PTP Players of the Week

(February 13, 2013) Brooke Brommenschenkel (Norman County West) and Kari Skersick (Bagley) have been awarded the Pine to Prairie Girls Basketball Player of the Week awards.

Brooke, a junior guard, is currently the second leading scorer in the Pine to Prairie Conference averaging 18.2 points per game. Last week, Brommenschenkel averaged 22.3 points in three games last week. Brooke scored 26 in a loss at Bagley, 29 in a win over Larimore and added 12 in a loss to Win-E-Mac.

Kari, a junior forward, scored 25 points and 14 rebounds against Norman County West, added 2 points and 15 rebounds against Park Rapids, and had 18 points and 15 rebounds at Lake Park-Audubon. Kari averaged 22.6 point per game for the week and 14.6 rebounds. Kari also became the Bagley Girls Basketball All-Time Leading Scorer against Lake Park-Audubon.

Other outstanding performances for the week were turned in by Tori Voss (Waubun) and Ciara Austinson (Ulen-Hitterdal).

Longtime football assistant, UND letterwinner Mannausau to lead Champions Club

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The University of North Dakota Athletics Department and the UND Alumni Association & Foundation announced today that Mike Mannausau has been hired as Assistant Athletics Director/Champions Club Executive Director.

Mannausau, who begins his new duties on Monday, Feb. 18, recently completed his ninth season on the North Dakota football coaching staff and his seventh as defensive coordinator. Prior to the 2008 season, he was elevated to assistant head coach and last season he was named associate head coach.

"Since I arrived at the University of North Dakota, I have been impressed with the great ambassador that Mike is for UND Athletics," said UND Director of Athletics Brian Faison. "We are excited that he will be bringing his passion for North Dakota and his unique combination of skill sets to this critical position for UND Athletics."

The North Dakota Champions Club is a primary source of private support for UND Athletics. The membership club, operated by the UND Alumni Association & Foundation, raises funds for scholarships and program support for UND's Athletics. The Champions Club raised $2.23 million in cash gifts and commitments from 2,360 members in 2011-12, marking the sixth consecutive annual fundraising record for the club.

“We are thrilled to have Mike join our team,” said DeAnna Carlson Zink, associate executive vice president and chief development officer for the UND Alumni Association & Foundation. “His connections to UND Athletics and UND alumni and friends will serve him well in this vital role. We are at a critical point in the fundraising efforts to not only support Impact Scholarships for student-athletes at the Division I level, but also to proceed with the UND Athletics Complex.”

A standout linebacker for North Dakota from 1994 to 1998, Mannausau lettered four times and was a 1998 Football Gazette All-America honorable mention honoree, while serving as a team captain. He received a bachelor's degree from UND in May 1999, majoring in education/physical education and minoring in special education and coaching. In June of 2003, he received a master's degree in kinesiology from UND.

“This is an exciting opportunity for our family,” said Mannausau. “Tiffany and I are so fortunate to be able to continue to be a part of this great University and community. I am so grateful to have been a part of something as special as the University of North Dakota football program for 16 years. I can't thank coach (Chris) Mussman enough for allowing me and my family to share so many wonderful memories. I am so excited to share my passion for UND, our student-athletes and teams with our great alumni and fans. I really feel I can make a bigger impact on UND in this new role and I am excited to get started.”

Mannausau, originally from International Falls, Minn., is married to former UND women's basketball standout and UND Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Tiffany Pudenz. They have two children, daughter Mya and son Max.

In addition to managing the efforts of the Champions Club, Mannausau will work with major donors and prospects to obtain funds for athletic facilities, Impact Scholarships, and endowments for UND Athletics. Mannausau joins a staff that includes Steve Brekke, associate athletics director for development, and Katie Horob, Champions Club Associate Director.

NDSU Picked to Win Summit League Baseball Title

ELMHURST, Ill. - North Dakota State is the unanimous favorite to win its first Summit League baseball championship according to a preseason poll of the league's six head coaches released Friday, Feb. 8.

North Dakota State received all five available first-place votes for 25 points, South Dakota State was second with 17 points, Oakland was third with 16 points, Western Illinois fourth (15), Fort Wayne fifth (9) and Omaha sixth (8).

NDSU set a school record for wins going 40-20 overall and placed third in The Summit League with a 14-10 record last year under head coach Tod Brown, who is beginning his sixth season.

North Dakota State finished second at last year's Summit League tournament behind Oral Roberts, which has moved to the Southland Conference. NDSU is seeking its first NCAA tournament appearance since the 1969 College Division Midwest Regional.

Junior center fielder Tim Colwell is one of only three starting position players back from last year's team. A preseason All-America third team pick by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, Colwell hit .381 with a school-record 93 hits and nine triples, 35 RBIs, a .438 on-base percentage, 12 stolen bases and 62 runs scored in 60 games.

NDSU returns two weekend starting pitchers in right-hander John Straka and David Ernst along with late reliever Simon Anderson and closer Kyle Kingsley. Straka was 7-4 with a 2.61 ERA and set school records with 92 strikeouts in 110 1/3 innings with three shutouts in 15 starts last year as opening day starter.

NDSU is scheduled to open the season Feb. 15-17 with a three-game series at Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The home opener is March 26 against Concordia Moorhead and the 30-game Summit League schedule begins April 5-7 with a four-game series at South Dakota State.

The top four teams in the regular-season standings will advance to the Summit League tournament May 23-25 at the Oakland University baseball field in Rochester, Mich., with the winner of the double-elimination bracket earning the league's automatic berth in the NCAA playoffs.

2013 Summit League Baseball Preseason Poll
Team (First-Place Votes)	Points
1. North Dakota State (5)	25
2. South Dakota State	17
3. Oakland (1)	16
4. Western Illinois	15
5. Fort Wayne	9
6. Omaha	8

UMC Hunt Seat Equestrian Hosts Home Shows This Weekend

CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota, Crookston hunt seat equestrian team will host their winter home show this weekend at the University Teaching and Outreach Center (UTOC). The show will begin at 11 a.m. Sat., Feb. 9 and continue Sun., Feb. 10 at 9 a.m. Competitors at the home show will include UMC, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, University of Wisconsin, River Falls, among others.

The Golden Eagles last hosted a home show Nov. 17 and 18 at UTOC. The Golden Eagles finished second as a team in the Saturday show and earned the team High Point Title in the Sunday show when they last hit the floor at UTOC. UMC was led in the competition by Sable Bettencourt (Fr., Cloquet, Minn.) who tied for the Reserve High Point Rider in the Sunday competition.

UMC also had wins in the competition from Angela Peterson (Sr., Detroit Lakes, Minn.) and Denise Thompson (Sr., Rochester, Minn.) in Intermediate Equitation over Fences. Amanda Overman (Jr., Lindenhurst, Ill.) picked up a win in the Novice Division of Equitation over Fences. Emily Steeley (Fr., Portsmouth, R.I.) had a victory in Open Equitation on the Flat. Chelsea Roetman (Jr., Owatonna, Minn.) had a big win in Open Equitation over Fences Sunday while Bettencourt picked up a victory in Novice Equitation on the Flat. The Golden Eagles also got victories from Tiffany Rask (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn.) and Sam Kramer (So., Corcoran, Minn.) in Novice Equitation on the Flat while Katherine Berg (Fr., Minnetonka, Minn.), Rachel Gaardsmoe (Fr., Petaluma, Calif.) and Paige Clark (Fr., Andover, Minn.) had wins in Walk Trot Canter.

The Golden Eagles will look to build off November’s performance at UTOC in this weekend’s home shows.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics Web site at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

Follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook at Golden Eagle Sports and on Twitter at @UMCAthletics.

NDSU's Julson and Wyoming's McCulley Share WWC Weekly Award

Courtesy: NDSU Athletic Media Relations

February 05, 2013

North Dakota State University 174-pound sophomore Kurtis Julson (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley HS) and University of Wyoming 157-pound sophomore Andy McCulley (Rock Springs, Wyo./Rock Springs HS) have been named Co-Western Wrestling Conference Wrestlers of the Week after both had outstanding performances on the mat last weekend. The conference award was announced Tuesday by the league.

Julson helped spark a Bison rally in their dual with No. 20 Northern Iowa on Sunday by posting a 3-2 decision over No. 19 Cody Caldwell of UNI.

Julson used a takedown with 33 seconds remaining in the third period to knock off the ranked Caldwell, 3-2. The NDSU sophomore's decision closed the NDSU deficit to 14-11 with three matches remaining, ultimately giving the 25th-ranked Bison a chance for their fourth win over a ranked opponent this season going into the heavyweight match.

McCulley got Wyoming off to a great start in UW's last dual versus Northern Colorado. He improved his record to 7-0 against conference opponents when he pinned UNC's Mitchell Polkowske just 48 seconds into their 157-pound match.

The pin was McCulley's team-leading 11th fall of the season, and his second pin of Polkowske this season The sophomore's win sparked a 21-0 run to begin the dual, and the 21st-ranked Cowboys eventually won their eighth dual of the year, 34-10.

Ranked 13th in the nation, McCulley now is 24-6 this season with 14 bonus-point victories.

The conference honor is both wrestlers' first of the season of first of their careers.

The Western Wrestling Conference, which is in its seventh year of competition, is comprised of six schools including the Air Force Academy, North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, South Dakota State, Utah Valley and Wyoming.

2012-13 WWC Wrestlers of the Week
Nov. 6 - Alfonso Hernandez (Wyoming)
Nov. 13 - Josh Wilson (Utah Valley)
Nov. 20 - Cole VonOhlen (Air Force)
Nov. 27 - Trent Sprenkle (North Dakota State)
Dec. 4 - Steven Monk (North Dakota State)
Dec. 11 - Brandon Richardson (Wyoming)
Dec. 18 - Tyler Cox (Wyoming)
Jan. 1 - Steven Monk (North Dakota State)
Jan. 8 - Cole VonOhlen (Air Force)
Jan. 15 - Trent Sprenkle (North Dakota State)
Jan. 22 - Dylan Hyder (AFA)/Jade Rauser (UVU)
Jan. 29 - Josh Martinez (Air Force)
Feb. 5 - Kurtis Julson (NDSU)/Andy McCulley (Wyoming)

UND Goalie Gothberg earns weekly WCHA honors

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – University of North Dakota freshman goaltender Zane Gothberg has been named Red Baron Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) Rookie of the Week for his performance in last weekend’s series against Wisconsin, the league announced today.

Starting both games of a weekend series for the first time in his collegiate career, Gothberg stopped 50 of 52 shots as North Dakota claimed three of four WCHA points from the Badgers. On Friday, the Thief River Falls, Minn., native stopped 29 of 30 shots in a 1-1 overtime tie. He was perfect in the third period and overtime, when UND was outshot 10-4 and 4-0, respectively. On Saturday, Gothberg came within 6 minutes, 30 seconds, of his first career shutout and helped UND end a 5-game winless skid that was the program’s longest in a decade. He finished the night with 21 saves in a 4-1 victory.

For the weekend, Gothberg posted a miniscule 0.96 goals against average with a .962 save percentage and was named the game’s second star both nights.

In nine starts this season, Gothberg is 4-3-2 with a 2.62 goals against average and a .910 save percentage.

St. Cloud State senior forward Drew LeBlanc was named WCHA Offensive Player of the Week, while Denver sophomore goalie Juho Olkinuora was named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week.

UND (14-8-6, 9-5-6 WCHA) visits No. 14 Nebraska Omaha on Friday and Saturday. Saturday’s game will be played outdoors at TD Ameritrade Park, the home of the College World Series, in an outdoor doubleheader billed as the “Mutual of Omaha Battles on Ice.”

UND’s WCHA Players of the Week

Nov. 20: Danny Kristo (Offensive)

Dec. 11: Carter Rowney (Offensive)

Dec. 11: Rocco Grimaldi (co-Rookie)

Dec. 18: Corban Knight (Offensive)

Jan. 8: Corban Knight (co-Offensive)

Feb. 5: Zane Gothberg (Rookie)

NDSU Wrestling Remains in Top 25

The North Dakota State wrestling team remained at No. 25 in the latest USA Today/NWCA/AWN Division I Coaches Poll released on Tuesday.

This is the third week this season that the Bison have been ranked in the national top 25 in the coaches’ poll. NDSU was ranked No. 24 in late November and rejoined the rankings at No. 25 one week ago.

The Bison are currently in first place in the Western Wrestling Conference standings with three league duals remaining. NDSU has knocked off three ranked opponents this season in No. 14 Wyoming, No. 24 Boise State and No. 25 Old Dominion.

Junior Steven Monk is ranked sixth at 165 pounds by both Amateur Wrestling News and Intermat, and senior Trent Sprenkle is ninth at 125 pounds in both individual polls.

NDSU (7-8, 2-0 WWC) hosts two WWC duals in the Bison Sports Arena this weekend. The Bison host Utah Valley on Friday, Feb. 8, at 7 p.m. and Northern Colorado on Sunday, Feb. 10, at 2 p.m.

Rank	Team (First)	Points	Record	Previous
1	Oklahoma State (10)	400	13-0	2
2	Iowa	390	16-1	3
3	Penn State	379	9-1	1
4	Minnesota	371	12-2	4
5	Ohio State	360	10-2	5
6	Missouri	349	11-2	7
7	Virginia Tech	336	13-2	8
8	Illinois	334	6-4	6
9	Oregon State	318	8-3	9
10	Cornell	311	11-3	10
11	Virginia	299	13-3	11
12	Central Michigan	293	11-3	12
13	Nebraska	276	10-4	13
14	Bloomsburg	272	14-2	14
15	Pittsburgh	259	8-4	15
16	Edinboro	249	8-4	16
17	Purdue	242	13-5	18
18	Wisconsin	223	7-5	19
19	Michigan	222	8-5	17
20	Northern Iowa	207	8-3	20
21	Wyoming	205	8-4	21
22	Penn	182	5-3	23
23	Boise State	156	8-5	24
24	Oklahoma	132	6-7	22
25	North Dakota State	65	7-8	25
Dropped out: None
Others receiving votes: Lehigh 49, Navy 36, Maryland 34, Iowa State 18, Rutgers 17, Air Force 16

Minnesota Lynx Re-Sign Center Jessica Adair

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Lynx today announced the team has re-signed center Jessica Adair. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"Jessica proved to be a key member of the 2011 championship team, playing a significant role for the team down the stretch and in the postseason," said Lynx Executive Vice President Roger Griffith. "We’re hopeful that she enters this season healthy and ready to return to her 2011 form. We look forward to watching her continued growth as a player."

Adair was limited due to injuries in 2012, appearing in just 19 games and averaging just 8.8 minutes per contest. She averaged 2.4 points and 2.1 rebounds, shooting 35.1% from the floor. Adair appeared in four playoff games with the Lynx last season, averaging 2.8 minutes and 0.5 points per game.

Originally drafted by the Phoenix Mercury in the third round of the 2009 WNBA Draft, Adair was signed by the Lynx for the final regular season game of the 2010 season before earning a spot on the 2011 roster. She appeared in 31 games with the 2011 squad, averaging 4.3 points and 2.9 rebounds in 10.4 minutes per game. Adair played a pivotal role off the bench for the Lynx during their 2011 championship run, appearing in eight postseason games and scoring 5.8 points, grabbing 3.6 rebounds and blocking 0.6 shots in 12.3 minutes per contest.

Full-season tickets for the entire 17-game home schedule of the defending Western Conference Champion Minnesota Lynx are on sale now for as low as $187. Tickets are available by calling the Lynx front office at 612-673-8400 or by visiting www.lynxbasketball.com.