WNCC hires soccer coach

Hillary Arthur, who helped direct Chico State to the NCAA Division II playoffs, has been named as the head coach for the Western Nevada Community College women's soccer team.

Arthur comes to WNCC after serving as the top assistant coach for Chico State during the past four seasons. This past fall, Chico State went 11-5-2 and advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament.

Arthur played at Humboldt State where she was a four-year starter and a three-year captain from 1996-2000. Arthur earned her bachelor's in kinesiology with a emphasis on exercise science and cardiac rehab from Humboldt State. This past spring, she earned her master's in sports psychology from Chico State.

WNCC will begin play in women's soccer in the fall, 2005.

WALLING COMMITS TO WNCC

WNCC baseball coach D.J. Whittemore has been busy putting together his first recruiting class, saying he has received the verbal commitments from eight players so far - five from Northern Nevada and three from Southern Nevada.

Among the players who have committed is Douglas High second baseman Chad Walling, who had an outstanding year last season as a junior in leading the Tigers in hitting. Like many of the Nevada players, Walling will be able to use the Millenium Scholarship.

Walling and the other players are expected to sign on Jan. 15 during the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association's signing period.

Along with the eight who have committed, Whittemore said he expects another six to 10 players to sign with WNCC on Jan. 15. Among the players who Whittemore is recruiting is Carson High left-handed pitcher Wes Osmer.

After not receive any interest from Division I schools this past fall, Walling decided to commit to WNCC. High school players who aren't recruited by Division I schools in the fall have virtually no chance to earn a scholarship at the Division I level.

Walling could have walked on at a Division I school and likely would have been recruited by Division II schools, but decided his best chance to eventually be recruited at the Division I level was to go to WNCC. "Hopefully in a couple of years I'll be ready for a DI," Walling said.

WNCC will begin play in baseball in the spring, 2006.