WARREN RISES ABOVE THE OPPOSITION
 Clark University’s Heather Warren ’08 experienced a 2007 she won’t soon forget. The Cougar softball player was named the program’s first-ever National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Player of the Week, set new season marks in homeruns (12), total bases (113) and slugging percentage (.934), and tied a school record for runs batted in (59). On Wednesday, Warren will be awarded with the 2007 NCAA Division III statistical title for RBI at halftime of the men’s basketball game.
“It was certainly a season to remember,” said long-time head coach Linda Wage, who will commemorate the 30th anniversary of both field hockey and softball programs this spring. “As it was happening, you just knew it was something special. But breaking records and achieving this national honor is really only a small part of what Heather stands for.”
 While Warren’s softball success certainly merits celebration, it pales in comparison to her life triumphs. The Upland, Calif., native was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer shortly after returning to Clark last fall.
“I didn’t have much time to really think about the award,” she says. “I got the call from my doctor within a day or two of coming back to school. So, I went from having a really good softball season, being in great shape, to cancer.”
No sooner had she arrived, Warren was on a plane back to California to determine the best treatment. After speaking with the chief of surgery at Kaiser Hospital in Fontana, Calif., she learned the only recourse was to remove the thyroid. “To be honest, I didn’t even know what your thyroid controlled,” said a laughing Warren. “It was so much information to take in at once.”
Not one to show vulnerability, Warren admitted that she was scared about the risks of surgery. She explained that the thyroid’s location was next to the vocal box and any slip could cause permanent damage. Warren joked, “I wasn’t really concerned about the other risks. I was more worried about not ever being able to talk.”
Although she’s able to get a good laugh out of the circumstance now, the first-team NEWMAC All-Star suffered a tough road to recovery. Following surgery, Warren endured a 30-day regimented diet to prepare her body for radiation treatment—which she underwent at home. The therapy was so hazardous that she could not come into contact with anyone for a week.
“I had to be very careful,” Warren said. “I was confined to my room and didn’t see anyone for seven days. “But, I was extremely lucky because the treatment could’ve made me sick. I was just so tired at that point I slept the whole week. It could’ve been worse. ”
“There was no doubt in my mind that Heather was going to be able to deal with the treatments,” said Wage. “Her willpower and drive that we see so often on the field is just part of everything she does. She was determined to figure out a plan to attack this cancer and continue on with her life.”
After a pain-staking process, Warren, an eternal optimist, received the best Christmas present yet. Unsure if she would be healthy enough to go back to Clark, Warren got word that she could return to Worcester for the spring semester.
“I was so excited,” she said. “That’s all I really wanted; just to come back to Clark and be normal.”
A former three-sport athlete, Warren’s decision to even apply to Clark four years ago came with a degree of difficulty. Faced with the choice of leaving sunny, southern California for “greener pastures,” the then high school honor student sent applications all over the country. Ironically, softball was not a prerequisite.
“I was almost burned out by softball my junior and senior year,” Warren said. “It was my life. At that point, I pretty much decided that I wasn’t going to play anymore. I just wanted to pick a college for the academics.”
“My dad was obviously devastated,” she laughed.
Warren visited Clark University during her search process over spring break and came to love the school, the community and the city. After discovering the Cougars had a softball program, she began to have a change of heart.
Warren recalled a conversation with Coach Wage where she said, “I didn’t know you had a softball team. Where do you play, it’s snowing!” Once they got past the forecast, Warren was sold on the University.
Four years later, the true shortstop has not only conquered cancer, but the cold climate as well. In addition to knocking home a nationally recognized 59 RBI, she joined Clark’s Century Hit Club with 119 career hits, led the conference at the plate (.471), and received NFCA and New England Intercollegiate Softball Coaches Association (NEISCA) first-team honors.
“Last season, my goal was to do the best I could so that we could win,” said this year’s team captain. “When I ended up doing really well and that helped us win and do better than the previous year; that was the most rewarding thing. The NCAA RBI championship award was just icing on the cake.”
While thyroid medication has become a daily routine in Warren’s life, this survivor has much for which to be thankful.
“When you look at a player like Heather perform at the level she did last year, you know that when you do it right, work hard and have confidence in yourself, good things can happen,” said Wage.
Good things can happen indeed.
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MEN’S HOOPS AND SWIM AND DIVE SET FOR SPIRIT NIGHT
Wednesday, February 6 marks an annual tradition at Clark University. It’s Spirit Night!
Fans are encouraged to come out and support the Cougars against New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) rivals WPI. The men’s basketball team (10-9, 5-2 NEWMAC) faces off against the Engineers (15-5, 6-1 NEWMAC) at 7 p.m., broadcasted live on WCTR-TV3 from the Kneller Athletic Center, while the men’s and women’s swim and dive teams compete at 6:30 p.m.
In a game featuring the top two teams in the NEWMAC, the Clark hoopsters’ and WPI will battle for conference supremacy. A win by Clark would even the conference standings, knotting the teams in first place.
“Last time we played, WPI beat us right from the beginning,” said head coach Paul W. Phillips. “They’re the only team to do that to us all year, so now is our chance to redeem ourselves. And we’ll have every reason to do that with Spirit Night. It’s a TV game, and it’s a home game.”
While WPI boasts the conference’s third ranked offense with 70.3 points per game, a slim 0.7 behind MIT’s 71 points per game that tops the conference, Clark isn’t far behind with 67.3 points per game, good for fourth in the league. Although neither team is a strong statistical leader, both groups have found a way to get the wins needed to propel them to the top of the standings.
When the teams last met, both boasted an undefeated conference record, but WPI came out on top in the bout with a 94-73 decision. While WPI’s only conference blemish came at the hands of Babson Collge (53-36), Clark’s other defeat came in a tight 87-80 loss against MIT.
The men’s and women’s swim and dive teams also face the Engineers in the last regular season conference contest for either team before the NEWMAC Championship Meet. The Cougars, competing at home for the final time this year, will honor their seniors for their dedication and accomplishments over their careers at Clark. The Clark men will come into the match-up with a 3-7 dual-meet record looking to earn their first victory since a 149-22 win over Bridgewater State on November 17. The women bring a 4-6 dual-meet mark into the meet, searching to even their record against NEWMAC teams. A win against WPI would add to victories over Babson and Mount Holyoke to go along with losses to Wheaton, Wellesley, and Coast Guard Academy.
Spirit Night boasts a variety of activities for fans to take pleasure in outside of the competitions. Fans can enjoy free popcorn and music throughout the evening, and one person will be named “Fan of Game” at the end of the night. Attendees can also take part in a raffle for a host of prizes. Clark students who bring their Clark ID receive a free raffle ticket and students wearing a red t-shirt will receive a second raffle ticket. Five raffle winners will get a chance to take a half-court shot to win a free car.
By Bill Cobb, Sports Information Intern
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EXTRA! EXTRA! SPORTS INFO HOTLINE
Check out the new-and-improved way to get the latest Clark Athletic scores.
Call the Sports Information Hotline! Quick and easy access to the most up-to-date Cougar information at 508-793-7164.
Previous Cougar of the Week
Elizabeth Rosen '11 - Women's Swimming (Jan. 29 - Feb 5)
Sarah Roderigue '10 - Women's Basketball (Jan. 22 - Jan. 29)
Mark Alexander '10 - Men's Basketball (Jan. 14-21)
Elizabeth Rosen '11 - Women's Swimming (Dec. 10-18)
Britney Wigley '11 - Women's Swimming (Dec. 4-10)
David Blum '08 & Reben Gietz '10 - Men's Soccer (Oct. 30 - Nov. 6)
Kristen Domurad '08 - Women's Tennis (Oct. 23-30)
Sarah Hunsucker '08 - Women's Volleyball (Oct. 16-23)
Liz Adamcik '09 - Women's Soccer (Oct. 9-16)
Emily Tremaine 'GR - Women's Cross Country (Oct. 2-9)
Emily Tremaine 'GR - Women's Cross Country (Sept. 25 - Oct. 2)
Joanna Clark '10 - Women's Soccer (Sept. 18-24)
Peter Wise '08 - Men's Soccer (Sept. 10-16)
Lauren Blake '10 - Field Hockey (Sept. 3-9)
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The highlights for this newsletter are provided by
Dalya Qualls, Sports Information Director, 508-793-7164
Email: dqualls@clarku.edu
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WARREN RISES ABOVE THE OPPOSITION
