For the 10th time in NCAA program history, both Western’s men’s and women’s teams join the nation’s elite at the 2024 NCAA Division II national championships in cross country Saturday, Nov. 23 in Sacramento. The question is: How elite are they?
As coach, T.J. Garlatz can dream of everything falling just right and Western winning a national title. But realistically? Western has yet to reach one of the top-three steps on the podium.
“I’m hopeful for top 10, but anything similar to what we did last year, where we were 14th (women) and 16th (men)” would be good, he said. “You still have to be happy with it.”
Going in, the men are ranked No. 10 nationally, the women No. 14.
Western’s success in reaching nationals is impressively metronomic — it’s the men’s 14th trip and the women’s 11th since 1998. What’s different is this year, both teams’ runner-up finishes in the NCAA West Regional led to the program’s best combined team finish ever
Garlatz is in his 10th total season at Western (he returned in 2018 after 11 seasons at powerhouse Alaska-Anchorage). The best national finish for Western men was fourth in 2009 and for the women, sixth in 2015.
“In the last seven years since I’ve been back,” he said, “I would say that both of these teams certainly have that potential to be the best team that we’ve had.”
In the men’s and women’s 34-team fields, seven runners on each team race with top five results counting. Western benefits from a strong seven on both teams, allowing an off day by any two. The men are led by a trio of senior achievers — Jeret Gillingham won the Great Northwest Athletic Conference title, Ryan Clough was second at NCAA regionals, Kevin McDermott won last year’s GNACs. For the women, who have practically perfected pack running, 2023 All-American Ashley Reeck and Ila “Gabi” Davis are tops.
“The men are maybe lined up a little bit better for a higher national finish,” Garlatz said. But he’ll take his squad’s best efforts, history-making or not. “It’s fun. That’s what I really love about running this late in the season — it’s who shows up on that day.”
BY THE NUMBERS
7 – men’s soccer players named to the GNAC all-conference team. First team – senior forward Eric Bunnell and midfielder Kaydin Wall; sophomore defender Sebastiano Silvetti. Second team – senior forward Andrew Rotter; honorable mention – junior forward Albin Jonsson, sophomore midfielder Edgar Serrano and junior defender Joar Tidblom
4 – career goals for the women’s soccer team scored by forward Myka Carr, three of which came in GNAC tournament games. Carr scored two, including her first of the season, in the Vikings’ come-from-behind 3-1 win against Western Oregon in the GNAC semifinal Thursday, Nov. 14.
1 – home games played by Western’s women’s basketball team compared to six road games to start the season. The Vikings beat Cal State San Marcos, 65-48, in Seattle Saturday, Nov. 16 to move to 2-3. They return to Carver Arena for the first time in three weeks for the GNAC opener against Montana State Billings Thursday, Dec. 5
3 – signees for the 2025 women’s soccer team: midfielder Triya Mitchell, Sehome High in Bellingham; goalkeepers Lillian Cobos, Pullman High, Pullman and Ellie McGowan, Post Falls High, Post Falls Idaho.
QUOTABLE
“When we saw that, everyone was ‘OK, cool. People are underestimating us.’” – Louis Grante-Halliday, on the men’s basketball team preseason No. 6 GNAC ranking. Grante-Halliday averaged 20 points in two wins last week and was named GNAC Player of the Week for the 4-0 Vikings.
NO TIME FOR AN OFF-SEASON AWARD
To volleyball two-year letterwinner Anna VanderYacht, one of Western’s rare two-sport stars who joins the basketball team when volleyball ends its season Nov. 23 in Alaska. VanderYacht, a 2021 Lynden High grad, follows in the footsteps of women’s hoops coach Carmen Dolfo, a former two-sport star at Western.
FUN FACT
Too bad this Saturday’s (Nov. 23) NCAA Division II National Championship cross-country course doesn’t have a water jump. Western senior and cross-country standout Jeret Gillingham, who won the 2024 GNAC cross country title, is a steeplechase racer who holds the Western record and third-fastest time in GNAC history. The women’s team’s all-region senior Ila “Gabi” Davis is a steeplechase All-American.
BEST BETS
Thursday, Nov. 21, 1 p.m. – Women’s soccer vs. Azusa Pacific, NCAA Division II Championships first round, Pomona, Calif. The No. 5 Vikings, back after missing the NCAA tournament last year for the first time, take their at-large bid for a spin at nationals against No. 4 APU, who defeated the Vikings, 1-0, way back on Sept. 17. See ncaa.com for livestreaming
Saturday, Nov. 23, 10 a.m. – Cross Country at NCAA Championships, Sacramento. Western, with two strong men’s and women’s squads, aims for top-10 finishes on the national stage; 1 p.m. – women’s soccer at Azusa Pacific or Cal Poly Pomona, NCAA Division II Championships second round (if Western wins Nov. 21); 3 p.m. – volleyball at Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks. Season finale for the Vikings (12-10 overall, 11-5 conference)
Tuesday, Nov. 26, 7 p.m. – Men’s basketball vs. Douglas College, Bellingham. Third home game in six days for Western. Let’s see if the team’s hot start (4-0 as of Thursday, Nov. 21) continues
Tickets. See wwuvikings.com/Tickets or in person one hour prior to game time.
Parking. Free for sports. For volleyball and basketball, lot 19G for general audience; 9G for season ticket holders. For soccer, C lots on south campus. See the map at wwu.edu/parking.
Can’t make it? Stream it
All home games and most road contests are streamed via a live and free YouTube webcast. Find links online at cascadiadaily.com.
If you have a smart TV, search for “WWU Athletics” on YouTube.
We want to hear from you
Got a WWU sports-related news tip or interesting item for this notebook, or a good story idea? We’re all ears. Send to newstips@cascadiadaily.com, subject line: WWU sports notebook
Meri-Jo Borzilleri is a freelance journalist and former 20-year sports reporter.
