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By the students, for the students of Central Washington University

The Observer

By the students, for the students of Central Washington University

The Observer

By the students, for the students of Central Washington University

The Observer

All content by Simo Rul
Five CWU athletes qualify for nationals

Five CWU athletes qualify for nationals

Simo Rul, Staff Reporter
March 8, 2018

The CWU track and field team wrapped up their indoor season by sending five athletes to  represent the Wildcats at the NCAA D-II Indoor Championships March 9 and 10 in Pittsburg, Kansas. Leading the...

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Wildcat women’s bench steps up

Wildcat women’s bench steps up

Simo Rul, Staff Reporter
March 3, 2018

The CWU Women's Basketball bench has helped the team improve on their conference and home win totals from last season. The Wildcats’ bench, which consists of players who do not start the game, have...

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Pool offers more than lap swim

Simo Rul, Staff Reporter
February 26, 2018

Most students know where the CWU aquatics center is located but many don’t know what is actually offered there.   CWU offers several classes at the aquatic facility, from springboard diving to the...

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Many athletics coaches found themselves moved haphazardly into Black Hall for an undetermined amount of time.

Coaches’ offices move across campus

Simo Rul, Staff Reporter
February 24, 2018

Movezilla, the year-long push to make room for renovations across campus, has finally reached CWU Athletics. Many coaches have found themselves moved from the annex building --which  formerly housed the...

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Women drop game to MSUB

Simo Rul, Staff Reporter
February 9, 2018

CWU Women’s Basketball fell to Montana State University Billings (MSUB) 78-58 Feb. 8 at home. The Wildcats dropped to 14-10 overall and 10-6 in the GNAC and are down to fifth from fourth in the GNAC...

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Women take on MSUB

Simo Rul, Staff Reporter
February 7, 2018

CWU Women’s Basketball will host Montana State University Billings (MSUB) on Thursday Feb. 8 at Nicholson Pavilion at 7 p.m. They previously met on Jan. 9 in Billings, Montana, where MSUB came away with...

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Make a splash at Pool Pi-yo

Make a splash at Pool Pi-yo

Simo Rul, Staff Reporter
February 1, 2018

Pool Pi-yo will make its first dip into the CWU aquatic center on Saturday Feb. 10 from 11 a.m. to noon.  Pool Pi-yo is a mix of Pilates and yoga with the added challenge of balancing on a stand-up paddleboard...

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Nick Bullo clears the bar while practicing for high jump during an indoor practice session.

Indoor track hits the ground running

Simo Rul, Staff Reporter
January 25, 2018

The CWU Wildcats track team has had a solid start to the new season that has included athlete of the week honors and a new school record. The Wildcats are five meets into the season and have traveled...

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Head coach Randi Richardson-Thornley gives instruction for team drills during practice at Nicholson Pavilion.

Richardson-Thornley takes over WBB

Simo Rul, Staff Reporter
January 18, 2018

Following Jeff Harada’s departure from the women’s basketball program, assistant coach Randi Richardson-Thornley was named head coach in April 2017. Last year’s team even voiced their own positive...

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Women’s basketball heads to Alaska

Simo Rul, Senior Sports Reporter
November 30, 2017

Jack Lambert The CWU women’s basketball team is heading to Alaska to begin conference play. They will face the No. 1 team in the GNAC, Alaska Anchorage, on Thursday Nov. 30 and Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday...

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The GNAC champion Wildcats pose with the championship banner after defeating Humboldt State University 42-28 Nov. 11. The Wildcats will now prepare for the playoffs.

Three teams to prepare for postseason

Simo Rul, Senior Sports Reporter
November 16, 2017

As the fall sports season wraps up, some teams are looking forward to the playoffs and some are looking to regroup for next season. Football, volleyball and women’s rugby are looking to keep their...

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Wildcat Women's Soccer ended their season with a win against Montana State University Billings resulting in a 1-9-2 record.

CWU women’s fall soccer season ends

Simo Rul, Senior Sports Reporter
November 9, 2017

The CWU women’s soccer team had a tough year, as the Wildcats battled through injuries and not playing the same lineup two times in a row, except for the last two games. The Wildcats finished...

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Face lift may be in the future for Tomlinson

Simo Rul, Senior Sports Reporter
November 2, 2017

  Built in 1959, Tomlinson stadium is the oldest stadium in the GNAC. But this old building is starting to show its age as the track, which hasn’t been resurfaced since 1992, is beginning to...

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Suiluanna A'au breaks free of her Life University opponents during a home match. A'au currently leads the team in tries.

Women’s Rugby takes on BYU

Simo Rul, Senior Sports Reporter
October 27, 2017

Xander Fu Suiluanna A'au breaks free of her Life University opponents during a home match. A'au currently leads the team in tries. The No. 2 ranked women’s rugby team will face Brigham Young University...

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Men's cross country rounds the track led by Corbin Carlton and Ron Leaf.

CWU XC ready for GNACs

Simo Rul, Senior Sports Reporter
October 19, 2017

The CWU men’s and women’s cross country teams are heading to Bellingham, WA to compete at the GNAC Championships on Oct. 21. The Wildcats have already run the course once this season when they...

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Senior Jackson Huerta is in his final season with the Wildcats. So far this season, he has recorded 45 tackles in games.

Huerta hopes for a championship

Simo Rul, Senior Sports Editor
October 19, 2017

The road to CWU was never easy; Jackson Huerta was overlooked by many universities and had no offers coming out of high school. He was a walk-on at CWU. On top of all of that, the Wildcats were...

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Players enter through the tunnel.

CWU football improves to 5-0

Simo Rul, Senior Sports Reporter
October 5, 2017

CWU football defeated Simon Fraser University (SFU) 62-0 and improved to 5-0 going into their homecoming matchup against No.17 Humboldt State University this Saturday on Oct. 7. After their win, the...

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CWU football looks to improve on their 4-0 start Sept. 30 against Simon Fraser. SFU currently has an 0-2 GNAC record.

CWU football remains undefeated

Simo Rul, Senior Sports Reporter
September 28, 2017

The CWU football team’s strong, 4-0, start has led to them being ranked #16 in the nation, their first national ranking since 2009. Senior Jackson Huerta has had a big impact defensively, leading...

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Women's soccer he's spent the past week preparing for Thursday's match against reigning national champions, WWU.

Soccer prepares to face Western

Simo Rul, Senior Sports Reporter
September 28, 2017

The CWU women’s soccer team has started off with a 1-4-2 record and they are looking to improve on this as they host number one ranked Western Washington University (WWU) on Thursday, Sept. 28. The...

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Mackenzie Nolte going around a defender during a 3-0 win over Montana State Billings.

CWU soccer looks to build on historic 2016

Simo Rul, Staff Reporter
May 31, 2017

CWU women’s soccer had a historic 2016 season that involved the Wildcats going to their first ever NCAA tournament, where they earned their first victory. The Wildcats look to build on a successful 2016...

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Angelique Whistocken throws the javelin at the CWU Final Qualifier on Friday May 5 at Tomlinson Stadium.

CWU Track and Field athletes head to NCAA DII Nationals

Simo Rul, Staff Reporter
May 24, 2017

CWU track is sending two athletes to compete at the NCAA DII Outdoor National Championships in Bradenton, Florida beginning on Thursday, May 25. Emily Bland Junior hurdler Emily Bland, a transfer from...

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Angelique Whistocken heads to nationals

Angelique Whistocken heads to nationals

Simo Rul, Staff Reporter
May 17, 2017

Senior javelin thrower Angelique Whistocken did not have track on her mind, but it did pay off for her in the long run, as she is one of the top throwers in the nation. Whistocken attended Kennewick High...

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Track and Field team head to GNACs

Track and Field team head to GNACs

Simo Rul, Staff Reporter
May 10, 2017

The CWU track and field team is gearing up for the GNAC championships on Friday, May 12, and Saturday, May 13. The Wildcats will head to Monmouth, Oregon, looking to qualify for the national championships. Senior...

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Sprinters break 4x100-meter record, again

Sprinters break 4×100-meter record, again

Simo Rul, Staff Reporter
May 3, 2017

The CWU women’s 4x100 relay team broke the record at the first home meet with a finish of 46.83 seconds. There is a lot of confidence going forward. “It feels wonderful [to break the record], I just...

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CWU relievers find success

CWU relievers find success

Simo Rul, Staff Reporter
April 26, 2017

A big part of the CWU Wildcats baseball team’s ’ success has been a result of the  relievers coming out of the bullpen. Right-handed pitchers Christopher Dalto and Kyle Thompson, juniors at CWU have...

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CWU track readies for first home meet

CWU track readies for first home meet

Simo Rul, Staff Reporter
April 19, 2017

The CWU track and field team will host their first home meet of the year at Tomlinson Stadium on Saturday April 22. The Wildcat men and women are coming off of a weekend in Spokane, Washington where the...

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CWU pole vaulter, McKenna Emert, at practice in the Pavilion Fieldhouse on April 6th, 2017.

Emmert leaps into record books

Simo Rul, Staff Reporter
April 12, 2017

When senior pole vaulter McKenna Emmert set foot upon CWU four years ago, she didn’t know what to expect. Now coming into her final outdoor season, her entire life is figured out. Before CWU, Emmert...

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Four CWU athletes head to nationals

Simo Rul, Staff Reporter`
March 8, 2017

The CWU track and field team is sending four athletes to the NCAA Indoor Championship this weekend in Birmingham, Alabama. The four athletes are senior Luke Plummer, senior Kodiak Landis, senior McKenna...

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Mariyah Vongsaveng runs over a hurdle during a competition. She now holds the GNAC record.

Vongsaveng runs into record books

Simo Rul, Staff Reporter
March 1, 2017

Mariyah Vongsaveng is a sophomore hurdler on the CWU track team. She has been running since her elementary days, and while she played other sports, running has always been her strength. She might only...

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CWU freshman catcher Jesse Unger takes batting practice during an indoor sessions.

CWU heads to Oakland for series

Simo Rul, Staff Reporter
February 22, 2017

The CWU baseball team had a tough start to the season, going 1-3 in a four-game series against California State University East Bay. Next up for the Wildcats is another trip to California to take on...

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After barely missing the Varsity Cup finals last year by one point the men’s rugby team has outscored opponents 151 to 46 this season.

Rugby heads to Canada undefeated

Simo Rul, Staff Reporter
February 15, 2017

The men’s rugby team is undefeated at 5-0 and headed to Abbotsford, B.C. to play Abbotsford Rugby Football Club. Head coach Todd Thornley likes the way the Wildcats have played early on. “We’re...

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CWU volleyball adds more depth

Simo Rul, Staff Reporter
February 8, 2017

The CWU women’s volleyball team is coming off of a season where they made it to the NCAA west regional. The Wildcats look to build on that with five new signings from Washington, Arizona, Oregon, and...

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Soccer refuels with more recruits

Simo Rul, Staff Reporter
February 8, 2017

The CWU women’s soccer team has signed 14 new players. Head coach Michael Farrand is excited for the new incoming teammates. “This is a big class, and there is a lot of talent in the class,” Farrand...

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The cold weather has not stopped the baseball team from getting their full workouts in, holding practice in the Auxiliary Gym.

CWU brings young team to the plate

Simo Rul, Staff Reporter
February 1, 2017

The CWU baseball team is preparing to kick off their 2017 season. The Wildcats are coming off of a 27-23 season where they finished one game away from winning the GNAC. According to the GNAC coaches poll...

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Wildcats take down last place Saint Martin's

Wildcats take down last place Saint Martin’s

SImo Rul, Staff Reporter
January 26, 2017

CWU women’s basketball team came out with an important 63-56 win over Saint Martin’s University pushing their record to 8-11 on the season and 3-8 in the conference.   Head coach Jeff Harada expressed...

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This will be the CWU Track and Field team’s first full-squad meet. Some athletes have already competed in the EWU Candy Cane Multis IX on Dec. 2 and 3 in Cheney.

Wildcats on the prowl to WSU

Simo Rul, Staff Reporter
January 18, 2017

The CWU Track and Field team is heading to the Washington State University Open in Pullman on Friday, Jan. 20 and will stay until Saturday, Jan 21. For this first meet, head coach Kevin Adkisson will...

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