UMC Volleyball Adds Middle Hitter Sikkink to Signing Class
CROOKSTON,
Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston volleyball team announced
the signing of Kaitlin Sikkink (MH, 5-11, St. Charles, Minn./St.
Charles H.S.) to a National Letter of Intent to begin playing for the
Golden Eagles during the 2015 season.
“Kaitlin is a very
athletically talented athlete that always competes with a lot of energy
and passion for the game,” said UMC Head Coach Lee Anderson. “She will
bring a level of enthusiasm on a daily that will be infectious!” “I
forsee great things for Kaitlin and I am so excited that she decided to
make her home at UMC and become a member of the Golden Eagle Volleyball
family!”
Sikkink is the fifth signee for the Golden Eagles for
the 2015 signing class. She joins Alex Oakes (S, 5-9, Cloquet,
Minn./Cloquet H.S.), Devan Miliner (DS/Lib., 5-2, Rosemount, Minn./Apple
Valley H.S.), Callie Schapekahm (MH, 6-0, Eagan, Minn./Eagan H.S.) and
Sabrina Leuer (MH, 5-10, Hamel, Minn./Wayzata H.S.) as signees for the
Golden Eagles. UMC returns 11 players from last year’s roster but is
looking to replace three big players for them during the 2014 season in
All-NSIC First Team pick and all-time kills leader Brittany Looker, one
of the program’s all-time leading blockers in Morgan VanGerpen and
starting libero Mary Mikutowski.
Kaitlin Sikkink (MH, 5-11, St. Charles, Minn./St. Charles H.S.)
She
played for SMV (Southern Minnesota Volleyball), which has helped
produce UMC greats such as Brittany Looker and Chelsea Wiesner. Sikkink
helped lead her club to first place in the 2013 Med City Cup and second
place in the 2013 Frostbite Tournament. Sikkink was All-State Honorable
Mention in 2014 and was an All-Three Rivers Conference pick in 2013 and
2014. She has been very involved in her school, serving as National
Honor Society treasurer and secretary, a member of student council,
including serving as president in 2014. She has also been honored for
her academic excellence throughout her academic career.
Sikkink is the daughter of Mike and Amy Sikkink. She plans to major in biology. Sikkink was born Nov. 5, 1996.
UMC Baseball Signs Four During Early Signing Period
CROOKSTON,
Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team announced
the signing of four student-athletes to National Letters of Intent for
the early signing period. David Olson (C, 6-1 195, Stillwater,
Minn./Vermillion C.C.), Eric Newman (RHP, 6-3 188, Buffalo,
Minn./Buffalo H.S.), Clarke Peterson (C, 5-6 175, East Grand Forks,
Minn./East Grand Forks H.S.) and Zach Seipel (C, 6-2 185, Eagan,
Minn./Eagan H.S.) have all signed with UMC in Head Coach Steve Gust’s
first full recruiting class leading the program.
“I am extremely
excited to sign these four student-athletes,” Gust said. “They all have
talent, but more importantly, they exhibited the character traits we are
looking for as we build this program. They have great passion for the
game and school, and all of them are ready to give their best effort to
what we are trying to accomplish here.”
The quartet of players
are just a start for Gust’s first recruiting class as he looks to build
upon the numbers and talent on the UMC roster. The Golden Eagles are
currently slated to have 30 players on the roster for 2015 season and
will lose four players to graduation.
Zach Seipel (C, 6-2 185, Eagan, Minn./Eagan H.S.)
Seipel
hit .383 with 16 runs scored, four doubles, 19 runs batted in and a
.400 slugging percentage for the Eagan Patriots, junior American Legion
team, in 2013. In 2013, Seipel helped lead Eagan to the American Legion
state tournament in 2014. Seipel hit .319 during the legion season in
2014.
Seipel is the son of Kim and Larry Seipel. He plans to major in health management. Seipel was born Oct. 17, 1996.
“Zach
has a bright future at UMC,” Gust said. “He has all the intangibles we
are looking for both on and off the field. We are excited to have him as
a member of our baseball team.”
Clarke Peterson (C, 5-6 175, East Grand Forks, Minn./East Grand Forks H.S.)
Peterson
hit .375 with 10 runs scored, 10 RBI, four doubles and one triple. He
had a .374 batting average for East Grand Forks H.S. Peterson also plays
football for East Grand Forks H.S.
Peterson is the son of
Michael and Karen Peterson. He plans to major in sports and rec
management. Peterson was born March 4, 1997.
“Clarke is one of
the top catchers in the region,” Gust said. “We are very fortunate to
sign him early because he is a kid that projects very well at this
level. We are very excited to see him develop during his time here at
UMC.”
Eric Newman (RHP, 6-3 188, Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo H.S.)
Newman
was a letterwinner in baseball and strength and conditioning. Newman
played American Legion for Buffalo. He joins current UMC player Colton
Haight as players from Buffalo H.S. to play for the Golden Eagles.
Student-athletes Alexa Thielman (women’s basketball) and Bailey Braatz
(softball) are also Buffalo-products.
Newman is the son of John and Angela Newman. He is undecided on his major. Newman was born Aug. 21, 1996.
“Eric
has a bright future at UMC,” Gust said. “He has all the physical tools
to be a good pitcher. He needs to develop but he has tremendous up side
and we are excited to be able to have him in a UMC uniform.”
David Olson (C, 6-1 195, Stillwater, Minn./Vermillion C.C.)
Olson
was an All-Minnesota Collegiate Athletic Conference (MCAC) selection at
Vermillion C.C. At Vermillion, Olson hit five doubles, three triples
and one home run as a freshman for the Ironmen. Olson drove in 13 runs,
had four walks and hit .385 on the season. He scored 11 runs as a
freshman. While at Stillwater Area H.S., he lettered in baseball and
wrestling. Olson earned the Impact Award and Coaches Award on the
wrestling mat. He earned the Joey Gaulo Memorial Scholarship.
Olson
is the son of Kristine Olson of Stillwate, Minn. and Corky Olson of
Wyoming, Minn. He plans to major in sports and rec management. He was
born Sept. 19, 1994.
“David is going to come in here and help
from day one,” Gust said. “His passion, desire and talent will allow him
to do great things for us. We are very excited to sign someone of
David’s caliber early.”
CROOKSTON, Minn. –The University of Minnesota Crookston men’s basketball
program announced the signing of Chase Knickerbocker (F, 6-6 175,
Annandale, Minn./Annandale H.S.) to a National Letter of Intent to begin
playing for the Golden Eagles during the 2015-16 season.
“Chase
can flat out shoot the ball,” said UMC Head Coach Dan Weisse. “He has
good size and can play multiple positions for us. He also just
understands how to play the game. Chase is a great fit in our system. He
is a great addition to our basketball program and community. He will
have a big impact on our program for four years and I’m excited to coach
him.”
Knickerbocker joins a talented Minnesota-based signing
class that features all four players who are ranked in the top 100 in
the state of Minnesota per Northstar Hoops Report. UMC has also signed
Kobe Critchley (G, 6-0 160, Roseville, Minn./Roseville Area H.S.),
Connor Gamble (G, 6-0 155, Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater Area H.S.) and
Nate Lorenz (F, 6-7 210, Breckenridge H.S.) to National Letters of
Intent.
The quartet of players will provide UMC a strong
foundation as Coach Weisse starts to build UMC into a contender in the
NSIC. The class has already been labeled as one of the strongest
in-state classes so far for this recruiting cycle by Northstar Hoops
Report.
Chase Knickerbocker (F, 6-6 175, Annandale, Minn./Annandale H.S.)
Knickerbocker
is the 54th ranked player in the state of Minnesota according to North
Star Hoops Report, joining Critchley (30), Lorenz (31) and Gamble (88)
as Top 100 players in the state of Minnesota to sign with UMC.
Knickerbocker averaged 17.2 points and shot 50.5 percent from beyond the
arc for Annandale H.S. last season. He averaged 4.4 rebounds per game.
Knickerbocker played AAU for the Minnesota Fury.
MC Women’s Basketball Adds Wisconsin Point Guard Michaelis to Signing Class
CROOKSTON,
Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston basketball program
announced the signing of Caitlin Michaelis (G, 5-8, Marshfield,
Wis./Marshfield H.S.) to a National Letter of Intent to begin playing
for the Golden Eagles during the 2015-16 season. Michaelis joins Lindsey
Weber (F, 5-11, Delafield, Wis./Kettle Moraine H.S.) as signees with
the Golden Eagles.
“Caitlin is a player that will bring a lot of
talent to our back court,” said UMC Head Coach Mike Roysland. “She has
the ability to stretch the court with her shooting ability and does a
great job as a point guard of seeing the floor and getting the ball to
everyone. She also does a nice job of accelerating off the bounce. We
are excited to have Caitlin join the UMC women’s basketball team.”
Caitlin Michaelis (G, 5-8, Marshfield, Wis./Marshfield H.S.)
Michaelis
is entering her fourth year as a varsity member of the Marshfield H.S.
basketball team. She earned Honorable Mention All-Wisconsin Valley
Conference in ninth grade. In 10th grade, she was a First Team
All-Wisconsin Valley Conference and set the record for three-pointers in
a game with nine. As a junior, she was a First Team All-WVC pick and
earned the Leadership Award and set the school record for three-pointers
in a career. Michaelis finished fifth in the league in scoring with
11.7 points per game. She averaged 2.8 assists per game and made 22
three-pointers.
Michaelis is the daughter of Heidi and Craig
Michaelis. She was born Jan. 30, 1997. Michaelis is undecided on her
major. Both of her parents were college athletes at Miami University
(Ohio).
All signees are
contingent upon admission to UMC and compliance with NCAA rules,
including certification by the NCAA Eligibility Center. Everyone
released today has signed their National Letter of Intent prior to
release of information.
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