Blue Devil Men's Basketball

December 6, 1997

PLATTEVILLE ENDS BLUE DEVIL WINNING STREAK

PLATTEVILLE UW-Platteville forced 22 UW-Stout turnovers and went on to end the Blue Devils' four game winning streak by handing Stout a 77-52 defeat at Platteville, Saturday, Dec. 6, in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) opener.

The defending conference champion Pioneers wasted little time taking control of the young Blue Devils (4-1, 0-1), jumping out to a 13 point lead with seven minutes remaining in the half, then expanding that to 43-27 at halftime.

Ben Kuepers (So, Dickeyville) led the Blue Devils with 14 points, two assists, one blocked shot and four rebounds. Andy Myers (So, Eau Claire) added 10 points and seven rebounds, while Jeremy Leibfried (So, Dickeyville) also had 10 points.

Platteville's (3-0, 1-0) Dan Wargolet led all scorers with 17 points. Ryan Fuhrmann had 12 and Joel Beard 10.

Stout played without Jeremy Preston (Jr, Madison), who sprained an ankle and is still questionable.

The Blue Devils will be in St. Paul, Minn., Tuesday, Dec. 9 to face Northwestern College. Stout will return to WIAC play Saturday, Dec. 13 when they travel to LaCrosse.

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Blue Devil Women's Basketball

December 6, 1997

BLUE DEVILS CRUISE PAST UW-PLATTEVILLE

MENOMONIE - The UW-Stout women's basketball team wasted no time in posting its first conference win of the season. The host Blue Devils forced 35 turnovers enroute to a 94-59 victory over UW-Platteville, Saturday, Dec. 6 at Johnson Fieldhouse.

Stout took a 39-46 lead going into halftime, but after the break, the Blue Devils caught fire. Stout rattled off 16 unanswered point to take a commanding 69-42 lead at about the 13 minute mark. From there, the Blue Devils never looked back.

Stout's Rachel Traynor (Jr, Ellsworth) led all scorers with 20 points. Shannon Berg (Jr, Ellsworth) added 18, and Bree Mahone (So, Racine) kicked in 16.

Platteville did most of its scoring from the foul line, sinking 24 of 33 free throws. Jolene Wessel led the Pioneers with 12 points while Lori Mergen contributed 11, and Laurie Buechel had 10.

Stout's next game will be Thursday, Dec. 11 when the Blue Devils host Winona State at 7 p.m. Stout will resume its conference schedule Saturday, Dec. 13, playing at UW-La Crosse at 6 p.m. in a women's/men's doubleheader.

December 5, 1997

BLUE DEVILS HAVE LITTLE MERCY IN WIN OVER MOUNT MERCY

MENOMONIE - UW-Stout women's basketball coach Mark Thomas carries 20 players on his active roster. Friday night, Thomas used all 20 players and all but two scored as the Blue Devils pounded Mount Mercy College, 102-68, Dec. 5 at Johnson Fieldhouse.

Stout, which led 57-32 at halftime, had four players in double digits with Shannon Berg (Jr, Ellsworth) leading the way with 17 points. Kim Hautala (Jr, Crystal Falls, Mich) finished with 12 points, Jessie Ustby (Fr, Onalaska) 11 and Bree Mahone (So, Racine) 10.

The Blue Devils shot a blistering 67 percent in the first half and finished the game shooting at a respectable 46 percent clip. With Larissa Sievert (Fr, Roberts) leading the way with nine rebounds, Stout held a commanding 49-33 edge on the boards.

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Blue Devil Hockey

December 6, 1997

GRUND GETS FIRST COLLEGIATE HAT TRICK AS STOUT SWEEPS CROOKSTON

MENOMONIE - Nicklas Grund (Fr, Uttran, Sweden) notched his first collegiate hat trick as the UW-Stout hockey team downed UM-Crookston, 6-5, Saturday, Dec. 6, to sweep the non-conference weekend series over the Golden Eagles.

Grund capped off a Blue Devil four-goal first period, when he scored with eight minutes remaining, and three minutes later plunked in his second goal to give Stout (3-9) a 4-1 lead.

The Eagles' Jayson Brunette closed out the period with a goal and Stout led 4-2 heading into the locker room.

Grund opened up the second period, scoring three minutes into the period, but Crookston (1-5-1) refused to be put away, when Bobby Benbo moved the score to 5-2.

Only a minute later, Graham Lomen (Jr, Apple Valley, Minn) scored a power play goal - and the eventual game-winning-goal - with assists by Tom Schaffner (Jr, Janesville) and Shane Maher (Fr, Forest Lake, Minn).

Crookston scored again in the second, then added a solo goal midway through the third.

Todd Sether (Jr, International Falls, Minn) got his second win of the season, turning away 26 shots.

Crookston put Stout on the defensive to start off the game when Eric Swift scored the opening goal only two minutes into the contest. Marcus Soderberg (So, Huddinge, Sweden) got the Blue Devils going, scoring at the 4:03 mark with assists by Grund and Mark Corbett (Jr, New Hope, Minn). Kevin Aube (Fr, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich) gave Stout a lead they would never relinquish, scoring at 8:07 in the first, getting an assist from Kelly Selix (Jr, Elk River, Minn).

Stout returns to Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) action Friday, Dec. 12, when they travel to UW-Eau Claire. Stout hosts the Blugolds Saturday, Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the Dunn County Ice Arena.

December 5, 1997

FOUR GOAL FIRST PERIOD LEADS BLUE DEVILS TO WIN

MENOMONIE - A four goal barrage in the first period catapulted the UW-Stout hockey team to their second win of the season as the Blue Devils blasted Minnesota-Crookston, 6-2, at the Dunn County Ice Arena Friday, Dec. 5.

Marcus Soderborg (So, Huddinge, Sweden) started off the attack with a goal four minutes into the game and Tom Schaffner (Jr, Janesville) added another less than a minute later. Crookston made the game close with a goal at the 10 minute mark, but Stout's Mark Corbett (Jr, New Hope, Minn) put the puck past the post with four minutes left in the period. Shane Mader (Fr, Forest Lake, Minn) capped off the period.

Soderborg opened the second period with another goal, while Matt Romaniski (Fr, Cottage Grove, Minn) opened the third with a goal. Crookston closed out the scoring midway through the third.

Kevin Hulsey (Fr, New Richmond) picked up his first win of the season, stopping 25 shots. The Blue Devils crashed the net hard, taking 49 shots.

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Blue Devil Gymnastics

December 5, 1997

BLUE DEVIL GYMNASTS OPEN SEASON WITH CONFERENCE WIN

WHITEWATER - During the preseason, UW-Stout gymnastics coach Suzy Smith said she was impressed with freshman Brenna Jones (St. Paul, Minn). Jones continued to make an impression, tying or taking first in three individual events as the Blue Devils downed UW-Whitewater, 123.925-122.35 in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) and season opener Friday, Dec. 5.

Jones tied with teammate Angie Arens (Fr, Loretto, Minn) on the vault, with both opening up with an 8.675. Jones tied for first with Whitewater's Betsy Walls on the balance beam (7.90) and captured the floor exercise (8.95). Jones also put together the top all-around score, posting a 31.475.

The Blue Devils swept the vault, with Shannon Hirsch (Jr, St. Paul, Minn) taking third (8.50) and Naomi Northrup (Sr, New Prague, Minn) fourth (8.45).

Northrup was third on the uneven bars (7.15). Erin Swanson (So, Isanti, Minn) was third on the beam (7.85)

Stout is off until Jan. 9 when the Blue Devils host UW-La Crosse at 7 p.m.

UW-Stout 123.925, UW-Whitewater 122.35

(First place, all Stout finishers)
Vault: 1. tie, Brenna Jones (S), Angie Arens (S) 8.675; 3. Shannon Hirsch 8.50; 4. Naomi Northrup 8.45; Amy Stream 8.20; Erin Swanson 8.20; Shannon Bell 8.10
Uneven Bars: 1. Ginger Giencke (WW) 7.45; 3. Northrup 7.15; 4. Maren Sand 6.65; 5. Arens 6.40; Jones 5.95; Swanson 5.80; Hirsch 5.65; Staci Annis 5.00; Lori Skotterud 4.80
Balance Beam: 1. Jones (S) 7.90; 3. Swanson 7.85; 4. Hirsch 7.20; Northrup 6.95; Arens 6.40; Andrea Hassel 6.05; Stream 6.1; Skotterud 5.55
Floor Exercise: 1. Jones (S) 8.95; 4. Hirsch 8.45; Sand 8.225; Northrup 7.95; Arens 7.75; Swanson 7.70
All-Around: 1. Jones (S) 31.475; 4. Northrup 30.50; 5. Hirsch 29.80; Swanson 29.55; Arens 29.225

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Blue Devil Football

December 1, 1997

LEHMAN NAMED SECOND TEAM ALL-REGION; BUNYAN SPECIAL MENTION

MENOMONIE- UW-Stout offensive lineman Jason Lehman (Sr, Bruce) was named to the 1997 Football Gazette All-West Region second team. Blue Devil quarterback Matt Bunyan (Jr, Janesville) was given special mention honors.

Lehman was a two-time all-conference pick and started all four year for the Blue Devils, his freshman and sophomore years on defense, and his final two years in the offensive line.

A pre-season All-America pick, Lehman was a key part in the Blue Devils' high potent passing attack, which finished ranked fourth in the country. The 310-lb. NFL prospect allowed no sacks during the 1997 season and graded out well over 90 percent. Lehman also played a few downs throughout the season on defense and served as the long snapper when the original long snapper went down to injury.

Lehman is also a track and field standout, earning five All-America titles in the shot put and discus. He holds the school record in the discus and outdoor shot.

Bunyan ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division III in total offense with 321.6 yards per game, and cracked the single season record for passing yards with 3221 and passing touchdowns with 33. Four times, Bunyan threw for five touchdowns in a single game.

Lehman is now eligible for Football Gazette All-America honors.

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