Blue Devil Report
Fall '98 In Review
The most potent offensive football team in UW-Stout history, a volleyball team that advanced further in the NCAA playoffs than any other Blue Devil volleyball team, a stiffened soccer defense and two repeat cross country All-Americas highlighted an exciting 1998 fall sports season.
Football
Offense was the name of the game for the Blue Devil football team as the Blue Devils put together the most potent offensive machine in UW-Stout history, racking up an average of 436 total yards per game and 36 points per game, both team records.The Blue Devils were led by quarterback Matt Bunyan (Sr., Janesville), who shattered just about every passing record at the university. Bunyan leaves Stout with school records for most career passing touchdowns (85), most TDs in a single game (6), most completions in a game (37), most attempts in a game (61), most passing yards in a game (486), longest pass play (98), most passing TDs in a season (38) and most passing yards in a season (3221).
Bunyan was not the only Blue Devil to break records. Tailback Shawn Lund (Jr., Ashland) set records for most TDs in season (15), most TD pass receptions (12) and most points scored in a season (94).
The Blue Devils had an up-and-down season, finishing with a 5-5 record, crushing NCAA Division III playoff qualifier UW-Eau Claire, 35-7, at homecoming, and coming within seconds of downing UW-Whitewater, falling 45-43.
Defensive tackle Bill Berg (Sr., Washburn) was the only Blue Devil named first team all-WIAC, but to the second team were Bunyan, Shawn Lund offensive tackle Ben Leslie (Sr., Eau Claire), wide receiver Jesse Diaz (Jr., Cottage Grove), linebacker Eric Lund (So., Ashland), and defensive back Joe Verstegen (Sr., Little Chute). Named to the honorable mention team was defensive lineman Tony Spencer (Sr., Milwaukee), defensive back Corey Morning (Sr., Bloomer), offensive lineman Chris Memelink (Sr., Hastings, Minn), running back Ryan Patt (Jr., N. Fond du Lac) and wide receiver Jesse Witcraft (Sr., New Lisbon).
Volleyball
For the first time in Blue Devil volleyball history, Stout advanced past the first round of the NCAA playoffs in putting together their best season since 1994 with an overall record of 22-14 and a third place finish in the WIAC.Second team All-America pick Stacy Stoddard (Sr., St. Paul, Minn) paced the team offensively, finishing the season with a school record 541 kills. Stoddard also leaves with school records for most solo blocks in a game (8), most solo blocks in a season (76) and most solo (185) and assisted (264) blocks in a career.
Monica Cyrus (Sr., Farmington, Minn) also leaves her mark in the Stout record book, setting a new record for most digs in a season (536) and second on the all-time career digs list (1432). Cyrus was a conference honorable mention choice.
Soccer
Record-wise, the Blue Devils 7-10-1 soccer record didn't meet the goals set at the beginning of the season, but the team improved their team defense, allowing 10 fewer goals than in the previous year. The Blue Devils took a few steps forward in the conference, earning respect from their opponents with their more solid all around play.Carrie Blaska (Sr., Ramsey, Minn) led the improved defense and was named a first-team all-conference pick. Goalkeeper Nikki Bezak (Jr., Coon Rapids, Minn) --- the team MVP --- and forward Alyssa Halverson (Sr., Rochester, Minn) were second team selections.
After playing only two years with the Blue Devils, Halverson leaves the program holding school career records for most goals scored (24) and most points (59).
Women's Cross Country
Katie Jacobson (Sr., Eau Claire) and Katy Olsen (Sr., Rice Lake) got the headlines by heading to national competition and bringing home All-America awards for the second consecutive season, but the remainder of the Blue Devil women's cross country team had an accomplished season.The Blue Devils lost No. 3 runner Jen Wucherer (Jr., Edgar) early to a broken foot, but Stout put together a stronger group of young runners that all showed improvement as the team placed fourth at the WIAC meet.
Olsen finished third in then record time (18:01), but Jacobson was right behind in fourth (18:01). The two traded spots at the NCAA Division III regionals with Jacobson setting a new school mark (17:47) to place fourth and Olsen just trailing in fifth (17:48). Jacobson was 14th at nationals, while Olsen was 23rd.
Men's Cross Country
With five of the teams top seven runners from the previous season absent, it appeared to be a bleak season for the men's cross country team, but the young Blue Devils equaled the team's 1997 performance by placing sixth at the WIAC meet and eighth in the region.Josh Johnson (So., Oregon), Eric Hanson (Jr., Winona, Minn) and Clint Latz (Fr., Lublin) led the team most of the season. Hanson finished 20th at the conference meet, with Johnson 21st and Latz 30th.
The Blue Devils graduated team captain Mike Schumann (Sr., Schaumburg, Ill), Ryan Hill (Sr., Chetek) and Todd Johnson (Sr., St. Charles, Ill.). All three hit season best times at the conference meet.
Women's Tennis
Not too many coaches would get overly excited about posting an 0-8 final season record, but first year coach Craig Monson saw what he was looking for throughout the season -- improvement.Monson inherited a team that lost the majority of its squad, then was bit with a few injuries througout the season. Monson hit the recruiting trail on campus to put together a complete team, and then some. As the team geared up for the conference tournament in late October, Monson began to see the improvement he had been waiting for. Several of the players improved on their seeding, sparking renewed interest.
Lauren Mader (Jr., Neenah) played at No. 1 singles and doubles, posting a 4-3 singles record despite an ankle injury early in the season.
The Blue Devils will play an abbreviated spring schedule.
For more details on UW-Stout athletics, check out the Blue Devil web page at: www.uwstout.edu/athletics