Welcome Cherokee Washington to our Whitman Family!

We are pleased to announce Cherokee Washington to our Whitman Volleyball Ohana (Family). Cherokee is an outstanding athlete who will bring more depth to our backcourt.  Welcome to Whitman!

High school awards:
Played for TCA 18-1s, Mizuno Long Beach 16 Runbird and 18 Runbird club teams
Captain (2009, 2013)
All-conference first team (2012)
All-conference second team (2011)
MVP (2009, 2011)
Ran track 9th-through 12th (conference champion in the 100 and 200 meters, and member of several conference champion relay teams)

College volleyball:
As a freshman, I was a member of the 2013 Wingate University Bulldogs team. Making school history, we completed our 8th straight undefeated season as conference champs, 8th SAC title, and competed in the first round of the Elite 8 National Championship. Though I played all positions in high school, I was  trained as a libero in club and at Wingate.

Academics:
Though I’m undecided in my major, I’m interested in becoming a sport psychologist with a background in mindfulness training, and social justice. I’m also interested in general psychology, and I’m an avid photography/studio art student. Academic awards:

POSEE Foundation Semi-Finalist
Idyllwild Art Scholarship recpient
Cum Laude Award for Outstanding Performance in the National Latin Examination


Family:
Mom (Marcela)
From Baltimore, MD
Played volleyball for George Washington University on scholarship
Earned BA degree in International Affairs and  minored in Economics
Works as a mindful Fitness Coach (owns her own business)
Private trainer
Former fitness model
Dad (David)
From Hampton, VA
Ran track for the Virginia Military Institute
Qualified for the 1980 Olympic trials as track hurdler
Inducted into the VMI track Hall of Fame 1991
Speed and agility coach, works with athletes of various levels (amateur and professional)
Majored in economics
Former fitness model
Brother (Aristotle)
14 years old
Rising scientist (loves nature conservation and animals)
Soccer player and track runner
Avid in parkour and photography

Meet Jordan Ng (L/DS) - Class of 2018

Parents - David Ng and Lita Eng

Rundle College Senior High School

Calgary, AB, Canada

Favorite..... 

Sports Team - don't have one

Athlete - Rebecca Soni and Jesse Owens

Food - HEALTHY (anything really)

Quote - "Act is if it were impossible to fail" ~Dorthea Brande

Book - Night by Elie Wiesel

Music artist or group - Ellie Goulding

Song - don't have one

Movie - can't decide, but I am a BIG fan of anything Disney 

Animal - Dogs

If you could have one person over for dinner, who would it be and why?  (Past, present)

Martin Luther King Jr.. I would want to ask him how he was able to maintain his faith and confidence during a time of prosecution and danger, and what steps did he think was most necessary in order to create the integrated world we know today.

Most memorable volleyball moment?

Winning provincials (equivalent to State Championships) during my u15 club volleyball season. Another memorable volleyball moment was during my senior school volleyball season when I ran underneath the net to recover an overpass to bring it back to play; it had always been my goal.

Other hobbies (sing, instrument, hiking, surf, etc?)

Eating, sleeping and having a good time with family and friends.

Ice Cream or FROYO?

Unfair question because both are delicious, but I'm able to eat more FROYO.

Facebook, Twitter or Instagram?

Instagram hands down.

Where would you go if you could travel anywhere in the world?

Anywhere in the United Kingdom, Europe, Iceland, and Hawaii.

Why Whitman?

For me, I think Whitman provides the best of both worlds in terms of academics and athletics. I believe it's passionate, learning environment would challenge me to be a better and more cultured person as well as give me the tools to be successful after my volleyball career is done. I believe Whitman can give me a world of opportunities that I could have never thought possible. From what I have heard and observed this school will allow me to explore and pursue different interests I may have. Whitman was the first school that made me truly excited for the uncertain future and being as much as a worry-wart as I am that is saying a great deal. 

Add anything else you may feel appropriate.

I love looking at pictures of food (Instagram) and watching the summer Olympics, especially swimming, gymnastics and volleyball. I used to play numerous sports, but volleyball was my calling. 

I am currently striving to create a healthy balanced lifestyle through nutrition, fitness and mental peace and happiness. 

My goals: 

Happiness

Confidence

Fitness

Meet Rachael Haggen

Meet Rachael Haggen (OH)  - Class of 2018
Parents - Mark and Patty Haggen
Brother - Andrew (plays golf at UC Davis)
High School - Carondelet High School, Concord, CA
Club - Xcelleration

Favorite..... 

Sports Team - San Francisco Giants and Seattle Seahawks 

Athlete - Russell Wilson

Food - sushi, bread, ice cream, burgers, raspberries and strawberries, coffee

Quote - “Working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress. Working hard for something we love is called passion.”

“She is clothed in strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.”

Book - no favorite book, but I do love to read

Music artist or group - Ben Howard, Carrie Underwood, The Fray, The Lumineers, One Republic, Kelly Clarkson, etc.

Song - Animal by Neon Trees

Movie - Pitch Perfect, Frozen, She’s the Man

TV Show- Scandal, 24, Grey’s Anatomy, Rookie Blue, Pretty Little Liars, Revenge, Chasing Life, etc.

Animal - Husky dog

If you could have one person over for dinner, who would it be and why?  (Past, present) Jennifer Lawrence. There is no doubt in my mind that she and I would get along and connect. Plus, I look up to her as a young women because she expresses herself without hiding any part of who she is whether she is among friends or in the presence of the media.

Most memorable volleyball moment? My high school team played Maria Carrillo in the semi finals of NCS and beat them. It was a huge win for the team. 

Other hobbies (sing, instrument, hiking, surf, etc?) Playing guitar and piano, hiking, baking, swimming, and sketching

Ice Cream or FROYO? Ice Cream

Facebook, Twitter or Instagram? Instagram

Where would you go if you could travel anywhere in the world? Ireland

Why Whitman? I was looking for a college set in a small town that I knew I could one day call my home. I found that Whitman was that place. I get the opportunity to play volleyball and study at a high level of education as well as meet people with similar interests as myself. 

Meet Kaile Akker

Meet Kaile Akker (MB) - Class of 2018
Parents - Stephanie and Sebastien
Siblings - Dalen and Shelan
High School - Kamiakin High School, Kennewick, WA
Club - Columbia Jrs.VBC

Favorites...

Sports Team - Seahawks

Favorite Athlete - My Mom, because she is in crazy good shape and she motivates me to be athletic and stay in shape.

Food - I love authentic tamales

Quote - My favorite quote is from Grey's Anatomy: "Chin up. Put your shoulders back, walk proud, strut a little. Don't lick your wounds: celebrate them! The scars you bear are the signs of a competitor. You're in a lion fight. Just because you didn't win doesn't mean you don't know how to roar."

Book - I don't read much but I liked Stiff...

Music Group or Solo Artist -My favorite music group goes to Maroon 5 and my favorite solo artist is a toss up between Lee Brice and Keith Urban.

Song - Right now my favorite song is Somewhere In My Car by Keith Urban.

Movie -My favorite movie is either Pitch Perfect, Hot Rod, or Tangled.

Animal -My favorite animal is a unicorn...

If you could have one person over for dinner who would it be, past or present? If I could have one person over for dinner, it'd be Daniel Craig because I love him.

Most memorable volleyball moment.  My most memorable volleyball moment was on my birthday junior year. It was my first tournament back after having knee surgery and I was playing right side. I stuffed the other team's outside four times in a row such that the setter stopped setting outside if I was in the front row, for the entire rest of the match.

Hobbies - I love running, it is my happy place and I can take it with me wherever I go.

Ice Cream or Froyo? Licorice ice cream all the way.

Facebook, Twitter or Instagram? - Facebook...

If I could travel anywhere in the world... I'd either go back to France because it was amazing or I'd go to the Netherlands because guys are supposed to be tall there...

Why Whitman? Whitman because I like Matt and volleyball and I want a good education.

More about Kaile -  My favorite place in the world is Cannon Beach, I love the beach and will live on a beach someday :)

I'm going to be a doctor so that I can save lives and help people :)

Jillian Davis guest writer on "The Pioneer"

Check out this awesome article written by our own Jillian Davis!

http://whitmanpioneer.com/opinion/2014/05/15/calling-the-whitman-bubble-home/

Graduation Seniors!

It is now the time to welcome our 5 seniors into our alumni family.  We say congratulations to Taylor Aschenbrenner, Maddy Bell, Rachel Cline, Jillian Davis & Becca Gotz on graduating from this prestigious institution.  It has been an amazing 2 years with the four of you and a year with Maddy and I am so very proud to have you a part of our Whitman Volleyball Family.  

We Love YOU!

1st Day of Spring Practice

Aloha!

Our first spring practice was an amazing feeling.  The returnees are all in and willing to put in the work to be great!  The success of Whitman Athletic's has been an inspiration to us all.  We are focused on the process of being the best we can be at every moment.  We definitely have long term goals but the process is what we are looking at improving daily.  We have been working hard to improve our verticals to be higher than we were ever before.

We are still awaiting commitments from our regular decision admits and look forward to our incoming freshman class.  As soon as we have the commitments we will post our incoming freshman class.

Mahalo!