2002 WIAC Women's Outdoor Track & Field Headlines

2002 WIAC Women's Outdoor Track & Field Headlines

Whitewater's Fendrick Earns NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship

RELEASED: Monday, July 22, 2002 (Written By: Tom Fick, UW-W Sports Information)

Whitewater, Wis.--Tabitha Fendrick, All-American shot put and discus athlete for the University of
Wisconsin-Whitewater, has been selected to receive a National Collegiate Athletic Association postgraduate scholarship.

Fendrick is one of 29 women participating in spring sports to receive the award, with nine student-athletes from Division III of the NCAA. An equal number of scholarships were awarded to male athletes, with ten of those earned by Division III representatives. Fendrick was the only student-athlete from the state of Wisconsin to receive a scholarship. The scholarship award is for $5,000, and may be used for full- or part-time study at the institution of the recipient's choice.

"Ms. Fendrick is an extremely intelligent and athletically gifted individual", UW-W director of athletics Shawn Eichorst said. "Moreover, she is a wonderful citizen, representative, and role model for our institution. Tabitha is one off the best students this institution has to offer, and is very deserving of a NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship."

Fendrick, a native of Marinette, Wis., graduated in May with a major in social work with a 3.86 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale. She was named First Team Verizon College Division Cross Country/Track and Field Academic All-American by the College Sports Information Directors of America, following First Team Verizon College Division Women's Track/Cross Country All-District for District 5. This past season she also received the WIAC's Judy Kruckman Scholar Athlete Award for Women's Outdoor Track and Field for 2002. Fendrick was an UW-Whitewater Chancellor Scholar Athlete this spring and made the Dean's List every year at Whitewater, as well as the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll.

She was also a member of the Golden Key Honor Society, Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society (freshman honor society), Beta Zeta (social work honor society), and Alpha Delta Mu (national social work honor society). For the 2001 season, Fendrick earned All-Academic honors from the United States Track and Field Coaches Association for both the indoor and outdoor seasons.

Tabitha Fendrick has also performed well athletically as evidence by her six All-American honors she has received (three in the shot and three in the discus). In spring 2002 she placed third in the discus at the NCAA DIII outdoor track and field championships, an event in which she placed second in 2001 -- and won the national title in 2000. During this year's WIAC outdoor track and field championship, Fendrick placed in all four throwing events (shot put, discus, javelin, hammer throw). She also owns UW-Whitewater's school records in the shot put, both indoors and outdoors, and in the discus.

"Tabitha is simply the best thrower in the history of UW-Whitewater track and field," Warhawk women's coach Brian Borland noted. "Her overall performance and level of accomplishment is unparalleled. I believe what makes her great, and separates her from all her contemporaries, is the outstanding initiative and character she displays in all areas of her life. She truly embodies the words 'student-athlete'."

Fendrick has earned All-American honors from four organizations. Mentioned above are the Verizon academic team and the honors earned at the NCAA III championships, and she also was a United States Track and Field Association Division III Scholastic All-American in 2000, and was named a National Strength and Conditioning Coaches All-American this spring.

While excelling in the classroom and in the athletic arena, Fendrick also worked two part-time jobs, twenty hours per week at Wendy's restaurant and eight-ten hours in the main athletic office at UW-Whitewater. She was also a youth baseball and softball volunteer for three summers, while working full-time.

Fendrick is the sixth UW-Whitewater student to receive the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, and the third this school year. Peter Katz (football) and Allison Erickson (volleyball) were among the 2001 fall sport honorees. Scott Hawig (football) was the first UW-W student-athlete to earn a scholarship, in 1996; followed by Lynn Olsen (volleyball) in 2000, and Kara Krumenauer (cross country, track) in spring 2001.

In addition to the spring sport honorees, the NCAA also awards 116 postgraduate scholarships to student-athletes participating in fall and winter sports in which the NCAA conducts championships, for a total of 174 postgraduate scholarships annually.

To qualify for an NCAA postgraduate scholarship, a student-athlete must have an overall grade-point average of 3.200 (on a 4.000 scale) or its equivalent and must have performed with distinction as a member of the varsity team in the sport in which the student-athlete was nominated. The student-athlete must have behaved, both on and off the field, in a manner that has brought credit to the student-athlete, the institution and intercollegiate athletics. The student-athlete also must intend to continue academic work beyond the baccalaureate degree as a full-time or part-time graduate student.

Nomination forms are sent to faculty athletics representatives for fall sports in September, for winter sports in late November and for spring sports in February. Selections are made three times each academic year. Candidates are screened by seven regional selection committees and the winners are selected by the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Committee.

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Six Earn Academic All-America Women's Track/Cross Country Honors

RELEASED: Thursday, June 20, 2002

Madison, Wis.--Six Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) student-athletes have been named to the 2002 Verizon Academic All-America Women's Track and Field/Cross Country Team. La Crosse's Ellen Findlay and Jocelyn Loe received first team honors, while Whitewater's Tabitha Fendrick and Oshkosh's Susan Hardtke were named to the second team. Stevens Point's Jody Butkowski and Oshkosh's Jessica Marx captured third team recognition.

The Verizon Academic All-America Team includes all female track and field and cross country athletes from Division II, Division III and NAIA.

Findlay, a senior from Whitewater, Wis., is a therapeutic recreation major and psychology minor with a 3.98 grade point average. She was named to the Verizon Academic All-America Second Team last year and is a five-time USTCA scholar-athlete. Findlay was named the WIAC Judy Kruckman Women's Indoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete earlier this year.

Findlay is a five-time All-American in the pole vault, including a fifth-place finish at the 2002 NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships. She placed second at the 2001 indoor national meet and fifth at the outdoor meet. Findlay was fourth indoors and third outdoors in 2000.

Loe, a junior from Oshkosh, Wis. (West), is a chemistry major with a 4.00 grade point average. She was one of three individuals on the 15-member first team to achieve a perfect grade point average.

Loe is an eight-time All-America honoree, including a third-place finish as a member of the 4x100 meter relay at the 2002 NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships. She has earned all eight of her All-America honors as a member of the Eagles' relay squads.

Fendrick, a senior from Marinette, Wis., is majoring in social work with a 3.86 grade point average. She received the WIAC Judy Kruckman Outdoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete Award this season.

Fendrick is a six-time All-American, having earned the honor three times in discus and three times in the shot put. She finished third in the discus at the 2002 outdoor championships after winning the national crown in 2000.

Hardtke, a senior from Kewaunee, Wis., is majoring in elementary education with a 3.97 grade point average. She helped the Titans to a second-place finish at the 2002 national indoor meet by running a leg on the winning distance medley relay team. Hardtke was also a member of the distance medley relay team that finished first at the conference meet this season.

Butkowski, a senior from Stevens Point, Wis. (SPASH), carries a 3.82 grade point average in english and was an All-American in the triple jump for the Pointers at the 2002 outdoor national championships with a sixth-place finish. It was her third career All-America honor.

Butkowski is a two-time indoor All-American in the triple jump, placing second at the 2001 championships and eighth at this year's indoor national meet.

Marx, a senior from Mukwonago, Wis., is majoring in elementary education with a 3.91 grade point average. She helped the Titans to a second-place finish at the 2002 national indoor meet by running a leg on the winning distance medley relay team. Marx was also a member of the distance medley relay team that finished first at the conference meet this season.

The Verizon Academic All-America Teams are selected by a vote of the 1,800-member CoSIDA. To be eligible, an athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.20 on a scale of 4.00. Sports information directors nominate eligible athletes from their schools who are named to district teams prior to being voted upon the national level.

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Eight Earn Academic All-District Women's Track/Cross Country Honors

RELEASED: Wednesday, May 29, 2002

Madison, Wis.--Eight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) student-athletes have been named to the 2002 Verizon Academic All-District V Women's Track and Field/Cross Country Team. UW-La Crosse's Ellen Findlay and Jocelyn Loe, Oshkosh's Susan Hardtke and Jessica Marx, Stevens Point's Jody Butkowski and Whitewater's Tabitha Fendrick were named to the first team. Stevens Point's Becky Lebak and Stout's Laura Verdegan earned second team recognition.

Findlay, a senior from Whitewater, Wis., is a therapeutic recreation major and psychology minor with a 3.98 grade point average. She earned Verizon Academic All-America Second Team honors last year. Findlay was named the 2002 WIAC Judy Kruckman Indoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete.

Findlay is a five-time NCAA Division III All-American in the pole vault. She placed fifth at the 2002 NCAA Outdoor Championships, second at the 2001 indoor national meet and fifth at the outdoor meet. Findlay was fourth indoors and third outdoors in 2000. Additionally, she is a two-time league champion in the pole vault, winning the indoor and outdoor titles in 2001.

Loe, a senior from Oshkosh, Wis. (West), is a chemistry major with a 4.00 grade point average. She is an eight-time NCAA III All-American and has earned all eight of her All-America honors as a member of the Eagles' relay squads. She won the 400-meter dash conference outdoor title this season and was a member of the winning 4x100 and 4x400-meter relay teams.

Hardtke, a senior from Kewaunee, Wis., is majoring in elementary education with a 3.97 grade point average. She helped the Titans to a second-place finish at the 2002 NCAA Indoor Championships by running a leg on the winning distance medley relay team. Hardtke was also a member of the distance medley relay team that finished first at the conference meet this season.

Marx, a senior from Mukwonago, Wis., is also majoring in elementary education with a 3.91 grade point average. She helped the Titans to a second-place finish at the 2002 NCAA Indoor Championships by running a leg on the winning distance medley relay team. Marx was also a member of the distance medley relay team that finished first at the conference meet this season.

Butkowski, a senior from Stevens Point, Wis. (SPASH), has a 3.82 grade point average with an english major. She earned All-America honors at the 2002 NCAA Outdoor Championships with a sixth-place finish in the triple jump. Butkowski is a two-time indoor All-American in the triple jump, placing second at the 2001 championships and eighth at this year's national meet.

Fendrick, a senior from Marinette, Wis., is majoring in social work with a 3.86 grade point average. She received the WIAC Judy Kruckman Outdoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete Award this season.

Fendrick is a six-time All-American, having earned the honor three times in discus and three times in the shot put. She finished third in the discus at the 2002 NCAA Outdoor Championships after winning the national crown in 2000.

Lebak, a senior from Burlington, Wis., is majoring in dietetics with a 3.47 grade point average. She finished sixth in 10,000-meter run at the 2002 NCAA Outdoor Championships after finishing fourth in the same event last season. She is a six-time league champion, winning outdoor titles in the 5,000 and 10,000-meter runs each of the last two seasons, and winning the indoor titles in the 3,000 and 5,000-meter runs in 2001. Lebak placed seventh at the 2001 NCAA Cross Country Championship after winning the individual conference crown.

Verdegan, a sophomore from Tony, Wis. (Flambeau), posts a 3.97 grade point average in dietetics. She placed fifth in the triple jump at the 2002 NCAA Outdoor Championships and finished third in the same event at the indoor national meet. Verdegan was the WIAC champion in the outdoor triple jump this season and placed second at the indoor league meet.

The academic all-district teams are selected from all Division II, Division III and NAIA schools in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois and Indiana. Individuals on the first team will advance to the national ballot.

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La Crosse Fourth, Oshkosh Eighth At Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championships

NCAA Track & Field St. Paul, Minn.--The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse women's track and field team finished fourth at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships Saturday, May 27 at Macalester College. The Eagles finished with 38 points. UW-Oshkosh finished eighth with 22 points. Wheaton College (Mass.) won the title with 67 points. McMurry University (Texas) was second with 49 points and Williams College (Mass.) third with 44. UW-Stevens Point tied for 12th (18), UW-Stout tied for 16th (16) and UW-Eau Claire and UW-Whitewater tied for 38th (6).

Oshkosh's Elizabeth Woodworth won the 800-meter run title with a time of 2:09.06. The time was the best in NCAA Division III this season and established a Macalester Stadium record. Woodworth is the first Titan in school history to win the 800-meter run crown.

Stout's Jenney Luer won the national championship in the discus throw with a toss of 160-1. With the win, Luer became Stout's first-ever women's national champion. Her distance established a Macalester Stadium record. Luer also claimed All-America honors in the shot put with a seventh-place finish.

Also claiming All-American honors from the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference were:

800-Meter Run: Jessica Dober (La Crosse--5th)
10,000-Meter Run: Becky Lebak (Stevens Point--6th), Kara Vosters (Stevens Point--7th)
100-Meter Hurdles: Breanna McMullen (Eau Claire--4th)
400-Meter Hurdles: Breanna McMullen (Eau Claire--8th)
3,000-Meter Steeplechase: Julia Rudd (La Crosse--3rd), Jackie Munoz (Oshkosh--4th)
Pole Vault: Heather Kleckner (La Crosse--2nd), Ellen Findlay (La Crosse--5th)
Long Jump: Tricia Clark (La Crosse--4th)
High Jump: Heather Kleckner (La Crosse--8th)
Triple Jump: Laura Verdegan (Stout--5th), Jody Butkowski (Stevens Point--6th)
Shot Put: Amanda Nechuta (Stevens Point--5th)
Discus: Tabitha Fendrick (Whitewater--3rd), Megan Lundahl (Stevens Point--4th), Amanda Nechuta (Stevens Point--8th)
Hammer Throw: Kristin Raether (La Crosse--5th), Penny Godleske (Oshkosh--6th)
4x100-Meter Relay: La Crosse (3rd)
Heptathlon: Kay Mikolajczak (Oshkosh--5th)

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Whitewater's Fendrick Wins Women's Outdoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete Award

RELEASED: Thursday, May 9, 2002

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Whitewater's Tabitha Fendrick has been named 2002 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Judy Kruckman Women's Outdoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete, it was announced recently by WIAC Commissioner Gary Karner.

Fendrick, a senior from Marinette, Wis., is majoring in social work with a minor in race and ethnic studies and carries a 3.86 grade point average. She is a two-time United States Track Coaches Association Academic All-American and a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. Fendrick has been named to the Dean's List at UW-Whitewater every semester during her studies. Earlier this year, she was named a National Strength Coaches Association All-American and a UW-Whitewater Chancellor's Scholar-Athlete.

Fendrick is a four-time All-American, winning the national discus title in 1999 and finishing second in the same event the past two seasons. She also claimed a sixth-place finish in the shot put at the 2000 national meet. Fendrick was named the WIAC Field Performer of the Meet at the 2000 and 2001 league championship, becoming the second person in WIAC history to win the honor in consecutive seasons. She is a three-time conference champion in the discus, winning the event from 1999-2001. Fendrick also won the shot put crown in the 2000 and 2001 seasons.

Fendrick is a member of the Golden Key National Honor Society and the Alpha Delta Mu Honor Society for social work. She has also served as a volunteer for Special Olympics.

Also nominated for the scholar-athlete award were: La Crosse's Amanda Bartlett, Janelle Curtis, Ellen Findlay, Sara Johnson, Heather Kleckner, Cheryl Langrehr, Julie Ravet and Ali Trudeau, Oshkosh's Susan Hardtke and Nichole Riemer.

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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La Crosse Wins Fifth Straight Women's Outdoor Track and Field Title

La Crosse, Wis.--The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse women's outdoor track and field team captured its fifth straight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) championship Saturday at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The Eagles finished with 250 points. UW-Oshkosh was second (173), followed by UW-Stevens Point (143), UW-Eau Claire (86.50), UW-Whitewater (71), UW-Stout (50), UW-River Falls (47), UW-Platteville (27.50) and UW-Superior (10).

La Crosse had seven individual champions and two relay champions during the two-day event. Angela Klatt won the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash with times of 12.10 and 25.05, respectively. It marks the second consecutive season that she has won the 200-meter title.

Jocelyn Loe, Heather Kleckner, Tricia Clark, Kristin Raether and Ali Trudeau also captured individual titles for the Eagles. Loe won the 400-meter dash with a time of 57.14. Kleckner won the pole vault with a conference record height of 12-0. Clark won the long jump for the second time in three seasons with a distance of 18-10 3/4. She also won the title in 2000. Raether won the hammer throw with a toss of 155-0 and Trudeau won the heptathlon with 4,509 points.

La Crosse also won the 4x100 and 4x400-meter relays. The 4x100 squad took first with a time of 47.90, while the 4x400 team finished with a time of 3:54.03.

Elizabeth Woodworth claimed a pair of individual titles for Oshkosh. She won the 800-meter run with a conference record time of 2:10.75. She also won the 1,500-meter run with a time of 4:47.63.

The Titans' Jackie Munoz won the conference's inaugural 3,000-meter steeplechase event with a time of 10:54.82.

Oshkosh also won the 4x800-meter relay with a time of 9:32.97.

Stevens Point was led to a third-place finish by Becky Lebak. She won the 5,000-meter run and the 10,000-meter run with times of 17:36.21 and 36:41.68, respectively. It marks the second straight season she has won both events.

Amanda Nechuta and Becky Clarke also won individual titles for the Pointers. Nechuta claimed the shot put title with a distance of 46-0 1/2, while Clarke won the javelin with a toss of 123-7.

Eau Claire's Breanna McMullen won the 100-meter high hurdles and 400-meter intermediate hurdles with times of 14.63 and 1:05.54, respectively.

Stout had a pair in individual champions. Laura Verdegan became a two-time champion in the triple jump with a distance of 38-9 3/4, while Jenney Luer won the discus with toss of 155-4.

River Falls' Kady Kleven won the high jump title with a height of 5-2 1/4. She also won the event last season.

Oshkosh's Elizabeth Woodworth was named the Track Performer of the Meet and La Crosse's Ali Trudeau was named the Field Performer of the Meet.

La Crosse head coach Pat Healy was named the Coach of the Year for the second time in his career. He also won the honor during the 1999 season.

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