SOFTBALL
The Blue Devils (27-16, 9-5) had shortstop Kaela Wold (Jr, Eau Claire/Altoona) and first baseman Erin O'Connell (Jr, Altoona) named to the Great Lakes All-Region first team.

BASEBALL
The Blue Devils (13-25, 9-15) closed out their season by winning five of their last six games, including a four-game sweep of UW-Superior. Stout split with Waldorf, May 5, 8-7, 11-3, then swept Superior, 13-6, 4-2, 8-7, 18-1 over the weekend. Player of the week: Greg Meinertz, Jr, La Crosse.; Pitcher of the week: Joe Huiting, Sr, Little Chute, Wis.

WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD
The Blue Devils will be at the St. Olaf Last Chance meet, Saturday, May 15. Last week: Stout finished fifth at the WIAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, May 7-8, at Eau Claire, matching their highest finish.

MEN'S TRACK & FIELD
The Blue Devils will be at the UM-Duluth Last Chance, Wednesday, May 12 and at the St. Olaf Last Chance, Saturday, May 15. Last week: Stout finished seventh at the WIAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, May 7-8 at UW-Eau Claire.

Softball

May 6, 2004

First baseman Erin O'Connell (Jr, Altoona) and shortstop Kaela Wold (Jr, Eau Claire/Altoona) were named first team all-region. Wold was named as an at-large pick. Both players are now eligible for All-America honors.

Wold and O'Connell were both finalists for the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) player of the year and were first team all-conference. Wold was a second team all-region choice last season, while O'Connell was a first team pick.

Wold finished second in the WIAC this season in batting average with .493 (69-of-140) and was first in slugging percentage (.779), on base percentage (.542), hits (69), total bases (109), runs batted in (40), and doubles (20). Wold recorded a triple and six home runs and scored 30 runs. Wold stole 16 bases in 19 attempts.

Wold's doubles total (20) was a school and conference record, and her hits total, RBIs, batting average and slugging percentage all rank second on the Stout single season lists.

Wold, a three-time first team all-conference selection, moved from the outfield to shortstop this season, putting up a fielding percentage of .922

O'Connell led the Blue Devils in home runs for the second season, with her seven home runs this season extending her career record to 24 and tying the conference career home run record.

O'Connell batted .408, going 58-of-142 with 32 RBI and 27 runs scored. She rapped out 13 doubles and one triple to post a slugging percentage of .662.

At first base, O'Connell was nearly flawless, committing only three errors in 483 chances for a school record fielding percentage of .994.

Nine players from the WIAC were named to the all-region team. Stout was the only team to place two players on the first team.

May 5, 2004

Outfielder Kim Caswell (Sr, Stanley/Stanley-Boyd), first baseman Erin O'Connell (Jr, Altoona), shortstop Kaela Wold (Jr, Eau Claire/Altoona) and pitcher Megan Donley (So, Fridley, Minn) were named to the first team while catcher Jamie Gorges (Jr, New London) was an honorable mention pick.

Caswell has been a consistent player for the Blue Devils all four years and this year was no exception as the senior captain started all 43 games and played in nearly every inning, mostly at right field.

Caswell, a two-time honorable mention pick, batted lead-off throughout the year, hitting .352, going 56-of-159 at the plate, leading the team in plate appearances. She smacked out seven doubles, a team-high four triples and a career-high three home runs. She stole 16 bases in 18 attempts and had 20 RBI.

Wold and O'Connell were both finalists for the WIAC player of the year.

Wold was second in the league in batting average with .493 (69-of-140) and was first in slugging percentage (.779), on base percentage (.542), hits (69), total bases (109), runs batted in (40), and doubles (20). Wold recorded a triple and six home runs and scored 30 runs. Wold stole 16 bases in 19 attempts.

Wold's doubles total was a school and conference record, and her hits total, RBIs, batting average and slugging percentage all rank second on the Stout single season lists.

Wold, a three-time first team all-conference selection, moved from the outfield to shortstop this season, putting up a fielding percentage of .922

O'Connell led the Blue Devils in home runs for the second season, with her seven home runs this season extending her career record to 24 and tying the conference career home run record.

O'Connell batted .408, going 58-of-142 with 32 RBI and 27 runs scored. She rapped out 13 doubles and one triple to post a slugging percentage of .662.

At first base, O'Connell, a first team all-conference and third team All-American last season, was like a trap, committing only three errors in 483 chances for a school record fielding percentage of .994.

Donley is well on the way in her journey to rewrite the Stout pitching record book. Posting a 22-14 record, Donley pitched a school record 259 innings, with an ERA of 1.46. She started 36 games, completed 32, had seven shutouts and recorded Stout's lone save of the season.

Donley struck out 104, holding opponents to a batting average of .258. Her 22 wins is second in Stout single season history, as is her ERA.

Donley led the league in innings pitched, appearances (41), and starts, and was third in ERA and fourth in strikeouts.

Gorges was effective with the bat as well as behind the plate, where she gunned down 16 runners attempting to steal and recorded 13 pickoffs. Gorges posted a fielding percentage of .969 and batted .271 (35-of-129), with four doubles, two home runs and 25 RBI. She also had two sacrifice flies.

May 9, 2004

SUPERIOR - UW-Stout completed a four-game sweep over UW-Superior to wrap up the season, and the Blue Devils did it in style, winning the first, 8-7, and the second, 18-1, Sunday, May 9 in Superior.

Todd Brunclik (So, Birchwood) hit a walk-off, grand-slam home run in the bottom of the ninth to give Stout the first game win. Nick Jones (Sr, La Crosse) pitched three innings of relief to pick up the win.

Home runs continued for the Blue Devils (13-25, 7-15) in the second game as Jake Riek (Sr, Boyceville) opened the game with a lead off home run. Eight batters later in the same inning, Riek was at the plate with the bases loaded and cleared the bases with a grand slam and five RBI in the first inning. In the middle of the inning, Greg Meinertz (Jr, La Crosse) crushed a three-run home run as Stout piled up eight runs in the first inning.

Even winning pitcher Joe Huiting (Sr, Little Chute) got into the act as he led off the sixth inning with a solo shot. In all, Stout hit six home runs in the game, including solo round-trippers by Tim Nielson (So, Rosemount, Minn) and  Jim Foreman (Sr, Apple Valley, Minn). Riek finished the game hitting 4-for-4. Nielson and Meinertz each had three hits and Meinertz finished with four RBI. Corey Endreas (Sr, Spencer) had two doubles. Stout finished the game with 19 hits.

Huiting struck out six and walked only one, scattering seven hits in the seven inning affair.

In the opener, Jon Kroening's (Sr, Ladysmith) sacrifice fly in the second inning gave Stout a short-lived 1-0 lead. Superior (3-35, 1-23) answered back with four runs in the top of the third. The Blue Devils pulled to within 4-3 in the sixth when Nielson scored on a wild pitch after being moved to third on a Meinertz double. Meinertz was plated by a Jason Kuehn (Jr, Augusta) single.

The Yellowjackets seemingly regained control with a three-run seventh to jump out 7-3. Stout's Nielson led off the eighth with a home run to chip away at the lead. Back-to-back walks to Endreas and Brandt Buckley (So, Menomonie) and a single by Riek to open the ninth set the stage for Brunclik's no-out game winner. The Yellowjackets outhit Stout, 12-7, in the game with no Stout player getting more than one hit.

Stout finished the season with a five-game winning streak and won seven of their last eight games.

May 8, 2004

SUPERIOR - UW-Stout ran wild in the first game, then squeezed out a win in the second game as the Blue Devils took two games from UW-Superior, Saturday, May 8 in Superior.

Stout (11-25, 7-15) recorded six stolen bases, Greg Meinertz (Jr, La Crosse) drove in five runs and Brandt Buckley (So, Menomonie) hit three doubles and had three RBI as Stout rolled over the Yellowjackets, 13-6, in the opener, then recorded the sweep by scoring two runs in the top of the eighth to take a 4-2 win in the nightcap.

In the first game, Stout built a 5-0 lead, but Superior (3-33, 1-21) came back with three runs in the third, then tied the game in the fourth at 5-5. The Blue Devils took control in the sixth inning with three runs to hand Jon Severson (Jr, Hayfield, Minn) his first win of the season. Severson struck out four. Rob Heller (Fr, La Crosse) came on in long relief in the sixth and allowed only one more run as Stout tacked on four more runs in the eighth, highlighted by Meinertz's two-run triple.

Stout tallied 16 hits in the game, while the Superior bats accumulated 11. Jake Riek (Sr, Boyceville) had two stolen bases, while Buckley, Dustin VanderVorst (Fr, River Falls), Corey Endreas (Sr, Spencer) and Tim Nielson (So, Rosemount, Minn) each had one.

Jason Kuehn (Jr, Augusta) went the distance to pick up the second game win, allowing six hits and striking out eight.

Endreas broke open a scoreless game in the sixth with a two-run triple. A Superior home run in the bottom half of the inning cut Stout's lead in half. Superior tied the game with a run in the seventh.

The Blue Devils won the game in the eighth when Jim Foreman (Sr, Apple Valley, Minn) reached on an error, allowing a run to score. Stout put one last run on the board when Jon Kroening's (Sr, Ladysmith) pinch hit single to right field drove in a run. Kuehn walked a single batter in each of the final two innings, but worked his way out of the situation each time.

Todd Brunclik (So, Birchwood) was 3-for-5, while Meinertz was 2-for-5 and Endreas 2-for-4. Stout had 12 hits to Superior's six.

May 5, 2004

Stout (9-25) spotted the Warriors (19-28) a five run lead over the first three innings of the opener, then chipped away to pull to within 7-5 after five innings. Stout used a three-run fourth inning to do most of the damage, capitalizing on a Waldorf error and a balk.

After Waldorf went up, 7-4 in the fifth inning, Stout used a double steal to cut the lead to 7-5 in the bottom half of the inning. Tim Nielson (So, Rosemount, Minn) stole second and Jake Riek (Sr, Boyceville) stole home.

Waldorf added another run in the top of the seventh, but the Blue Devils came back in the bottom of the seventh as Jason Kuehn (Jr, Augusta) and Corey Endreas (Sr, Spencer) each drove in a run. But Stout stranded two runners and ran out of time.

Waldorf came out storming in the second game, scoring a run in the top of the first. Stout countered that when Jim Foreman (Sr, Apple Valley, Minn) smacked his first of two doubles and drove in Riek.

Greg Meinertz (Jr, La Crosse) drove in a run and Foreman's second double accounted for two Stout runs in the third to put Stout up 3-1. Waldorf added a run in the fourth, but the next two innings would belong to the Blue Devils as Stout scored three in the fourth and batted around to score five in the fifth.

Riek, Endreas and Meinertz each drove home a run in the fourth and Endreas, Meinertz and Foreman brought in single runs in the fifth and Nielson's single to left field drove in two more. Waldorf scored a single run in the sixth, but were held scoreless by Rob Heller (Fr, La Crosse) in the seventh.

Riek had a strong day at the plate, going 4-for-7 with five runs scored and two RBI, including a solo home run in the first game. He was 2-for-3 in the first game and 2-for-4 in the second. Riek had three stolen bases on the afternoon.

Foreman was 3-for-4 with three RBI in the second game. Meinertz was also 3-for-4 with three RBI in the nightcap. Nielson was 2-for-4 with two RBI in the second game. Endreas was 2-for-3 with two RBI in the second game, and added two RBI in the first game, going 2-for-3.

Chad Tousley (So, Prescott) worked six innings to the get the win, scattering seven hits.

May 8, 2004

EAU CLAIRE - UW-Stout's Laura Verdegan (Jr, Tony) won two events and completely shattered a school record in the process at the 2004 WIAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Saturday, May 8 at UW-Eau Claire.

Verdegan won the triple jump in a distance of 38-feet, 3.50-inches, but it was in the 400-meter hurdles that she turned heads. Verdegan won the event easily, knocking nearly five seconds off her preliminary time from the day before and winning by almost three seconds. Verdegan blew by the field in an NCAA Division III automatic qualifying  time of 61.71 seconds, breaking the 1982 school record of 63.27 set by Hall of Fame member Nanci Halverson. Oshkosh's Sarah Shettle was second in a time of 64.42 seconds.

Ann Schachtner (Jr, Somerset) was third in the shot put in a provisional qualifying distance of 45-6.25. Marci Schachtner (Jr, Deer Park) was sixth in the discus (138-11), Lindsay Kjolsing (Fr, Mankato, Minn) was seventh in the 100-meter dash, the 4x100-relay team was fourth (49.77) and the 4x400-relay team was sixth (4:04.82).

As a team, Stout placed fifth with 61 points. UW-Oshkosh won the event.

2004 WIAC Championships
1. UW-Oshkosh 217.7; 2. UW-La Crosse 195; 3. UW-Stevens Point 148.50; 4. UW-Eau Claire 105.50; 5. UW-Stout 61; 6. UW-River Falls 59; 7. UW-Whitewater 42; 8. UW-Platteville 24.40; 9. UW-Superior 5.50

Individual Results (First place, all Stout finishers)
100: 1. Angela Klatt (LX) 12.14; 7. Lindsay Kjolsing 12.73; 1500: 1. Liz Woodworth (Osh) 4:31.43; 16. Tracy Oostdyk 5:04.92; 400-hurdles: 1. Laura Verdegan (Stout) 61.71*a; 4x100-relay: 1. La Crosse 47.86; 4. Stout 49.77; 4x400-relay: 1. La Crosse 3:53.09; 6. Stout 4:04.82;

High jump: 1. Jill Crandell (RF) 5-5.75; 10. Carrie Petersen 5-1.75; 11. Camelle Meyer 4-11.75; 19. Becky Monyhan 4-7.75; Triple jump: 1. Laura Verdegan (Stout) 38-3.50p; 14. Sam Strunk 33-6; 20. Ramona Vann 31-0; Shot put: 1. Robyn Jarocki (Osh) 46-0.50; 3. Ann Schachtner 45-6.25p; 12. Bonnie Nutt 38-1.25; Discus: 1. Robyn Jarocki (Osh) 161-9; 6. Marci Schachtner 138-11; 14. Ann Schachtner 117-8; 20. Kim Randt 107-10.

May 7, 2004

EAU CLAIRE - Laura Verdegan (Jr, Tony) and Lindsay Kjolsing (Fr, Mankato, Minn) advanced to the finals in their respective runs during the first day of the 2004 WIAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Friday, May 7 at Eau Claire.

Verdegan was second in the 400-meter hurdles (1-minute, 6.69-seconds), while Kjolsing was fourth in the 100-meter dash (12.72).

Marci Schachtner (Jr, Deer Park) was fourth in the hammer throw with an NCAA Division III provisional distance of 50.14 meters. Eight participants hit the provisional qualifier or better in the event. Verdegan finished fourth in the long jump (5.31 meters) and Tracy Oostdyk (Sr, Spooner) was fifth in the 3000-meter steeplechase in a school record time of 11-minutes, 24.09-seconds.

Camelle Meyer (So, Plainview, Minn) was fourth in the javelin with a toss of 110-3.

After the first day of competition, Stout was fifth with 22 points.

First Day Individual Results (First place, all Stout finishers)
100: 1. Angela Klatt (LX) 12.25; 4. Lindsay Kjolsing 12.70; 22. Ashley Juleff 13.74; 23. Kristen King 14.39; 200: 1. Angela Klatt (LX) 24.94; 11. Lindsay Kjolsing 26.39; 19. Kristen Becker 30.61; 800: 1. Liz Woodworth (Osh) 2:15.05; 11. Stephanie Nichols 2:23.41; 10,000: 1. Nicki Van Gheem (SP) 39:28.32; 15. Terra Dahlheimer 41:44.21; 17. Leah Karaliunas 42:21.99; 3000-steeplechase: 1. Julia Rudd (LX) 10:40.57; 5. Tracy Oostdyk 11:24.09*; 11. Carly Mann 13:32.70; 110-hurdles: 18. Attalia Young 18.09; 400-hurdles: 1. Shannon Zweifel (RF) 1:04.04; 2. Laura Verdegan 1:06.69; 13. Attalia Young 1:19.59; 4x800-relay: 1. Oshkosh 9:29.05; 8. Stout 10:08.43; 

Pole vault: 1. Angela Hilgers (LX) 12-4.50; 7. Liana Frisch 10-4.75; Long jump: 1. Ashley Nelson (EC) 19-1.75; 4. Laura Verdegan 17-5.25; 17. Ramona Vann m14-11.75; Hammer: 1. Robyn Jarocki (Osh) 183-10; 4. Marci Schachtner 164-6p; 22. Bonnie Nutt 107-0.50. Javelin: 1. Becky Clarke (SP) 125-8.50; 4. Camelle Meyer 110-3; 27. Sam Strunk 77-10.50.

Men's Track & Field

May 8, 2004

EAU CLAIRE - UW-Stout's Dave Hanson (Sr, Sun Prairie)  finished second in the 400-meter hurdles at the 2004 WIAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Saturday, May 8 at UW-Eau Claire.

Hanson clocked a time of 52.80 seconds, behind UW-La Crosse's Derek Toshner (51.83). Hanson's time was an NCAA Division III provisional qualifying time. Hanson was fifth in the 110-hurdles (15.09).

Craig Kotsmith (Fr, Foreston, Minn) was third in the 400-meter dash (48.21), also a provisional qualifying time. Dave Huber (Sr, Mendota Heights, Minn) was sixth in the 5000-meter run (15:13.15) and Ryan Carpenter (So, Sauk Prairie) was sixth in the triple jump (45-10.50) and Derek Gonzenbach (Fr, Milbank, S.D.) was sixth in the 400-hurdles (55.21). Scott Barthel (Jr, Brooklyn Park, Minn) was seventh in the 400 (49.22).

The Blue Devil 4x400-relay team of Barthel, Gonzenbach, Kotsmith and Hanson hit a provisional qualifier in finishing second in the event (3:16.00).

As a team, Stout finished seventh with 44 points.

2004 WIAC Championships
1. UW-La Crosse 262.50; 2. UW-Whitewater 174.50; 3. UW-Stevens Point 130; 4. UW-Oshkosh 98; 5. UW-Platteville 63.50; 6. UW-Eau Claire 55.50; 7. UW-Stout 44; 8. UW-River Falls 18.50; 9. UW-Superior 11.50

Individual Results (First place, all Stout finishers)
200: 1. Andrew Rock (LX) 20.93; 9. Steve Wenhardt 22.98; 400: 1. Andrew Rock (LX) 46.18; 3. Craig Kotsmith 48.21p; 7. Scott Barthel 49.22; 5000: 1. Curtis Johnson (SP) 14:54.57; 6. Dave Huber 15:13.15; 110-hurdles: 1. Andrew Schliepp 14.50; 5. Dave Hanson 15.09; 400-hurdles: 1. Derek Toshner (LX) 51.83; 2. Dave Hanson 52.80; 6. Derek Gonzenbach 55.21; 4x100-relay: 1. La Crosse 41.63; 6. Stout 43.22; 4x400-hurdles: 1. La Crosse 3:15.82; 2. Stout 3:16.00p; 

Triple jump: 1. Todd Gannon (WW) 46-11; 6. Ryan Carpenter 45-10.50; Shot put: 1. John Schuna (EC) 56-2; 11. Travis Hoffman 46-10; 13. Chad Kingsbury 46-4.25; Discus: 1. Mike Turgeon (LX) 177-2; 10. Ryan Kawski 149-2; 19. Chad Kingsbury 128-1.

May 7, 2004

EAU CLAIRE - UW-Stout's Craig Kotsmith (Fr, Foreston, Minn) finished with the second best time in the preliminaries of the 400-meter dash and hit the NCAA Division III provisional qualifying time during the first day of the 2004 WIAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Friday, May 7 at UW-Eau Claire.

Kotsmith clocked a time of 48.24 seconds, second only to numerous times All-American Andrew Rock of La Crosse, who came in at 47.43 seconds. The finals will be Saturday.

Dave Hanson (Sr, Sun Prairie) advanced to the finals in both hurdle events, finishing sixth in the 110-high hurdles (15.23) and fourth in the 400-hurdles (54.56). Steve Wenhardt (So, Sturgeon Bay) qualified to the finals of the 100-meter with a ninth place finish (22.60). Scott Barthel (Jr, Brooklyn Park, Minn) advanced in 400-meter with a seventh place finish (49.49)

First Day Individual Results (First place, all Stout finishers)
100: 1. Eric Walton (Osh) 10.72; 12. Steve Wenhardt 11.24; 14. Sam Werner 11.28; 200: 1. Andrew Rock (LX) 21.48; 9. Steve Wenhardt 22.60; 400: 1. Andrew Rock (LX) 47.43; 2. Craig Kotsmith 48.24; 7. Scott Barthel 49.49; 10,000: 1. Mark LaLonde (SP) 30:20.44; 9. Dave Huber 32:18.08; 3000-steeplechase: 1. Tyler Fyock (PV) 9:22.96; 7. Brett Heimstead 9:43.90; 16. Nate Lynch 10:22.51; 20. Todd Dexheimer 10:27.65; 110-hurdles: 1. Derek Toshner (LX) 14.56; 6. Dave Hanson 15.23; 14. Patrick Gentert 16.15; 400-hurdles: 1. Nolan Heitpas (LX) 53.95; 4. Dave Hanson 54.56; 15. Patrick Gentert 60.01; 4x800-relay: 1. Oshkosh 7:46.58; 7. Stout 8:09.11;

Pole vault: 1. Hans Schmidt (LX) 16-4.75; 9. Nick Onesti, Andy Smith 14-1.75; 17. Joe Cook 13-7.25.

May 5, 2004

Blue Devil coach Mark Thomas carried on with that philosophy by pursuing players that are not afraid to toss the ball towards the basket. Thomas, who will enter his 18th season as the Stout head coach next season, announced the first installment of his 2004-05 recruiting class today.

"Joanna is a leader, a great passer, can score, is smart, very competitive and is a winner," Thomas said.

A four-year starter at Boyceville, the Bulldogs twice advanced to the Wisconsin state championship finals game with Bird at the point. A two-time first team all-conference player, Boyceville won four regional titles during Bird's tenure. Playing in 102 games over her career, Bird scored 787 total points, pulled down 185 rebounds, had 179 steals and 450 assists.

"She will be a great player in our system," Thomas said about Bird who was a second team all-Northwest pick last season.

Lindsey Geissler was a three-time first team all-conference selection at area powerhouse Thorp High School. Thomas sees Geissler as stepping into the shooting guard spot.

"Lindsey has great shooting ability and range," Thomas said. "She can take it to the basket, finish and set up her teammates."

Geissler, whose teams advanced to the state tournament twice, finished her high school career with 1144 points and holds seven school records, including most 3-pointers in a career (151), 3-point shooting percentage (37 percent), and career free throw shooting percentage (78 percent). Geissler received the Cloverbelt Conference Scholar Award and the WIAA Scholar Athlete Award.

Courtney Oelkers of Arcadia is projected to be out on the Blue Devils' wing.

"Courtney plays hard all the time," Thomas said. "She is very athletic, very strong and possesses excellent ball skills."

A state champion hurdler, Thomas describes Oelkers, a two-time first team all-conference basketball pick, as a "slasher type of player, with a very strong move to the basket."

Dani Boese of Alma gives the Blue Devils a strong defensive presence underneath, as well as a scoring threat. Boese averaged 13.5 points and 11 rebounds last season for the Rivermen.

"Dani is tall, long and very athletic," Thomas said. "She runs the floor very well and has great hops. A very strong scorer around the basket, she is a shot blocker on defense."

Boese was a two-time first team all-conference selection.

Ali Burke of Eau Claire Memorial is expected to see time right away for the Blue Devils at the No. 3 guard spot.

A two-time second team all-conference selection, Burke shot 80 percent from the free throw line and finished her career with 585 points and 206 rebounds.

"Ali has excellent speed and goes to the basket hard," Thomas said about the Old Abes' offensive and defensive most valuable player. "She is good with the ball and has 3-point range."

Tallie Stone of Hayward will give the Blue Devils additional height underneath. A three-year second team all-conference selection, Stone is a very versatile player both offensively and defensively.

"Tallie runs the floor well," said Thomas, "and gives us that tall, long athletic player. She plays hard and works very hard on the glass."

Stone, who shot 50 percent from the floor last year, scored 518 career points and yanked down 490 career rebounds.

Molly Loney of River Falls was the Wildcats' team captain and team MVP the last two years. Loney averaged 9.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals last season.

"Molly is a very smart player," Thomas said about River Falls' female WIAA scholar athlete nominee. "She has good size at the wing and is a good shooter."

Bird and Geissler will be members of the WBCA Division 3 North all-star team this June. Oelkers is slated to play for the Division 3 South team and Boese will be a Division 4 South team all-star.

"We are very excited about this recruiting class," Thomas said. "It is one of the best classes in my 18 years at UW-Stout. I look for this class to accomplish some special things in their careers."

Stout finished the 2003-04 season at 18-9 overall, 10-6 in the rugged Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC). The Blue Devils will open the 2004-05 season, Friday, Nov. 19 at the Wisconsin Lutheran tournament in Milwaukee.

Updated: May 10, 2004