UP THIS WEEK!!
FOOTBALL
The Blue Devils will get the 2000 campaign underway Saturday, Sept. 2 when they travel to Lakeland College in Sheboyan, Wis., for a 1:30 p.m. meeting with the Muskies.

SOCCER
The Blue Devils get underway this weekend with a road trip to the "Land of Lincoln" as Stout will tackle Illinois Wesleyan in Bloomington, Ill., Friday, Sept. 1 to kick off the season, then get a one-day break in Chicago before heading to Aurora College Sunday, Sept. 3. Stout has not played either school in their five year history.

VOLLEYBALL
The Blue Devils will have just enough time to get their annual high school volleyball tournament, the Volleyball Sprawl, underway Friday, Sept. 1 before traveling north to participate in the two-day UW-Superior Invitational the same day. Stout will play Northland College and Lawrence College, Friday, then take on St. Scholastica and St. Thomas, Saturday, Sept. 2.

WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
First year Blue Devils head coach Joe Harlan got a chance to see his troops in action Saturday, Aug. 26 in an intrasquad/alumni starter race, but will get the season underway for real when they host the Blue Devil Invitational at the course behind Menomonie High School, Saturday, Sept. 2. Race time is slated for 10 a.m. with UW-Superior, Northwestern College, St. Scholastica and UW-Eau Claire scheduled to compete.

MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
The Blue Devil men's team will get their season underway Saturday, Sept. 2 when they host the Blue Devil Invitational at the course behind Menomonie High School, Saturday, Sept. 2. Race time is slated for 11 a.m. with UW-Superior, Northwestern College, St. Scholastica and Mt. Senario scheduled to compete.

TENNIS
The Blue Devil women's tennis team will get an extra week before starting the season. Stout was scheduled to compete at the UW-La Crosse Doubles Invitational, but have chosen not to. Stout will begin competition Sept. 13 when they travel to UW-River Falls in a non-conference contest.

ROSTERS AVAILABLE
Updated rosters for all of the fall sports will be posted to the Blue Devil web page by later this week. Find the Blue Devil athletics page at: www.uwstout.edu/athletics

PLANNING AHEAD
The UW-Stout gymnastics team will be the host to the 2001 National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) championships, March 23-24.

ON THE LINE: Stout will be looking to bounce back from a 2-8 season that saw them finish in the cellar of the conference. Stout returns with a strong defense, in particular a linebacking crew that returns intact. Stout will be looking to rebuild their offensive backfield, while Lakeland needs to replace graduated quarterback Kevin Fix, who passed for 2971 yards last season and ranked 12th nationally in total offense. Lakeland will be attempting to break a season-ending three game losing streak. The game is the season opener for both teams.

LAST TIME OUT: Stout: The Blue Devils put themselves in a 22-7 hole early against NCAA Division II Southwest State in the season closer at the Metrodome. But Stout did come back to trim the score to 22-16 before Southwest went on to a 43-23 win.

Lakeland: The Muskies were doubled up on by Mt. Senario, 44-21 in their season finale.

LAST YEAR: Stout is a member of the 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 Muskies, an NCAA Division III school, are a member of the Illini-Badger Football Conference and were 5-5 overall, 4-3 (second) in league play.

THE SERIES: The teams have met four times, one time each in the 1968, 69, 70 & 71 seasons, with the Muskies holding a 3-1 lead in the series. Stout won the last meeting, 14-6, in 1971 when Sten Pierce was the coach.

STOUT PLAYERS TO WATCH: WR Josh Antoni (So, Holmen) 13 receptions, 204 yds; 23.4 y/catch, 2 TDs; LB Jamie Spielman (So, Menomonie) 101 tackles, 53 solo, 9 tackles for loss of 45 yds, 6 sacks for loss of 44 yds, 2 fumble recoveries; Steve Miller (Sr, Lodi) 81 tackles, 39 solo, 2 sacks; LB Eric Lund (Sr, Ashland) 69 tackles, 34 solo, 4 sacks for 37 yds, 6 pass break-ups, injured, out for the season; P/PK Kevin McCulley (Sr, Fond du Lac) named to four preseason all-America teams, first team all-WIAC kicker and punter, 9/13 FG/A, 22/23 PAT, 49 pts, avg 40.1 y/game punting; Note: RB Aaron Johnson was injured before the season in an auto accident and remains in fair condition at a St. Paul, Minn., hospital; Blue Devils avg 337.9 total ypg, 121.0 rushing, 216.9 passing; give up 324.9 total ypg, 171.6 rushing, 153.3 passing.

LAKELAND PLAYERS TO WATCH: WR Calvin Thomas (Jr, Detroit, Mich) 61 rec, 828 yd, 13.6 y/catch, 8 TDs, 1st team all-conf; RB David Wulff (So, Sheboygan Falls) 883 rushing yds, 174 car, 10 TDs, 54 rec, 513 yds, 3 TDs, 1st team all-conf; DL Lucas Grancorvitz (Jr, Mosinee) first team all-conf; DL Troy Dyzak (Jr, Two Rivers) 10 sacks; WR Lee Swiggum (Jr, Watertown) 52 rec, 511 yds, 5 TDs, 12 car, 65 yds, 2 TDs; DB Corey Roberson (So, Detroit, Mich) 6 int for 99 yds; Muskies avg. 414.3 total ypg, 115.7 rushing, 298.6 passing; give up 371.3 total ypg, 125.8 rushing, 245.5 passing

OFFENSIVE LOOK: Lakeland: 1 back spread; Stout: multi-pro set which incorporates a West Coast style offense. DEFENSIVE LOOK: Lakeland: 4-3; Stout: 3-4

COACHES: Stout coach Ed Meierkort (26-44 career) is in his eighth year. Lakeland coach Jeff Hynes (5-5) is in his second year.

STOUT COACH ED MEIERKORT SAYS: As of Monday, Aug. 28, the Blue Devils were still deciding on their starting quarterback, between transfers Justin Fjelstad (Jr, Minneapolis, Minn), and Matt Bichanich (Jr, Mukwanago) and sophomore Matt Lonergan (Hartford). "I like the way all three (quarterbacks) have improved (during camp). I expect all three of them to take snaps Saturday. No one has played themselves out of the starting spot and no on has separated themselves. It will come down to how they handle adversity on the field. There are no mulligans on Saturdays."

Meierkort was also optimistic about his offensive backfield. "Our backfield looks very good. I feel we have gotten as far as we could have in two weeks without AJ (Aaron Johnson, lost for the season to a car accident).

"Mentally, this team has become hardened because of the adversity we have faced in camp. The kids have been tested in camp. I'm not asking the kids to win 10 games today, I'm asking them to win one game a week. One-hundred percent of our thought process this week will be towards Lakeland College and getting a road win.

"Lakeland is used to winning, and they have no concept of losing to us. They had a better record, and that makes us the underdog. They have a good, young quarterback and a very good running back. This game will be a test of wills. Both teams will try to get the ball out of each others' hands."

August 24, 2000

ST. PAUL, Minn - UW-Stout football player Aaron Johnson was upgraded to fair condition at a St. Paul, Minn., hospital. Johnson was struck by a pickup truck Aug. 13 near New Richmond.

According to the St. Croix County sheriff department, Johnson was walking north on County Highway T about five miles east of New Richmond when he was struck by a northbound pickup truck.

Johnson was thrown into the ditch after being struck. The driver left the scene of the accident, the sheriff's department said, but returned about 20 minutes later.

Johnson suffered broken bones and head injuries and was airlifted to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minn. Johnson is a junior tailback from Clear Lake and was scheduled to be a returning starter.

August 21, 2000

McCulley, a 1999 first team Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) kicker and punter, has been named to three pre-season All-America teams, three as a punter, two as a kicker.

McCulley led the WIAC in punting and points scored by a kicker in both conference games and in all games.

The Don Hanson NCAA Division III pre-season All-America team consists of a first team and teams selected from the eight NCAA Division III football regions. The Don Hanson National Weekly Football Gazette is recognized as an expert on small college football.

Soccer

August 28, 2000

MENOMONIE - UW-Stout will open their season, Friday, Sept. 1 at Illinois Wesleyan in Bloomington, Ill., at 7 p.m. and then will be at Aurora College, Sunday, Sept. 3 at 1 p.m.

Women's Cross Country

August 25, 2000

MENOMONIE - Lisa Sorvala (So, New Brighton, Minn) one-upped herself from last season in recording the top time at the UW-Stout women's cross country team's Alumni-Intrasquad Starter Meet, Saturday, Aug. 26.

As a freshman last season, Sorvala stepped up to make an immediate impression to take the top time. This season, she cut off two seconds from last years' meet, recording a time of 12-minutes, 52.5-seconds in the two mile course.

Amy Arndt (Jr, Lakefield, Minn) finished second in a time of 13:14.3, while Heidi Bedsted (Jr, Plainview, Minn) was third in a time of 13:33.5. Alumni Katie Olsen and Katy Kuffel finished tied for fourth in 13:59.5.

The meet gave first year coach Joe Harlan a chance to review his team. The Blue Devils get the season going for real Saturday, Sept. 2 when they host the UW-Stout Invitational.

Men's Cross Country

August 26, 2000

MENOMONIE - Bryan Ott (Sr, Monroe) and Dave Huber (So, Mendota Heights, Minn) did battle for the top finishing team spot in the UW-Stout Alumni-Intrasquad Meet Saturday, Aug. 26.

Ott won the battle of returning players, edging Huber by just short of two seconds, recording a time of 22-minutes, 2.1-seconds to Huber's 22:03.9 in the four mile race.

Tim Hamill, running for the alumni team easily won the race, pacing the field in a time of 21:14.3. Hamill qualified to the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships last season in his senior year.

The junior/sophomore squad edged out the senior/freshmen team, 32-39. The alumni team scored 54 points. The Blue Devils get the season going for real Saturday, Sept. 2 when they host the UW-Stout Invitational.

Men's Basketball

August 28, 2000

Qatar is currently 7-0 after the first round of pool play. The record include an 84-74 upset win over the highly rated and Olympic Games-bound team from the People's Republic of China.

Andrist, who will begin his first year as the Blue Devils' head coach this season, reports his team has defeated the Phillipines, Bahrain, China, Kuwait, India, Japan and Iran. The Qatar team played seven games in eight days and six games in a row. The Qatar team will face China in the semi-final round Tuesday, Aug. 29. The tournament began with 16 teams, with only China, Qatar, Japan and Korea remaining.

Andrist expects to leave Qatar Sept. 4 to begin his coaching and teaching position at Stout.

WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll

August 17, 2000

MADISON - More than 130 UW-Stout athletes were named to the 1999-2000 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Scholastic Honor Roll.

Seventy female student/athletes and 65 male student/athletes were honored. To be eligible for the award, student/athletes must have earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better and have completed 24 credit hours. Approximately 350 students participate in varsity athletics at UW-Stout.

A complete listing by school and sport of the 1999-2000 WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll can be found on the WIAC website at:

Men's Scholastic Honor Roll

Women's Scholastic Honor Roll

Men's
Baseball: Justin Biever, South Milwaukee; Nick Kalina, Potosi; Scott Meyer, Austin, Minn; Jake Streich, Howard Lake, Minn; Dan Sullivan, Oregon

Basketball: Rik Bertin, Fredonia; Mike Brudos, La Crosse; Ben Kuepers, Dickeyville; Jeremy Leibfried, Dickeyville, Dave Loewe, Hiles; Chris Selz, Eau Claire

Cross Country: Alex Anderson, Fairbault, Minn; Jamie Block, West Bend; Eric Hanson, Winona, Minn; Dave Huber, Mendota Heights, Minn; Josh Johnson, Oregon; Seth Kaste, Cadott; Jason Kirch, Sauk City; Chris Stevens, New Richmond; Mike Western, Boyd

Football: Eric Aamodt, Menomonie; Tony Beckham, Ocala, Fla; Riley Eckerman, Chetek; Josh Gawlik, West Bend; Doug Goetz, Elgin Ill; Marty Goryl, Greenfield; John Hanson, Grantsburg; Mitch Holliday, Menomonie; Aaron Johnson, Clear Lake; Brian Johnson, Hudson; Ryan Looker, Owen; Jerad Marsh, Seymour; Steve Miller, Lodi; Josh Moe, Neenah; Nick Mouw, Spooner; Jason Nesbitt, Burlington; Clint Petit, Fremont; Mike Purfeerst, River Falls; Chad Reichelt, Appleton; Darik Rude, Zumbrota, Minn; Tyler Vachowiak, Wausau

Ice Hockey: Joe Berry, Apple Valley Minn; Brent Cronk, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Aaron Decker, Mound, Minn; Andrew Fenton, Russel, Manitoba, Canada; Josh Marklevits, Spring Valley, Minn; Ben Mosier, St. Paul Minn; Luke Murray, Bloomington Minn; Drew Nichols, Victoria, Minn; Matt Olson, Buffalo, Minn; Ben Plester, Chemanius B.C.; Anthony Sikich, Apple Valley, Minn; Brad Weappa, Brooklyn Center, Minn.

Track & Field: Alex Anderson, Faribault, Minn; Mike Bethke, Mondovi; Jamie Block, West Bend; Bob Cahow, Clear Lake; Eric Hanson, Winona; John Hanson, Grantsburg; David Huber, Mendota Heights, Minn; Jesse Hunter, La Farge; Josh Johnson, Oregon; Seth Kaste, Cadott; Jason Kirch, Sauk City; Corey Knudsen, Elk Mound; Steve Quackenbush, McFarland; Dan Reinert, Eau Claire; Jim Staska, Menomonee Falls; Chris Stevens, New Richmond; Mike Twining, Clear Lake; Ethan Webinger, LaCrescent Minn; Sam Werner, Elk Mound

Women's
Basketball: Stacie Anderson, Clayton; Amy Baumann, Marathon; Tiffani Calmes, Colby; Jenica Fostvedt, Chetek; Tina Gillen, Faribault; Bethany Halverson, Whitehall; Tina McNamara, New Richmond; Rachel Thieke, Chatfield, Minn; Amy Zelinger, Waterford

Cross Country: Amy Arndt, Lakefield, Minn; Terra Dahlheimer, St. Michael, Minn; Ellen Everson, Blair; Tanya Miller, Green Bay; Meredith Nordberg, Bloomington, Minn; Lisa Sorvala, New Brighton

Gymnastics: Alissa Martin, Blaine, Minn; Kelli Mork, Menomonie; Tasha Pasch, Northfield, Minn; Lauren Seebert, Appleton

Soccer: Beth Bushman, Eagan, Minn; Shannon Camp, Blaine, Minn; Lisa Cocchairella, Woodbury Minn; Theresa Hamilton, Woodbury Minn; Becky Howard, Wauwatosa; Carrie Kennedy, Watertown; Mary Kochnowicz, Oak Creek; Nicole Komorowski, Oak Creek; Raina Schneider, Sheboygan; Kim Severson, Belleville; Tricia Sykes, Cloquet, Minn

Softball: Bobbie Bailey, Stillwater, Minn; Jill Coyle, Spring Lake Park, Minn; Becky Deuel, Big Lake, Minn; Kelley Espey, Byron Minn; Jen Fedie, Mondovi; Cara Fenhouse, Superior; Molly Harms, Norwood; Janel Krenz, McFarland; Kristin Liberty, Tomahawk; Julie Newhouse, Decorah, Iowa; Angie Pinnow, Bruce; Carla Ranallo, Eagan, Minn; Amanda Schmidt, Bloomer; Erin Slaikeu, North St. Paul, Minn; Jill Tetu, Maplewood Minn; Jessie Ustby, Onalaska; Becky Zimmerman, Fall Creek

Tennis: Katy Berry, Eau Claire; Lauren Mader, Neenah; Cecily Marx, Thiensville; Tina McNamara, New Richmond; Jodi Noll, Menomonie

Track & Field: Amy Arndt, Lakefield, Minn; Beth Bailey, Pine Island, Minn; Heidi Bedsted, Plainview Minn; Ann Marie Curtis, La Crosse; Ellen Everson, Blair; Tracey Gundert, Malone; Sarah Jenne, Waunakee; Jessica Krejci, Lakeville, Minn; Caroline Myrlie, Buffalo; Meredith Nordberg, Bloomington Minn; Sara Pivec, Coon Rapids, Minn; Nora Ready, St. Charles, Minn; Dana Rozmenowski, Black River Falls; Andrea Schwabenlender, Bristol; Lisa Sorvala, New Bighton; Jennifer Turner, Eden Prairie Minn; Alison West, Cadott

Volleyball: Beth Bailey, Pine Island, Minn; Becky Deuel, Big Lake Minn; Rachel Eidet, North Mankato, Minn; Tori Feit Rushmore, Minn; Laura Huntoon, Byron, Minn; Jenny Kraczek, Blaine Minn; Holly La Vallie, Owatonna, Minn; Sara Weflen, Jackson Minn; Alison West, Cadott