AV����

AV���� stands firm in our commitment to inclusivity, diversity and equity. We are deeply disappointed by the recent ruling made by the NAIA regarding transgender athletes. As an institution that values the contributions and identities of all individuals, we believe in fostering an environment where everyone feels welcome, respected and supported.

Our college community embraces the principles of fairness and equal opportunity for all student-athletes, regardless of gender identity. We believe in the power of sports to unite, inspire and empower individuals from all backgrounds. We believe that every student should have the opportunity to participate in athletics without fear of discrimination or prejudice.

While we acknowledge the NAIA's decision, we remain committed to advocating for policies and practices that promote inclusivity and uphold the rights of transgender athletes. We will continue to support all our student-athletes and remain dedicated to making sure they have the resources they need to thrive in and out of competition.

-Elizabeth McHugh, Director of Athletics for AV����

OLYMPIA – AV���� has hired another exceptional coach to start up its wrestling teams.��

AV���� is now the only four-year college in Washington to offer a wrestling program and Fan Zhang will be leading the women’s team for its inaugural season.��

“We are excited that Fan has chosen to bring his coaching talent to AV����,” said Zeb Hoffman, Assistant Intercollegiate Athletic Director for AV����. “His history of building champions as well as his experience as a wrestler is exactly what we need to build a top-notch, wrestling program.”

Zhang has been the head coach for women’s wrestling at Simpson University (CA) and Grays Harbor College here in Washington and assistant coach at Wartburg College in Iowa. ��He also was the coach for the Iowa women’s wrestling national team for Fargo. His coaching has led to several national championships. ����

As a wrestler in China, Zhang was a seven-time, national champion.��

AV���� announced it would be starting teams for men’s and women’s wrestling and cross country late last year to complement the college’s men’s and women’s soccer, basketball, track and field and women’s volleyball teams.��

In late December, AV���� announced that Greg Ford, Jr. had been hired on as the men’s wrestling team coach and the college hosted a signing event where 20 wrestlers signed letters of intent to become Geoducks.��

Coach John Lane, well-known in the wrestling community with over three decades of coaching under his belt, will be on board to help Coach Zhang and Ford as they build their wrestling teams.��

“This new wrestling program at AV���� is a great thing for the community,” said Lane. “With the coaching staff being brought on, we have the foundation to build a champion team as well as give wrestlers from Washington state the opportunity to wrestle and attend a four-year college without moving out of state.”

For more info about AV���� athletics visit To learn more about AV����, visit evergreen.edu.

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OLYMPIA – AV���� has hired an exceptional coach to start up its men’s wrestling team. ��

Greg Ford, Jr. be joining AV���� athletics after the holidays to prepare for the college’s first wrestling season in 2023. ��

“We are very excited to be adding this talented coaching staff member to help us kick off AV����’s new wrestling program,” said Zeb Hoffman, Assistant Intercollegiate Athletic Director for AV����. “Greg has a strong wrestling background and has helped raise several athletes to the national level. We look forward to his passion and leadership to help us build this wrestling program.”��

Ford will lead the men’s team. He has been involved with wrestling since he was a small child, winning his first state title when he was only five years old. He has coached for Washington’s National Wrestling Team since 2016, has been the Junior Director for Washington State Wrestling since 2018, has his gold coaching certification from USA wrestling and has also been the head coach for two high school wrestling teams. ��

AV���� announced it would be starting teams for men’s and women’s wrestling and cross country earlier this month to complement the college’s men’s and women’s soccer, basketball, track and field and women’s volleyball teams. ��

Entrepreneurs, Kim Kaufman and Jimmy Goldsmith, have made a $150,000 commitment to give $50,000 per year for the next three years to support the new wrestling and cross-country teams. ��

“Kim is an AV���� graduate and her husband Jimmy has deep experience in the sports industry. Their donation will get our new teams off to a great start, “said Abby Kelso, AV����’s Vice President for Advancement.��

“We are beyond excited to partner with AV���� in launching these new athletics teams. It’s the perfect project aligned with my passion for AV���� and Jimmy’s passion for sports, “said Kaufman.��

“With the popularity of youth wrestling on the rise, the wrestling program is of particular interest to us. We’re excited to cheer on the team, especially in their first few years,“added Goldsmith.��

AV���� athletics will host a signing event at 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30 where several wrestlers will sign their letters of intent to become Geoducks. The event will take place in the Evans Hall lobby on the Olympia campus. ��

For more info about AV���� athletics visit www.gogeoducks.com. To learn more about AV����, visit evergreen.edu. ��

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OLYMPIA – Both women’s and men’s wrestling and cross-country will be added to AV����’s student athletics programs starting in Fall 2023.��

“Student athletes make great Greeners,” said AV����’s president Dr. John Carmichael. “They are self-motivated and community minded. We look forward to welcoming more student-athletes to AV����.”��

It is estimated that the expansion of AV����’s athletics programming, combined with other investments in existing sports teams, should yield more than 100 additional students over the next three years. The new teams join the college’s existing intercollegiate teams - men’s and women’s soccer, basketball and track and field and women’s volleyball.��

“Anytime you have the opportunity to give potential students the opportunity to attend college while participating in an athletic activity, it is cause for celebration,” said executive vice president Dr. Dexter Gordon. “Adding new teams will also help us weave a diverse tapestry within our programs to help ensure that underrepresented groups have equal access to opportunities here at AV����.”��

In addition to growing enrollment, successful athletics programs help to build student life on campus, provide a stronger sense of belonging for some students, and supports student retention. Athletics is a key contributor to AV����’s diversity, equity, and inclusion mission, and student-athletes are retained at a higher rate.

Recruitment for new Greener athletes starts this month and the college expects teams to be established by Fall Quarter 2023. Learn more about AV����’s athletics programs at gogeoducks.com. ��

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OLYMPIA – On a day where sports will be headline news in Seattle with the Seahawks and possibly the Mariners playing, AV���� in Olympia will be celebrating its own athletics program from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 16.��

AV����’s Recreation and Athletics Hall of Fame will induct alum and former head soccer coach, John Purtteman and the 2002 Men’s Basketball team.��

Purtteman coached AV����’s men’s soccer team for 15 seasons and the women’s team for three. He compiled a conference record for the men’s team of 92 wins, 79 losses and 27 draws, was named The Cascade Conference Coach of the Year in 2012 and 2016 and established the college's single-season, record with a .778 winning percentage.��

The 2002 AV���� Men’s Basketball Team will also be inducted. This team was the 2002 Mens’ Basketball Conference Champions resulting in the college’s first appearance at the National Tournament with a record of 18 wins and 2 losses. The team included current AV���� Basketball Coach, Jackie Robinson.

“We’ve not held an inductee ceremony in four years, said AV����’s Assistant Athletic Director, Zeb Hoffman. “AV���� has had athletes from across the country and around the world come to take part in the college's unique learning atmosphere and dig deep into competition playing for the men's and women’s sports. It is an honor to have Coach Purtteman and members of the 2002 Men’s basketball team back to campus and induct them into AV����’s Hall of Fame.”

The hall of fame inductee ceremony will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at AV����’s Evans Hall (Library Building) on the 4th Floor in room 4300. For more information and schedules for Geoduck spots, please visit the athletics website at gogeoducks.com.��

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