in NFL regular-season game.
• 1987 to Present - WWU Scorekeeper George Gleason.
• Feb. 4, 1988 – A magical basketball season with Big Earl (James Johnson) and Timmy D (Tim Dickerson).
• Nov. 11, 1989 – Peter LaBarge windfall propels WWU to best seasons in men's soccer.
• Nov. 17, 1990 – WWU volleyball has stunning third-place finish at NAIA Nationals.
• March 2, 1992 – WWU will never forget Duke Wallenborn. Tragic death of star basketball forward left indelible stamp.
• Oct. 17, 1992 – 'The Catch,' a winner at first ESPY Awards Show.
• March 15, 1994 – What might have been and Spidey (Dwayne Kirkley).
• March 13, 1994 – King (Allen) James and six straight district crowns in men's track.
• Aug. 28, 1995 – Stanford's David Shaw found love of coaching at WWU.
• Feb. 14, 1995 – Measles outbreak on campus derails 1994-95 WWU hoops.
• Dec. 21, 1996 – Viking football enjoys unparalleled success in mid-1990s, reaching national playoffs three straight years. Culminates with Western's first national title game appearance.
• May 22, 1998 – WWU (fast-pitch softball) wins first team national title in school history.
• March 2, 2000 – WWU's Nehemiah Campbell beat odds. L.A. native made most of fresh start outside the 'hood.'
• Fall 2002 – Katja Trygg: WWU's best female golfer was self-made.
• May 30, 2004 – Freakish mishap costs WWU national rowing title, propels Vikings to seven straight championships.
• Nov. 5, 2005 – Popular Viking assistant football coach Terry Todd calls it a career. Coached 22 years at WWU.
• Nov. 25-26, 2005 - Following torn ACL and birth of first child, Kelly Colard-Dykstra returns to play basketball for Vikings.
• Sept. 25, 2006 – Michael Koenen depicted in "Gleason" statue. Had 10-year NFL career.
• Dec. 1, 2007 – Vikings raise bar in volleyball, win regional and reach national final.
• Nov. 6, 1903 to Apr. 17, 2008 – Former Viking football player Howard Wilder lived to be 104.
• May 19-22, 2009 – WWU hosts NCAA II Men's Golf Championships.
• 2007-2011: Monika Gruszecki Wins Pair of National Titles
• 2010 - WWU's Audrey Coon was 2010 NCAA Woman of the Year finalist. Rower earned accolades on and off water for Vikings.
• May 26, 2011 – WWU's finest female distance runner Sarah Porter Crouch on quest to be nation's best.
• 2008 to 2011 - Oscar Jimenez' Journey to Professional Soccer
• 2010 & 2011 - Ryan Brown Wins Four Consecutive National Pole Vault Titles
• March 24, 2012 – WWU wins NCAA II Men's Basketball Championship. Most watched and listened to event in Viking history.
• Aug. 17, 2012 – Tony Dominguez takes reins. Guides WWU to final four.
• March 10, 2013 – Coin flip key to WWU best combined basketball season.
• May 6, 2013 – Trailblazing Lynda Goodrich became WWU legend.
• Jan. 11, 2016 – Conversation with Bob Doyle, standout men's golfer for Vikings in mid-1950s.
• March 9, 2016 – WWU icon, men's basketball coach Chuck Randall, passes at 89.
• Dec. 3, 2016 – WWU women's soccer coach Travis Connell: The Wind Behind the Sail.
• Sept. 12, 2017 – Bill Palmer passes at 67. Had impact on WWU, as it did on him.
• 2016-17 WWU hoop success was Taylor made.
• March 30, 1962 & Oct. 13, 2017 Carver facility dedicated twice in 55-year span
• Fall 2018 - WWU Volleyball Plays for National Championship led by Abby Phelps and Brette Boesel
• January 2021 - Former Viking Overton realizes NFL dream.
• February 2022 - John Utendale honored by Seattle Kraken
• March 2022 - WWU women's basketball reaches national title game
• July 2022 - Steve Card takes successful program to new heights
• 2022-23 - 50th Anniversary of Title IX
• January 2023 - Canadian Football Hall-of-Famer Orlondo Steinauer knows there are no do-overs in football – or family
• April 2023 - 100 Years of WWU Track & Field 
• November 2023 - A Viking Comes Full Circle - Jim Sterk
• September 2024 - The Year of the Viking
• August 2025 - Competing, Caring ... and Connecting - Adele Holland