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Bringing Back Our Track & Field Heritage

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“The [women’s] program was just beginning to grow, which is what made the decision to cut it so sad. It’s going to take a lot to re-build what we lost, but the current women are doing a remarkable job.”

Will Stephens’ Teams Put Corvallis On the Women’s Track & Field Map

By Chas Davis Assistant Women’s Cross Country/Track Coach

“Don’t do it if you’re not going to do it right the first time.” Coach Will Stephens’ immortal words ring as true for today’s women’s track and cross country program as they did in the Stephens era of the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Closing in on the Washington and Ore-gon women, Oregon State overcame the naysayers of a differ-ent era and were quickly building re-spect from little tradition. However, Stephens never got the chance to realize his dream of competing with the best in the nation.

After serving as a typist and drill sergeant in the Marine Corps during World War II and The Korean War, Stephens raised his family in Sacramento, Calif. He founded and coached “Will’s Spikettes” in his free time, one of the first competitive girls’ youth track clubs in the country. The

Spikettes won multiple consecutive National Championships throughout the 1960s and 1970s. At a time when athletic op-portunities for women were few and far between, Stephens knew young women possessed desire and passion for the sport he loved, according to his son Matt Stephens.

“He had a special connection with the women – a way of transcending traditional barriers of the time and getting them to perform,” said Stephens. “We always remember hearing him yelling from the other side of the track, transmitting his energy to them. It was always positive and encouraging though.”

Story continued on page 2…

1981 team photo. Will Stephen top row; 2nd from left.

Pat Ingram OSU Head Women’s Track and Field Coach 1970-1973 OSU Women’s Athletic Director 1973-1975

Stephens and Blom (Weston) in 1980.

Volume 1, Issue 5: November 2008

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Bringing Back Our Track & Field Heritage

Olympian (1976) Kathy Blom (formerly Weston), a 2:03.1 800-meter runner as well as OSU school record holder (2:03.67) remembers her coach and life mentor well. She ran for the Spikettes and lived as a part of the Stephens family long before either of the two found their way to Corvallis.

“He had daughters, so he understood someone had to clear a path for women in this sport,” said Blom. “He knew the struggles. He was there involved in the original fight.”

His dream was to coach at the collegiate level and an Olympic Team according to his son. Although he nar-rowly missed the Olympic job in 1968, he coached several Women’s US National Teams against Russia and other international teams. Stephens’ opportunity to coach colle-giately came in 1977 when he was offered the job at UCLA. However, he could not move his family to Los Angeles.

“It was far too busy of a world; he knew his family didn’t belong there…They belonged in Oregon where he was born and had several family ties,” said the younger Stephens. “So, he was ecstatic when the opportunity in Corvallis arose.”

Taking the helm of the Oregon State University women’s program in 1977, Will Stephens’ goal was to compete with the Ducks squad down the road in Eugene.

“He had climbed the mountain; he had won national championships; he had coached Olympians; he knew he could bring that tradition to Oregon State,” said Stephens of his father. “Corvallis was such a welcoming place and an ideal setting for national- and world-caliber runners with a community that embraced them. He found places to live for several athletes with local families.”

After Coach Stephens’ arrival, a developing program blossomed into a power both in their conference amd re-gion. With Blom’s transfer to OSU her junior year, fur-ther immediate success followed. The 1979 two-mile relay team of Blom (Weston), Kris Trom, Kathy

Stephens continued...

“He had daughters, so he understood someone had to clear a path for women in this sport...he was there involved in the original fight.” - Kathy (Weston) Blom.

OSU Track & Field FACTOID:

Stephens Era National Championship Finishes Coach Stephens’ track & Field teams placed 16th in 1979, 41st in 1980, 31st in 1981 (AIAW Champion-ships) and 39th in 1982 in the first year of the Women’s NCAA Championships.

Top: Blom (Weston) and Stephens in

1980.

Right: Connie Case leads a Washington

State University competitor in 1981.

Costello and Robin Blaine won the national championship in a time 8:42.9 In five years Stephens’ athletes earned eight All-American honors, 13 NCWSA/NorPac/NCAA West Region indi-vidual championship titles and two Olympic berths. Women coached during his tenure still dominate the OSU record books – holding school records in the , 400m, 800m, 3000m, two-mile re-lay, Heptathlon and Pentathlon.

Stephens demanded responsibility and resourcefulness from his athletes. They learned how to take care of themselves and each no matter the situation; and yet Stephens’ watchful eye was never far away.

Story continued on page 3...

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Bringing Back Our Track & Field Heritage

“He taught his athletes independence and self reliance. We always had to take care of our own needs before a race,” said Blom. “His message of showing up prepared for whatever obstacle lay ahead stuck with me as a lesson that’s helped me throughout my life and it’s one I’ve passed onto my step-daughter.”

“I showed up a little late for practice once and he told me, ‘If I can make it on time you can make it on time’ and he left,” said Blom. “The whole team suffered because I was late. I was never late again.”

Coach Stephens was doing what he started right the first time. His teams gained the respect of his peers, recruits and the community. In the 1980 OSU year book, Stephens noted, “Oregon and Washington are the teams to beat in our region, but with continued progress, I feel we can reach their performance level.”

“He trained the individual – developed the individual – for life. He was always looking out for the long term in-terests of his women,” said Blom. “I trusted Will so much that I had all of the college coaches recruiting me [long before either of us ended up in Corvallis] interview with Coach Stephens first.”

Stephens would never get the chance to see the goal of competing with the best in the nation through. After a long battle with cancer, he passed away in 1982. How-ever, his legacy was far more important than national championships and titles.

“Leaving a positive mark at OSU was something he wanted to do,” said Stephens’ son. “I still run into people

Stephens continued... that ran for my dad and they always talk very fondly of him, they remembered that warmth – they felt like they belonged to something special.”

“Will was much more than a coach – he welcomed me into his family and was definitely a father figure who made me who I am today,” said Blom.

“He would have fought the school tooth and nail to keep the programs [when they were cut]. He would have found spon-sors, supporters and help from other coaches.” said Joanne Lahti Cronrath, a member of the 1980—1982 distance squad. It is a sentiment echoed by everyone involved with his program.

“He’d be ecstatic with its re-institution,” said Blom. “The les-sons all of us learned as young women… a new generation of

women now have the same opportu-nity to develop as a family and take those lessons in esteem and confi-dence with them through the rest of their lives.”

“It didn’t matter who you were competing against or what their credentials were. He truly believed that his athletes would win and he expected it.” — Cindy Greiner

Will Stephens and Joni Huntley in 1979.

Cindy Greiner in 1981.

“He impressed us with his knowl-edge and experience the minute he walked in the door. The program, university and entire community of Corvallis lost a really fine gentle-man. He never would have stopped fighting for those women.”

Sylvia Moore OSU Women’s Athletic Director 1977-1982 OSU Athletic Director 1983—1985

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Thank you so much for your contributions. This wouldn’t be possible

without your help!

Bringing Back Our Track & Field Heritage

Bringing Back Our Track & Field Heritage

Mr Thomas R Cushman Mr William S Brewer Ms Nonnie R Hussa Mr Jay Pomeroy Mr Brent R Eggers Mrs Julie Fitzgerald Bodfish Mr Randy Brown Mr John H Rogers Mr G Sam Bell Mrs Karen Thompson Umemoto Mr Justin K Hendrickson Dr Robert N Andersen Dr Jeffrey N Roehm

“Coach Stephens would be excited for the re-emergence of women’s track and cross country. He would be ready and waiting at the van to take them up to the hills for a great run among the trees.” — Joanne Lahti Cronrath

Mr John W Ball UST Inc Mr Roger Wissman Mr David James and Ms Camille L Santee Mr Mark M. and Mrs Martha W. Greenough Mr Ryan Scott Perigny Mr. Michael Edward and Nanette Bowlin Twist Mr Robert Grant and Mrs Patricia Kelly Swan Ms Patricia Ingram Dr Ronald E Stewart and Mrs Suzanne Combs Dr Clyde E and Mrs Terri A Hunt Mr Lee Delbert Webb Ms Zel Brook and Mr Bradford S Whiting Ms Hilary W Gilmore Mr Norman W and Ms Nancy Monroe Mr Lynn and Ms Janet Abraham Eves Ms Karen J and Mr Richard A Oldfield Mr Jerry R Brady Mr Donald L and Ms Donna L Pickens Mr David and Ms Velma R DuFault Dr Stephen J and Ms Patricia J Schuetz Mr Douglas C and Ms Kristine Crooks Mrs Patricia Reed and Mr Scott L Wilbrecht Mr Jack W and Mrs Kelly Cole Berka Mr John V and Mrs Brenda House Lobbato Dr Royal W and Ms Elfrieda DeLany Mr. Stephen V Bird Mr D William White Dr Richard A and Ms Cheryl Hergenrather Mrs Naideen Butler Mr Steve C and Mrs Mary Robertson DeAutremont Mr John H Kilbuck Mr David L and Mrs Kimberley Grossnicklaus Mr Gerry and Mrs Sharron Church Mr Richard F Hoyer Mr Robert J Reader CDR Ronald James Arnold Mr Keith Irwin Munson LTC John H Pittman, USA(Ret) Mrs Patricia Reed Wilbrecht

A big THANK YOU is deserved for everyone who contrib-uted long before the 2008 campaign began! Your continued sup-port will be instrumental in the return of both the Track and Field facility and complete men’s and women’s programs.

Staff Editor in Chief……………………………………...Doug Crooks Content……………………………………….………..Chas Davis Layout………………….………Cynthia Castro and Chas Davis Editor…………………...…………………….…..Elizabeth Carey Special Thanks: Cindy Lea Arbelbide for her keen eye and accurate research. Matt Stephens for his powerful insight on his father. Kathy (Weston) Blom, Cindy Greiner, Pat Ingram, Sylvia Moore and Joanne Lahti Cronrath for their memories and stories of a beloved man that will never be forgotten. Interested in contacting us for future story ideas, comments or suggestions? Volunteer Asst. Coach Chas Davis— Chas.Davis@OregonState.edu Asst. Coach Cynthia Castro— Cynthia.Castro@OregonState.edu Volunteer Asst. Coach Elizabeth Carey— Elizabeth.Carey@OregonState.edu

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Track and Field Fund Donors In 2008

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TRACK AND FIELD GIFT FORM

I/We wish to make a one time gift of $_________________.

Please make checks payable to: OSU Foundation.

OR

PLEDGE I/We pledge to pay to the Oregon State University Foundation the sum of $_________________ to be paid according to the fol-

lowing schedule:

$__________ by ________________ 2008

$__________ by ________________ 2009

$__________ by ________________ 2010

$__________ by ________________ 2011

$__________ by ________________ 2012 Please use my/our gift to benefit the Track and Field Complex.or Track and Field Endowment. (circle one)

Please send me/us pledge payment reminders. _____ Yes _____ No

___________________________________________________________ Donor’s Signature Date

___________________________________________________________ Donor’s Signature Date Name (s): ____________________________________________________ (Please Print) Address:_____________________________________________________ City/State/Zip:________________________________________________ Phone:_______________________________________________________

I am interested in learning more about planned giving and/or including Oregon State in my estate plans.

If you would like to make a financial contribution to the OSU Track and Field facility or the Track Endowment, please fill out the pledge form provided below. You can mail your completed form to the BASF 123 Gill Coliseum attn: Doug Oxsen, Corvallis, OR 97330. Your support is greatly appreciated and crucial to bringing back our track and field heritage!! There are many ways to do-nate to this project. Obviously cash is great but you may find it more beneficial from a tax stand point to donate appreciated stocks or property. To help us get to our goal of $11M please consider making a larger gift but spreading it out over several annual pay-ments. Making a planned or estate gift can also benefit the project. If you have questions on these issues or need clarifica-tion, please contact Doug Oxsen, Regional Director of Development with BASF. Doug can be reached by email at doug.oxsen@oregonstate.edu or phone: 541-737-7486 (office); 541-231-7244 (cell). Thanks and GO BEAVS!