By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University seniors Mack van der Velde (D, Voorhout, Neth./Summit HS, Bend, OR) and Sydney Wilson (M, Olympia, WA/Capital HS) have been named to the Northwest Conference Scholar-Athlete First Team for the 2021-22 athletic year. The award honors the top male student-athlete and the top female student-athlete from each NWC college and university, based on athletic success, academic accomplishments, and community service.
Van der Velde played for the men's soccer team for four years as a Bearcat (2017-19, Fall 2021). Wilson competed for the women's soccer team at Willamette each of the past four seasons (2018-19, Spring 2021, Fall 2021).
Earlier this year, van der Velde received the J.H. Booth Award from Willamette for 2021-22. The Booth Award is presented each year to the Willamette senior men's student-athlete who most exemplified and demonstrated outstanding leadership, scholarship, and athleticism. Wilson was honored as Willamette's Senior Scholar-Athlete Award winner in women's athletics for 2021-22. The Senior Scholar-Athlete Award is presented to the men's and women's senior student-athletes who have achieved the highest cumulative grade point averages through the fall semester.
NWC Scholar-Athlete First Team
Mack van der Velde (Sr., D), Men's Soccer
During his four seasons as a defender for the Bearcats, van der Velde competed in a total of 70 games, including 61 starts. He scored 12 goals throughout his career while also earning six assists, 30 points, 48 total shots, 25 shots on goal, and six game-winning goals. As a senior, he played in 17 games -- all in the starting lineup. He contributed five goals and two assists for 12 points in the fall of 2021, as he ranked second on the Willamette scoring chart. He also helped the Bearcats register six shutouts. He provided game-winning goals in 2-1 victories over Occidental College (Calif.) on Sept. 6 and Pacific University on Oct. 24. Van der Velde was named Second Team All-NWC in 2019 and 2021. He also was a member of the 2017 NWC Co-Championship team that qualified for the NCAA Tournament, was named Third Team All-Region X in 2021.
An Economics major with a 3.70 GPA, van der Velde was a four-time NWC Scholar-Athlete, and was named to the Mortar Board Society and the Chi Alpha Sigma honor society. He also was involved in the Willamette Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the NWC SAAC, serving from 2018-21. He was the Co-President for Willamette from 2019-21 and was the NWC President in 2020-21. Van der Velde was involved in Special Olympics Oregon, the Athletics Professional Development Series, Bearcat Day with Bush Elementary, the NWC Voting Initiative, and the Food Drive for Marion Polk Food Share.
Head Men's Soccer Coach Sam Adelman said, "Mack had friends on pretty much every team in the conference. He was seen meeting up with opposition in the lobbies at hotels, and often taking pictures with opponents after matches. He had a lot of mutual respect for many players and coaches in the conference. As a captain of the team, he was quick to halt altercations, and keep our team steady, reminding our players to respect the opponent, officials, and the game itself. Mack also did the same thing as a SAAC President. He worked to make sure all teams were supported and worked on efforts such as the Voting Initiative for student-athletes".
Sydney Wilson (Sr., M), Women's Soccer
A four-year member and three-year starter for the Willamette women's soccer team, Wilson was an integral member of the team during her senior season as she played in 17 games, all starts. She helped win the ball on defense, provided solid connections in the midfield to move the ball forward, and was a threat on offense. Wilson earned two goals and one assist for five points this past fall, while taking 16 shots with eight shots on goal. She went 1 for 1 on a penalty kick. Her ability to control the ball and to shield off defenders was important for the Bearcats whenever she was on the field. She consistently made a positive impact during Willamette's games. She was named Honorable Mention All-NWC in 2021.
An Exercise and Health Science major with a 3.99 GPA and a Biology minor, Wilson earned a number of academic honors, including the Pre-Health Al Ferrin Award, the Abendroth Research Award, and the Exercise and Health Science Departmental Award. She was named to the NWC Scholar-Athlete team four years in a row and was named to the Chi Alpha Sigma student-athlete honor society. Wilson graduated Summa Cum Laude. Wilson was a member of Willamette's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and she participated in the 2020 NCAA Inclusion Forum. Wilson traveled to Kenya in 2021 as an International Medical Aid at the General Coastal Hospital. She also was the Special Olympics Coordinator while at Willamette.
"Sydney is a great teammate," Assistant Women's Soccer Coach Quinn Nottage said. "She contributes to her team on and off the field. She even came to the spring training this spring because she knew that her returning teammates needed more folks on the field to train and to train with a new coach. She came to help those coming back get better. She's always making sure her team is making smart decisions and doing things the right way on and off the field. She is a leader amongst her peers and others look to her for guidance and support".
