Lopes Athletics - building on the past: a 50th-anniversary retrospective

Appeared in "The Miracle of the Desert" book published in 2000, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Grand Canyon University.

On March 22, 1988, surrounded by dripping bodies on the floor of Kansas City's Kemper Arena, Coach Paul Westphal cast his gaze upon forward Rodney Johns with a simple plea: "Find something to do." Fifteen seconds later, the buzzer sounded while Johns' shot swished through the net, lifting his team past heavily favored Auburn-Montgomery in a heated, fast-paced national title game. While ESPN replayed the shot over and over again for television audiences, jubilant teammates and fans swarmed a court now populated with busy camera crews. Although sounding like any boy's typical basketball fantasy, the triumphant name to emerge from the pandemonium on the court and to flicker on television screens across the nation was an unlikely one: Grand Canyon College, the champions of the NAIA (National Association for Intercollegiate Athletics), the little school that spoke so softly yet carried such a big stick.

This was not Canyon's first conquest of the national throne. Indeed, by 1988, Canyon's tradition for athletic excellence was gradually becoming cliche. With NAIA titles in basketball (1975, 1978), baseball (1980, 1981, 1982, 1986) and women's tennis (1981) under its belt, the college had already demonstrated surprising athletic clout for its small size. This sudden emergence of Grand Canyon in the sports world, this 30-year growth spurt from quiet games in an old Armory to regular action-packed title matches against the nation's toughest competition, seemed almost a breach of natural law. In 1949, when a group of fewer than 100 students first enrolled in a tiny, obscure college, such athletic sovereignty could only be contemplated with the wildest flights of imagination.

1949-59: A Modest Genesis

The basketball court on the main floor of the Armory of Prescott inadvertently represented the very center of what was temporarily named the Grand Canyon campus. In the college's first year, the floor would get its full use, housing the eight intercollegiate games of the men's basketball team, the first squad to represent the Antelopes. Howard Mansfield coached the "quintet" through its inaugural season, maintaining team morale through each of its eight losses. When the team won its first game the following year on its home court, the tiny college community grew so vivid with rapture that Dean Beck declared the following day a campus wide holiday. For 24 hours, grateful students would laud their congratulatory praise on their new basketball heroes, the men who had freed them from a day of study.

When the college moved to its new Phoenix campus in 1951, it lost its home court, forcing the young basketball team to conduct their nightly practices at the YMCA downtown and to play their home games in the gymnasiums of local high schools or community colleges. Nevertheless, under the new leadership of David Brazell, the team managed to turn around its fortunes in impressive style, eeking out a 112-85 record over the next eight years. Leading the team through its 1956-57 season was center T.C. Dean, who was charted at a towering 6'4". Dean's 471 points for the season were almost matched by Doug Baker's 468 points.

In the spring of 1953, three semesters into Canyon's Phoenix residency, the college introduced its new baseball squad. Brazell assumed double duty, taking on the leadership of the baseball team in addition to his responsibilities as head basketball coach. Contrary to their basketball colleagues, the team enjoyed the luxury of a home field on the college campus from its first year, despite its total absence of grass. Homerun balls would typically soar over a dusty outfield and knock into the trailer park where married students lived. The team's inaugural 0-13 season was rapidly supplanted by an 8-11 record the following year, marking a respectable one-year turnaround and introducing a trend that would lead the team to greater and greater heights. During the 1950s, the baseball squad amassed a total record of 50-83-1.

Perhaps the highlight of the decade arrived with the dedication of Antelope Gymnasium in 1957. In addition to providing housing for campus-wide assemblies, the new building granted a much needed home for the nomadic basketball team. Within one year, the positive impact of a home arena was obvious to everyone. The 1958-59 'Lopes surged to a remarkable 20-0 record, the only undefeated season in the history of Canyon sports. By the end of the decade, Grand Canyon athletics was clearly coming into its own.

1960-69: The New Opportunity

If anything could taint the unblemished basketball record of 1958-59, it would be Canyon's absence from any sort of league membership or post-season opportunity. NAIA and NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) mandates required full accreditation of each of its prospective members, something which Grand Canyon College was still striving to attain. As a consequence, the 'Lopes found themselves reduced to playing exhibition games with whomever was willing to take them on. A typical lineup would include California Baptist, California Lutheran, Western New Mexico, Occidental, and a number of junior colleges.

This rather modest state of affairs would change in 1968. Under the leadership of Canyon president Dr. Tyson, the college administration, faculty, and students united their efforts in a drive that led to regional accreditation
through North Central Accrediting Association. In that same year, Canyon was admitted into District VII of the NAIA, giving the Antelopes their long-awaited chance to compete for national recognition.

By that time, the basketball team had put together a respectable cumulative 1960's record of 87-98 and had gained a new coach. After twelve years as the team's skipper (not including a one-year sabbatical in which Don Reed coached the 'Lopes through a 12-10 season), Brazell stepped aside from the basketball post in 1965 to fully devote his efforts to baseball. His successor, Ben Lindsey, had collected three years of experience as a head coach by the time Canyon had its first shot at an official NAIA basketball season. The 'Lopes cordially introduced themselves to their new District VII rivals with a 14-11 opening year. Twelve months later, they made their first postseason appearance in the District VII playoffs (a loss) after an impressive 21-6 regular season. By the end of the decade, Grand Canyon had already constructed a reputation for athletic formidability.

This reputation did not end with basketball. Brazell put his final losing season behind him in 1962, and by 1968, had transformed the baseball squad into a well-oiled machine. In 1968, their first ever crack at NAIA competition, they put together a dominating 35-12 record (using the new Brazell Field for their home games), launching them into the District VII playoffs. Although they didn't last long in their first postseason, they would come back in 1969 to claim both the District and Area Championships, as well as a berth in the National Championship tournament. Within only two years of acquiring league membership, 'Lopes baseball had placed significant trophies on the shelf and had gained exposure for the school on the national level.

It had also gained a collection of individual achievements: seven All-District VII honors and two All-Americans. In 1968, outfielder John Booth became Canyon's first All-American and joined pitcher Mel Williams as an All-District VII player. In 1969, second baseman Paul Baker, pitchers Ken Corley and Frank Snook, shortstop Leroy McDonald, and outfielder John Tate peppered the All-District VII team, while McDonald earned All- American honors. These seven men, while dominating the game of their own day, would also come to represent forerunners to a lasting tradition of athletic excellence, a tradition that was rapidly flowering.

1970-79: Forging a Tradition

Although still by every means a tiny department with only two intercollegiate teams, by 1970, Grand Canyon athletics had evolved into a powerful tool—- a tool that could acquire national recognition for the college for the first time. With the baseball squad already a major contender for the national title, Canyon would soon see its basketball program evolve into a national threat. With Ben Lindsey still at the helm of the basketball program, the 'Lopes bounced back from their disappointing 1970-71 season to string together an series of consecutive playoff runs for every remaining year of the decade. The steady success of the program could largely be attributed to a gargantuan turning point that struck the program in 1972, when Bayard Forrest, a new freshman, arrived on campus for the first time. "The signing of Bayard Forrest may in fact have been the defining moment of Canyon athletics," said current GCU Athletic Director Keith Baker. "Bayard was able to take us to that next level where we gained the notoriety that was necessary to compete at the level we wanted to. He not only led us to an elite level, but he influenced future teams by his legacy." Forrest's positive impact on the team was felt immediately, as he led the 'Lopes to a District VII Championship and into the National Tournament in his first year. Despite their first round exit from the national tourney in
1973, a new trend had been set for Canyon basketball. In the following year, the 'Lopes' 28-2 season would extend into the second round of the Tournament. And in 1975, it wouldn't end until the final buzzer sounded on the championship game. After their third consecutive trip to the National Tournament, after a dominating 30-3 season, the Antelopes could declare themselves National Champions for the first time.

The 'Lopes followed up their championship year with another strong showing, collecting a fourth straight District Championship and a 27-3 record, but had their run for a second consecutive title cut short by a National Tournament second round upset. The upset marked an end to Forrest's four-year legacy at Canyon, a career that earned him three First Team All-American selections. Forrest remains Canyon's only player of any sport to achieve such acclaim for three straight seasons. When he signed with the Phoenix Suns, he also became the first Grand Canyon alumnus to enter the NBA. He still maintains numerous career records at Canyon which show no sign of being threatened, including points scored (2,195), field goals made (911), field goals attempted (1,703), free throws made (373), free throws attempted (534), and rebounds (1,544).

Canyon's string of District VII Championships was snapped in its 1976-77 season, but in the following year, the 'Lopes mimicked their feat of two seasons before, earning a stellar 30-3 record and a second National Championship. In the absence of Bayard Forrest, a new star and Third Team All-American, Nate Stokes, had led the team with an average of 17 points and eight rebounds per game. Two years later, the 'Lopes had collected two more District Championships and two more (brief) National Tournament appearances. When the decade drew to a close, a landscape retrospective of the Grand Canyon basketball achievements of the 1970's would form a stunning resume: an overall record of 230-68, nine district playoff appearances, seven District VII titles, seven National Tournament appearances, and two NAIA championships.

Not to be outdone, the other half of Canyon's athletic department pieced together an additional 10 straight winning seasons and 10 straight postseason appearances. Coach Brazell guided the growing powerhouse to six District VII titles and three Area Championships. Each year, the baseball squad flirted with the national title to no avail. Each year, the baseball talent on the roster appeared to grow more and more potent. Players like Ken Corley (1970), Frank Snook (1971), Bill Catalanotte (1972), Kent Fulmer (1973), Gary Graham (1973), Dan DeBattista (1974-75), Larry Eubanks (1975-76), Doug Johnson (1975), Tom Tellman (1976), Bob Bill (1978), Dale Miton (1978), Ray Alonzo (1979), Ed Bonine (1979), and Eric Rasmussen (1979) earned NAIA All-American status during the decade. Snook and Tellman became the first of many 'Lopes to enter careers in Major League Baseball, both playing for the San Diego Padres. In addition to its All-Americans, the baseball teams of the 70's claimed 38 All-District VII awards and 19 All-Area II honors. The talent explosion of the 70's gave the 'Lopes a cumulative 420-167-2 record (equivalent to a
.715 winning percentage) for the decade. Nevertheless, such astounding statistics could not satiate the growing hunger for a national title.

1980-89: The Tradition Fulfilled

By the turn of the decade, the campus community had grown restless, anticipating an NAIA trophy from its promising baseball squad. Their hopes rose once again in 1980, when Dave Brazell led his troops into the NAIA College World Series as District VII Champions for the second consecutive year. This would be the last tournament of Brazell's baseball coaching career, and the team pooled their efforts to make it a memorable one. They succeeded. When the last out was recorded in Brazell's final game as head baseball coach, the 'Lopes had become National Champions of NAIA baseball. Brazell's 28-year quest for the title (13 years of which his team had a legitimate shot) came to a fulfilling close, leaving a venerable 725-385-8 overall record behind him.

Brazell's resignation from the baseball team in 1980 marked an end to an antiquated era of Canyon athletics, a period with only two intercollegiate teams to represent the college. In the next five years, five new teams would be added to the list of programs in Canyon's growing athletic department. By the end of the decade, Grand Canyon sports would form a firm enough foundation to be jettisoned to an even higher level of competition.

In 1981, a new women's volleyball team played their inaugural season under the direction of Bev Spitler. In 1983, Keith Baker assumed the coaching position, relinquished it in 1985 to Beth Dalton, only to pick it up again in the middle of the 1986 season. In 1987, Jeneane Pence began her two-year tenure, leading the team to its first winning season in 1988. Finally, in 1989, the head coaching position found a long-term resident in the person of Terri Smith, whose coaching debut earned 1989 District VII Coach of the Year honors. Her impressive 36-10 record in 1989 was helped in large part by the efforts of Kris Belcher, who became the school's first NAIA All-American in volleyball. Belcher's incredible 1989 season also earned her the most prestigious women's volleyball honor of her time: the Asics All-American award. By the end of the decade, the young program had already acquired nine All-District VII awards in addition to its one All-American.

Although having campus programs since the 1950's, Grand Canyon tennis would not become a serious intercollegiate sport until 1980, when recruiting efforts were coordinated to receive talented players and when Marlene Bjornsrud was hired as the head coach of the women's team. Bjornsrud's first two years as head coach gave her a combined 20-8 record and also witnessed Canyon's first NAIA National Team Championship in 1981. The Lady 'Lopes were led by the exploits of Pat Smith, who took the women's singles championship and joined Karen Regman to take the doubles title as well as All-American honors. Bjornsrud's two-year respite from coaching brought Gail Sayers to the position in 1982 and Ruth Ann Gardner in 1983. Both coaches led the team to third place finishes overall, while Gardner was named National Coach of the Year. Karen Regman joined Jo Murto to repeat as a national doubles champion. Grand Canyon would not make it back into the national finals again until 1989. In the meantime, the Lady 'Lopes had collected a total of 18 All-American awards, three individual national championships, and one team national championship during the decade.

In the spring of 1981, challenged by the women's tennis team's triumph at the national level, the Canyon baseball squad strove for a second straight NAIA championship under the guidance of Gil Stafford, its new head coach. After piecing together a 56-20 season, the 'Lopes bested Winthrop in the NAIA College World Series for the title. The team refused to slow down. After an incredible 57-16 1982 season, Canyon shot down their long-time rival, Lewis-Clark State College, 10-6 in the final game. For a team that had struggled for so many years to take the crown, the "three-peat" was an amazing and deliciously satisfying feat, fueled by the presence of four All-Americans, nine All-Area selections, and 14 All-District awards, tops for any three-year span in Canyon history.

The team wouldn't appear in the NAIA College World Series again until 1986. However, once in the tournament, the 'Lopes made good on their appearance. Playing in Lewiston, Indiana, the home of their arch-nemesis Lewis-Clark State College, they took on the hostile fans in addition to their long-time foe in the title match. After a grueling ten-inning battle, Canyon clawed to a one run victory and a fourth National Championship against all odds. The feat would represent the last of the baseball team's NAIA championships. In their last two NAIA College World Series tries, they finished fourth (1987) and second (1988). Nevertheless, Canyon's record for the decade ended at a remarkable
512-195-2, the best record for any sport in any decade in Canyon history. By 1990, the team had stretched its streak of consecutive postseason appearances to 22, not failing to make the playoffs since its first season of NAIA eligibility.

In the 1980's, Canyon's baseball squad earned 43 All- District selections, 25 All-Area awards, and nine All-Americans. Ten players marched on to the Major Leagues after their years in Antelope uniform, including Dave Stapleton (who played at Canyon from 1982-83), Brad Moore (1986), Randy McCament (1984-85), Kevin Wickander (1984-86), John Patterson (1987-88), Chad Curtis (1989), Tim Salmon (1987-89), Brett Merriman (1988), Paul Swingle (1989), and Steve Phoenix (1989-90). Tim Salmon would go on to become the 1993 American League Rookie of the Year with the California (now Anaheim) Angels. Chad Curtis' Major League career would lead him to the 1999 World Series, where he would hit a game-winning home run for the New York Yankees. With this wealth of talent flowing through its clubhouse, the Grand Canyon baseball team was now known as a national powerhouse.

In the meantime, Canyon basketball was coming off of its tremendous seasons during the 70's and was hoping to increase its stake as one of America's best small college basketball programs. The 80's would not be a disappointment. The decade witnessed five superb head coaches lead the team to great success before moving on to prestigious coaching positions elsewhere. Ben Lindsey, coach of two national championship teams, resigned from his 16-year tenure at Canyon after the 1980-81 season to go on to manage the University of Arizona basketball team. His successor, Jay Arnote, led the 'Lopes to a 40-19 record over two years, before his coaching talent was claimed by Northern Arizona University. John Shumate, an ex-NBA player, guided the team to two playoff appearances in three years before moving on to the University of Notre Dame as the top assistant under Digger Phelps. This left the position open for Paul Westphal, another NBA veteran, in 1986. Westphal brought the 'Lopes to the District VII Championship game in his first year. In his second try, the road led to the National Tournament in Kansas City, due much to the help of Third Team All-American Rodney Johns, with his invaluable 14.9 points per game and 60.5% field goal percentage. Broadcast on a fledgling ESPN, the 'Lopes snared their third NAIA championship in overtime. The conquest was a major stepping stone for Westphal, who accepted an assistant position with the Phoenix Suns, his old team, in the same year. Soon after, Westphal would become the Suns' head coach, leading them into the 1993 NBA Finals. In the meantime, Paul's older brother, Bill, filled the vacancy at Canyon, acquiring a 51-15 record in his two-year stint with the 'Lopes. While new coaches were entering and exiting the basketball coach's office at breakneck speed, a new athletic program brought back the old tried and true—Coach David Brazell. In 1981, one year after Brazell's triumph over the NAIA baseball world, Canyon introduced its first golf team. With the generous help of Ping and the guidance of Coach Brazell, the Canyon golf club proved to be very competitive and easy to spot, with uniforms as bright as the Arizona sun. During its first decade, the program captured eight district titles and boasted four All-Americans.

In the late 1980's, precisely when Canyon officials were contemplating an expansion of the institution from college to university status, the athletic department exploded with a collection of new teams. Men's soccer was added
to the lineup in 1985 under the leadership of Peter Duah. By 1987, the team had already become a potent threat, logging a 12-2-0 season. In 1988, women's basketball celebrated its inaugural season under Jeneane Pence (also the volleyball coach at the time), enjoying a surprising 19-8 record in its first year. Jeff Dinkel took over the program in 1989. Both men's and women's cross country teams began intercollegiate competition in 1988 as well. When Grand Canyon College became Grand Canyon University in 1989, this new host of athletic clubs was poised to accompany the institution into a new era.

1990-99: The Higher Level

Concomitant to Canyon's new identity as a university, Canyon athletics pushed for a new persona for the 1990's and beyond. Having consistently demonstrated its capability at the NAIA level, the athletic department, after an exhaustive effort of meticulous planning, moved most of its programs into the NCAA Division II. The one exception was the university's baseball team. Having carved an identity as a perennial powerhouse, GCU baseball moved up to NCAA Division I, the highest collegiate level in the land. It would be at these levels that GCU would find out how truly competitive their athletic programs could become.

The transition was expected to be hardest on the baseball team. Previously a consistent contender for the NAIA title, the team now faced an enormous challenge as an NCAA Division I independent, battling the biggest and the best teams in the nation on a day-to-day basis. The absence of conference affiliation eliminated the most common access to the NCAA playoffs, that is, an automatic berth via a conference championship. As a consequence, the team struggled for several years with an uncharacteristic aggregate NCAA record of 103-141-1, failing to make any form of postseason play. However, in 1995, they were given the opportunity that they had been hoping for— membership in the WAC (Western Athletic Conference). The affiliation granted the team a much more favorable schedule and a far better chance of qualifying for postseason play via a conference tournament. During its first three seasons in the conference, the 'Lopes squandered this opportunity with less than stellar performances, including their worst ever finish in 1997 at 13-43. However, in 1998, they turned their fortunes around with a 28-27 record, good enough to win the WAC Northern Division regular season title and to launch them into the WAC Tournament held at San Diego State University. It also landed Canyon in the Division I record books as 1998's biggest one-year improvement from the previous season (a 15-game turnaround). Unfortunately, Canyon's first winning season in Division I would also be their last. When the WAC underwent major realignment that forced GCU out of the conference, the baseball team was caught between two options: roughing it again as a Division I independent, or joining the rest of Canyon's athletic clubs in Division II's CCAA (California Collegiate Athletic Association). After some deliberation, the CCAA proved to be the better choice. Due to NCAA regulations regarding transitions of this sort, the decision meant that the baseball team would spend the 1999 season ineligible for playoff competition. Canyon would go on to a 36-17 season, including 29-10 CCAA record, which was good enough for a first place regular season finish. Unfortunately, Canyon would have to wait one more year to pursue any dreams of another National Championship.

The Grand Canyon basketball programs enjoyed a smoother transition into NCAA play, although the move was not without its complications. Canyon lined up immediately with Division II's GNC (Great Northwest Conference), which pitted them against schools such as Alaska- Anchorage and Seattle Pacific. The men's program immediately made an impact with two consecutive conference championships under the leadership of Leighton McCrary, the new coach from Arkansas State University. Coach "Mac" was named the conference's Coach of the Year in his first season with the 'Lopes. Before the team could attempt a "three-peat," the conference merged with the Continental Divide Conference to form the Pacific West Conference. The new Pac West had schools ranging from New Mexico to Alaska and Hawaii, making it one of the toughest Division II conferences in the nation, if only for the excessive travel demands placed on its members. The 'Lopes were undaunted, winning the Pac West Conference Tournament twice in a row, including a shocking upset of Alaska-Anchorage on their home court in 1994 that vaulted the team into the NCAA Division II West Regional.

Following the 1994-95 season, GCU was presented with an optional membership with a third Division II conference. After losing Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to Division I, the CCAA, a premier Division II athletic conference with nearly 130 national championships under its belt, turned to Canyon to fill the vacancy. The 'Lopes, eager to unify its athletic programs under one conference banner, jumped at the opportunity to join this elite group. Immediately afterwards, the men's basketball team, following a newly adopted habit of introducing themselves with impudence, took the 1994-95 CCAA Tournament despite negative pre-season predictions and despite facing the two-time National Champions, Cal State Bakersfield.

In the meantime, the Lady 'Lopes, under the leadership of Julie Hanks since 1993, made their own noise in the new conference, qualifying for the NCAA Division II West Regional during the 1996-97 season. Combined, the men's and women's basketball programs made eight NCAA playoff appearances in the 1990's, including seven consecutive appearances from the men's program from 1991-97.

Despite their customary early exits from the NCAA playoffs, the 'Lopes' exploits of the 90's granted national exposure for Grand Canyon as well as for their players. Horatio Llamas, a 6'11" transfer from Pima Community College, quickly earned notoriety on the Division II level in his two-year stay at GCU. During his senior 1995-96 season, his efforts propelled Canyon into the West Regional Semifinals, earning Llamas the National Player of the Year award. Soon afterwards, Llamas would become the first Mexican-born player to compete in the NBA, stepping onto the court in a Phoenix Suns uniform in 1997.

When the 90's came to a close, the men's basketball squad had eased into its new league surroundings with impressive figures behind it. Coach Mac had accumulated a record of 186-101 (a .648 winning percentage), and a host of NCAA Tournament appearances. At the same time, the women's squads of the 90's combined with a 91-177 record under their three coaches, including Tim Wilke, who filled Julie Hanks' position in 1997.

While the baseball and basketball teams continued to carry out their traditions of excellence in the 1990's, the new women's volleyball team was striving to establish a tradition of its own. Terri Smith, fresh on the heels of her District VII Coach of the Year award, steered the Lady 'Lopes to a Continental Divide Conference title, followed by a championship of the new Pac West Conference in 1992. When Smith stepped away from her laudable coaching career at Canyon after the 1994 season, she had attained three Coach of the Year awards and a total Canyon record of 153-69. She also left the door open for a long-time friend of the program to take her place. Kris Naber (formerly Belcher),
Canyon's first All-American in volleyball, began her coaching career strong with a trip to the West Regional in 1995. The team fell just short of repeating the feat in 1999, when Nicole Cyrus' All-American status mimicked her coach's achievement of a decade earlier. The 1999 season also marked the end of Amber LeTarte's career with Canyon, leaving behind GCU career records in kills (1,432) and digs (1,345).

The move to Division II did nothing to daunt the GCU tennis program, as the Lady 'Lopes qualified for the NCAA National Tournament in five consecutive years (1992-6). The team produced five individual champions in that time frame. In 1992, Rebecca Galassini and Traci Guy teamed up to take home the first NCAA Division II title of any sport in women's doubles. In the following year, Lucie Ludvigova took the singles title. In 1995, Denise Valentin and Penny Statters claimed the doubles championship. In addition to its catalogue of champions, the women's tennis program produced 15 All-Americans during the decade. Of this list, Denise Valentin may have the largest trophy case. In addition to her national doubles championship, she was selected as an All-American during all three years of her competition at Canyon, won the Rolex Singles and Doubles Championships, was named CCAA Player of the Year twice, earned the Regional and National Tennis Magazine / Arthur Ashe Sportsmanship Award in 1996, and earned her MBA degree from Canyon two years after her graduation.

Canyon was led to most of these accolades by Carol Sandvig, who coached the Lady 'Lopes for seven years before leaving in 1996. Ruth Ann Gardner came on for her second stint as the tennis coach in 1997 and still holds the position today. The tennis team of the 1990's posted a stunning 174-74 overall record, equivalent to a .702 winning percentage.

While the Lady 'Lopes were posting championships in tennis, they were also getting their first chance in the new women's soccer program, first introduced in 1996. Co coaches Peter Duah and Petar Draskin helped the young team rack up wins against Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University in its inaugural season. In its first four years of existence, the team picked up momentum, becoming a competitive opponent in the CCAA.

While the women's team was capping off its first season, their male counterparts were barreling at full stride into the postseason. The team's surge into the national semifinals in December of 1996 coincided with the university being named the host for the National Tournament. Led by Darren Clarke and Nabyl Bekraoui, the 'Lopes rallied to seize its first national soccer title in a tight match in front of nearly 5,000 Canyon fans on the GCU campus. The win marked the university's first ever team championship since joining the NCAA. In subsequent years, the 'Lopes continued to be a major soccer threat, claiming a CCAA crown in 1998 and finishing as the runner up in 1999. The team's success in the latter half of the decade was boosted by such talents as Milos Tomic, Nabyl Bekraoui, Sasha Hunter, George Okallo, Freddy Haase, and Manoel Coelho. Coelho ended his Canyon career in 1999 as the program's all-time goals (68) and points (131) leader. By the end of the 1999 season, the men's soccer squad had accumulated an impressive 122-63-18 record. Canyon has known only two coaches in its two soccer programs (Duah and Draskin), and both have proven to be winners.

The Canyon golf team continued its superior play in the 1990's, capping off their decade with an appearance in the 1999 National Tournament in Valdosta, Georgia. Their 12th place finish overall marked the zenith of the program's short history. John Davis, a sophomore, finished 12th in the nation and was named an All-American. Coach Brazell earned another conference Coach of the Year Award, highlighting his 48th year of service at Grand Canyon University.

By December 31, 1999, Grand Canyon University had demonstrated that it could rise to new heights. With a full decade of NCAA experience under its belt, the Antelopes had risen to meet the challenge of a higher level of competition, a level at which Canyon could continue to establish itself as one of the premier athletic powers in the nation for small schools. The challenge remained to make good on the threat, to build on an ever-growing identity, to demonstrate the Antelopes athletic tradition impervious to the passage of time.

2000-Beyond: Portents of Future

On January 1, 2000, Dr. Gil I Stafford, still the baseball team's head coach, accepted a new role on campus, beginning his duties as Grand Canyon University's ninth president. With perhaps a small trace of nostalgia, he elected to finish his 20th season as the skipper of the baseball team while entering his new office, leading the club through its first season of Division II postseason eligibility. After a full ten years of absence from any serious threat for a national title, the university's second oldest intercollegiate team resurrected an old tradition from the past, qualifying for the College World Series—this time at the NCAA Division II level. When Dr. Stafford let go of the reins of his baseball squad to continue in his new administrative responsibilities, the GCU community could be assured that the Antelopes' tradition of excellence was well intact and boding a bright future. At the dawn of a new era, GCU athletics is poised to continue its superior play with the sharpest teams in the country, ready to give Canyon a national identity, promising to associate Grand Canyon University's name with greatness.

Grand Canyon University Athletics