2002 WIAC Men's Indoor Track & Field Headlines

Three Earn Academic All-America Men's Track/Cross Country Honors

RELEASED: Wednesday, June 19, 2002

Madison, Wis.--Three Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) student-athletes have been named to the 2002 Verizon Academic All-America Men's Track and Field/Cross Country Team. La Crosse's Andy Basler received first team honors, while Oshkosh's Eamon McKenna was named to the second team. Stevens Point's Craig Gunderson captured third team recognition.

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

Basler, a senior from Mayville, Wis., is majoring in art with a minor in photography and carries a 3.67 grade point average. He was named the 2002 WIAC Max Sparger Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete and is also a four-time member of the USTCA Academic Team.

A three-time All-American, Basler captured the national indoor long jump title in 2002, placed fifth in the indoor long jump in 2000 and finished fourth in the decathlon at the 2000 outdoor championships. He was a member of the national champion indoor and outdoor teams in 2001 and 2002. Additionally, Basler was the 2000 and 2002 WIAC indoor long jump champion.

McKenna, a junior from Ashippun, Wis. (Oconomowoc), is majoring in education and spanish and carries a 3.95 grade point average. He is a member of the Oshkosh Student-Advisory Board and was named to the Cross Country Association All-Academic Team in 2000 and 2001. McKenna was also named to the USTCA academic honor roll this season.

McKenna captured All-America honors in the 5,000-meter run at the 2002 indoor national meet with an eighth-place finish. At the 2001 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championship, he helped the Titans to a sixth-place finish by placing 46th.

Gunderson, a senior from Waupaca, Wis., carries a 3.74 grade point average in elementary education with a minor in learning disabilities. He placed fifth in the 400-meter dash at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships this season to earn All-America honors.

Gunderson was named the WIAC Max Sparger Indoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete earlier this year and also qualified for the national outdoor championships in the 400 and 1,600-meter relays. He also placed fifth in the 400-meter dash at the 2001 Division III Indoor Championships and won the event at the 2001 WIAC indoor meet.

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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Three Earn Academic All-District Men's Track/Cross Country Accolades

RELEASED: Wednesday, May 29, 2002

Madison, Wis.--Three Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) student-athletes have been named to the 2002 Verizon Academic All-District V Men's Track and Field/Cross Country Team. Named to the squad were La Crosse's Andy Basler, Oshkosh's Eamon McKenna and Stevens Point's Craig Gunderson.

Basler, a senior from Mayville, Wis., is majoring in art with a 3.67 grade point average. Earlier this year, he was the recipient of the WIAC Max Sparger Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete Awards. Basler is a member of the WIAC and La Crosse Student-Athlete Advisory Committees and also served as a panelist speaker at the 2002 NCAA Convention.

Basler won the long jump at the 2002 NCAA Indoor Championships and also placed fifth in the decathlon at the 2000 national meet. He also captured All-America honors at the 2000 national meet with a fourth-place finish in the decathlon.

Gunderson, a senior from Waupaca, Wis., carries a 3.74 grade point average in his elementary education major and learning disabilities minor. He was an indoor track and field all-academic selection last season and has been named to the UW-Stevens Point Dean's List five semesters. Gunderson received the WIAC's Max Sparger Indoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete Award this season.

Gunderson placed fifth in the 400-meter dash at the NCAA Division Outdoor Championships this season. He also placed fifth in the same event last year at both the indoor and outdoor national meets. Gunderson won the WIAC 400-meter indoor title in 2001 and placed second at the outdoor meet.

McKenna, a junior from Ashippun, Wis. (Oconomowoc), is majoring in education and spanish and carries a 3.95 grade point average. He is a member of the Oshkosh Student-Advisory Board and was named to the Cross Country Association All-Academic Team in 2000 and 2001. McKenna was also named to the United States Track Coaches Association academic honor roll this season.

McKenna captured All-America honors in the 5,000-meter run at the 2002 indoor national meet with an eighth-place finish. At the 2001 NCAA Cross Country Championship, he helped the Titans to a sixth-place finish by placing 46th.

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

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Ada, Ohio--The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse captured its ninth NCAA Division III Men's Indoor Track & Field Championship Saturday at the Ohio Northern University Sports Center. The Eagles finished with 54 points as they defended their national title from last season. Lincoln University (Pa.) was second with 48 points followed by Montclair State (N.J.) with 29. Wheaton College (Ma.) was fourth with 27 points and UW-Oshkosh fifth with 26. UW-Whitewater tied for ninth (22), UW-Eau Claire 11th (16), UW-Stevens Point tied for 18th (10), UW-Platteville tied for 22nd (8) and UW-Stout tied for 25th (6).

The Eagles also won the indoor last season, and claimed titles in 1997, 1994, 1993, 1992, 1991, 1988 and 1987.

The nine national indoor titles are the most in NCAA Division III history. La Crosse has now won 15 national track & field titles overall, more than any other Division III institution. The Eagles have won six outdoor championships, tying with Lincoln University for the most ever.

La Crosse's Andy Basler and Andrew Rock both captured individual national titles. Basler opened the meet Friday capturing the long jump title at 23-9 1/2. It is Basler's second career indoor All-American honor after placing fifth in the long jump in 2000.

Rock became the 19th athlete in school history to win an individual title when he captured the 400-meter dash final Saturday with an NCAA Division III record time of 47.47. It is his second career indoor national recognition after he finished second in the 400-meter dash last season.

Oshkosh's Matt Groose captured the 800-meter run title with an NCAA Division III record time of 1:49.73. Groose was named the track event athlete of the meet for his efforts. It is Groose's third career All-America honor after placing third in the 1,500-meter run last season and third in the distance medley relay in 2000.

Eau Claire's John Schuna claimed the national shot put crown with a toss of 56-4. Schuna becomes only the third Blugold ever to win an NCAA indoor track title. Dan Schmidt won the 35-pound weight throw in 1992 and Jason Slaikeu won the high jump in 1996.

Whitewater's Pat Frascone won the 5,000-meter run with a time of 14:34.90. Frascone becomes the school's first NCAA Division III men's indoor champion. It was Frascone's first career indoor All-America honor.

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

55-Meter Dash: Dan Tutskey (La Crosse--3rd)
400-Meter Dash: Adam McKahan (La Crosse--7th)
1,500-Meter Run: Ryan Kleimenhagen (Platteville--2nd), Kirk DeWindt (Oshkosh--8th)
5,000-Meter Run: David Cisewski (Oshkosh--3rd), Tyler Foos (La Crosse--5th), Eamon McKenna (Oshkosh--8th)
Pole Vault: Jeff Rotering (Stout--3rd), Ben Stern (La Crosse--6th)
Long Jump: Scott Whirry (Eau Claire--8th)
Shot Put: Kurt Malnar (Whitewater--4th), Jim Nelson (La Crosse--7th)
Weight Throw: Noah Eschenbauch (Stevens Point--2nd), Mike Turgeon (La Crosse--5th), Jake Hines (La Crosse--6th), Phil Whitesitt (La Crosse--7th)
4x400-Meter Relay: La Crosse (2nd)
Distance Medley Relay: Oshkosh (2nd), Eau Claire (4th), Stevens Point (7th), Whitewater (8th)

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Basler and Gunderson Named Men's Indoor Track and Field Co-Scholar-Athletes

RELEASED: Tuesday, March 5, 2002

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's Andy Basler and the UW-Stevens Point's Craig Gunderson have been named the 2001-02 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Max Sparger Men's Indoor Track and Field Co-Scholar-Athletes, it was announced recently by WIAC Commissioner Gary Karner.

Basler, a senior from Mayville, Wis., is majoring in art with a minor in photography and carries a 3.67 grade point average. He is a two-time Indoor Track and Field Academic All-American and has been named to the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll three times. Basler has been named to UW-La Crosse's Dean's List seven semesters and received the Viggo B. and Madeline C. Rasmusen Leadership Award in Physical Activities.

Basler, a team captain for the past two seasons, helped the Eagles to their 11th team title in the last 13 seasons at the league championship last weekend with a first-place finish in the long jump. He also won the event during the 2000 season and earned All-America honors during the same year with a fifth-place finish in the long jump at the national championship.

Basler has served as a panelist speaker at the 2002 NCAA National Convention and is a member the Golden Key International Honor Society. He also has contributed to the WIAC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, in which he has held many executive positions. Additionally, Basler was a representative for the Student-Athlete Drug Testing Program Committee.

Gunderson, a senior from Waupaca, Wis., has a major in elementary education with a minor in learning disabilities and maintains a 3.75 grade point average. He was an Indoor Track and Field Academic All-American last season and a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. Gunderson has also been on UW-Stevens Point's Dean's List five semesters.

Gunderson helped the Pointers to a third-place finish at the WIAC championship last weekend. He placed fourth in the 400-meter dash after winning the event last season. Gunderson earned All-American honors in the 400-meter dash last season. He was a team captain during the 2001 campaign.

Gunderson is an active member of the Wisconsin Elementary Science Teachers and the Student Wisconsin Education Association. In addition, he is a member of the Campus Crusade for Christ and has volunteered as a reading tutor at Stevens Point area middle schools.

Eau Claire's Jeffrey Bergstrom and Benton Ward and Oshkosh's Jon Peterson were also nominated for the scholar-athlete award.

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-La Crosse Wins Men's Indoor Track & Field League Title

Whitewater, Wis.--The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse men's indoor track & field team won its 27th Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) championship in school history Saturday in Kachel Fieldhouse. The Eagles, who have now won 11 of the last 13 team titles, finished with 163.50 points. UW-Whitewater was second (103.00) followed by UW-Oshkosh (101.00), UW-Stevens Point (101.00), UW-Eau Claire (92.00), UW-Platteville (75.50) and UW-Stout (60.00).

La Crosse had five individual champions and one relay champion during the two-day event. Dan Tutskey captured the 55-meter dash for the second consecutive season with a conference record time of 6.34, while Andrew Rock won the 200-meter dash in 21.45. Rock, who also won the event last season, established a new conference record in the 200-meter dash with his effort.

In field events, Andrew Basler won the long jump for the second time in his career with a leap of 24-4 1/2. Jim Nelson claimed the shot put title with a throw of 55-1, while Mike Turgeon captured the 35-pound weight throw title with a distance of 60-9 1/4.

The La Crosse 4x200-meter relay team captured the conference crown for the third consecutive season with a time of 1:28.02.

Whitewater's Pat Frascone claimed the 5,000-meter run title with a time of 14:36.19 becoming the first Warhawk in school history to win a WIAC title in the event. Adam Lendowski won the heptathlon title with 4,909 points. His point total established a new conference record.

Oshkosh had three individuals and one relay team claim conference crowns. Matt Groose won the 800-meter run with a conference record time of 1:50.03, while David Cisewski won the 3,000-meter run in 8:28.12. Kevin Deering won the high jump with a mark of 6-8, while the distance medley relay team won with a time of 9:56.38. This marks the third consecutive season Oshkosh has won the distance medley relay crown.

Stout's Dave Hanson won the 400-meter dash and 55-meter high hurdles titles. He claimed the 400-meter crown in 49.51 and the 55-meter hurdle title in 7.71. Jeff Rotering won the pole vault with a height of 16-3 1/4. Stout's 4x400-meter relay team claimed the WIAC title with a time of 3:22.95.

Eau Claire's Jeff Bergstrom won the triple jump with a leap of 47-3 1/2 and Platteville's Ryan Kleimenhagen won the 1,500-meter run with a time of 3:54.02.

Oshkosh's Matt Groose and Stout's Dave Hanson were named Track Co-Performers of the Meet, while Whitewater's Adam Lendowski was named Field Performer of the Meet.

La Crosse head coach Mark Guthrie and Whitewater head coach Darren Schneider were named the WIAC Co-Coaches of the Year. Guthrie has now been named the conference coach of the year seven times in his career (combined indoor and outdoor), while Scheider garnered the honor for the first time in his career.

Many of the competitors in the WIAC championship will travel to Ohio Northern University next Friday and Saturday, March 8-9 for the NCAA III Indoor Championship.

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UW-Superior Names Adarian Barr Head Track and Field Coach

RELEASED: Thursday, January 10, 2002

Superior, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Superior Athletics Director Jeff Kaminsky has announced that Adarian Barr has been hired as the Yellowjackets' head coach of men's and women's track and field. He replaces Kirk Nauman who took a graduate assistant position at Minnesota State-Mankato.

"We are excited about having Adarian join our staff," said Kaminsky. "His past experiences and success make him a valuable addition to our entire department. He will provide outstanding leadership to the Yellowjacket track program."

Barr has served as the Head Men's and Women's Cross Country and Track and Field Coach at Bethany College in Linsborg, Kansas since 2000. He was the jumps coach with the track and field program at California State-Chico in Chico, California from 1994-96 and also coached sprints, jumps and multis at Saddleback College in Mission Viego, California in 1990.

Barr was a California High School Boys Triple Jump Champion, a High School All-American and a three-time NCAA All-American.

A native of Selma, California, Barr graduated from California State-Chico in 1996 and received his Master's Degree from the school in 2000.

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