Track and Field
The Occidental track and field teams participated in the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational Saturday, continuing their preparation for the upcoming SCIAC Championship meet. Senior speedster and jumper Kevin Cox led the men’s side with several top performances on both the track and in the field. He posted a time of 11.22 seconds in the 100-meter dash and took fifth place overall in the long jump with a leap of 6.73 meters. Despite Cox’s success in the 100-meter, All-American Jonathan Padron (senior) was the top finisher for the Tigers in the event with a time of 11.18 seconds. First-years Raoul Friedemann and Landon Hart were the top distance performers for the black and orange, as Friedemann registered a time of 2:03.02 minutes in the 800-meter race, and Hart crossed the line at 4:19.37 minutes in the 1,500-meters. On the women’s side, Jenny Quilty (junior) placed 20th overall in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.70 seconds, while her counterpart Onyekachi Nwabueze (first-year) was directly on her heels at 12.71 seconds. Hurdler Rachel Hinkel (sophomore) crossed the 400-meter hurdles finish line in a time of 1:09.40 minutes, good enough for 18th place in the event. Junior Kimberly Orpinela was the top field event performer for the Tigers, taking 16th in the hammer throw with the mark of 41.37 meters. The squads travel to the Mt. Sac Relays Friday and SCIAC Multi Dual 3 Saturday.
Women’s Lacrosse (10-3 overall, 7-1 SCIAC)
The Occidental women’s lacrosse team bounced back from an April 5 loss to SCIAC-leader Redlands this week with a 15-9 win over Chapman and an 11-5 victory over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS). Senior attacker Tori Larson led the way for the Tigers, scoring a combined nine goals between the two games, while goalie Kirsten Hee (sophomore) anchored the defense with 12 total saves. The squad travels to Pomona-Pitzer tonight at 7 p.m.
Softball (5-29 overall, 2-20 SCIAC)
The Occidental softball team claimed its biggest win of the season and broke its 13-game losing streak in Game 2 of a Saturday doubleheader with SCIAC No. 4 Cal Lutheran. The Tigers’ offense failed to get going in the morning cap against the Regals, as the black and orange dropped Game 1 by a score of 7-2. However, the squad’s bats came alive in the second game of the day on the shoulders of Jackie Shimamoto (senior) and Alex Battest (first-year). Both players recorded three hits and combined for three RBI in the contest. Coupling the offensive outburst, starting pitcher Ali Goldberg (sophomore) hurled a gem, striking out five and giving up just one run in the Tigers’ 6-1 victory. Occidental travels to Redlands Friday for a doubleheader. First pitches are scheduled for 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively.
Men’s Tennis (3-15 overall, 1-6 SCIAC)
The Occidental men’s tennis team faced off against conference opponents CMS and Pomona-Pitzer in a doubleheader Saturday. The Tigers struggled to keep up with the Stags and Sagehens, both of whom are ranked top-15 nationally. The black and orange failed to capture a single match in a pair of 9-0 losses. After a few weeks off, the squad will participate in the SCIAC Championships beginning May 2.
Women’s Tennis (1-12 overall, 0-7 SCIAC)
The Occidental women’s tennis team took the court Saturday for a SCIAC match-up against CMS. The Tigers were unable to find their stroke en route to a 9-0 loss to the Athenas. The black and orange will have one more tune-up match at La Verne Friday before they moving onto the SCIAC Championships.
Men’s Golf tallies season-low at Mt. Baldy Shootout
After a difficult outing at SCIAC #2, the Occidental men’s golf team rebounded Saturday by posting a season-best 301 at the Mt. Baldy Shootout at Upland Hills Country Club. Both the squad’s overall and individual performances were much improved, as they rolled to a fifth-place finish ahead of Whittier and just two strokes back of Chapman and Pomona-Pitzer. La Verne won the tournament, placing one spot in front of host school CMS. All four of the Tigers who took to the course finished within four strokes of each other. In what has become customary, Colton Bares (first-year) led the way for the Tigers, shooting a 3-over 73. Fellow newcomer James Wronoski fell in line right behind Bares with a 5-over 75. Sophomores Kevin Liu and Jeremy Klein notched a 6-over 76 and a 7-over 77, respectively. It was a memorable day for Liu, who registered his first career eagle in the process of his collegiate-best score. The Mt. Baldy Shootout served as the final tune-up before the program heads to the season’s culminating event. The men have a week off from competitive golf before heading to the Oak Valley Country Club alongside the women for the SCIAC Championships April 27-29.
More than what he Siebs
Senior men’s tennis player Kevin Siebs has been a constant force for Occidental over the past three seasons. Regularly playing in the No. 2 slot for both singles and doubles, Siebs has shaken off a slow start to this campaign, winning two of his last four singles matches. The economics and politics double major showed his ability early in his collegiate career, playing in the top singles spot his sophomore year for the majority of the season. He captured three singles victories and seven doubles wins. Siebs more than doubled his number of singles wins the following year, tallying seven throughout his junior campaign. He has also registered four wins in doubles competition. In his swan song season, the Houston native has continued to impress despite his 4-13 record against numerous top-25 conference opponents. He notched his first victory of the season at Caltech on Feb. 8 and later won for the first time as the Tigers’ No 1. singles player, filling in for the absent Josh Dancu (junior) on March 27 and taking down Pacific ace Troy Zuroske (senior). Siebs’ consistent career will come to a close when he and the rest of the black and orange take the court for the SCIAC Championships starting on May 2.enior men’s tennis player Kevin Siebs has been a constant force for Occidental over the past three seasons. Regularly playing in the No. 2 slot for both singles and doubles, Siebs has shaken off a slow start to this campaign, winning two of his last four singles matches. The economics and politics double major showed his ability early in his collegiate career, playing in the top singles spot his sophomore year for the majority of the season. He captured three singles victories and seven doubles wins. Siebs more than doubled his number of singles wins the following year, tallying seven throughout his junior campaign. He has also registered four wins in doubles competition. In his swan song season, the Houston native has continued to impress despite his 4-13 record against numerous top-25 conference opponents. He notched his first victory of the season at Caltech on Feb. 8 and later won for the first time as the Tigers’ No 1. singles player, filling in for the absent Josh Dancu (junior) on March 27 and taking down Pacific ace Troy Zuroske (senior). Siebs’ consistent career will come to a close when he and the rest of the black and orange take the court for the SCIAC Championships starting on May 2.
