Women's Gymnastics

March 19, 2001

MENOMONIE - The top women gymnasts in Division III will be in Menomonie, March 23-24, as UW-Stout plays host to the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) Championships at Johnson Fieldhouse.

Eight teams, as well as several individual and all-around specialists, will participate in the national gymnastics meet. Team competition is scheduled for Friday, March 23 at 5:30 p.m. and individual competition will be Saturday, March 24 beginning at 1:30 p.m.

Admission to the meet is $5 for adults for a single day, $8 for both days; $4 for seniors for one day, $7 for both; and $3 for students and children for a single day, $5 for both.

Teams qualifying to the championships are SUNY-Cortland State (NY), Ithaca College (NY), Ursinus College (Pa), Springfield College (Mass), UW-La Crosse, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Stout and Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn).

Individual qualifiers include: Vault: Jessica Bowman, SUNY-Brockport State (NY); Nikki Dustman, Wilson College; Kristina Reitzel, UW-Eau Claire; Uneven Bars: Nikki Longo, Rhode Island College; Ann Kingsnorth, UW-Whitewater; Balance Beam: Alica DeFronzo, Rhode Island College; Niki Hoida, UW-Whitewater; Floor Exercise: Alicia DeFronzo, Rhode Island College; Linsey Hamilton, Hamline.

All-around qualifiers include: Sonja Ellefson, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Sajdah Ahmad, Rhode Island College; Shannon Hughey, Rhode Island College; Melissa Stanton, Hamline University; Angie Garin, UW-River Falls; Lisa McManus, UW-Whitewater.

March 19, 2001

MENOMONIE - Gymnastics is one of those sports where nothing is certain until after the meet is completed and in the history books. But one thing that is certain for the 2001 National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) Championships is there will be a new team champion.

Defending 2000 champion Hamline University was hit by the injury bug and was unable to qualify as a team to the meet scheduled for March 23-24 at the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie to defend their title.

That leaves the field wide open, with Midwest Regional champion UW-LaCrosse and East Regional champion Ithaca College leading the way.

LaCrosse has claimed five national team titles, the last one coming in 1999. The Eagles worked their way through the regional meet scoring a 183.80, while UW-Oshkosh was second with a 180.875. The Eagles could be due for a national title, with their last three titles coming every other year, beginning in 1995.

Ithaca, which won their only national title in 1998, scored a 181.425 to win the East Regionals, edging Ursinus College (180.775) and SUNY-Cortland (180.675).

La Crosse has qualified to the national meet 18 times, while Ithaca is making their 15th trip. UW-Oshkosh will be making their 10th trip, with their last title coming in 1989. Ursinus is making their fifth trip to the national meet, while Cortland is appearing for their 17th time.

La Crosse comes into the meet at the top of the NCGA final rankings, where team scores from the season and the regional team scores are put into a formula. Cortland is ranked second with Ithaca third, Ursinus fourth and Oshkosh fifth.

Rounding out the field at the championships will be host UW-Stout, Springfield College and Gustavus Adolphus, which has won the most national titles in the association's 18 year history. The Golden Gusties have eight titles to their name, the last coming in 1994. Springfield, last year's championship host, won their only title in 1996. UW-Stout is making their fourth team trip to nationals, with their last appearance in 1986.

Team competition and all-around competition is scheduled for Friday, March 23 at 5:30 p.m. The top 12 individual event finishers will qualify to the individual competition Saturday, March 24 beginning at 1:30 p.m. Admission to the meet is $5 for adults for a single day, $8 for both days; $4 for seniors for one day, $7 for both; and $3 for students and children for a single day, $5 for both.

March 19, 2001

MENOMONIE - Five individual champions - three of those are defending champions - will return to do battle at the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) Championships March 23-24 at Johnson Fieldhouse in Menomonie.

Team and all-around competition is scheduled for Friday, March 23 beginning at 5:30 p.m. The top 12 individual finishers will advance to the individual championships Saturday, March 24 at 1:30 p.m. The scores from Friday night will carry over to Saturday, and the combined scores from both days will determine the final individual scores.

Niki Hoida of UW-Whitewater is the defending balance beam champion, while Sabrina Ashton of UW-Oshkosh is the defending floor exercise champion. Gina Gutierrez of Springfield (Mass) College is the defending vault champion.

Becky McDonnell of UW-La Crosse, an all-arounder, will look to regain the floor title she lost to Ashton last year. Shanna Larocque of Springfield shared the vault title in 1999.

In regaining the floor title, McDonnell would become the second three-time NCGA champion in any event. McDonnell earned a tie for first at the Midwest Regional meet, March 9, coming in even with Linsey Hamilton of Hamline University with a 9.625.

In the final NCGA rankings from March 12, McDonnell is the top ranked floor competitor, with Ashton ranking second. Hamilton was the floor exercise runner-up at the national championships last spring.

All-around performer Sajdah Ahmad of Rhode Island College will be a competitor to keep track of both days. Ahmad put on a dominating performance at the East Regional, winning the all-around title by almost a full point in taking the vault, beam and floor individual titles.

Kristan Turner of SUNY-Cortland tied with Gutierrez for second in the floor at the East Regional and is ranked third nationally.

Hoida came out of nowhere last year to win the balance beam and will have to do that again if she wants to retain her crown. Hoida qualified as an individual, but did not appear in the top 20 of the final rankings.

On paper, Carol Shekar of UW-La Crosse and Jenni Williams of UW-Oshkosh appear to be the favorites. Shekar is ranked No. 1, with Williams No. 2. Williams edged out Shekar at the regionals, and Williams was second to UW-Stout's Tasha Pasch at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Championships in February.

UW-La Crosse gymnasts Jenny Moore and Angela Erato rank third and fourth, respectively, in the final NCGA numbers. Kirsten Caster of Springfield ranks fifth and placed fourth at the East Regional behind Ahmad and Ithaca College gymnasts Rachel Edelson and Leslie Gelaat.

Gutierrez has a chance to become only the second gymnast to win not only back-to-back vault titles, but the second gymnast to win two NCGA vault titles.

Gutierrez, who does not appear in the top 20 NCGA final vault rankings and did not place in the 10 at the East regional, will get stiff competition from Ahmad and top ranked Keri Cornwell of SUNY-Cortland and second ranked Melissa Stanton of Hamline. Cornwell placed second behind Ahmad at the regional meet. Stanton took the vault crown at the Midwest Regional and will compete as an all-arounder.

Kristen Reed of Ursinus College ranks third and placed third at the regional meet. Stacey Coleman of Ithaca ranks fourth and placed fourth. Stout's Pasch, an all-arounder, ranks fifth on the vault.

With the graduation of Suleka Modi of Cortland, who wore the uneven bars crown three times, the battle for the bars is open.

All-arounder Sonja Ellefson of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology would have to be the heavy favorite. Last year's runner-up and the sixth place finisher in 1999, Ellefson is top ranked on the bars and won the East Regional crown with a 9.45. Her score at the national meet last year ranks fourth in NCGA Championship history.

Larocque of Springfield and Jumaah Johnson of Ursinus were second and third, respectively, at the regional meet. Johnson is ranked second nationally, with Larocque third.

Unranked Jenny Moore of UW-La Crosse, won the Midwest Regional bars title, with Hamline's all-arounder Stanton and UW-Oshkosh's Williams trailing her. Stanton ranks fourth nationally.

The all-around competition Friday, March 23, could be one of the most interesting battles of the entire championships. Seven of the 10 gymnasts that earned All-America status in the 2000 all-around competition return.

But it is a newcomer that has been leading the way in the all-around all season. Hamline's Melissa Stanton is a freshman who posted the top all-around scores throughout the season and only Rhode Island's Ahmad scored higher at a regional meet.

All-Americans returning are Moore of LaCrosse, last year's runner-up, Coleman of Ithaca, Pasch of UW-Stout, Ahmad of Rhode Island, Ellefson of MIT and Lisa McManus of UW-Whitewater.

Katie Hanson of UW-Stout, Christina Ng of Ursinus College and Kristy Arquette of UW-Oshkosh finished in the top 10 of the NCGA final all-around rankings.

March 9, 2001

ST. PAUL, Minn. - UW-Stout's Katie Hanson (So, Duluth, Minn) placed second in the all-around event at the NCGA West Regional at Hamline University, Friday, March 9 in St. Paul, Minn.

Hanson had two top 10 finishes, placing third in the balance beam, tying the school record with a 9.50, and seventh on the uneven bars (9.00). Hanson scored 36.775 in the all-around, matching the school record.

As a team, the Blue Devils set a new school mark placing fifth with a team score of 177.65.

Tasha Pasch (So, Northfield, Minn) was third on the vault (9.275) and ninth in the all-around (36.15). Brenna Jones (Sr, St. Paul, Minn) had one of her strongest overall meets, placing 11th in the all-around (35.625) as she finished ninth on the balance beam (9.225) and 10th on the floor exercise (9.375).

The Blue Devils will host the NCGA national gymnastics meet, March 23-24.

Individual Results
(First place, all Stout finishers)
Vault: 1. Melissa Stanton (Hamline) 9.45; 3. Tasha Pasch 9.275; 12. Katie Hanson 9.05; 17. Erika Opoien 9.00; 29. Jennie Rosinsky 8.725; 30. Brenna Jones 8.70; 39. Angie Swanson 8.35;

Uneven bars: 1. Jenny Moore (LX) 9.30; 7. Katie Hanson 9.00; 11.Tasha Pasch 8.775; 24. Brenna Jones 8.325; 33. Erika Opoien 8.10; 37. Angie Swanson 7.60; 42. Andrea Hassel 7.20;

Balance beam: 1. Jennie Williams (Osh) 9.625; 3. Katie Hanson 9.50; 9. Brenna Jones 9.225; 15. Erika Opoien 9.05; 21. Andrea Hassel 8.925; 26. Tasha Pasch 8.775; 40. Jennie Rosinsky 7.95;

Floor exercise: 1. Linsey Hamilton (Hamline) 9.625; 10. Brenna Jones 9.375; 15. Tasha Pasch 9.325; 20. Katie Hanson 9.225; 24. Jennie Rosinsky 8.90; 38. Erika Opoien 8.80; 46. Andrea Hassel 8.375;

All-around: 1. Melissa Stanton (Hamline) 37.25; 2. Katie Hanson 36.775; 9. Tasha Pasch 36.15; 11. Brenna Jones 35.625; 17. Erika Opoien 34.95.

Men's Track & Field

March 17, 2001

LONG BEACH, Calif. - Mike Turgeon (Fr, Perham, Minn) didn't waste any time writing himself a ticket to the NCAA Division III outdoor track and field championships. Turgeon, a redshirt freshman who placed eighth at the national indoor meet in the weight throw, won the discus at the Long Beach State Track & Field Classic, Saturday, March 17.

Turgeon, who earned Junior Olympic All-America honors last summer in the event, tossed the plate 168-feet, 7-inches, a foot over the automatic qualifying standard and less than four feet short of the school record. Turgeon was ninth in the hammer throw (138-7).

Jamie Buchholtz (Sr, Bloomer) was second in the pole vault (15-5). Corey Knudsen (Jr, Elk Mound) and Bob Cahow (Sr, New Brighton, Minn) placed fifth in the vault (13-5.25) and Knudsen was sixth in the high jump (5-9.75). Joe Sracic (So, Deerfield) was fifth in the shot put (51-0) and Chad Sosalla (Fr, Whitehall) was ninth in the triple jump (42-4.75).

Stout placed fourth of 13 teams that included NCAA Division I, II and III teams. Stout will be off until they open their northern schedule March 31 at UW-Eau Claire.

Individual Results
(First place, all Stout finishers)
100: 1. Tadachi Imori (NSSU) 10.56; 14. Sam Werner 11.50; 200: 1. Tadachi Imori (NSSU) 21.20; 16. Mike Twining 22.68; 19. Tim Faber 23.12; 21. Sam Werner 23.37; 400: 1. Kashus Perona (Long Beach) 47.45; 14. John Hanson 50.71; 15. Kevin Riester 50.82; 17. Mike Twining 50.89; 800: 1. Adam Brown (So. Utah) 1:52.97; 1500: 1. Nelson Laux (Western St) 3:49.11; 14. Dave Huber 4:06.62; 5000: 1. Joe Wilson (Weber) 14:34.42; 11. Dave Huber 15:41.32; 14. Ethan Webinger 15:50.10; 110-hurdles: 1. Kenny Vinh (Long Beach) 15.08; 14. Dave Hanson 16.10; 400-hurdles: 1. Jeff Tingey (Weber) 52.62; 12. Jesse Hunter 56.21; 19. Jeff Miller 59.97; 4x100-relay: 1. Nippon 41:62; 7. Stout 43.38; 4X400-relay: 1. Yale 3:12.90; 6. Stout 3:21.64;

High jump: 1. Pete Ippel (Cornell) 6-9; 6. Corey Knudson 5-9.75; Long jump: 1. Nick Senter (Cornell) 22-9.25; 13. Kevin Riester 19-1.50; 14. Chad Sosalla 18-7.75; 15. Dustin Kohnert 17-5.25; Pole vault: 1. Scott Lundy (Cornell) 15-11; 2. Jamie Buchholtz 15-5; 5. Corey Knudsen 13-5.25; 5. Bob Cahow 13-5.25; Triple jump: 1. Tyler Kaune (Cornell) 48-2.50; 9. Chad Sosalla 42-4.75; 12. Dustin Kohnert 40-0; Shot put: 1. Troy Ford (So. Utah) 52-6.50; 5. Joe Sracic 51-0; Discus: 1. Mike Turgeon (Stout) 168-7a; 12. Joe Sracic 117-3; Javelin: 1. Scott Benowicz (Cornell) 199-0; 11. Kevin McCulley 143-9; 12. Jeff Rotering 142-4; 13. Corey Knudsen 141-11; Hammer throw: 1. Harrison Lee 173-11; 9. Mike Turgeon 138-7; 11. Joe Sracic 125-1.

Women's Track & Field

March 17, 2001

LONG BEACH, Calif. - It wasn't much of a leap for Laura Verdegan (Fr, Tony) to go from the basketball court to the track.

The 2000 Wisconsin state high school triple jump champion came up just two inches short of hitting the NCAA Division III provisional qualifying distance in the triple jump as she placed third in the event at the Long Beach State Track & Field Classic, Saturday, March 17. Verdegan, a standout basketball player for the Blue Devils, jumped 36-feet, 9-inches, just less than two inches that won the Wisconsin Division 3 title in 2000.

Sara Pivec (Jr, Coon Rapids, Minn) was sixth in the shot put (39-2) and 10th in the hammer throw (129-1). Tanya Miller (Jr, Green Bay) was ninth in the 5000-meter run (18:27.95).

Stout placed eighth of 13 teams that included NCAA Division I, II and III teams. Stout will be off until they open their northern schedule March 31 at UW-Eau Claire.

Individual Results
(First place, all Stout finishers)
100: 1. Katy Jay (Cornell) 12.00; 200: 1. Katy Jay (Cornell) 24.51; 800: 1. Kelly Snodgrass 2:10.80; 20. Kristin Hoppe 2:29.89; 21. Ellen Everson 2:31.73; 23. Lisa Sorvala 2:32.91; 24. Amy Arndt 2:35.17; 26. Mara Anderson 2:43.85; 27. Michelle Beckman 2:44.73; 28. Valorie Schaffer 2:49.44; 29. Denise Hady 3:06.59; 1500: 1. Kim Chatman (Cornell) 4:31.52; 17. Lisa Sorvala 5:02.01; 20. Amy Arndt 5:08.63; 21. Ellen Everson 5:09.93; 22.Mara Anderson 5:39.32; 24. Valori Schaffer 5:49.09; 3000-steeplechase: 1. Rebecca Bennion (Weber) 10:59.05; 11. Michelle Abramczak 13:27.88; 5000: 1. Rebecca Bennion (Weber) 17:20.66; 9. Tanya Miller 18:27.95; 14. Heidi Bedsted 19:48.58; 15. Lacey Osuldsen 20:00.00; 18. Meredith Nordberg 21:37.74; 19. Terry Dahlheimer 21:43.82; 100-hurdles: 1. Kelly Miller (So. Utah) 14.44; 20. Lindsay Steinmeyer 17.14; 25. Amy Beigel 19.10; 400-hurdles: 1. Kellie Clinger (Weber) 1:01.31; 19. Michelle Abramczak 1:10.92; 20. Lindsay Steinmeyer 1:12.58; 4X100-relay: 1. Weber 47.60; 4X400-relay: 1. Southern Utah 3:48.37; 12. Stout A 4:28.81; 13. Stout B 4:39.92;

High jump: 1. Tayyiba Haneef (Long Beach) 5-7.75; 13. Ann Marie Curtis 4-7.75; Pole vault: 1. Connie Jerz (Long Beach) 11-7.75; Long jump: 1. Shannon Livingston (Long Beach) 18-1.75; 14. Amy Biegel 12-11.50; Triple jump: 1. Danielle Brown (Cornell) 39-0.50; 3. Laura Verdegan 36-9; Shot put: 1. Kassandra Harrell (So. Utah) 44-7.50; 6. Sara Pivec 39-2; Discus: 1. Anna Bullock (So. Utah) 159-6; Hammer throw: 1. Anna Bullock (So. Utah) 175-1; 10. Sara Pivec 129-1.

March 17, 2001

FT. MYERS, Fla. - UW-Stout certainly didn't need the luck of the Irish in their final day of their annual Florida spring break trip.

The Blue Devils ran their overall record to 13-1-1 and were 10-1 in Florida as they got into a couple of slugfests with Carroll College, winning both contests, 21-8 and 22-15, Saturday, March 17 in Ft. Myers, Fla.

Nick Sattler (Jr, Wausau) and Matt Hoeft (So, Elk Mound) led the assault in the first game. Sattler went 3-for-5 with a double and six RBI, while Hoeft was a perfect 3-for-3 with a home run and double, driving in five runs. As a team Stout collected 20 hits.

Brock Meyer (So, Lyle, Minn) was 2-for-4 with a home run and a double. JW Dachel (Jr, Bloomer) was 3-for-5 with two RBI and Dave Rueber (Sr, Afton, Minn) was 3-for-4 with four runs scored.

Joe Huiting (Fr, Little Chute) picked up his first win of the season.

In the second game, Stout overcame a nine-run Carroll sixth inning as the Blue Devils pounded out 19 hits. Ryan Jensen (Jr, Cylinder, Iowa) got his first win of the season, pitching three innings.

Rueber led the way for the Blue Devils with a strong effort at the plate, going 4-for-4 with two doubles and two home runs for six RBI. Eric Lund (Sr, Ashland) had his best day at the plate, getting four RBI while hitting 3-for-3 with a home run and a double.

Brad O'Connell (Sr, Elk Mound) collected three RBI and hit 2-for-3. Hoeft was 2-for-3 with two RBI. Lucas Martell (Jr, Kingsford, Mich) was 2-for-3 with a double and Dachel was 2-for-4.

Stout returns to action next weekend when they travel to Davenport, Iowa, to play four games. Stout will play two games against Marian College and single games against Augustana (Ill) College and Cornell (Iowa) College.

March 16, 2001

FT. MYERS, Fla. - UW-Stout won a pair of one-run games as they swept Ripon College, 6-5, 4-3, during the Gene Cusic Classic in Ft. Myers, Fla., Friday, March 16.

Brad Barneson (Jr, Strum) had the game-winning runs in both games, delivering the win in the second game in the bottom of the 10th inning on his only hit of the game when his rocket caromed off the second baseman's glove to drive in Chad Jabary (Fr, Austin, Minn).

Stout (11-1-1) held a 3-2 lead, but Ripon knotted the score in the seventh inning off reliever Zak Arneson (Sr, Barneveld). Arneson settled down the rest of the way to pick up the win.

Brad O'Connell (Sr, Elk Mound) continued to swing a strong bat, going 3-for-5 with a double. JW Dachel (Jr, Bloomer) was 3-for-5 with two RBI.

In the opener, Clyde Tedrick (Sr, Midland, Texas) went the distance for the win, scattering three hits while giving up only one earned run in the 6-5 decision. Tedrick notched his second consecutive nine strikeout game.

Barneson was 2-for-4 with the game winning hit on a double. O'Connell was 2-or-4 with a double and Dachel was 2-for3 with an RBI. Dave Rueber (Sr, Afton, Minn) recorded his first home run of the season and Matt Hoeft (So, Elk Mound) was 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Nick Sattler (Jr, Wausau) had a good day at the plate, going 2-for-3 in the first game and 2-for-5 with an RBI in the second game. Sattler's single in the bottom of the 10th of the second game got things going for the Blue Devils.

March 15, 2001

MENOMONIE - UW-Stout brought out the big bats to smoke their way past Albion College, 14-3, 14-7, as they racked up 28 hits over the doubleheader at the Gene Cusic Classic, Thursday, March 15.

Matt Lunde (Jr, Eau Claire) picked up his fourth win against no losses in the first game, recording three strikeouts and one earned run in six-and-a-third innings of work.

The Elk Mound contingent of Matt Hoeft (So, Elk Mound) and Brad O'Connell (Sr, Elk Mound) each went 2-for-4 with Hoeft getting two doubles and O'Connell setting the stage for his efforts in the second game by getting three runs batted in. Nick Kalina (Jr, Potosi) was 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI.

Brad Barneson (Jr, Strum) was 2-for-4 and Brock Meyer (So, Lyle, Minn) was 2-for-3 as Stout recorded 13 hits.

In the second game, O'Connell, who has been injured and batted in the designated hitter spot, wielded a perfect bat, going 5-for-5 with three home runs and a double for seven RBI and four runs scored.

Dave Rueber (Sr, Afton, Minn) and Nick Sattler (Jr, Wausau) were equally effective, with Rueber going 3-for-4 with a home run, two doubles and three RBI. Sattler went 4-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI. Hoeft went 2-for-3.

Brian Bee (Jr, Bloomer) picked up his second Florida win as the Blue Devils extended their record to 9-1-1. Bee went five innings, scattered seven hits and gave up two earned runs.

March 13, 2001

FT. MYERS, Fla - UW-Stout's Clyde Tedrick (Sr, Midland, Texas) must have been impressed with Pedro Martinez.

The day before starting against Muskingum College, Blue Devil skipper Joe Vavra took the team to see Martinez, a Cy Young winner in two leagues who now pitches for the Boston Red Sox, pitch in a preseason game. After Martinez won the game with seven strikeouts, the Blue Devils went out to dinner with Martinez.

Tedrick did Martinez a couple better as he struck out nine and pitched six innings of scoreless ball to pick up his first win as a Blue Devil and Stout downed Muskingum College, 8-5, Tuesday, March 13 in the Gene Cusic Classic at Ft. Myers, Fla.

After struggling earlier in the season, Tedrick allowed only one walk in a nearly flawless performance Tuesday, but his relief couldn't say the same thing as the bullpen gave up five runs in the top of the seventh. Muskingum had the tying run at the plate with two outs.

Stout rapped out 11 hits and allowed seven, but Muskingum hurt themselves with three errors.

Brad O'Connell (Sr, Elk Mound) went 2-for-3 with his first home run of the season. JW Dachel (Jr, Bloomer) was 3-for-4 with a double and Matt Hoeft (So, Elk Mound) was 3-for-4.

In the second game, Hoeft went to the mound and took the loss, giving up five runs in the first two innings. The bullpen was battered in the third as Muskingum had a six run third.

After the Muskies jumped out to a 4-0 first inning lead, Stout answered back with three runs in the bottom half of the first stanza. The teams traded runs in the second before Muskingum exploded in the third. Stout added two runs in the bottom of the seventh, but it wouldn't be enough.

Dachel was 2-for-4, Justin Biever (So, South Milwaukee) was 2-for-4 with an RBI and Eric Lund (Sr, Ashland) had a two-run double.

March 12, 2001

FT. MYERS, Fla - Ryan Wolf (So, Adrian, Minn) picked up his second win of the season and UW-Stout continued their assault on the baseball as the Blue Devils downed Wooster (Ohio) College, 11-1, in a nine-inning contest Monday, March 12 in Ft. Myers, Fla., in their second day of play at the Gene Cusic Classic

Wolf pitched five innings, scattered six hits and gave up the lone run.

Brad O'Connell (Sr, Elk Mound) was 4-for-6 with a double, a run batted in and two runs scored as Stout (6-0-1) pounded out 15 runs. Nick Kalina (Jr, Potosi) was 2-for-5 with a double and RBI, Dave Rueber (Sr, Afton, Minn) was 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored and JW Dachel (Jr, Bloomer) went 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Brad Barneson (Jr, Strum) contributed to the cause going 3-for-4 with a double and three runs scored. Eric Lund (Sr, Ashland) went 2-for-4 with a double and Brock Meyer (Fr, Lyle, Minn) was 1-for-3 with two RBI.

On day one, Stout racked up 17 hits against Nichols College in a 17-4 win and 10 hits against Monmouth College in a 4-1 win.

Matt Lunde (Jr, Eau Claire) went the distance against Monmouth to pick up his third win of the season. Lunde allowed only one unearned run, scattered four hits and had two strikeouts.

Brian Bee (Jr, Bloomer) scatted four hits in five innings with five strikeouts to get the win against Nichols.

Matt Hoeft (So, Elk Mound) led the way at the plate for the Blue Devils, going 4-for-4 with three doubles and five RBI.

Dachel hit the Blue Devils' first home run of the season, an inside the park shot, collecting two RBI. Rueber went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.

Softball

March 16, 2001

KISSIMEE, Fla. - UW-Stout split two games in their final day at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimee, Fla., defeating Baldwin-Wallace, 5-4, and dropping an 8-0 decision to Westminster, Mo., College, Friday, March 15.

Down 2-0 heading into the sixth inning, Jessie Ustby (Sr, Onalaska) drew a walk, then was moved to third by Tracy Kokke's (Fr, Galesville) single. Ustby scored on a single by Angie Pinnow (Sr, Bruce) and Monica Knudtson (Fr, Holmen), who was running for Kokke, scored on a throwing error.

Pinnow, who moved to third on the same error, was driven in by Mary Roehning's (Fr, Savage, Minn) ground out to give Stout a 3-2 lead.

But Baldwin-Wallace scored two run in the bottom half of the inning to go ahead.

Stout did climb the ladder back. Erin Slaikeu (Sr, North St. Paul, Minn) reached on a single, then advanced to third when Kim Caswell (Fr, Stanley) got to second on an error.

Ustby laid down a suicide squeeze to score Slaikeu and Caswell came all the way around on an error for the winning run.

Not much went Stout's way against Westminster as they were held to three hits. Westminster scored five runs in the fifth and ended the game in the sixth with three more runs.

Stout, which finished their Florida trip at 3-7, returns to action Monday, March 26 when they travel to Concordia-St. Paul.

March 15, 2001

KISSIMEE, Fla. - It was one or the other - a good defensive effort or a good offensive effort. But the UW-Stout softball team could not put both sides of the scorebook together in any single game as they dropped four games in the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimee, Fla., March 14-15.

Stout lost to 10th ranked William Patterson, 6-4, Wednesday, March 14, then fell 6-2 to the US Coast Guard Academy later that afternoon. Third ranked Muskingum College handed Stout a 4-0 decision, Thursday, March 15, and the Blue Devils (2-6) closed out Thursday with a 6-4 loss to Geneva College.

Patterson took a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the second, but Stout tied the game in the fifth when Kristen Olsen (Fr, Eden Prairie, Minn) hit a two-run double and Janel Krenz (Sr, McFarland) drove in two runs with a single. But Patterson took the lead and the win with single runs in the fifth and sixth.

Against the Coast Guard, Stout trailed 2-1 heading into the sixth when Olsen smashed out a triple, then scored on an error. Coast Guard cruised to the win in the bottom of the sixth with four runs.

Muskingum blanked Stout across the board, and got their only runs with two apiece in the fourth and fifth innings.

Olsen had another strong day game at the plate against Geneva, getting a double, then scoring in the first. She had an RBI a three-run third that saw Angie Pinnow (Sr, Bruce) pick up a triple. Geneva tightened the score, 4-3, with a three-run fifth, but Stout fell apart defensively in the top of the seventh, giving up three unearned runs. Jessie Ustby (Sr, Onalaska) was 3-for-4 in the game.

March 12, 2001

KISSIMEE, Fla. - Tracy Kokke (Fr, Galesville) pitched 12 innings over two games and picked up both wins as the UW-Stout softball team won their first two games of the season, Monday, March 12, in the Rebel Games in Kissimee, Fla.

With the Blue Devils trailing 1-0, Kokke came on in long relief to record a 3-1 win over Richard Stockton (NJ) College in five innings of work. The Blue Devils got all of their runs in the bottom of the fifth, getting three unearned runs and an RBI by Janel Krenz (Sr, McFarland).

Kokke started the Blue Devils' second game against Manhattanville (NY) College, going the distance for a 5-2 win. Stout's bats came to life in the top of the first inning, giving a 2-0 lead before she took the mound. Stout (2-2) added two runs in the third and a single run in the fourth. Manhattanville got to Kokke in the bottom of the seventh for their only runs.

March 11, 2001

KISSIMEE, Fla. - Angie Pinnow (Sr, Bruce) smashed out three doubles on the day, but UW-Stout was still swept in their openers in the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimee, Fla., Sunday, March 11.

The Blue Devils dropped a 6-1 decision to Denison, Ohio, University in their first game Sunday, then fell, 7-3, to Lake Forest College later that afternoon.

Pinnow had two doubles in the opener and drove in Stout's only run in the fourth inning. Denison scored three runs in the top of the second, but Stout answered back in the fourth with Pinnow's scoring hit. Denison tacked on a run in the fifth, and shut the door with two runs in the seventh.

Stout took a 1-0 lead against Lake Forest, but the Foresters doubled that in the bottom of the first, then added a run in the second and the third. Stout scored in the third and fourth. Lake Forest put the finishing touches on with a three run seventh.

Men's Basketball

March 4, 2001

MENOMONIE - UW-Stout's four seniors carried the majority of the team awards home after the Blue Devils' annual awards banquet, Sunday, March 4.

All-conference picks Aaron Vachowiak (Sr, Wausau) and Pat Von Feldt (Sr, Stevens Point) received the captain awards.

Vachowiak was the teams' top rebounder (6.3 rebounds/game) and shooting percentage leader (56 percent, 135/241). Vachowiak, a first team all-WIAC pick, led the team in scoring with 13.5 points per game. Von Feldt, an honorable mention all-WIAC choice, barely trailed Vachowiak in scoring, averaging 13.3 points. Von Feldt was the team's 3-point threat as he connected on 41 treys. He was second in assists with 2.2/game (56 total).

Mike Nowak (Sr, Greenfield) was the team's steals leader, coming off the bench to average 1.4 thefts (36 total) and also received the press leader award. Oties Epps (Sr, Highland Park, Mich) shared the steals lead with Nowak and led the team in assists (2.6 assists/game; 68 total).

Mike Brudos (Jr, La Crosse) was given the Blue Devil Award, which is awarded for unselfish team play and overall support.

Outstanding booster awards went to Steve Schrantz, Al Klink and Harlan Knutson. Public address announcer Mike Pribbernow, a senior from Waupaca, was presented with a special appreciation award for his four years behind the microphone.

The Blue Devils finished the season at 14-12 overall, 6-10 in the WIAC, and picked off the No. 1 seeded UW-Whitewater Warhawks, 90-49, in the first round of the WIAC tournament. A highlight video of the season was presented and copies are available for $20 by contacting head coach Eddie Andrist at 715-232-1162, or assistant coach Joe Carollo at 715-232-1337.

First Year Letterwinners: Luke Schade (Fr, Oshkosh); Aaron Santama (Fr, Washburn); Nate Templer (Fr, Beaver Dam); Steve Krueger (Jr, Three Lakes); Andy Roeder (Fr, Mercer); Jeff Vandeberghe (Fr, Coon Rapids, Minn); Oties Epps (Sr, Highland Park, Mich).

Updated: March 19, 2001