MOVING FORWARD:
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Director of Athletics Michael Sutton ’76 will transition to a new position after the current school year, assisting the Advancement Office, which includes public affairs, alumni and parent relations, and development with many important outreach projects for CMS Athletics. Sutton, who is William B. Arce Professor and George R. Roberts Fellow, is making the move after 35 years with CMS Athletics as a head coach and, for the last 15 years, as an administrator.
A RECORD YEAR: CMS Athletics teams and coaches look to once again build on a record year for CMS. During the 2014-15 school year, CMS teams won 11 conference championships, several regional championships, two individual national championships (men’s tennis—singles and doubles), and a team national championship (men’s tennis). The men’s tennis team’s national championship is the first team national title for CMS Athletics since 1981 and the third overall in CMS history.
DIRECTORS’ CUP RISE: As a result of its success during the past school year, CMS had its highest mark in the Division III Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup standings with an 11th-place finish in the final 2014-15 rankings released in June. The Directors’ Cup ranks 400-plus Division III athletic departments based on their teams’ participation and finish at the NCAA Championships.
TRANSITIONS: After 24 years and three athletic directors, Kathy Troxel recently retired from her post as assistant athletic director. Former head baseball coach Randy Town is assuming her duties. Recent hires in the department include: former Athena softball player Emily Nordhoff ’12 as the sports information director. CMS also has two new head coaches joining the department’s faculty ranks. Claremont native Bill Walkenbach has been selected as head coach for the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps baseball program. He is the seventh coach in the 58-year history of the Stag baseball program, having served seven years as the head baseball coach at NCAA Division I Cornell University. Glenn Stewart will continue serving as the interim head coach for the track and field program after leading the Stags and Athenas to their respective conference championships last season.
A BUSY NOVEMBER: Saturday, Nov. 14 is a big day on campus for CMS Athletics. The day begins with alumni events for women’s basketball and the swimming and diving teams, and is followed by the Sixth Street Rivalry football game on Zinda Field against Pomona-Pitzer. Later in the evening, the annual Alumni Association Hall of Fame Banquet will be held. The Class of 2015 includes three CMC graduates: Geoff Russell ’84 (men’s golf), Wendy Cole ’92 (women’s soccer), John Shipp ’95 (football/baseball); one inductee from Harvey Mudd College, Brian Zinda ’97 (baseball); and one inductee from Scripps College, Brett Eppich Beal ’82 (swimming).