March 4, 2022

Media Contact:
Greg Franz, interim athletic director, 509-682-6771
Libby Siebens, community relations executive director, 509-682-6436 (Mon.-Thurs.)

After their victory against Yakima Valley College on March 2, the Wenatchee Valley College Women’s Basketball team secured a spot in the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC) playoffs. They have a 10-4 conference record with two regular season games left to play.

Of the four losses, three are forfeits in January due to COVID-19 complications. Including pre-season and non-conference games, the team has a 17-8 record.

In addition to COVID-19, the team faced other challenges this season. In August 2021, WVC’s head women’s basketball coach of 16 years resigned. The team was at risk of having their season suspended if a coach could not be found. In October 2021, WVC hired Jason Heinz as an interim head coach. Heinz graduated from Wenatchee High school and currently lives in East Wenatchee. He has coached AAU basketball teams for the past seven years.

“This group of women is the most resilient team I have ever coached. Through all the adversities they have kept their focus and determination,” Heinz said. “They have zero quit and an enormous amount of drive and it shows in practices and games.”

In late December, the team lost a player due to academic ineligibility. The team played the entire regular season with just six players.

"This team and these women stand out for their determination and refuse-to-quit mentality," said Greg Franz, WVC interim athletic director.

The women’s team plays Big Bend Community College on Saturday, March 5, and will close out the season with a home game against Columbia Basin College on Wednesday, March 9. They won against Columbia Basin 59-40 on Feb. 2 and against Big Bend 74-62 on Feb. 23.

The NWAC women’s basketball playoffs will be March 19-20.

WVC men’s basketball is undefeated in the league and will compete in the men’s playoffs March 17-18.

Find athletic rosters, schedules and scores at gowvc.com.

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Wenatchee Valley College enriches North Central Washington by serving educational and cultural needs of communities and residents throughout the service area. The college is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion for all students and employees and provides high-quality transfer, liberal arts, professional/technical, basic skills and continuing education for students of diverse ethnic and economic backgrounds. Visit our website, wvc.edu. 

Wenatchee Valley College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity in employment and student enrollment. All programs are free from discrimination and harassment against any person because of race, creed, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a service animal by a person with a disability, age, parental status or families with children, marital status, religion, genetic information, honorably discharged veteran or military status or any other prohibited basis per RCW 49.60.030, 040 and other federal and state laws and regulations, or participation in the complaint process. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies and Title IX compliance for both the Wenatchee and Omak campuses:

• To report discrimination or harassment: Title IX Coordinator, Wenatchi Hall 2322M, (509) 682-6445, title9@wvc.edu.
• To request disability accommodations: Director of Student Access, Wenatchi Hall 2133, (509) 682-6854, TTY/TTD: dial 711, sas@wvc.edu.