2005 WIAC Women's Cross Country Headlines

2005 WIAC Women's Cross Country Headlines

UW-La Crosse's Rudd Nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year Award

RELEASED: Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's Julia Rudd had been nominated as the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) representative for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award. This award honors senior student-athletes for their cumulative collegiate achievements in service, leadership, athletics and academics.

Rudd, a senior cross country and indoor/outdoor track and field student-athlete from Oshkosh, Wis. (West H.S.), was named to the 2006 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America College Division Women's Track and Field/Cross Country Third Team and received the WIAC Judy Kruckman Outdoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete Award. She has also been recognized on the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll, UW-La Crosse's Dean's List and the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team.

As a six-time outdoor track and field All-American, Rudd captured a national championship in the 3,000-meter steeplechase during the 2004 national meet. Additionally, she finished third in the event in 2002, 2005 and 2006, while adding fifth and sixth-place finishes in the 5,000-meter run in 2004 and 2006, respectively. Rudd secured the WIAC 3,000-meter steeplechase crown in 2004, 2005 and 2006 and added a 5,000-meter run title in 2004.

Competing at the indoor track and field national meet, Rudd received All-America accolades in the 5,000-meter run with a fifth-place standing in 2006 and eighth-place finish in 2004. She claimed conference titles in the 3,000-meter run in 2004 and 2006 and added 5,000-meter run crowns in 2003 and 2006.

Rudd is a three-time cross country All-American, finishing second in 2005, 23rd in 2002 and 26th in 2003. She won the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional in 2005 and secured the WIAC individual title in 2002 and 2005.

Serving as a team captain for the cross country and track and field squads, she has earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.62 while majoring in sports management with an emphasis in coaching competitive athletics.

Among her numerous athletic and academic accomplishments, Rudd has also been involved with the UW-La Crosse Athletics Department, worked as a counselor at UW-Madison's Camp of Champions and served as a member of Athletes in Action for UW-La Crosse.

All conference nominees will be forwarded to the Woman of the Year selection committee. The selection committee will select the top 10 winners in each division. From among those 30 honorees, the selection committee will determine the top three in each division. Finally, the members of the CWA will vote from among the top nine to determine the 2006 NCAA Woman of the Year.

The top 10 honorees from Divisions I, II and III will be honored, and the 2006 NCAA Woman of the Year announced, at a dinner in Indianapolis, Ind. on October 28, 2006.

To be eligible for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award:
**nominee must have earned a varsity letter in a NCAA-sponsored sport and competed during the 2005-06 academic year

**nominee must have completed intercollegiate eligibility in her primary sport by the end of the 2006 spring season or received her undergraduate degree prior to the conclusion of the spring 2006 term

**nominee must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.500 (4.000 scale).

Also nominated for the award from the WIAC were:
Robyn Jarocki, UW-Oshkosh, Senior, Indoor/Outdoor Track and Field, Merrill, Wis.
Carrie Morschauser, UW-Platteville, Senior, Volleyball, Indoor/Outdoor Track and Field, Deerfield, Wis.
Jenna Mitchler, UW-Stevens Point, Senior, Cross Country, Indoor/Outdoor Track and Field, Kaukauna, Wis.
Megan Kielar, UW-Whitewater, Senior, Cross Country, Indoor/Outdoor Track and Field, McHenry, Ill. (West H.S.)

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

RELEASED: Thursday, June 22, 2006

Madison, Wis.--Three Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) student-athletes have been named to the 2006 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America College Division Women's Track and Field/Cross Country Team. UW-Stevens Point's Jenna Mitchler was a second team choice, while UW-La Crosse's Julia Rudd and UW-Whitewater's Megan Kielar were third team honorees.

The team is comprised of all NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA student-athletes from around the country and is voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Mitchler, a senior from Kaukauna, Wis., is majoring in education and carries a 3.59 grade point average. She won the indoor national title in the 800-meter run in 2005 and finished third in the indoor one-mile run in 2006. Mitchler won the WIAC crown in the 800-meter run and 3,000-meter run at the 2005 indoor championships.

Rudd, a senior from Oshkosh, Wis. (West H.S.), is majoring in sports management and sustains a 3.57 grade point average. She claimed the conference's Judy Kruckman Outdoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete Award this year. Rudd is a two-time WIAC cross country champion and has three All-America honors in the sport. She won the national title in the steeplechase in 2004 and is a two-time outdoor All-American in the 5,000-meter run and the indoor 5,000-meter event.

Kielar, a senior from McHenry, Ill. (McHenry West H.S.), boasts a 3.91 grade point average and is majoring in elementary education. She secured the WIAC Judy Kruckman Indoor Scholar-Athlete Award this year and the Cross Country Scholar-Athlete honor in 2005. Kielar finished third in the indoor 800-meter run at the WIAC championships the last two years and finished seventh nationally in the event a year ago.

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Seven Named to Academic All-District Women's Track and Field/Cross Country Team

RELEASED: Monday, June 5, 2006

Madison, Wis.--Seven Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) student-athletes have been named to the 2006 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Five College Division Women's Track and Field/Cross Country Team. UW-Eau Claire's Jane-Marie Ovanin, UW-La Crosse's Julia Rudd, UW-Stevens Point's Jenna Mitchler and UW-Whitewater's Megan Kielar were named to the first team, while UW-Eau Claire's Stephanie Barnes and Liz Faller and UW-Oshkosh's Sarah Schettle were second team picks.

The 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).

Ovanin, a senior from Amherst, Wis., boasts a 3.94 grade point average and is an art major with a sculpture and metalsmithing emphasis. She claimed the WIAC Judy Kruckman Women's Cross Country Scholar-Athlete Award in 2005. At the conference indoor meet this year, Ovanin placed fifth in the 3,000-meter run and sixth in the 5,000-meter competition. She registered a fourth-place finish in both the 5,000-meter run and 10,000-meter run at the league outdoor championships in 2006.

Ovanin, Rudd, Mitchler and Kielar are now eligible for the Academic All-America team, which will be announced on June 22.

Barnes, a junior from Sauk City, Wis. (Sauk Prairie H.S.), is a kinesiology major and carries a 3.65 grade point average. She won the national indoor pole vault title this year and the outdoor crown in 2005. Barnes also claimed the conference indoor title in the event the past two seasons.

Faller, a junior from Marinette, Wis., possesses a 3.97 grade point average and is majoring in physical education. She claimed conference titles in the indoor 55-meter hurdles and outdoor 100-meter hurdles this year, while finishing fourth nationally in the outdoor 100-meter hurdles.

Schettle, a junior from Oshkosh, Wis. (West H.S.), is majoring in chemistry and maintains a 3.90 grade point average. She was a member of the 1,600-meter relay team that finished sixth at the national indoor championships and finished second in the 100-meter hurdles at the WIAC outdoor championships this season.

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Women's Cross Country Teams Claim All-Academic Honors

RELEASED: Wednesday, April 5, 2006

Madison, Wis.--Seven Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's cross country teams have been named to the 2005 United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) NCAA Division III All-Academic Team.

UW-Eau Claire, UW-La Crosse, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Platteville, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Stout and UW-Whitewater were recognized for their efforts in the classroom during the 2005 season after achieving greater than a 3.00 grade point average as a team. A total of 108 squads were honored for their performance in the classroom.

The USTFCCCA also acknowledged 158 individuals on the All-Academic Team. A total of 17 student-athletes from the WIAC were honored including: UW-Eau Claire's Rachel Anderson, UW-La Crosse's Rachel DeDyne, Meagan Herlache, Kristen Howe, Kristen Painter, Melissa Palmer and Julia Rudd, UW-Oshkosh's Rosa Alvarez and Jenny Graef, UW-Platteville's Lindsey Vick, UW-Stevens Point's Kayla Anderson, Hannah Dieringer, Jenna Mitchler and Ashley Woest, UW-Stout's Bridgette Crozier and UW-Whitewater's Megan Kielar and Jennifer Rogers.

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UW-Oshkosh's Vercauteren Honored for Outstanding Coaching Accomplishments

RELEASED: Friday, February 17, 2006

Madison, Wis.--The U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) has named UW-Oshkosh’s Deb Vercauteren as its National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Women’s Cross Country Silver Anniversary Coach.

During the 2005-06 academic year, the NCAA is celebrating its 25 years of sponsoring women’s sports. In conjunction with the NCAA celebration, the USTFCCCA is honoring outstanding coaches and schools of the past 25 years in women’s cross country and women’s outdoor track and field.

In addition to Vercauteren, other women’s cross country award winners were Peter Tegen of Stanford University (Calif.) and the University of Wisconsin in NCAA Division I and Damon Martin of Adams State University (Colo.) in NCAA Division II.

Vercauteren has served as the head women’s cross country coach at UW-Oshkosh since 1981. She began the sport from infancy that season and took the Titans to a seventh-place finish at the NCAA Division III Championship the following year.

Under Vercauteren’s tutelage, UW-Oshkosh has finished first at the NCAA Division III Championship four times (1987, 1988, 1991, 1996) and second three times (1989, 1990, 1995). The Titans have also placed in the top 10 nationally on 11 other occasions. UW-Oshkosh has been a team entry at the NCAA Division III Championship 21 times during Vercauteren’s 25 years as the Titans’ head coach.

Vercauteren, who was named NCAA Division III Coach of the Year in 1995 and 1996, has trained UW-Oshkosh athletes to 37 NCAA Division III All-America performances. Two UW-Oshkosh athletes won individual national titles, Laura Horejs in 1991 and Tiffany Speckman in 1997.

Since 1986, Vercauteren’s Titans have been a perennial power in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC). UW-Oshkosh has won the WIAC championship 15 times during past 20 years while finishing second on three other occasions.

Vercauteren is also the head women’s track and field coach and assistant director of athletics at UW-Oshkosh. Her 24 seasons as head women’s track and field coach have resulted in five NCAA Division III indoor championships and six NCAA Division III outdoor titles.

Vercauteren, an Ashwaubenon native, received a bachelor’s degree from UW-Stevens Point in 1976 and a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1980. She is married to John Zupanc, the head men’s cross country and the interim head men’s track and field coach at UW-Oshkosh.

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Conference Places Two Teams in Top 10 at NCAA Women's Cross Country Championships

RELEASED: Saturday, November 19, 2005

Delaware, Ohio--The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) placed two teams in the top 10 at the NCAA Division III Women's Cross Country Championships, which were held on November 19 at Dornoch Golf Course.

UW-La Crosse finished fourth with 167 points and UW-Stevens Point placed 10th with 307 point. UW-Eau Claire and UW-Oshkosh also represented the conference and placed 23rd with 505 points and 19th with 441 points, respectively.

SUNY-Geneseo claimed the national title with 88 team points to outdistance Williams (Mass.), which placed second with 107 points. Washington (Mo.) finished third with 132 points, UW-La Crosse fourth and Colby (Maine) fifth with 169 points.

UW-La Crosse's Julia Rudd placed second overall with a time of 21:59.2 over the 6,000-meter course. UW-Stevens Point's Jenna Mitchler finished 13th with a time of 22:37.5, UW-Stevens Point's Teresa Stanley placed 22nd with a time of 22:49.3 and UW-La Crosse's Kristen Painter finished 35th with a time of 23:01.8. All four WIAC runners claimed All-America accolades for their efforts.

Hailey Harren of Gustavus Adolphus (Minn.) secured the individual title with a time of 21:51.9.

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UW-Eau Claire's Ovanin and UW-Whitewater Kielar Named Women's Cross Country Co-Scholar-Athletes

RELEASED: Tuesday, November 1, 2005

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's Jane-Marie Ovanin and UW-Whitewater's Megan Kielar have been named 2005 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Judy Kruckman Women's Cross Country Co-Scholar-Athletes, it was announced recently by WIAC Commissioner Gary Karner.

Ovanin, a senior from Amherst, Wis., is majoring in sculpting with an emphasis in metalsmithing and is minoring in art history, while maintaining a 3.92 grade point average. She is a two-time Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic choice, as well as a three-time selection to the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. Ovanin has been named to UW-Eau Claire's Dean's List and Honor Roll numerous semesters and has been the recipient of five separate academic scholarships.

Ovanin, a team captain the last two years, was the conference runner up at the 2002 league meet and received All-Midwest Region honors during the 2001, 2002 and 2004 seasons. She was also voted her team's MVP during the 2001 and 2002 campaigns.

Ovanin is president of UW-Eau Claire's Art Student Association and serves as secretary and social chair of her institution's chapter of the Golden Key International Honor Society. She has served as a mentor for freshmen students and has worked as a tutor for America Reads and a clerical worker in the campus Academic Skills Center.

Kielar, a senior from McHenry, Ill. (West H.S.), carries a 3.91 grade point average, while majoring in elementary education with a minor in Spanish. She is two-time Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic selection and a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. Kielar has been named to UW-Whitewater's Dean's List all seven semesters and has been the recipient of academic scholarships.

Kielar recently finished seventh at the WIAC championships to claim all-WIAC first team honors after securing second team status a year ago. She qualified for the NCAA Division III championships last season and is a two-time member of the All-Midwest Region team. Kielar is a three-time winner of UW-Whitewater's Marty Van Steenderen Sportswoman of the Year award and was voted her team's MVP in 2003 and 2004.

Kielar is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi and Golden Key Honor Societies, as well as a member of the Spanish Club and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Also nominated for this year's scholar-athlete award were: UW-Eau Claire's Rachel Anderson, UW-La Crosse's Amy Belleba, Ariel Elizabeth Perkins and Julia Rudd, UW-Oshkosh's Jessica Linberts, UW-Platteville's Stephanie Martin, UW-River Falls' Erica Berrisford, UW-Stevens Point's Jenna Mitchler and Teresa Stanley.

The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is named after Judy Kruckman, who served as Assistant Commissioner for the WIAC from 1996-98. Prior to this appointment, she functioned as Commissioner of the Wisconsin Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Conference from October, 1984 - September, 1996.

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-La Crosse Captures Title

RELEASED: Saturday,October 29, 2005

Superior, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse captured the 2005 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's cross country title on Saturday, October 29 at Nemadji Golf Course in Superior.

The Eagles have now won five conference titles in school history, including three in the last five seasons (2005, 2002, 2001, 1980, 1979). UW-La Crosse total 38 team points to outpace defending champion UW-Stevens Point, which finished second with 55 points.

UW-Oshkosh placed third with 105 points, followed by UW-Eau Claire with 110 points, UW-Platteville with 141 points, UW-River Falls with 142 points, UW-Stout with 144 points, UW-Whitewater with 184 points and UW-Superior with 281 points.

UW-La Crosse senior Julia Rudd led a group of five Eagles in the top 12 by claiming the individual title for the second time in her career with a time of 21:40.50 over the 6,000-meter course. She also captured the league crown during the 2002 championship.

Junior Kristen Painter finished fourth with a time of 22:15.81, sophomore Kristen Howe placed 10th in 22:55.84, junior Meagan Herlache finished 11th in 23:07.54 and senior Amy Belleba placed 12th in 23:10.91. Also participating for the Eagles were sophomore Rachel DeDyne in 20th with a time of 23:42.59 and sophomore Melissa Palmer in 22nd with a time of 23:46.69.

UW-Stevens Point's Teresa Stanley and Jenna Mitchler finished second and third with times of 21:57.96 and 22:01.83, respectively. UW-Platteville junior Marcia Taddy placed fifth in 22:33.22, UW-River Falls senior Marlene Yaeger finished sixth in 22:41.15, UW-Whitewater senior Megan Kielar placed seventh in 22:46.97, UW-Oshkosh sophomore Rosa Alvarez finished eighth in 22:50.53, UW-Oshkosh junior Jenny Graef placed ninth in 22:54.96, UW-Stevens Point senior Ashleigh Potuznik finished 13th in 23:18.98 and UW-Eau Claire senior Rachel Anderson placed 14th in 23:23.98.

The top seven individuals received all-WIAC first team recognition, while competitors placing 8-14 earned all-WIAC second team accolades.
UW-La Crosse head coach Pat Healy was voted the Coach of the Year for the third time in his career (2005, 2003, 2002), while UW-Eau Claire's Jane-Marie Ovanin and UW-Whitewater's Megan Kielar were named Judy Kruckman Co-Scholar-Athletes.

League teams will participate in the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional on November 12 in Peoria, Ill., with the top teams and individuals advancing to the NCAA Division III Championships on November 19 in Delaware, Ohio.

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Seven Teams Claim Women's Cross Country Academic Honors

RELEASED: Thursday, September 8, 2005

Madison, Wis.--Seven Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's cross country teams have been named to the 2004 All-Academic National Team by the NCAA Division III Cross Country Coaches Association.UW-Eau Claire (3.52), UW-La Crosse (3.29), UW-Oshkosh (3.03), UW-Platteville (3.03), UW-Stevens Point (3.33), UW-Stout (3.39) and UW-Whitewater (3.58) all were recognized for their performance in the classroom among the 109 schools to receive mention.

The WIAC also had 13 individuals named to the association's 134-person All-Academic National Team. Individuals receiving recognition included: UW-Eau Claire's Rachel Anderson and Jane-Marie Ovanin, UW-La Crosse's Meagan Herlache, Kristen Painter and Melissa Palmer, UW-Stevens Point's Megan Craig, Jenna Mitchler and Kallyn Peterson, UW-Stout's Bridgette Crozier, Stephanie Nichols and Kersten Wilson and UW-Whitewater's Megan Kielar and Holly Ochs.To be eligible for individual recognition, student-athletes were required to maintain a 3.50 grade point average and finish in the top 25 percent of her particular NCAA Division III regional.

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UW-River Falls' Glover Inducted Into Minnesota High School Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame

RELEASED: Tuesday, August 16, 2005

River Falls, Wis.--Don Glover has been inducted into the Minnesota High School Cross Country Hall of Fame. He is entering his sixth year as men’s and women’s cross country coach at UW-River Falls.

Glover, whose teams won nine conference championships during his 28 seasons as a head coach in the White Bear Lake school district, is one of two 2005 inductees into the Hall of Fame. Glover started the boys cross country program at Winona in 1968 before taking over at White Bear Mariner in 1972. In 1982, when Mariner merged with White Bear High School, he became the Bears' coach.

In 2002, the Falcon women's cross country team placed fifth in the WIAC standings. It was the team's best finish in Glover's five year career with the Falcons. The 2001 Falcon cross country teams had their most successful seasons in years. After competing at the WIAC meet, the women's team advanced to the NCAA Div. III Midwest Regional where they placed seventh overall. The women were sixth in the WIAC meet.

In 2000 the Falcon men's team placed ninth and the women's team finished seventh. Both teams received some extra valuable competition by running in the 2000 NCAA Midwest Regional Championships.

Glover was the Concordia, Minn., University men’s and women’s track and field coach during the 2000 season where he coached the school’s first track All-American. Before coaching at Concordia, Glover coached in the White Bear Lake, Minn., school system for several years before retiring in 1999. He began his high school track coaching at White Bear Lake in 1969. In 1972 he was named the head track coach at Mariner High School in White Bear Lake and helped lead that team to the State Championship in 1975. In 1982 when Mariner and White Bear Lake High Schools were combined, he became the head cross country coach and assistant head track coach. Glover also taught and coached in the Winona, Minn., School system from 1967-69.

From 1984-99 Glover’s cross country teams reached the Minnesota State Meet 13 times out of a tough Region 4AA. The Bears were ranked in the state’s Top 10 in 20 of his 30 year career. His teams brought home trophies five times during his tenure. Several of Glover’s high school runners continued their success at the collegiate level by being named All-Americans. One was a Big 10 Conference champion.

Glover was named the Minnesota Teacher of the Year in 1981 and the Minnesota Adapted Physical Education Teacher of the Year in 1989. He was the president of the MAHPERD in 1996. He has written three books: Teambuilding Through Physical Challenge; More Teambuilding Challenges and Cooperation – Competition Making the Link. He has also had several articles published in The Athletic Journal, the national magazine for coaches.

He earned his undergraduate degree in physical education and elementary education from Winona, Minn., State in 1967. He earned his master’s degree in physical education from Winona in 1971. His daughter, Leigh, earned her undergraduate degree from UW-River Falls and competed with the Falcon women’s basketball team for four seasons (1987-91). She was twice named to the first All-WIAC team and once received honorable mention as the Falcons won two WIAC championships (1988, 1989).

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Peterson Tabbed To Direct UW-Stevens Point Women's Cross Country and Track and Field Programs

RELEASED: Tuesday, August 2, 2005

Stevens Point, Wis.--Christina Peterson has been selected as the head coach for the UW-Stevens Point women’s cross country and track and field teams, which have experienced their most successful seasons in school history in recent years.
Peterson, who competed collegiately at Iowa State and most recently, was a graduate assistant coach at Division II Northwest Missouri State, replaces Len Hill who retired after 21 seasons with the Pointers. UW-Stevens Point has won back-to-back Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships in cross country and placed in the top six at nationals each year. The Pointers have also placed in the top 10 at the past two NCAA Division III women’s indoor track championships.

A Midland, Mich. native, Peterson earned a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management from Iowa State in 2003 and worked one season as a volunteer assistant coach with the Cyclones’ women’s track and field team. She spent the past two seasons as a graduate assistant track and field coach at Northwest Missouri State while earning a Master’s Degree in Education. She will also teach classes in UW-Stevens Point’s Department of Health Exercise, Science and Athletics.

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