Kenny Mayne
“Wenatchee Valley was a great fit for me coming out of high school. My goal was to play D-1 football and graduate in Broadcasting/Journalism. But at 18 I wasn’t big enough or good enough. My time in Wenatchee allowed me to mature both as a student and an athlete. I ended up on scholarship at UNLV, partly through perseverance and partly through the opportunity and encouragement I received in Wenatchee. I remember a team meeting one time where our coach Sandy Cooprider said he understood a lot of us thought we belonged at a bigger college or a higher level of football. He then taught us a lesson that I’ve used the rest of my life. He said while it might be true that we will get to a bigger level one day, wherever we are we need to make that our big time. Do the best you can wherever you are in the moment and good things will come from it.”
Marco Azurdia
"My time at WVC was instrumental in shaping my growth as both a coach and an administrator. I believe coaching offers a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact on young people. At the same time, my players have had a meaningful impact on me, and for that I am truly grateful. The lasting relationships formed at WVC—with players, fans, and the Knights community—remain important to me today. WVC, and WVC athletics, is and always will be home.”
Shelly Pflugrath
"I was blessed to coach softball at Wenatchee Valley College for 17 years. The most rewarding part of which was watching student athletes grow both on and off the field. My goal was to help each athlete reach their current athletic and academic goals while preparing them for the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. The wins and championships (10 Eastern Region and 1 NWAC Tournament) were special, but the greatest measure of our programs success was seeing our student-athletes graduate, continue their athletic careers, pursue their academic dreams and become confident, successful women long after their time at WVC."
Issac Jones
“WVC changed my life. Everything from the school, community and coaches helped make my NBA dreams come true. Truly unforgettable. And as always… GO KNIGHTS!”
Greg Franz
"Through WVC and North Central Washington basketball, Wenatchee Valley quickly became more than a job—it became home. Some of my most fulfilling memories from my years at WVC come from the success we built with area and in-state student-athletes. NCW athletes, with their strong work ethic and deep desire to compete, formed the nucleus of our program’s success. I look back with pride on the many NCW athletes who moved from WVC men’s basketball to excel both athletically and academically at four-year colleges and universities. Many of those athletes, along with others who chose different paths, have returned to North Central Washington to pursue careers and raise their families. Through programs such as Knight Buddies youth basketball, summer camps, summer leagues, exhibition scrimmages throughout NCW, and even an adult spring league, we worked to strengthen both the quality of the game and the community’s love for it. I hope we impacted this community as much as North Central Washington impacted me and my family."
Sandy Cooprider
“I came to Wenatchee Valley College because I liked the football coach, Tom Parry. I came to Wenatchee when I was an eighth grader to participate in an AAU track meet. I remembered the nice people here, and that stuck in my head and was another reason I chose WVC. When I finished my master’s, my wife and I were going to move in six years, and then more opportunities became available to me. The decision that I made at that time was life-changing. I never imagined that when I finished my master’s degree at Whitworth University, I would be coaching football, serving as head baseball coach, and working as a full-time instructor at WVC. I was hired in August of 1971. Opportunities again helped me become the head football coach in 1977. I had to rebuild the program and was fortunate enough to hire good coaches. In 1983, we won the NWAACC Championship and ended up number two in the nation with a 9-0-1 season. Another opportunity came when WVC hired me as the Athletic Director in 1984. I built the Sandy Cooprider Sports Complex with only outside funds, none from the state or WVC. The community stepped up, and I raised close to 2 million dollars, along with much more in-kind machinery and labor. That is another reason I stayed at WVC. After 44 years as an instructor, I retired in 2015. I have not ventured too far from the athletic program. I am actively involved with helping fundraise, marketing, and branding of the athletic program. We have a lot of excitement for the future of the WVC athletic program."
GO KNIGHTS
Sandy Cooprider
Former student-athlete alumnus
