Women's Basketball

December 1, 2001

PLATTEVILLE - UW-Stout scored their highest offensive output of the season and four starters scored in double figures as the Blue Devils picked up a conference-opening, 86-79, win at UW-Platteville.

Amy Zelinger (Sr, Racine) led the way for the Blue Devils (5-2, 1-0) with a season-high 23 points, knocking down 4-of-6 3-pointers. Zelinger was also 7-for-8 from the line.

Bonnie Thoe (So, Hayfield, Minn) tossed in 16 points, getting half her points on free throws, Laura Verdegan (So, Tony) added 13 points and seven rebounds and Sara Kahl (So, Menomonie) chipped in 11 points.

Stout hung onto a 34-29 halftime lead and improved their shooting percentage from 34 percent in the first half to 55 percent in the second half and finished hitting 44 percent of their shots.

The Pioneers' (3-3, 0-1) were led by Crystal Stietz with a game-high 25 points. Katie Oliver had 17 points, Tiff Flesch 13 and Jill Pigg 11. The Pioneers shot 61 percent on the game, but didn't take near as many shots as Stout.

The game was a foul-fest with each team recording 30 fouls. Stout was 24-of-39 from the line, while Platteville was 22-of-33.

Stout will host UW-La Crosse, Wednesday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m., then will be at UW-Stevens Point, Saturday, Dec. 8.

November 28, 2001

MENOMONIE - UW-Stout's Stacie Anderson (Sr, Clayton) scored the first five points of the game and the contest was never seriously in doubt as the Blue Devils downed Northland College, 79-61, Wednesday, Nov. 28 at Johnson Fieldhouse.

Stout (4-2) never trailed in the contest and ballooned the first half lead to as much as 22 points, then stretched that to 24 points in the second half. Blue Devil coach Mark Thomas used his entire 19-member bench as Stout washed out the bad taste from a thrashing earlier in the week to defending national champion Washington University.

Anderson led all scorers with 14 points as Stout jumped out to a 41-22 halftime lead. Laura Verdegan (So, Tony) pitched in 11 points as all but three Stout players scored at least two points. Bonnie Thoe (So, Hayfield, Minn) and Lindsey Erichsen (Fr, Spring Valley, Minn) each finished with seven rebounds. Ann Schachtner (Fr, Somerset) led the way on the boards with a game-high nine rebounds. Stout held a 49-36 advantage off the glass.

Northland (2-3) had four players in double digits, with Tiffany Fibert leading the way with 12 points.

Men's Basketball

December 1, 2001

MENOMONIE - UW-Stout's Casey Chapman (Jr, Hartland) came off the bench to score 16 points in the first 10 minutes of the game to catapult the Blue Devils to an 87-58 decision over previously undefeated UW-Platteville, Saturday, Dec. 1 at Johnson Fieldhouse.

Chapman entered the game with about three minutes off the clock and promptly connected on two 3-pointers and a field goal to push Stout to a 12-3 lead. The Blue Devils (4-3, 1-0) never looked back and the Pioneers (5-1, 0-1) never got closer than eight points the rest of the way.

Chapman made his final score of the game with 1:26 left in the first half and didn't even attempt another shot, but the damage had already been done. Chapman finished with a game-high 18 points.

Post players Steve Krueger (Sr, Three Lakes) and Nate Templer (Beaver Dam) picked up the slack the rest of the way, with Krueger finishing with 17 points and Templer 16. Guard Barrington Smith (Jr, Oklahoma City, Okla) had 12 points.

Defensively, Stout, which took a 43-23 halftime lead, held the Pioneers to 37.5 percent shooting and 30 percent in the first half. The Blue Devils, meanwhile, shot 52 percent on the game, connecting on 8-of-17 3-pointers. Chapman was 4-for-6 from long range.

Stout forced 19 Platteville turnovers and blocked 10 shots, with Templer notching four and Krueger, two. Krueger had a game-high 10 rebounds.

The Pioneers were led by Bryan Stangel and Jon McGraw, who each had 12 points.

The Blue Devils will be at UW-LaCrosse, Wednesday, Dec. 5, then return home Saturday, Dec. 8 to host UW-Stevens Point.

November 28, 2001

MENOMONIE - UW-Stout put together one of their top offensive outputs and one of their best defensive outputs as they downed Northland College, 105-48, Wednesday, Nov. 28, at Johnson Fieldhouse.

Steve Krueger (Sr, Three Lakes) led Stout's offensive show, scoring 19 points in only 16 minutes of work. Krueger was 8-for-11 from the field, 3-for-3 from free throw range and had a game-high six rebounds.

Ben Luer (Wasilla, Alaska) added 12 points - a collegiate best - off the bench and Casey Chapman (Jr, Hartland) finished with 10 points. All 15 players got on the floor and 14 scored.

The Blue Devils (3-3) could have worked for Fagin in Charles Dickens' book Oliver Twist, with as many steals as they recorded. Stout (3-3) picked Northland's pocket 24 times and did not permit a Northland steal. The Blue Devils forced 37 Northland (0-5) turnovers and committed only 11.

Stout led by 28 points at halftime, 52-24, and the 57-point spread at the final buzzer was the largest margin of the game. The spread was the largest since Stout defeated North Central Bible College, 111-57, early in the 1994-95 season. The 48 points by Northland was the fewest points Stout has allowed defensively since they defeated Pillsbury College, 60-47, during the 1991-92 season.

Men's Ice Hockey

December 1, 2001

LAKE FOREST, Ill - UW-Stout made the longest trip of the season, and the return trip turned out to be even longer as the Blue Devils lost a 3-1 contest, Saturday, Dec. 1 at Lake Forest College in the suburban Chicago, Ill, area.

The Blue Devils (4-6, 0-6) are still looking for their first Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) win.

After a scoreless first period, Lake Forest scored midway through the second period when Rob Nerland scored and two minutes later, David Evans split the net.

The Blue Devils scored to break the shutout when Nate Legler (So, Lakeville, Minn) scored his third goal of the weekend, getting assists from Joe Berry (Sr, Apple Valley, Minn) and Dan Riffe (So, Byron, Ill).

Stout's Jeff Dotson (So, Chanhassen, Minn) absorbed the loss, kicking out 36 shots. The Foresters' Joel Cameron had 22 saves.

Stout steps away from NCHA play when they host St. Mary's Friday, Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m. and St. Thomas, Saturday, Dec. 8.

November 30, 2001

DE PERE - It wasn't until the third period that the UW-Stout hockey team started to dig out of the hole they had put themselves in, but the shovel wasn't long enough as the Blue Devils were downed, 7-5, by St. Norbert in DePere, Friday, Nov. 30.

The Green Knights (8-2, 4-0 NCHA) scored midway through the first period for the game's first goal, but were silent until the second period when they added two goals to take a 3-0 lead.

But Stout (4-5, 0-5) answered back with a goal by Aaron Decker (Sr, Mound, Minn) with five minutes remaining in the second to get on the scoreboard. The second period was a rough period, with the two teams racking up 15 penalties and many of them coincidental.

It didn't initially appear that way, but the third period became a constant score-fest.

The Knights opened the period with a goal seven minutes into the period to jump to a 4-1 lead. Stout answered back less than a minute later when Joe Berry (Sr, Apple Valley, Minn) scored unassisted on a power play. Nate Legler (So, Lakeville, Minn) scored a minute later on a 4-on-4 situation, getting an assist from Matt Olson (Sr, Buffalo, Minn) to pull Stout to within striking range at 4-3.

St. Norbert's Wayne Brown scored on a shorthanded goal with seven minutes left in the game, but Drew Nichols (Jr, Victoria, Minn) scored on a power play to pull Stout back to 5-4 with just over six minutes remaining.

The gap widened quickly as St. Norbert scored two goals in less than a minute to put the game out of range, 7-4. Legler tacked on another goal in the final minute.

Charlie O'Hearn (So, Traverse City, Mich) had two assists for Stout.

The Green Knights outshot Stout, 37-19, with Stout's Ben Plester (Sr, Chemanius, BC) stopping 30 shots. St. Norbert's Chancy Colquhoun had 14 saves.

Football

November 27, 2001

MENOMONIE - UW-Stout cornerback Tony Beckham (Sr, Ocala, Fla) has accepted an invitation to play in the annual Blue Gray All-Star Football Classic on Christmas Day in Montgomery, Ala.

Beckham, a two-time first team all-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) choice, is one of a few NCAA Division III athletes to receive an invitation and is believed to be the first WIAC athlete to receive an invitation since Tom Newberry of UW-La Crosse played in the classic in the mid-1980s. Newberry went on to a long career in the NFL.

"Playing on Christmas day, that's the Lord's birthday," Beckham said. "I am excited to just be playing ball. I will get a chance to play against the best. A lot of my friends (from Florida) are playing Division I. Now I get my chance."

The Blue Gray game is considered one of the more prestigious college all-star games, made up of predominately Division I players from teams that do not receive bowl bids. The game will be nationally televised on ABC and generally receives high ratings.

Beckham finished the 2001 season with 29 solo tackles and 14 assisted tackles, as well as one interception for 35 yards. Beckham averaged 22.4 yards per kickoff return - a league best. Beckham also lined up as a wide receiver, grabbing seven passes for 183 yards and three touchdowns.

Beckham also received invitations to Aztec Bowl and the Rotary Gridiron Classic. Beckham declined the Aztec Bowl invitation, which pits Division III all-stars against Mexican all-stars, because the game fell on the same day as Stout's graduation date. Beckham will graduate Dec. 15 with a degree in psychology, posting a 3.1 grade point average.

A native of Florida, Beckham will play for Team Florida in the Gridiron Classic Jan. 26 in Orlando, Fla. The NFL Players Association's official all-star game matches the top players from Florida with top players from around the country. The game will be held in the Citrus Bowl.

Volleyball

December 2, 2001

MENOMONIE - Kim Roshell (Sr, Cornell) and Rachel Eidet (Sr, Mankato, Minn) were named most valuable offensive and defensive players, respectively, UW-Stout volleyball coach Jill Jolliff announced at the team's annual awards banquet, Sunday, Dec. 2.

Roshell was a first team all-conference pick and led the Blue Devils to their best finish since 1994 as Stout recorded a 24-9 overall record. Roshell was the team's top hitter, smacking down 386 kills for a 3.75 kills/game average. Roshell ranked fourth in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in kills average. Roshell finished her four-year career with 980 kills.

If any ball got close to Eidet, she was almost certain to dig it out. Eidet finishes her career ranked second in school history in digs with 1445, only 18 less than the school record. This season, Eidet, an honorable mention all-conference pick, collected 499 digs and ranked second in the league with 4.62 digs per game.

Laura Bogenschutz (So, Baxter, Minn) received the Hustle Award, Aira Ryan (Sr, Zumbrota, Minn) was named most improved, Lindsay Mensink (Fr, Ostrander, Minn) was the rookie of the year, Sara Weflen (Sr, Jackson, Minn) received the Spirit Award, and Gretchen Schroer (So, Eau Claire) was given the Blue Devil Award.

Bogenschutz was the team's setter, collecting 1305 assists. Ryan, who joined the team after her sophomore year, finished her second season with the Blue Devils with 242 kills, fourth on the team, and 48 total blocks, third on the team.

The 6-foot, 2-inch, Mensink was the team's leading blocker, collecting 24 solo blocks and 56 block assists for 80 total blocks, ranking her 15th in the WIAC. Weflen was a defensive specialist and finished with 40 service aces and 202 digs.

2001 UW-Stout Volleyball Team Awards
Offensive Award - Kim Roshell (Sr, Cornell/Cadott); Defensive Award - Rachel Eidet (Sr, Mankato, Minn/West); Hustle Award - Laura Bogenschutz (So, Baxter, Minn/Brainerd); Most Improved - Aira Ryan (Sr, Zumbrota, Minn/Zumbrota-Mazeppa); Rookie of the Year - Lindsay Mensink (Fr, Ostrander, Minn/Ostrander-LeRoy); Spirit Award - Sara Weflen (Sr, Jackson, Minn); Blue Devil Award - Gretchen Schroer (So, Eau Claire/North)

2001 Letterwinners
Fourth year: Rachel Eidet, Sara Weflen, Aira Ryan, Kim Roshell; Third year: Brooke Palmer; Second year: Aira Ryan, Amber Birner, Laura Bogenschutz, First year: Scooter Aspen, Katie Wagie, Andrea Boyle, Amanda Huber, Erin Krempel, Kim Latzke, Katrina Lightfoot, Tami Martinek, Sara Manion, Gretchen Schroer, Mandy Smith.

Women's Gymnastics

December 2, 2001

MENOMONIE - Two all-conference selections and one senior will need to mesh with a young group as the UW-Stout gymnastics team looks ahead to the 2001-02 season.

All-American Tasha Pasch (Jr, Northfield, Minn) will lead a Blue Devil gymnastics team that finished seventh at the national meet and matched a best-ever third place finish at the WIAC Championships.

Pasch, the two-time defending WIAC all-around champion and 2001 balance beam champion gives the Blue Devils a solid top performer. On top of that, Pasch stacked an All-American award on both the all-around and the vault.

Erika Opoien (Jr, Superior) placed sixth in the all-around event at the conference meet and is the Blue Devils' physically strongest performer. Opoien set a school record last season on the vault, matching Pasch with a 9.40.

Scarlett Ramey (Sr, Seattle, Wash) is the Blue Devils' only senior and has been improving her moves on the uneven bars, the balance beam and the floor exercise.

But the Blue Devils did suffer some losses. All-American all-arounder Katie Hanson is forced to sit the season out with a back injury, an injury that had plagued her during her first two years. Hanson, last year's co-most valuable performer, will still be in the gym as a coach and has been making noise about a future comeback.

The Blue Devils will also be without graduated seniors Brenna Jones, who holds the floor exercise school record and earned All-America honors on the floor, and Andrea Hassel, a four year performer on the vault, floor and balance beam.

The freshman class will have to help carry the Blue Devils' chances.

Jill Birschbach (Fr, Chilton) won the Wisconsin club team floor exercise championship and will also compete on the vault and balance beam.

Amanda Neuman (Fr, St. Paul, Minn) hails from Highland Park High School, the same school as the graduated Jones, and was a Minnesota all-state performer, as was Lacey Schroedl (Fr, Minneapolis, Minn), who advanced to the Minnesota state meet in all four events and placed fifth on the vault. Both will perform as all-arounders.

Amy Matthews (Fr, St. Paul, Minn) joined the team late, but is expected to perform on the vault, floor and beam.

Stout's movement in the conference did not go unnoticed. Coach Jeff Richards was named the WIAC coach of the year the last two seasons.

Stout opens their season Friday, Dec. 7 at UW-Oshkosh. Stout does not have a home meet until Feb. 15 when they host UW-Eau Claire. The Blue Devils will host the John Zuerlein Invitational, March 1, to honor long-time and since retired gymnastics coach John Zuerlein.

Updated: December 3, 2001