WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
The Blue Devils (6-3, 2-2) are off until Wednesday, Dec. 28 when they take on Messiah College (8-0) at the Surf 'n Slam in San Diego, Calif. The Falcons are ranked 11th in the latest D3hoops.com poll. The next day, the Blue Devils will face either host school Point Loma Nazarene (4-3) or Tufts University (5-1). The Blue Devils will wrap up the three-day event, which also includes defending national champion Millikin University (6-2) and St. Norbert College (4-1), Friday, Dec. 30. Millikin is ranked seventh nationally. Last week: Stout handily defeated St. Scholastica, 93-56, Dec. 13. Player of the week: Kelsey Duoss, Jr, Janesville, Wis. (Clinton)

MEN'S BASKETBALL
The Blue Devils (9-1, 4-0) head into the Christmas break on top of the WIAC and will sit their alone until at least Jan. 4 when they host upstart UW-La Crosse. Before the return to conference play, the Blue Devils will host the Wendy's Holiday Tournament, Dec. 28-29. Augustana, Ill, College (8-0) which is ranked 13th in latest D3hoops.com poll, will meet Marian College (4-7), Wednesday, Dec. 28 at 5 p.m., followed by Stout clashing with St. Scholastica (2-6) at 7 p.m. On Thursday, Dec. 29, the consolation game is set for 5 p.m., with the championship game to follow at 7 p.m. Stout is ranked 11th in the latest D3hoops.com poll, the highest the Blue Devils have ever been ranked by D3hoops.com. Last week: The Blue Devils held off Bethany Lutheran, 67-60, Dec. 12 and defeated St. Norbert, 59-58, Dec. 19. Player of the week: Terry Farmer, Sr, Kenosha, Wis. (St. Joseph's)

HOCKEY
The Blue Devils (8-6-0, 4-2-0 NCHA, 3-0-0 WIAC) will relish a Christmas break they have never experienced before - sitting in first place. After six NCHA games, Stout is in a tie for first place with conference favorite, St. Norbert. Stout is the only NCHA team to have four conference wins. Stout is also in first place in the WIAC. Stout is off until Tuesday, Jan. 10 when they travel to Concordia-Moorhead. Last week: The Blue Devils were idle last week.

GYMNASTICS
The Blue Devils will get their season underway Friday, Jan. 6 when they host UW-Eau Claire at 7 p.m.

Women's Basketball

BLUE DEVILS JUMP OUT TO EARLY LEAD AND ONLY BUILD ON IT

MENOMONIE (December 13, 2005) - UW-Stout jumped out to a 12-0 lead and only built on the lead throughout the night as the defeated St. Scholastica, 93-56, Tuesday at Johnson Fieldhouse.

The last time these two teams played, the game was decided by a game winning 3-pointer at the buzzer. That type of drama came nowhere into play tonight. After blanking the Saints for the first five minutes of the game, then holding off a mini-charge where Scholastica got as close as six points, a 3-pointer by Molly Hendricks (Sr, Blaine, Minn) with eight minutes left in the half put Stout (6-3) up by 10, 31-21, and it would never get closer. The Blue Devils went off on a 13-0 run and it was time to turn out the lights.

Stout was able to empty the bench with Kelsey Duoss (Jr, Janesville) leading the way with 16 points in only 12 minutes of play. Lindsey Geissler (So, Thorp) finished with 11 points and Joanna Bird (So, Boyceville) 10.

Sara Miles (Sr, Luck) played six solid minutes of defense in a spurt in the second half. During that span, Miles recorded two blocked shots, yanked three rebounds and had three assists.

The Saints (2-6) were led by Sarah Klocke with 21 points and Erin Miles with 11 points.

Stout is off until Wednesday, Dec. 28 when they travel to San Diego, Calif, to participate in the three-day Surf-n-Slam tournament.

MENOMONIE (December 13, 2005) - UW-Stout forward Kelsey Duoss (Jr, Janesville/Clinton) was named the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) player of the week for the second time this season.

Duoss averaged 19 points and 15.5 rebounds as Stout split a pair of conference games last week. In a 95-70 win over UW-Superior, Dec. 7, Duoss had a scored a double-double by halftime (14 points, 10 rebounds) and finished with 17 points and 13 rebounds. In an 80-68 loss at UW-Oshkosh, Dec. 11, Duoss scored 21 points and pulled down a career-high 18 rebounds. She finished the week with five blocked shots.

On the season, Duoss is averaging a league-leading 20.3 points and 11.0 rebounds. She is shooting 62-of-100 (.620) from the floor, and has 21 blocked shots in eight games.

Stout (5-3, 2-2 WIAC) will host St. Scholastica, Tuesday, Dec. 13 in a non-conference tilt.

Men's Basketball

BLUE DEVILS EDGE PAST BOMBS AWAY ST. NORBERT

MENOMONIE (December 19, 2005) - UW-Stout needed last second heroics to escape with a 59-58 win over St. Norbert College, Monday at Johnson Fieldhouse.

Trailing 58-57 and the clock counting down, Blue Devil guard Adam Chandler (So, Burnsville, Minn) drove the lane, but missed the lay-up in heavy traffic. Seven-foot Jacob Nonemacher (Jr, Kalispell, Mont) snagged the rebound and put the ball through the twine with 2.6 seconds remaining.

The Green Knights (1-6) had a last gasp shot but Ryan Lallensack's desperation shot at the buzzer from just short of half court fell short.

Stout, which is ranked 12th in last week's D3hoops.com Top 25 poll, were fortunate to get the win. The final score was only the third time Stout (9-1) had led throughout the entire game.

St. Norbert jumped out to a 38-27 halftime lead on the strength of nailing 8-of-13 3-pointers before the intermission. Lollensack, John Suberlak and Jason Adair each had connected on two treys.

It was a different story in the second half as the Knights only lit the board from long range twice after the break and the Stout defense held St. Norbert to only 20 second half points.

St. Norbert shot 58 percent from the floor in the first half, but only 21 percent in the second half to finish at 40 percent. Stout, in contrast, shot 38 percent in the first half and improved to 54 percent in the second half to finish at 46 percent. Stout knocked down 11-of-13 free throws, compared to 10-of-16 for St. Norbert.

Terry Farmer (Sr, Kenosha) led all scorers with 18 points, getting 14 in the second stanza. Chandler and Ryan Stangl (So, Spring Valley) each chipped in 11 points and Nonemacher finished with nine points.

Lallensack and Adair each scored 12 for St. Norbert. Suberlak finished with 10 points. The Knights outrebounded Stout, 31-27, with every St. Norbert player who checked in pulling down at least two caroms.

Stout is off until Wednesday, Dec. 28 when they host the Wendy's Holiday Tournament. Stout will play St. Scholastica at 7 p.m.

MENOMONIE (December 12, 2005) - The UW-Stout defense held Bethany Lutheran College to 29 percent shooting in the first half and then held on to defeat Bethany in their home gym, 67-60, Monday.

Stout (8-1) jumped out to a 35-21 halftime lead, but Bethany (3-6) pulled to within as much as three points, and used the 3-ball to get there. Bethany connected on seven shots from beyond the arc in the second stanza before the visitors pulled out to a somewhat tenuous lead to hold on.

Stout, which was outrebounded, 41-36, got 17 points from Terry Farmer (Sr, Kenosha), 15 points from Jake Nonemacher (Jr, Kalispell, Mont) and 12 points from Adam Chandler (So, Burnsville, Minn). Bethany's Alfonso Mayfield led all scorers with 20 points and Dewan Grant tossed in 17.

Men's Ice Hockey

STOUT'S STONE NAMED NCHA & WIAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK

MENOMONIE (December 13, 2005) - UW-Stout goalie Mike Stone (So, West St. Paul, Minn/Henry Sibley) lived up to his name and played as a "stonewall," turning away 57 shots and picking up his first collegiate shutout with a 4-0 road win over No. 9 UW-Superior, Saturday, Dec. 10. Stone was named player of the week by the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) and the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC).

Stone was a vital part of Stout’s penalty kill, as the Blue Devils stopped all nine of Superior’s power play opportunities, including two 5-on-3 Yellowjacket opportunities.

The win moves Stout (8-6-0 overall) to 4-2-0 in the NCHA and into a tie with St. Norbert College for first place.

For the season, Stone has a goals against average (GAA) of 3.10, with a team high 221 saves with a 90.9 saves percentage. He is posting a 4-3-0 record.

Football

SEEP, WENDT, WEINSTEIN, STEFFEN EARN TOP TEAM FOOTBALL HONORS

MENOMONIE (December 18, 2005) - UW-Stout defensive back Joe Seep (Sr, Reedsburg) added another couple of awards to his private trophy case when he was named the most valuable player for the 2005 Blue Devil team.

Seep, who also captured the most valuable defensive back award, was an American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-American and was also a D3football.com second team All-American pick. Seep had five interceptions and set a school record for punt return average with 16.0 yards per scamper, breaking the mark of 15.2 yards set by Henry Waters in 1965.

Wide receiver Jesse Wendt (Jr, New Auburn/Chetek) hauled in the most valuable offensive player award, while defensive back Rob Weinstein (Jr, Racine/Horlick) and linebacker Luke Steffen (Jr, Greenwood) shared defensive player of the year honors. Place kicker Evan Larsen (Sr, River Falls) and punter Brandon Olson (Sr, Eleva/Eleva-Strum) shared the most valuable special teams award.

Stout finished the season at 6-4 overall, 3-4 in the WIAC.

MENOMONIE (December 17, 2005) - UW-Stout defensive back Joe Seep (Sr, Reedsburg) and place kicker Evan Larsen (Sr, River Falls) were named to the 2005 D3football.com All-America team, Seep as a second team choice, Larsen on the third team.

Both Seep and Larsen were first team all-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) picks. Seep finished the season with five interceptions. Seep set a school record for punt returns (16.0/return) and led the conference for the second straight year. Larsen was close to dead-eye on both extra-point tries (30-of-31) and field goals (11-of-14) and his 63 points propelled him to second on the Stout all-time scoring list, finishing his career with 187 points.

Seep was earlier named an All-American by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and played in the Aztec Bowl, Saturday, Dec. 17, in Toluca, Mexico, where he recorded five tackles, one for a loss, and forced a fumble on a kickoff return. The USA team defeated the Mexico team, 53-15.

Seep was Stout's 10th All-American choice since the 2000 season, while Larsen is Stout's 11th All-American in the 21st Century.

MENOMONIE (December 13, 2005) - UW-Stout defensive back Joe Seep (Sr, Reedsburg) has been chosen as a first team NCAA Division III All-American by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).

Seep, who is one of 21 members of the 2005 AFCA honor squad, has been a steady force with the Blue Devils since walking onto campus during his true freshman season. Seep finished the 2005 season with a career-high five interceptions - tied for second in the WIAC - and finished his career with eight. He was in on 40 tackles, 26 of them solo, had a sack, three pass break-ups and recovered a fumble.

This season, Seep was a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) first team repeat selection at defensive back and was named as the conference player of the week. He was also named to the D3football.com team of the week.

For the second consecutive season, Seep led the WIAC in punt returns and ranked seventh nationally, averaging 16.0 yards per return, a school record topping the mark of 15.2 set by Henry Waters in 1965. Seep also returned two punts for touchdowns, a 64-yard return against Waldorf College and a career-best 69-yarder against UW-River Falls.

Seep averaged 13.3 yards per punt return over his career, and returned two punts for touchdowns. He averaged 20.8 yards per kickoff return for his career.

Seep, a D3football.com first team all-region selection, will compete this weekend in the Aztec Bowl as a member of a 46-member all-star team of NCAA Division III players that will represent the United States against the Mexican National Team in the 2005 Aztec Bowl, Dec. 17, in Toluca, Mexico.

Seep is the 10th Blue Devil selected as an All-American since the 2000 season and the fourth selected as an AFCA All-American, which selects only a first team.

Women's Gymnastics

GYMNASTS TO ENTER SEASON WITH CHANGE IN MIND

MENOMONIE (December 19, 2005) - Change. It can be a good thing. For UW-Stout's first year gymnastics coach, Becky Beaulieu, the change was a move from Hawaii back to the upper Midwest. For the Blue Devil junior and senior gymnasts, the change is their third head coach over their Stout career.

Beaulieu, who is a native of the Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn, area and a former seven time All-American gymnast at UW-La Crosse, said the transition has been going well.

Beaulieu said some of the changes include changes in the practice schedule, the addition of weight training to the routine and just time for her to get to know and understand the athletes on a more personal basis.

While the 2006 Blue Devils are small in numbers - Stout has 11 on their preseason roster - Beaulieu sees a gifted group of performers.

"We have a lot of talented gymnasts," Beaulieu said.

After she was hired, but before she arrived in town, Beaulieu was talking to her seniors - Rhian Paulson (Sr, Stillwater, Minn) and Shanna Kissinger (Sr, Sioux City, Iowa).

Paulson, a four-time all-WIAC recipient, has advanced to the NCGA national championships all three years, but has yet to earn All-America honors.

"We had a big talk," Beaulieu said. "I told her she only has a few months left of her gymnastics career. She wants achieve and will do everything she can in the few months left."

Paulson advanced to the national meet last year as an all-arounder. In 2004, Paulson qualified to nationals on the floor and as a freshman in 2003, advanced on the uneven bars. She holds the school record in the all-around (36.80), the uneven bars (9.225) and the floor exercise (9.80) and is among the top 10 scores in both the balance beam and the vault.

"The vault is her favorite," Beaulieu said. "She has a great block and explosion off the horse. On the floor and beam, she has good difficulty in her tumbling. (On the floor), we are working on cleaning up her dance.

"Rhian is able to compete with the top gymnasts. Now, it's just geting to the top."

Kissinger, as well as Paulson, bring a quiet leadership to the team. Both lead more by example, than by words, Beaulieu said. And both have the talent to lead quietly and the other gymnasts will take notice.

"Shanna has a lot of raw ability as a gymnast," Beaulieu said. "She has tons of talent and will compete in the all-around. Shanna has great tumbling on the floor and is working on new skills on the beam."
Caitlin Burch (Jr, Waukesha), along with Paulson and Kissinger, is a team captain.

Burch will add depth to the floor exercise, balance beam and vault. "She is a beautiful dancer," Beaulieu said.

Ashley Timm (So, Eden Prairie, Minn) and Amber Bianchi (So, Gibbon, Minn) are the team's only sophomores.

Timm, who advanced to the NCGA nationals last year on the beam where she set a new school record (9.65), almost did not compete this year due to a back injury, but has since been cleared to compete.

"She will just need to fight through the pain," Beaulieu said. "She will have to take it one day at a time and focus on one skill at a time."

Timm is a true all-arounder, Beaulieu pointed out, saying her scores tend to be even across the board.

Timm placed 12th at the national meet last year on the beam, and also competed in the all-around event. She earned all-region and All-WIAC honors on both the beam and in the all-around.

Beaulieu said Timm will need to stay positive because of the injuries, but finds her "fun, spontaneous personality in the gym" a necessity.

Bianchi will give needed depth on the floor exercise and the vault. Beaulieu has found Bianchi very coachable and very upbeat in the gym, despite a heavy class load.

Six freshmen dot the line-up - Kori Zieminski (Cottage Grove, Minn), Katie Kronebusch (Owatonna, Minn), Caitlin McCormick (Manitowoc), Cassie Glover (DePere), Kelly Claussen (Watertown) and Ellen Washatka (St. Michael, Minn).

Zieminski was a Level 9 gymnast and a Minnesota state qualifier in the all-arounder. Beaulieu expects Zieminski to compete on all four events.

Kronebusch is a freshman athletically, but has already put one season of collegiate track behind her at Stout. With "beautiful lines," Beaulieu expects Kronebusch to compete as an all-arounder.

McCormick has been very solid on the bars - an event Stout has been traditionally weak in over the years. McCormick has been working a new dismount. An ankle injury has kept her from performing on the floor exercise.

Glover was a high school club gymnast whose strength is on the vault. "We expect her to make the line-up," Beaulieu said.

Claussen has shown perhaps the most improvement of any gymnast since the beginning of the season.

"Kelly has really taken off," Beaulieu said. Claussen is expected to work the vault and the beam.

Washatka will bring a positive attitude and depth to the vault and the bars.

Beaulieu believes the vault and floor exercise are currently the Blue Devils' strongest events.

"We will compete with the other teams," Beaulieu said. "We are training bigger skills and starting to hit the bonuses."

But it will be the bars and the beam that will determine the overall success of the squad.

Beaulieu will be assisted by Eli Block, who competed both nationally and regionally with the Madtown Twisters Gymastics club in Madison. He has coached all levels and ages of gymnastics for several years.

The Blue Devils will open the 2006 season, Friday, Jan. 6, when they host UW-Eau Claire at 7 p.m. in Johnson Fieldhouse. Stout's other home meets are Friday, Jan. 20 and Monday, Jan. 23.

Updated: December 19, 2005