UW-Eau Claire’s Wittig Headlines All-WIAC Women’s Ice Hockey Honorees; UW-River Falls’ Cranston Named Coach of the Year

UW-Eau Claire’s Wittig Headlines All-WIAC Women’s Ice Hockey Honorees; UW-River Falls’ Cranston Named Coach of the Year

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Printable version of the 2019 All-WIAC Women's Ice Hockey Team

MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s Courtney Wittig was selected the Player of the Year to lead the individuals chosen to the 2019 All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women’s Ice Hockey Team by the league coaches. In addition, UW-River Falls’ Joe Cranston was tabbed the Coach of the Year.
 
Wittig is the first player in program history to receive the award. She claimed first team recognition for the third straight year, joining teammate Erin Connolly as the only Blugolds to accomplish the feat. Wittig leads the WIAC with 24 goals, 36 points, 11 power-play goals and six game-winning goals, while ranking eighth with 12 assists and a plus/minus of +22. She has recorded at least one point in 20 of 27 contests, including nine multi-point performances. Wittig tallied a hat trick against UW-River Falls on Feb. 9, 2019.
 
Repeat selections on the first team from a season ago included: UW-Eau Claire’s Elizabeth Bauer, Erin Connolly and Holly Turnbull; UW-River Falls’ Callie Hoff and Haley Nielsen; and UW-Superior’s Kaleigh Martinson. Connolly and Nielsen were also first team selections in 2017.
 
Cranston claimed the coaching award for the second time in three years after leading the Falcons to their sixth consecutive regular-season league title. UW-River Falls owns a 23-4 record, marking the fifth time in the last six years it has posted at least 23 victories.
 
An All-Sportsmanship Team was chosen for individuals that displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season. It included one member from each school.
 
2019 All-WIAC Women’s Ice Hockey Team
Name, School, Year, Position, Hometown (Previous Team)
Elizabeth Bauer, Eau Claire, Junior, Forward, Wausau, Wis. (East HS)
Erin Connolly, Eau Claire, Junior, Goalie, Mequon, Wis. (Homestead HS)
Alex Grubbs, Stevens Point, Junior, Forward, Minong, Wis. (Spooner HS)
Callie Hoff, River Falls, Sophomore, Forward, Hermantown, Minn. (Proctor-Hermantown HS)
Kaleigh Martinson, Superior, Junior, Forward, Dayton, Minn. (Champlin Park HS)
Sami Miller, River Falls, Freshman, Goalie, Blaine, Minn. (Spring Lake Park HS)
Haley Nielsen, River Falls, Senior, Defenseman, Plymouth, Minn. (Orono HS)
Lauren Smith, Stevens Point, Senior, Defenseman, Antigo, Wis. (Antigo HS)
Abigail Stow, River Falls, Freshman, Forward, Eau Claire, Wis. (Memorial HS)
Holly Turnbull, Eau Claire, Senior, Defenseman, Hayward, Wis. (Hayward HS)
Courtney Wittig, Eau Claire, Senior, Forward, Green Bay, Wis. (Bay Port HS)
Morgan Zirbel, Eau Claire, Sophomore, Defenseman, Green Bay, Wis. (Ashwaubenon HS)
 
Honorable Mention
Ty Bischoff, Superior, Freshman, Defenseman, Grand Rapids, Minn. (Grand Rapids HS)
Jenna Curtis, Superior, Sophomore, Forward, Webster, Wis. (Webster HS)
Ashley Effertz, River Falls, Senior, Defenseman, Delano, Minn. (Buffalo HS)
Cara Lemirande, Stevens Point, Senior, Forward, Janesville, Wis. (Madison Capitols)
Sami Meister, Eau Claire, Junior, Defenseman, Plymouth, Minn. (Wayzata HS)
Madi Nolan, River Falls, Sophomore, Forward, Columbus, Minn. (Forest Lake HS)
Erica Schramel, River Falls, Junior, Defenseman, Princeton, Minn. (Princeton HS)
Bella Wagner, River Falls, Junior, Forward, Zumbrota, Minn. (Zumbrota HS)
Hanna Zavoral, Eau Claire, Sophomore, Forward, St. Paul, Minn. (Highland Park HS)
 
All-Sportsmanship Team
Jessie Andersen, River Falls, Senior, Forward, Woodbury, Minn. (East Ridge HS)
Allison Karrmann, Stevens Point, Senior, Forward, Cannon Falls, Minn. (Emerson Prep)
Monica Sjodin, Eau Claire, Senior, Defenseman, Anoka, Minn. (Anoka HS)
Mandy Tomlinson, Superior, Senior, Forward, Ogdensburg, Wis. (Waupaca HS)
 
Player of the Year:  Courtney Wittig of Eau Claire
Coach of the Year:  Joe Cranston of River Falls
 
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