The Pointer UW-Stevens Point Student Newspaper
Men’s Basketball Moves to 4-4 in WIAC Play
After a short break for the holidays, the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point men’s basketball team returned to action earning a pair of wins at the Arizona Shootout in Phoenix, Ariz. The Pointers posted a 65-56 win against Keene State and followed up with a 61-43victory over Hamilton.
Since returning home, UWSP has faced eight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opponents, with wins against UW-Platteville, current WIAC leaders, UW-La Crosse, UW-Stout and UW-Oshkosh. The Pointers recorded losses against UW-Eau Claire, UW-Whitewater, UW-Oshkosh and UW-River Falls.
On Jan. 30, senior Stephen Pelkofer led UWSP with a game-high of 23 points, earning the win against the Titans—the teams’ third straight victory against a WIAC opponent. Zack Goedeke added 11 points, while Ethan Bublitz had 10 points.
UWSP will play host to two conference challengers, starting with a game against UW-Whitewater at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 3 and then against UW-River Falls at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 6.
Egner Records 500th Win as Head Coach
On Jan. 13, Shirley Egner, the head coach of the women’s basketball team, recorded her 500th career victory at UWSP. Now in her 27th season, Egner tops the WIAC as the winning-most coach and according to the WIAC, is the 27th coach in Division III history to hit this career mark.
Since Jan. 30, her team’s overall record is 15-4 and 6-2 in the conference, with wins over nationally ranked teams including victories over Luther, UW-Whitewater and UW-River Falls.
The Titans handed the Pointers their fourth loss of the season on Jan. 30 when UW-Oshkosh won 61-59. Although UWSP was not victorious, they came away hitting 19 of their 21 free throws.
Senior Allie Miceli led the way scoring 13 points. Lauren Anklam also contributed double digits with 10 points. Sarah Gamillo scored nine points and Mickey Roland added four points.
The women’s basketball team will return to action this week with two games on the road. They will square off against UW-Whitewater at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 3 and play a second conference game at UW-River Falls at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 6.
Sharkey Earns First-Career Hat Trick
In their last eight starts, the men’s hockey team has lost just once. The Pointers fell short in an overtime loss of 4-5 to the nationally ranked UW-Eau Claire team. Their next game saw action against nationally ranked UW-River Falls. This time, the Pointers were able to pull through with a 4-3 win.
A recent pair of games against Lake Forest both proved victorious, as UWSP won on the road 3-1 and three days later on home ice with a 9-2 win.
Junior Kyle Sharkey earned his first-career hat trick and also earned an assist that night. Alex Brooks, Mark Bittner, Alex Kromm, Ethan Strong, Lawrence Cornellier and Jono Davis each contributed one goal apiece to help the Pointers to their third straight win.
The Pointers will play three games in five days, with the team first traveling to UW-Stout in WIAC play at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 2. At 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 5, UWSP will be at home facing off against Adrian in Skate with the Pointers/Black Out. The following day, the team will challenge UW-Superior at 7 p.m. in Superior.
Women’s Hockey Hot Against Conference Opponents
The women’s hockey team has won six of their last seven games, with their last three victories over conference teams.
The Pointers played twice on the road on Jan. 22 and 23 against nationally ranked UW-River Falls, falling 3-4 in their first game. In the second, UWSP redeemed itself with a 2-1 victory.
On Jan. 30, the Pointers took to the ice to battle WIAC team UW-Eau Claire. Senior Rachel Reynard got the Pointers on the board first to tie the game with her goal in the second period. Lauren Smith added a goal of her own three minutes later to give the Pointers the lead. In the final period, Cara Lemirande scored an assurance goal to give UWSP the win.
The women’s team will be back in action at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 6 when they play host to UW-Eau Claire.
Men’s Swimming and Diving Undefeated in the New Year
After some swimmers spent part of their winter break training in sunny Puerto Rico, the team came home to snowy Stevens Point, posting two victories at home.
At the two-day Point Invite, UWSP came away with the win in big part due to seven swimming event titles. The team’s second win came one week later in a WIAC duel meet against UW- La Crosse.
The Pointers currently have six swimmers atop the WIAC event leaderboards, with Sam Jekel in the 100 free and 100 fly, Garrett Richetto in the 200 free, Caleb Miller in the 1,000 free, Nathaniel Somers in the 1,650 free, Ethan Bott in the 200 back and Joseph Hollman in the 200 IM.
UWSP leads the 200 Free Relay, 400 free relay and the 200 medley relay.
UWSP will compete next at the Minnesota Invitational on Friday, Feb. 5 and Saturday, Feb. 6 in Minneapolis, Minn.
Women’s Swimming and Diving Finishes Second in UWL Duel
So far in 2016, as a whole, the UWSP’s women’s swimming and diving team has struggled to come up with a win as a team, but has come away with multiple individual swimming and diving titles and relay wins.
At the WIAC UW-La Crosse duel, senior Amanda Walker was champion in the 500 and 1,000 freestyles and diver Jackie Braun was the one-meter winner with a score of 266.95.
Walker is the sole Pointer at the top the WIAC leaderboards in the 200 free, 500 free and 1,650 free.
The women’s swimming and diving team will also travel to compete the Minnesota Invitational on Friday, Feb. 5 and Saturday, Feb. 6 in Minneapolis, Minn.
Ward Breaks School Record for Indoor Hurdles
The men’s track and field team begins their indoor season being ranked No. 11 in the country after sending eight individuals and two relay teams to nationals last year.
The team started their season off hosting the Pointer Alumni and Quad meet and went on to compete at a tri-meet at UW-Eau Claire, finishing with various event titles, and the Squig Converse Invite and Multi in Whitewater where the Pointers finished fourth overall.
At the Squig Invite, sophomore hurdler Darin Ward set a new school record in the indoor 60-meter hurdles. He posted a time of 8.27 seconds in the finals. Ward’s time is currently the ninth fastest time in the country so far this season.
Long jumper Jordan Richards won the long jump title in 7.21 meters at 23’8”, which is good for the second longest jump in the nation.
The men’s track and field team will host their first of three consecutive home meets, with the Pointer Invite starting at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 6.
Women’s Track and Field Places Fourth at Warhawk Classic
Three individuals from the women’s track and field team qualified for the national championships last season and also started off their indoor season with strong showings at meets.
The team competed at UW-Whitewater’s Warhawk Classic Invitational and Multi and they finished fourth overall out of 11 teams.
Senior Shannon Burke won the pole vault champion clearing 3.55 meters at 11’7.75”. Kadie Flynn was the shot put champion with a throw of 13.00 meters at 42’8”.
The women’s team will compete at home for their next three meets. The Pointer Invite will start at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 6.
Men’s Wrestling Wins Invitational in Illinois
Since the start of 2016, the men’s wrestling team has posted one win and another fifth place finish.
UWSP travelled to Elmurst, Ill. and competed at the Al Hanke Invitational, where four Pointers came away as individual champions.
Sophomore Ben Vosters, Joe Crook, Bo Seibel and Dan Squires all won their weightclasses, while Boone Roycraft, Jared Kust and Logan Hermsen all placed second.
On Jan. 30, UWSP was back in Ill. at the “Pete Willson” Wheaton Invitational where combined team efforts helped the Pointers to a fifth place finish.
Hermsen was runner-up at 165-pound bracket after his performances, Kust was third in the 141-pound bracket and Vosters also cracked the top four, placing fourth in the 125-pound bracket.
UWSP had 98 points and placed fifth overall out of a 32-team field.
The Pointers will be back in action at home at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 5 for a WIAC duel against UW-La Crosse.
Kylie Bridenhagen
Sports Editor
kbrid305@uwsp.edu
