State Colleges Report | Whitman cyclist signs with elite pro team

Forgive Mara Abbott, a senior economics major at Whitman College, if she feels a bit dizzy at times. Her stock in the world of international women's cycling continues to rise at a breathtaking pace.

Her rising star hit its highest point so far in late October when T-Mobile announced signing her for the 2008 professional racing season. A powerhouse squad based in Germany and San Luis Obispo, Calif., T-Mobile finished the 2007 season at the top of the International Cycling Union rankings. Since then, however, T-Mobile has pulled its sponsorship from cycling and the club is now known as Team High Road.

"This is definitely the best team I could aspire to be on," Abbott said. "I alternate between days when it feels totally unbelievable and days when it feels normal."

Abbott, a native of Boulder, Colo., has spent more than three years juggling school, cycling and swimming. She joined Whitman's club cycling team in the spring of her first year on campus and quickly rose to the top of the collegiate ranks. Whitman has won two National Collegiate Cycling Association Division II titles, and Abbott is the women's two-time all-around individual champion.

Beginning in March, Abbott will join her new teammates when possible for weekend races. Once she graduates in May, she can hit the cycling circuit in earnest.

Of the 13 riders on the Team High Road women's roster, Abbott is the second youngest and one of only two Americans. The roster features riders from Germany, Australia, Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands.

Of the 13 riders on the T-Mobile women's roster, Abbott is the second youngest and one of only two Americans. The roster features riders from Germany, Australia, Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands.

By last spring, Abbott was riding on the pro circuit with one of America's top teams. After finishing a close second at the Montreal World Club, Abbott stunned the cycling elite by winning the U.S. road-race title in July, outsprinting 2004 Olympian Kristin Armstrong.

In late September, Abbott was in Germany as one of six Americans at the 2007 World Championships. After a tuneup race (she placed ninth in Italy's six-day Giro di Toscana), she finished 45th in a field of about 140 riders.

Abbott's best is yet to come, said Michael Engleman, her cycling coach and director of the U.S. Women's Cycling Development Program.

"Mara is the type of person who sees no reason why she can't do something," he said. "It is that ignoring of limits that makes a great athlete and spectacular person. But, honestly, it's one thing to have talent, but there is no shortcut to experience. Mara is very good at paying attention and learning, and her refusal to make excuses is a sign of her toughness. I see her evolving quickly and being a world-class cyclist for many years to come."

Seattle Pacific

Women's basketball: Senior guard Beth Christensen (Enumclaw) earned both the MVP of the CCAA/GNAC Challenge and the GNAC player of the week for her efforts in two big wins.

Seattle U.

Men's basketball: The Redhawks (5-0) moved up one spot to No. 9 in this week's NABC Division II coaches poll. SU beat Douglas College, the top-ranked two-year school in Canada, 85-49 last Saturday in an exhibition.

Women's basketball: The Redhawks (7-0) are taking almost two weeks off for finals before continuing their five-game road swing Dec. 19 at BYU-Hawaii.

Swimming: Sophomore Doug Djang (Richland, 100 breast, 50 free, 200 medley relay), senior Chris Coley (100 fly, 200 fly, 200 medley relay), sophomore Bryson Chiu (100 back, 400 IM, 200 medley relay) and junior Bryant Bevers (Bellarmine Prep of Tacoma, 200 medley relay) have all qualified for the NCAA Division II Championships in March.

Washington

Tennis: Six Huskies earned spots in the season's first Intercollegiate Tennis Association regional rankings. For the men, senior Andy Kuharszky (Budapest, Hungary) is ranked 14th in the West, while Kuharszky and freshman Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan (Chennai, India) are 15th in doubles, tied with teammates Patrik Fischer (Huttwil, Bern) and Tobi Obenaus (Waidhofen, Austria). The women are led by freshman Venise Chan (Hong Kong), ranked 20th. Sophomore Joyce Ardies (São Paulo, Brazil) is 29th and Ardies and senior Tara Simpson (Vancouver, B.C.) are 14th in doubles.

Western Washington

Women's basketball: 17th-year coach Carmen Dolfo (349-128) hopes to get milestone win 350 when the Vikings play Monterey Bay on Dec. 18 in the Great Western Shootout in Las Vegas.

Men's basketball: Junior guard Ira Graham (Fontana, Calif.) leads the Vikings with a 20.6 scoring average. He will be after his third straight all-tournament honor this season at the Great Western Shootout on Dec. 18-19 in Las Vegas.

Other colleges

Eastern Washington: After a home contest on Saturday, the women's basketball team will hit the road for five straight games. Meanwhile, the men's squad will start a six-game homestand Friday.

Evergreen State: Sophomore guard Nathan Menefee (Timberline of Lacey) earned Cascade Collegiate Conference player-of-the-week honors, totaling 60 points and eight assists in two road wins.

Gonzaga: Dr. Jerry Krause , director of operations for the men's basketball team and a 1959 graduate of Wayne State College, is the recipient of the school's Alumni Achievement Award to be presented this weekend. Krause also compiled a 262-196 record at Eastern Washington over 17 seasons, served on several national committees and has written more than 30 books.

Northwest: Junior forward Brittany Bowsher (Issaquah) scored a season-high 33 points in Friday's 83-82 loss to Whitworth and is fourth in the Cascade Collegiate Conference in scoring, averaging 17.7 points.

Pacific Lutheran: Senior defensive end Andrew Eisentrout (Olympia) capped his season as the United States defeated Mexico 37-19 in the annual Aztec Bowl played Saturday in Chihuahua, Mexico.

Sports information directors contributed to this notebook.