The Umpqua Community College (UCC) Department of Athletics is excited to announce the signing of their first two athletes for the newly formed Obstacle Course Racing program.
William Turner is a 2016 graduate of Geneva Academy, in Roseburg, Oregon. William has competed in soccer, Ultimate Frisbee and competitive shooting, where he has won numerous regional competitions. The Sutherlin native has begun workouts at UCC and has a promising future in OCR. UCC Head Coach Andrea Bowden has this to say about Turner, “I think William is going to dominate on the OCR course. He’s mentally tough, he’s a great athlete, and he has the desire to improve. I see a great leader in William. He shows compassion, an understanding of the team mentality, and respect for what each individual athlete offers.
Andrew Paschall is senior at Geneva Academy, in Roseburg, Oregon. He has competed in track and field, football, baseball, basketball and swimming. He is also participates in freelance parkour. Paschall is a Roseburg native and has also been participating in workouts at UCC, showing an aptitude for intense training. About Andrew, Coach Bowden says this, “I see Andrew as a guy who is going to bring the level of athleticism up on our team. He’s agile, strong, and competitive. With his parkour background, I think we’re all going to be impressed with how Andrew handles the obstacles! “
These two athletes represent the first two student athletes signed to a letter of intent for UCC’s Obstacle Course Racing as well as the first scholarship athletes of their kind, in the country. OCR competitions will begin in the Fall of 2017.
Umpqua’s Department of Athletics is composed of nine varsity sports teams including three men's teams (basketball, cross country, and wrestling), and four women's teams (basketball, cross country, and volleyball). Umpqua is a member of the Northwest Athletic Conference in all sports except men’s and women’s wrestling and obstacle course racing. For men’s wrestling they belong to the National Junior College Athletic Association and for women’s wrestling, the Women’s Collegiate Wrestling Association. For more information, please visit www.uccriverhawks.com. Follow RiverHawk Athletics at www.facebook.com/Umpqua-RiverHawk-Athletics and also on Twitter @uccriverhawks.
