2004 WIAC Men's Indoor Track & Field Season Headlines

2004 WIAC Men's Indoor Track & Field Season Headlines

Two Earn Academic All-America Men's Track and Field/Cross Country Honors

RELEASED: Wednesday, June 23, 2004

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's Andrew Rock and UW-Stevens Point's Curtis Johnson have been named to the 2004 College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America College Division Men's Track and Field/Cross Country First Team.

Rock, a senior from Stratford, Wis., is majoring in finance and maintains a 3.61 grade point average. He earned Academic All-America First Team honors for the second straight season. Rock won the 400-meter dash with a United States Olympic Trials qualifying time and was a member of UW-La Crosse's national champion 4 x 400-meter relay at the 2004 NCAA Division III outdoor championship as the Eagles won their fourth straight national crown. He also captured the 200-meter dash and 400-meter dash titles at the WIAC outdoor championship for the fourth straight year.

Rock won the 400-meter dash at this year's NCAA Division III indoor championship and was a member of UW-La Crosse's winning 4 x 400-meter relay team as the Eagles won their fourth consecutive national title. He was named the meet's Most Outstanding Track Performer for his efforts. Rock also earned the WIAC Max Sparger Indoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete Award this year.

Johnson, a senior from DeForest, Wis., carries a 3.92 grade point average and is double majoring in chemistry and biology. He received a postgraduate scholarship from the NCAA in the amount of $7,500 and was named the 2003 WIAC Max Sparger Cross Country Scholar-Athlete. Johnson placed 18th at the 2003 NCAA Division III cross country championship after placing third at the WIAC meet. He also won the 5,000-meter run title at the 2004 WIAC outdoor championship and participated in the national meet in the 10,000-meter run.

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Two Earn Men's Track and Field/Cross Country Academic All-District Accolades

RELEASED: Monday, June 7, 2004

Madison, Wis.--Two Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) student-athletes have been named to the 2004 CoSIDA Academic All-District Five College Division Men's Track and Field/Cross Country Team. UW-La Crosse's Andrew Rock and UW-Stevens Point's Curtis Johnson were recognized on the first team.

Rock, a senior from Stratford, Wis., is majoring in finance and maintains a 3.61 grade point average. He earned CoSIDA Academic All-America College Division First Team honors last season. Rock won the 400-meter dash with a United States Olympic Trials qualifying time and was a member of UW-La Crosse's national champion 4 x 400-meter relay at the 2004 NCAA Division III outdoor championship as the Eagles won their fourth straight national crown. He also captured the 200-meter dash and 400-meter dash titles at the WIAC outdoor championship for the fourth straight year.

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).

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

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UW-La Crosse Wins Fourth Consecutive Men's Indoor Track and Field National Championship

Whitewater, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse won its fourth consecutive NCAA Division III men's indoor track and field national championship at UW-Whitewater's Kachel Fieldhouse on March 13.

UW-La Crosse totaled 70 team points en route to the 11th indoor title in school history. UW-Whitewater tied for second with 29 points for the best finish in school history. The Warhawks tied with Lincoln (Pa.), followed by Nebraska Wesleyan with 28 points and UW-Platteville with 25 points. UW-Platteville's finish was the best in school history.

UW-Stevens Point finished sixth with 19 points, UW-Oshkosh tied for 12th with 13 points and UW-Eau Claire tied for 35th with four points.

This marks the fifth straight season that the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference has had three or more teams place in the top 10 at the national meet.

The 11 national indoor titles by UW-La Crosse are the most in NCAA Division III history. UW-La Crosse has now won 19 national track & field titles overall, more than any other Division III institution. The Eagles have won eight outdoor championships, also the most in Division III history.

UW-La Crosse's Hans Schmidt and Andrew Rock captured individual national titles over the weekend. Schmidt won the pole vault for the second straight season with a NCAA Division III championship meet record height of 18-1. He is the first athlete since Brad Parris of McMurry (Texas) to win back-to-back pole vault titles. Parris won three straight national championships from 1999-2001.

Rock captured the 400-meter dash for the third straight season with a championship meet record performance of 46.42. He is the first athlete in NCAA Division III history to win three consecutive 400-meter dash crowns. Rock was named Outstanding Track Athlete of the Meet for the second straight year.

The Eagles' 4 x 400-meter relay team of Derek Toshner, Nate Olson, Jeremy Deterville and Rock won the national title with a meet record time of 3:12.79. It marks the second straight year that the Eagles have finished first in the event.

UW-Platteville claimed one individual championship and one relay title during the two-day meet. Ryan Kleimenhagen became just the third individual national indoor champion in school history after winning the 1,500-meter run with a time of 3:52.40.

The Pioneers also won the first-ever national relay title in school history after claiming the distance medley relay in a national meet record time of 9:57.05. Nick Meis, Steve Ross, Josh Placke and Kleimenhagen made up the winning team.

UW-Whitewater's Jeremy Wendt won the 35-pound weight throw with a championship meet record toss of 63-11 1/4. UW-Oshkosh's David Cisewski won the 5,000-meter run with a time of 14:30.58

Also claiming All-America honors (top eight finish in each event) from the WIAC were:
55-Meter Dash: Matt Pagel (UW-La Crosse-2nd), Ben Dorsey (UW-La Crosse-4th)
400-Meter Dash: Andrew Rock (UW-La Crosse-Champion), Nate Olson (UW-La Crosse-2nd)
800-Meter Run: Adam Christnovich (UW-Platteville-7th)
1,500-Meter Run: Ryan Kleimenhagen (UW-Platteville-Champion), Nick Meis (UW-Platteville-8th)
5,000-Meter Run: David Cisewski (UW-Oshkosh-Champion), Mark LaLonde (UW-Stevens Point-2nd), Riley Kehoe (UW-Whitewater-8th)
55-Meter Hurdles: Andrew Schliepp (UW-Stevens Point-6th)
High Jump: Tom Roszak (UW-Oshkosh-6th)
Long Jump: Derek Stanley (UW-Whitewater-2nd)
Triple Jump: Derek Stanley (UW-Whitewater-5th)
Pole Vault: Hans Schmidt (UW-La Crosse-Champion), Dan Schultz (UW-Platteville-7th)
Shot Put: John Schuna (UW-Eau Claire-5th)
35-Pound Weight Throw: Jeremy Wendt (UW-Whitewater-Champion), Mark Wierzba (UW-Stevens Point-2nd), Phil Whitesitt (UW-La Crosse-3rd), Kevin Becker (UW-La Crosse-4th)

4 x 400-Meter Relay: UW-La Crosse (Derek Toshner, Nate Olson, Jeremy Deterville, Andrew Rock-Champion)

Distance Medley Relay: UW-Platteville (Nick Meis, Steve Ross, Josh Placke, Ryan Kleimenhagen-Champion), UW-La Crosse (Andy Grupa, Tony Marcinek, Dan Haumschild, Gabe Siehr-2nd), UW-Whitewater (Tyler Fyock, Eric Rangel, Josh Johnson, Riley Kehoe-3rd)

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UW-La Crosse's Rock Receives Men's Indoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete Honor

RELEASED: Monday, March 8, 2004

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's Andrew Rock has been named the 2004 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Max Sparger Men's Indoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete, it was announced recently by WIAC Commissioner Gary Karner.

Rock, a senior from Stratford, Wis., is majoring in finance and maintains a 3.61 grade point average. He was named to the CoSIDA Men's Track and Field/Cross Country Academic All-America First Team last year and has been recognized on UW-La Crosse's Dean's List every semester. Rock is also a member of the Golden Key Honors Society.

Rock recently helped the Eagles to their third consecutive indoor conference title by winning the 200-meter dash. He has amassed five individual league indoor titles, including four in the 200-meter dash, and has accumulated five indoor All-America honors. Rock is a two-time champion in the indoor 400-meter dash and was named the Male Athlete of the Meet at last year's NCAA Division III Championship. He also holds two indoor national records, one conference record and five school records.

Rock becomes the third men's indoor track and field athlete from UW-La Crosse to win the scholar-athlete award in the six years of the prize. He joins Dan Sutton (2002) and Mike Seifert (1999).

Also nominated for this year's scholar-athlete award were: UW-Eau Claire's Ben Schmiege, UW-La Crosse's Derek Toshner, UW-Oshkosh's Kevin Deering, Chris Jensen, Eamon McKenna and Mike Wehrley, UW-Platteville's Adam Christnovich and Nick Meis and UW-Stevens Point's Andrew Schliepp.

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 Third Consecutive Men's Indoor Track and Field Title

Menomonie, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse won its third consecutive Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) men's indoor track and field title following completion of the two-day conference meet at UW-Stout's Sports & Fitness Center on March 6.

UW-La Crosse finished with 210.50 team points to outdistance UW-Whitewater, which placed second with 180 points. UW-Stevens Point finished third (88), followed by UW-Oshkosh (84), UW-Platteville (56.50), UW-Eau Claire (33), UW-Stout (28), UW-River Falls (19) and UW-Superior (2).

The Eagles, who have won 23 of the last 26 league events, claimed seven individual titles and two relay crowns en route to the championship. Matt Pagel won the 55-meter dash for the second straight season with a time of 6.38. He set a conference record of 6.32 in the preliminaries of the event and was voted the Track Performer of the Meet for his efforts.

Andrew Rock became the first individual in conference history to win four straight 200-meter dash titles when he crossed the line in 21.52. Jeremy Deterville won the 400-meter dash in 50.18, while Derek Toshner claimed the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 7.68.

UW-La Crosse's Herc Hyland secured the triple jump title with a leap of 47-2 1/2 and Hans Schmidt claimed the pole vault crown for the third time in four seasons with a height of 17-2 3/4. Jim Nelson won the shot put for the third straight year with a heave of 55-5 1/2.

The Eagles' Nate Olson, Andrew Buchberger, Chris Sellers and Ron set a league meet record with a time of 1:27.99 in the 4 x 200-meter relay. The quartet of Lee Wienkes, Eric Schmidt, Rock and Sellers won the 4 x 400-meter relay with a time of 3:20.94.

UW-Whitewater claimed five individual titles during the two-day competition. Riley Kehoe placed first in the 3,000-meter run with a time of 8:25.69, while Devin Wilson won the 5,000-meter run with a time of 15:00.28.

The Warhawks' Jeremy Wendt won the 35-pound weight throw with a conference-record toss of 64-8. He was voted the Field Performer of the Meet for his efforts. Derek Stanley captured the long jump with a leap of 23-4 1/2 and Eric Jacobson claimed the heptathlon title with 4,777 points.

The Warhawks also won the distance medley relay for the first time in school history with a time of 10:07.15. Tyler Fyock, Eric Rangel, Josh Johnson and Kehoe made up the winning team.

UW-Oshkosh's John LeRoy won the 800-meter run championship with a time of 1:53.91 and Tom Roszak claimed the high jump with a height of 6-8 3/4.

UW-Platteville's Ryan Kleimenhagen secured the 1,500-meter run crown for the second time in his career with a time of 3:54.04. He also won the event during the 2002 conference meet.

UW-La Crosse head coach Mark Guthrie was voted the Coach of the Year for the third straight season and fourth time in his career.

Team Scores:
1. UW-La Crosse 210.50
2. UW-Whitewater 180
3. UW-Stevens Point 88
4. UW-Oshkosh 84
5. UW-Platteville 56.50
6. UW-Eau Claire 33
7. UW-Stout 28
8. UW-River Falls 19
9. UW-Superior 2

Individual Event Champions:
55-Meter Dash: Matt Pagel (UW-La Crosse), 6.38#
200-Meter Dash: Andrew Rock (UW-La Crosse), 21.52
400-Meter Dash: Jeremy Deterville (UW-La Crosse), 50.18
800-Meter Run: John LeRoy (UW-Oshkosh), 1:53.91
1,500-Meter Run: Ryan Kleimenhagen (UW-Platteville), 3:54.04
3,000-Meter Run: Riley Kehoe (UW-Whitewater), 8:25.69
5,000-Meter Run: Devin Wilson (UW-Whitewater), 15:00.28
55-Meter Hurdles: Derek Toshner (UW-La Crosse), 7.68
High Jump: Tom Roszak (UW-Oshkosh), 6-8 3/4 (2.05m)
Long Jump: Derek Stanley (UW-Whitewater), 23-4 1/2 (7.12m)
Triple Jump: Herc Hyland (UW-La Crosse), 47-2 1/2 (14.39m)
Pole Vault: Hans Schmidt (UW-La Crosse), 17-2 3/4 (5.25m)
Shot Put: Jim Nelson (UW-La Crosse), 55-5 1/2 (16.90m)
35-Pound Weight Throw: Jeremy Wendt (UW-Whitewater), 64-8 (19.71m)*
Heptathlon: Eric Jacobson (UW-Whitewater), 4,777 points

4 x 200-Meter Relay: UW-La Crosse (Andrew Rock, Nate Olson, Andrew Buchberger, Chris Sellers), 1:27.99*
4 x 400-Meter Relay: UW-La Crosse (Derek Toshner, Lee Wienkes, Chris Sellers, Eric Schmidt), 3:20.94
Distance Medley Relay: UW-Whitewater (Tyler Fyock, Eric Rangel, Josh Johnson, Riley Kehoe), 10:07.15

#Established conference record of 6.32 in the preliminaries
*Conference Record

Track Performer of the Meet: Matt Pagel of UW-La Crosse
Field Performer of the Meet: Jeremy Wendt of UW-Whitewater
Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete: Andrew Rock of UW-La Crosse
Coach of the Year: Mark Guthrie of UW-La Crosse

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UW-Whitewater Prepares To Host NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships

RELEASED: Monday, February 2, 2004 (Written By: Tom Fick, UW-W Sports Information)

Whitewater, Wis.--The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater will host the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championship Friday and Saturday, March 12-13.

“The NCAA Division III Track and Field Championship is a premiere event on the collegiate sports calendar, and we are proud to be able to host this event in our outstanding new facility, the Kachel Fieldhouse,” UW-W interim director of athletics Bob Lanza said. “When the fieldhouse was in the planning stages it was with the idea that we would be able to attract events of this magnitude. Now that the facility is a reality we have a tremendous opportunity. A lot of time, effort and energy has gone in to the planning of the track championships and I think that the visiting athletes, coaches, official and fans from around the country will see what we already know – that we have a first class facility and put on a first class championship event.”

The event will bring approximately 200 female athletes and 200 male athletes to the Kachel Fieldhouse/ Williams Center.

“Preparations for the DIII championships are progressing smoothly”, meet director Jennifer Brown commented. “UW-Whitewater is honored to serve as the host, and we are committed to providing a first class experience for the athletes, and wish them luck on their journey to the national meet and Whitewater.”

UW-Whitewater’s athletic facilities have undergone a dramatic change in recent years. The Williams Center, the focal point for UW-W athletics since its opening in 1968, was extensively renovated as part of the plan for a fieldhouse addition. The main gym, named in honor of principal donors David and Lolita Kachel, was given new seating, a new design on the floor, a new ceiling and sound system and other touches. The revamped gym allowed UW-W to designate other space for specific needs, for example, providing a permanent home for wrestling and gymnastics. The Kachel Fieldhouse, which opened during the 2000-2001 school year, added an indoor track which also includes batting cages, basketball courts, and tennis courts; volleyball arena, weight and aerobics training area, athletic trainers’ offices and workspace, equipment room, locker rooms, classrooms, computer lab and other improvements. In November of 2003, the University dedicated the Student Athlete Complex, built north of Williams Center, adjacent to Perkins Field. The SAC will allow classes and other activities that would normally be disrupted by hosting an event the size of the NCAA III Track and Field Championship to be conducted without distraction.

UW-Whitewater has extensive national tournament experience. This will be the third time that UW-W has hosted a winter sport championship. The University previously hosted the 1978 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Wrestling Championship, and the 1980 NAIA Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Championship. UW-W has also hosted national championship volleyball events, including the 2001 and 2002 NCAA III championship tournament semifinals/finals, several NCAA III women’s and men’s basketball tournament rounds, NCAA III men’s soccer tournament play, NCAA III football playoff games, the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) women’s golf championship, and AIAW and NCAA III women’s softball regional competition.

Tickets for the championship will be sold as single session and all session. Adult tickets are $5 per session, or $8 for the entire championship. Student tickets are $3 and $5. There are no advance ticket sales, with all tickets sold at the door on the day(s) of the event.

UW-Whitewater has set up a web site specifically devoted to the NCAA III Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championship. Please go to: http://www.uww.edu/athletics/ncaatrack/index.php
The NCAA championships web site is: http://www.ncaasports.com/indoortrack/mens/championship-info

For media credentials or requests please contact the UW-W sports information office at (262) 472-1147, via fax at (262) 472-5656, or via postal at Sports Information Office, 112C Williams Center, UW-Whitewater, Whitewater, WI 53190.

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

RELEASED: Wednesday, August 20, 2003

Superior, Wis.--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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