By Clint Kelly
In December, with just 7.7 seconds left on the game clock, Brannon Stone sank two free throws to lift the Seattle Pacific University Falcons to an 85-81 basketball victory over Wil-lamette University.
Had it really been 26 years since his dad's exploits as a Falcon small forward had similarly raised the noise level in Royal Brougham Pavilion? Brannon is one very visible and accomplished example of second-generation Falcon athletes currently competing at SPU. His brother, Garrett, is another. The redshirt freshman is biding his time for the day when his sneakers traverse the same path taken by his brother and father before him.
Many a multi-generational athlete has played for the maroon and white. They include names like Foreman, Hilliard, Sowards and Gough. National decathlon and triple jump champion Steve Gough '70 was followed in the classroom, and in track and field, by three sons: Bryan Gough '97, Kyle Gough '98 and Chris Gough '99.
Jeff Stone, Class of 1974, never dreamed both his sons would wear the uniform of his alma mater. "I was the first one in my family to go to college," he says, "but on my wife's side, Brannon and Garrett are numbers 18 and 19 to attend SPU. They're not just good athletes, they're good students and good kids."
Math and history major Nick Glancy's sports legacy really begins with his grandfather, Roy Glancy, who was a graduate of the old Seattle Pacific High School and, later, a passionate Falcon Club member. His son and Nick's father, John Glancy '70, was a guard on the Falcon basketball team and an accomplished runner who still holds the school record in the 400 meters.
That Nick runs cross country for the Falcons is part fatherly influence and part personal balance. "Cross coun-try's competitive, but it is not as all- consuming as some other sports," Nick says. "It allows more time for studies, church and extracurricular activities."
Balance is one reason why Tara Lemm decided not to participate in gymnastics this season in order to concentrate on her studies. No easy decision after 15 years in the sport, including one with the Falcons last year. Her sister, Tina, who graduated in 2000, was an SPU gymnast all four years.
Their father, Drake Lemm '71, was a Falcon wrestler like his brother Bill '69. "I'm proud my daughters have the desire, discipline and courage to rise to the level they have," Drake says.
Tim Marston joins his parents and many of his cousins, uncles and grandparents for whom Seattle Pacific provided an education. And like his father, Philip, Tim has invested a good share of his college life in track and cross country competition. "It's not that those sports are in the family genes," Tim explains, "but determination is."
Philip told his son about the strong friendships among his teammates, then introduced him to some of them at Home- coming reunions. "My dad's incredibly encouraging," says Tim. "He's traveled 300 miles to watch me compete."
Still more Falcon distance runners can be found in the Ross household. Jim Ross graduated from Seattle Pacific in 1965 after competing in track and cross country events. His daughter, Rachel, has kept up the pace, fueled no doubt by the stories her father told "all the time" about his experiences as a Falcon. SPU's Doris Heritage has been mentor to both father and daughter.
"My dad was a top runner here and that puts a lot of pressure on me," says Rachel, herself a two-time PacWest cross country champion. "But my parents are really supportive and practically came to every meet my first two years."
"We've had a friendly little competition going over the years, though she is a far better runner than I," Jim Ross says. Rachel keeps the blanket her dad earned for being a four-year Seattle Pacific letterman. It is all that remains of his running trophies that were consumed in a house fire years ago.
Father and daughter. Two Falcons a generation apart, yet bound by blood, a blanket and a sport shared.
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