NDSU Names Kris Kroetsch Interim Head Men's Golf Coach

Kris Kroetsch, PGA Teaching Professional at the Fargo Country Club, has been named interim head men's golf coach at North Dakota State University.  NDSU athletic director Gene Taylor made the announcement Friday, Dec. 14.
 
Kroetsch's starting date is Jan. 1.  He replaces Oxbow Country Club assistant golf professional Billy Iverson, who resigned as NDSU head coach Nov. 20 after 8 1/2 seasons.  Taylor says a search the search for the next head men's golf coach will begin in April 2013.

IUPUI's Rivera to Be Inducted Into UIC Hall of Fame

IUPUI head softball coach Amanda Rivera was one of six former University of Illinois-Chicago student-athletes recently named to the 2013 UIC Hall of Fame Class.
 
 On Friday, Feb. 1, at the UIC Athletics Reunion and Hall of Fame Banquet, Rivera will be inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame along with Don August, Bob Augustine, Cedrick Banks, Blake Booher, and Fernando Reyes. The dinner will take place at the UIC Forum in Chicago.
 
Rivera, who played for the Flames from 2000-04, has her name firmly planted throughout the UIC and Horizon League record books.
 
The Redondo Beach, Calif., native is the Flames' all-time career leader in home runs (52) and also leads the Horizon League in that category. She enjoyed a stellar senior campaign in 2004, earning third-team All-American honors, while also being named the Horizon League Player of the Year and the Most Valuable Player of the League's postseason tournament. Rivera is also second all-time at UIC in both career RBI's (193) and bases on balls (125).
 
Rivera was named head coach at IUPUI in June of 2012 after serving two stints as a volunteer assistant at Northwestern and was an assistant for four years between North Carolina State and Indiana.
 

NDSU's Phillips to Coach Barefoot Sunday

NDSU's Saul Phillips

North Dakota State head coach Saul Phillips will coach barefoot Sunday against North Dakota in an effort for Samaritan's Feet. The action, part of "Barefoot for Bare Feet" is an effort to call awareness to the needs of children around the world who don't have shoes and the opportunities shoes mean. 

Organizers hope to raise enough sponsorships and donations to bring 10,000 pairs of shoes and hope to 10,000 children around the world.  

Before, during and after the game, donations can be made via text, at a booth staffed by volunteers during the game, or online at tiny.cc/coachphillips.  A $10 donation buys one pair of shoes.

My Championship Experience - Volleyball Edition

My Championship Experience is a diary blog written by Summit League student-athletes detailing their experiences at each of the 19 Championships. 

IUPUI senior Kelsey Hoefer's championship experience at the 2012 Summit League Volleyball Championship:

This year’s Summit League volleyball tournament began at North Dakota State in Fargo, N.D., with teams from Fort Wayne, IUPUI, Oakland and Kansas City participating.  My experience started at 4 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon as my team started our journey to the league tournament.  On our bus ride to the Indianapolis Airport the team ate a quick meal from Einstein’s.  We checked our bags and hung out at the gate until it was time to board the flight.  We had a connecting flight through Chicago before we ended up in Fargo.  The coaches rented vans while the team collected our bags and then we all headed to check in to our hotel.  We arrived at the same time as Oakland.  Both teams helped each other figure out where our rooms were since the hotel was a maze.  We then had Pizza Hut delivered since it had been a few hours since we had last eaten.  We had quick team meeting then it was off to bed.

Thursday morning, we woke up around 9 a.m. and went down to the hotel restaurant for breakfast.  After some French toast and omelets we headed to the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse to get in a few hours of practice.  All teams were able to get in two hours of practice to get used to the court, surroundings and atmosphere of the gymnasium.  After practice, our team grabbed lunch at Erbert & Gerbert’s Sandwich Shop for some sandwiches and the teams favorite chicken and dumpling soup.  We enjoyed reading the stories written on the walls about the characters and sandwich names.  We re-energized and headed back to the hotel for some down time and study table hours.  Coaches were able to reserve a banquet room for us to devote time to our homework and studies since traveling on the road and preparing for matches can sometimes be distracting or take away time to get schoolwork done.  We then headed up to hang out in our rooms and rest.  Soon after that the team started getting ready for The Summit League Volleyball banquet.  This was a time where athletes got to hang up the court shoes and sweats and trade them in for dressy attire and heels.  It was really nice to see everyone get dressed up.  Pasta, chicken and salad was provided for dinner.  After the meal, we got to listen to Summit League Senior Associate Commissioner, Myndee Kay Larsen and her introduction to each team participating in the tournament.  Then they handed out individual and team awards.  It was great to see the individuals and teams awarded for all of their hard work and dedication put in to their programs and the sport.  I would like to congratulate everyone that received an award, they are very well-deserved honors.

Finally, Friday had come.  I woke up thinking ‘game day, the day I had been waiting for’.  Sure the trip had been entertaining so far but I was ready to compete.  The semifinal matchups for this evening were Fort Wayne and Oakland at 5 p.m. and IUPUI and Kansas City at 7:30 p.m.  We headed to Perkins for breakfast and then to the fieldhouse for an hour of serve-and-pass.  We then headed back to the hotel for a little down time.  The team had decided on Chili’s for pregame meal.  Shortly after we walked in, Kansas City had arrived too.  Film in a hotel banquet room followed after our meal to prepare for our match that night.  We watched for about 45 minutes before we headed to watch the first semifinal match.  The Mastodons and Golden Grizzlies battled it out in a heart-felt five-set match.  The match definitely got everyone in the crowd ‘fired up’ and the second semifinalists eager to play.  Fort Wayne ended up coming out on top.  Our match against the Roo’s followed.  We beat the No. 4 seed in three sets.  When the match ended, my team grabbed subs from Jimmy Johns since it was late and then headed back to the hotel to unwind and head to bed.

Saturday morning I woke up very relaxed.  I had nothing on my mind but the match I was about to play later that night.  The team headed to Perkins for breakfast again before we came back to the hotel to relax.  Some of my teammates hung out and talked with family before we came together as a team for a short serve-and-pass session and our pregame meal.  Serve-and-pass went very well but you could tell that the team was anxious to play.  We headed back to Erbert and Gerbert’s for our meal but unfortunately, they were out of the chicken and dumpling soup which disappointed my team.  After pregame, we headed back to the hotel to watch film and scout out Fort Wayne.  Watching film against them was a bit familiar since we had played them a week ago for the regular-season league championship.  We discussed our game plan then headed back to Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse to prepare for our match against the Mastodons.  The team hung out in the locker room and listened to music to help pump us up as a team.  I felt pretty loose for the match.  The atmosphere of the families and fans for both teams provided for an energetic warm-up and before we knew it, game time was upon us.  Unfortunately, it was not in the cards for us to win on Saturday night.  We ended up losing to Fort Wayne in three sets.  It stung a bit how the team went out this season but we should not hang our heads.  I am a senior that was a part of the best season in IUPUI program history.

I would like to congratulate all of the teams of The Summit League on a great season.   Thank you to North Dakota State for hosting a great league tournament!  Good luck to all of the seniors that have put in so much hard work, dedication and effort into their school, program and the sport of volleyball!  Also, best of luck the Fort Wayne Mastodons in the NCAA tournament!  Represent The Summit League well!  We’ll be pullin’ for you ladies!!

-Kelsey Hoefer

Don’t forget to check out the next edition of My Championship Experience as it follows the Men’s and Women's Swimming & Diving Championships, Feb. 20-23 and throughout the 2012-13 season for coverage at each of The Summit League Championships.

My Championship Experience - Men's Soccer Edition

My Championship Experience is a diary blog written by Summit League student-athletes detailing their experiences at each of the 19 Championships. 

Kansas City junior Tom Gaus' championship experience at the 2012 Summit League Men's Soccer Championship:

Welcome to the 2012 Summit League Tournament. To give a little perspective on the portrayal of my tournament experience, let me give you a little bit of information on myself.

My name is Tom Gaus and I am a redshirt junior transfer student. I transferred to UMKC this past fall from the University of Tulsa after three years of competition having reached the conference tournament two of those years. Through this experience, I have formed expectations on what a conference tournament experience should entail and let me tell you, The Summit League does a heck of a job. From the determination of the host school to the banquet dinner to the preparation of the fields and games, The Summit League has given off a very professional and organized image that really enhances the experience for all of the teams involved.

I speak for my team and the other Summit League participants in thanking The Summit League for doing an incredible job in preparing for this 2012 League Tournament.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

      We began the day much like many other travel days by arriving to the locker room and packing our bags. However, today there was an excitement about the team. We all knew that there was a tremendous opportunity ahead of us and were eager to pursue our goal of coming home with the championship trophy. Spirits were high during the bus ride as we watched Anchorman and a few other movies along the trip.

We stopped in Hannibal, Mo., to devour some Subway. As always, we enjoyed observing the faces of the two or three workers who just realized they were about to make about 24 foot-long sandwiches for a bunch of loud, hungry college kids. The foreign players, as always, had plenty to say about being in the middle of nowhere. Of course, this time, us Midwest boys took the opportunity to educate the complainers on the story of Huckleberry Finn and how the events of that iconic story took place on the streets of Hannibal, where we were eating. Our pride had little effect on their opinions as they were more focused on getting to the front of the line. We finished eating and went on our way, arriving at the hotel a few hours later.

We had a short practice to get our legs warm shortly after arriving and later returned to the hotel to freshen up. We all got ready for the banquet as the team put on their finest attire which, to be honest, will probably sit, untouched, in the closet until next year. The boys and I, brimming with confidence, arrived to the banquet and waited for the All-League awards. It was great to see the participants of the tournament being represented so well in the first and second team All-League awards. To add to our enjoyment, the food was excellent. A few players probably went overboard in their excessive consumption of lasagna followed by chocolate-chip cookies but according to them, they were just “carb loading” for the games. Stuffed beyond the point of satisfaction, we returned to the hotel and got some rest for the game.

Friday, November 9, 2012

      We had an early wake up on game day and ate breakfast at the hotel. We were then given a little time to prepare ourselves mentally for the game before having a team meeting. After the meeting, the boys and I seemed to have a firm grasp on our personal and team goals for the game. We were all antsy and just wanted to start playing already. We departed for the field about an hour and a half before game time. Upon seeing the pitch, the amount of cameras, and supporters the boys and I were “absolutely buzzing” for the match. The atmosphere provided for an efficient, energetic warm-up and before we knew it, game time was upon us.

The game, like many of our league games earlier in the year, had to progress into overtime to establish a victor. To our disappointment, that victor was not UMKC. Western Illinois put the ball in the back of the net in the first overtime, thus ending our season. It was a tough loss for the group, especially the seniors who may not have another opportunity to compete in this high of a caliber of organized soccer. It really put the game into perspective. We younger guys quickly realized how much we love playing the game and how we do not want to have the same feeling next year. We packed up and headed back to Kansas City.

 

Unfortunately there was no Saturday or Sunday for the UMKC men’s team at the tournament but we did come away with a great experience. We heard that Western Illinois ended up winning the tournament, thus entering the NCAA tournament. I again speak for the rest of The Summit League in saying thank you to Western Illinois for hosting the tournament, good luck in the NCAA’s, and we’ll be coming for you next year!

GO ROOS!

- Tom Gaus

Don’t forget to check out the next edition of My Championship Experience as it follows the Volleyball Championship, Nov. 16-17 and throughout the 2012-13 season for coverage at each of The Summit League Championships.

Women's Basketball Exhibition Recap (Nov. 7)

Omaha 56, Nebraska-Kearney 37

The Omaha women's basketball team opened the 2012-13 season with a 56-37 exhibition win over Nebraska-Kearney on Wednesday night at the Sapp Fieldhouse.

Paige Frauendorfer led the Mavs with a double-double of 15 points and 16 rebounds. Junior college transfer Ericka House chipped in 11 points, and Oklahoma State transfer Carolyn Blair-Mobley added seven points and 13 rebounds in the victory.

Western Illinois 79, MacMurray 13
Western Illinois scored the first 16 points of the game and never looked back during its 79-13exhibition win over MacMurray College on Wednesday night (Nov. 7). The women had four players in double-figures during their final tune-up before the regular season.

Men's Basketball Exhibition Recap (Nov. 6)

Oakland 90, Defiance 77
ROCHESTER, Mich. – Duke Mondy tallied 24 points, eight steals and seven rebounds, while Travis Bader posted 20 points to lead Oakland past Defiance College, 90-77, in a men’s basketball exhibition game on Tuesday inside the Athletics Center O’rena. The Golden Grizzlies scored 32 points off 26 turnovers.

Corey Petros posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Dante Williams and Ryan Bass recorded 12 and 10 points, respectively, for OU. The Golden Grizzlies finished the game with 20 steals and dominated the smaller Yellow Jackets in the paint, outscoring DC 42-22.

My Championship Experience - Women's Soccer Edition

My Championship Experience is a diary blog written by Summit League student-athletes detailing their experiences at each of the 19 Championships. 

North Dakota State junior Katelyn Tallas' championship experience at the 2012 Summit League Women's Soccer Championship:

Welcome to the 2012 Summit League Women’s Soccer Championship.  To begin, a little bit about myself.  My name is Katelyn Tallas, and I’m a junior forward on the NDSU Soccer Team.  This is my third trip to The Summit League Tournament and I’m happier than ever to be here.  This is the highlight of all of our seasons, no matter what sport you hail from.  South Dakota State has done an incredible job putting together this year’s tournament, and the banquet was great! So on behalf of all the athletes, I would really like to thank everyone at SDSU for their time and hard work. 

Thursday, Nov 1:

Let the adventure begin!! The Bison hit the road today on a quick three-hour bus trip, and arrived late this afternoon in Brookings, S.D.  I chose to mention today because for so many of us, it’s the only day of the season where you will find us in something besides sweatpants!  Congratulations to all of this year’s award winners, and to those who managed to stay standing in high heels all night. 

Friday, Nov 2:

Today is going to be a lot of waiting, since we do not play until 6:00 p.m. tonight.  Good thing all of our professors chose this week to pile on the papers, at least we will be busy! Game preparations started after lunch with a jog and stretch and a tour of the field.  We leave for the game at 4:45 p.m.  It’s game time, BisoNation. 

           

Saturday, Nov 3:

I think today has been a tough day for all of us; obviously last night’s game did not go the way we had hoped.  We are heading back to NDSU this morning right after breakfast.  Since our season is over, I think it is important to reflect on everything we’ve been through this year.  I have never been more proud to be a Bison, and I am grateful to be writing this blog so that I have the chance to express how very proud I am of this team.

Sunday, Nov 4:

We’re all back at school now, stocking up on groceries again and finishing off our homework while we watch the live stats on today’s Championship game.  Good luck to Oakland, we wish you the very best at the NCAA Tournament.  Represent The Summit League with passion and pride.  Also, I’m so proud of Holly Christian and Shannon Brooks for earning all-tournament team honors for their final season!!

-Katelyn Tallas

Don’t forget to check out the next edition of My Championship Experience as it follows the Men’s Soccer Championship, Nov. 8-11 and throughout the 2012-13 season for coverage at each of The Summit League Championships.

Women's Basketball Exhibition Recap (Nov. 5)

IUPUI 94, Franklin 34
From the start, the IUPUI women’s basketball team went up and down the floor and scored 54 points off 45 Franklin College turnovers resulting in a 94-34 exhibition win over the Grizzlies Monday evening at The Jungle.

Dee-Dee Bellamy paced the Jaguars offensively scoring 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the floor, and added six boards. Five of Bellamy’s six rebounds came on the offensive end of the floor.

North Dakota State 83, Minnesota State Moorhead 65
Dani DeGagne came off the bench to score a game-high 17 points as North Dakota State University posted an 83-65 exhibition win over Minnesota State Moorhead in women's college basketball on Monday, Nov. 5, before 574 at the Bison Sports Arena.

Men's Basketball Exhibition Recap (Nov.5)

Fort Wayne 71, Alma 43
Fort Wayne held the Alma Scots to 13 first-half points and 27 total turnovers in the game, and cruised to a 28-point, 71-43 victory in the lone exhibition game of the season.

Frank Gaines scored a game-high 12 points, as 11 of the 12 players that saw action reached the scoring column in the win. Luis Jacobo and Steve Forbes each scored nine points, while Mario Hines and Kevin Harden scored eight.

Hines pulled down 11 rebounds, as the Mastodons out-rebounded the Scots 48-to-39. Pierre Bland dished out a team-best four assists off of the bench, while Gaines had four steals to pace the squad.

Missouri S&T 61, Western Illinois 60
A three-pointer from Missouri S&T's Mudi Eruteya with less than 10 seconds in the game put the Miners up one, 61-60, where the score would remain as the Leathernecks fell in exhibition action.

Western led 33-19 at the midway point, but the Miners were able to overcome the Leathernecks' strong defense and come out on top after a 42-27 second half surge.

Two Leathernecks recorded 20-plus points on the evening, led by Ceola Clark III who had 22 on 8-of-14 shooting, grabbed five rebounds and dished out five assists. Junior Adam Link tallied 20 points (9-of-13), finished with three boards and had two steals.