Anchorage Daily News

From David Registe winning the national title in the long jump to the men's and women's basketball teams' historic runs to the Final Four, the UAA Seawolves enjoyed their finest athletic season in school history in 2007-08.

They tied or broke school records 120 times in five sports -- men's and women's track and field, hockey and men's and women's basketball -- and enjoyed unprecedented success.

The record-breaking parade was led by the men's and women's track and field squads as they improved on 49 previous marks.

Meanwhile, women's basketball accounted for 36 records and men's basketball 32. The Seawolves both marched to the Final Four -- the second time in NCAA Division II history that two teams from the same school advanced to the national semifinals.

Of all the individual records, arguably the most impressive was accomplished by Luke Cooper, who finished his brilliant career with 880 assists, more than doubling the previous career school record (371) and finishing fourth on the NCAA Division II all-time list.

The hockey team set a new standard with its eight ties and equaled two more (six conference ties and five home ties).

"This year UAA had a very special group of student-athletes and they will be remembered in the record books of Seawolf athletics for a very long time," said UAA athletic director Steve Cobb.

The total of 120 includes records that were broken one or more times during the season, like Cooper's marks for assists in a game (three times) and Shaun Ward's performances in the 400-meter hurdles (six times).

Without considering multiple record-breaking performances, UAA athletes accounted for new marks in 84 different categories -- 36 in women's basketball, 30 in men's basketball, 10 in men's track and field, seven in women's track and field and one in hockey.

Both numbers -- 120 and 84 -- are by far the most set in one season in UAA history.

"It has been exciting for all of us at UAA to watch as our athletes have taken the Seawolves to a new level of competitive excellence," Cobb said. "Undoubtedly, their accomplishments will inspire future Seawolves for many years to come."

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Sparked by an 18-game midseason win streak, the Seawolves went on to a program-best 29-6 record and advanced to the NCAA Division II Final Four for the first time since 1988.

UAA won its first GNAC title with a 16-2 record -- the best in the league's seven-year history -- and went 18-0 at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex.

The Seawolves beat BYU-Hawaii in the West Regional title game at home, then overcame No. 9 California (Pa.) at the Elite Eight in Springfield, Mass. UAA lost to No. 10 Augusta (Ga.) in the Final Four.

UAA was No. 4 in the final top 25 poll and was No. 1 in the West Region rankings throughout the season.

Seniors Luke Cooper and Carl Arts combined for multiple All-America honors, while Cooper also captured GNAC Player of the Year accolades and coach Rusty Osborne was GNAC Coach of the Year.

Here is a list of all the school records broken or tied:

Team

Game

Fewest Points Scored in a Win: 45 at Seattle University, Jan. 24 (old record: 52 at Western New Mexico, 2/11/99; and vs Seattle University, 1/24/04)

Fewest Points Scored vs. Division II Team: 45 at Seattle University, Jan. 24 (old record: 48 vs Sam Houston State, 12/6/85)

Fewest Combined Points: 83 (45-38) at Seattle University, Jan. 24 (old record: 87 [52-35] at Western New Mexico, 2/11/99)

Fewest Turnovers Committed: 4 vs Montana State Billings, 2/21 (old record: 5 vs MSU Billings, 1/26/08; at Saint Martin's, 1/4/01; and vs Canisius, 2/12/79)

Season

Most Games Played: 35 (old record: 34, 1977-78)

Most Victories: 29 (old record: 24, 1987-88)

Most Home Victories: 18 (ties record from 1989-90)

Most Road Victories: 10 (old record: 8, 1985-86)

Most Division II Victories: 29 (old record: 19, 1985-86 & 1992-93)

Most NCAA Tournament Victories: 4 (ties record from 1988)

Most Consecutive Victories: 18, Dec. 7, 2007-Feb. 14, 2008 (old record: 14, Jan. 20-Mar. 7, 1986)

Most Consecutive Division II Victories: 20 (old record: 12, Jan. 20-Mar. 7, 1986)

Most Consecutive Road Victories: 9, Dec. 17, 2007-Feb. 14, 2008 (old record: 7, Jan. 20-Feb. 10, 1986)

Most Conference Victories: 16 (old record: 13, 2000-01 [Pac West Conference])

Fewest Losses: 6 (old record: 7, 1986-87)

Fewest Road Losses: 2 (old record: 4, 1984-85, '86-87 & '06-07)

Highest Winning Percentage: .829 [29-6] (old record: .767 [23-7], 1986-87)

Highest Road Winning Percentage: .833 [10-2] (old record: .615 [8-5], 1985-86 & '78-79)

Highest Winning Percentage vs Division II Opponents: .906 [29-3] (old record: .904 [19-2], 1985-86)

Individual

Game

Most Assists: 18, Luke Cooper vs Saint Martin's (broke record twice: first time with 17 vs Montana State Billings, 2/21 [previous old record: 16, by Cooper vs UAF, Jan. 12; by Cooper vs Missouri-Kansas City, 11/24/06; and by Bryson Vaughan at Western Oregon, 1/10/02])

Most Assists with 0 Turnovers: 13, Luke Cooper vs Eastern Washington, 11/24 (old record unknown)

Season

Most Assists, Season: 310, Luke Cooper (old record: 230 by Luke Cooper, 2006-07)

Most Assists Per Game: 8.9, Luke Cooper (old record: 8.2 by Luke Cooper, 2006-07)

Double-Digit Assist Performances: 15, Luke Cooper (old record: 10 by Luke Cooper, 2006-07)

Most Games Played: 35 by Carl Arts, McCade Olsen, Chris Bryant, Luke Cooper, Cameron Burney, Jeremiah Trueman & Kevin White (old record: 34 by Michael Johnson, Dale Bartley, Jeff Sheedy, Mark Carpenter & Race McCleery, 1987-88)

Most Games Started: 35 by Carl Arts, McCade Olsen, Chris Bryant and Luke Cooper (old record: 34 by Michael Johnson, Dale Bartley & Jeff Sheedy, 1987-88)

Most Minutes Played: 1,271, Luke Cooper (old record: 1,143 by Averian Parrish, 1987-88)

Career

Most Assists: 880, Luke Cooper, 2004-08 (old record: 371 by Jim Hajdukovich, 1995-99)

Most Assists Per Game: 7.3, Luke Cooper, 2004-08 (old record: 5.7 by Chris Bullock, 1982-84)

Double-Digit Assist Performances: 32, Luke Cooper, 2004-08 (old record of 7 broken by Cooper in 2006-07)

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

The Seawolves posted the best season in the program's 31-year history, finishing with a 30-5 record and advancing to the NCAA Division II Final Four for the first time.

After finishing runner-up to Seattle Pacific in the GNAC standings, UAA beat the second-ranked and unbeaten Falcons on their home court to win the West Regional title, then knocked off Franklin Pierce in the Elite Eight round in Kearney, Neb.

The Seawolves lost to eventual champion Northern Kentucky in the Final Four.

The Tim Moser-coached Seawolves finished No. 4 in the final top 25 poll and became the first UAA team in any sport to earn 30 victories in a season.

Junior Rebecca Kielpinski was the GNAC co-Player of the Year and a second-team All-American, while senior Kalhie Quinones was the West Regional MVP and GNAC Newcomer of the Year.

Here is a list of all the school records broken or tied:

Team

Game

Fewest Points Allowed: 16 vs Lincoln Christian, 11/3 (old record: 21 vs Lincoln Christian, 11/27/01)

Fewest Points Allowed, Half (either): 4 vs Lincoln Christian, 11/3 (old record: 6 vs Colorado Christian, 12/3/05)

Fewest Points Allowed in a Half (either), Road Game: 9 at Alaska Fairbanks, 1/26 (old record: 15 at Chaminade, 12/17/07)

Most Points Scored, Road: 105 at Chaminade, 12/17 (old record: 103 at Alaska Fairbanks, 1994-95)

Most 3-point Field Goals Attempted: 36 vs Chaminade, 12/3; & at Hawaii Hilo, 12/21 (ties record set at Saint Martin's, 3/1/07)

Highest 3-point Field Goals Percentage: .786 (11-14) vs Seattle Pacific, 2/7 (old record: .667 [12-18] vs Eastern New Mexico, 12/6/94)

Largest Rebound Margin: plus-33 (56-23) vs Chaminade, 12/3 (ties record set vs Silver Lake, 11/22/91

Largest Halftime Deficit Overcome: 12 [31-19] vs Santa Clara, 11/21 (old record: 11 vs Loyola Marymount [43-32], 12/19/95)

Season

Consecutive Home Wins: 29, Feb. 25, 2006-Jan. 19, 2008

Consecutive Home Wins (Wells Fargo Sports Complex): 25, Feb. 25, 2006-Jan. 19, 2008 (old record: 21, Jan. 15, 1983-Jan. 26, 1985)

Most Points: 2,475 (old record: 2,282, 1989-90)

Most Field Goals Made: 912 (old record: 872, 1983-84)

Largest Average Scoring Margin: plus-19.0 (old record: plus-13.4, 1987-88)

Largest Average Rebound Margin: plus-10.8 (old record: plus-5.8, 1987-88)

Fewest Points Allowed Per Game: 51.7 (old record: 57.7, 1999-00)

Lowest Opponent Field Goal Percentage Allowed: .345 (old record: .373, 2000-01)

Most 3-point Field Goals Made: 233 (old record: 209, 2006-07)

Most 3-point Field Goals Attempted: 693 (old record: 614, 2006-07)

Most Blocked Shots: 133 (old record: 128, 2000-01)

Fewest Turnovers Per Game: 16.8 (old record: 16.9, 1998-99)

Games Played: 35 (old record: 34, 1979-80)

Most Wins: 30 (old record: 24, 1987-88)

Fewest Losses: 5 (ties record from 1987-88)

Highest Winning Percentage: .857 (old record: .828 [24-5], 1987-88)

Most Home Wins: 17 (old record: 15, 2006-07)

Most Road Wins: 10 (old record: 8, 1987-88, 1990-91 & 1999-00)

Most Conference Wins: 15 (old record: 14 in 1987-88 [Continental Divide Conference] & 1999-00 [Pac West Conference])

Individual

Game

Highest Field Goal Percentage: .909 (10-11), Ruby Williams vs Texas-Permian Basin, 12/7 (ties record set by Dana Bottoms vs Notre Dame de Namur, 11/17/97)

Most Blocked Shots: 8, Rebecca Kielpinski vs Seattle Pacific, 2/7 (ties record held by Kielpinski vs SW Minnesota State, 12/17/06)

Season

Most Games Played: 35, Rebecca Kielpinski, Kalhie Quinones, Maria Nilsson, Dasha Basova, Lillie Parks & Danielle Dekel (old record: 33 by Deanna Septon, Chris Gage & Dorothy Jacobson, 1980-81)

Most Games Started: 35, Rebecca Kielpinski & Kalhie Quinones (old record: 33 by Deanna Septon, 1980-81)

Most 3-point Field Goals Made: 83, Maria Nilsson (old record: 76 by Jayci Stone, 2006-07)

Most Blocked Shots: 69, Rebecca Kielpinski (ties record of 63 by Kielpinski, 2006-07)

Career

Most Rebounds: 891, Rebecca Kielpinski, 2005-current (old record: 765, Wendy Sturgis, 1988-92)

Most Blocked Shots: 183, Rebecca Kielpinski, 2005-current (old record: 175, Cheryl Bishop, 1982-87)

Most Double-Doubles: 41, Rebecca Kielpinski, 2005-current (old record: 29, Debbie Clare, 1983-85)

TRACK AND FIELD

The Seawolves enjoyed a breakout season, keyed by David Registe winning the NCAA Division II national title in the long jump for the program's first national championship.

Coach Michael Friess led the UAA men's team to a program-best second-place finish at the GNAC Championships with a squad of just 16 athletes. UAA's previous best finish had been fourth in both 2006 and 2007.

Then at the national championships, the Seawolves qualified two athletes -- Registe and All-American David Kiplagat -- but still finished in a tie for 19th among 56 teams that scored points. That marked UAA's best finish.

The UAA women -- which qualified three athletes, highlighted by All-American Kim Brady -- finished 55th at nationals among the 60 teams scoring.

Registe earned GNAC Male Track and Field Athlete of the Year honors, while Friess earned GNAC Men's co-Coach of the Year accolades.

Here is a list of all the school records broken or tied:

UNLV Collegiate Invitational (3/8)

Women's Long Jump: 18-1, Kim Brady (18½, Brady, 2007)

Women's Triple Jump: 38-3¼, Kim Brady (36¼, Brady, 2007)

Women's 1,500: 4:40.23, Elizabeth Chepkosgei (4:44.46, Kamie Jo Massey, 2004)

Men's 110 Hurdles: 16.05, Shaun Ward (21.01, Cliff Cochran, 2007)

Men's 400 Hurdles: 57.15, Ward (1:01.35, Cochran, 2007)

Men's Long Jump: 24-10½, David Registe (24-4¼, Registe, 2007)

Men's 100: 10.89, Michael Madrid (10.96, Madrid and Eric Walsh, 2007)

Men's 400: 48.77, James McLaughlin (50.23, McLaughlin, 2007)

Men's 400 Relay: 42.04, Eric Walsh-Brandon Grant-David Registe-Michael Madrid (42.21, Walsh-Grant-Registe-Madrid, 2007)

Occidental Distance Carnival (3/14)

Women's 5,000: 17:10.17, Elizabeth Chepkosgei (17:24.11, Mandy Kaempf, 2006)

Northridge Relays (3/15)

Women's 3,000: 10:09.18, Elizabeth Chepkosgei (10:09.48, Laura Carr, 2007)

Men's 110 Hurdles: 16:04, Shaun Ward (16.05, Ward, 2008)

Men's 100: 10.89, Michael Madrid (10.89, Madrid, 2008)

Men's 200: 22.14, Michael Madrid (22.14, David Registe, 2007)

Men's 400 Relay: 42.01, Eric Walsh-Brandon Grant-David Registe-Michael Madrid (42.21, Walsh-Grant-Registe-Madrid, 2008)

Washington Outdoor Preview (3/28)

Women's 3,000: 10:06.23, Elizabeth Chepkosgei (10:09.18, Chepkosgei, 2008)

Men's 400 Hurdles: 56.56, Shaun Ward (57.15, Ward, 2008)

Men's 1,600 Relay: 3:23.34, Demietrius Preston-Levi Sutton-Brandon Grant-James McLaughlin (3:24.50, Madrid-Boyle-Grant-McLaughlin, 2007)

Stanford Invitational (4/4)

Women's 5,000: 16:56.48, Laura Carr (17:10.17, Elizabeth Chepkosgei, 2008)

Willamette Invitational (4/5)

Women's 1,500: 4:39.44, Elizabeth Chepkosgei (4:40.23, Chepkosgei, 2008)

Men's 110 Hurdles: 15.55, Shaun Ward (16.04, Ward, 2008)

Men's 400 Hurdles: 54.96, Shaun Ward (56.56, Ward, 2008)

Men's 100: 10.89, Michael Madrid (10.89, Madrid, 2008)

Men's 200: 21.92, Michael Madrid (22.14, Madrid [2008], David Registe [2007])

Men's 1,600 Relay: 3:22.99, Demietrius Preston-Levi Sutton-Brandon Grant-James McLaughlin (3:23.34, Preston-Sutton-Grant-McLaughlin, 2008)

Mt. SAC Relays (4/17, 4/18)

Women's 10,000: 35:41.98, Laura Carr (36:54.7, Stacy Edwards, 2005)

Men's 100: 10.69, David Registe (10.89, Michael Madrid, 2008)

Men's 200: 21.71, David Registe (21.92, Michael Madrid, 2008)

Men's 400: 48.48, James McLaughlin (48.77, McLaughlin, 2008)

Azusa Pacific Invitational (4/18)

Women's Triple Jump: 38-11½, Kim Brady (38-3¼, Brady, 2008)

Women's Long Jump: 18-6, Kim Brady (18-1, Brady, 2008)

Men's 110 Hurdles: 15.32, Shaun Ward (15.55, Ward, 2008)

Men's 400 Relay: 41.55, Eric Walsh-Brandon Grant-David Registe-Michael Madrid (42.01, Walsh-Grant-Registe-Madrid, 2008)

Long Beach Invitational (4/19)

Women's 400 Hurdles: 1:04.24, Ardrienna Everett (1:04.37, Emily Tweto, 2007)

Men's 3,000 Steeplechase: 9:07.20, David Kiplagat (9:11.78, Nate Normandin, 2004)

Men's 1,500: 3:56.29, Mick Boyle (3:56.55, Sean Rivers, 2002)

Men's 400 Hurdles: 54.87, Shaun Ward (54.96, Ward, 2008)

Men's 1,600 Relay: 3:19.95, Demietrius Preston-Levi Sutton-Brandon Grant-James McLaughlin (3:22.99, Preston-Sutton-Grant-McLaughlin, 2008)

GNAC Championships (5/2, 5/3)

Women's 1,500: 4:36.42, Elizabeth Chepkosgei (4:39.44, Chepkosgei, 2008)

Women's 3,000: 9:59.16, Elizabeth Chepkosgei (10:06.23, Chepkosgei, 2008)

Women's Triple Jump: 39-3¾, Kim Brady (38-11½, Brady, 2008)

Men's 400 (Prelims): 48.47, James McLaughlin (48.48, McLaughlin, 2008)

Men's 400 (Finals): 48.22, James McLaughlin (48.47, McLaughlin, 2008)

Men's 400 Hurdles (Prelims): 54.72, Shaun Ward (54.87, Ward, 2008)

Men's 400 Hurdles (Finals): 54.22, Shaun Ward (54.72, Ward, 2008)

Men's 1,600 Relay: 3:17.30, Michael Madrid-Levi Sutton-Brandon Grant-James McLaughlin (3:19.95, Preston-Sutton-Grant-McLaughlin, 2008).

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