Pacific Lutheran University Athletics

JASON THIEL
(Football, 1991-94, Men's Track & Field, 1991-94)

Jason Thiel was one of the greatest defensive linemen to play football at Pacific Lutheran University, and he also placed himself among the best in the PLU track & field record books as well.  As one of the greatest two-sport athletes in PLU athletic history, Thiel amassed remarkable stats as a defensive tackle and as a hammer thrower and shot putter.Thiel started in 27 of the 29 games that he played during his PLU football career, accruing 22 sacks, which is ninth all-time, with 13 coming in his sophomore season.  Those 13 sacks landed him fifth all-time in single-season sacks.  He earned honorable mention All-America honors in the 1993 season, and with six tackles, two quarterback sacks, and a fumble recovery, was named the Defensive MVP in PLU’s 50-20 NAIA championship game win over Westminster. He was off to a similarly impressive 1994 campaign when he suffered a career-ending ankle injury early in the 1994 season. When Jason wasn’t throwing opposing quarterbacks to the ground, he was throwing shot puts and hammers all the way to the national championships.  Moving from 14^th nationally (151-9) his freshman year (1991) in the hammer throw, Jason then went on to seventh- and third-place finishes in the following two years, respectively.  With a mark of 188-5 in 1993, Jason claimed third place at the national championships, but also took home a First Team All-America honor.  He still holds the PLU hammer throw record with a throw 193-4 set during the 1994 season.

In only his freshman year of 1995, Mike Simmons quickly established himself as one of the best breaststrokers the storied PLU program had ever seen.  In his first season, Mike won the NAIA national championship in the 100-yard breaststroke in a blazing 57.90, shattering the previous school record.  Simmons earned All-America honors in both the 100 and 200 breaststrokes.  The following year, Simmons placed fifth in the 200 breaststroke and sixth in the 100 breaststroke.  Mike’s junior year proved to be his most prolific and fastest at PLU.  Breaking his own school record in the 100 breaststroke, Mike once again won the NAIA national championship with a time of 57.46.  At the same meet, Simmons placed third in the 200 breaststroke (2:05.43) and 12^th in the 200 individual medley (1:59.58).  These outstanding feats earned Simmons another All-America honor, further exemplifying his abilities in the water.  In the fall of 1998, PLU transitioned from NAIA to NCAA Division III, marking a stark change in the qualifying times for swimmers nationwide.  Simmons qualified for the Division III meet in 1999, making him the only PLU swimmer to date to compete in a NCAA Division III championship.  With a 10^th-place finish in the 100 breaststroke and a 16^th-place finish in the 200 breaststroke, Simmons firmly planted himself among the best swimmers to ever grace the PLU pool. 

Heading into the 1971 tennis season, Pacific Lutheran men’s tennis had yet to make a mark at the regional level, let alone establish a national presence.  This changed with the coming of Ted Carlson, a phenomenal young player who forever changed the face of PLU tennis.  Ted was the number one singles player all four years he was at PLU, amassing a record of 50-17 in singles matches, and a 33-13 mark as the regular number one doubles participant.  In his sophomore season of 1972, Carlson and teammate Dave Knodel won the NAIA district doubles championship.  The next year, Carlson won both the conference and district singles championships and as a result became the first PLU men’s tennis player to play at the NAIA national championship tournament.  More than wins and losses, though, “In so many ways Ted was the pioneer for what we would consider the ‘modern era’ of PLU tennis,” says Carlson’s former coach, Mike Benson.  To cap off a remarkable and trailblazing career at PLU, Carlson won both the singles and doubles championships at the NAIA District I meet, once again making it to the NAIA national tournament, before bowing out in the second round. 

Pacific Lutheran University has been blessed with several teams that have completely outshined and dominated competition nationally.  Few, though, have equaled the successes reached by the 1988 women’s soccer team.  Finishing the season with an astounding 21-2-0 record, this team cemented itself in the legend that is PLU athletics.  Led by four-time All-America Sonya Brandt and her 29 goals and Wendy Johnson’s 15 assists, this team stormed through opposition to claim the NAIA national title.  A staunch defense, anchored by keeper Gail Stenzel, kept opponents to a 0.51 goals per game average.  Along the way, the PLU women brought home Northwest Conference of Intercollegiate Colleges, NAIA District I, and NAIA West Region titles. The 1988 team still holds the highest winning percentage in team history (.913), making its successes even more valuable in historical significance.  Asserting their will over opposing teams, the Lute women netted a staggering 83 goals for the season while allowing their opponents only 10. During the national tournament, the Lutes scored 10 goals while only giving up just two.  This team was the first of five consecutive PLU women’s soccer team to reach the NAIA national title game, starting a dynasty that would never be forgotten in Lutes lore.

Following the success of the 1988 national championship team, the Pacific Lutheran women’s soccer team of a year later equaled, and in some respects, surpassed its predecessor.  The 1989 PLU women’s soccer team won every possible championship put in front of them, amassing a final record of 22-2-2 en route to their second successive NAIA national championship.  Kate Wheeler led the team in defense, holding a 0.28 goals against average with an amazing 19 shutouts between the pipes.  In the attacking front, PLU was led by three All-Americans, with Wendy Johnson earning NAIA first team recognition, and both Karin Gilmer and Shari Rider on the second team.  As the catalysts of the team, these women led the Lutes through their competition and set the team record for highest number of wins (22) and tying for fewest losses in a single season (2).  The 1989 team also holds the PLU women’s soccer record for most consecutive games without a loss (23).  The Lutes demonstrated their dominance of opponents by scoring 80 goals in the season, including 16 each by Wendy Johnson and Laura Dutt, while allowing only 10.  This storied team was one of the greatest in any sport in PLU history, and will be long remembered for its fantastic success on the field.

After a disappointing loss in the 1990 NAIA national championship game, the PLU women’s soccer program wanted redemption and to return once again to the highest step on the national podium.  It took them just one year to do so, winning the title in 1991 with a final overall record of 18-2-4.  “On the day that we came in second last year, the members of this team very quietly and very determinedly dedicated themselves to this season,” said head coach Colleen Hacker.  Winning the championship match 4-0 over Missouri Valley, the 1991 team laid to rest any speculation that they had lost the dynastic stature they had built over the past four seasons.  The Lute women also placed four players on the all-tournament team (Cheryl Kragness, Wendy Johnson, Shari Rider, and Mary Rink).  The team demonstrated this drive by outscoring opponents 68-12 during the season and holding a 0.47 goals against average.  The Lutes also placed three players on the NAIA All-America Team, with Wendy Johnson and Shari Rider making the 1^st team, and Brenda Lichtenwalter earning 2^nd team honors.  Cheryl Kragness led the Lutes in points, scoring 18 goals and adding 11 assists, both of which led the team.  The team would end the year in a familiar place-- atop the national standings and once again in the lore of PLU athletic greatness.