UW-River Falls' Melzer Repeats as WIAC Player of the Year

NEWS RELEASE
Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Matt Stanek * Sports Information Director * 780 Regent Street * Madison, WI 53715 * Phone: (608) 265-6406 * www.uwsa.edu/wiac/

RELEASED: Wednesday, March 3, 2004

UW-River Falls' Melzer Repeats as WIAC Player of the Year

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-River Falls senior forward Rich Melzer was named the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Player of the Year for the second straight season to headline the 10 individuals voted to the 2003-04 All-WIAC Men's Basketball Team by the league coaches.

Melzer becomes the sixth player in conference history to earn back-to-back player of the year awards. He joins UW-Oshkosh's Tim Dworak (2002-03), UW-Stevens Point's Terry Porter (1984-85), UW-Eau Claire's Gib Hinz (1979-80), UW-Oshkosh's Ralph Sims (1977-78) and UW-Eau Claire's Mike Ratliff (1970-72).

Melzer leads the league in scoring (26.9), while ranking second in rebounding (8.5) and field goal percentage (.558) and fourth in blocked shots (1.63). He led the Falcons in scoring in 27 of 29 games this season, including 13 contests with 30 or more points and a season-high 37 points against Puget Sound (Wash.). Melzer holds the league's all-time record with 935 field goals made, while ranking second on the conference's and school's all-time scoring list with 2,363 points.

Melzer earned All-WIAC first team honors for the third straight season after capturing honorable mention laurels during his freshman campaign. He is the first UW-River Falls player to earn first team honors in three consecutive seasons since Dean Cook (1989-91).

UW-Stevens Point claimed the WIAC Tournament title and was the only team to have more than one player on the first team. Jason Kalsow claimed his second straight All-WIAC first team honor after earning honorable mention status in 2002. He ranks second in the league in scoring (17.9), third in rebounding (7.6) and assists (3.64), fourth in field goal percentage (.538) and assist/turnover ratio (1.76) and fifth in blocked shots (1.50). Kalsow has led the Pointers in scoring in 16 games this season, while topping the team in rebounding in 21 contests.

The Pointers' Nick Bennett leads the conference in assist/turnover ratio (2.26), while ranking second in free throw percentage (.852), fourth in three-point field goals made (2.21), fifth in three-point field goal percentage (.428), sixth in field goal percentage (.482), seventh in scoring (15.4) and eighth in assists (2.75). He has made at least one three-pointer in 26 of the team's 28 games this year.

UW-Eau Claire's Casey Drake ranks fourth in the conference in scoring (17.6), sixth in free throw percentage (.822) and ninth in field goal percentage (.442). He led the Blugolds in scoring in 16 of 26 games, including a career-high 35 points against UW-Stevens Point on February 14.

UW-La Crosse's Casey Taggatz earned his second consecutive All-WIAC first team recognition after establishing a league single-season record for free throw percentage (.931). He also ranks second in the WIAC in three-point field goals made (2.44), third in three-point field goal percentage (.459), sixth in scoring (15.9), ninth in assists (2.40), steals (1.24) and assist/turnover ratio (1.13) and 10th in field goal percentage (.440). Taggatz finished his career with 1,338 points to rank fifth on UW-La Crosse's all-time list and topped the school's all-time chart with 206 three-pointers made and 481 three-pointers attempted.

UW-Oshkosh's Jim Capelle is the second freshman since the 1975 season to earn All-WIAC first team honors, joining UW-Whitewater's Aubrey Lewis Byers who claimed all-league honors in 2000. Capelle is also the first freshman in Titan history to capture first team honors. He ranks third in the conference in free throw percentage (.850), ninth in rebounding (5.6) and three-point field goal percentage (.396) and 10th in scoring (13.8).

UW-Platteville's Brad Reitzner helped the Pioneers to their most wins since the 1999-2000 campaign. He ranks third in the WIAC in scoring (17.8) and three-point field goals made (2.36), fourth in free throw percentage (.839) and 10th in assists (2.32). Reitzner also tied the school record with seven three-pointers made in a game on two occasions this year.

UW-Stout's Jeff Vandenberghe drilled a league-leading and school-record 76 three-pointers this season, while ranking third in steals (1.72), seventh in three-point field goal percentage (.409), eighth in scoring (15.3), ninth in free throw percentage (.795) and 10th in assist/turnover ratio (1.00). He made a school-record nine three-pointers against Elmhurst (Ill.) this year and ranks second on UW-Stout's all-time list with 168 career three-pointers.

UW-Superior's Cody Kastern earned All-WIAC first team accolades for the second straight season after leading the Yellowjackets to a seven-game improvement from a year ago. He leads the conference in rebounding (8.7), while placing sixth in blocked shots (.85), seventh in steals (1.27), eighth in field goal percentage (.477) and ninth in scoring (15.1). Kastern finished his career sixth on the school's all-time list with 1,262 points and second with 688 rebounds.

UW-Whitewater's Matt Jones helped the Warhawks to their third straight 20-win season. He ranks third in the league in steals (1.72), fifth in scoring (16.1), seventh in field goal percentage (.479) and three-point field goals made (1.80), eighth in three-point field goal percentage (.405) and 10th in free throw percentage (.786). Jones led the Warhawks in scoring in 16 of 26 contests this year.

Named to the league's honorable mention team were: UW-Eau Claire's Dan Archambault, UW-Platteville's Brandon Temperly, UW-River Falls' Chris Becker, Billy Halter and Micah Helfrey and UW-Whitewater's Angelo Griffin and Melvin Williams.

UW-River Falls head coach Rick Bowen was voted the conference coach of the year by the league coaches. He guided the Falcons to their first conference championship since 1950 and their first 20-win campaign since that same season when the team compiled a 26-5 mark. Bowen has compiled a 254-213 record in 18 seasons at UW-River Falls.

2003-04 All-WIAC Men's Basketball Team
First Team
Name, School, Year, Position, Height, Hometown (High School)
Rich Melzer, UW-River Falls, Senior, Forward, 6-8, Minneapolis, Minn. (River Falls)
Jason Kalsow, UW-Stevens Point, Junior, Forward, 6-7, Huntley, Ill.
Brad Reitzner, UW-Platteville, Junior, Guard, 6-1, Stoughton
Matt Jones, UW-Whitewater, Senior, Guard, 6-2, Milwaukee (Bay View)
Cody Kastern, UW-Superior, Senior, Forward, 6-7, Superior (Senior)
Casey Taggatz, UW-La Crosse, Senior, Guard, 5-9, Stevens Point (SPASH)
Nick Bennett, UW-Stevens Point, Junior, Forward, 6-5, Stevens Point (SPASH)
Casey Drake, UW-Eau Claire, Junior, Guard, 6-3, Rhinelander
Jeff Vandenberghe, UW-Stout, Senior, Guard, 6-3, Coon Rapids, Minn.
Jim Capelle, UW-Oshkosh, Freshman, Forward, 6-6, Wisconsin Dells

Honorable Mention
Angelo Griffin, UW-Whitewater, Junior, Center, 6-7, Milwaukee (Bay View)
Micah Helfrey, UW-River Falls, Senior, Guard, 5-10, Mesa, Ariz.
Melvin Williams, UW-Whitewater, Sophomore, Guard, 6-3, Milwaukee (Riverside)
Billy Halter, UW-River Falls, Senior, Forward, 6-8, Apple Valley, Minn.
Chris Becker, UW-River Falls, Senior, Guard, 6-1, Stone Lake (Hayward)
Brandon Temperly, UW-Platteville, Junior, Forward, 6-4, Hazel Green (Southwestern)
Dan Archambault, UW-Eau Claire, Junior, Guard, 6-2, Oshkosh (West)

Player of the Year: Rich Melzer of UW-River Falls
Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete: Casey Taggatz of UW-La Crosse
Coach of the Year: Rick Bowen of UW-River Falls

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