Taking athletes beyond the win

Vision and Philosophy
"Beyond the win" Philosophy: The fundamental reason I believe we have this unique program here at SPU is based in the scripture passage Romans 12:1; "I urge you therefore, brethren, in view of God's mercies, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship." Nowhere is it clearer in scriptures how intrinsically our created physical nature is tied to our spiritual worship. Accordingly, I find this to be a tremendous time in the lives of college age adults to begin understanding and expanding their physical being within the context of developing their whole being as an instrument of worship.

Crew is just one program offered to do this. It utilizes the competitive arena to enhance and develop young adults in a balanced fashion. Crew is unique in that it is the one program oriented towards students without any rowing experience whatever. Our own John Terwilliger had never rowed a stroke before he arrived at SPU, yet was an Olympic rower before he graduated in 1981.

Competitive athletics has long been considered a superb proving ground and microcosm of life itself. Many dynamic aspects of personal growth can be attained through the rich lessons of winning, losing, teamwork and testing oneself beyond imagined limits. This is what we seek to do at Seattle Pacific Crew, realizing that this is merely a waypoint; a preparation stage for launching successful community leaders beyond these four years and beyond the win.

Vision Statement: At no time has Seattle Pacific University Crew been more competitive than it is right now. The fleet and facility are increasingly modernized each year, we've streamlined the training with the latest in quality, elite level methods, and increased standards for conditioning and testing. Accordingly, men's and women's crews have represented Seattle Pacific at national level championships twenty-one times in the last ten years alone, medalling 13 times, and winning our first of seven national women's titles beginning in 2000. Falcon crews have earned an impressive twenty-seven medals at the western/pacific coast regional level championships since 1996, including fourteen gold medals. Even in light of these successes, however, I envision this program growing to even greater national prominence as the finest Christian Universtiy rowing program in the country, achieving increasing excellence to be modeled through the character of its athletes and through their consistent national championship results.

Coach profiles:
Head Coach Keith Jefferson - Keith Jefferson began his involvement with SPU crew as a team member from 1980 to 1983. In 1982 he was a semi-finalist at the Dad Vail Collegiate Championships in the Lightweight 4 Event. Following four years on active duty with the Marines, he returned to Seattle Pacififc in 1987 to accept a position as assistant rowing coach, then becoming head coach in the 1990-91 season. Now a Level III certified coach with a Masters degree in Sport and Exercise Leadership, Coach Jefferson provides current expertise with unique experiential perspectives for a holistic athletic experience unlike anywhere else. Falcon crews over the last few years have accomplished many conference and regional championships as well as seven national titles. The efforts of the coaching staff, combined with the unique Seattle Pacific rowing organization and mission, present students with tremendous competitive opportunities as well as opportunities for personal growth not otherwise available to them.

Assistant Coach Jessie Pennington - Jessie also graduated from the Seattle Pacific in 2001 after a highly successful individual rowing career. She rowed in three national championship crews earning a bronze in 1999, then two gold medals in 2000 and 2001 at the Avaya Collegiate Championships. Jessie is a former team captain and All-Region 2nd Team winner. She began coaching at the junior level and is now a USRowing Level III certified coach. She has a Masters Degree in Sports Administration and Leadership from Seattle University, and was the Seattle Pacific University interim head coach for the 2003 season coaching two more national title crews during that time.

Volunteer Assistant Coach Kip Wassink - Wassink was intoduced to the world of rowing in 1994 when he moved to the big city from Kalispell, Montana to attend Seattle Pacific University. He took to the sport quickly and traveled to the IRA championships in Trenton, NJ as an alternate that spring. His rowing career culminated in a trip to Dad Vails in the spring of 1999. After graduating from SPU with a degree in Biology, Kip went on to teach high school science and garner coaching experience as an Assistant track coach at Mill Creek High School in 2000 and then a volunteer assistant in Lewiston Idaho during the 2002 and 2003 seasons. He has also gathered a great deal of insight into the world of athletics through his 4 years of training in Taekwondo under Master Yong Jae Ko at Washington State University. His vision and experience are a welcome addition to the program.