Chemeketa Community College

Terry McLaughlin would stand up to anyone who would dare to tarnish the Chemeketa College Volleyball team’s historic undefeated 50-0 season.“There are those who might claim that we had an easy season, but our team fought their way back from close matches four times,” said McLaughlin, head coach.Looking back, he could see the team beginning to take shape as early as tryouts.“We had 50 athletes turnout for the two tryouts, and it was the decisions we made there that made all the difference,” he said.

 Two players, Chelsea Fosback and Alisha Shigley, were named two-year college All-Americans, first and second teams, respectively. McLaughlin was named Coach of the Year by the American Association of Volleyball Coaches.The 2008-09 volleyball team is just the second undefeated team in the Chemeketa’s history. The first was the 1990-91 men’s basketball team that went 33-0.The team member decided early on that if they didn’t perform no one on the team would receive any honors. McLaughlin said that commitment paid out in spades.

 “This was a cohesive team from the start,” he said. “If they hadn’t been unified working toward a common goal, none of the rest would have been possible.”McLauglin returned to Chemeketa coaching this year after a seven-year break between 2001 and 2008. During his prior 14-year run, McLaughlin led the Storm team to a cumulative record of 491-173, a .739 winning percentage, and two championship seasons in 1997 and 1998. His teams accumulated nine top five finishes in NWACC.(Photos: McLaughlin, Fosback, Shigley.)

The Chemeketa Chorus, with special guest Bethany Evans, a local professional harpist, will perform a peace-themed concert 7 p.m. In the Bldg. 6 Auditorium. Admission is free.

The theme of the performance is “Peace,” and musical selections include:

     Peace Round/Peace Bells
Here We Come A-Wassailing
O Come, O Come, Immanuel
A Ceremony of Carols (Middle English)
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
Bashanah Haba’ah (Hebrew)
Carol of the Bells
Let There Be Peace on Earth

Evans will accompany the chorus for five pieces from “A Ceremony of Carols,” composed in Middle English by Benjamin in 1942.

Chemeketa is hosting two holiday sales to raise money for it’s athletic and art programs.

The Athletic Department is sponsoring a craft fair in the lobby of Bldg. 2 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 5.

The Art Gallery is hosting an art sale Dec. 5 and 6, from 10 a.m. til 6 p.m. Student, faculty and staff-produced art will be on sale.

Chemeketa will be honoring the accomplishments of it’s volleyball and men’s soccer teams tomorrow, Dec. 4, at noon. Join us in the lobby of Building 2 for the celebration.