FOOTBALL
The Blue Devils (0-0) will open the 2005 campaign when they host NCAA Division II Upper Iowa University (0-1) Saturday, Sept. 3 at 6 p.m. at Don & Nona Williams Stadium. The Peacocks lost 26-18 to Missoura-Rolla, Aug. 27, to open their 2005 season. The Blue Devils were picked to finish fifth in a preseason poll conducted by the WIAC.

VOLLEYBALL
The Blue Devils (0-0) get the season underway Friday, Sept. 2 at the UW-Eau Claire Invitational. Stout will play Lawrence and St. Benedict, Friday and Hamline and UM-Morris, Saturday, Sept. 3. St. Benedict handed Stout their first loss of the season last year, while Stout defeated Lawrence, Morris and Hamline by 3-0 scores. Stout is coming off their best finish since 1994 and was picked to finish fifth in the WIAC in a preseason poll conducted by the conference. Stout was ranked 21st in the preseason AVCA Division III poll

SOCCER
The Blue Devils (0-0) get the season rolling Friday, Sept. 2 when they are at St. Olaf College for a 3 p.m. start. Stout will open the home schedule Saturday, Sept. 3 when they host Concordia College of Mequon, at 7 p.m. at Nelson Field. The Blue Devils have yet to defeat St. Olaf in four tries and hold an 0-1 record against Concordia, losing 6-2 in 2000. Stout last played St. Olaf in 1999, losing a 3-2 overtime decision.

WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
The Blue Devils women will participate in the Jamie Block Intrasquad/Alumni meet, Saturday, Sept. 3 beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the Menomonie High School course.

MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
The Blue Devils men will participate in the Jamie Block Intrasquad/Alumni meet, Saturday, Sept. 3 beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the Menomonie High School course.

TENNIS
The Blue Devils (0-0) waste little time getting the 2005 season underway. After arriving on campus, Sunday, Aug. 27, the Blue Devils have less than one week to get ready and will be at the Edgewood College Triangular, Saturday, Sept. 3 where they will face Beloit College and host Edgewood.

Football

BLUE DEVIL OPEN SEASON WITH DIVISION II PEACOCKS

ON THE LINE: UW-Stout opens up the 2005 season against NCAA Division II independent, Upper Iowa University. The Peacocks opened their season Aug. 26, falling to visiting Missouri-Rolla, 26-18.

The Blue Devils will attempt to build some momentum in preparation for their Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) opener, which is Sept. 10 against UW-Platteville. Stout is picked to finish fifth in the WIAC, according to the league's sports information directors, while Platteville is picked to end up sixth.

LAST TIME OUT: Stout: After a nearly scoreless first three quarters, UW-Stout and UW-Platteville exploded for 33 points between the two teams in the final stanza. But it was Platteville that would win this final game of the season for both teams, 23-13, Nov. 13 at Platteville. The Pioneers (6-4, 3-4) carried a 3-0 lead well into the third quarter before the fireworks for both teams began. Stout QB Nick Ohman completed 19-of-33 passes for 239 yards and two TDs and rushed for 148 yards on 35 carries, but was sacked seven times. Stout totaled 419 yards, 180 rushing, 239 in the air. The Pioneers finished with 469 yards, 336 by pass, 133 on the ground.

Upper Iowa: The Peacocks opened their 2005 season by losing, 26-18, to Missouri-Rolla. Upper Iowa running back Larry "TC" Hicks (So, Immokalee, Fla.) rushed for 99 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries in the loss. Hicks also caught two passes for six yards. Peacock quarterback Jay Lehman (Sr, Epworth, Iowa) completed 21-of-31 passes for 291 yards and one TD, while tossing three picks. The Peacocks gained 413 net offensive yards to Missouri-Rolla's 346, but lost the turnover battle, 3-1.

LAST SEASON: Stout is a member of the eight-team Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC). Last season, Stout was 5-4 overall, 3-4 (tied for fifth) in the WIAC. Upper Iowa is in their second year as an NCAA Division II affiliate and play an independent schedule. They will join the Northern Sun in 2006.

THE SERIES: The Blue Devils lead the series, 2-0, but the two teams have not met in 55 years. Stout, under the leadership of Tony Storti, had no problem with Upper Iowa in 1950, taking a 54-7 win. Stout also won in 1949, but by a lot closer score, 14-13.

STOUT PLAYERS TO WATCH: (2004 stats) RB Ryan Englebert (Jr, Sturgeon Bay) 103 car, 485 yds, 4.7 17.5 yd/rec, 1 TD; WR Jesse Wendt (Jr, Chetek), 29 rec, 416 yds, 14.3 yd/rec, 5 TDs; WR John Henry Freeman (Jr, St. Louis, Mo) 22 rec, 380 yds, 17.3 y/rec, 3 TDs; DB Joe Seep (Sr, Reedsburg) 26 tackles, 22 solo, 2 int, 7 pass break ups; DB Tony Fitts (Jr, Kewaskum) 27 tackles, 21 solo, 3 int for 39 yds, 4 pass break-ups; LB Luke Steffen (Jr, Greenwood) 25 tackles, 12 solo, 4 tackles for loss; LB Steve Schils (So, Green Bay) 32 tackles, 18 solo, 5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks for 26 yds, two fumble recoveries-1 TD; DL Travis Hoffmann (Jr, Schofield) 34 tackles, 19 solo, 2 sacks; Blue Devils avg 442.9 total ypg, 217.9 rushing, 225.0 passing; give up 341.3 total ypg, 132.1 rushing, 209.2 passing. Stout outscored opponents, 251-186. (28-21)

UPPER IOWA PLAYERS TO WATCH: (2004 stats) QB Jay Lehman (Jr, Epworth, Iowa) 117 comp, 208 att, 1369 yds, 10 TD, 9 int, 136.9 yd/g, 52 car, (-110) yds,; TB Gary Glasby, Jr. (Sr, St. Louis, Mo)) 111 car, 481 yds, 6 TDs, 4.3 y/car, 14 rec, 132 yds, 0 TD, 9.4 y/rec, 11.1 y/punt ret; LB Travis Smith (Jr, Tyler, Texas) 108 tackles, 42 solo, 6 tackles for loss of 19 yds; DB Josh Thomas (Sr, Eagle Lake, Fla) 59 tackles, 32 solo; DL Chris Spier (Sr, Sumner, Iowa) 48 tackles, 19 solo, 2.5 sacks; DB Otha Childress, Jr (Sr, Overland Park, Kan) 38 tackles, 28 solo; DL Duran Major (Sr, Miami, Fla) 23 tackles, 15 solo, 7 tackles for loss of 40 yards, six sacks for 39 yards, 2 pass break ups; DB Reicko Jones (Riviera Beach, Fla/East Carolina University) 8 tackles, 4 solo vs. Missouri-Rolla; Upper Iowa avg 285.0 yds/g, 107.0 rushing, 178.01 passing; gave up 413.0 yds/g, 204.7 rushing, 208.3 passing; Upper Iowa was outscored, 326-322 (32-21)

OFFENSIVE LOOK: Peacocks: multiple; Stout: multi-pro set. DEFENSIVE LOOK: Upper Iowa: 4-3; Stout: 3-4.

COACHES: Stout coach Todd Strop (5-4 career) is in his second year as the Blue Devil head coach. Peacock coach Mike Knoll (4-41 career) is in his first season with Upper Iowa, but his fifth year overall. Knoll coached four years at New Mexico State in the 1980s.

STOUT COACH TODD STROP SAYS: "First and foremost, the biggest thing we're going to stress to our players is Upper Iowa is a Division II, scholarship football team. Basically, coming out of high school, their players were considered better than our players. They haven't won a lot of games over the last two years, but, being in Division II, they play a much tougher schedule. They're not a team to overlook. This is our first game of the year. Our guys have been looking forward to this for nine months. We're just excited to play.

"Offensively, not turning over the football and being patient will be key. Upper Iowa is a good defensive team that doesn't give up the long play. Defensively, we need to shut down the running game and make them try to beat us passing the ball. That's always our mindset going in.

"Every year, that first game is so critical. It lays the foundation of where you're going to go and what you're going to become over the next two-and-a-half months. This is a great group of kids. They work hard and had great two-a-days. We're excited to see what the 2005 season brings."

Volleyball

VOLLEYBALL TEAM PICKED FIFTH IN PRESEASON WIAC POLL

MENOMONIE (August 25, 2005) - The UW-Stout volleyball team is projected to place fifth in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC), according to a consensus provided by the league's sports information directors.

The Blue Devils are coming off a 31-5 season that included a 6-2 WIAC record. In 2004, Stout claimed its first-ever WIAC Tournament title and its third NCAA Tournament appearance in team history after also participating in 1998 and 1994.

Stout lost AVCA All-Americans Brooke Viegut (first team) and Tanille Hartwig (second team), along with Erin Heger, who led the NCAA Division III with 15.09 assists per game in 2004.

The Blue Devils, who return 10 letterwinners from last year's squad, were recently ranked No. 21 in the CSTV/AVCA Division III Coaches Top 25 poll. UW-Whitewater (No. 8), UW-La Crosse (No. 14), UW-Platteville (No. 16) and UW-River Falls (No. 20) also made that list.

Stout will kick off its 2005 season Sept. 2, when it commences play in the two-day UW-Eau Claire Tourney. The Blue Devils' home opener will be Wednesday, Sept. 14, when it hosts Eau Claire.

Whitewater, which has made 13 consecutive NCAA Division III Tournament appearances, received seven first-place votes in the WIAC poll to earn top billing. The Warhawks claimed the 2004 regular season title with a 7-1 conference mark en route to a 34-6 season record.

La Crosse and River Falls, which both received one first-place vote apiece, are picked to finish second and third, respectively, in the WIAC. Last year, the Eagles (31-7 overall in 2004) and Falcons (24-11) both finished 5-3 in WIAC action.

Platteville (27-8, 5-3 WIAC in 2004) is picked sixth and UW-Oshkosh (22-11, 3-5) seventh. UW-Stevens Point (21-14, 1-7) and UW-Superior (8-24, 0-8) ended up in a tie for eighth in the preseason poll.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo (August 5, 2005) - The UW-Stout volleyball team was awarded the Game Plan/American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award for the 2004-05 season.

The award, initiated during the 1992-93 academic year, honors colleges and high school teams that displayed excellence in the classroom by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative team grade-point average on a 4.0 scale. Stout was one of 274 total schools to receive the honors that includes schools from National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I, II and III programs, as well as National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and National Collegiate Christian Athletic Association (NCCAA) schools and high school teams.

UW-Stout and UW-La Crosse earned the award from among the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) schools and only 43 NCAA Division III schools of more than 400-plus institutions were honored.

UW-Stout is coached by Jill Jolliff, who will enter her 13th year. Team members from 2004-05 included: Erin Heger, Sr, Chaska, Minn; Rachel Linbo, Jr, Stewartville, Minn; Kat Roesler, So, Chippewa Falls; Lindsay Mensink, Sr, Ostrander, Minn; Ellie Feenstra, So, Arpin; Brooke Viegut, Sr, Abbotsford; Theresa Hirsch, So, Austin, Minn; Kjersti Hamlin, Sr, Spring Valley, Minn; Jenny McDermid, So, Oconto Falls; Scooter Aspen, Sr, Eau Claire; Tannille (Zenner) Hartwig, Sr, Athens; Linda Meyer, Fr, Cedarburg; Jenna Welsh, Fr, Abbotsford; Natalie Naaktgeboren, Fr, Maple Lake, Minn; Casey Huntoon, Fr, Mantorville, Minn; Elissa Balz, Fr, Athens; Sarah McElfresh, So, Osceola.

Soccer

SOCCER TEAM PICKED FOURTH IN PRESEASON WIAC POLL

MENOMONIE (August 26, 2005) - The UW-Stout soccer team is projected to place fourth in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC), according to a preseason poll of the league's sports information directors.

The Blue Devils are coming off a 15-3-2 season that included a 6-1-1 record in WIAC play. In 2004, the Blue Devils established a school-record for single-season victories.

Stout returns three of the top four scorers in the WIAC from a year ago, but must replace all-Central Region performers Carrie Schrank and Melissa Ballweg, who were both starters since their freshman seasons.

Coach Dave Morris's squad will kick off its 2005 season Friday, Sept. 2, when it travels to St. Olaf for a non-conference match. After visiting St. Olaf, the Blue Devils open at home by hosting Concordia of Mequon, Wis., Saturday, Sept. 3, at 7 p.m.

UW-River Falls (12-5-1, 4-3-1 in 2004) is picked to finish third and UW-Eau Claire (7-10-1, 3-4-1) fifth. UW-La Crosse (11-7-1, 4-4) and UW-Whitewater (9-9-1, 3-4-1) ended up in a tie for sixth in the preseason poll, while UW-Platteville (8-12, 1-7) was picked eighth and UW-Superior (6-8-4, 0-8) ninth.

Women's Cross Country

2004 CROSS COUNTRY TEAM WINS ACADEMIC HONORS

MENOMONIE (August 22, 2005) - Members of UW-Stout's 2004 women's cross country team proved not only quick on the course, but in the classroom, as well.

Blue Devil coach Joe Harlan announced Monday that the team was named to the All-Academic National Team by the NCAA Division III Cross Country Coaches Association.

Stout, one of seven WIAC schools selected to the 109-school all-academic team, posted a team GPA of 3.39 during the 2004-05 academic year. UW-Whitewater (3.58), UW-Eau Claire (3.52), UW-Stevens Point (3.33), UW-La Crosse (3.29), UW-Platteville (3.03) and UW-Oshkosh (3.03) also represented the WIAC.

Three Blue Devils earned individual selections to the association's 134-person All-Academic National Team: Bridgette Crozier (Fr, Winona, Minn), 3.74 GPA, Kersten Wilson (Sr, Rhinelander), 3.68, and Stephanie Nichols (So, Chetek), 3.53.

To be eligible for individual recognition, student-athletes were required to maintain a 3.5 GPA and finish in the top 25 percent of her particular NCAA Division III regional. The Blue Devils competed at the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional in Rock Island, Ill., last November, with Wilson placing 44th (22 minutes, 50 seconds), Crozier 58th (23:02), and Nichols 61st (23:06).

Women's Track & Field

LAURA VERDEGAN NAMED FIRST TEAM ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA

MENOMONIE (June 27, 2005) - UW-Stout's Laura Verdegan (Sr, Tony/Flambeau) was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Women's Track & Field/Cross Country first team.

Verdegan, a repeat first team selection, wrapped up her undergraduate career with a 3.993 grade point average in dietetics and also put the wraps on a stellar athletic career.

During the 2005 indoor and outdoor season, Verdegan earned four All-America awards and qualified to the national meet in six separate events. Verdegan finished fourth in the outdoor heptathlon and the eighth in the outdoor long jump. At the indoor national championships, she was third in the high jump and fourth in the triple jump.

Verdegan was named the 2005 United States Track Coaches Association (USTCA) female athlete of the year.

On the conference level, Verdegan was named the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) field performer of the meet at both the indoor and outdoor championships and also received the Judy Kruckmann Scholar Athlete Award at both events.

Verdegan was the 2005 outdoor champion in the long jump and triple jump, was second in the high jump, fourth in the 400-hurdles and seventh in the 4x400-hurdles. At the 2005 indoor championships, Verdegan won the triple jump and the high jump and was second in the long jump.

Verdegan leaves her athletic career with 12 All-America awards, 10 conference championships, holds or is part of nine school track records, two conference records and was the indoor triple jump national champion in 2004.

A two-sport star, Verdegan was also a standout forward for the Blue Devil basketball team, finishing her basketball career in 2004. She was a three-time WIAC all-defensive team selection, a two-time first team all-conference pick and once all-region. She was also twice selected to the academic all-district team.

In addition to athletics, Verdegan was involved in the Stout Student Dietetics Association, was the vice-president of Phi Upsilon Omicron, Campus Newman Ministry, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and was a 10-time recipient of the Chancellor's Award for Academic Excellence.

Verdegan will pursue an advanced degree at Stout and plans to coach in the athletic department.

ERIC GARDOW ACCEPTS HEAD JOB AT MONDOVI HIGH SCHOOL

MONDOVI (July 28, 2005) - Eric Gardow, an assistant coach for the UW-Stout men's basketball team for the last five seasons, has accepted the position of head basketball coach at Mondovi High School.

The position must meet final approval by the Mondovi School Board at their Aug. 15 meeting.

Gardow was the top assistant for coach Eddie Andrist during his entire tenure. During his time at Stout, Gardow served as recruiting and offensive coordinator for the Blue Devils and specifically worked with the post players. Gardow also worked in the Stout admissions office and received his masters from the University in education.

Gardow, a UW-Eau Claire graduate, was a member of the Blugold team that advanced to the championship game of the NCAA Division III playoffs in 2000, finishing runner-up to Calvin College. Gardow played three total seasons for the Blugolds.

A 1986 Eau Claire North graduate, Gardow began his collegiate basketball career at UW-Stevens Point before transferring to Eau Claire.

Gardow left school in 1990 to begin a successful battle against cancer. In January, 2002, Gardow was a torch bearer for the Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. Gardow has also counseled other men and boys battling testicular cancer, the most common form of cancer among men 19-45 years old.

"We are excited to have Eric Gardow join our staff and start working with our young people," Mondovi athletic director Mark Seyforth said. "He has a great passion and knowledge for the game of basketball and really cares about kids. His life experiences and accomplishments bring instant energy to our boy's basketball program and school."

Men's Ice Hockey

STOUT SPORTS INFORMATION OFFICE TO ASSUME NCHA TASKS

MENOMONIE (July 7, 2005) - Layne Pitt has been named as the sports information director of the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA), Bill Kronschnabel, NCHA president, announced today.

Pitt, the sports information director at UW-Stout for the last 11 years, takes over for Jim Thies, who served in the same capacity since 1996. Pitt's responsibilities will include the management of the NCHA web site, all NCHA statistics, weekly previews, compilation of athlete of the week and All-NCHA teams and act as liaison between the media and the NCHA.

"We are excited that Layne, with his knowledge and experience, will be joining our team and spearheading our media efforts," Kronschnabel said.

Pitt, who was recently named the Midwest Sports Information Director of the year by the American Volleyball Coaches Association, will continue in his role as sports information director at UW-Stout. Prior to coming to Stout, Pitt, a UW-Stout graduate, was a photographer for UW-Stout Photographic Services, was a photojournalist for Fox Valley Sports in Appleton and served as the editor, sports editor and photojournalist at The Dunn County News in Menomonie.

Paul Cruz will assist with the responsibilities. Cruz, a UW-River Falls graduate and Menomonie native who was also at one time a sports editor at the Dunn County News, will join the Stout staff as a sports information assistant in August.

The NCHA includes a men's and women's league. The eight-team men's league include: St. Norbert College, UW-Superior, UW-River Falls, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Stout, UW-Eau Claire, the College of St. Scholastica and Lake Forest College. The six-team women's league includes: UW-Stevens Point, UW-Superior, UW-Eau Claire, UW-River Falls, Finlandia University and Lake Forest College.

The newly revamped NCHA web page is at: www.nchahockey.org

Men's Cross Country

Women's Tennis

Updated: August 29, 2005