2008-09 WIAC Wrestling Headlines

2008-09 WIAC Wrestling Headlines

UW-La Crosse’s Laurent and UW-River Falls’ Hansberry Named To Academic All-America Team

RELEASED: Tuesday, June 9, 2009

MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Dan Laurent and UW-River Falls’ Derek Hansberry have been named to the 2009 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America College Division Men’s At-Large Team.

Eligible sports on the at-large squad are fencing, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming, tennis, volleyball, water polo and wrestling.

Laurent, a junior wrestler from Mishicot, Wis., was named to the first team and is majoring in biochemistry, while boasting a 3.92 grade point average. He becomes the six individual in program history to secure Academic All-America accolades and his selection marks the third straight year that UW-La Crosse has had an individual named to the team. Jason Lulloff and Josh Chelf were second team picks in 2007 and 2008, respectively.

A senior ice hockey player from Arvada, Colo., Hansberry claimed third team recognition for the second time in his career (2007). He carries a 3.88 grade point average and is majoring in business finance. Hansberry is the second individual in Falcon men’s ice hockey history to secure Academic All-America status, joining Rob Novak who was a second team honoree in 2004.

Also named to the Academic All-America squad were UW-Oshkosh’s Seth Breunig and UW-Whitewater’s Alex Lowe. Both individuals participate in tennis, which is not sponsored by the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Breunig, a senior from Sauk City, Wis. (Sauk Prairie), was a second team selection. He boasts a 4.00 grade point average and is majoring in secondary education.

A senior from Owego, Ill., Lowe claimed third team honors. He maintains a 3.83 grade point average in accounting.

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Two Secure Men’s Academic All-District At-Large Honors

RELEASED: Wednesday, May 27, 2009

MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Dan Laurent and UW-River Falls’ Derek Hansberry have been named to the 2009 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Five College Division Men’s At-Large First Team.

The 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). Eligible sports are fencing, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming, tennis, volleyball, water polo and wrestling.

Laurent, a junior wrestler from Mishicot, Wis., is majoring in biochemistry and holds a 3.92 grade point average.

A senior ice hockey player from Arvada, Colo., Hansberry carries a 3.88 grade point average and is majoring in business finance.

Also named to the 10-member squad were UW-Oshkosh’s Seth Breunig and UW-Whitewater’s Alex Lowe. Both individuals participate in tennis, which is not sponsored by the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Breunig is a senior from Sauk City, Wis. (Sauk Prairie), and boasts a 4.00 grade point average, while Lowe is a senior from Oswego, Ill., and maintains a 3.83 grade point average in accounting.

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Sikora Named UW-Eau Claire Head Wrestling Coach

RELEASED: Tuesday, May 5, 2009

EAU CLAIRE, Wis.--Former University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire wrestling national champion Derek Sikora has been selected as the program’s sixth head coach following the retirement of Don Parker, who led the Blugolds for 32 seasons, Director of Athletics Scott Kilgallon has announced.

In addition to Sikora, Russ Peloquin, who has served as an assistant wrestling coach for the Blugolds since 2004, will also remain on board. Peloquin, a former wrestler from UW-La Crosse is a two-time All-American, recording a second place finish at 118 pounds at the 1998 NCAA Division III Championships and a sixth place finish at the 1999 championships at 125 pounds.

"We are excited to have both Derek and Russ on board to continue to lead the Blugold wrestling program," Kilgallon said.

Sikora, a Neillsville native, wrestled for the Blugolds from 2002-06. In 2006, he became the program’s only national champion, as he captured the 165-pound title at the NCAA Division III Championships.

Sikora finished his Blugold career winning his final 18 matches and ended his senior season with a record of 31-2. He finished as a three-time All-American with a career record of 111-23. He also took third and fifth at the national meets his sophomore and junior seasons, respectively. In addition to his national title, Sikora won conference titles twice in his career.

Following his playing career with the Blugolds, Sikora helped coach the team for parts of three seasons. He was a graduate assistant during the 2006-07 season and started out coaching during the 2007-08 season but after earning his master’s degree, transferred to UW-Oshkosh to be an assistant wrestling coach there for the remainder of the season. He then came back to UW-Eau Claire to help as an assistant for the 2008-09 season.

Sikora is excited about the opportunity to the lead the Blugolds into the future.

"I am very honored and thankful for the opportunity to be the next head coach of Blugold Wrestling,” Sikora said. “I have had a great experience wrestling for and working with Coach Parker and as an alum of the university, I take great honor in taking this job."

Sikora, who earned his bachelor of science in movement studies and his masters of education in professional development degrees from UW-Eau Claire, also played four seasons of football for the Blugolds. Sikora was a two-time All-WIAC selection at cornerback and received All-WIAC honors as a return specialist his senior season. He was also named twice to the All-West Region third team, once as a cornerback and the other as a returner. He also helped coach the football team in 2006, 2007 and 2008 and will assist the team again next season.

Peloquin brings with him nine years of wrestling coaching experience. Prior to his five seasons with the Blugolds he was a graduate assistant for UW-La Crosse for one year. He also coached as an assistant at Wabash College (Ind.) and Lawrence University. Peloquin has coached three national champions, one at UW-Eau Claire, one at UW-La Crosse and one at Lawrence.

Peloquin is no stranger to great achievement on the wrestling mat either as he was a very successful wrestler for the UW-La Crosse Eagles. In addition to his All-American honors, he won WIAC titles in 1998 and 1999 at 118 and 125 pounds, respectively, as the Eagles went on to win the conference team championship. Peloquin finished his career with a record of 70-19 as he wrestled from 1995-99.

In 2001, Peloquin earned a bachelor of science degree in physical education from UW-La Crosse while he earned his master of science in exercise and sport science-pedagogy degree in 2004 at La Crosse as well. He currently serves as an associate lecturer in the Department of Kinesiology at UW-Eau Claire.

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UW-Eau Claire’s Parker To Retire

RELEASED: Monday, May 4, 2009

EAU CLAIRE, Wis.--After 32 seasons as head coach of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire wrestling team, Don Parker is retiring, Director of Athletics Scott Kilgallon has announced.

“We are very grateful for what Coach Parker has done for the wrestling program for many years and we thank him for his years of dedicated service and many lives he’s impacted,” Kilgallon said.

Parker began coaching at Eau Claire in 1977. Since that time he has coached one national champion, 15 All-Americans and 19 conference champions. In seven out of the last eight seasons, Parker has coached a wrestler to an All-American finish, capped off this season by Josh Holforty’s third place at 197 pounds. He has taken at least one wrestler to the NCAA Division III Championships every year since 2000.

Under Parker, the Blugolds advanced to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Championships nine times before the switch to NCAA. The team achieved its best finish in 1990 when it took 15th place. Since joining the NCAA in 1994, the Blugolds’ best finish at the national meet was a tie for 16th in 2006 after Derek Sikora captured the Blugolds’ only national title.

The Blugolds also had their best finish in program history at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship under Parker when the team took third both in 2001 and 2003. In 2000, Parker earned WIAC Coach of the Year honors. Parker was also honored in 2007 by being inducted into the Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame of Iowa as well as the NCAA Division II Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2000.

Parker concluded his career with the Blugolds having coached more than 450 dual meets. He came to UW-Eau Claire after four seasons at Upper Iowa University. He was a three-time All-American at Northern Iowa University, where he earned two national titles at 177 pounds.

Parker was also an assistant coach for the Blugold football team for 12 seasons (1977-88) and an instructor in the Department of Kinesiology as well.

Parker was forced to teach and coach from a wheelchair since 1998 after a fall from a tree stand caused a severe spinal cord injury.

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UW-La Crosse’s Mauseth Named WIAC Wrestler of the Year

RELEASED: Monday, March 16, 2009

MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Matt Mauseth has been named the 2009 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Wrestler of the Year based on a vote taken by the league coaches.

A sophomore from Rochester, Minn. (Mayo), Mauseth finished 28-5 during the 2009 campaign with six pins. He captured 149-pound title at the 2009 NCAA Division III Championship with a 6-3 decision over Paul LeBlanc of Cortland State (N.Y.). Mauseth also claimed the 149-pound WIAC crown and was named to the WIAC All-Sportsmanship Team as the Eagles won their 12th straight conference championship.

He became the second wrestler in UW-La Crosse history to take the 149-pound national title, joining Jake Larsen in 2006. Mauseth also earned All-America honors last year with a sixth-place finish.

Mauseth is 50-14 in his two-year career and is one of six Eagles to claim the league’s wrestler of the year honor. The six individuals have combined to win the award nine times.

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UW-Eau Claire and UW-La Crosse To Host Upcoming NCAA Championships

RELEASED: Thursday, March 12, 2009

MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and UW-La Crosse have been selected to host upcoming National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Championships. The Blugolds received the 2010 NCAA Division III Softball Championship, while the Eagles will entertain the 2011 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championship.

UW-Oshkosh and Lawrence University currently host the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute, Wis. This will mark the 10th straight season the event has been hosted by UW-Oshkosh and be conducted on May 22-26.

The 2010 softball championship will be the first to be hosted in the Midwest since Eau Claire hosted the 2002 event. This will be the fifth time Eau Claire has hosted the championship, having previously been the host site in 1997, 1999, 2001 and 2002. Eastern Connecticut also has hosted the championship four times. Only the City of Salem, Virginia will have hosted more softball championships (eight).

Since the Blugolds last hosted, Salem hosted in 2003 and 2004, Peace College (N.C.) in 2005 and 2006, Salem in 2007 and 2008 and Montclair State University (N.J.) will host this year. The event has only been in the Midwest 11 times in the 27-year history of the Division III softball championship.

The eight-team, double elimination tournament will be held May 21-24 with an “if necessary” game possible on May 25. Games will be played on Carson Park’s historic Gelein Field with the Hobbs Field used as a warm-up and practice facility.

This is not the only sport in which UW-Eau Claire has been a national tournament host. The Blugolds hosted the 1984 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) men’s ice hockey championship, the 1986 NAIA women’s gymnastics nationals, the 1994 NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Championship, the 2003 National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) national meet and the 2004 NCAA Division III Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championships.

The 2011 wrestling championship will take place at the La Crosse Center on March 4-5, 2011. It will be the first time UW-La Crosse has hosted the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championship and the second time in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference history. UW-Stevens Point hosted the meet in 1994.

The Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Coe College (Iowa) and Cornell College (Iowa) hosted the 2008 and 2009 championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa at the U.S. Cellular Center. Cedar Rapids will also host in 2010.

At the national championship, a total of 10 weight class brackets will be held with the top-eight finishers in each earning All-America honors.

The La Crosse Center is located in downtown La Crosse nested on the banks of the Mississippi River. The convention hall and arena were originally built in 1980. In the spring of 2000, the La Crosse Center nearly doubled in size with a $14 million expansion. The new project features two grand halls that combine for 36,000 square feet. The second floor hosts a 6,000 square foot ballroom with a spectacular view of the Mississippi River. Adjacent to the ballroom are three boardrooms and a conference room. The entire complex provides nearly 100,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space. The La Crosse Center has become a premier facility in the Midwest as a convention site and an entertainment destination.

UW-La Crosse has hosted several other national competitions, including the 1995 NCAA Division III Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships and 1986 and 1997 NCAA Division III Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The university has also served as the host of the 1989, 1997 and 2005 NCGA Championships, the 1973, 1976 and 1981 NAIA Men's Gymnastics Championships and the 1965 and 1970 NAIA Men's Swimming Championships.

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UW-La Crosse and UW-Stevens Point Receive NWCA Scholar Team Laurels

RELEASED: Wednesday, March 11, 2009

MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and UW-Stevens Point have been recognized as two of the top 25 NCAA Division III Scholar Teams for the 2008-09 season by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA). In addition, 19 individuals from the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) were named to the Scholar All-America Team.

The Pointers compiled a 3.225 team grade point average to place 20th on the list, while the Eagles posted a mark of 3.173 to rank 25th. Williams College (Mass.) topped the chart with a 3.545 grade point average.

Individuals from the WIAC acknowledged on the Scholar All-America Team included: UW-Eau Claire’s Andy Miller and Andy Johnston, UW-La Crosse’s Dan Laurent, Matt Mauseth, Andy Moore, Dan Schulte and Josh Zabel, UW-Platteville’s Ryan Higgins and Jesse Milks, UW-Stevens Point’s Chase DeCleene, Ben Engelland, Chad Gregory, Brett Oswald and Dennis Reckelberg and UW-Whitewater’s Austin Bautista, Sam Pietrzyk, Tom Trieloff, Karl Voeck and Kyle Wachholder.

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UW-La Crosse Leads WIAC at NCAA Wrestling Championship

RELEASED: Saturday, March 7, 2009

MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse recorded a third-place finish to lead the seven Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) representatives at the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championship in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on March 6-7. The national event was hosted by Coe College (Iowa), Cornell College (Iowa) and the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

UW-La Crosse totaled 87 points enroute to the third-place finish. Wartburg College (Iowa) won the national championship with 117.50 points to surpass Augsburg College’s (Minn.) second-place sum of 105 points. Coe College finished fourth with 78.5 and Delaware Valley College (Pa.) fifth with 65.5.

UW-Whitewater tied for 12th with 28 points, while UW-Stevens Point finished 17th with 17.5, UW-Eau Claire 20th with 13.5, UW-Platteville tied for 26th with 8.5, UW-Oshkosh tied for 45th with one and Lawrence University tied for 52nd with .5.

UW-La Crosse’s Dan Laurent won the 285-pound title for the second straight year with a 6-3 decision over Mark Corsello of Elmhurst College (Ill.). He is the third individual in school history to win back-to-back championships, joining Josh Chelf (174-pounds in 2007, 2008) and Ryan Allen (285-pounds in 2004, 2005, 2006).

The Eagles also received a first-place finish from Matt Mauseth at 149 pounds. He took the crown with a 6-3 decision over Paul LeBlanc of Cortland State (N.Y.). Mauseth is the second individual in program archives to win the 149-pound division, joining Jake Larsen in 2006.

WIAC All-Americans:
141--Austin Bautista (UW-Whitewater-Third), Chase DeCleene (UW-Stevens Point-Sixth)
149--Matt Mauseth (UW-La Crosse-Champion)
157--Jesse Milks (UW-Platteville-Fifth)
165--Pat Nagel (UW-Whitewater-Eighth)
174--Mike Schmitz (UW-La Crosse-Fourth)
184--Josh Zabel (UW-La Crosse-Third), Ben Engelland (UW-Stevens Point-Fifth)
197--Josh Holforty (UW-Eau Claire-Third), Andy Moore (UW-La Crosse-Fourth), Karl Voeck (UW-Whitewater-Sixth)
285--Dan Laurent (UW-La Crosse-Champion)

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UW-La Crosse’s Zabel Named Wrestling Scholar-Athlete

RELEASED: Wednesday, February 24, 2009

MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Josh Zabel has been named the 2009 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Max Sparger Wrestling Scholar-Athlete.

Zabel, a senior from Rochester, Minn. (Mayo), maintains a 3.39 grade point average and is majoring in sport management with a minor in business administration. He was named to the 2008 National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Academic Team and is a five-time member of UW-La Crosse’s Dean’s List.

Zabel, a team captain this year, secured All-America honors a year ago with a fifth-place finish at 184 pounds at the NCAA Division III Championship. He has won consecutive 184-pound titles at the WIAC meet and ranks fourth on UW-La Crosse’s all-time chart with 132 wins.

He is a member of UW-La Crosse’s Winners Council and becomes the eighth individual in program history - and third consecutive - to win the conference’s scholar-athlete award.

Also nominated for this year’s scholar-athlete award were: UW-Eau Claire’s Andy Miller (Sr., Appleton, Wis./North), UW-La Crosse’s Kevin Barber (Sr., Port Washington, Wis.) and Pat Parrillo (Sr., Naperville, Ill./North) and UW-Platteville’s Ryan Higgins (Sr., Oconomowoc, Wis.).

The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is named after Max Sparger, who served as commissioner of the Wisconsin State University Conference from July, 1971 - July, 1993.

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’s Malacek Named Wrestling Coach of the Year

RELEASED: Monday, February 23, 2009

MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse wrestling head coach Dave Malecek has been named the 2009 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Mertz Mortorelli Coach of the Year based on a vote of the league coaches.

Malecek claimed the award for the third consecutive season after directing the Eagles to their 12th consecutive championship on Feb. 22 in Oshkosh, Wis. He is in his third year in charge of the program.

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Eagles Claim 12th Consecutive Wrestling Championship

RELEASED: Sunday, February 22, 2009

OSHKOSH, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse won its 12th consecutive Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Wrestling Championship at UW-Oshkosh’s Kolf Sports Center on Feb. 22.

The Eagles claimed the 13th first-place trophy in program history with 146 team points to surpass UW-Stevens Point’s second-place sum of 144 points. UW-Whitewater placed third with 126 points, while UW-Oshkosh was fourth with 74, UW-Eau Claire fifth with 73, UW-Platteville sixth with 61 and Lawrence University seventh with 20.

UW-La Crosse’s winning effort was led by Dan Laurent who captured the 285-pound title for the third straight year. He pinned UW-Whitewater’s Sean Evans in 2:12 to become the fifth individual in WIAC listings to win three consecutive championships in the weight class.

The Eagles’ Matt Mauseth and Josh Zabel won their brackets for the second straight season. Mauseth captured the 149-pound crown for the second straight seasons with a pin of UW-Eau Claire’s Andy Johnston in 4:23, while Zabel earned a 6-0 decision over UW-Stevens Point’s Ben Engelland at 184 pounds.

Albie McKinney won the 125-pound crown with an 8-7 decision over UW-Whitewater’s Max Oldenburg, while Mike Schmitz defeated UW-Oshkosh’s Sam Engelland 10-3 to finish first at 174 pounds.

UW-Stevens Point’s Jake Wozniak was voted the John Peterson Wrestler of the Meet after winning the 165-pound championship with a pin of UW-Whitewater’s Pat Nagel in 4:47. The Pointers also received a winning effort from Jered Kern at 133 pounds. He defeated UW-La Crosse’s Bebeto Yewah 10-7.

UW-Whitewater’s Austin Bautista won the 141-pound crown for the second consecutive year after placing second in 2007. This season, he earned an 8-4 decision over UW-Stevens Point’s Chase DeCleene.

The Warhawks’ Karl Voeck claimed the 197-pound bracket with a 6-0 decision over UW-La Crosse’s Andy Moore.

At 157 pounds, UW-Platteville’s Jesse Milks was victorious for the second straight season after claiming a second-place medal in 2007. This year, he secured a 12-7 decision over UW-Whitewater’s Tom Trieloff.

The 10 conference champions, along with nine at-large selections will participate in the NCAA Division III Championship on March 6-7 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The nine at-large selections include: UW-Eau Claire’s Josh Holforty, UW-La Crosse’s Cory Ferguson and Andy Moore, UW-Oshkosh’s Sam Engelland, UW-Stevens Point’s Chase DeCleene and Ben Engelland, UW-Whitewater’s Pat Nagel and Max Oldenburg and Lawrence University’s Sam Laes.

UW-La Crosse head coach Dave Malecek was voted the Mertz Mortorelli Coach of the Year for the third straight year, while UW-La Crosse’s Josh Zabel received the Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete Award.

Named to the All-Sportsmanship Team were: UW-Eau Claire’s Zach Weisenberger, UW-La Crosse’s Matt Mauseth, UW-Oshkosh’s Morgan Sickinger, UW-Platteville’s Brad Zellner, UW-Stevens Point’s Jake Wozniak, UW-Whitewater’s Josh Miller and Lawrence University’s John Fitzpatrick.

Championship Match Results:
125--Albie McKinney (UW-La Crosse) dec. Max Oldenburg (UW-Whitewater), 8-7
133--Jered Kern (UW-Stevens Point) dec. Bebeto Yewah (UW-La Crosse), 10-7
141--Austin Bautista (UW-Whitewater) dec. Chase DeCleene (UW-Stevens Point), 8-4
149--Matt Mauseth (UW-La Crosse) pinned Andy Johnston (UW-Eau Claire), 4:23
157--Jesse Milks (UW-Platteville) dec. Tom Trieloff (UW-Whitewater), 12-7
165--Jake Wozniak (UW-Stevens Point) pinned Pat Nagel (UW-Whitewater)*, 4:47
174--Mike Schmitz (UW-La Crosse) dec. Sam Engelland (UW-Oshkosh), 10-3
184--Josh Zabel (UW-La Crosse) dec. Ben Engelland (UW-Stevens Point), 6-0
197--Karl Voeck (UW-Whitewater) dec. Andy Moore (UW-La Crosse), 6-0
285--Dan Laurent (UW-La Crosse) pinned Sean Evans (UW-Whitewater)^, 2:12

*Nagel finished third, UW-La Crosse’s Cory Ferguson placed second
^Evans finished third, UW-Stevens Point’s Brett Oswald placed second

John Peterson Wrestler of the Meet: Jake Wozniak of UW-Stevens Point
Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete: Josh Zabel of UW-La Crosse
Mertz Mortorelli Coach of the Year: Dave Malecek of UW-La Crosse

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Lawrence's Novickis to be inducted into Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame

RELEASED: Tuesday, January 6, 2009

APPLETON, Wis.--Lawrence University's Dave Novickis will be inducted into the Division III Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame in March 2009.

Novickis, who has been the Vikings' head coach for 16 seasons, will be inducted on March 5 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, which is the site of the NCAA Division III Championships.

"This is a great honor for Lawrence University and the wrestling program and all the men who have wrestled for me," Novickis said. "I accept this honor on behalf of the university and myself."

Novickis was the architect of the Lawrence wrestling program's rise to national prominence in the 1990s.

Novickis coached three Midwest Conference champions and 27 conference placewinners from 1994 until the league discontinued the sport in 1997. The Vikings also established themselves on the national stage during this time. Lawrence started a string in 1994 of nine consecutive seasons with at least one national qualifier. Of Lawrence's 30 national qualifiers, 18 have come during Novickis' 16 seasons at the helm of the team.

Novickis coached Mike Hoskins to four consecutive NCAA Division III Championships appearances, and he became the school's first wrestling All-American in 1998. Lawrence then sent a school-record three wrestlers to the NCAA Division III Championships in 2000.

The Vikings followed that with a 10th-place finish at the 2001 NCAA Championships, which is Lawrence's highest team finish at the national meet. Also in 2001, Lawrence had two All-Americans in the same season for the first time in school history when Ross Mueller took third at 174 pounds and Andy Kazik claimed third at 184.

Kazik took it a step further in 2002 when he won Lawrence's only individual national wrestling title at 184 pounds. Kazik put together a perfect 40-0 record during that season.

The Vikings also achieved their first national ranking during the 1998-99 season, and Lawrence would be ranked as high as ninth during the 2000-01 season.

Novickis oversaw Lawrence's move to the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) for the 2002-03 season and coached Ben Dictus, a three-time national qualifier, to an individual title at 184 in 2005. Even with the move to the WIAC, Lawrence maintained its close ties to the state's other private colleges. The Vikings won the Private College Championships in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, and 2003, and Lawrence took the team title at the inaugural Northern Wrestling Association Tournament in 2007.

Novickis, who began his coaching career in 1978, has received numerous individual awards. He was the Division III District 9 Coach of the Year in 1997, 1999, and 2000. He was the 1998 NCAA Great Lakes Regional Coach of the Year and also won the Northern Wrestling Association Coach of the Year award in 2007.

The Vikings also have flexed their muscle in the classroom during Novickis' tenure. Lawrence has had 19 Scholar All-Americans during the past 16 years, and the Vikings had at least one wrestler chosen for 14 consecutive years.

Wartburg College coach Jim Miller also will be inducted. Three wrestlers, Ithaca College's Mike Fusilli, Cortland State's Rick Armstrong, and John Carroll University's Brad Bowman also will be inducted.

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UW-Whitewater’s Fader NWCA President-Elect

RELEASED: Thursday, December 4, 2008

MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Whitewater wrestling head coach Tim Fader has been voted to serve as the Division III National Wrestling Coaches Association President-elect.

Fader, who was voted in by Division III wrestling coaches, will serve as president-elect for the 2008-09 and 2009-10 school years and become president in the 2010-11 school year. He will take over for incumbent Randy Steward of Loras College (Iowa) and serve two years as president of the Division III NWCA.

"I would say it's not something I would normally do," Fader said of serving as president. "But, it's good for me to grow as a coach. I really love wrestling, it's a great sport, and I hope I can have an effect on its progress."

As president, he will deal with National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III national tournament qualifications, the voting process for the Division III Wrestling Hall of Fame and improving opportunities for student-athletes.

Head coach of the Warhawk wrestling program since 2004, Fader took over for Whitewater coaching legend Willie Myers - a 2005 Warhawk Hall of Fame inductee - who served at his position for 36 years. Myers served as Division III president for both the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics - with whom Whitewater was associated until the 1980-81 school year - and the NCAA.

Fader admitted he learned much from the coaching legend and would like to continue Myers' work in advancing the sport of wrestling.

"I did always admire Willie's involvement and how he was trying to better the sport," Fader said.

Fader, who coached at UW-La Crosse four years prior to Whitewater, has coached 22 All-Americans and three national champions in eight years.

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Lawrence University To Suspend Wrestling Program

RELEASED: Monday, December 15, 2008

APPLETON, Wis.--Lawrence University will suspend the wrestling program beginning with the 2009-10 season, Provost David Burrows announced today.

After extensive study and consultation, the university's Committee on Recreation and Intercollegiate Athletics recommended the program be suspended. The recommendation was endorsed by the full faculty and accepted by the administration.

"This has been a difficult decision for everyone involved," Burrows said. "Despite the efforts of head coach Dave Novickis and a small, dedicated group of wrestlers, we have not had enough participants in recent years to sustain the program."

Lawrence, which competes in the rugged Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, has only eight wrestlers currently on the roster. There are 10 collegiate weight classes.

Wrestling has a long history at Lawrence, with references to a team dating back to the early part of the 20th century. The Vikings wrestled in the Midwest Conference from the inaugural championships in 1938 until the conference dropped the sport following the 1996-97 season. Lawrence won the 1962 Midwest Conference championship.

Lawrence enjoyed the most successful stretch in the program's history from the mid-1990s through the middle part of this decade. Overseeing Lawrence's emergence on the national level was Novickis, who is in his 16th season as the head coach.

Lawrence wrestled as an independent after the Midwest Conference dropped the sport until it joined the WIAC in 2002. Since that time, the program has seen its numbers dwindle while competing in one of the nation's best conferences. Lawrence's top finish in the seven-team WIAC Championships was sixth place in 2008.

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UW-La Crosse's Malecek Selected Honorary Coach for NWCA Classic

RELEASED: Monday, November 17, 2008

LA CROSSE, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse head wrestling coach Dave Malecek has been selected as one of four honorary coaches for the 43rd Annual National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) All-Star Classic Presented by the United States Marine Corps. The classic is scheduled for Monday, November 24, 2008, in St. John Arena at The Ohio State University in Columbus.

This is the fifth year the United States Marine Corps has partnered with the NWCA as the presenting sponsor of the event.

“I am very excited about this opportunity to coach at the all star meet,” says Malecek. “I am honored to represent Division III and there is going to be some great matches.”

The event features the top ranked National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I wrestlers facing each other. Student-athletes from Cornell, Illinois, Iowa, Iowa State, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Northern Iowa, Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin, and will compete.

Other honorary coaches at this year’s event include Tom Ryan (Ohio State), Mark Manning (Nebraska) and Jim Makovsky (Minnesota State, Mankato).

ESPNU will be airing the event on tape delay. Dates and times will be announced when they become available.

Malecek his in his third season as UW-La Crosse’s head wrestling coach. He has led the Eagles to back-to-back top-three finishes at the NCAA Division III Championships, placing third in 2007 and second in 2008. For his efforts, Malecek was named the 2007 NCAA Rookie Coach of the Year.

Malecek has also guided UW-L to two straight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) titles and has been selected the Mertz Mortorelli WIAC Coach of the Year both seasons. The Eagles, who are 34-3 in duals under Malecek, have won 11 consecutive conference crowns.

UW-L returns to action Wednesday, November 19 hosting North Iowa Area Community College at 7 p.m.

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