Warriors Continue Winning in Athletics and in LifeJune 4, 2007 For a long time now Corban student athletes have been making a name for themselves and the college through their sports careers. Even more impressive are those alumni Warrior athletes continuing their “winning ways,” using their sports, education, and even marriages to make a difference in the world for Jesus Christ. Two of the ever-growing network of former Warrior athletic couples excelling at the Corban mission include Toby and Jenni Rainbow and Tyler and Kim (Segrin) Satterthwaite. The Rainbows and Satterthwaites, all four of whom competed athletically at Corban during glory days in their respective sports, continue to draw upon their rich college experiences to faithfully minister to younger student-athletes. Toby, a former Wyoming high school soccer star, migrated to Corban in 1995 just in time to become an integral part of the
most successful stretch of Warrior men’s soccer history. From 1995 through Toby’s graduating year in 1999, Corban’s soccer team won 56 games, qualified for two NAIA regional tournaments and captured both the NCCAA national title and the Cascade Collegiate Conference championship in 1997. Since those highly successful days, Toby has gone on to coach high school soccer, where in five years at Northwest Christian High near Spokane, Wash., his teams have accomplished two state runner-up finishes, often beating much bigger 4A and 5A programs in the area. While Toby loves his career calling as an IT Audit Manager for Sterling Savings Bank, he finds much fulfillment in coaching. “It’s been an amazing experience being involved with the program and the players," says Toby, who majored in accounting. “I have learned a lot and gotten really close to the kids. I have had several players come back and say they’ve learned a lot.” His soccer coaching and vocational success are products of his Corban days, according to Toby. “With the coaching and role models I had, I’ve just done my best to mimic those,” says Toby. “I use probably 90 percent of the drills we used in college, and the work ethic and attitude I communicate with my kids are those instilled in me from [Corban].” Toby's ultimate goals as a coach are also Corban shaped: “Your witness and the way people view you on the field is much more important than the score of the game. Coach Danielian (former Warrior soccer coach) always talked about how the game was second to our witness, and I’ve come to understand the truth in that,” notes Toby. “I really enjoy seeing these kids develop, start to mature and comprehend sportsmanship and leadership.” Jenni Rainbow played volleyball for Corban in the late 1990’s and was one of the top servers on the one Warrior team that won a national Christian college championship and established a school best 31-10 season record in 1997. Jenni is currently second all-time in serving aces per game and fifth in career aces at Corban. After several years coaching middle school-aged volleyball and club teams, Jenni has more recently stepped aside to devote her time to daughters Chloe (4) and Isabel (2). Jenni values the life lessons she gained from both her sports career and her academic training at Corban--everything from diligence and responsibility to integrity and work ethic. “Under Tracy (Smith) in volleyball, we were impressed to pursue a life in Christ and be women of God,” remembers Jenni. “I felt extremely busy with athletics, work, marriage and school – that really developed my work ethic. I learned to give 100 percent to everything. We got the most important things in and we got them done right. That was a very important lesson Tracy emphasized.” As a double major in accounting and finance, Jenni sees how her college education enabled her to experience several quality years in the public accounting field. Since graduation, both she and Toby have received consistent complimentary notice from employers for distinguished service in professional capacities. “Academically [at Corban], being ethical and glorifying Christ were big things, especially in the business department,” says Jenni. “We were really pushed to work hard to become good employees and let our light shine through that work ethic and integrity. It really shaped my career.”
Another integral member of that memorable ‘97 Warrior championship volleyball team, Kim Satterthwaite taught and coached at the high school level for several years before following Jenni into a full-focused mothering role. Kim (’99) ranks among the top three Corban all-time leaders in match, season, and career digs, and among the top 10 in kills, proving to be one of the more versatile performers in Warrior history. Tyler, as a transfer student, made an impressive mark in just two seasons as a Warrior post, helping spearhead the first ever Corban men’s basketball conference championships and back-to-back trips to the NAIA National tournaments in 1997 and 1998. In his senior year, Tyler averaged 21 points and 8 rebounds per game on his way to garnering Cascade Collegiate Conference Player of the Year and NAIA All-American honors. Far removed from their storied competitive days as Corban athletic stars, the Satterthwaites are heavily invested in ministering to the needs of teenagers in and out of athletics. Tyler teaches and coaches varsity boys’ basketball at David Douglas High in Portland, Ore. He and Kim serve as leaders in the Young Life campus ministry at the same school. Both are eager to note the Corban influence in shaping their life and career pursuits. For Tyler, the memorable years of ’97 and ’98 at Corban gave him a huge dose of a thriving Christian family atmosphere inspired by godly, caring coaches, and mature and dedicated Christian teammates who, together, were determined to excel as competitors and as Christ’s ambassadors. “My senior year was the first time I began figuring out that God had me playing basketball for a bigger reason than my own fame,” says Tyler. “I was seeing a true example of a coach (Tim Hills) who cared about his players and who fostered a family atmosphere. And I was playing with guys who loved the Lord and who were putting something beyond themselves as their goal. We weren’t the most talented team, but we were such a good team together – the epitome of sacrifice. Because we were so successful and there wasn’t really a good explanation for it, it opened a lot of doors to talk to people. The standard was excellence – we wanted to compete and do our best, but we were not willing to do it the wrong way. Those values are underlying everything I do. He (God) used basketball and these relationships -- they’ve carried me into coaching.” Kim knows her collegiate education (secondary education/language arts) and athletic career impact her current ministry building relationships, teaching small groups, and mentoring young student athletes. “So many students who come through Young Life have a connection to a sport. I understand an athlete’s mentality and have an understanding that helps me give support and encouragement,” says Kim. “She has a natural connection with female athletes because they recognize her as a pretty high level college athlete. She’s using that history to be able to meet and connect with some of those kids,” says Tyler. Known as a great competitor, Kim still considers the post-national championship team singing praise to the Lord as the highlight of her volleyball career. She also continues to sing the praises of her coaches, professors and teammates at Corban. “I really appreciate all my professors and how well they taught their individual courses, but also because they were solid people of God,” says Kim. "It was so good to be able to sit and study under people of character who loved the Lord. I still have my [college] notebooks and I use them a lot. I reference them when I prepare for my small groups. It’s carried over into my life now.” Over the years, Tyler and Kim have seen the blessing and fruit of faithfully investing in the lives of young people. They continue to see young people come to know the Lord, and now their older former players and students are going on to assume leadership roles. “A lot of students we’ve had are now Young Life leaders in college – they have their own Bible study groups and they call us for input,” says Kim. “That’s really rewarding because it is the whole philosophy of making disciples.” “If I couldn’t have a ministry, I wouldn’t be a teacher,” says Tyler. “I feel at times like I’m more of a pastor than a teacher; my jobs are so relational. When you invest in kids’ lives the relational side makes it exciting. For Kim and me to know the same kids and be praying for them – we feel very good about that.” Though Kim has coached volleyball for years, now with two little boys under the age of three, she sees that role diminishing while the ministry with young people continues. “I’m taking what I really enjoy and trying to be a part and a presence,” says Kim. “With Young Life I still have contact with youth, and I go to a lot of the events. These kids see us as a couple with a positive marriage.” Both Kim and Tyler share a passion for young people. That means long days, many evenings and summer time spent in coaching, outreach events, Bible study, mentoring relationships and camp ministry. “Some days it could be easy to resent that process of being stretched and to desire to take things easier,” says Tyler. “I think God wants me to be uncomfortable. It’s not about me being on center stage but about putting Him on center stage.” Kim agrees: “That is the reason we are involved. It’s how we can directly talk to kids about Christ. It’s how we live out the Great Commission.”
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