UW-River Falls’ Tusa and UW-Whitewater’s Epifanio Top All-WIAC Softball Squad; UW-Eau Claire’s Huntington Named Coach of the Year
Printable version of the 2012 All-WIAC Softball Team
MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-River Falls’ Rose Tusa and UW-Whitewater’s Emily Epifanio were chosen the Pitcher of the Year and Position Player of the Year, respectively, to lead the 20 individuals selected to the 2012 All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Softball Team by the league coaches, while UW-Eau Claire’s Leslie Huntington was tabbed the Coach of the Year.
Tusa claimed the Pitcher of the Year honor for the second consecutive season after earning first team accolades in 2010 and honorable mention laurels in 2009. She leads the WIAC with 23 wins, a 1.62 earned run average, 225 strikeouts, 199.0 innings pitched, a .233 opponent batting average and 39 appearances. Tusa has produced 13 games of seven or more strikeouts, including a season-high 13 against Lake Forest College (Ill.) on March 15 and UW-Platteville on April 29. Her career totals include a conference-leading 139 appearances, along with school records of 721 strikeouts and 71 victories.
Epifanio was a first team selection a season ago and a honorable mention pick in 2010. This year, she ranks second in the conference with 84 total bases, third with eight home runs and 32 runs batted in, fourth with 16 walks, fifth with a .651 slugging percentage and 50 hits, sixth with a .459 on-base percentage and seventh with a .388 batting average. She had at least one hit in 34 of 43 games this season, including 13 multi-hit performances, and accumulated an 18-game hitting streak. Epifanio had a career-high six runs batted in against UW-Stevens Point on April 5.
Repeat selections on the first team from a year ago included: UW-La Crosse’s Katie Keyes; UW-River Falls’ Ashley Goettl; UW-Superior’s Taylor VanDamme; and UW-Whitewater’s Amanda Mertes. VanDamme was also a first team selection in 2010, along with UW-River Falls’ Patty Olson.
Huntington earned the coaching plaque for the fourth time in her career after directing the Blugolds to the WIAC regular-season championship and a 32-12 overall record. UW-Eau Claire also earned a spot in the NCAA Division III Championship for the sixth time in the last seven seasons.
An All-Sportsmanship Team was chosen for individuals that displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season. It included one member from each school.
2012 All-WIAC Softball Team
Name, School, Year, Position, Hometown (High School)
Lauren Beres, La Crosse, Junior, Righthanded Pitcher, New Berlin, Wis. (Eisenhower)
Katie Boyle, Whitewater, Junior, Righthanded Pitcher, Greendale, Wis. (Thomas More)
Nikki Bromelkamp, Eau Claire, Senior, Catcher, Zumbrota, Minn. (Zumbrota-Mazeppa)
Hayley Buchanan, River Falls, Junior, Secondbase, Eden Prairie, Minn.
Laura Eichenold, Whitewater, Sophomore, Shortstop, Elmwood Park, Ill. (Trinity)
Emily Epifanio, Whitewater, Junior, Catcher, Park Ridge, Ill. (Maine South)
Paige Evangelista, Whitewater, Freshman, Utility, Wheaton, Ill. (North)
Amanda Fischer, Eau Claire, Freshman, Outfield, Wausau, Wis. (West)
Ashley Goettl, River Falls, Junior, Firstbase, North Mankato, Minn. (Mankato West)
Alison Gray, Stout, Junior, Centerfield, St. Cloud, Minn. (Apollo)
Katie Keyes, La Crosse, Senior, Firstbase, Green Bay, Wis. (Ashwaubenon)
Katie Koepsel, Oshkosh, Freshman, Catcher/Designated Player, Oak Creek, Wis.
Chantal McReynolds, Platteville, Senior, Shortstop, Mineral Point, Wis.
Ashley Meinen, Eau Claire, Senior, Righthanded Pitcher, Chippewa Falls, Wis. (McDonell)
Amanda Mertes, Whitewater, Junior, Outfield, Des Plaines, Ill. (Elk Grove)
Emily Muller, Eau Claire, Senior, Shortstop, Lancaster, Wis.
Patty Olson, River Falls, Senior, Catcher, Roseville, Minn.
Taylor Pierce, Eau Claire, Freshman, Designated Player, Ashwaubenon, Wis.
Rose Tusa, River Falls, Senior, Righthanded Pitcher, Roseville, Minn. (St. Anthony Village)
Taylor VanDamme, Superior, Senior, Centerfield, Superior, Wis. (Senior)
Honorable Mention
Katie Fink, La Crosse, Sophomore, Leftfield, Kaukauna, Wis.
Ashlen Folkers, Platteville, Junior, Secondbase, Rock Falls, Ill.
Sam Hastings, Stout, Sophomore, Catcher, Waukesha, Wis. (West)
Jenny Hess, Eau Claire, Junior, Outfield/Secondbase, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. (Lincoln)
Chelsey Jarzin, Superior, Senior, Catcher, Superior, Wis. (Senior)
Katie Krueger, Stevens Point, Junior, Firstbase, Plover, Wis. (SPASH)
Colleen Lowe, Platteville, Junior, Thirdbase, Byron, Ill.
Ashlee Olson, Superior, Senior, Leftfield, Superior, Wis. (Senior)
Bekah Rennicke, Stevens Point, Sophomore, Outfield/Righthanded Pitcher, Mequon, Wis. (Homestead)
Amanda Ryder, River Falls, Junior, Designated Player, Menomonie, Wis.
Nathalie Schattner, Platteville, Junior, Designated Player, Union Grove, Wis.
Jordon Schreiner, Stevens Point, Freshman, Outfield, Kaukauna, Wis.
Samie Seamon, Whitewater, Sophomore, Outfield, Antioch, Ill.
Julie Sweeney, Oshkosh, Freshman, Designated Player/Righthanded Pitcher, Arlington Heights, Ill. (Saint Viator)
Hannah Sweet, Stout, Sophomore, Thirdbase, Elk River, Minn.
Hillary Trebiatowski, Oshkosh, Junior, Outfield, Plover, Wis. (SPASH)
Laura Vanderhoof, Stout, Sophomore, Righthanded Pitcher, Mankato, Minn. (East)
Courtney Wautier, Oshkosh, Junior, Righthanded Pitcher, Brussels, Wis. (Southern Door)
All-Sportsmanship Team
Jess Freagon, Eau Claire, Senior, Infield/Outfield, Chippewa Falls, Wis. (McDonell)
Kylie Kaiser, La Crosse, Senior, Catcher, Monroe, Wis.
Courtney Wautier, Oshkosh, Junior, Righthanded Pitcher, Brussels, Wis. (Southern Door)
Jeni Freiburger, Platteville, Sophomore, Righthanded Pitcher, Belmont, Wis.
Jessie Bester, River Falls, Senior, Outfield, Hampton, Minn. (Randolph)
Kelly Arndt, Stevens Point, Senior, Catcher/Outfield, Ashwaubenon, Wis.
Sammy Peterson, Stout, Senior, Infield, Hudson, Wis.
Chelsey Jarzin, Superior, Senior, Catcher, Superior, Wis. (Senior)
Darcy Foreman, Whitewater, Senior, Shortstop/Secondbase, Niles, Ill. (North)
Position Player of the Year: Emily Epifanio of Whitewater
Pitcher of the Year: Rose Tusa of River Falls
Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete: Rose Tusa of River Falls
Coach of the Year: Leslie Huntington of Eau Claire
# # # # #