Loos Earns NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University track and field athlete Jordan Loos (Sr., Springfield, OR/Thurston HS) has been selected to receive an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. The award provides $7,500 toward graduate school tuition.

"I was very excited to receive the award," Loos said. "I know paying for my graduate school is a daunting task and this definitely takes a load off my shoulders. I can't thank my coaches, teammates and other support groups enough for all that they have invested in me."

Loos, who also participated in football during his athletic career at Willamette, graduated this spring with a major in Physics and a minor in Chemistry. He is the 10th Willamette athlete to earn an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship since 2005. Nine of the scholarship recipients have been from the track and field or cross country teams.

"I will be studying chemical engineering at Columbia University in New York City," Loos said. "It is a year-and-a-half program that I'm excited to be attending."

This spring Loos set the Willamette record in the javelin with a throw of 214' 7" as he won the Northwest Conference title. He took 11th place at the NCAA Division III Championships. He placed fourth in the NWC in the hammer throw.

"In his four years, Jordan has made an amazing transformation from a high school baseball player, high jumper and football player to the Willamette school record holder in the javelin," said Bearcat track and field Head Coach Matt McGuirk.

"His first year was spent almost entirely in the training room with knee issues in his take off knee for the high jump. He was not able to participate in any sport," McGuirk added

"With no improvement in the fall (of his sophomore year), and a second missed football season, Jordan was not deterred," McGuirk continued. "He asked the track and field coaches what he could to to help the team since it was apparent that his days as a high jumper were over. He gradually worked his way back into training, and with absolutely no throwing experience, he was now a hammer thrower ... he showed gradual improvement over the first part of the season.

"Since they do not practice the hammer every day, he had time to explore another event," McGuirk said. "He was now also a javelin thrower. He ended the 2012 season with marks of 128' 0" in the hammer and 162' 9" in the javelin.

"Finally healthy and excited for the 2013 season, he began training with a passion in the fall of 2012 ... His hard work paid off with 2013 best marks of 154' 5" in the hammer and 187' 9" in the javelin, a mark that placed him seventh in the NWC.

"His 2014 season saw huge improvements in both events. His hammer mark of 179' 5" was just a few feet from qualifying for the NCAA Championships. His Willamette school record javelin throw of 214' 7" won him the NWC javelin title and ranked him third in NCAA Division III and just eight inches from the national leader," McGuirk concluded.

Willamette's NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Recipients:

Alicia Andrews ('05)
2004-05 Track and Field

Jordan Loos ('14)
2013-14 Track and Field

Alison Maki ('09)
2008-09 Cross Country

Kimber Mattox ('11)
2010-11 Cross Country

Shannon McGrane ('05)
2004-05 Track and Field

Natalie Muren ('06)
2005-06 Cross Country

Scott Overby ('05)
2004095 Track and Field

Chris Platano ('10)
2009-10 Track and Field

Stephanie Skelly ('12)
2011-12 Women's Soccer

Sarah Zerzan ('08)
2007-08 Cross Country