Women's Basketball

March 6, 2003

Verdegan, who was also named to the WIAC all-defensive team for the second consecutive year, was Stout's second leading scorer - behind Erichsen - with a 10.7 points per game average. Verdegan, a 5-foot, 10-inch, forward, shot a league-leading 56.7 percent from the floor (115-203) and scored 55-of-95 free throws.

Verdegan led Stout in rebounds with 6.3 rebounds per game. She set a school single season record for blocked shots with 38 and set a new school mark for career blocked shots, holding at 90 blocked shots in her three year career. Verdegan also led Stout in steals, snagging 65, ranking her fourth in the WIAC.

A second team all-region academic All-America choice, Verdegan has a 3.98 grade point average majoring in dietetics. Verdegan was named the WIAC player of the week Feb. 25. She finished the season with four double-doubles. Verdegan was an all-WIAC honorable mention choice last season.

Erichsen was the team's leading scorer, averaging 11.7 points. She shot 109-of-220 (.495) and set a new school record with most free throws made, hitting 97-of-141 charity shots.

Erichsen pulled down 5.3 rebounds per contest, finished with 25 blocked shots and 37 steals. Erichsen was named the WIAC player of the week, Dec. 17

Stout completed the season at 19-8 overall, 10-6 in the WIAC, good for fourth place. The Blue Devils averaged a league-best 79.5 points per game.

Men's Basketball

March 6, 2003

Casey Chapman (Sr, Hartland/Arrowhead HS), Nate Templer (Jr, Beaver Dam) and Andy Bray (Jr, Menominee, Mich) were named to the squad.

Chapman turned up his game a couple of notches for his senior season, averaging 12.5 points per contest. Chapman, who was the WIAC player of the week Jan. 28, hit 106-of-234 shots from the field (.453), 43-of-117 from 3-point range (.368) and 57-of-71 from the line (.803), had 41 assists and 32 steals.

Templer finished the season averaging 10.7 points. Templer, who was the WIAC player of the week Jan. 21, connected on 98-of-216 shots from the floor (.454), 19-of-47 from 3-point range (.404) and 53-of-66 from the line (.803). Templer averaged 5.7 rebounds per game and finished with 42 blocked shots, third in the WIAC, and had 25 steals.

Bray was Stout's leading scorer with 14.6 points per contest and matched Templer with rebounds, averaging 5.7 caroms. Bray shot 134-of-298 from the floor (.450), 9-of-28 from beyond the arc (.321) and 89-of-125 from the line (.712). Bray had 33 assists, 34 blocked shots and 25 steals.

Stout finished the season at 14-11 overall, 9-7 in the WIAC, good for fifth. As a team, Stout averaged 75.7 points per game to lead the league.

Women's Gymnastics

March 7, 2003

Paulson swung to a 9.225 to match the mark set by Tasha Pasch last season.

As a team, the Blue Devils finished fifth, but marked their highest team score of the season with a 175.85.

Tiffany Reber (Sr, Mantorville, Minn) was third on the vault with a score of 9.35 and Cassie Johnston (Fr, Albertville, Minn) was sixth on the balance beam (9.20) as Stout scored their highest combined score of the season on the beam.

The Blue Devils will host the NCGA West Regional, Friday, March 14.

John Zuerlein Invitational
1. Gustavus Adolphus 179.275; 2. Winona State 177.725; 3. UW-Eau Claire 177.425; 4. UW-Oshkosh 177.40; 5. UW-Stout 175.85; 6. UW-Whitewater 131.45

Individual Results
(First place, all Stout finishers)
Vault: 1. Alyssa Cox (GA) 9.45; 3. Tiffany Reber 9.35; 15. Rhian Paulson 9.00; 19. Lacey Schroedl 8.85; 20. Jennie Rosinsky 8.825; 24. Robyn Niederkorn 8.725; 28. Kelsey Gamelin 8.65;

Uneven bars: 1. Amanda Parker (GA) 9.30; 2. Rhian Paulson 9.225; 9. Cassie Johnston 8.675; 16. Lacey Schroedl 8.50; 18. Tiffany Reber 8.375; 27. Erika Opoien 7.875; 30. Shanna Kissinger 7.70;

Balance beam: 1. Jennifer Williams (Osh) 9.575; 10. Rhian Paulson 9.075; 15. Cassie Johnston 8.95; 23. Tiffany Reber 8.60; 24. Erika Opoien 8.55; 28. Lacey Schroedl 8.25; 33. Shanna Kissinger 7.40;

Floor exercise: 1. Amanda Parker (GA) 9.45; 6. Cassie Johnston 9.20; 9. Tiffany Reber 9.15; 19. Helen Pansch 8.95; 20. Lacey Schroedl 8.925; 23. Shanna Kissinger 8.80; 29. Jennie Rosinsky 8.20;

All-around: 1. Amanda Parker (GA) 36.95; 6. Tiffany Reber 35.475; 10. Lacey Schroedl 34.525.

March 4, 2003

MENOMONIE - UW-Stout will host the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) West Regional meet, Friday, March 14 at Johnson Fieldhouse.

The meet is a qualifier for the NCGA Championships to be held March 28-29 at UW-Eau Claire. Three teams, plus host Eau Claire, will advance to the national championships from the West Region and four teams will advance from the East Region. Individual performers will also advance from the meet. The West Region consists of UW-La Crosse, UW-Eau Claire, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Whitewater, UW-Stout, Gustavus Adolphus and Hamline University.

Scores from the regional meet will be combined with scores from the regular season to determine which teams and individuals will advance to the national championships.

The West Regional meet will get underway at 6 p.m., with the awards ceremony scheduled for approximately 9:30 p.m. Ticket prices are: $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $3 for youth and students.

Women's Track & Field

March 8, 2003

OSHKOSH - UW-Stout's Laura Verdegan (Jr, Tony) and Marci Schachtner (So, Deer Park) each broke their own school records as the Blue Devils participated in the final day of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Indoor Track & Field Championships at UW-Oshkosh, Saturday, March 8.

The meet was a record setting meet for the Blue Devils, which in all snapped or tied five school records in the two day event.

Verdegan broke her second school record in as many days. One day after setting a new standard for the long jump, she blew apart her own mark - as well as the conference record and the Kolf Sports Center record - for the triple jump, adding more than 18 inches to her previous best from last week. Verdegan won the event with a leap of 40-feet, 4-inches, erasing her previous mark of 38-6.75. Tricia Clark of UW-La Crosse, who had edged out Verdegan the day before in the long jump, placed second with a jump of 38-8.

Verdegan's distance was an NCAA Division III automatic qualifying mark and broke the conference record of 38-7 set by Tara Harding of UW-Oshkosh in 1995. It also broke the facility record set by Eleena Zhelezov of Brandeis University, who set the mark at the 1994 NCAA Division III national championships. Verdegan was named the field athlete of the meet for her efforts over the two days.

Schachtner finished eighth in the 20-lb weight throw with a toss of 47-3, erasing her top mark from three weeks ago of 46-1.25. Schachtner's throw improves her provisional qualifying distance.

Katie Ploog (Fr, Chisago City, Minn) tied the school pole vault record with a jump of 9-4.50, matching the height Andi Schwabenlender set last year. Ploog placed 13th.

The 4x200-relay team of Ashley Juleff (Fr, Clear Lake), Sara Manion (So, Big Lake, Minn), Sarah Jenne (Sr, Waunakee), and Kate Werner (So, Elk Mound) also edged out the school record, finishing in a time of 1-minute, 49.99-seconds. The old school record was 1:50.51 set in 1997.

Stout finished sixth as a team with 33.5 points. UW-La Crosse won the event.

High jump: 1. Jackie Bloemendaal (EC) 5-5; 6. Camelle Meyer 5-1; 13. Krissy Muller 4-11; Pole vault: 1. Angela Hilgers (LX) 12-4; 13. Katie Ploog 9-4.50; Long jump: 1. Tricia Clark (LX) 18-9.75; 2. Laura Verdegan 18-7p*; Triple jump: 1. Laura Verdegan (Stout) 40-4a*; 16. Ramona Vann 32-9.50; 22. Camelle Meyer 31-3; Shot put: 1. Kristin Raether (LX) 45-2.25; 6. Ann Schachtner 41-8.75p; 14. Bonnie Nutt 35-10.75; 20. Kari McWithey 34-4; 23. Tabitha Martin 32-10.50; 20-lb wt: 1. Deena Heins (Osh) 59-7.50; 8. Marci Schachtner 47-3.50p*; 14. Kari McWithey 44-1.50; 20. Ann Schachtner 40-4.25; 21. Bonnie Nutt 40-3.25; Pentathlon: 1. Julie Hoch (Osh) 3151 pts; 8. Amy Biegel 2181.

March 7, 2003

Verdegan jumped 18-feet, 7-inches, taking down Brenda Edwards' 11-year-old record of 17-11.50. Verdegan finished second to La Crosse's Tricia Clark, who jumped 18-9.75. Verdegan's jump also increased her NCAA Division III provisional qualifying distance in the event.

Ann Schachtner (So, Somerset) placed sixth in the shot put (41-10.75) in an NCAA provisional distance, and Camelle Meyer (Fr, Plainview, Minn) was sixth in the high jump (5-1).

March 8, 2003

OSHKOSH - UW-Stout's Joe Seep (Fr, Reedsburg) and Brady Hurtgen (So, Ridgeland) finished in the top five in the 55-meter dash to highlight the Blue Devils' final day at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Indoor Track & Field Championships, Saturday, March 8 at UW-Oshkosh.

Seep placed fourth in a time of 6.65 seconds, while Hurtgen was right on his heels with a time of 6.68.

Taylor Hustad (So, Colfax) placed eighth in the 400-meter dash (51.42) as Stout tied for sixth place with UW-Eau Claire with 26 points. The Blue Devils' 4x200-relay team placed fourth (1:31.91).

High jump: 1. Kevin Deering (Osh) 6-7.50; 12. Jay Sitek 5-11.50; Pole vault: 1. Hans Schmidt (La Crosse) 17-0.25; 5. Lewis Cassellius 15-7p; 11. Nick Neuman 14-7.25; 15. Jason Geiger 13-7.25; 15. Patrick Doty 13-7.25; Long jump: 1. Curtis Gerrits (Osh) 22-9.25; 3. Eric Moe 22-3.75; Triple jump: 1. Aaron Henderson (WW) 46-10; 11. Eric Moe 43-5; 14. Ryan Carpenter 42-10.25; 22. Mark Swenson 39-4; Shot put: 1. Jim Nelson (LX) 55-0.75; 17. Scott Jensen 45-1.50; 21. Jason Hotujec 42-7; 35-lb wt: 1. Noah Eschenbauch (SP) 61-11; Heptathlon: 1. Adam Lendowski (WW) 4915 pts;

March 7, 2003

Moe came into the meet seeded 11th, but his jump of 22-feet, 3.75-inches moved him into scoring position.

Lewis Cassellius (Jr, Glenwood City) placed fifth in the pole vault, but his jump of 15-7 improved his NCAA Division III provisional qualifying height, moving him to currently 14th in the country.

Joe Seep (Fr, Reedsburg) and Brady Hurtgen (So, Ridgeland) advanced to the finals in the 55-meter dash and Taylor Hustad (So, Colfax) qualified for the finals in the 400-meter.

March 9, 2003

The Blue Devils took a 5-4, eight-inning first game win, and a time-shortened 5-3, five-inning second game win, in the domed facility.

Stout (2-0) scored first in the third inning. Stout added a pair of runs in the fourth and another run in the fifth.

Nebraska Wesleyan (0-4) scored three run in the top of the sixth to pull to within one run. Katie Butzke led off with a single and was moved to second on a sacrifice by Erin Amos. Jamie Bortel drove in Butzke, then advanced all the way around to score on three Stout errors. Jackie Smith hit a solo home run to wrap up the inning.

The Wolves tied the game at 4 apiece when Butzke doubled in Beth Singleton, who had walked to lead off the inning.

Stout got the winning run in the eighth when Angie Kliber (Fr, Swanville, Minn) reached on an error then advanced to second on a stolen base. Bethany Johnson (Fr, Black River Falls) walked and Kim Caswell (Jr, Stanley) drove both home with a double.

Caswell had a strong game, going 4-for-5 with three doubles and two runs scored. Kaela Wold was 3-for-4 for Stout. Molly Kraft (So, St. Louis Park, Minn) went the distance, striking out seven, to get the win. Erin Hughes picked up the loss for Wesleyan, striking out eight.

In the second game, Stout never trailed, scoring in the top of the first when Caswell reached on a single, stole second, was advanced to third on a sacrifice by Sara Jensen (Sr, Eau Claire) and went home on a wild pitch. Caswell scored again in the third, reaching on a triple, then coming home on an error during a pickoff attempt.

Stout exploded for three runs in the fourth. Courtney Zafft (Fr, Rochester, Minn) opened the inning with a triple, then was scored on a double by Tasha Rosenbrook (Fr, Bloomer). Kliber's single moved Rosenbrook to third. A successful double steal scored Rosenbrook, and Kliber set the table by stealing third, where Johnson drove her home with a single.

Nebraska countered with three runs in their half of the inning. Following a strikeout and a walk, Libby Fangmeier hit a single to put runners on first and second. A double by Liz Dow drove in Meredith Metcalf and a two-run single by Butzke closed out the scoring for the day.

After scoreless fifth innings, the game was called because of time reservation restrictions.

Megan Donley (Fr, Fridley, Minn) recorded her first collegiate win, striking out three. Christina Robinson took the loss, recording four strikeouts.

Stout will be at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla., where they are scheduled to play 10 games, March 15-20.

March 7, 2003

The team award is given to those universities who have a total team roster of 3.10 cumulative grade point average or higher.

Stout's men's team, which carried a roster of 18, earned a cumulative GPA of 3.12, while the women's team, which carried a roster of 20, earned a grade point average of 3.23.

Sixty-five Division III men's teams received the award, while 110 women's teams were honored.

Both UW-Stout teams were coached by Joe Harlan.

Updated: March 10, 2003