Director: Paul Madison Writer: Jim Carberry TOP ATHLETIC ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE CENTURY BY FORMER WESTERN ATHLETE - LARRY NIELSON

Transcription

1 WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY-SPORTS INFORMATION OFFICE Aug. 28, 1999 Director: Paul Madison Writer: Jim Carberry TOP ATHLETIC ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE CENTURY BY FORMER WESTERN ATHLETE - LARRY NIELSON BELLINGHAM, Wash. --- Many former Western Washington University athletes have gone on to record major accomplishments after college. There have been professional and Olympic athletes, national champions and MVP awards. But none have reached the heights of Larry Nielson. Nielson is an internationally known mountain climber, who can put on his resume a successful climb of Mount Everest, the world's highest peak. "I don't know if I can compare myself to anyone else," said the humble Nielson of his climbing career. "I do know this: When I set my mind to something, I am successful - and I am alive." And in the treacherous sport of mountain climbing, that is saying a lot. Nielson has faced death before and been on treks where fellow climbers have died. "I've been with people who have died, and I've been in situations where I've had to dig down deep to survive it," said Nielson. "One thing climbing does, it takes you away from all the everyday problems. You don't have to worry about making house payments, you don't care about those things. You are all encompassed with surviving and making the ascents. When you are through, you have a certain amount of energy to deal with the mundane things." When he was going to Western from 1966 through 1970 to get the teaching degree he now uses at a middle school in Olympia, he had no idea that he would accomplish what he has in mountain climbing. He was a fivesport standout in high school, lettering in cross country, football, basketball, baseball and track, before continuing an outstanding career in cross country and track at Western.

2 But his interest was mountain climbing, ever since he was 12 years old and his older brothers came back with tales of adventure on the peaks. At 13, he climbed Mount Olympus (7,965 feet) on the Olympic Peninsula and he was hooked. "I didn't even have an inkling in college," said Nielson of his future career in climbing. "I'd read stories of guys who have been to Everest, but from a financial standpoint I never thought I'd be able to. "It was a progressive thing, sort of something that happened. I was real fortunate to be at the right place at the right time." The Everest climb in 1983 is what earned him the most public attention. Not only did he reach the summit of the world's tallest mountain (29,028 feet), a peak nearly three times the height of Mount Baker, but he did it without using oxygen equipment, making him at that time one of only three or four climbers and the first American to do that. In a sport where the level of success is measured by the uniqueness of the route or the difficulty of the technique, Nielson's Everest climb would be comparable to beating the heavyweight champion of the world - with one hand literally tied behind your back. But it is far from his only impressive climb. - He is the first person to climb the north face of Mount Kangchenjunga (28,169 feet), the third highest peak in the world, and he did it without supplementary oxygen. - He is the first person to climb Mount LaPerouse in Alaska, a difficult 10,000-foot peak with a 7,000-foot ice wall. - He has climbed Peak Lenin (24,590), one of the tallest peaks in the former Soviet Union. - He has climbed Mount McKinley (20,320 feet), the highest peak in North America, seven times. - And he has climbed Mount Rainier (14,410 feet) 179 times. That's right times. Of course, he is slowing down now that he is 51 years old.

3 "I'm down to about 30 climbs a year," he said. "I was climbing about 80 a year for about 30 years." Not that he is ready for retirement. He still goes white water canoeing, skiing and participates in other outdoor activities. And he has his three children hooked on mountain climbing. His words of wisdom to would-be adventurers? "I'd just tell them to live life to the fullest so you never have to look back and say, 'I never did that,'" said Nielson. "If I see something that looks exciting that I want to do, I don't want to sit back in a rocking chair some day without having done it." It is safe to say that won't be a problem for Larry Nielson. Other Top Athletic Accomplishments by Former Western Athletes Norman Bright (Chehalis - track ) - Placed 11th in 1944 Boston Marathon. Set American record in two mile run (9:12.2). As master, established over 50 American and world records. In 1972 won gold medal in Masters Olympics' steeplechase race in Cologne, West Germany. Benny Doyal (Coquitlam, B.C. - golf ) - Teacher for world-class golfers such as Bernhard Langer, Tom Kite, Steve Elkington and Bobby Clampitt. Jim Freeman (Ferndale - cross country and track ) - Placed 18th in 1965 Boston Marathon. Won Western Hemisphere Open Marathon in Butts Giraud (West Vancouver, B.C./Sentinel - football ) - Four-time World Belly Flopping champion, Pro wrestler, played in Canadian Football League. Cindy Gordon (Des Moines/Mount Rainier - soccer ) - Member of U.S. National women's soccer team that toured Italy in 1985 and Allen James (Seattle/Shorecrest - track ) - Participated in two Olympic Games as race walker in 1992 (20 kilometers) and 1996 (50 kilometers). Won U.S. Olympic Trials in Was top-ranked race walker in United States. Herm Nelson (Seattle/Marine Academy TX - track ) - Participated in two Olympic Games as race walker (50 kilometers) in 1992 and Ron Radliff (Enumclaw - basketball ) - Starred more than a decade in National Basketball League in Australia. Roger Repoz (Bellingham - baseball ) - Played seven years as baseball outfielder in major leagues with New York Yankees, Kansas City Athletics, and California Angels, and three seasons in Japanese League. First American to win athlete of the month award. Walt Schilaty (Everett - track ) - Ran meters in 1932, only.10 of a second slower than the existing Olympic record. Placed first at U.S.

4 Regional meet and qualified for U.S. Olympic Trials, but did not compete because of lack of funds. Orlondo Steinauer (Seattle/Lynnwood - football ) - Canadian Football League all-star cornerback in 1998, tied for league lead in pass interceptions in 1997, played in 1998 Grey Cup game. Wendy Taylor-Charney (Abbotsford, B.C./Abbotsford Secondary - track ) - Placed sixth at World Games in Placed third in USA- Russia meet in 1971 at Berkeley, Calif. Competed in Pan American Games in 1971 and Commonwealth Games in 1970 and Dave VanderGriend (Lynden - track ) - Placed fourth in javelin at U.S. Olympic Trials in Darrell Vreugdenhil (Seattle/Watson Groen Christian - crew ) - Won gold medal at 1975 Pan American Games in pair with cox. Rowed in 1976 Olympics and in World Games. Bill Wright (Seattle/Franklin - golf ) - Won National Public Links championship in First African-American to win a U.S. Golf Association event. - WWU - WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY-SPORTS INFORMATION OFFICE Aug. 28, 1999 Director: Paul Madison Writer: Jim Carberry TOP ATHLETIC ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE CENTURY BY FORMER WESTERN ATHLETE - LARRY NIELSON BELLINGHAM, Wash. --- Many former Western Washington University athletes have gone on to record major accomplishments after

5 college. There have been professional and Olympic athletes, national champions and MVP awards. But none have reached the heights of Larry Nielson. Nielson is an internationally known mountain climber, who can put on his resume a successful climb of Mount Everest, the world's highest peak. "I don't know if I can compare myself to anyone else," said the humble Nielson of his climbing career. "I do know this: When I set my mind to something, I am successful - and I am alive." And in the treacherous sport of mountain climbing, that is saying a lot. Nielson has faced death before and been on treks where fellow climbers have died. "I've been with people who have died, and I've been in situations where I've had to dig down deep to survive it," said Nielson. "One thing climbing does, it takes you away from all the everyday problems. You don't have to worry about making house payments, you don't care about those things. You are all encompassed with surviving and making the ascents. When you are through, you have a certain amount of energy to deal with the mundane things." - more - WWU Accomplishment of the Century - add one When he was going to Western from 1966 through 1970 to get the teaching degree he now uses at a middle school in Olympia, he had no idea that he would accomplish what he has in mountain climbing. He was a fivesport standout in high school, lettering in cross country, football, basketball, baseball and track, before continuing an outstanding career in cross country and track at Western.

6 But his interest was mountain climbing, ever since he was 12 years old and his older brothers came back with tales of adventure on the peaks. At 13, he climbed Mount Olympus (7,965 feet) on the Olympic Peninsula and he was hooked. "I didn't even have an inkling in college," said Nielson of his future career in climbing. "I'd read stories of guys who have been to Everest, but from a financial standpoint I never thought I'd be able to. "It was a progressive thing, sort of something that happened. I was real fortunate to be at the right place at the right time." The Everest climb in 1983 is what earned him the most public attention. Not only did he reach the summit of the world's tallest mountain (29,028 feet), a peak nearly three times the height of Mount Baker, but he did it without using oxygen equipment, making him at that time one of only three or four climbers and the first American to do that. In a sport where the level of success is measured by the uniqueness of the route or the difficulty of the technique, Nielson's Everest climb would be comparable to beating the heavyweight champion of the world - with one hand literally tied behind your back. But it is far from his only impressive climb. - He is the first person to climb the north face of Mount Kangchenjunga (28,169 feet), the third highest peak in the world, and he did it without supplementary oxygen. - more - WWU Accomplishment of the Century - add two - He is the first person to climb Mount LaPerouse in Alaska, a difficult 10,000-foot peak with a 7,000-foot ice wall. - He has climbed Peak Lenin (24,590), one of the tallest peaks in the former Soviet Union. - He has climbed Mount McKinley (20,320 feet), the highest peak in North America, seven times.

7 - And he has climbed Mount Rainier (14,410 feet) 179 times. That's right times. Of course, he is slowing down now that he is 51 years old. "I'm down to about 30 climbs a year," he said. "I was climbing about 80 a year for about 30 years." Not that he is ready for retirement. He still goes white water canoeing, skiing and participates in other outdoor activities. And he has his three children hooked on mountain climbing. His words of wisdom to would-be adventurers? "I'd just tell them to live life to the fullest so you never have to look back and say, 'I never did that,'" said Nielson. "If I see something that looks exciting that I want to do, I don't want to sit back in a rocking chair some day without having done it." It is safe to say that won't be a problem for Larry Nielson. Other Top Athletic Accomplishments by Former Western Athletes Norman Bright (Chehalis - track ) - Placed 11th in 1944 Boston Marathon. Set American record in two mile run (9:12.2). As master, established over 50 American and world records. In 1972 won gold medal in Masters Olympics' steeplechase race in Cologne, West Germany. Benny Doyal (Coquitlam, B.C. - golf ) - Teacher for world-class golfers such as Bernhard Langer, Tom Kite, Steve Elkington and Bobby Clampitt. Jim Freeman (Ferndale - cross country and track ) - Placed 18th in 1965 Boston Marathon. Won Western Hemisphere Open Marathon in Butts Giraud (West Vancouver, B.C./Sentinel - football ) - Four-time World Belly Flopping champion, Pro wrestler, played in Canadian Football League. - more - WWU Accomplishment of the Century - add three Cindy Gordon (Des Moines/Mount Rainier - soccer ) - Member of U.S. National women's soccer team that toured Italy in 1985 and Allen James (Seattle/Shorecrest - track ) - Participated in two Olympic Games as race walker in 1992 (20 kilometers) and 1996 (50 kilometers). Won U.S. Olympic Trials in Was top-ranked race walker in United States. Herm Nelson (Seattle/Marine Academy TX - track ) - Participated in two Olympic Games as race walker (50 kilometers) in 1992 and 1996.

8 Ron Radliff (Enumclaw - basketball ) - Starred more than a decade in National Basketball League in Australia. Roger Repoz (Bellingham - baseball ) - Played seven years as baseball outfielder in major leagues with New York Yankees, Kansas City Athletics, and California Angels, and three seasons in Japanese League. First American to win athlete of the month award. Walt Schilaty (Everett - track ) - Ran meters in 1932, only.10 of a second slower than the existing Olympic record. Placed first at U.S. Regional meet and qualified for U.S. Olympic Trials, but did not compete because of lack of funds. Orlondo Steinauer (Seattle/Lynnwood - football ) - Canadian Football League all-star cornerback in 1998, tied for league lead in pass interceptions in 1997, played in 1998 Grey Cup game. Wendy Taylor-Charney (Abbotsford, B.C./Abbotsford Secondary - track ) - Placed sixth at World Games in Placed third in USA- Russia meet in 1971 at Berkeley, Calif. Competed in Pan American Games in 1971 and Commonwealth Games in 1970 and Dave VanderGriend (Lynden - track ) - Placed fourth in javelin at U.S. Olympic Trials in Darrell Vreugdenhil (Seattle/Watson Groen Christian - crew ) - Won gold medal at 1975 Pan American Games in pair with cox. Rowed in 1976 Olympics and in World Games. Bill Wright (Seattle/Franklin - golf ) - Won National Public Links championship in First African-American to win a U.S. Golf Association event. - WWU - (Note: This is the last of eight articles on Western's all-century selections.)