December 04, 2013

Striving for Greatness

Two student-athletes receive national recognition.

At Lewis & Clark, student-athletes thrive in the classroom and on the field. This fall, two seniors were recognized with national honors for the determination, drive, and leadership required to excel in their sport.

Keith Welch ’14 has shattered numerous school records. The quarterback—who maintains a near 3.5 GPA, provides peer mentorship, and volunteers on move-in day—will graduate as Lewis & Clark’s all-time leader in total yards from scrimmage, completions, passing yards, and passing touchdowns.

Welch’s success isn’t confined to Lewis & Clark. His 11,520 yards of total offense broke the all-time Northwest Conference record, and he has been named one of the 10 finalists for the 2013 Gagliardi Trophy for Division III football’s top student-athlete. The award honors excellence in athletics, academics, and community service. Welch is the only player from the Northwest Conference on the list.

Records set by Keith Welch
  • 11,520 yards of total offense
  • 8,779 passing yards
  • 74 touchdown passes
  • 719 completions

“The first time we gave him a play call,” head football coach Chris Sulages tells the Portland Tribune, “he ran into the huddle, called the play correctly, got everybody lined up right, and snapped the ball like he’d done it a million times. Right then we knew we had something special.”

In November, Kaitlyn Throgmorton ’14 ran in the NCAA III Women’s Cross Country National Championships at Hanover College. She was one of just seven runners who qualified individually out of the West Region. Last year Throgmorton helped lead the Pioneers to a 20th place finish at the National Championships.

“Kaitlyn ran a terrific race to earn the trip to Nationals,” says head cross country coach Keith Woodard.

More than 64 percent of Lewis & Clark students participate in one or more of our 19 varsity sports, 10 student-run club sports, and numerous intramural sports.

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