Varsity Magazine - February 7, 2018

Page 1



INFOCUS

FLYING HIGH Corey Clement’s rise from undrafted free agent to Super Bowl star was highlighted by his 22-yard touchdown reception Sunday in Minneapolis. Helping lift his hometown Philadelphia Eagles to their first Super Bowl title, Clement became just the third running back in the game’s 52-year history to record 100 receiving yards — a distinction also held by former UW teammate James White, whose New England Patriots came out on the losing end of the 41-33 final score. PHOTO BY CHARLES BAUS / CAL SPORT MEDIA


INFOCUS

OLYMPIC ICE That’s some nice ice! The Zamboni cut and cleaned the ice between hockey training sessions for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games earlier this week at Kwandong Hockey Centre. Follow the Badgers skating and coaching for Team USA and Team Canada by clicking here. PHOTO BY ROB SCHUMACHER / USA TODAY SPORTS




INFOCUS

FRESHMAN FIREPOWER Wisconsin’s talented freshman class has accounted for 34.9 percent of the team’s scoring this season, combining for 27.9 points per game. Brad Davison is second on the team, averaging 11.2 points. PHOTO BY DAVID STLUKA


INFOCUS

STANDING TALL Junior Marsha Howard went up strong against Minnesota’s Jessie Edwards in last week’s Border Battle clash with the Gophers. The 6-foot forward is the Badgers’ workhorse inside, leading the team with 7.1 rebounds per game while ranking second with 11.4 points per game. PHOTO BY JACK McLAUGHLIN




INFOCUS

UNCLE SAM Team USA goalie Alex Rigsby (33) has traded her Badgers style for a more patriotic paint job on her helmet, as seen during a training session for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games at Kwandong Hockey Centre. PHOTO BY ROB SCHUMACHER / USA TODAY SPORTS



CONTENTS

JACK MCLAUGHLIN

28

FEBRUARY 7, 2018 ▪ VOLUME 8, ISSUE 22

BATTLE FOR GOLD It may be one of the best rivalries in sports, Team USA vs. Team Canada. Nine Badgers, split on each side of the border, descend on PyeongChang as the two powerhouses of women’s hockey battle for gold.

FEATURES 2

IN FOCUS

16 LUCAS AT LARGE 19 BY THE NUMBERS 20 WHAT TO WATCH 23 ATHLETES OF THE MONTH 25 BADGERING

LUCAS AT LARGE

TUCKER’S NEW CHAPTER

16

Wisconsin basketball’s career leading scorer Alando Tucker is excited to return to Madison as UW’s Director for StudentAthlete Engagement.

27 BADGERS GIVE BACK 37 INSIDE BASKETBALL 41 INSIDE HOCKEY 44 INSIDE WRESTLING 45 INSIDE SOFTBALL 47 INSIDE TRACK & FIELD 50 INSIDE TENNIS 53 INSIDE GOLF 55 BADGER HISTORY

25

BADGERING

RICKY ROBERTSON

The three-time NCAA qualifier and senior wrestler shares his most memorable ‘big-time’ moment and which former Badger he’d like to train with. 13


All Good

YOUR PUBLIC POWER UTILITY IS A COMMUNITY ASSET YOU CAN RELY ON.

Visit

WhyPublicPower.org to learn more.

What does it mean to be a locally owned, not-for-profit public utility? It means giving back to the community. It means providing clean energy options, because we care about the local environment (after all, we live here too). It means volunteering during the latest food drive. It means supporting the annual high school scholarship fund. It means we’re here when you need us.

Sponsored by these locally owned, not-for-profit Wisconsin utilities:

People you know. Service you trust.

262-644-5265

920-982-8516 www.newlondonwi.org


Wisconsin Athletic Communications Kellner Hall, 1440 Monroe St. Madison, WI 53711

VIEW ALL ISSUES Brian Lucas

Director of Athletic Communications

Jessica Burda

Director of Digital Content Managing Editor

Julia Hujet

Editor/Designer

Brian Mason

Editor/Contributor

Mike Lucas

Senior Writer

Andy Baggot Writer

Chris Hall, Jerry Mao, Brandon Spiegel Video Production

Matt Restock Advertising

Drew Pittner-Smith Distribution

Contributors

Paul Capobianco, Kelli Grashel, A.J. Harrison, Brandon Harrison, Patrick Herb, Diane Nordstrom Photography

David Stluka, Neil Ament, Greg Anderson, Bob Campbell, The Players Tribune, Cal Sport Media, Icon Sportswire Cover Photos: Jim Rosvold Problems or Accessibility Issues? VarsityMag@UWBadgers.com Š 2018 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. All rights reserved worldwide. 15


LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ▪ UWBADGERS.COM SENIOR WRITER

Tucker’s new chapter at UW brings vision to life

A

lando Tucker needs no introduction. And, then, again, maybe he does. A reintroduction would be timely since Wisconsin’s all-time leading scorer has returned to the University of Wisconsin campus in his new role as the Director for Student-Athlete Engagement. After a decade in professional basketball — including three years in the NBA and stints in Russia, Spain, Slovakia, Bulgaria, France and Israel — Tucker has finally walked away from the game as a player. “I was able to retire on my own terms,” he stressed. “It’s a testament to the opportunities I was given at Wisconsin to finish my degree and not solely have to rely on the sport to take care of my life.

16

“This was a well-thought out plan to end my career and come back here … to be pro-active … to use my influences and things I’ve created in the past and continue to create for myself.” Throughout his pro career, Tucker has been growing his brand. Since 2015, it has been as the founder and CEO of a successful non-profit (Arcitec Basketball) that specializes in life skills development. “Arcitec is an ideology that I’ve created; it’s self-empowerment,” he said. “I have always had a vision to create something. And I always felt that my story was bigger than sports.” Tucker has a unique story to tell with a starting point that is most telling. When he was 12, he made a pact with his older brother,

Antonio (now a police officer). They made a handful of promises. Never drink. Never smoke. Never do drugs. Never tattoo their bodies. “It stemmed,” Tucker recalled, “from some of the negative things that we saw in our environment — alcohol, drugs, gang activity — things that we were around growing up.” As a youngster, he was exposed to street violence, including murders, one of which — a gang member was shot and killed in a car at a stop sign — he witnessed while playing outside with friends. Nightly gun fire would routinely chase the Tuckers to seek cover on the second floor of their home in Joliet, Illinois (30 miles southwest of Chicago) to avoid the random bullets. When one of those stray bullets entered the front door, nearly striking his mother, it was the last straw for Lisa Tucker who moved her five kids to the neighboring community of Lockport. “We wanted to completely eliminate ourselves from that environment, we didn’t want to succumb,” Alando Tucker said. “My whole life has been based off that pact with my brother. “It created discipline and dedication from an early age.” It was tested when his brother left for the Army. Antonio had been a father figure for Alando. And, now, as a seventh grader, Alando was the man of the house for a younger brother and two sisters.


When his mom was working, he helped take care of his oldest sister, Alisha, who’s autistic. “She was always very special,” he said. “She has always been very inspirational and so close to my heart.” Developing his basketball skills at Lockport’s Fairmont Community Center, a major upgrade from the pickup games on the backyard court in Joliet, Tucker learned how to compete with the older boys. Even though they were much bigger, he could jump out of his sneakers; a 38-inch vertical is a great equalizer. And it was on display throughout his prep career at Lockport Township High School. College recruiters saw unlimited potential in the undersized, but athletic 6-foot-5 Tucker who signed with the Badgers after striking up a bond with Tony Bennett, a Bo Ryan assistant coach. The rest is history, school history. Tucker supplanted Michael Finley as the career scoring leader (2,217 points), a title that he still holds today, 11 years removed from his final game as a collegian. Whenever Tucker walks into the Kohl Center, he can’t help but feel nostalgic. “The standout moment for me was probably the UNLV game as a freshman because that was my first career start,” he said. “That game set the tone for the rest of my career.” On Dec. 7, 2002, Tucker played 37 minutes in his starting debut and had 24 points and

18 rebounds, the most by a UW player since Rashard Griffith had 18 in 1995. “I always had a chip on my shoulder, I always played that way,” Tucker said. “In that game I was able to show Coach Ryan that he could trust me, even as a freshman. That propelled my confidence.

“THIS WAS A WELL-THOUGHT OUT PLAN TO END MY CAREER AND COME BACK HERE … TO BE PRO-ACTIVE … TO USE MY INFLUENCES AND THINGS I’VE CREATED IN THE PAST AND CONTINUE TO CREATE FOR MYSELF.”

“I came in as a blue-collar, hard-worker and with the mindset I wanted to prove something. Coach Ryan made a point of rooming me with Kirk Penney because he was so knowledgeable.” Penney was a wily senior. Freddie Owens also mentored Tucker whose resiliency was challenged during his sophomore year when he missed all but four games with a foot injury. But he bounced back to average 15, 19 and 20 points over the next three seasons culminating with a conference scoring title, the first for the Badgers since Don Rehfeldt in 1950. As a senior, he also was the Big Ten Player of the Year, a consensus first-team All-American, a finalist for the Wooden and Naismith Awards and a first-round draft pick of the Phoenix Suns. “It’s a great fit for him and an unbelievable fit for us when you can bring back one of the school’s all-time greats,” Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said of Tucker’s new administrative role. “In talking to him through this whole process on what he wanted to do — life after basketball — it’s a huge benefit for our whole department to have him help mentor and assist our student-athletes.” UW athletic director Barry Alvarez feels the same way. “He’s someone who has a history here and understands the university,” Alvarez said. “He has a very interesting background and a unique perspective on things, academically and athletically.” Click to read more »

17



BY THE NUMBERS

6

USA HOCKEY

WOMEN’S HOCKEY ▶ Former Badger and 2018 USA team captain Meaghan Duggan will make her third appearance skating for the red, white and blue at the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea this month. She’ll be joined by 12 other former Wisconsin men’s and women’s players who will be either playing or coaching Team USA and Team Canada.

3

◀ MEN’S HOCKEY Trent Frederic posted a six-point weekend at Michigan tallying two goals and four assists, the best production across the country last week. The effort marks UW’s first since Mark Zengerle and Nic Kerdiles had six points in a series at Penn State on March 7-8, 2014.

GREG ANDERSON

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ▼ With her 10th point against Ohio State on Saturday, senior Cayla McMorris became the 25th Badger women’s basketball player to record 1,000 career points.

KELLI GRASHEL

▲ WRESTLING With a victory last Friday over Indiana’s Norman Conley in an 8-0 major decision, Ricky Robertson picked up his 20th win of the season. He is currently 12 wins away from 100 on his career.

JACK MCLAUGHLIN

20

1,000 19


WHAT TO WATCH ICON SPORTSWIRE

THE GAMES BEGIN

MEN’S AND WOMEN’S HOCKEY 2018 WINTER OLYMPICS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9 ▪ 7PM PYEONGCHANG, SOUTH KOREA ▪ NBC

DAVID STLUKA

The world turns its eyes to the 2018 Winter Olympics starting this Friday in PyeongChang, South Korea, with the opening ceremonies (7 p.m. tape delay on NBC). Watch for 11 current and former Badgers playing and coaching hockey for both Team USA and Team Canada. The full schedule is available here.

WOMEN’S TENNIS HOSTS ITA NATIONAL WOMEN’S TEAM INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIP FRIDAY, FEB. 9 - MONDAY, FEB. 12 NIELSEN TENNIS STADIUM The Wisconsin women (6-0) and 15 of the nation’s top teams will vie for the 2018 ITA Team Indoor Championship this weekend at Nielsen Tennis Stadium. Head-to-head action begins at 9 a.m. on Friday and continues through the championship match on Monday. Admission is free. Fans can watch live streaming video of the ITA championships all weekend long via UWBadgers.com.

championship central

DARREN LEE

HOME HOOPS

MEN’S BASKETBALL VS. #20 MICHIGAN SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11 ▪ NOON KOHL CENTER ▪ CBS Big Ten action returns to the Kohl Center on Sunday as Wisconsin hosts Michigan at noon. Catch the Badgers’ matchup against the Wolverines on CBS. 20

DAVID STLUKA

TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP


WEDNESDAY 2/7

THURSDAY 2/8

FRIDAY 2/9

SATURDAY 2/10

MEN’S BASKETBALL at Illinois Champaign, Ill. 8:00 p.m. Watch: BTN

MEN’S & WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD at Iowa State Classic Ames, Iowa 11:00 a.m.

MEN’S & WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD at Iowa State Classic Ames, Iowa 11:00 a.m.

SOFTBALL vs. Colorado State Austin, Texas 11:00 a.m.

SOFTBALL at Texas Austin, Texas 3:30 p.m.

MEN’S TENNIS at Oregon Eugene, Ore. 6:00 p.m.

WOMEN’S HOCKEY at Minnesota Duluth Duluth, Minn. 4:00 p.m. Watch: NCHC.TV

WRESTLING vs. #15 Nebraska Madison, Wis. 7:00 p.m. Ticket info »

SUNDAY 2/11 SOFTBALL vs. Colorado State Austin, Texas 10:00 a.m. MEN’S BASKETBALL vs. #20 Michigan Madison, Wis. Noon Watch: CBS SOLD OUT MEN’S TENNIS at Washington Seattle, Wash. Noon

MONDAY 2/12 WOMEN’S TENNIS ITA National Team Indoor Championship Madison, Wis. All day Event info »

MEN’S HOCKEY vs. #12 Minnesota Madison, Wis. 7:00 p.m. Watch: FS Wis. Plus Buy tickets »

View more 2/9 events »

View more 2/10 events »

TUESDAY 2/13

WEDNESDAY 2/14 WOMEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING at Big Ten Championships Columbus, Ohio 5:30 p.m. Event info » WOMEN’S BASKETBALL vs. Rutgers Madison, Wis. 7:00 p.m. Watch: BTN Plus Buy tickets »

WRESTLING at #14 Illinois Champaign, Ill. 1:00 p.m. View more 2/11 events »

ALL TIMES CENTRAL

VIEW FULL CALENDAR ON UWBADGERS.COM »

21



STUDENT-ATHLETES OF THE MONTH Congratulations to UW’s Student-Athletes of the Month for February. These honorees have been recognized ― via nominations from Student-Athlete Advisory Committee members, coaches, advisors and sport administrators ― for their accomplishments in athletics, academics, on campus and in the community.

erin wagner ‖ rs junior ‖ women’s track & field

One of the upperclassmen on the UW women’s track and field team, Erin Wagner has become a role model for younger Badgers to look up to. The Crystal Lake, Illinois, native serves important roles on both the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the SAESO Executive Board. She also has a tremendous work ethic, as she bounced back from a serious injury her sophomore year and excelled in track and cross country thanks to countless hours of rehabilitation and cross training. In addition to her work ethic, Wagner earned Academic All-Big Ten Honors in cross country this past fall. This season, Wagner earned a top-five finish at The Dual in the 3000 meters before running a personal-best time of 9:44.58 at the Dr. Sander Invitational Columbia Challenge on Jan. 27 at The Armory in New York City.

suzanne gilreath ‖ soph. ‖ women’s basketball

She may only be 5-feet, 4-inches but Suzanne Gilreath can shoot the basketball. The sophomore from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, leads the Badgers and is tied for fourth in the Big Ten with 61 3-pointers this season. That includes two impressive single-game performances. On Jan. 11 at Northwestern, Gilreath shot a perfect 5-for-5 from 3-point range, tying a single-game school record. She followed that up on Jan. 28 at Illinois, hitting 7-of-12 from deep, which ties for second on the UW single-game record list. Gilreath scored a career-high 27 points against the Illini, leading the Badgers to their second Big Ten win of the season. Gilreath also rocks it in the classroom and will earn her first Academic All-Big Ten honor this season. The communication arts major hopes to turn knowledge of sports into a career as a broadcaster.

ricky robertson ‖ rs senior ‖ wrestling

Entering his final season of eligibility, senior Ricky Robertson is looking to cap off his collegiate career with a finish on the podium at the NCAA tournament in March. The Tinley Park, Illinois, native is currently ninth in the country at 184 pounds, with a little more than a month left in his last campaign. Known as one of the leaders on the team, Robertson has been a big part of keeping Wisconsin wrestling in the national ranks, currently sitting at 21st, even after losing two All-Americans in Isaac Jordan and Connor Medbery. Leading by example, Ricky also currently leads the team in wins with 20, and is also is the active leader in wins with 88. Renowned as a hard worker, the sociology major also contributes off the mat by regularly participating in Badgers Give Back events, ensuring that as his collegiate career is coming to a close, he does everything he can to make the University of Wisconsin-Madison a better place.

23



BADGERING...

RICKY ROBERTSON

Ricky Robertson, a redshirt senior for the Wisconsin wrestling team, has fashioned a career built on quiet consistency. He’s qualified for three straight NCAA tournaments — once at 174 pounds and twice at his current weight class of 184 pounds — and steadily improved since debuting in 2013. Robertson, from Tinley Park, Illinois, currently sports a 20-4 record and is ranked ninth nationally heading into a Big Ten Conference dual meet with Nebraska at the UW Field House on Friday at 7 p.m. Robertson recently took time to ID the best all-around athlete on the team, his welcome to the big-time moment and why he’d like to cross-train with former Badger and current NFL standout J.J. Watt. BY ANDY BAGGOT ▪ UWBADGERS.COM INSIDER

Who’s the best all-around athlete on the team? “I don’t want to say myself — that would be the competitor in me — but someone who’s up there is Seth Liegel. He’s been hindered by injuries, so you haven’t been able to see him on the mat too much, but he’s very athletic and when you see him perform in sports he’s something to watch. … If we’re picking teams, that’s a guy I want.” Did you have a “Welcome to the Big Ten” moment? “My freshman year we didn’t wrestle Penn State, Ohio State, Iowa and Minnesota, so four of the top teams in the Big Ten. My sophomore year we hit all four of those, so having that schedule was a different monster in itself. Then you understood the Big Ten grind.” What’s something you wish you knew about Madison before you came to UW? “Probably where the best Mexican place in town was. It took me a while to find the best one out here and that’s Taqueria Guadalajara on Park Street. It’s a hole-in-thewall place, but it’s really good food and it’s authentic.” If you could work out with any former Badgers athlete who would you choose? “I think cross-training is really cool, so taking something away from J.J. Watt would be great. He’s been able to excel at the highest level, so being able to chat with him and pick his brain apart would be really cool.” Click to read more »

25



BADGERS GIVE BACK SPOTLIGHT

badgers give back

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Badger Brain Breaks: “Jumbo Mambo”

Badger Brain Breaks: New month, new dance! Don’t let the cold weather stop you from dancing with the Badgers BY BADGERS GIVE BACK STAFF

S

tudents all over Wisconsin and the country are dancing down the hall with Bucky! February’s Badger Brain Breaks video features Harkeem Singh and Lainy Von Bank, both on the Wisconsin Spirit Squad, and of course Bucky dancing to the fun, upbeat “Jumbo Mambo.” Badger Brain Breaks are a part of the UW Athletics WiscFit program. The goal of WiscFit is to promote a healthy, active lifestyle for kids across Wisconsin. However, after gaining popularity in classrooms, Badger Brain Breaks crossed state lines. “I am a third-grade teacher in Minnesota, but my mom is [a Badger alum] and showed me the Brain Breaks,” added Kaitlin Gardner of Somerset Elementary School. “I have a math team in my room that is named after the Badgers. So when I first showed them the videos, they loved them. My students ask to do them all the time and when we came back from winter

break it was the first thing they asked about, since it was a new month.” The student-athletes keep it simple enough for anyone to follow along, which make them perfect for teachers, parents and guardians to use in the classroom or at home to help keep kids active, break up periods of inactivity during the day and improve overall learning. Active breaks during the school day have also been proven to improve the attention spans and increase the productivity of students. Beth Wrobel, a fourth-grade teacher in Onalaska, shared that “My students beg for them daily, so I use a Badger Brain Break as our daily transition before afternoon reading class. It’s fun, and they’re ready to focus after and learn.” Visit www.uwbadgers.com/WiscFit to view the Badger Brain Break videos and fill out the survey to let us know what you think. ▪

27



29


IT MAY B E O NE OF TH E BEST RIVALRIES IN SP ORTS, TEAM USA VS. TEAM C A N A DA . NI NE B ADG E RS, SPLIT ON EA C H SIDE OF THE BORDER, DESCEND ON PYEON G C H A N G AS THE TWO POWERH OU SES OF W OMEN’S HOCKEY BATTLE FOR GO LD.

H

ilary Knight was known for many things during her brilliant career with the Wisconsin women’s hockey team, but one of her greatest strengths was less conspicuous. Playing from 2007 to ’12, Knight set career program records with 986 shots, 262 points, 143 goals, 37 power-play conversions, 30 game-winners, nine hat tricks and eight shorthanded goals. A two-time first-team All-American, Knight played in four NCAA title games with the Badgers and came away with a championship ring in 2009 and ’11. How Knight didn’t win the Patty Kazmaier Award as the best college player in the land at some point in her career is, some would say, an enduring crime. But to know Knight is to know she brought a mature, 30,000-foot view to most every conversation, even when she was a rookie at UW. More than a decade later, that hasn’t changed. In the midst of preparing for her third appearance with Team USA in the Winter Olympics, Knight offered a provocative take on one

30

ICON SPORTSWIRE

HILARY KNIGHT

of the marquee matchups of the Games in PyeongChang, South Korea. The U.S. women’s hockey team vs. Canada. “I’d say it’s the most beautiful rivalry in sports right now,” Knight said. Interesting choice of adjectives. Beautiful? “You’re getting the best game out of both sides,” Knight explained. “It’s everything you want as a competitor and it’s everything the fan wants. “The level of competition is at its highest. The stakes are higher than ever and it’s a great game of hockey.” The North American powerhouses have met in all 18 of the sanctioned world championship finals with the Americans prevailing in seven of the last eight matches. The teams have accounted for all five Olympic gold medals awarded since 1998, but the Canadians have won the last four, beating the U.S. in the finals in 2010 and ’14. The rivalry is such that the gold-medal game in 2014, won by Canada 3-2 in overtime, attracted almost 5 million viewers on NBC.

ANN-RENÉE DESBIENS


MEGHAN DUGGAN

“TH E L E VE L OF IN TE N S ITY A N D C OMPE TITIVE N E S S, IT’S ON E OF T H E B EST RIVA L RIE S IN S PORTS, ” M IK K E L S O N S A I D. “IT’S ON E OF TH E B E S T — IF N O T T H E B E S T — IN FE MA L E S POR T S. ” EMILY CLARK

DAVE HOLLAND

The countries appear on another collision course and Wisconsin players — nine in all — could well be the tipping point. Knight is one of four former Badgers playing for Team USA, joining center Brianna Decker, captain and winger Meghan Duggan and goaltender Alex Rigsby. They will line up across five UW products playing for Team Canada: goaltender AnnRenée Desbiens, wingers Emily Clark and Sarah Nurse, defenseman Meaghan Mikkelson and center Blayre Turnbull. The teams will face one another in a Group A preliminary round game Feb. 14. If all goes according to plan, they will meet again for the gold medal Feb. 21. “It’s a pretty heated rivalry,” Duggan said in advance of her third Olympics. “It’s emotional. It’s intense. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Mikkelson, who played for the Badgers from 2003 to ’07, is also on the cusp of her third Olympics. She owns gold medals from the last two Games. “The level of intensity and competitiveness, it’s one of the best rivalries in sports,” she said. “It’s one of the best — if not the best — in female sports. “These are the games we look forward to the most. As intense and competitive as they are, it’s what we live for.” The pool of former UW players in South Korea ranges in age from 22 to 33 and include some distinctive resumes. Knight, Decker and Duggan are the top three point-producers in Wisconsin history with 262, 244 and 238, respectively. Rigsby and Desbiens are the two winningest goaltenders at UW with 100 and 99 career victories, respectively. Duggan, Decker and Desbiens were Patty Kazmaier Award recipients in 2011, ’12 and ’17, respectively. Mikkelson (2007), Knight (2009, ’11), Duggan (’11), Decker (’12), Rigsby (’14) and Desbiens (’16, ’17) were first-team All-Americans.

31


DAN SANGER / ICON SPORTSWIRE

FORWARD Be a difference-maker during the University of Wisconsin’s Annual Campaign — it’s what Badgers do. AllWaysForward.org

32


JIM ROSVOLD

SARAH NURSE ▲ TAP TO WATCH - Nine Badgers Set for 2018 Olympics

sannas for UW coach Mark Johnson and asDuggan (2011), Knight (’12), Decker (’13), sistants Dan Koch, Jackie (Friesen) Crum and Rigsby (’14) and Turnbull (’15) wore the “C” as Mark Greenhalgh. captain of the Badgers. “All of us, we can’t talk any more highly of Mikkelson is the oldest player on Team Canthe University of Wisconsin women’s team and ada at 33, while Clark is the youngest at 22. Mark,” Decker said. Duggan, who also captained Team USA in “I think it just shows how well the coaching 2014, believes Decker is “hands down, the staff prepares us and the level of expectations best player in the world.” that they hold us at,” Rigsby said. There are relationships woven throughout “It’s obviously a the two UW entouworld-class universirages. “ALL OF US, W E C A N ’ T TA L K A N Y M ORE ty and we’re provided Turnbull and Rigsby HIGHLY OF TH E U N IVE RS ITY OF W IS C ON S IN with all the resources became best friends in WOMEN’S TEA M A N D MA RK, ” DE C K E R SA ID. we need to be precollege, bonding over “I THINK IT J U S T S H OW S H OW W E L L TH E the impact of cancer C OAC HING STAFF PRE PA RE S U S A N D TH E L E VE L pared and make it to the next level. We’re on their mothers. OF EXPEC TATI ON S TH A T TH E Y H OL D U S A T. ” really lucky to have Decker and Knight a great coaching staff that supports our goals spoke of being proud of Turnbull, whose matuand dreams.” rity belied the fact her mother died when she Clark is the only current U.S. collegiate playwas in high school. er to make Team Canada. She’s projected to reMikkelson was a senior with the Badgers turn to UW for her senior season in 2018-19, when Duggan was a freshman, but Mikkelson as is winger Annie Pankowski, who was among has long admired Duggan’s dogged perseverthe final cuts by Team USA. ance in the face of injuries. “I don’t think it’s a coincidence that we all Of course, the nine have nothing but ho-

33


USA TODAY

ALEX RIGSBY DAVE HOLLAND

34

MEAGHAN MIKKELSON

went to the same program,” Clark said. “Wisconsin has had a huge impact on my development as a player, just being exposed to Mark Johnson and having the resources we have here.” Do the Wisconsin Nine have a shared trait having played in the same system in Madison? “All of us are very different people as players, but I think there’s a level of excellence that you get when you go to that program,” Clark said. “All of us are held to such high standards there.” Johnson has a storied Olympic legacy — he led the iconic Miracle on Ice outfit in scoring on the way to the gold medal in 1980 — but Nurse didn’t know of that when she first met him. Teammate Mikayla Johnson, Mark’s daughter, ultimately filled in the blanks about the guy who has led the Badgers to 10 NCAA Frozen Fours and four national titles since 2002. “He puts his heart and soul into his players,” Nurse said. Johnson was the Team USA coach in 2014. There were nine UW products in the Vancouver Games as well — including seven for the Americans — but the pool of talent in the U.S. and Canada has gotten much deeper and more diverse in the last eight years. That’s proof the Badgers have maintained a high level of consistency. “Those types of situations make you the proudest because you’ve done something to affect them and they’ve been able to fulfill their dream,” Johnson said of his current and former charges. “You’re in the business of trying to help people accomplish goals that are really difficult to get to. To me, that makes it very special and I’m certainly proud of those kids that they get an opportunity.” Is there one trait Johnson hoped to instill in his Olympians? “An understanding of what it takes to become that type of player, the little things that go into doing that,” he said. In all, Johnson has sent 15 players — nine Americans and six Canadians — to the last four Olympics.


that you have to prepare and be ready to play “It’s fun to know this school has helped so as soon as the puck drops,” Rigsby said. many players achieved their dream,” Desbiens “There’s a lot of respect, but we definitely said. push each other to get better because there’s “When you’re suiting up for your country in a lot of emotion and a lot of pride on the line,” the heat of the moment, obviously you’re tryClark said. ing to beat the other team as any great comIt helps that one of the narrators will be Erpetitor will,” Knight said. “But it’s also great to ika Lawler, a former UW standout and U.S. see how the Badger players have flourished in Olympian in 2010, who will serve as an on-site their careers.” studio analyst for NBC Sports. Allegiance to UW only goes so far in a rivalry “It’s fierce every time we play them,” Nurse like this, though. said of the Ameri“We’re pretty much cans. “There’s a lot of all business when “THER E’S A L OT OF RE S PE C T, B U T W E it comes to playing D EF I NI TELY PUS H E A C H OTH E R TO GE T B E TTE R pride on the line and you don’t want to go them,” Decker said. BEC AUSE THE RE ’S A L OT OF E M OTION A N D back to your country “I know I have A LOT OF PRIDE ON TH E L IN E . ” and say that you lost.” a connection with Johnson said that if he were starting a team those guys because they went to Wisconsin using the nine alums he would choose one of and I’m sure they’re just as proud of the school the goaltenders first, but wouldn’t be too fussy. as I am,” Duggan said of the alums on Team “You take the first four, I’ll take the fifth and Canada. “But I think, right now, as much as we be OK, too,” he said with a smile. have that connection I have to stay focused on Regardless of outcome, Johnson will watch my team and what we’re doing.” from a distance with pride. Another chapter in this great rivalry is about “I just hope they walk away enjoying the to be written and a host of current and former experience, enjoying the journey,” he said. Badgers figure to dictate its content. “There’s a lot to enjoy there.” “It’s one of those rivalries where we know DAVE HOLLAND

BLAYRE TURNBULL

BRIANNA DECKER

35



INSIDE MEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE (10-15, 3-9)

Home events in bold. All times CT. Jan. 2

Indiana

Jan. 5

at Rutgers

L, 60-64

Jan. 9

at Nebraska

L, 59-63

Jan. 16 at #3 Purdue

W, 71-61

L, 50-78

Jan. 19 Illinois

W, 75-50

Jan. 23 at Iowa

L, 67-85

Jan. 26 at #6 Mich. St. L, 61-76 Jan. 29 Nebraska

L, 63-74

Feb. 1

Northwestern L, 52-60

Feb. 4

at Maryland

Feb. 8

at Illinois

L, 63-68 8 p.m.

Feb. 11 #20 Michigan Noon

THIS WEEK Wisconsin (10-15, 3-9) travels to face Illinois on Thursday night, then returns home to host Michigan at the Kohl Center on Sunday.

34.9 percent of the team’s scoring this season, combining for 27.9 points per game. Brad Davison ranks second on the team averaging 11.2 points per contest.

LAST WEEK The Badgers suffered home losses against Nebraska and Northwestern, then fell on the road at Maryland in a tightly-contested game that came down to the final possessions.

NEED TO KNOW Wisconsin’s game at Illinois tips off at 8 p.m. (CT) and will be televised on BTN, while Sunday’s contest vs. Michigan begins at noon (CT) on CBS. All radio broadcasts can be heard on the Badger Sports Network. Follow @BadgerMBB on Twitter for updates.

GOOD TO KNOW Wisconsin’s talented freshman class has accounted for RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

6 p.m.

Feb. 19 Minnesota

8 p.m.

Feb. 22 at Northwestern 6 p.m.

DARREN LEE

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Wisconsin at Maryland Highlights

Feb. 15 #3 Purdue

Feb. 25 #4 Michigan State Noon Feb. 28-Mar. 4 Big Ten Tournament

New York City

View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

FOLLOW US:

▶ Five things to know: Illinois ▶ Lucas at Large: Rehab offers fresh perspective for King

37



INSIDE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE (9-16, 2-10)

Home events in bold. All times CT. Dec. 28 #23 Iowa

L, 46-56

Dec. 31 at Purdue

L, 35-57

2018 Jan. 4

#22 Michigan L, 57-80

Jan. 7

#13 Maryland L, 44-71

Jan. 11 at Northwestern L, 60-69

THIS WEEK The Badgers (9-16, 2-10 Big Ten) enjoy a bye week, having an eight-day break before they travel to Nebraska (17-7, 8-3) on Sunday. Tip time is 2 p.m. from Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska. LAST WEEK Despite playing strong defense, Wisconsin dropped two games last week. The Badgers fell to Minnesota, 71-61, on Wednesday before losing to No. 18 Ohio State, 68-55, on Saturday. UW held the Golden Gophers to their third-lowest point total of the season and the Buckeyes to their second-lowest point total this season.

NEED TO KNOW Senior Cayla McMorris notched her 1,000th career point, hitting a driving layup early in the third quarter to pull the Badgers within three (35-32). The 6-foot guard earned a career-high seven assists and tied her career-high with 13 rebounds. McMorris finished the game with her fifth-career double-double and fourth this season with 15 points and 13 rebounds.

L, 62-69

Jan. 18 at Minnesota

L, 65-90

Jan. 21 Northwestern W, 58-46 Jan. 24 at Indiana

L, 55-69

Jan. 28 at Illinois

W, 70-61

Jan. 31 Minnesota Feb. 3

JACK MCLAUGHLIN

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Cayla McMorris 1000 Career Points

Jan. 14 Penn State

L, 61-71

#18 Ohio State L, 55-68

Feb. 11 at Nebraska

2 p.m.

Feb. 14 Rutgers

7 p.m.

Feb. 18 at Iowa

2 p.m.

Feb. 21 at Michigan State 6 p.m. Feb. 28-Mar. 2 Big Ten Tournament

Indianapolis

View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

GOOD TO KNOW Sunday’s game will be streamed live on BTN Plus. Fans can also listen to the game in the Madison area on 100.9 FM or online with the iHeartRadio app with Jon Arias on the call. Live updates are also available on Twitter @BadgerWBB.

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

▶ Badgers hang tight in loss to No. 18 Buckeyes, 68-55

FOLLOW US:

▶ Badgers fall to Golden Gophers, 71-61 ▶ Roichelle Marble’s Biggest Inspiration

39



INSIDE MEN’S HOCKEY SCHEDULE (14-13-4, 8-9-3-1) Home events in bold. All times CT. Jan. 5

at #14 Penn State L, 1-5

Jan. 6

at #14 Penn State T, 3-3 OT

LOST SHOOTOUT 0-1

Jan. 12 Michigan State

L, 0-2

Jan. 13 Michigan State

W, 5-2

Jan. 19 at #1 Notre Dame L, 2-4 Jan. 21 vs. #1 Notre Dame W, 5-0

Chicago

Jan. 26 #14 Penn State

W, 4-2

Jan. 27 #14 Penn State T, 4-4 OT

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Timmy Takeover: Wyatt Kalynuk and Ryan Wagner

THIS WEEK No. 17 Wisconsin (14-13-4, 8-9-3-1 Big Ten) plays host to border-rival and No. 12 Minnesota (16-13-1, 7-10-1-1 Big Ten) for senior weekend at the Kohl Center. In what is UW’s last regular-season home series of the season, the puck drops Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 7 p.m. LAST WEEK Wisconsin split at No. 20 Michigan last weekend, dropping a 5-3 decision last Friday, before responding with a 4-2 victory on Saturday.

GOOD TO KNOW Sophomore Trent Frederic’s six-point weekend last week at Michigan, on two goals and four assists, marked the first for a Badger since March 7-8, 2014, when both Mark Zengerle and Nic Kerdiles had six points on two goals and four assists in a road sweep at Penn State. NEED TO KNOW Friday’s game airs on BTN, while Saturday’s game will be shown on Fox Sports Wisconsin Plus. The games will also stream online at BTN2Go.com and on the BTN2Go app for cable and satellite subscribers. On the radio, the action airs on 1310 WIBA and the Badger Radio Network.

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

WON SHOOTOUT 1-0

Feb. 2 at #20 Michigan

L, 3-5

Feb. 3 at #20 Michigan

W, 4-2

Feb. 9 #12 Minnesota

8 p.m.

Feb. 10 #12 Minnesota

7 p.m.

Feb. 23 at #6 Ohio State

7 p.m.

Feb. 24 at #6 Ohio State

7 p.m.

DAVID STLUKA

Mar. 2-4 Big Ten First Round Playoffs

Mar. 10 Big Ten Semifinals Mar. 17 Big Ten Championship View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

FOLLOW US:

▶ Frederic revving engine as Badgers face two key series ▶ Engel brings versatility, gold medal back to Badgers

41


We don’t like the cold. We love the cold.

WHEN YOU’RE HAVING FUN, WE’RE HAVING FUN.

VIEW the SNOW CONDITIONS Report At


INSIDE WOMEN’S HOCKEY SCHEDULE (26-3-1, 17-2-1) Home events in bold. All times CT. Dec. 1

Minnesota Duluth W, 5-1

Dec. 2

Minnesota Duluth W, 3-1

Dec. 8

at St. Cloud State W, 1-0

Dec. 9

at St. Cloud State W, 3-0

2018 Jan. 13

Minnesota State W, 6-0

Jan. 14

Minnesota State W, 4-0

Jan. 19

at Bemidji State W, 4-3 OT

Jan. 20

at Bemidji State T, 3-3 OT

THIS WEEK The No. 2 Badgers (26-3-1, 17-2-1-1 WCHA) look to rebound this weekend as they travel north to take on Minnesota Duluth (12-13-3, 8-10-22 WCHA) in a Friday-Saturday showdown at AMSOIL Arena. Puck drop on Friday is set for 7 p.m. while Saturday’s game starts at 4 p.m. and both games can be heard on 100.9 FM. LAST WEEK UW suffered its first sweep in almost two years, falling 1-0 and 3-1 at No. 6 Ohio State last weekend. Alexis Mauermann scored the lone goal for UW on the weekend.

GOOD TO KNOW UW has been stellar in the last couple of years against Minnesota Duluth as the Badgers are 18-2-2 in the last 22 meetings with UMD, including a 4-1 win in last year’s WCHA Final Face-Off championship. NEED TO KNOW Both games this weekend can be heard on 100.9 FM as Reid Magnum has the call from Duluth, Minnesota. In addition, fans can watch the game online via NCHC.TV and follow the action on Twitter (@BadgerWHockey).

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

▶ Canadian Olympic build-up tests former Badgers

Jan. 27

St. Cloud State

W, 4-0

Jan. 28

St. Cloud State

W, 3-2

Feb. 2

at #6 Ohio State L, 0-1

Feb. 3

at #6 Ohio State L, 1-3

Feb. 9

at Minn. Duluth

7 p.m.

Feb. 10 at Minn. Duluth

4 p.m.

Feb. 16 #7 Minnesota

7 p.m.

Feb. 17 #7 Minnesota

3 p.m.

Feb. 23-25 WCHA

JACK MCLAUGHLIN

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Mark Johnson Weekly Presser: Badgers Take on Minnesota Duluth

WON SHOOTOUT 2-1

First Round

View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

FOLLOW US:

▶ Stellarton celebrates Olympian Blayre Turnbull ▶ Cheer ’em on: Wisconsin well-represented in Olympics

43


INSIDE WRESTLING SCHEDULE (6-2, 3-2)

Home events in bold. All times CT. Dec. 1-2 at Cliff Keen Invitational Las Vegas Results » Dec. 7

Maryland

Dec. 9

at UW-Whitewater W, 38-3

Dec. 9

at UNI Open

Cedar Falls, Iowa

W, 32-6 Results »

Dec. 29-30 at Midland Championships Hoffman Estates, Ill. Results »

2018 Jan. 12 at Northwestern L, 14-18 Jan. 19 at #8 Michigan L, 10-29 Jan. 21 at Michigan State W, 28-7 Jan. 26 Indiana Feb. 9

▲ TAP TO WATCH - For The W || Season 1 || Episode 5

#15 Nebraska

W, 24-19 7 p.m.

Feb. 11 at #14 Illinois

1 p.m.

Feb. 16 #18 Rutgers

7 p.m.

Feb. 18 Purdue Noon

THIS WEEK The Wisconsin wrestling team hosts Nebraska at 7 p.m. in the UW Field House. Friday will be Military Appreciation Night where active and retired members of the United States Armed Forces, plus one guest, will receive free admission and a Bucky Coupon Book (while supplies last) to thank them for their service to our country. LAST WEEK UW enjoyed a week off after using an early surge to take down Indiana, 24-19. Both

Cole Martin and Evan Wick used tech falls to help lead the Badgers to victory. GOOD TO KNOW Wick, a redshirt freshman, tallied his sixth tech fall of the season against Indiana and is headed into the end of the Big Ten season with a 17-2 record.

East Lansing, Mich.

Mar. 15-17 at

▶ Badgers halt Hoosiers after early surge ▶ Badgering: Lee Kemp ▶ Badgers regain momentum after defeating Spartans, 28-7

NCAA Championships

Cleveland, Ohio

View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

NEED TO KNOW The dual will be streamed live on BTN Plus but fans can also follow along on Twitter (@BadgerWrestling) for live results.

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

44

Mar. 3-4 at Big Ten Championships

FOLLOW US:


INSIDE SOFTBALL SCHEDULE (0-0, 0-0)

Home events in bold. All times CT. at Texas Classic, Austin, Texas:

Feb. 9 vs. Colorado St. vs. Texas

11 a.m. 7 p.m.

Feb. 10 vs. Texas 3:30 p.m. vs. Incarnate Word 6 p.m. Feb. 11 vs. Colorado St.

10 a.m.

at ACC/Big Ten Challenge, Chapel Hill, N.C.:

Feb. 16 vs. Pitt

10 a.m.

Feb. 17 vs. Pitt 10 a.m. vs. N. Carolina 12:30 p.m. Feb. 18 vs. N. Carolina 11:30 a.m. at Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, Palm Springs, Calif.:

Feb. 23 vs. Fresno St. 12:30 p.m. ▲ TAP TO WATCH - Wisconsin Softball Announces 2018 Season Schedule

THIS WEEK The Wisconsin softball team opens the 2018 season at the Texas Classic in Austin, Texas. The Badgers will face Colorado State, Texas and Incarnate Word. LAST SEASON The Badgers are coming off one of their most successful seasons in program history and are receiving votes in the first poll of the year. UW earned its sixth NCAA tournament berth and returns seven starters.

GOOD TO KNOW Wisconsin faces seven opponents receiving votes in the preseason poll, five ranked in the top 25, three in the top 15 and two in the top 10. NEED TO KNOW All games will be broadcast live on the Longhorn Network. Links for live statistics will be available on UWBadgers.com while live updates can be found on Twitter (@BadgerSoftball).

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

Feb. 24 vs. Missouri 11:30 a.m. vs. San Jose St. 4:30 p.m.

JACK MCLAUGHLIN

Feb. 22 vs. Auburn 2:30 p.m. vs. #24 Oklahoma St. 5 p.m.

Feb. 25 vs. #4 Washington 11 a.m. at USF Tournament, Tampa, Fla.:.

Mar. 2 vs. Central Mich. 12:30 p.m. vs. South Florida 3 p.m. View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

FOLLOW US:

▶ Badgers eager to begin 2018 season ▶ LaShya’s love for softball grows thanks to Badgers

45



INSIDE MEN’S TRACK & FIELD SCHEDULE

Home events in bold. Jan. 13

at The Dual

Minneapolis

Results »

Jan. 19-20 at Larry Wieczorek Invite Iowa City, Iowa Results » Jan. 26-27 at Dr. Sander Invitational New York City Results »

Feb. 2-3 at Frank Sevigne Husker Invite Lincoln, Neb. Results » Feb. 9-10 at Iowa State Classic

Ames, Iowa

Feb. 16

Shell Shocker

Feb. 23-24 at Big Ten Indoor

Championships

Geneva, Ohio

Mar. 9-10 at NCAA Indoor Championships

THIS WEEK The Badgers head west to Ames, Iowa, for the Iowa State Classic at the Lied Recreation Center. Action on Friday and Saturday is set to begin at 11 a.m. LAST WEEK Wisconsin saw several outstanding performances at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational in Lincoln, Nebraska as junior Trent Nytes and sophomore Zach Lorbeck both posted UW top-10 scores in the heptathlon while Rashid Coulibaly moved up the program’s top-10 list in the indoor pole vault.

GOOD TO KNOW Nytes’ score of 5,656 points ranks No. 5 on the school’s top-10 list, No. 1 in the Big Ten Conference and No. 10 in the NCAA while Lorbeck’s score of 5,611 points ranks No. 6 on the program’s top-10 list, No. 3 in the Big Ten and No. 15 in the NCAA.

DAVID STLUKA

College Station, Texas

OUTDOOR Mar. 31 at UC San Diego Invite San Diego, Calif. Apr. 6-7 at Spec Towns Invite

Athens, Ga.

View full schedule/results »

SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

NEED TO KNOW Fans can watch the Iowa State Classic on FloTrack with a FloTrack Pro subscription. In addition, fans can follow the action on Twitter (@BadgerTrackXC) and via live results that will be available on UWBadgers.com.

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

FOLLOW US:

▶ No stopping Nytes: UW junior shines in Nebraska ▶ Heptathletes lead the way for the Badgers in Lincoln

47



INSIDE WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD SCHEDULE

Home events in bold. Jan. 13

at The Dual

Minneapolis

Results »

Jan. 19-20 at Larry Wieczorek Invite Iowa City, Iowa Results » Jan. 26-27 at Dr. Sander Invitational New York City Results »

Feb. 2-3 at Frank Sevigne Husker Invite Lincoln, Neb. Results » Feb. 9-10 at Iowa State Classic

Ames, Iowa

Feb. 16

Shell Shocker

Feb. 23-24 at Big Ten Indoor

Championships

Geneva, Ohio

Mar. 9-10 at NCAA Indoor Championships

THIS WEEK No. 15 Wisconsin travels to Ames, Iowa, this weekend for the Iowa State Classic. Action on both Friday and Saturday at the Lied Recreation Center will start at 11 a.m. LAST WEEK Georgia Ellenwood and Taylor Amann both picked up victories at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational in Lincoln, Nebraska. Ellenwood won her season debut in the pentathlon while Amann won her eighth-straight title in the indoor pole vault.

GOOD TO KNOW Ellenwood’s score of 4,259 points ranks third nationally and paces the Big Ten Conference. It also marks the sixth time in her historic career, which features five first-team All-America honors, that Ellenwood has broken the 4,200 mark in the pentathlon.

DAVID STLUKA

College Station, Texas

OUTDOOR Mar. 31 at UC San Diego Invite San Diego, Calif. View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

NEED TO KNOW Fans can watch the Iowa State Classic on FloTrack with a FloTrack Pro subscription. In addition, fans can follow the action on Twitter (@BadgerTrackXC) and via live results that will be available on UWBadgers.com.

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

FOLLOW US:

▶ Amann leads Badgers at Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational ▶ Exceptional Ellenwood: UW senior takes pentathlon crown

49


INSIDE MEN’S TENNIS SCHEDULE (4-2, 0-0)

Home events in bold. All times CT. Nov. 1-5

at ITA Fall National Championships Results »

Palm Desert, Calif.

Nov. 3-5

at Minnesota Invitational Minneapolis Results »

2018 Jan. 20 DePaul

W, 6-1

Nebraska-Omaha W, 6-1

Jan. 27 vs. #14 Mississippi St. L, 1-4

Stillwater, Okla.

Jan. 28 vs. Kentucky

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Wisconsin Bounces Back, Boosts Confidence

THIS WEEK Wisconsin (4-2) faces fierce competition in heading west for two matches on Friday and Sunday. The Badgers will first take on the Oregon Ducks — who are receiving votes in the ITA top-25 rankings — at 6 p.m. (CT) before traveling north for a match against Washington at noon. LAST WEEK The Badgers swept a doubleheader at Nielsen Tennis Stadium on Saturday over East Tennessee State, 4-2, and

Green Bay, 4-0. Sophomore Daniel Soyfer posted a pair of singles wins on the day, moving to 4-0 overall during the dual season.

Stillwater, Okla.

Feb. 3

East Tenn. State

W, 4-2

Green Bay

W, 4-0

Feb. 9

at Oregon

6 p.m.

Feb. 11 at Washington

Noon

Feb. 15 Marquette

6 p.m.

Feb. 17 at Minnesota

Noon

Feb. 23 Pennsylvania

3 p.m.

Feb. 25 at Middle Tennessee 10 a.m. View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

NEED TO KNOW Keep up with all things Badger tennis in their away matches on twitter (@BadgerMTennis).

▶ 5 Things to Know: Wisconsin readies for tough challenge ▶ In-state sweep: Wisconsin shuts out Green Bay 50

GOOD TO KNOW UW opens the season 4-0 at home which improves Wisconsin’s home record to 24-6 under third-year head coach Danny Westerman.

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

▶ Bye-Bye Bucs: Character-building win over ETSU

L, 1-4

FOLLOW US:


INSIDE WOMEN’S TENNIS SCHEDULE (6-0, 0-0)

Home events in bold. Nov. 3-5 at Harvard Fall Invite Cambridge, Mass. Results » Nov. 10-12 at FSU All-Conference Results » Showdown

Tallahassee, Fla.

Long Beach, Calif.

2018 Jan. 19-21 at Beach Tennis Winter Invite Results »

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Badgers Remain Undefeated After Sweep at Home

THIS WEEK Off to their best start in over 30 years, the Badgers (6-0) will welcome 15 of the nation’s top teams to Madison this weekend the 2018 ITA Team National Indoor Championships. The Tournament runs Friday, Feb. 9 - Monday, Feb. 12 at Nielsen Tennis Stadium. Wisconsin receives an automatic bid into the tournament for hosting and will open against No. 7 seed Florida on Friday at 6:30 p.m. (CT). Admission is free. Fans can watch live streaming video of the ITA championships all weekend long via UWBadgers.com. LAST WEEK Wisconsin continued its impressive start to the dual sea-

son by sweeping Bradley and Green Bay in a doubleheader last Saturday. Wisconsin defeated Bradley, 7-0, before also shutting out UWGB, 7-0. GOOD TO KNOW Freshman Lexi Keberle climbed to No. 98 in the Oracle/ITA National Singles Rankings and improved to 6-0 in singles play during the dual season. Wisconsin’s trio of sophomores, Christina Zordani, Melissa Pick and Michelle Linden, are all also undefeated in dual play.

Jan. 26 at Marquette

W, 5-2

W, 5-0

at Milwaukee

Jan. 27 Colorado State

W, 6-1

Feb. 1

Northern Illinois

W, 7-0

Feb. 3

Bradley

W, 7-0

Green Bay

W, 7-0

Feb. 9-12

ITA National Team Indoor Championship

Feb. 17 vs. Arizona Las Vegas

Noon

Feb. 18 at UNLV

Noon

Feb. 23 at Virginia Tech

3 p.m.

Feb. 25 vs. James Madison 10 a.m. Blacksburg, Va. View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

NEED TO KNOW With a record of 6-0, Wisconsin is off to its best start in over 30 years. The Badgers have already surpassed last year’s win total by two victories.

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

▶ Five things to know: ITA Indoor Nationals

FOLLOW US:

▶ Badgers sweep doubleheader ▶ Keep the streak alive: UW remains undefeated

51


E N ZORAGE

E V CO

THE 2017.5 NISSAN ROGUE®

Now Standard on every Nissan Rogue: Automatic Emergency Braking | Blind Spot Warning | Rear Cross Traffic Alert The 2017 Nissan Rogue helps cover you from every angle. Straight up the A-gap. Down the middle. Even sideline-to-sideline. Rogue’s Intelligent Safety Shield Technologies work together to help sense more around you and give you an extra hand when you need it. Now, you can worry more about the big game. And less about getting to it, safely. Nissan. A proud partner of College Athletics.

,

TAKE ON TODAY

1. Automatic Emergency Braking: AEB cannot prevent accidents due to carelessness or dangerous driving techniques. It may not provide warning or braking in certain conditions. Speed limitations apply. 2. Blind Spot Warning: Blind Spot Warning is not a substitute for proper lane change procedures. The system will not prevent contact with other vehicles or accidents. It may not detect every vehicle or object around you. 3. Rear Cross Traffic: Not a substitute for proper backing procedures. May not detect all moving vehicles. Speed and other limitations apply. See owner’s manual for details.


INSIDE MEN’S GOLF SCHEDULE

Home events in bold. Sept. 10-12 Badger Invitational Results » Sept. 24-25 at Northern Intercollegiate Sugar Grove, Ill. Results » Oct. 1-3

at Marquette Invitational Erin, Wis. Results »

Oct. 8-9

at Windon Memorial Skokie, Ill. Results »

Oct. 23-24 at Pinetree Intercollegiate Murfreesboro, Tenn. Results » 2018 Feb. 9-10 at Big Ten Match Play Palm Coast, Fla.

Mar. 12-13 at Colleton River Collegiate

LAST TIME OUT Through five fall tournaments the Badgers’ 292.5 scoring average as a team is on pace to be the best in school history. UW’s best finish of the fall came in its final tournament, tying for second at the Pinetree Intercollegiate in late October. THIS WEEK The spring season tees off with the Big Ten Match Play event at Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast, Fla., on Friday and Saturday. The tournament consists of four 18-hole match play rounds. Wisconsin will face Illinois,

Bluffon, S.C.

Northwestern and Nebraska in its first three rounds with the final match determined by the outcome of the first three.

Mar. 25-27 at Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate

OF NOTE Wisconsin is competing in the Big Ten Match Play event for the first time since 2015. GOOD TO KNOW Freshmen Sam Anderson and Griffin Barela each recorded top-10 finishes in the fall. Anderson tied for second at the Pinetree Intercollegiate and Barela tied for eighth at the season-opening Badger Invitational.

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

DAVID STLUKA

Awendaw, S.C.

Mar. 31-Apr. 1

at D.A. Weibring Invitational

Normal, Ill.

Apr. 14-15 at Boilermaker Invitational

West Lafayette, Ind.

View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

FOLLOW US:

▶ 5 Things to Know: Spring Season ▶ Gilbert named assistant coach

53



THIS WEEK IN BADGER HISTORY

CAMP RANDALL 100 SPOTLIGHT:

ERIC HEIDEN

The Camp Randall 100 honors a prestigious group of 100 people who shaped the first century of Camp Randall Stadium. Wisconsin Athletics revealed a new honoree every day from May 24 through the Badgers’ 2017 opening game vs. Utah State Sept. 1. BY BRIAN LUCAS UW Athletic Communications

T

he 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, have reached almost mythical proportions. Movies have been made, books have been written, tales have been spun about “I was there when …” Right in the center of all of it was a 13-member contingent from Wisconsin. The two most famous of those names were Eric Heiden and Mark Johnson, boyhood friends from Madison who took the world by storm with their performances. Heiden won five individual gold medals while setting four Olympic records and one world record in speedskating. He remains the only athlete to win gold in all five long track events in a single Olympics. Johnson, fresh off an outstanding career with the Badgers, was a member of the “Miracle on Ice” men’s hockey team that upset the Soviet Union in the semifinals and beat Finland to win the gold medal. Johnson was the team’s leading scorer and tallied two goals in the win over Russia. Another former Badger, Bob Suter, was a member of the men’s hockey team. Eric Heiden’s sister, Beth, won a speedskating bronze medal in Lake Placid. Those four Madison natives were joined by speedskaters Mary and Sarah Docter, Dan Immerfall, Leah and Peter Mueller, Mike Woods, and Mike and Tom Plant; ski jumper Reed Zuehlke; and

speedskating coaches Dianne Holum and Peter Schotting at a welcome home ceremony held at Camp Randall Stadium on March 29, 1980. A crowd of between 25-30,000 fans greeted the Olympians and the reception was televised live throughout the state of Wisconsin. The UW Marching Band and cheerleaders as well as the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps kicked off the festivities. “An Olympic-style torch was lit and the Olympic banner waved as the athletes were individually introduced and paraded to a stand set up on the football field,” according to that day’s Madison Capital Times. Among the speakers were Wisconsin governor Lee Dreyfus, UW-Madison chancellor Irving Shain and UW System president Robert O’Neill. Madison Mayor Joel Skornicka presented each athlete and coach a key to the city. “There’s nobody like the people from your own hometown. Today has been really special,” Heiden said, addressing the crowd. That day was not Heiden’s first on the turf at Camp Randall. He was a two-year letterwinner for the UW soccer team in the first two seasons of the program’s varsity history, playing midfield in 1977 and 1978. The soccer team used Camp Randall as its home field for the first seven seasons. Heiden left UW after his sophomore year to concentrate on his speedskating career. Turned out to be a pretty good choice. ▪ For the complete list, visit CampRandall100.com.

55


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.