UW-Oshkosh Student-Athletes To Report For Fall Practices
Summer officially ends for nearly 225 UW-Oshkosh student-athletes when they report to campus this weekend for preseason training.
Activities begin on Friday (Aug. 15) for student-athletes in the sports of men’s soccer, women’s soccer and women’s volleyball, Saturday (Aug. 16) for those in football and Sunday (Aug. 17) for those in women’s tennis.
Another 60 student-athletes in the sports of men’s cross country, women’s cross country and women’s golf will arrive on campus for their preseason practices on Aug. 24.
In men’s soccer, fifth-year head coach Wytse Molenaar returns 16 letter winners, including six starters from last year’s team that compiled a 15-2-4 record, finished second in the WIAC and competed in the NCAA Division III Championship.
Karl Bock was named the WIAC’s Co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2013, while UW-Oshkosh teammates Sam Gabrilska and Jacob Hernandez both collected all-league second-team honors. Jonathan Stanley is the Titans’ top returning scorer after sending six shots into the net a year ago.
UW-Oshkosh, ranked 20th in the NCAA Division III by the NSCAA, begins its season at Central College (Iowa) on Aug. 29.
In women’s soccer, 11th-year head coach Erin Coppernoll returns 19 letter winners, including nine starters from last year’s team that registered an 11-8-2 record and finished second in the WIAC.
Defender Anna Beckerleg, the reigning WIAC Defensive Player of the Year, is among five all-league performers returning for the Titans. The others are forward Amanda Baalke, midfielder Robyn Elliott and defenders Nicole Palmquist and Ashley Siewert. Baalke scored a team-leading five goals last season and ranked fourth in the WIAC with 17 points. In all, UW-Oshkosh returns 10 of its 12 players who scored a goal in 2013.
The Titans open their season against the University of St. Thomas (Minn.) on Aug. 29 in Stevens Point.
In women’s volleyball, 11th-year head coach Brian Schaefer returns 14 letter winners from last year’s team that compiled a 22-11 record and finished fifth in the WIAC.
The Titans return four starters, including outside hitter Katelyn Malcheski who received All-WIAC first-team honors in 2013. Malcheski ranked fourth in the league with a .276 hitting percentage.
UW-Oshkosh also returns starting libero Mandy Trautmann. In 2013, she was named to the WIAC’s All-Defensive Team after totaling a league-best 649 digs.
UW-Oshkosh opens its season with matches against Willamette University (Ore.) and Lewis & Clark College (Ore.) on Aug. 29 in Seguin, Texas.
In football, eighth-year head coach Pat Cerroni welcomes back 51 letter winners, including 21 on offense, 29 on defense and one on special teams.
Starters returning on defense are linebacker Reese Dziedzic and Beau Steffens, cornerback Anthony Fassett and defensive linemen Cody Huemmer and Alex Smith. Offensive starters returning are wide receiver Zach Kasuboski, tight end Joe Sommers and tackle Sam Versnik.
All-WIAC first-team performers back for the Titans are Huemmer, Kasuboski, Sommers and punter Nate Ray.
UW-Oshkosh, ranked 18th in the NCAA Division III by D3football.com, starts its season with home games against Robert Morris University (Ill.) on Sept. 6 and Marian University (Ind.) on Sept. 13.
In women’s tennis, first-year head coach Daniel Bickett inherits six letter winners from last year’s team that posted a 7-10 record and finished fourth in the WIAC.
Llora Waldman and Erica Van Riper lead the group of returnees after winning nine matches each a year ago. Waldman finished third in the fifth flight of last year’s WIAC Championship and Van Riper fourth in the fourth. Van Riper also helped the Titans earn 12 victories at No. 1 doubles.
UW-Oshkosh begins its season at the UW-Whitewater Invitational on Aug. 30.
In men’s cross country, third-year head coach Eamon McKenna returns eight letter winners from a 2013 squad that finished third in the WIAC and 12th in the NCAA Division III.
The Titans have four runners who competed at last year’s NCAA Division III Championship back, including Jordan Carpenter and Kenny Halloran who finished 10th and 121st, respectively. Carpenter also placed 17th at last year’s WIAC Championship.
UW-Oshkosh kicks off its season at the Midwest Open on Sept. 13 in Somers.
In women’s cross country, third-year head coach Drew Ludtke returns 11 letter winners from last year’s group that finished fifth in the WIAC and seventh at the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional.
The Titans return all seven runners who competed at last year’s NCAA Division III Midwest Regional, including Sonny Jenkins who finished 28th, Kylee Verhasselt who placed 37th and Danica Harrison who ranked 47th. Verhasselt also led UW-Oshkosh with an eighth-place finish at last year’s WIAC Championship.
UW-Oshkosh opens its season at the Midwest Open on Sept. 13 in Somers.
In women’s golf, third-year head coach Liza Ruetten has four of her six letter winners from 2013 returning. Last season, UW-Oshkosh finished fourth in the WIAC for its highest finish since 2007.
McKenzie Paul returns to the team after finishing fourth at last year’s WIAC Championship, while Samantha Kuik is back after placing 38th. Paul recorded four first-place finishes in 2013, including victories at the UW-Whitewater Fall Classic and the Augustana College (Ill.) Spring Invitational.
UW-Oshkosh tees off its season with a home match against St. Norbert College on Aug. 30.