Football

October 23, 2000

ON THE LINE: With a win against UW-Oshkosh, UW-Stout would clinch a tie for the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) title, the first time a Stout football team would have worn the crown since 1965, and in the process would also qualify for the first time ever to the NCAA Division III playoffs. The Blue Devils are ranked No. 7 in the Oct. 24 AFCA poll. Stout is currently one game ahead of UW-La Crosse in the standings. The game is also Senior Day, the Hall of Fame game, and the final regular season football game to be played on Nelson Field. The new Don & Nona Williams Stadium is scheduled to open for the 2001 season.

LAST TIME OUT: Stout: Luke Bundgaard literally carried the Blue Devils on his back as Stout rallied for a 43-35 win over a determined UW-Platteville team, Oct. 21. Bundgaard set school records by carrying the ball 45 times for 335 yards, and matched a school mark with four TDs. Linebacker Eric Lund kept the Blue Devils in the game all afternoon, picking off three passes leading to 17 Stout points. Trailing 35-24 with nine minutes remaining, Stout's defense dug in, allowing only two positive yardage plays and a minus-25 yards in those final nine minutes. Platteville had a strong first half and finished with 483 passing yards, but 465 yards of total offense. The Blue Devils held the Pioneers to minus-18 yards rushing, the fifth time this year Stout has held an opponent to minus rushing yards. The Blue Devils finished with 524 yards, 419 on the ground, 105 in the air.

Oshkosh: The UW-River Falls offensive machine stayed in high gear against the Titans, racking up 546 yards on the ground and 588 total yards as the Titans dropped a 48-20 decision. Quarterback Alan Beversdorf completed 20-of-41 passes for 298 yards, throwing for one TD and running for another. The Titans knotted the score at 14-14 to open the second half when Lucas Jachthuber picked up a fumble on the kickoff and returned it for a score. The Falcons ripped off three TDs over the next 15 minutes, allowed a Titan score, then came back with three more. Oshkosh lost four fumbles in the game.

LAST YEAR: Both Stout and Oshkosh are members of the eight-team Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) and are affiliated with the NCAA Division III. Stout was 2-8 overall, 1-6 (eighth) in the WIAC. The Titans were 3-5 overall, 2-5 (6th, tie) in the WIAC.

THE SERIES: This will be the 44th meeting between the two teams that began in 1947 with an Oshkosh, 19-12, win. The Titans hold a 24-18-1 lead in the series, which includes a 27-17 win last season at Titan Stadium. The two teams played evenly through the first half, with a 10-10 halftime score. The Titans added 10 points in the third period, which would prove to be the difference. Both teams added a TD in the fourth period. Stout won the statistical battle, racking up 353 total yards of offense to the Titans' 275. Stout's Marty Goryl threw for 211 yards, and Stout rushed for 142 yards. The Titans were limited to 95 yards passing, but gained 180 yards on the ground, including three rushing TDs.

STOUT PLAYERS TO WATCH: RB Luke Bundgaard (Fr, Weyerhauser) 160 carries, 873 yds (1105 is school single season record), 5.5 y/car, 9 TD, 4 receptions, 45 yds, 11.3 y/rec; RB Eric Baker (Jr, Sarona) 47 car, 252 yds, 5.4 y/car; RB Mark Bergman (Jr, Grantsburg) 52 car, 160 yds, 3.1 y/car, 2 TD, 20 rec, 153 yds, 7.7 y/rec; WR Abraham Cruz (Fr, Alhambra, Calif) 15 rec, 252 yds, 16.8 y/rec, 3 TDs; WR Josh Antoni (So, Holmen) 14 rec, 161 yds, 11.5 y/rec; LB Steve Miller (Sr, Lodi) 50 tackles, 27 solo, 2.5 sacks, 2 int for 11 yds one TD; 4 fumble recoveries; DB Eric Moe (So, Hixton) 6 int for 39 yds, one TD, 37 tackles, 25 solo; DB Tony Beckham (Jr, Ocala, Fla) one int for 24 yd TD, 6 pass break ups; LB Eric Lund (Sr, Ashland) 32 tackles, 19 solo, 5 tackles for losses of 22 yds, 2 pass break ups, 3 int for 53 yds, 3 fumble recoveries - 2 for TDs, 3 TDs; Jamie Spielman (So, Menomonie) 52 tackles, 28 solo, 14 tackles for losses of 46 yds, 3 sacks for 30 yds, 1 pass break up; DB Kevin Dewey (Fr, Burnsville, Minn) 38 tackles, 22 solo, 4 int for 28yds; DL Jeff Hazuga (Sr, Thorp) 7 sacks for 68 yards, 15 tackles for losses of 79 yds; P/PK Kevin McCulley (Sr, Fond du Lac) 10-19 FG (set school career FG record at 21), 24-26 PAT, 40.7 y/punt; Blue Devils avg 353.3 total ypg, 231.0 rushing, 122.3 passing; give up 230.9 total ypg, 54.6 rushing, 176.3 passing. Stout has 19 interceptions while throwing four. Stout outscoring opponents, 218-102.

OSHKOSH PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Alan Beversdorf (Jr, Wittenberg) 236 pass attempts, 122 comp, 12 int, 1687 yds, 14 TDs; WR Shannon King (Jr, Waukegan, Ill) 24 rec, 334 yds, 13.9 y/rec, 3 TDs, kickoff returns 10-293 yds, 29.3y/ret, 1 TD; WR Mike Vielehr (Schaumburg, Ill) 35 rec, 504 yds, 14.4 y/rec, 4 TDs; RB Mike Scovronski (Sr, Omro) 112 carries, 412 yds, 3.7 y/car, 1 TD; LB Ryan Thompson (Sr, Iola) 58 tackles, 33 solo; FS Keith Kamps (Jr, Crivitz) 46 tackles, 25 solo, 5 int for 53 yds; LB Louis Singleton (Sr, Vallejo, Calif) 45 tackles, 24 solo, 9 tackles for losses of 40 yds, 4 sacks for 29 yds; Titans avg. 327.4 total ypg, 84.7 rushing, 243.1 passing; give up 387.9 total ypg, 195.0 rushing, 192.9 passing. Oshkosh is being outscored, 201-151.

OFFENSIVE LOOK: Oshkosh: Pro-Set; Stout: multi-pro set which incorporates a West Coast style offense. DEFENSIVE LOOK: Oshkosh: Multiple 5-2; Stout: 3-4

COACHES: Stout coach Ed Meierkort (33-44 career) is in his eighth year. Oshkosh coach Phil Meyer (2-5) is in his first year.

STOUT COACH ED MEIERKORT SAYS: "I have got to hand it to Platteville, they did a good job of scheming us. The game was a tale of two halves. They got off to a very good offensive start, but then we had a good defensive second half. We were able to physically dominate them up front. There was never a sense of panic on our part. We missed some opportunities (in the first half) and felt we could move the ball offensively. Once our defense picked it up in the second half, our offense fed off that. We didn't know Luke (Bundgaard) had that many carries. Once the offensive line began to dominate, Luke's style began to work well. Eric Lund is just a huge, playmaking machine. He has had a huge impact on our defensive effort all season.

"Oshkosh is a much improved team and are well prepared by Phil Meyer and his staff. Their quarterback (Beversdorf) may be the best quarterback and he has a live arm. Shannon King is the premier player in the league. They have a big, strong offensive line. If we are going to win our first conference title in 35 years, we are going to have to earn it. We will have to work extremely hard to beat Oshkosh.

"This is the first week we talked about the possibility of a conference championship. Instead of pushing it under the door, we addressed it at our team meeting. We told them, let's just go out and get one."

RADIO: WMEQ 880 AM, Jake Bostrom, Dan Stevens, Dick Lowery

October 21, 2000

PLATTEVILLE - UW-Stout got off to their best start in school history, but they needed a comeback to down UW-Platteville, 43-35, Saturday, Oct. 21 in Platteville.

The Blue Devils ran their record to a best-ever 7-0, but more importantly stayed perfect in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) at 5-0 with two games remaining. Stout remains in sole possession of first place. UW-Eau Claire downed UW-Whitewater, 23-17, in overtime. UW-La Crosse is still one game behind Stout after a 20-7 win over UW-Stevens Point.

Stout scored the final 19 points of the game in the marathon contest to notch the win.

Running back Luke Bundgaard (Fr, Weyerhauser) literally carried the Blue Devils on his back, carrying the ball 45 times for 335 yards and four touchdowns, all either matching or setting school records.

Bundgaard's 45 carries breaks the mark of 37 set by Rich Vargas in 1992 and Mike Bechtel in 1994. Bechtel held the record for most rushing yards in a game with 285 in 1994. Bundgaard tied four other players with 24 points in a game.

Stout trailed 35-24 with nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. But in the next 90 seconds, Stout got a 31-yard field goal from Kevin McCulley (Sr, Fond du Lac) and a safety to make it 35-29.

With 4:58 remaining, tight end Brian Johnson (Jr, Hudson) caught a 15-yard scoring pass from Matt Bichanich (Jr, Mukwonago) to culminate a 75-yard drive where Bundgaard rushed four times for 34 yards, and Bichanich passed for the remaining 41 yards, including an earlier 12-yard first down strike to Johnson. McCulley's extra point gave Stout a 36-35 lead.

Bundgaard capped the scoring on a 71-yard jaunt with 1:58 remaining. The drive started at the Stout 20, and Bundgaard picked up all 80 yards of the drive.

The Pioneers had a last ditch chance end when Eric Moe (So, Whitehall) picked off his sixth pass of the season.

The scoring was fast and furious in the first half. Bundgaard started the scoring with a 15-yard run two minutes into the game, but the Pioneers chalked up two scores within two minutes in the first period.

Bundgaard got his second score of the game midway through the second quarter, but the Pioneers tagged on another score to take a 20-14 lead. Bundgaard briefly gave Stout the lead with 3:34 left in the half on a 15-yard run, on the first play from scrimmage after Eric Lund (Sr, Ashland) intercepted a pass on the Platteville 15.

But Platteville quarterback Tom Stetzer was not deterred, coming back with a 78-yard scoring pass to Troy Gagner with 2:08 remaining to give Platteville a 28-21 lead. McCulley tightened the score to 28-24 as time ran out with a 46-yard field goal.

The PIoneers took a 35-24 lead when Stetzer hit Reggie Davis from 12 yards out late in the third quarter.

Stout began their drive at the nine minute mark when Lund intercepted his third pass of the day, and returned it 18 yards to the Platteville 11 to set up McCulley's 31-yard field goal and the shaken Pioneers twice snapped the ball over Stetzer's head, with one leading to the safety.

The Stout defense allowed only two positive yardage plays and minus-25 yards in the final 8-minutes, 54-seconds.

The Pioneer passing attack ripped up the Stout defense for 483 total yards, but the Blue Devils' rushing defense allowed minus-18 yards for 465 total yards of offense. Stout ran up 524 yards of offense, 419 on the ground - by far their best rushing output in years - and 105 in the air. Stout picked off five passes on the day, three by Lund, one by Moe and one by Jamie Spielman (Fr, Menomonie).

The Pioneers' Gagner pulled in seven passes for 190 yards and three scores, while Jim Richardson had five catches for 167 yards and a score.

Stout's Johnson had five grabs for 50 yards and a TD. The game was also the third consecutive game Stout was forced to come from behind to win.

McCulley broke a school career mark for field goals made. His two boots lifted his career total to 21, breaking the mark of 20 set by Clay Vajgrt from 1980-82.

Stout will host UW-Oshkosh, Saturday, Oct. 28 in the final regular season game at Nelson Field.

October 18, 2000

MENOMONIE - UW-Stout freshman defensive back Kevin Dewey (Burnsville, Minn) was named the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) defensive player of the week after intercepting three passes in the Blue Devils' 27-23 win over defending conference champion UW-La Crosse, Oct. 14 in Menomonie.

His first interception came in the end zone to stop a promising La Crosse drive, and his second and third picks came at midfield. His three picks is one short of the school record or four, which was set twice by Roger Zell in 1969.

Dewey, a true freshman, had eight tackles, five solo, one tackle for a loss of six yards. Dewey returned one of the interceptions 28 yards. The win kept Stout perfect at 6-0, 4-0 in the WIAC and in sole possession of first place.

Dewey was also named to the D3football.com Team of the Week.

Soccer

October 21, 2000

ST. PAUL, Minn. - St. Thomas scored as the horn sounded to break a 2-2 tie over UW-Stout, Saturday, Oct. 21 in St. Paul, Minn.

The Blue Devils continued to show the kind of form that could make them dangerous in post-season today, Lisa Kardell (Jr, Ocean City, NJ) and Beth Bushman (Sr, Eagan, Minn) both scored as Stout came back from an early deficit.

In the early going, Stout (8-8) was able to gain possession and pin the

Tommies (10-1-4) in their own end. Stacy Normington (So, Delavan) had Stout's first shot of the match, and ten minutes elapsed before St. Thomas could gain possession in Stout's half of the field.

It was then Stout's turn to defend. Jessie Sutherland (Jr, Duluth, Minn) made a sparkling save on a close in shot by Catie Gibson, and she repeatedly came out to control the penalty area and clear probing balls played in by St. Thomas. The Blue Devils' back line repeatedly shut down the Tommies, who chose to loft shots from well outside the penalty area, as Carrie Kennedy (Sr, Watertown) and Desiree Nardini (Fr, White Bear Lake, Minn) denied the inside, while wide defenders Diane Ehlen (Fr, Bloomington, Minn) and Raina Schneider (So, Sheboygan) controlled the flanks. Becca Carlson (Sr, Rosemount, Minn), as the free player in front of the defense cut out efforts to play through the middle as Stout absorbed offensive pressure and looked to counter.

When Carlson found Kate Knoespel (So, Green Bay) it looked as if Stout had an opening. Knoespel found Nellie Sivertsen (So, River Falls) with only one player to beat, but she was taken out of the play. Moments later, Becky Howard (Sr, Wauwatosa) had to come off the field with an ankle injury. With Howard off and Stout down to ten players, the Tommies struck. Maggie Curran's first shot was parried well by Sutherland, but the ball rebounded to her with Stout's defense already on the ground attempting to block her first shot. Curran blasted the ball into the far side of the net to give St. Thomas the lead in the 17th minute.

Moments later it looked as if Stout would equalize. Howard returned, took a pass from Sivertsen, and hit Kardell between defenders inside the penalty area. As Kardell headed for the net, she was tripped. As Stout continued to surge forward, Sivertsen won a corner to the right of the St. Thomas net. Howard's service came right into Kardell's run and she hit a line drive shot into the side netting to knot the score in the 26th minute for a 1-1 halftime lead.

The second half began with St. Thomas controlling possession, but unable to penetrate Stout's defense. When balls did get behind the back line, Sutherland came out to prevent forwards from running on to the ball.

Kennedy won possession of the ball facing her own net, dropped a pass to the onrushing goalkeeper, who drove the ball to Carlson in the center circle. Carlson found Schneider on the left side, and Schneider's serve down the flank allowed Sivertsen to get behind the Tommie defense with Normington running toward the near post. Sivertsen's ball was low and behind Normington, allowing Bushman to run onto the ball and fire a laser into the upper corner to give Stout it's first lead in the 61st minute.

As Nardini corralled a Tommie counter attack and cleared the ball, it

was deflected over the endline. With the referee out of position, the assistant awarded a corner to St. Thomas. Katie Thompson was able to slip past her marker and head the ball in to tie the match at 2-2 with 21 minutes to go.

The goal put St. Thomas on the offensive, but with both teams preparing for overtime, Tessie Thompson launched a speculative ball out Stout's defense. As time ran down, Stout was unable to clear the ball beyond St. Thomas forwards and Jenny Murray fired a desperation shot as time expired. It sailed past Sutherland as the horn went off to end regulation.

The Blue Devils will open play in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) championships, Tuesday, Oct. 24, when they travel to UW-Oshkosh.

October 17, 2000

MENOMONIE - UW-Stout scattered three goals throughout the game, then produced a shutout as the Blue Devils downed UW-La Crosse for the first time in Blue Devil soccer history, Tuesday, Oct. 17 at the River Heights field.

Kate Knoespel (So, Green Bay) scored in the 19th minute, then Nellie Sivertsen (So, River Falls) scored only 15 seconds into the second half, the quickest goal in Stout history.

Kristin Hoppe (Fr, Coon Rapids, Minn) scored in the 78th minute to wrap up the scoring. Becky Howard (Sr, Wauwatosa) assisted on Sivertsen's and Hoppe's goal. Jessie Sutherland (Jr, Duluth, Minn) recorded 12 saves to get the shutout, her fifth of the season.

The win moved Stout (8-7 overall) into a tie for fourth with a school best 5-3 conference record.

In the opening minute, Sivertsen won a corner kick on the left side of the field, but she was unable to re-direct Becky Howard's (Sr, Wauwatosa) near post service into the goal. Another corner came quickly, but after Beth Bushman (Sr, Eagan, Minn) deflected the ball beyond the defense, Knoespel's first time bid went just wide.

With Stout's front line pressuring La Crosse's defending trio into mistakes, Stacy Normington (So, Delavan) jumped on an errant pass deep in the Eagle end. She accelerated past defender Amanda Sedlazhek, making a feed to Sivertsen who was making a late run at the far post. The connection just missed and the game remained scoreless.

Stout continued to press forward, and for the second game in a row it was a set piece that lead to the first goal. Bushman effectively pressured Eagle defender Amber Bender into playing the ball out of bounds 25 yards from goal on the right side, and with Stout's forwards running amok in the penalty area, there was no one to mark Knoespel as she floated into a seam just outside the penalty area on the left side. Diane Ehlen (Fr, Bloomington, Minn) found her with a short throw in and Knoespel's second touch launched the ball into the net in the 19th minute.

The Blue Devils continued to command the run of play, as Becca Carlson (Sr, Rosemount, Minn), Howard and Knoespel combined to control the midfield. When La Crosse attempted to bypass midfield, Stout's young defense continued to show they are improving almost moment to moment. Several times, the Eagles looked to be on the offensive only to have Raina Schneider (So, Sheboygan) and Ehlen cut out probing diagonal balls and put Stout back on the attack. When the Eagles tried playing down the middle, it was Carrie Kennedy (Sr, Watertown) and Desiree Nardini (Fr, White Bear Lake, Minn) closing the door. With no way through, La Crosse had to settle for a steady diet of 20 yard efforts which were readily dealt with by keeper Sutherland.

The goal finally came in lightening fashion. On the kick-off to open the second half, Howard found Normington on the left side as she rounded an Eagle defender and pushed the ball into Sivertsen's path. Sivertsen smashed a 10 yard shot right over the goalie into the Eagle's net, with only 15 seconds gone.

With a 2-0 lead, Stout continued to press their advantage. Schneider's cross found Lisa Kardell (Jr, Ocean City, NJ) at the top of the six yard box, and Kardell calmly held the ball, cut past an onrushing defender and picked out a spot on the side netting only to shoot wide by inches.

A third goal seemed inevitable, and it duly arrived. Howard's corner found Kardell at the far post, she drove a pass back across the face of the goal and Hoppe slid it in the net in the 78th minute.

At the 90th minute the Eagles (3-11-1, 2-5) had perhaps their best chance of the match, Caroline Harris sent a looping ball into the penalty area with Stefanie Schaffner running in but reserve goalkeeper Rachel McCabe (Fr, Appleton) smothered the ball as the horn sounded.

The 5-3 conference record was Stout's best ever league finish.

The game marked the final regular season game for seniors Beth Bushman, Becca Carlson, Becky Howard, Carrie Kennedy, and Heather Pihl.

October 17, 2000

MENOMONIE - After two convincing wins last week, UW-Stout garnered both Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) players of the week honors.

Forward Nellie Sivertsen (So, River Falls) was named the WIAC offensive player of the week, while defender Carrie Kennedy (Sr, Watertown) took home defensive player of the week honors.

Sivertsen scored two game-winning goals on the week as the Blue Devils posted a 2-0 record, downing Viterbo 4-0, Oct. 9, and UW-Whitewater 2-1, Oct. 14. Sivertsen also tacked on an assist against Viterbo. Sivertsen currently has seven goals and three assists on the season.

Kennedy led a defense that allowed zero quality scoring chances over two match wins against Viterbo and Whitewater. Her defense drew 14 offsides calls and yielded only four corners in two matches. The Blue Devils have posted five shutouts on the season.

Volleyball

October 21, 2000

OSHKOSH - After winning the first two games, the UW-Stout volleyball team fell in the final three games to drop their final Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) match of the season to UW-Oshkosh.

The Blue Devils (20-10, 3-5) won the first two games, 15-10, 15-13, but couldn't keep the pressure up, falling 15-9, 15-5, 15-10.

Rachel Eidet (Jr, North Mankato, Minn) finished the day with 20 kills, while Brooke Palmer (Jr, Mantorville, Minn) had 16 and Kim Roshell (Jr, Cornell) finished with 13. Laura Bogenschutz (Fr, Baxter, Minn) collected 55 assists. The Titan's (22-6, 5-2) Kristi Kujax led all players with 23 kills.

The Blue Devils will wrap up regular season play when they host Viterbo University, Tuesday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m., then particpate in the Trick or Treat Invitational at River Falls, Oct. 27-28.

October 20, 2000

WHITEWATER - After getting trounced in the second game, the UW-Stout volleyball team gave nationally ranked UW-Whitewater all they could handle in the third game, but the Warhawks still put away the Blue Devils, 3-0, Friday, Oct. 20 in Whitewater.

Whitewater (27-1, 6-0) opened the match with a 15-9 win, then easily handled the Blue Devils, 15-3, in the second game. The Blue Devils (20-9, 3-4) took the Warhawks to extra innings in the third game, with Whitewater taking an 18-16 win.

Rachel Eidet (Jr, North Mankato, Minn) led Stout with 14 kills and 23 digs, while Kim Roshell (Jr, Cornell) and Brooke Palmer (Jr, Mantorville, Minn) each had 12 kills. Roshell finished with 22 digs. The Warhawk's Melinda Erickson led all players with 17 kills.

Women's Cross Country

October 20, 2000

MENOMONIE - UW-Stout's Ellen Everson (Jr, Blair) broke UW-La Crosse's stranglehold on the top 10 places in a triangular meet at Menomonie, Friday, Oct. 20.

Everson finished 10th in a time of 21-minutes, 4-seconds. Terra Dahlheimer (So, St. Michael, Minn) was 18th (22:47). La Crosse scored a perfect 15 to take top honors, with Eau Claire second with 60 points. The Stout junior varsity was third with 71 points.

The Blue Devils will round out the regular season Saturday, Oct. 28 when they compete in the WIAC Championships at Whitewater.

1. UW-La Crosse 15; 2. UW-Eau Claire 60; UW-Stout JV 71
Individual Results
(First place, all Stout finishers)
1. Janelle Curtis (La Crosse) 20:07.4; 10. Ellen Everson 21:03.5; 18. Terra Dahlheimer 22:47.2; 28. Valori Schaffer 23:08.9; 30. Denise Hady 25:09.3; 31. Rachel Darby 27:39.3.

Men's Cross Country

October 20, 2000

MENOMONIE - Mike Western (Jr, Boyd) placed sixth to lead UW-Stout in a dual meet with UW-Eau Claire Friday, Oct. 20 in Menomonie.

Western clocked a time of 26-minutes, 52-seconds as the Blugold JV downed the Stout JV, 21-38, in a 5000 meter run.

Alex Anderson (Jr, Faribault, Minn) was seventh (16:56) and Seth Kaste (Jr, Cadott) was eighth (17:05).

Stout will finish up their regular season Saturday, Oct. 28 when they compete at the WIAC Championships in Whitewater.

Women's Tennis

October 22, 2000

MADISON - Rachael Weber (Fr, Holmen) and Tammy Petcher (Fr, Marshfield) placed third at No. 2 doubles and Petcher was fifth at No. 4 singles to give UW-Stout their only points of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Tennis Championships, Saturday, Oct. 21, in Madison.

The duo downed UW-Whitewater's Jenny Hubacek and Mary Steimle, the tournament's No. 2 seed, 6-2, 6-2, in the opening round, then lost to Melissa Protz and Holly Smith of UW-La Crosse, 6-3, 6-2.

Petcher and Weber won the third place match by defeating Jordan Anderson and Amanda Gray of UW-River Falls, 6-4, 6-2.

Petcher placed fifth at No. 4 singles. The freshman dropped her opening match to Heidi Johnson of Whitewater, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, then drew a bye and downed Sara Fischer of Oshkosh, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the fifth place match. Stout finished seventh as a team with 15 points. UW-Eau Claire repeated as champion.

In other doubles action, Megan Schwanbeck (Jr, Lake City, Minn) and Maria Medin (Fr, Fifty Lakes, Minn) lost 6-0, 6-2, in the first round of No. 1 doubles to Andrea Muellner/Alison Hover of UW-Eau Claire, and were eliminated by Violet Adams /Aimee Strebig of UW-Stevens Point, 6-2, 6-1. Anne Marie Curtis (Fr, La Crosse) and Megan Curtis (Fr, La Crosse) lost 6-0, 6-1, to Kathryn Hart/Amy Kleinschmidt of UW-Oshkosh, then were eliminated by Mary Metzer/Meredith Verberne of UW-River Falls, 6-0, 6-1.

WIAC Championships
1. Eau Claire 64; 2. La Crosse 50; 3. Whitewater 41; 4. Oshkosh 37; 5. River Falls 28; 6. Stevens Point 25; 7. Stout 15.

Singles Results
No. 1: Katy Berry lost to Annette Geuder (LX) 6-0, 6-0; lost to Lindsey Oberg, 6-2, 6-0; No. 2: Megan Schwanbeck lost to Debbie Ashenbrenner (Osh) 6-0, 6-0; lost to Aimee Strebig (SP) 4-6, 6-2, 6-2; No. 3: Maria Medin lost to Jordan Anderson (RF) 6-1, 6-2; lost to Anne Hildebrandt (SP) 6-4, 3-6, 6-0; No. 4: Tammy Petcher lost to Heidi Johnson (WW) 3-6, 6-4, 7-5; bye; def. Sara Fischer (Osh) 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, 5th place; No. 5: Rachael Weber lost to Andrea Muellner (EC) 6-2, 6-1; lost to Mary Metzer (RF) 6-1, 6-1; No. 6: Abby Schmoltz lost by default to Melissa Protz (LX); lost by default to Meredith Verberne.

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October 14, 2000

MENOMONIE - Four athletes and one coach have been selected to be inducted into the 2000 UW-Stout Athletic Hall of Fame with induction ceremonies scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 28 at the Grandview Terrace in the Memorial Student Center.

Tim Peterson, a quarterback for the football team in the late 1980s, Michelle Espe-Walsh, a setter for the women's volleyball team in the mid 1980s, Bill Lyons, a two-time all-conference men's basketball player in the early 1970s, Mike Beaupre, a men's gymnastics national champion in the early 1980s, and John Zuerlein, who started the men's gymnastics program in the early 1960s and finished his coaching career as the women's gymnastics coach, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame, Saturday, Oct. 28.

Joe Larkin, the former UW-Stout dean of students, has been selected to receive the UW-Stout Athletic Distinguished Service Award.

The days activities begin at 9 a.m. with registration and social hour, with the induction ceremony to begin at 10 a.m., followed by lunch. The inductees will be introduced at halftime of the UW-Stout/UW-Oshkosh football game which kicks off at 1 p.m. Tickets for the banquet are $10 and can be ordered by calling 715-232-2224.

Tim Peterson
Tim Peterson set the standard for all UW-Stout quarterbacks to follow. Peterson led the Blue Devil football team from 1986-89. After latching onto the starting role, Peterson began to rack up numbers that eventually would set 16 school records.

With Peterson at the command of a high powered offense, the Blue Devils led the NCAA Division III in passing in 1987. Peterson finished his career with 8,881 passing yards and 9,703 yards in total offense, both still school records that will be hard pressed to be broken.

After leaving Stout, Peterson played with the Orlando Thunder of the short-lived World League of American Football, and had tryouts with the Minnesota Vikings and in the Canadian Football League. Upon completion of his playing career in Europe, Peterson turned to coaching with the Swedish national team, then returned to Minnesota as an assistant coach at Hutchinson High School.

Peterson currently resides in Hutchinson, Minn., where he is employed as a process engineer for Hutchinson Technology.

Michelle Espe-Walsh
Mish Espe was instrumental in the advancement of the Blue Devil women's volleyball program. As the team's setter from 1984-87, Espe set the standard for voleyball's quarterback position.

A team captain her final three seasons, Espe was an honorable mention all-conference choice as a junior, a first team pick as a senior and the team's most valuable player as a junior and senior.

Known for her pinpoint accuracy with the set, Espe graduated from the Blue Devil program with the most career assists. She currently ranks third on the all-time Stout assists list.

Following her Stout playing career, Espe was an assistant coach for the Blue Devils for one season, then continued to play in a number of amateur leagues and tournaments around the country.

Espe currently resides in Elko, Minn., with her husband, Jamie Walsh, a former Stout football player, and one child. Espe works for Telex Communications as an accounting supervisor.

Bill Lyons
Not only did Bill Lyons give the Blue Devils a scoring punch, he also provided the Stout basketball team with leadership both on and off the court during his Stout career from 1970-74.

"One of the best team leaders ever to come out of the program," said long time Stout coach Dwain Mintz.

And Lyons' leadership was a big part in the Blue Devils' success. During his Lyons' career, the Blue Devils posted a 67-30 overall record.

Lyons was a two-time all-conference pick and was an NAIA District 14 choice in 1973-74 when he scored 563 points for a 21.6 points per game average, a total that is second on the Stout all-time single season list. Lyons scored 1050 career points, currently ranking him 14th.

Lyons took his leadership, team concept and winning attitude into the business world, working as a general manager for McDonalds Corp, an area associate for STA Corp., vice president of operations from Applebees Franchise, and vice president of operations for Fairmount Capital Group, a position he currently holds while residing in Ohio.

Mike Beaupre
When Mike Beaupre looks back at his gymnastics career, the year 1984 stands out. As a member of the Blue Devils' men's gymnastics team, Beaupre saw both individual and team success.

As a team, the Blue Devils won the NAIA Gymnastics Championships, the only Stout team to ever win a national championship. As a team, the Blue Devils qualified to the NCAA Division II Gymnastics Championships, placing sixth.

After finishing second at the NAIA championships on the pommel horse to his teammate Paul Speltz, Beaupre kicked his routine into high gear and won the NCAA Division II pommel horse championship, qualifying to the NCAA Division I championships where he placed 65th. But the thrill of competing at the highest levels in an Olympic year left an imprint on Beaupre.

Beaupre competed against six members of the Olympic team at Pauly Pavilion at UCLA, the same location the Olympics would be held later that summer.

During his Stout career from 1979-84, Beaupre was a three-time NAIA All-American, a two-time NCAA Division II All-America and twice qualified to the NCAA Division I Gymnastic Championships.

Beaupre continued to work with the gymnastics program after leaving Stout. Beaupre received his masters from Stout in 1987, and returned to Menomonie in 1997 where he is the executive director of Indianhead Enterprises. Beaupre and his wife, Cindy, have four children.

John Zuerlein
John Zuerlein can only be termed as Stout's "Mr. Gymnastics." After coming to Stout as a student in in 1959 from Lincoln, Neb., Zuerlein played a year of football. Zuerlein left Stout for two years, but returned in 1962 and turned his attention to gymnastics, starteingthe Blue Devil men's gymnastics program while still a student, quickly turning the program into a national contender.

Zuerlein graduated from Stout in 1966, then joined the physical education and athletics department where he coached the men's program from its inception until 1983 and took over the women's program in 1979. Zuerlein was twice named the national coach of the year, the conference coach of the year in 1992. Zuerlein coached seven individual national champions, 15 NAIA and five NCAA men's All-Americans, four NCGA women's All-Americans and numerous all-conference gymnasts. Zuerlein's men's team placed in the top four of the NAIA every year from 1970-83, and twice placed fifth in the NCAA Division II.

An avid outdoorsman, Zuerlein parlayed his interest into the classroom, establishing classes in map and compass, backpacking, canoeing and other similar classes. It was on one of Zuerlein's outdoor adventures with a class that Zuerlein would deal with his biggest setback. Zuerlein was severely injured in a fall in a remote part of a state forest. After his students evacuated him, Zuerlein was hospitalized, then required additional physical therapy.

Zuerlein prevailed and returned to both the classroom and the gymnasium. Zuerlein retired from coaching gymnastics in 1994 and retired completely from the classroom this past spring. He intends to enjoy the outdoors and his grandchildren.

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