When Linfield’s Wildcat football team traveled to Wisconsin to play the University of Wisconsin Whitewater in semifinals of the 2009 NCAA Division III football championship playoffs, Water Crew members John Schindelar and John O'Connor were part of the team’s traveling par
ty.Schindelar told Scott Carnahan, Linfield athletic director, that traveling with the team to Whitewater “was the experience of a lifetime for us. It gave us an
opportunity to get to know all the people associated with Linfield athletics.”Immediately prior to the trip,
Schindelar said he and O’Connor had not missed a Linfield football game in the 2009 season and “there was no reason to miss” it. As with all road games during the season, Water Crew members pay their own way for airfare and lodging.UWW won the game, 27-17, played Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009, on artificial turf on a sunny and chilly day – with snow on the sidelines -- at its Perkins Stadium in
Whitewater, Wisc. The following week, UWW won the 2009 NCAA DIII national football championship, beating Mount Union in the Stagg Bowl played in Salem, Va.
In preparation for traveling, Schindelar and O’Connor consulted with Water Crew member Eric Lundeen, who has lived and gone to school in Wisconsin. The two Johns followed several of Lundeen’s recommendation including wearing long underwear.
The team flew/from on a chartered flight from Portland International Airport to Dane County Regional Airport in Madison, Wisc. It was transported in Wisconsin via chartered buses from Van Galder Bus Co. of Janesville, Wisc. The team stayed at a motel in Janesville, which is located about 20 miles from Whitewater and about 40 miles from Madison. The team left Portland on Dec. 10 and returned to Portland on Dec. 12.
Itinerary for the team included practicing in the University of Wisconsin Madison’s Dave McClain (indoor) Athletic Facility on the UW Madison’s campus in Madison, Wisc.
All photos here, except for exterior to the Dave McCain facility were provided by Schindelar. Photo ID (from top to bottom):
- Linfield Water Crew’s John O’Connor (left) and John Schindelar posing at Perkins Stadium on Friday, Dec. 11, 2009, while Linfield football team did a “walk through” on the field.
- Linfield football team on the field, before kickoff, on game day, Saturday, Dec.12, 2009.
- UW Whitewater Perkins Stadium on game day.
- Linfield head athletic trainer Tara Lepp, Brandy Mailer, athletic trainer and John O’Connor of the Linfield Water Crew pose at Perkins Stadium prior to start of the game on game day.
- Ryan Carlson, Linfield football video guru, former Linfield football player, creator and coordinator of catdomealumni.com outside one of the Linfield team’s chartered buses taken after the game.
- Linfield head athletic trainer Tara Lepp, and Brandy Mailer, athletic trainer, in the team’s Perkins Stadium locker room on Friday, Dec. 11.
- University of Wisconsin Madison's Dave McCain facility.
