2003 WIAC Men's Outdoor Track & Field Headlines

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

RELEASED: Thursday, June 19, 2003

Madison, Wis.--Four Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) student-athletes have been named to the 2003 Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-America Men's Track and Field/Cross Country Team. UW-La Crosse's Doug Connor and Andrew Rock and UW-Oshkosh's Eamon McKenna received first team honors, while UW-La Crosse's Derek Toshner was a second team selection.

Connor, a senior from Onalaska, Wis., is majoring in biology and biochemistry with a 3.92 grade point average. He was named the 2003 WIAC Max Sparger Outdoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete. Connor earned All-America honors with an eighth-place finish in the 800-meter run at the outdoor championships and was a member of the Eagles' winning 4x800-meter relay team at the 2003 conference meet.

Rock, a junior from Stratford, Wis., is a business management major with a 3.60 grade point average. He was named the United States Track Coaches Association Male Athlete of the Year for the second straight season earlier this month was named the Runner of the Meet at the 2003 NCAA Division III Indoor and Outdoor Championships. Rock is a 13-time All-American and two-time national champion in the 400 meter indoors and has won 13 conference titles (four relays and nine individual). He also qualified for the United States Olympic Trials in the 400 meter dash with a time of 45.29 at the outdoor national meet this year.

McKenna, senior from Ashippun, Wis. (Oconomowoc H.S.), is majoring in secondary education/Spanish and carries a 3.96 grade point average. He was a Verizon Academic All-America Second Team selection last year and was named the 2002 WIAC Max Sparger Cross Country Scholar-Athlete. McKenna is a four-time All-American (two indoor, two outdoor) and won the league title in the 5,000-meter run at the 2003 outdoor league meet.

Toshner, a senior from Fond du Lac, Wis. (Campbellsport H.S.), is a fitness major with a 3.47 grade point average. He is a two-time outdoor national champion in the 400-meter hurdles and has won seven All-America honors. Toshner has earned eight All-WIAC honors, including four individual conference championships.

The academic all-america team is comprised of all NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA athletes from around the country. It is selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

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Four Named To Academic All-District Men's Track and Field/Cross Country Team

RELEASED: Tuesday, June 3, 2003

Madison, Wis.--Four Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) student-athletes have been named to the 2003 Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-District Five Men's Track and Field/Cross Country First Team. Receiving first team honors were UW-La Crosse's Doug Connor, Andrew Rock and Derek Toshner and UW-Oshkosh's Eamon McKenna.

The team is comprised of all NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA track and field/cross country athletes from Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota and voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Connor, a senior from Onalaska, Wis., is majoring in biology and biochemistry with a 3.92 grade point average. He was named the 2003 WIAC Max Sparger Outdoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete. Connor earned All-America honors with an eighth-place finish in the 800-meter run at the outdoor championships and was a member of the Eagles' winning 4x800-meter relay team at the 2003 conference meet.

Rock, a junior from Stratford, Wis., is a business management major with a 3.60 grade point average. He was named the United States Track Coaches Association Male Athlete of the Year for the second straight season earlier this month was named the Runner of the Meet at the 2003 NCAA Division III Indoor and Outdoor Championships. Rock is a 13-time All-American and two-time national champion in the 400 meter indoors and has won 13 conference titles (four relays and nine individual). He also qualifed for the United States Olympic Trials in the 400 meter dash with a time of 45.29 at the outdoor national meet this year.

Toshner, a senior from Fond du Lac, Wis. (Campbellsport H.S.), is a fitness major with a 3.47 grade point average. He is a two-time outdoor national champion in the 400-meter hurdles and has won seven All-America honors. Toshner has earned eight All-WIAC honors, including four individual conference championships.

McKenna, senior from Ashippun, Wis. (Oconomowoc H.S.), is majoring in secondary education/spanish and carries a 3.96 grade point average. He was a Verizon Academic All-America Second Team selection last year and was named the 2002 WIAC Max Sparger Cross Country Scholar-Athlete. McKenna is a four-time All-American (two indoor, two outdoor) and won the league title in the 5,000-meter run at the 2003 outdoor league meet.

Connor, Rock, Toshner and McKenna are now eligible for the Academic All-America Team, which will be announced later this month.

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Canton, N.Y.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse claimed its third straight NCAA Division III Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship on May 22-24 at Merrick-Pinkard Track and Field Complex at St. Lawrence University.

The Eagles finished with 88 team points, while Lincoln (Pa.) was second with 64 points, followed by UW-Oshkosh (44), Nebraska Wesleyan (37) and UW-Platteville (25). UW-Whitewater tied for 13th with 15 points, while UW-Stevens Point tied for 23rd with 12 points and UW-Eau Claire tied for 43rd with six points.

UW-Platteville's fifth-place finish is the best in school history, surpassing the sixth-place finish at the 1987 event.

With this year's outdoor title, UW-La Crosse has now swept the NCAA III Indoor and Outdoor Championships for the eighth time in school history and third straight season. The Eagles have won both titles in 1988, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1997, 2001, 2002 and 2003.

The outdoor championship this season is the eighth in school history, the most in NCAA Division III history. UW-La Crosse has won 18 track and field titles in school history, more than any other Division III institution. The Eagles' 10 indoor titles are also the most in the nation.

UW-La Crosse captured four individual and one relay championship in this year's meet. The four individual and five overall titles are the most ever at the national meet for the Eagles.

UW-La Crosse's Andrew Rock won both the 200-meter and 400-meter dash with times of 21.07 and 45.29, respectively. His time in the 400-meter event established a national meet record.

Derek Toshner won the 400-meter hurdles for the second straight season with a time of 50.81. He also finished second in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.65.

Hans Schmidt claimed the final individual title for UW-La Crosse, winning the pole vault with a national meet record height of 17-6 1/2.

UW-La Crosse also won the 1,600-meter relay event with a time of 3:11.08. Nate Olson, Eric Schmidt, Dan Haumschild and Kris Smith competed on the winning relay team.

UW-Platteville's Cory Stelljes won the 10,000-meter run with a time of 30:09.44 to become the first Pioneer men's outdoor track and field athlete to win a national title in a running event.

UW-Whitewater's Jeremy Wendt won the hammer throw with a distance of 205-6 to become the school's first national champion in a weight or throw event.

UW-Oshkosh's Chris Jensen claimed the discus title with a toss of 180-3.

Claiming All-America honors (top eight finish in each event) from the WIAC were:
200-Meter Dash: Andrew Rock (UW-La Crosse--Champion)
400-Meter Dash: Andrew Rock (UW-La Crosse--Champion)
800-Meter Run: Matt Groose (UW-Oshkosh--2nd), Doug Connor (UW-La Crosse--8th)
1,500-Meter Run: Ryan Kleimenhagen (UW-Platteville--3rd), Jesse Baumann (UW-Stevens Point--7th)
5,000-Meter Run: Dan Sutton (UW-La Crosse--2nd), Eamon McKenna (UW-Oshkosh--8th)
10,000-Meter Run: Cory Stelljes (UW-Platteville--Champion), Eamon McKenna (UW-Oshkosh--6th)
110-Meter Hurdles: Derek Toshner (UW-La Crosse--2nd), Jon Zweiger (UW-Oshkosh--5th)
400-Meter Hurdles: Derek Toshner (UW-La Crosse--Champion)
Long Jump: Herc Hyland (UW-La Crosse--2nd)
Shot Put: Andy Paulsen (UW-Platteville--2nd), John Schuna (UW-Eau Claire--3rd)
Discus: Chris Jensen (UW-Oshkosh--Champion), Mike Turgeon (UW-La Crosse--2nd), Andy Paulsen (UW-Platteville--8th)
Hammer: Jeremy Wendt (UW-Whitewater--Champion), Noah Eschenbauch (UW-Stevens Point--2nd), Mark Wierzba (UW-Stevens Point--7th), Justin Minor (UW-Whitewater--8th)
Pole Vault: Hans Schmidt (UW-La Crosse--Champion), Jon Wagner (UW-Oshkosh--3rd)
Decathlon: Kevin Deering (UW-Oshkosh--2nd), Adam Lendowski (UW-Whitewater--5th), Jon Zweiger (UW-Oshkosh--7th)

4 x 100-Meter Relay: UW-La Crosse (Herc Hyland, Nate Olson, Ben Dorsey, Matt Pagel--4th), UW-Oshkosh (Jeff Ehrike, Ryan Dahmen, Brian Pludeman, Dan Kelm--7th)

4 x 400-Meter Relay: UW-La Crosse (Nate Olson, Eric Schmidt, Dan Haumschild, Kris Smith--Champion)

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UW-La Crosse's Connor Named Men's Outdoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete

RELEASED: Thursday, May 8, 2003

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's Doug Connor has been named the 2003 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Max Sparger Men's Outdoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete, it was announced recently by WIAC Commissioner Gary Karner.

Connor, a junior from Onalaska, Wis., is majoring in biology and biochemistry with a minor in psychology and carries a 3.94 grade point average. He has been named to UW-La Crosse's Dean's List on nine occasions and has been awarded two departmental academic scholarships. Connor has also been recognized on the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll.

Connor recently helped UW-La Crosse to its 13th straight league title, participating on the winning 4x800-meter relay team at the WIAC Championships. He has also been a member of the 2001 and 2002 UW-La Crosse outdoor teams that won the NCAA Division III Championship.

Connor is a member of the Golden Key National Honors Society, UW-La Crosse Pre-Med Club and the UW-La Crosse Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. He has also volunteered at Franciscan Skemp Hospital.

Connor is the seventh student-athlete from UW-La Crosse to win the men's outdoor track and field scholar-athlete award, joining Andy Basler (2002), Rob Bean (1995), Dave Schneider (1994), Dane Christensen (1991), Jim Batchelor (1988) and Bill Pekarske (1986).

UW-Platteville's Luke Boehnlein and Nick Meis 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 13th Consecutive Men's Outdoor Track and Field League Championship

Stevens Point, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse won its 13th consecutive Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) men's outdoor track and field championship at Colman Field on Saturday, May 3.

The Eagles, who have won 28 of the last 30 league titles, totaled 209.50 points to win the 2003 crown. UW-Oshkosh finished second with 204 points to make this year's meet the closest race since UW-Stevens Point and UW-La Crosse tied for the 1974 title with 74 points apiece. UW-Stevens Point finished third with 139.50 points, followed by UW-Platteville (111), UW-Whitewater (73.50), UW-Stout and UW-Eau Claire (54), UW-River Falls (11.50) and UW-Superior (0).

UW-La Crosse captured eight individual titles during the two-day league gala. Andrew Rock won the 200-meter dash and 400-meter dash titles with times of 20.84 and 47.36, respectively. He won both events for the third straight season and also established a conference record with his time in the 200. Rock was voted the league's Track Performer of the Meet for his efforts, marking the second time in his career he has won the award. He also claimed the league honor in 2001.

Derek Toshner also won two individual titles for the Eagles, claiming the 110-meter hurdles in 14.65 and the 400-meter hurdles with time 51.82. This was the second consecutive season that Toshner won both events at the league meet.

UW-La Crosse's Matt Pagel won the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.84. Mike Turgeon won the discus for the third straight season with a conference record toss of 180-0, while Herc Hyland claimed the triple jump title with a leap of 47-3 1/2 and Hans Schmidt won the pole vault with conference record effort of 17-3.

UW-La Crosse also won the 4x400-meter relay and 4x800-meter relay events with times of 3:14.13 and 7:39.58. Kris Smith, Nate Olson, Rock and Toshner participated on the 4x400 team, which set a conference record, while Doug Connor, Dan Haumschild, Gabe Siehr and Mike Herlihy composed the 4x800 squad.

UW-Oshkosh had five individuals claim titles at the conference meet. Kevin Deering won the high jump with a height of 6-5 1/2 and also claimed the decathlon title with 6,550 points. He was voted the Field Performer of the Meet for his efforts.

The Titans' Matt Groose won the 800-meter run for the second straight season with a conference record time of 1:51.25. Groose also won the event during the 2000 meet.

Eamon McKenna won the 5,000-meter run crown with a time of 14:40.82, while David Cisewski claimed the 10,000-meter run event with a time of 30:28.08 and John LeRoy captured the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 9:16.93.

UW-Oshkosh's Jeff Ehrike, Ryan Dahmen, Brian Pludeman and Dan Kelm won the 4x100-meter relay event with a time of 41.59.

UW-Platteville's Ryan Kleimenhagen won the 1,500-meter run with a conference record performance of 3:48.90, while Andy Paulsen won the shot put with a heave of 58-7 1/2.

UW-Stevens Point's Aaron Carley won the long jump with a distance of 23-5 1/2 and Scott Dreger captured the javelin title with a toss of 186-7.

UW-Whitewater's Jeremy Wendt won the hammer throw for the second consecutive season with a conference record toss of 199-0.

UW-La Crosse head coach Mark Guthrie was voted the league's Coach of the Year for the fifth straight season.

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UW-Oshkosh's McKenna Named Finalist For NACDA Directors' Cup Postgraduate Scholarship

RELEASED: Wednesday, March 12, 2002

Cleveland, Ohio--University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh's Eamon McKenna has been named one of forty finalists for the 10th annual NACDA Directors' Cup Postgraduate Scholarship Awards by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).

There are 10 finalists each from the NCAA Division I, Division II, Division III and the NAIA. They will now be reviewed by the Finalist Committees, which will select the final winner per division (four total) who will each receive a $5,000 scholarship to be used toward postgraduate studies. In addition, a second $5,000 scholarship per division will be awarded to a student from each of the four institutions (one per division) that win the 2002-03 NACDA Directors' Cup trophies. The winners will be announced at the end of April.

Student-athletes are eligible for these prestigious scholarships. Students are required to have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale); have demonstrated leadership abilities within the institution or community; have been awarded athletics honors, along the lines of all-conference or all-America, in the varsity sport in which the student-athlete is nominated; and be in their final year of athletics eligibility.

Members of the NACDA Directors' Cup Committee were responsible for selecting the finalists. The list of committee members can be found on NACDA's web site at www.nacda.com.

The NACDA Directors' Cup Award, developed as a joint effort between NACDA and USA Today, honors the "all-sports" champion in each of the NCAA's three divisions -- I, II and III -- and the NAIA, and includes both men and women's sports. To determine the champion, points are awarded based on each institution's finish in a predetermined number of sports. Previous winners have included -- Division I -- University of North Carolina (1994) and Stanford University (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002), Division II -- University of California-Davis (1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002), California State University-Bakersfield (1998) and Adams State College (1999); Division III -- Williams College (Mass.) (1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002) and the University of California-San Diego (1998); and NAIA - Lindenwood University (2002), Pacific Lutheran University (1996) and Simon Fraser University (BC, Canada) (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001).

The NACDA Directors' Cup Division I Postgraduate finalists include:

Student (Institution), Sport, Major, GPA
Matthew Crawford (North Carolina), Soccer, Biology, 3.70
Melanie Hagewood (Baylor), Golf, Mechanical Engineering, 3.97
Katja Karrento (San Diego State), Tennis, Cell & Molecular Biology, 3.98
Theresa Kulikowski (Utah), Gymnastics, Exercise & Sport Science/Psychology, 4.00
Kara Lawson (Tennessee), Basketball, Finance, 3.77
Jeff Leise (Nebraska), Baseball, Psychology, 3.80
Stephen Mohr (North Carolina), Swimming, Business Administration/Economics, 3.96
Kacey Montgomery (Tennessee), Rowing, Biology, 4.00
Laura Pilakowski (Nebraska), Volleyball, Marketing, 3.95
Jaime Sanger (Tennessee), Diving, Exercise Science, 3.69

Finalists from Division II include:

Christina Ball (Presbyterian), Soccer, Biology, 3.78
Susan Churchwell (UC-Davis), Softball, Economics, 3.88
Kelli Dudley (Truman State), Swimming, Exercise Science/Exercise Physiology, 3.92
Sopagna Eap (UC-Davis), Cross Country/Track & Field, Psychology, 3.79
Melissa Hobson (North Dakota State), Softball, Psychology, 3.65
Liz Hug (Truman State), Swimming, Nursing, 3.86
Julianne Lovejoy (Long Island-C.W. Post), Softball, Digital Arts Design, 3.84
Michelle Newman (Lynn), Basketball, Biology, 4.00
Alfred Rugema (Abilene Christian), Cross Country, Agribusiness, 3.28
Matthew Spector (Quincy), Soccer, Biology/Chemistry/Mathematics, 3.99

Division III finalists include:

Jesse Harris Simpson (Iowa), Basketball, History & Political Science, 3.96
Lisa Havas (St. John Fisher), Lacrosse, Sport Studies, 3.96
Christeen Hodge (Randolph-Macon), Swimming, Biology & Chemistry, 3.82
Titus Martin (LaGrange), Baseball, Math, 3.98
Eamon McKenna (Wisconsin-Oshkosh), Cross Country/Track & Field, Secondary Education/Spanish, 3.97
Brandon Roberts (Washington (Mo.)), Football, Biomedical Engineering, 3.60
Laura Rosenberger (Eastern Mennonite), Track & Field, Biology/Pre-medicine, 3.75
Rebecca Rotello (Washington (Mo.)), Volleyball, Biology, 3.60
Benjamin Tuck (South), Football, Latin, 3.90
Megan Woodruff (Wilmington (Ohio)), Basketball, Athletic Training, 4.00

Finalists from the NAIA include:

Bethany Bauman (Oklahoma Baptist), Cross Country/Track & Field, Exercise Science, 3.96
Sally Cole (Oklahoma City), Soccer, Mathematics Education, 3.98
Abigail Odom (Embry-Riddle (Fla.)), Soccer, Aviation Business Administration, 3.92
Sarah Payne (Baker), Golf, Sociology, 3.87
Jonathon Peterson (Northwestern (Minn.)), Football, Mathematics/Bible, 4.00
Sarah Phillips (Oklahoma Baptist), Track & Field, English Education, 3.96
Alyson Pontbriand (Maine-Farmington), Soccer, Biology, 3.93
Scott Prater (Oklahoma Baptist), Basketball, Biology/Pre-medicine, 3.91
Jason Robinson (Sioux Falls), Basketball, Business Administration, 3.96
Brandon Woudstra (Northwestern (Iowa)), Basketball, Business Education, 3.79

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Josh Buchholtz Vaults To UW-Stout's Men's Track/Cross Country Job

RELEASED: Tuesday, December 31, 2002

Menomonie, Wis.--After conducting a national search, UW-Stout needed to only look out the back door to find their next men's head track and field/cross country coach.

Josh Buchholtz, a native of Bloomer and UW-La Crosse graduate, was named to head the Blue Devil track and field and cross country programs, athletic director Steve Terry announced today.

"We are pleased to have someone with the enthusiasm, knowledge and familiarity of our programs and conference that Josh brings to UW-Stout," Terry said.

Buchholtz has been an assistant coach at UW-La Crosse for the last four seasons, working with the high jump, sprinters and the pole vault. Prior to beginning his coaching career, Buchholtz earned two Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) pole vault titles (1998 indoor and outdoor), and three times earned All-America honors in the event, placing third in 1998.

During Buchholtz's coaching career, he has had a hand in producing eight individual All-America athletes and five WIAC individual champions.

Familiarity with UW-Stout is not a problem for Buchholtz.

"I know where the Stout program has been," Buchholtz said, "and want to get us back to that point. I competed when it was La Crosse and Stout. I will use what I have learned at La Crosse to help us up here."

The facilities are not new to Buchholtz either.

"We did some counting the other day," Buchholtz said, "and I have either competed or coached at Stout's complex at least 30 times, either in high school or college."

Buchholtz's brother, Jamie, was a standout for the Blue Devils, and the two competed against each other several times while in college. The Buchholtz family also left a legacy at Bloomer High School. Their father, Bill, set the high school record in the late 1960s. Josh, who won the Wisconsin state pole vault title his senior year, broke the Bloomer mark, and Jamie, two years younger than Josh, set a new mark.

Buchholtz intends to use his competitive experience as an aid in his coaching.

"I struggled at times through those years," Buchholtz said. "I learned from that and know what a struggling athlete is going through."

Buchholtz also worked with the Eagles' cross country programs, including administrating the prestigious Jim Drews/Tori Neubauer Invitational.

Buchholtz sees the cross country program as his biggest challenge, a challenge he is more than willing to tackle.

"Cross country will be my biggest learning experience here," Buchholtz said, "but I am excited about that challenge."

Buchholtz earned his degree from La Crosse in physical education in 2001. In addition to his coaching duties, Buchholtz will be an instructor in the physical education department.

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Schneider Named UW-Eau Claire Men's Track and Field Coach

RELEASED: Wednesday, August 21, 2002

Eau Claire, Wis.--Chip Schneider has been named the new head men's track and field coach and assistant women's track and field coach at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Schneider comes to Eau Claire after spending the past year as a graduate assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. At La Crosse Schneider coached hurdles, long jump, triple jump and sprints for the 2002 indoor and outdoor NCAA Division III men's national champions. This past spring Schneider was also the lead instructor for the UW-La Crosse High School Learn-By-Doing Track Clinic where he was the lead clinician for sprints and hurdles.

From 1995-96 and again from 1999-01 Schneider was an assistant men's and women's track and field coach at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville where he coached sprints, hurdles and all jumps.

In 2001 Schneider served as an instructor for the Madison High School Learn-By-Doing Track Clinic. Schneider was an assistant clinician for sprints and hurdles.

Schneider was a national champion in the long jump and in the 400-meter hurdles while becoming an eight-time All-American at UW-Platteville. A four-time UW-Platteville track and field most valuable athlete from 1992-95, Schneider was a three-time team captain from 1993-95 and earned Wisconsin State University Conference (WSUC) Academic All-Conference honors in 1994 and 1995. Schneider was named the UW-Platteville Student Athlete of the Year in 1994.

In 1996 Schneider served as an assistant coach for the River Valley High School boy's and girl's track and field teams in Spring Green, Wisconsin.

Outside of coaching Schneider served as a middle school and high school physical education/health instructor for the Galena School District in Galena, Illinois from 1999-2001.

Schneider replaces Scott Steuernagel who will remain at UW-Eau Claire as the head men's cross country coach and assistant track and field coach who will work with the distance events. During his four seasons as head coach Steuernagel totaled 10 All-Americans including 2002 indoor national shot put champion John Schuna.

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