2003 WIAC Women's Cross Country Headlines

Three Receive Women's Track and Field/Cross Country Academic All-America Accolades

RELEASED: Thursday, July 1, 2004

Madison, Wis.--Three Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) individuals have been named to the 2004 College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America College Division Women's Track and Field/Cross Country Team. UW-Oshkosh's Elizabeth Woodworth and UW-Stout's Laura Verdegan were first team picks, while UW-Oshkosh's Kay Mikolajczak was a second team selection.

Woodworth, a senior from Marinette, Wis., was named to the Academic All-America squad for the second consecutive season after receiving second team honors a year ago. She holds a 3.627 grade point average while majoring in medical technology with a minor in chemistry and was named the WIAC Judy Kruckman Women's Indoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete Award this season. Woodworth was named the Outstanding Track Performer at the 2004 NCAA Division III outdoor championships after winning the 800-meter run and 1,500-meter run titles. She is a three-time national champion in the 800-meter run at the indoor meet and a two-time All-American in cross country.

Verdegan, a junior from Tony, Wis. (Flambeau H.S.) maintains a 3.991 grade point average while majoring in dietetics. Earlier this year, she was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Five College Division Women's Basketball First Team and claimed the WIAC Judy Kruckman Women's Basketball Scholar-Athlete Award. Verdegan was the 2004 NCAA Division III indoor triple jump champion and finished fourth in the event at the outdoor championship. She won the WIAC indoor and outdoor triple jump titles and the outdoor 400-hurdle crown in a conference record time.

Mikolajczak, a senior from Franklin, Wis., is majoring in biology with a minor in pre-physical therapy and carries a 3.925 grade point average. She was named to the 2004 CoSIDA Academic All-America College Division Women's Basketball Second Team and was presented the Jostens Trophy, an award recognizing the most outstanding female student-athlete in NCAA Division III basketball. Mikolajczak also received the WIAC Judy Kruckman Women's Basketball Scholar-Athlete Award in 2004. She placed fourth in the heptathlon at the 2004 NCAA Division III outdoor championships after placing fifth in 2002. Mikolajczak also finished second in both the heptathlon and high jump at the WIAC championships this year.

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Four Named To Women's Track and Field/Cross Country Academic All-District Team

RELEASED: Monday, June 7, 2004

Madison, Wis.--Four Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) student-athletes have been named to the 2004 CoSIDA Academic All-District Five College Division Women's Track and Field/Cross Country Team. UW-Oshkosh's Kay Mikolajczak and Elizabeth Woodworth and UW-Stout's Laura Verdegan were named to the first team, while UW-Eau Claire's Laura Tamm was a second team selection.

Mikolajczak, a senior from Franklin, Wis., is majoring biology with a minor in pre-physical therapy and carries a 3.925 grade point average. She placed fourth in the heptathlon at the 2004 NCAA Division III outdoor championships after placing fifth in 2002. Mikolajczak also finished second in both the heptathlon and high jump at the WIAC championship this year. She was named to the 2004 CoSIDA Academic All-America College Division Women's Basketball Second Team and was presented the Jostens Trophy, an award recognizing the most outstanding female student-athlete in NCAA Division III basketball. Mikolajczak also received the WIAC Women's Basketball Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete Award in 2004.

Woodworth, a senior from Marinette, Wis., holds a 3.627 grade point average, while majoring in medical technology with a minor in chemistry. She was named the Outstanding Track Performer at the 2004 NCAA Division III outdoor championships after winning the 800-meter run and 1,500-meter run titles. Woodworth is three-time national champion in the 800-meter run at the indoor meet and a two-time All-American in cross country. She received the WIAC Judy Kruckman Indoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete Award this year and was named to the 2003 CoSIDA Academic All-America College Division Women's Track and Field/Cross Country Second Team.

Verdegan, a junior from Tony, Wis. (Flambeau H.S.), maintains a 3.991 grade point average while majoring in dietetics. She was the 2004 NCAA Division III indoor triple jump champion and finished fourth in the event at the outdoor championship. Verdegan won the WIAC indoor and outdoor triple jump championships and the 400-hurdle title in a conference record time. She was also named to the 2004 CoSIDA Academic All-District Five College Division Women's Basketball First Team and claimed the WIAC Women's Basketball Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete Award.

Tamm, a senior from Brillion, Wis., is majoring in biology and carries a 3.81 grade point average. She finished fourth in the discus and seventh in the javelin at the conference outdoor championship this year and also participated in the discus at the national meet.

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

Mikolajczak, Woodworth and Verdegan are now eligible for the Academic All-America squad, which will be announced at the end of June.

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League Places Three Men's Teams In Top 10, Two Women's Squads In Top Seven At NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships

Hanover, Ind.--Three Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) men's cross country teams finished in the top 10 and two women's squads placed in the top seven at the NCAA Division III Championships, which were held on Saturday, November 21 at the L.S. Ayres Athletic Complex on the campus of Hanover College.

UW-Stevens Point's men's team completed its best finish in school history by placing second overall, while UW-La Crosse finished fourth and UW-Oshkosh ninth. In the women's race, UW-Stevens Point had the highest finish in school history by placing third overall with UW-La Crosse finishing seventh and UW-Oshkosh placing 11th.

Calvin (Mich.) won the men's national title with 48 team points to outdistance the Pointers who compiled 128 points. It also marked only the second time in NCAA Division III history that a team scored fewer than 50 points in a national meet. North Central (Ill.) placed third with 155 points, UW-La Crosse fourth with 163 points and Wartburg (Iowa) fifth with 210 points. UW-Oshkosh finished ninth with 286 points and UW-Whitewater placed 17th with 389 points at the 24-team national meet.

Josh Moen of Wartburg (Iowa) won the men's race, completing the 8,000-meter course in 24:34.4. UW-Platteville's Ryan Kleimenhagen was the top finisher from the WIAC, placing 11th with a time of 25:31.9 to capture All-America accolades. UW-Stevens Point's Mark LaLonde placed 12th (25:33), followed by teammate Curt Johnson who finished 18th (25:36.7). Kleimenhagen, LaLonde and Johnson all earned All-America honors for their efforts at the national meet.

Middlebury (Vt.) won the women's national crown for the third time in the last four years with 135 team points to outdistance Trinity (Ct.) who finished second with 174 points. The Pointers compiled 193 points in their third-place finish, while Williams (Mass.) finished fourth with 206 points and Amherst (Mass.) placed fifth with 225 points. UW-La Crosse finished seventh with 263 points and UW-Oshkosh placed 11th with 311 points in the 24-team meet.

Missy Buttry of Wartburg (Iowa) won the women's individual crown with a time of 20:00.2 to outdistance UW-Oshkosh's Elizabeth Woodworth, who finished second with a time of 21:03.3 on the 6,000-meter course. UW-La Crosse's Julia Rudd finished 26th (22:43.9) and UW-Platteville's Jackie Mulrooney placed 28th (22:44.9). Woodworth, Rudd and Mulrooney claimed All-America accolades

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Seven League Teams Advance To NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships

Madison, Wis.--Four Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) men's cross country teams and three women's teams advanced to the NCAA Division III Championships following regional competition at Whitetail Golf Course in Colfax, Wis. UW-La Crosse, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Stevens Point and UW-Whitewater advanced on the men's side, while UW-La Crosse, UW-Oshkosh and UW-Stevens Point will represent the league in the women's event.

UW-Oshkosh, the defending national champion, dominated the men's race with 35 team points, while North Central (Ill.) finished second with 97 points, UW-Stevens Point third with 98 points, UW-La Crosse fourth with 110 points and UW-Whtiewater fifth with 135 points. Additional WIAC team finishes included UW-Platteville 10th (269), UW-Eau Claire 12th (368), UW-Stout 13th (370) and UW-River Falls 21st (678). A total of 32 teams competed in the men's event with the top five teams advancing to the national meet.

UW-Platteville's Ryan Kleimenhagen won the men's race for the second straight season, completing the 8,000-meter course in 24:43, while UW-Oshkosh's David Cisewski finished second with a time of 24:44. UW-Oshkosh's Nick Boehlke placed third with a time of 24:45, UW-Stevens Point's Curtis Johnson fourth (24:48), UW-Oshkosh's Matt Groose fifth (24:52), UW-Oshkosh's John LeRoy eighth (25:03) and UW-Whitewater's Chad Carstens ninth (25:04).

UW-Stout's Dave Huber was one of eight members to qualify individually for the national meet. He placed 11th with a time of 25:11.

In the women's race, UW-Stevens Point took first with 76 team points. UW-Oshkosh placed second with 98 points, while UW-La Crosse finished third with 113 points and Chicago (Ill.) fourth with 142 points. Additional WIAC team finishes included UW-Eau Claire eighth (267), UW-Whitewater ninth (275), UW-River Falls 11th (332), UW-Stout 13th (394), UW-Platteville 14th (422) and UW-Superior 30th (817). A total of 35 squads participated in the women's competition with the top four teams advancing to the national meet.

UW-Oshkosh's Elizabeth Woodworth won the women's event, completing the 6,000-meter course in 20:48, while UW-La Crosse's Julia Rudd finished fourth with a time of 21:55. UW-Platteville's Jackie Mulrooney placed sixth with a time of 22:02, UW-Stevens Point's Teresa Stanley eighth (22:28) and UW-Stevens Point's Leah Herlache 10th (22:35).

Mulrooney's finished allowed her to qualify individually for the national meet.

The NCAA Division III Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships will be held on Saturday, November 22 in Hanover, Ind. The event will be hosted by Hanover College with the women's race beginning at 11:00 a.m. and the men's event will begin at noon.

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UW-Whitewater's Lutz Named Women's Cross Country Scholar-Athlete

RELEASED: Thursday, November 6, 2003

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Whitewater's Melissa Lutz has been named the 2003 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women's Cross Country Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete, it was announced recently by WIAC Commissioner Gary Karner.

Lutz, a senior from Westfield, Wis., is majoring in biology with a minor in health and carries a 3.68 grade point average. She is a two-time All-Academic performer as well as a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. Lutz has also been named to UW-Whitewater's Dean's List and Honor Roll.

Lutz, a team captain, recently placed 14th at the WIAC Championship to earn All-WIAC Second Team honors, after capturing first team honors in 2001. She is a two-time All-Midwest Region performer and was named her team's Most Valuable Runner and Most Improved Runner during the 2001 season.

Lutz studied in Australia during the 2002 fall term and is a member of the Tri-Beta biologoical organization. She has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and has worked with developmentally and physically disabled individuals.

Lutz becomes the second women's cross country student-athlete in school history to claim the conference's scholar-athlete award, joining Lisa Barman who won the award in 1994.

Also nominated for this year's scholar-athlete award were UW-Eau Claire's Nicole Johnson, UW-La Crosse's Cassandra Scallon, UW-Oshkosh's Katie Isermann and Amanda Williams, UW-River Falls' Marian Christen, Dana Martin and Amy Schultz, UW-Stevens Point's Isabelle Delannay and Kara Vosters, UW-Stout's Tracy Oostdyk and UW-Superior's Alice Loebsack.

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-Stevens Point Claims First Women's Cross Country Championship In School History

Colfax, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point won the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's cross country championship for the first time in school history on Saturday, November 1 at Whitetail Golf Course. The league meet was hosted by UW-Stout.

The Pointers finished with 26 team points to surpass UW-Oshkosh, who placed second with 52 points. The 26 points by UW-Stevens Point were the best in conference history since UW-Oshkosh amassed 19 points during the 1996 conference meet.

UW-La Crosse, the two-time defending champion, placed third with 86 points, followed by UW-Eau Claire with 126, UW-Stout with 154, UW-River Falls with 162, UW-Whitewater with 172, UW-Platteville with 193 and UW-Superior with 284.

Sophomore Jenna Mitchler led the Pointers with a third-place finish on the 5,000-meter course in a time of 22:10. Junior Megan placed fourth with a time of 22:13, while junior Leah Herlache finished fifth with a time of 22:21, sophomore Teresa Stanley placed sixth with a time of 22:30 and senior Isabelle Delanney completed the course in 22:44 to place eighth.

UW-Oshkosh junior Elizabeth Woodworth claimed the individual title with a time of 21:05, becoming the sixth runner in school history to win the league's individual crown with the six runners combining to win 10 titles.

UW-La Crosse junior Julia Rudd, the defending individual champion, placed second with a time of 23:20, while UW-Eau Claire senior Melissa Wright finished seventh with a time of 22:38. The top seven individuals received All-WIAC First Team recognition, while competitors placing 8-14 earned All-WIAC Second Team accolades.

UW-Stevens Point head coach Len Hill was voted the Coach of the Year by the league coaches, while UW-Whitewater's Melissa Lutz received the Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete Award.

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Nisius Named UW-Superior Cross Country/Track and Field Head Coach

RELEASED: Wednesday, August 20, 2003

Superior, Wis.--The University of Wisconsin-Superior has named Paul Nisius as its new Cross Country/ Track and Field Coach. Nisius comes to the Yellowjackets from Bigfork, Minnesota where he was the head track and field coach for ten years and taught Business Education. He also served as an assistant aoach with the Grand Rapids High School Cross Country program for three years.

A native of Duluth, Minn., Nisius competed at Duluth Central High School. He also competed collegiately in Cross Country and Track & Field at the University of Minnesota-Duluth from 1986-90. He was the captain of both teams and was named the Bulldogs' Outstanding Senior Athlete in 1990.

While at Bigfork, Nisius had track and field Athletes qualify for the Minnesota State High School Meet the last eight years. At Grand Rapids, the cross country program captured the Minnesota State AA High School Championship in 2000. The Thunderhawks were state runners-up in 2001 and captured third place in 2002.

UW-Superior Athletic Director Jeff Kaminsky is excited about Nisius' hiring. "We are excited to add Paul Nisius to our staff and take over the leadership of the cross country and track and field programs. Paul's dedication and enthusiasm are obvious. I look forward to having Paul bring that kind of excitement to our department and work to develop the cross country and track and field programs."

Nisius graduated from Minnesota-Duluth in 1990 with a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Business Administration. He has his USA Track & Field Level II Coaching Certifications in Endurance, Sprints, Hurdles and Relays.

"There is a lot of high school talent in Northern Minnesota and Wisconsin, and I am hoping my knowledge of the local coaches and athletes will aid in recruiting. The WIAC is an extremely competitive conference, and I look forward to the challenge of guiding UW-Superior against other traditionally successful programs in the conference."

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