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--> --> Ryan Beugli works against South Medford in a 2001 game. Daily Tidings file photo Beugli headed for Whittier By Sarah Petersen Ashland Daily Tidings Ryan Beugli's basketball career just got extended. The Ashland High senior signed a letter of intent this week to play basketball next year at Whittier College in Southern California. "I am very excited," Beugli said. "This school offers the best education and was a good opportunity for me to keep playing ball. When I went on my recruiting trip, in early May, I met my new teammates and it seemed like I could get along with all of them really well. "My coach is a cool guy. He's really laid back and is friends with all the students." Beugli will be stepping out of a winless Grizz program that went 0-16 this past year in the Southern Oregon Conference into a winning team that finished 14-11 overall and 8-6 in conference. The NCAA Division III school is part of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, which competes against Cal Tech, Cal Lutheran, Claremont-Mudd-Scripts, University of LaVerne, Occidental, Pamona Pitzer and Redlands. Rock Carter, the head coach at Whittier, heard about Beugli and called Grizz basketball coach John Skinner and asked for game film, and from there the recruiting process began. "He's a quality person and a good player," Carter said. "He's going to be a good player for us. He brings size and ability to our team. He'll most likely play the two guard for us. He also holds a high character which our team is known for, and exhibits it on and off the court." The school has given Beugli a scholarship package that will pay $17,145, more than half of the $28,000 tuition bill. Coach Skinner couldn't be more pleased for the future Whittier basketball star. "He is the best kid I have ever coached," said Skinner. "Ryan has the best attitude and work ethic I have ever seen. He can play all five positions on the court and plays really good defense. He wanted to go away to school and now he has the opportunity. I am very excited for him, I know he'll do great." Beugli had been looking at junior colleges around Oregon to continue his basketball career or maybe even attending Oregon State University as a student, but then saw Whittier and knew that it was the place for him. Beugli plans on studying pre-engineering and one day becoming an electrical engineer. "The school doesn't offer engineering but has a solid math program that will help me get into a good graduate program some place else to get my engineering degree," Beugli said. This fall Beugli won't be the only incoming freshman at Whittier. Carter has signed four other newcomers as well for the 2001-02 season. Before Beugli travels south he'll be working out and getting in shape with the basketball workout program Whittier is sending him sometime this week. "I am really glad that I am going to Whittier," said Beugli. "Now that I have chosen a school it is a huge relief. I am not nervous to leave, I'm just excited." Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing