2003 WIAC Women's Softball Headlines

UW-Whitewater's Koeller Named To Academic All-America Women's Softball Second Team

RELEASED: Friday, May 30, 2003

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Whitewater's Megan Koeller has been named to the 2003 Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-America Women's Softball Second Team.

Koeller, a senior outfielder from Potosi, Wis., is majoring in elementary education with a minor in special education and carries a 3.89 grade point average. She was an Academic All-America First Team pick last season and was named the 2003 WIAC Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete.

Koeller compiled a .324 batting average this year with a .469 slugging percentage and led the team with 165 plate appearances, 43 games played, 26 runs scored, 12 doubles and three triples. She is a three-time All-WIAC First Team selection as well as an All-Great Lakes First Team pick in 2002. Her 60 career doubles rank first in conference history, while her 560 career at-bats and 206 career hits rank fourth on the league's all-time list.

Koeller is the third UW-Whitewater women's softball player to earn academic all-america honors twice in a career, joining Laura Herring (1999 and 1998) and Gayle Gruber (1985 and 1984).

The academic all-america team is comprised of all NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA athletes from around the country. It is selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). No other Wisconsin athletes were named to the squad.

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Three Earn Women's Softball All-America Honors

RELEASED: Monday, May 19, 2003

Madison, Wis.--Three Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's softball players have been named to the 2003 Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America Team. UW-Superior's Sarah Tarasewicz earned first team honors, while UW-Stevens Point's Jill Van Wychen was a second team pick and UW-Stout's Erin O'Connell received third team recognition.

Tarasewicz, a sophomore catcher from Hurley, Wis., established conference single-season records this year with a 1.009 slugging percentage and 10 triples. She ranked second in the league with a .443 batting average, 36 runs scored and 11 home runs. Tarasewicz's .443 batting average, 47 hits and 11 home runs set new school single-season records.

Tarasewicz is the first women's softball All-America selection from UW-Superior since Deb Kern received the honor in 1988.

Van Wychen, a senior outfielder from Kaukauna, Wis. (Freedom H.S.), was named the 2003 WIAC Position Player of the Year after leading the league with a .467 batting average, 63 hits and 39 runs scored and placing second with 23 stolen bases and six triples.

Van Wychen set a NCAA Division III record with a 36-game hitting streak, reaching safely in the team's first 36 games of the season. Van Wychen's batting average was the second-highest mark in school history and the seventh-best total in league history. She batted .399 for her career, establishing a school career mark, and finished her career with hits in 113 of her 130 career games, including 82 of her last 90 games.

Van Wychen is the fourth Pointer in school history to earn All-America honors. Kelly Rutta in 2001 and Kelly Blaha in 1998 were both second team selections, while Dena Zajdel was a third team pick in 1998.

O'Connell, a sophomore first baseman from Altoona, Wis., led the conference with 15 home runs, while ranking second with 39 RBIs and sixth with a .407 batting average. Her 15 home runs established a league single-season record and she is tied for the school career mark with 17 home runs.

O'Connell tied a WIAC single-game record with three home runs against UW-Superior on April 21. She was nearly flawless in the field this year, committing only three errors in 386 chances for a single-season school record fielding percentage of .992.

O'Connell is the second women's softball player in school history to receive All-America accolades. Suzanne Brion earned third team honors in 1996 and was a second team selection in 1995.

Forty-five players were named to the first, second and third teams. The awards were announced Thursday, May 15 at the banquet prior to the NCAA Division III Softball National Championship in Salem, Va. All three teams were selected by NFCA-member NCAA Division III coaching representatives, based on nominations from the 2003 season.

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UW-Whitewater's Koeller and UW-Stout's Jensen Named To Women's Softball Academic All-District Team

RELEASED: Tuesday, May 13, 2003

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Whitewater's Megan Koeller and UW-Stout's Sara Jensen have been named to the 2003 Verizon/CoSIDA Women's Softball College Division District Five All-Academic Team. Koeller earned first team honors, while Jensen received second team recognition.

The team is comprised of all NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA players from Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota and voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Koeller, a senior from Potosi, Wis., captured first team honors for the second straight season after earning second team recognition in 2001. She was named to the Academic All-America First Team last season and is now eligible for this year's squad. Koeller is majoring in elementary education with a minor in special education and carries a 3.89 grade point average.

She is a three-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Scholar-Athlete and was recently named the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Judy Kruckman Women's Softball Scholar-Athlete. Koeller is a three-time All-WIAC First Team selection and she earned NFCA All-Great Lakes Region First Team honors in 2002 after capturing second team accolades in 2001.

Jensen, a senior from Eau Claire, Wis. (Memorial H.S.) is majoring in early childhood education and maintains a 3.87 grade point average. She was a NFCA Scholar-Athlete last year and is a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. Jensen played in 32 games for the Blue Devils this year, compiling a .173 batting average.

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Twelve Named To NFCA All-Great Lakes Region Team

RELEASED: Monday, May 12, 2003

Madison, Wis.--Twelve Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's softball players have been named to the 2003 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Great Lakes Region Team. Individuals earning first team recognition included UW-Stevens Point's Jill Van Wychen, UW-Stout's Erin O'Connell, UW-Superior's Sarah Tarasewicz and UW-Whitewater's Erin Bravo.

O'Connell, a sophomore first baseman from Altoona, Wis., led the conference with 15 home runs, while ranking second with 39 RBIs, sixth with a .407 batting average and three triples and ninth with 44 hits. Her 15 home runs established a league season record and she is tied for the school career mark with 17 home runs. O'Connell tied a WIAC single game record with three home runs against UW-Superior on April 21.

Van Wychen, a senior outfielder from Kaukauna, Wis. (Freedom H.S.), earned All-Great Lakes Region second team honors last year and was recently named the WIAC Position Player of the Year. She led the league with a .467 batting average, 63 hits and 39 runs scored, while ranking second with six triples and 23 stolen bases. Her batting average was the seventh-best mark in league history, while her .399 career batting average established a school career mark. Van Wychen set a NCAA Division III record with a 36-game hitting streak, reaching safely in the team's first 36 games this year.

Tarasewicz, a sophomore catcher from Hurley, Wis., led the conference with a 1.009 slugging percentage, .563 on-base percentage and 10 triples, while ranking second with a .443 batting average, 36 runs scored and 11 home runs, third with 47 hits and fifth with 12 stolen bases.

Bravo, a junior first baseman from Arlington Heights, Ill. (Buffalo Grove H.S.), ranked second in the WIAC with 51 hits and 11 home runs, third with 36 RBIs, fifth with a .408 batting average and sixth with 11 doubles.

O'Connell, Van Wychen, Tarasewicz and Bravo are now eligible for the All-America Team, which will be announced by the NFCA later this week.

Named to the NFCA All-Great Lakes Region Second Team were: UW-La Crosse's Andrea Tsilis and Sally Wenzel and UW-Stout's Kaela Wold.

Named to the NFCA All-Great Lakes Region Third Team were: UW-Eau Claire's Emilee Planert, UW-River Falls' Amy Brooke and Anna Poulter, UW-Stevens Point's Karen Guckenberger and UW-Stout's Kim Caswell.

The Great Lakes Region also includes the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, Lake Michigan Conference, Midwest Conference and Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference.

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UW-Stevens Point's Van Wychen and UW-La Crosse's Wenzel
Top All-WIAC Women's Softball Team

RELEASED: Wednesday, May 7, 2003

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point's Jill Van Wychen was named the Position Player of the Year and UW-La Crosse's Sally Wenzel was named the Pitcher of the Year, headlining a group of 20 players selected to the 2003 All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women's Softball Team.

Van Wychen leads the league with a .467 batting average, 63 hits and 39 runs scored, while ranking second with six triples and 23 stolen bases. Her batting average is the second-highest in school history and is the seventh-best mark in league history. Van Wychen concluded her career with a school record .399 batting average. Additionally, her 63 hits were one short of school's season record.

Van Wychen set a NCAA Division III record with a 36-game hitting steak, reaching safely in the team's first 36 games this year. She finished her career with hits in 113 of her 130 career games, including 82 of her last 90 contests.

It is the second straight All-WIAC First Team honor for Van Wychen, who is the third Pointer to receive the league's Player of the Year award. Kelly Rutta claimed the award in 2000 and 2001.

UW-La Crosse's Sally Wenzel leads the conference with 133 strikeouts and 14 wins, while ranking third with a 1.52 ERA and three shutouts and fourth with 142.1 innings pitched. Her strikeout and innings pitched totals for the season rank third in school history.

Wenzel, a four-time All-WIAC First Team pick, holds the conference career record with 76 complete games and ranks second in league annals with 432 career strikeouts. She ranks first in the UW-La Crosse record book with 527.0 innings pitched, 87 appearances and 49 victories.

Wenzel also batted .337 at the plate this season with a team-leading five home runs. She finished second on the squad with 20 RBIs.

Wenzel is joined on the first team by her teammates Julie Schadrie and Andrea Tsilis. Schadrie ranks sixth in the WIAC with 24 RBIs and ninth with 43 hits. Tsilis earned her third straight All-WIAC First Team honor. She ranks second in the league with 12 doubles, fourth with four triples and sixth with 25 runs scored.

UW-Stevens Point's Karen Guckenberger earned her fourth career All-WIAC First Team honor. She leads the league with a 1.41 ERA, eight shutouts and five saves, while ranking second with 149.1 innings pitched and 122 strikeouts. Guckenberger is the conference's all-time strikeout leader with 504 for her career and also holds the NCAA Division III career record for saves with 16. She ranks third on the conference's all-time career list with 115 appearances, fourth with a 1.05 ERA, 58 wins and 69 complete games and fifth with 573.1 innings pitched. Guckenberger was named the league's Pitcher of the Year last season.

UW-River Falls had a league-high four players named to the first team. Amy Brooke ranks fourth in the league with a 1.62 ERA and 94 strikeouts and sixth with 130.0 innings pitched. She holds the school career record with 347 strikeouts and established the school's season mark in 2001 with 98 strikeouts. Brooke was a honorable mention pick last year after earning first team accolades the previous two seasons.

Anna Poulter leads the league with 38 stolen bases, while ranking third with 46 hits and 33 runs scored and fourth with a .411 batting average. Her 38 stolen bases are third-highest total in league history. She also earned All-WIAC First Team honors during the 2001 campaign.

Devanie Bigalk ranks second in the conference with a 1.48 ERA and third with three shutouts. She recorded a team-high 10 wins this year in 85.1 innings pitched. Abby Keene ranks third in the league with three triples and ranked second on the team with 35 hits, 20 RBIs, 18 runs scored and six doubles.

UW-Platteville landed three players on the first team after claiming their first regular season championship since the 1992 campaign. Alexis Thoms ranks third in the conference with three shutouts, fifth with 11 victories, seventh with 57 strikeouts and 119 innings pitched and eighth with a 1.88 ERA. Michelle Skaden places sixth in the league with 25 runs scored and ranks second on the team with 37 hits. She was a honorable mention pick last year. Jen Kilian captured honorable mention accolades in 2000 and is third on this year's squad with a .306 batting average, in addition to 16 runs scored and 10 RBIs.

UW-Eau Claire's Emilee Planert earned All-WIAC First Team honors for the second straight season. She ranks third in the WIAC with a .426 batting average and led the Blugolds with 40 hits and a .450 on-base percentage. Planert is joined on the first team by her teammate Beth Steward, who ranks second in the league with 12 doubles, sixth with 24 RBIs and seventh with five home runs.

UW-Stout's Erin O'Connell and Kaela Wold both captured first team accolades. O'Connell leads the league with 15 home runs, while ranking second with 39 RBIs, sixth with a .407 batting average and three triples and eighth with 44 hits. Her 15 home runs established a league season record and she is tied for the school career mark with 17 home runs. O'Connell tied a WIAC single game record with three home runs against UW-Superior on April 21.

Wold earned her second straight All-WIAC First Team honor after leading the conference with 40 RBIs and 14 doubles, while ranking fourth with 46 hits and four triples, fifth with 26 runs scored and six home runs and seventh with a .390 batting average.

UW-Whitewater's Erin Bravo and Megan Koeller helped the team to the 2003 WIAC Tournament title and a spot in the NCAA Division III Tournament. Bravo ranks third in the conference with nine home runs and 33 RBIs, fifth with a .409 batting average and seventh with 45 hits. Koeller places fifth in the league with 11 doubles, sixth with three triples and 10th with 42 hits. She earned All-WIAC First Team honors each of the last three seasons after receiving honorable mention recognition in 2000.

UW-Oshkosh's Julie Barth earned All-WIAC First Team accolades for the second straight season. She ranks 10th in the league with a .356 batting average and led the Titans with 32 hits, 14 runs scored and eight doubles.

UW-Superior's Sarah Tarasewicz earned her second straight All-WIAC First Team selection after leading the league with a 1.009 slugging percentage, .563 on-base percentage and 10 triples, while ranking second with a .443 batting average, 47 hits, 36 runs scored and 11 home runs and fourth with 12 stolen bases.

UW-Platteville head coach Janet James was voted the 2003 Coach of the Year by the league coaches. She guided the Pioneers to a 24-21 overall record, the most wins in her six seasons, and the first regular season conference title since 1992. James becomes the third women's softball coach in school history to win the award, joining Julie Lenhart (1990 and 1992) and Curt Fatzinger (1984).

Named to the Honorable Mention squad were: UW-Eau Claire's Kim Czapla, Jannah Grinnell and Andrea Neuville, UW-La Crosse's Kari Piehl and Lindsey Spraker, UW-Oshkosh's Brenda Feucht and Angie Long, UW-Platteville's Wendi Siedschlag and Steph Wood, UW-River Falls' Meghann Mulligan, UW-Stevens Point's Meagan Strmsek, UW-Stout's Kim Caswell and Megan Donley, UW-Superior's Katie Beadles and UW-Whitewater's Dana Jakoubek.

2003 All-WIAC Women's Softball Team

First Team
Name, School, Year, Position, Hometown (High School)
Julie Barth, Oshkosh, Junior, Outfield, Neillsville
Devanie Bigalk, River Falls, Sophomore, Pitcher, White Bear Lake, Minn.
Erin Bravo, Whitewater, Junior, First Base, Arlington Heights, Ill. (Buffalo Grove)
Amy Brooke, River Falls, Senior, Pitcher, Spring Valley
Karen Guckenberger, Stevens Point, Senior, Pitcher, South Milwaukee
Abby Keene, River Falls, Junior, Outfield, Hastings, Minn.
Jen Kilian, Platteville, Senior, Outfield, Platteville
Megan Koeller, Whitewater, Senior, Outfield, Potosi
Erin O'Connell, Stout, Sophomore, First Base, Altoona
Emilee Planert, Eau Claire, Junior, Shortstop, Eau Claire (North)
Anna Poulter, River Falls, Junior, Catcher, Colfax, Iowa (Colfax-Mingo)
Julie Schadrie, La Crosse, Senior, Outfield, Black Creek (Seymour)
Michelle Skaden, Platteville, Senior, Catcher, Lewiston, Minn. (Lewiston-Altura)
Beth Steward, Eau Claire, Junior, Catcher, Chippewa Falls (Chi-Hi)
Sarah Tarasewicz, Superior, Sophomore, Catcher, Hurley
Alexis Thoms, Platteville, Freshman, Pitcher, Lakeville, Minn.
Andrea Tsilis, La Crosse, Senior, Catcher, Sparta
Jill Van Wychen, Stevens Point, Senior, Outfield, Kaukauna (Freedom)
Sally Wenzel, La Crosse, Senior, Pitcher, Mequon (Homestead)
Kaela Wold, Stout, Sophomore, Outfield, Altoona

Honorable Mention
Katie Beadles, Superior, Sophomore, Shortstop, Chaska, Minn.
Kim Caswell, Stout, Junior, Outfield, Stanley (Stanley-Boyd)
Kim Czapla, Eau Claire, Senior, Pitcher, Arlington Heights, Ill. (Buffalo Grove)
Megan Donley, Stout, Freshman, Pitcher, Fridley, Minn.
Brenda Feucht, Oshkosh, Senior, First Base, Mayville (Hartford)
Jannah Grinnell, Eau Claire, Senior, First Base, Delano, Minn.
Dana Jakoubek, Whitewater, Sophomore, Pitcher, Brookfield, Ill. (Fenwick)
Angie Long, Oshkosh, Junior, Outfield, Green Bay (Southwest)
Meghann Mulligan, River Falls, Senior, First Base, Coon Rapids, Minn.
Andrea Neuville, Eau Claire, Freshman, Pitcher, Green Bay (West)
Kari Piehl, La Crosse, Freshman, Outfield, Kenosha (Tremper)
Wendi Siedschlag, Platteville, Sophomore, Catcher, Monroe
Lindsey Spraker, La Crosse, Sophomore, Outfield, Racine (William Horlick)
Meagan Strmsek, Stevens Point, Freshman, Outfield, Oak Creek
Steph Wood, Platteville, Junior, Pitcher, Van Dyne (Horace Mann)

Position Player of the Year: Jill Van Wychen of Stevens Point
Pitcher of the Year: Sally Wenzel of La Crosse
Judy Kruckman Co-Scholar-Athletes: Amy Brooke of River Falls and Megan Koeller of Whitewater
Coach of the Year: Janet James of Platteville

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UW-River Falls' Brooke and UW-Whitewater's Koeller Named Women's Softball Co-Scholar-Athletes

RELEASED: Wednesday, May 7, 2003

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-River Falls' Amy Brooke and UW-Whitewater's Megan Koeller have been named the 2003 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Judy Kruckman Women's Softball Co-Scholar-Athletes, it was announced recently by WIAC Commissioner Gary Karner.

Brooke, a senior from Spring Valley, Wis., is majoring in animal science with a minor in farm management and carries a 3.87 grade point average. She is a three-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Scholar-Athlete, as well as a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. Brooke has been named to the UW-River Falls Dean's List seven semesters and has received a number of scholarships while attending her institution.

Brooke was recently named to the All-WIAC First Team after ranking fourth in the league with a 1.62 ERA and 94 strikeouts and sixth with 130.0 innings pitched. She was a honorable mention pick last year after earning first team accolades the previous two seasons. Brooke holds the UW-River Falls career strikeout record and also owns the school's single-season mark.

Brooke is also a member of the UW-River Falls Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Koeller, a senior from Potosi, Wis., is majoring in elementary education with a minor in special education and carries a 3.89 grade point average. She was a Verizon Academic All-America First Team selection last season and earned Academic All-District Second Team honors in 2001. Koeller is also a three-time NFCA Scholar-Athlete and a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. She has been named to UW-Whitewater's Dean's List seven semesters and has earned the school's Academic Achievement Award three years, in addition to being recognized as a Chancellor Scholar-Athlete.

Koeller recently helped the Warhawks to the WIAC Tournament title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament. She has earned All-WIAC First Team honors the last three seasons and was a honorable mention pick in 2000. Koeller was a NFCA Great Lakes All-Region First Team pick last year and a second team selection in 2001. She was named UW-Whitewater's Most Valuable Player last season and holds the school career record in doubles, while ranking fourth on the school's all-time list in batting average.

Koeller is a member of the UW-Whitewater Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, the Golden Key International Honors Society and the Phi Eta Sigma National Honors Society.

Also nominated for the scholar-athlete award were: UW-Eau Claire's Jannah Grinnell, UW-La Crosse's Nicole Lepak and Julie Schadrie, UW-River Falls' Meghann Mulligan and UW-Stout's Sara Jensen.

The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is sponsored by Culver's. In order to be nominated for the scholar-athlete award, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.25 grade point average, be in their last year of competition, or on schedule to graduate this academic year, and have competed for a minimum of two years.

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UW-Whitewater Women's Softball Headed To NCAA Regional

RELEASED: Monday, May 5, 2003

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Whitewater will travel to Bloomington, Ill. to participate in the NCAA Division III Women's Softball Regional Friday-Sunday, May 9-11.

UW-Whitewater (22-6-1) won the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Tournament to earn the league's automatic bid to the national tournament. The Warhawks will face Fontbonne (Mo.) (21-12) at noon on Friday, May 9 in the first game of the five-team double-elimination Illinois Wesleyan regional. The winner of the UW-Whitewater/Fontbonne matchup will face Illinois Wesleyan (33-6) at 4:00 p.m., with the loser playing at 6:00 p.m. against the loser of the Chicago (Ill.) (21-8)/Washington (Mo.) (30-7) game.

UW-Whitewater is making its 12th NCAA Tournament appearance in school history and first since the 2000 campaign. The Warhawks finished second in the national tournament in 1987.

The winner of the Illinois Wesleyan Regional will advance to the NCAA Division III Championship May 16-19 in Salem, Va.

Illinois Wesleyan Regional Schedule
Friday, May 9
Game #1--Fontbonne (Mo.) (21-12, No. 4 seed) vs. UW-Whitewater (22-16-1, No. 5 seed), Noon
Game #2--Chicago (Ill.) (21-8, No. 2 seed) vs. Washington (Mo.) (30-7, No. 3 seed). 2:00 p.m.
Game #3--Illinois Wesleyan (33-6, No. 1 seed) vs. Winner Game #1, 4:00 p.m.
Game #4--Loser Game #1 vs. Loser Game #2 (loser eliminated), 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 10
Game #5--Winner Game #2 vs. Winner Game #3, Noon
Game #6--Winner Game #4 vs. Loser Game #3 (loser eliminated), 2:00 p.m.
Game #7--Loser Game #5 vs. Winner Game #6 (loser eliminated), 4:00 p.m.

Sunday, May 11
Game #8--Winner Game #5 vs. Winner Game #7, Noon
Game #9 (if necessary)--only if Winner Game #7 defeats Winner Game #5 in Game #8, 2:00 p.m.

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Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Platteville claimed the 2003 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's softball championship with a pair of wins at league cluster tournament on Sunday, April 27 in Menomonie, Wis.

The Pioneers defeated UW-Eau Claire, 4-2, and UW-Stout, 6-4, to finish the league slate with a 12-4 mark and claim their first league title since the 1992 season. The conference title is the first for the school since the men's basketball team claimed five straight championships from 1995-99.

UW-Platteville entered Sunday's competition tied with UW-La Crosse atop the league standings. UW-La Crosse was blanked by UW-Whitewater, 7-0, in their first game of the day to assure the Pioneers of the conference crown.

In the victory over UW-Eau Claire, the Pioneers' Laura Brown had a run-scoring single and Stacey Yager followed with a two-run double in the first inning to give the squad a 3-0 advantage. Alexis Thoms went the distance for the Pioneers, scattering four hits and only allowing one earned run for her eighth victory of the season.

In the win against UW-Stout, Katie Gelhar's homerun in the fifth ignited a three-run fifth inning for the Pioneers and Stacey Yager added a two-run double as UW-Platteville broke open a 3-3 game to take a 6-3 lead. Alexis Thoms earned her ninth win of the year in the contest.

The Pioneers also earned the top seed for the league softball tournament scheduled to be held at the UW-Platteville Softball Complex on Friday-Saturday, May 2-3. The winner of the conference tournament receives the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.

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UW-Stevens Point's Van Wychen Sets NCAA Division III Softball Hitting Streak Record

UW-Stevens Point senior centerfielder Jill Van Wychen led off Sunday’s game against UW-River Falls with a bunt single to extend her hitting streak to an NCAA Division III softball record 34 consecutive games.

The former Freedom High School standout followed that performance with hits in games against UW-Eau Claire and UW-Stout to extend the streak to 36 straight games.

Her current hitting streak surpasses the previous record of 33 games held by Angie Adams of Adrian (Mich.) during the 1997 and 1998 seasons. The games were part of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference cluster weekend at Wakanda Park in Menomonie.

The Pointers lost all three games on Sunday, falling to UW-River Falls 8-6, UW-Eau Claire 12-0 and UW-Stout 5-4. They are now 21-15 heading into next weekend’s WIAC tournament in Platteville.

Van Wychen has hits in every game of this season, including 82 of her last 88 games. The last time she failed to get a hit was last year’s season finale against UW-Whitewater. For her career, she has hits in 113 of her 128 games with at least one official at-bat.

Van Wychen is now chasing the NCAA all-divisions record of 43 games held by Sara Graziano of Coastal Carolina, though the Pointers would have to win the WIAC tournament and reach the NCAA Division III tournament for her to have a chance.

Longest NCAA Division III Softball Hitting Streaks
No., Player, Team, Dates
36, Jill Van Wychen, UW-Stevens Point, March 16, 2003-current
33, Angie Adams, Adrian (Mich.), March 21, 1997-1998
32, Lisa Cancilla, Chapman (Calif.), Mar. 19-May 10, 1996
30, Jessamine Maiben, Chapman (Calif.), May 11, 1995-March 22, 1996
30, Sue Schrader, Nebraska Wesleyan, May 13, 1993-April 22, 1994

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UW-Stevens Point senior Karen Guckenberger became the all-time NCAA Division III saves
leader with the 14th of her career as the Pointer softball team won a pair of games Friday at the
Augustana Invitational in Rock Island, Ill.

Guckenberger pitched the final two innings to preserve a 3-2 win over St. Ambrose and eclipse the record previously held by Nedra King of Eastern Mennonite (Va.), who set the record from 1991-93. It is Guckenberger’s third save of this season.

Earlier this week, she set the all-time Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference career strikeout record with the 422nd of her career, coming Wednesday in a 12-0 win over Edgewood. Her total surpasses the previous mark of 421 set by UW-Whitewater's Heather Wendt from 1999-02.

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