Cougar Athletics
30 NAIA National Championships
95 GSAC Championships
...and counting

THIS YEAR: One of the premier throwers in the NAIA, 4-time All-American Ruth Wilhelm is looking to become the first Cougar ever to earn All-America honors in all 6 throwing events (indoor/outdoor shot, weight, hammer, discus, javelin) … Owns the program’s seventh best efforts in the shot (44’ 8¼) hammer (166’ 6) and discus (151’ 8”) and the fifth best in the 20-pound weight throw (53’ 10½) … Is a 4-time All-GSAC honoree.

2007: Collected a trio of All-America honors during her 2007 junior campaign … Finished fifth in the 20-pound weight throw (personal-best 53’ 10½) at the NAIA Indoor Championships … At the NAIA Outdoor Championships was sixth in both the discus (149’ 9”) and the hammer (166’ 6”) … At the GSAC Championships was second in the shot (44’ 8¼”) and third in the hammer (158’ 0”).

2006: Put together a fine 2006 season in which she garnered her first-ever NAIA All-America recognition by finishing sixth in the hammer (160’ 5”) ... Also qualified for the NAIA meet, but did not score, in the discus and javelin throws ... At the NAIA Indoor Championship, qualified in the 20-pound weight throw but did not advance to the finals ... At the GSAC Championships in Fresno, helped lead Azusa Pacific to its second straight conference crown by scoring in the shot (38’ 8¼”), discus (147’ 8”), hammer (150’ 1”) and javelin (120’ 4”), tallying 17 points in the process.

2005: Enjoyed an excellent rookie season, qualifying for the NAIA Indoor and Outdoor Championships in 4 different throwing events (shot, javelin hammer and weight) … Won the GSAC title in the javelin (135’ 1”) and finished fourth in the discus (129’ 10) and fifth in the hammer (148’ 2”) … Posted season bests of 135’ 1” in the javelin and 158’ 0” in the hammer.

HIGH SCHOOL: Was a 3-sport standout at Crescent High in Joyce, Wash., where she was a 4-time all-state honoree in track & field … As a 2004 senior, won the state discus title with a school and state record throw of 141’ 1” … Was second in the shot … Also collected 4 varsity letters in basketball, earning All-North Olympic League recognition all 4 years while leading the Loggers to 2 conference championships … Played 3 seasons of volleyball.

PERSONAL: Born Sept. 3, 1985, in Port Angeles, Wash. … Parents are Dennis and Gail Wilhelm … Is 1 of 6 children, which includes older sister Vanessa, a 2-time NAIA champion and 10-time All-American thrower at Azusa Pacific, who still holds the school record in the javelin (153’ 6”) … Majoring in exercise and sport science … Wants to coach and teach.

WILHELM BESTS AT AZUSA PACIFIC
Year    Shot   Javelin   Discus   Hammer
2005  40-4 1/4  135-1    140-1    158-0 
2006  38-8 1/4  133-7    150-0    160-5 
2007  44-8 1/4  125-9    151-8    166-6