2004 WIAC Women's Cross Country Headlines

2004 WIAC Women's Cross Country Headlines

Three Named To Academic All-America Women's Track and Field/Cross Country Team

RELEASED: Tuesday, July 5, 2005

Madison, Wis.--Three Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) individuals have been named to the 2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America College Division Women's Track and Field/Cross Country Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). UW-Stout's Laura Verdegan was named to the first team, while UW-La Crosse's Angela Hilgers and UW-Oshkosh's Elizabeth Woodworth were second team selections.

Verdegan, a senior from Tony, Wis. (Flambeau H.S.), is majoring in dietetics with a minor in health and fitness/coaching and sustains a 3.99 grade point average. She claimed Academic All-America First Team honors for the second straight year and received the Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete Award in indoor and outdoor track and field this season. Verdegan was recently named the United States Track Coaches Association Female Athlete of the Year. She is a 12-time All-American (indoor and outdoor) and 10-time conference champion (indoor and outdoor). Verdegan claimed the 2004 NCAA Division III indoor triple jump title and is a three-time recipient of the conference's Field Athlete of the Meet award.

Hilgers, a senior from Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., is majoring in recreation management with a minor in child and youth care and carries a 3.85 grade point average. She is a three-time All-American in the pole vault (indoor and outdoor). Hilgers has won the conference outdoor pole vault crown three consecutive years and also won the indoor event during the 2003 league meet.

Woodworth, a senior from Marinette, Wis., carries a 3.62 grade point average, while majoring in medical technology with a minor in chemistry. She claimed Academic All-America honors for the third straight season and has received the conference's Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete Award in cross country. Woodworth was a qualifier for the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 1,500-meter run and is an eight-time national champion in track and field (indoor and outdoor). She is also a three-time All-American and two-time league champion in cross country.

The Academic All-America Team is comprised of all NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA athletes from around the country.

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

RELEASED: Friday, June 3, 2005

Madison, Wis.--Six Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) individuals have been named to the 2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Five College Division Women's Track and Field/Cross Country Team. UW-La Crosse's Shelli Gotto and Angela Hilgers, UW-Oshkosh's Elizabeth Woodworth and UW-Stout's Laura Verdegan were selected to the first team, while UW-Eau Claire's Liz Faller and UW-Stevens Point's Jenna Mitchler were second team picks.

Gotto, a senior from Waukesha, Wis. (West H.S.), is majoring in elementary education and carries a 3.81 grade point average. She received the WIAC Judy Kruckman Outdoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete Award this year. Gotto is five-time All-American (indoor and outdoor), all as a part of relays. She is a 10-time conference champion in indoor and outdoor track and field (two individual, eight relays).

Woodworth, a senior from Marinette, Wis., carries a 3.62 grade point average, while majoring in medical technology with a minor in chemistry. She is a two-time ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America selection and has received the conference's Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete Award in cross country. Woodworth was a qualifier for the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 1,500-meter run and is an eight-time national champion in track and field (indoor and outdoor). She is also a three-time All-American and two-time league champion in cross country.

Verdegan, a senior from Tony, Wis. (Flambeau H.S.), is majoring in dietetics with a minor in health and fitness/coaching and sustains a 3.99 grade point average. She was an ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America First Team selection last year and received the Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete Award in indoor and outdoor track and field this season. Verdegan was recently named the United States Track Coaches Association Female Athlete of the Year. She is a 12-time All-American (indoor and outdoor) and 10-time conference champion (indoor and outdoor). Verdegan claimed the 2004 NCAA Division III indoor triple jump title and is a three-time recipient of the conference's Field Athlete of the Meet award.

Faller, a sophomore from Marinette, Wis., maintains a 4.00 grade point average and is majoring in kinesiology. She placed fourth in the 55-meter hurdles at the WIAC indoor championship and tallied a fifth-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles at the conference outdoor meet.

Mitchler, a junior from Kaukauna, Wis., posts a 3.54 grade point average, while majoring in education. She was named UW-Stevens Point's Female Athlete of the Year in an individual sport. Mitchler is a six-time All-American (indoor and outdoor) (four individual, two relays) and claimed the national title in the indoor 800-meter run this year. She also claimed All-America status in cross country this season. Mitchler was named the conference's indoor track Performer of the Meet this year after capturing titles in the 800-meter run and 3,000-meter run.

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).

Gotto, Hilgers, Woodworth and Verdegan are now eligible for the Academic All-America squad, which will be announced on June 23.

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Conference Puts Three Women's Teams In Top 10, Two Men's Teams In Top 11 At NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships

Colfax, Wis.--Three Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's cross country teams finished in the top 10 and two men's squads placed in the top 11 at the NCAA Division III Championships, which were held Saturday, November 20 at Whitetail Golf Course and hosted by UW-Eau Claire.

UW-Oshkosh was the top league women's team, placing fourth with 174 points, while UW-Stevens Point placed sixth with 224 points and UW-La Crosse finished 10th with 297 points. UW-Oshkosh's top-four finish at the national meet was the 13th in school history, while UW-La Crosse's top 10 placement was the 19th in school annals.

Williams (Mass.) claimed the women's national title with 110 points. Defending champion Middlebury (Vt.) finished second in the 24-team competition with 129 points, while Washington (Mo.) finished third with 149 points, UW-Oshkosh fourth with 174 points and Colby (Me.) fifth with 202 points.

Missy Butry of Wartburg (Iowa) won the women's race for the second-straight season with a time of 20:22.0. UW-Oshkosh's Liz Woodworth finished second for the second-consecutive year and completed the 6,000-meter course in a time of 20:46.5. UW-Platteville's Jackie Mulrooney finished ninth (21:58.3) and Marcia Taddy placed 13th (22:06.8), while UW-Stevens Point's Jenna Mitchler finished 23rd (22:17.9) and UW-Oshkosh's Kristy Giljohann placed 32nd (22:22.2). All five WIAC finishers claimed All-America honors.

In the men's race, Calvin (Mich.) claimed the team title for the second straight season with 107 points. North Central (Ill.) placed second in the 24-team meet with 137 points, while UW-La Crosse finished third with 148 points, Haverford (Pa.) fourth with 196 points and Williamette (Ore.) fifth with 209 points. UW-Stevens Point tied for 11th with 309 points and UW-Platteville placed 17th with 374 points. UW-La Crosse recorded its eighth top-three finish in school history.

Josh Moen of Wartburg (Iowa) won the men's title for the second consecutive year with a time of 24:28.7.
UW-Stevens Point's Mark LaLonde was the top conference finisher, placing sixth overall with a time of 24:49.3 on the 8,000-meter course. UW-Whitewater's Gary Garcia finished ninth with a time of 24:54.1, while UW-Platteville's Tyler Sigl placed 14th (25:04.9) and UW-La Crosse's Andy Grupa finished 35th (25:16.8). All four league individuals received All-America status for their efforts.

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Six League Teams Qualify For NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships

Madison, Wis.--Six Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) cross country teams have qualified to the NCAA Division III Championship following regional competition on November 13 in Rock Island, Ill. UW-La Crosse, UW-Platteville and UW-Stevens Point will compete on the men's side, while UW-La Crosse, UW-Oshkosh and UW-Stevens Point will represent the conference in the women's race.

Conference champion UW-La Crosse won the men's race with 73 team points, while North Central (Ill.) finished second with 99 points, Chicago (Ill.) third with 128 points, UW-Stevens Point fourth with 151 points and UW-Platteville fifth with 176 points. Additional WIAC team finishes included: UW-Oshkosh ninth (214), UW-Eau Claire 11th (296), UW-Whitewater 16th (464), UW-River Falls 17th (477), UW-Stout 19th (570) and UW-Superior 24th (713). A total of 30 teams competed in the men's race with the top five squads and top six individuals advancing to the NCAA Division III Championship.

UW-Oshkosh's John LeRoy claimed the individual title with a time of 24:23.3 over the 8,000-meter course. UW-Stevens Point's Mark LaLonde finished second in 24:25.0, while UW-La Crosse's Andy Grupa placed fourth in 24:29.1, UW-Whitewater's Gary Garcia seventh in 24:30.5 and UW-Platteville's Tyler Sigl eighth in 24:30.8.

LeRoy and Garcia both qualified individually for the national meet.

In the women's race, league champion UW-Stevens Point claimed the team title with 76 points, while Washington (Mo.) finished second with 93 points, UW-Oshkosh third with 96 points and UW-La Crosse fourth with 119 points. Additional WIAC team finishes included: UW-Eau Claire seventh with 234 points, UW-Platteville eighth with 276 points, UW-Whitewater ninth with 278 points, UW-Stout 12th with 381 points, UW-River Falls 18th with 512 points and UW-Superior 28th with 772 points. A total of 37 teams competed in the women's event with the top four squads and six individuals advancing to the national meet.

UW-Oshkosh's Liz Woodworth claimed the individual title for the second straight year, completing the 6,000-meter course in 20:40.3. UW-Stevens Point's Megan Craig placed second in 21:13.6, UW-Platteville's Jackie Mulrooney fourth in 21:18.9, UW-Oshkosh's Kristy Giljohann sixth in 21:25.5, UW-Stevens Point's Leah Herlache seventh in 21:27.9, UW-Platteville's Marcia Taddy eighth in 21:29.0 and UW-Stevens Point's Jenna Mitchler 10th in 21:39.8.

Mulrooney and Taddy both qualified as individuals for the national meet, along with UW-Whitewater's Megan Kielar, who finished 14th in 21:54.0.

The NCAA Division III Championships will be held on Saturday, November 20 at Whitetail Golf Course in Colfax, Wis. The event will be hosted by UW-Eau Claire with the men's race beginning at 11:00 a.m. and the women's race starting at noon.

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UW-Oshkosh's Woodworth Named Women's Country Scholar-Athlete

RELEASED: Monday, November 1, 2004

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh's Liz Woodworth has been named the 2004 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Judy Kruckman Women's Cross Country Scholar-Athlete, it was announced recently by WIAC Commissioner Gary Karner.

Woodworth, a senior from Marinette, Wis., is majoring in medical technology with a minor in chemistry/microbiology and maintains a 3.623 grade point average. She is a two-time College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-American, claiming first team honors last season after earning second team status in 2003. Woodworth is a three-time selection on the National Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic Team and also a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. She is a five-time selection on UW-Oshkosh's Honor Roll and a three-time honoree on the school's Dean's List. Woodworth received the WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award for indoor track and field last season.

Woodworth helped the Titans to a second-place finish at the 2004 WIAC championship by successfully defending her individual title. She became the fifth individual in the conference history to win back-to-back crowns. Woodworth was a 2004 United States Olympic Trials qualifier and participant in the 1,500-meter run. She is a two-time NCAA Division III All-American after finishing second last season at the NCAA Division III Championship and eighth in 2001. Woodworth claimed the Midwest Regional individual title in 2003 and was named the NCAA Division III Midwest Region Runner of the Year.

Woodworth has also served as a volunteer for numerous on-campus activities and was a member of UW-Oshkosh's Student-Athlete Advisory Board in 2002.

Woodworth becomes the eighth women's cross country student-athlete from UW-Oshkosh to receive the conference scholar-athlete award. She joins Sara Holewinski (2002), Tiffany Speckman (1998), Nicole Iverson (1997), Melissa Langlois (1992), Marina Colby (1990), Cheryl Niederberger (1989) and Joan Handziak (1983).

Also nominated for this year's scholar-athlete award were: UW-Eau Claire's Heidi Hancock and Heather Lipinski, UW-Oshkosh's Sheila Kruse, Jackie Munoz and Annette Pufall, UW-River Falls' Sara Rudesill, UW-Stevens Point's Megan Craig, UW-Stout's Kersten Wilson, UW-Superior's Tracey Schindler and UW-Whitewater's Holly Ochs.

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 Secures Second Straight Women's Cross Country Crown

River Falls, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point secured its second straight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's cross country championship on Saturday, October 30 at UW-River Falls.

The Pointers, who won their first team title last season, won this year's crown with 43 team points to outdistance UW-Oshkosh, which placed second with 47 points. The margin of victory is the closest in meet history, surpassing the previous mark of five points which happened in 1999 and 1986, when UW-Oshkosh outdistanced UW-La Crosse, 36-41 and 37-42, respectively.

UW-La Crosse finished third at the 2004 championship with 66 points, followed by UW-Whitewater with 128, UW-Platteville with 132, UW-Eau Claire with 171, UW-Stout with 180, UW-River Falls with 210 and UW-Superior with 273.

Junior Jenna Mitchler led the Pointers with a fourth-place finish on the 5,000-meter course in a time of 22:19.1. Senior Megan Craig finished fifth in 22:25.5, while senior Leah Herlache finished sixth in 22:27.1. Junior Ashleigh Potuznik placed 12th with a time of 23:10.0, senior Veronique Van Gheem placed 16th in 23:33.6, sophomore Kallyn Peterson finished 22nd in 23:54.2 and senior Teresa Stanley finished 23rd in 23:56.3.

UW-Oshkosh senior Liz Woodworth successfully defended her individual title with a time of 21:14.7. She becomes the fifth individual in conference history to win back-to-back crowns, joining UW-Oshkosh's Tiffany Speckman (1996-97), Laura Horejs (1990-91) and Cheryl Niederberger (1987-88) and UW-La Crosse's Tori Neubauer (1982-83).

UW-Oshkosh junior Kristy Giljohann finished second at this year's championship with a time of 22:09.3, while UW-Platteville junior Jackie Mulrooney finished third in 22:14.5 and the Pioneers' Marcia Taddy finished seventh in 22:27.5. UW-La Crosse sophomore Kristen Painter finished eighth in 22:58.6, UW-Whitewater junior Megan Kielar placed ninth in 23:01.2 and UW-La Crosse senior Julie Mocadlo finished 10th in 23:01.7.

UW-Oshkosh senior Jackie Munoz finished 11th in 23:04.3, while UW-La Crosse sophomore Meagan Herlache placed 13th in 23:12.8 and freshman Kristen Howe finished 14th in 23:24.7 to round out the top 14 individual finishers.

The top seven individuals received all-WIAC first team recognition, while competitors placing 8-14 earned all-WIAC second team accolades.

UW-Oshkosh's Woodworth also received the Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete Award, while UW-Stevens Point head coach Len Hill was voted the Coach of the Year.

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