The Stanford Athletics Buck/Cardinal Clubhouse

Seldom do a brother and sister attend the same university at the same time, let alone compete in the same sport. In the case of Kelly and Jack Ortel, they wouldn’t want it any other way.

Kelly, ’14, and Jack, ’15, grew up in Annapolis, Maryland, and are members of nationally-ranked Stanford sailing. Both have been key contributors to the most successful team in school history, Stanford sweeping all six Pacific Coast Sailing Conference titles in Santa Barbara, California, in late April—a league first.

Varsity sailing comprises six divisions: singlehanded one-person sailing for men and women in the fall; match racing, where three people are on the boat; two-person sailing—team—in the spring, which puts your best three boats in the water against an opponent’s, with the lowest score getting a win in round-round format; and coed and women’s sailing, where there is an A and B division.

Kelly, a sophomore majoring in computer science, crewed ... Continue Reading

In an exclusive and wide-ranging post-Stanford career interview with the Buck/Cardinal Clubhouse, quarterback Andrew Luck, ’12 (architectural design), talks about his time at Stanford; how the 2011 team helped revitalize the program; his most memorable games; how he balanced academics and athletics; his relationship with former Stanford quarterback Jim Plunkett; why he grew a beard; what he looks forward to in the NFL; his appreciation of the Stanford football staff, professors, students, and fans; attending college with his younger sister Mary Ellen; the importance of donor support for all student-athletes; his connection to Stanford football great Frankie Albert; and what he’ll miss most about the Farm.

Additional Buck/Cardinal Clubhouse features on the Stanford Football's Andrew Luck:

12 ... Continue Reading

​Photo credit: Hector Garcia-Molina

Alyssa Brown might not be the most inspirational participant at this week’s NCAA women’s gymnastics championships in Duluth, Georgia, but you would have a hard time convincing Stanford coach Kristen Smyth otherwise. Given the injuries and tough luck her senior co-captain has overcome during her career, it’s a wonder she’s competing.

Brown, a human biology major from Oakville, Ontario, Canada, has been sidelined by ankle, knee, and shoulder ailments—so much so, she has often spent more time rehabbing and encouraging her teammates than scoring points.

At the end of her ... Continue Reading