Danes Players Honors and Successes 

The Danes are proud of the successes and honors that our alumni have achieved.  We know that their success is a combination of their strong work ethic, focus and performance, the hard work of their college and high school coaches and the strong foundations built by the Danes experience. 

Current or former Danes have played softball at the following NCAA/NAIA institutions:  Bemidji State, Butler University, Briar Cliff, Carroll College, Central College (IA), Chapman College, Concordia-Mequon, Edgewood College, Elmhurst College, Gustavus Adolphus, Hamline, Loras College, Marion College, UMinnesota, UM-Duluth, UM-Mankato, UM-Morris, Northland, Ripon, St. Cloud State, St. Scholastica, St. Thomas, Waldorf College, Winona State, UW-Eau Claire, UW-Green Bay, UW-LaCrosse, UW-Oshkosh, UW-River Falls, UW-Superior, UW-Stevens Point, and UW-Stout. 

Danes 2008 Active Players HS and College Honors

Kaity Acker -- NCAA National Championship with UW-Eau Claire

Sara Baumgartner -- NCAA National Championship with UW-Eau Claire

Kirstin Bigelbach -- 1st Team All Conference

Nikki Bromelkamp -- 1st Team All Conference and 1st Team All Region

Keri Doll -- 1st Team All Conference

Justine Emerson -- 2nd Team All Conference

Jess Hegseth -- 1st Team All Conference and All Region

Bailey Kleiforth -- 1st Team All Conference

Brittany Krieg -- 1st Team All Conference

Anna Munson -- 2nd Team All Conference

Kelly Olson -- 1st Team All Conference

Becky Robson -- 1st Team All Conferece and All Region and 3rd Team All State

Lauren Schaller -- 1st Team All Conference and All Region and 3rd Team All State

Beth Schmidt -- 2nd Team All Conference

Abby Singerhouse -- 2nd Team All Conference

Jessi St. Marie -- Honorable Mention All Conference

Erin Stenseth -- 1st Team All Conference

Alyssa Strunk -- Honorable Mention All Conference

Merryssa Tiedeman -- 1st Team All Conference and All Region and Honorable Mention All State

Rosie Weyer -- Honorable Mention All Conference in WIAC

Danes Alumni Part of Team to Face Team USA

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – NCAA Division III National Champions Casey Leisgang (Sr.-Seymour, Wis.) and Jill Janke (Sr.-Black River Falls, Wis.) will compete against the nation’s best when they take on Team USA on Tuesday in Stevens Point. Team USA is currently on its 45-city nationwide pre-Olympic KFC Bound for Beijing Tour. The tour, which began in February and comes to an end in July, consists of 62 games played in 23 different states.

Currently the team is in Illinois but will head to Wisconsin for a game against the Amateur Softball Association of America Regional All-Stars at Zenoff Park at 7 p.m. Tuesday, which Janke and Leisgang will be a part of. Both are extremely honored and excited to take on Team USA before they head to Beijing for the 2008 Summer Olympics. “To have the opportunity to cap off our college careers with a National Championship and now to be sharing the field with Olympians is more than a player could ask for,” Leisgang said. “You see these amazing women growing up, wishing you could be just like them someday and it’s crazy to think that I will be playing against them,” Janke Said. “To play against the people you look up to and are the best of the best when it comes to your sport is awesome.” Blugold softball head coach Leslie Huntington is proud to have the two representing UW-Eau Claire. “I am extremely proud of Casey and Jill for being selected to the All-Star team,” Huntington said. “They have worked so hard during their careers and to be given an opportunity like this is such an honor.” This will be the fourth time Team USA has come to Stevens Point. The last time was in 2004, and Leisgang and Janke were both in attendance to watch. This year a sell-out crowd of almost 2,500 fans is expected. The ASA Regional All-Stars will have their hands full, as Team USA is currently 43-1 on its tour. However, there is no doubt it will be a memorable experience for Leisgang, Janke and the rest of the All-Star team.

*Casey was a 4 year Dane, Jill a 3 year Dane.

** Amanda Wilhelm a 2 year Dane and current Winona State standout also was on the Midwest All Star team

*** Casey was one of two Midwest All Stars to get a hit, a solid single off Monica Abbott!

Spring 2008 Danes in College Update (3/22/08)

We take pride in our alumni's success, here is some updates on how former Danes are performing at the many NCAA insitutions they attend.  

Week of Feb. 25 - March 2

Rachel Weyer, Freshman (Loyal), Outfield of UW-La Crosse
Weyer hit .647 (11-of-17) with five home runs, two doubles, 10 RBI and nine runs scored in five games at the Finlandia University (Mich.) Dome Tournament on March 1-2. She had home runs in four of five contests, including two in a 5-4 win over Marian College (Wis.) on March 1. Weyer hit the game-winning solo home run in the bottom of the seventh for the victory. She had a 1.588 slugging percentage for the week and .684 on-base percentage as the Eagles went 4-1 in the five games.

Spring 2007

Danes in High School Honors and Successes

 Jessa Pfennig -- Selected to play in WFSCA Senior All Star Game
Jessa Pfennig -- 1st Team All Conference Selection
Rosie Weyer -- 1st Team All Conference Selection
Rosie Weyer -- 1st Team All WFSCA All State Selection
Sara Baumgartner -- Selected to play in WFSCA Senior All Star Game
Sara Baumgartner -- 1st Team All WFSCA All State Selection
Sara Baumgartner -- Coulee Conference Player of the Year
Jess Hegseth -- All Conference, All Area, All Section Selection
Meryysa Tiedeman -- All Conference, All Area, All Section Selections
Nikki Bromelkamp -- All Conference, All Area, All Section Selections
Sonya Brauchle -- All Conference and All Section Selections
Sonya Brauchle -- Selected to play in MNHSSCA Senior All Star Game
Kelly Olson -- All Conference Selection
Kelly Olson -- Team MVP at St. Francis High School
Kaity Acker -- 1st Team All Big 8 Conference
Brittany Krieg -- 1st Team All Big Rivers Conference
Sarah Stalker -- 1st Team WFSCA All State Selection
Sarah Stalker -- 1st Team All Big Rivers Conference
Amanda Ryder -- 1st Team All Big Rivers Conference
Amanda Ryder -- 3rd Team WFSCA All State Selection
Corrie Hegwood -- 2nd Team All Big Rivers Conference
Amanda Lester -- 2nd Team All Big Rivers Conference
Erin Stenseth -- 2nd Team All Big Rivers Conference
Beth Schmidt -- 2nd Team All Big Rivers Conference
Hillary Jenness -- 2nd Team All West Cloverbelt Conference
Lauren Schaller -- HM All Conference Mississippi Valley

Danes in College Honors and Successes

Post Season Honors

Brittany Schmitt -- UMAC D3 All Conference 1st Team (Northland College)
Brittany Schmitt -- UMAC D3 All Defensive 1st Team (Northland College)
Gina Garramone -- UMAC D3 All Conference 1st Team (St. Scholastica)
Amanda Wilhelm -- NFCA D2 Great Lakes 2nd Team All Region (Winons State)
Amanda Wilhelm -- Northern Sun D2 All Tournament Team (Winona State)
Jill Janke -- NFCA Great Lakes 1st Team All Region (UW-Eau Claire)
JIll Janke -- Great Lakes D3 Regional All Tournament Team (UW-Eau Claire)
Jill Janke -- WIAC D3 All Conference 1st Team (UW-Eau Claire)
Michelle Butkus -- NFCA D3 Great Lakes 3rd Team All Region (UW-Eau Claire)
Michelle Butkus -- Great Lakes D3 Regional All Tournament Team (UW-Eau Claire)
Michelle Butkus -- WIAC D3 All Conference Honorable Mention (UW-Eau Claire)
Casey Leisgang -- NFCA D3 Great Lakes 1st Team All Region (UW-Eau Claire)
Casey Leisgang -- Great Lakes D3 Regional All Tournament Team (UW-Eau Claire)
Casey Leisgang -- WIAC D3 All Conference 1st Team (UW-Eau Claire)
Casey Leisgang -- NCAA National Tournament All Tournament Team (UW-Eau Claire)
Mallory McKinney -- NCAA National Tournament All Tournament Team (UW-Eau Claire)
Mallory McKinney -- NFCA D3 Great Lakes 3rd Team All Region (UW-Eau Claire)
Mallory McKinney -- Great Lakes D3 Regional All Tournament Team (UW-Eau Claire)
Mallory McKinney -- WIAC D3 All Conference Honorable Mention (UW-Eau Claire)
Rachael Click -- NFCA D3 Midwest 2nd Team All Region (Gustavus)
Racheael Click -- MIAC D3 All Conference 1st Team (Gustavus)
Mindy Rudiger -- WIAC D3 All Conference 1st Team (UW-Eau Claire)
Bri Sturm -- WIAC D3 All Conference 1st Team (UW-Eau Claire)
Jackie Juan -- WIAC D3 All Conference 1st Team (UW-Eau Claire)
Amanda McKellips -- WIAC D3 All Conference Honorable Mention  (UW-Eau Claire)
Nikki Jensen -- NCC D2 All Academic Honor Role (UM-Duluth)
Tanya Rogers -- NAC D3 All Conference Honorable Mention (Marian College)

UMAC Softball Pitcher of the Week of April 16-22

Brittany Schmitt of Northland College has been named the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) softball pitcher of the week. Schmitt (Fr. Abbotsford, WI) was 3-0 for the Lumberjills last week. In 18 innings, Schmitt allowed just one unearned run, walked one and had 26 strikeouts will giving up just eight hits, all singles.

WIAC Position Player of the Week of April 9 - 15

Ashley Hammerbeck, Freshman (Rothschild/D.C. Everest), Outfield of UW-River Falls
Hammerbeck helped the Falcons to six wins last week, including four WIAC road wins, after batting .429 (6-for-14) with three doubles, six runs scored, four RBIs, three walks and one stolen base. She recorded a hit in four of the six games. In a 8-6 victory at UW-Platteville on April 14, she tied the game with a two-run double in the fifth. In a 7-5 win at UW-La Crosse on April 15, Hammerbeck drilled a sixth inning double that ignited a three-run rally to tie the game at 5-5. She walked three times and scored a pair of runs in a 7-2 win over St. Scholastica (Minn.) on April 11.

UW-Eau Claire Finishes 3rd in the Division III National Tournametn

Danes Alumni:  Starting Pitcher: Mallory McKinney, #2 Pitcher: Bri Sturm, Starting Catcher: Bekki Kidnie, Starting First Baseman: Jill Janke, Starting Second Baseman: Casey Leisgang, Starting Thirdbaseman: Michelle Butkus and Reserves: Jen Barron, Ainsley Klar and Student Assistant Coach Rachel Lemon.

MCKINNEY, TSCHERNACH, LEISGANG NAMED ALL-TOURNAMENT

SALEM, VIRGINIA – Three UW-Eau Claire softball players were named to the 13-person NCAA Division III All-Tournament team from the eight-team, double elimination national tournament which concluded Tuesday with Linfield College (OR) defeating Washington University (MO), 10-2, for the National Championship.

The trio included designated player Mallory McKinney(Sr.-Brooklyn Park, MN/Champlin Park), shortstop Mandy Tschernach(Sr.-Rice Lake)and second baseman Casey Leisgang(Jr.-Seymour).

The Blugolds posted a 3-2 record to finish third in the tournament, their highest finish ever at the Division III World Series. The Blugolds defeated Rhode Island College, 9-1 in 5 innings; Emory University (GA), 3-1; and Plattsburgh State (NY), 6-5; while losing to Washington University, 1-0 in 8 innings, and Linfield, 22-10.

Tschernach led the Blugolds in the national tournament with a .647 average (11 for 17), scoring a team-high seven runs with three RBI. Leisgang batted .412 (7 for 17) with four RBI while McKinney hit .389 (7 for 18) with a team-high nine RBI. McKinney also had all of the pitching decisions in the national tournament as she worked 23 2/3 innings with 10 walks, 31 strikeouts and a 2.07 ERA.

Spring 2006

Danes in High School Honors and Successes

All State Selections

St. Paul Pioneer Press 1st Team All State:  Bekki Kidnie (Johnson High School)
WFSCA 2nd Team All State Outfielder Sara Baumgartner (Arcadia High School)
WFSCA 3rd Team All State Catcher: Amanda Ryder (Menomonie High School)
WFSCA HM All State Pitcher:  Brittney Krieg (Hudson High School)

First Team All Conference

Rachel Rosie Weyer -- Loyal High School
Nikki Bromelkamp -- Zumbrota High School
Merrysa Tiedeman -- Zumbrota High School
Sara Baumgartner -- Arcadia High School
Brittany Krieg -- Hudson High School
Brittany Schmitt -- Colby High School
Amanda Lester -- Eau Claire Memorial High School

Second Team All Conference

Sarah Stalker -- Hudson High School

Honorable Mention All Conference

Noelle Pearson -- Edina High School
Jessa Pfenning -- LaCrosse Central High School
Erin Stenseth -- Eau Claire North High School

Danes in College Honors and Successes

Post Season Honors

NFCA D3 All Great Lakes Region First Team -- Mallory McKinney, Jill Janke (UWEC)
NFCA D3 All Great Lakes Region Second Team -- Casey Leisgang (UWEC)
WIAC Honor:  Co-Player of the Year -- Casey Leisgang (UWEC)
WIAC Honor:  Co-Pitcher of the Year -- Mallory McKinney (UWEC)
WIAC Honors:  1st Team All Conference -- Mallory McKinney, Jill Janke, Casey Leisgang (UWEC), Jackie Juan (UW-Stout)
WIAC Honors:  Honorable Mention -- Amanda McKellips (UW-Stout), Mindy Rudiger (UW-River Falls)
LMC Honors:  Honorable Mention -- Tanya Rogers (Marian College)
MIAC 1st Team All Conference:  Rachael Click (Gustavus)
MIAC Rookie of the Year:  Rachael Click (Gustavus)

McKinney WIAC Pitcher of the Week for 2nd Straight Week and Third Time in Five Weeks

Mallory McKinney, Junior (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Champlin Park), Righthanded Pitcher of UW-Eau Claire
McKinney picked up all four pitching wins in doubleheaders against UW-Stout and UW-River Falls during the week. She started the front end of both games and earned complete game victories and came on in relief to earn extra inning triumphs in both second games. McKinney ran her string of consecutive scoreless innings to 61 and her string of innings without allowing an earned run to 66 before UW-River Falls scored with one out in the first inning of the first game. For the week, McKinney pitched 18.1 innings, allowed 12 hits, one run (earned) and one walk while striking out 13. Her shutout against UW-Stout was her ninth of the season, tying the school single-season record set by Kari DeGross in 1988 and Heidi Bergstrom in 2000. She now owns a 15-1 season record with a 0.45 ERA and has walked five and struck out 100 in 93.2 innings.

Click Named MIAC Player of the Week
 
First-year softball player Rachel Click (Rochester, Minn.) has been named Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Week for the week ending April 23, 2006.

Click, a shortstop, hit .500 (9-for-18) while scoring 11 runs and driving in eight to help the Gusties post a record of 7-1 on the week. Click was just as effective in the field as she was at the plate as she recorded four putouts, with 14 assists and one error for a .947 fielding percentage. Click was 2-for-5 with three runs scored in the Gusties doubleheader sweep of Hamline to start the week. She then went 1-for-5 with one run scored and three RBI as the Gusties split with Saint Mary's on Thursday. On Saturday, Click went 1-for-3 with a triple, two walks and three runs scored as Gustavus swept St. Catherine. Click wrapped up the week going 5-for-5 with four runs scored and four RBI as Gustavus swept Carleton.

Spring 2005

Danes in High School Honors and Successes

All State Selections

Bri Sturm -- Zumbrota High School
Jenna Christensen -- Elgin-Millville High School
Rachael Click -- Rochester Mayo High School
Bekki Kidnie -- Johnson High School
Rachel Haines -- Pepin HIgh School
Amanda Wilhelm -- LaCrosse Central High School
Amy Flock -- Brookwood High School

First Team All Conference

Bri Sturm-- Zumbrota High School
Bekki Kidnie -- Johnson (St. Paul) High School
Sarah Stalker -- Hudson High School
Rachel Rosie Weyer -- Loyal High School
Mindy Rudiger -- Menomonie High School

Second Team All Conference

Ashley Hammerbeck -- DC Everest High School
Brittany Krieg -- Hudson High School
Jayme Henry -- Hudson High School
Amanda Ryder -- Hudson High School

Honorable Mention All Conference

Danes in College Honors and Successes

Post Season Honors

Racheal Riopel (Gardner Webb) -- 2nd Team All Atlantic Sun
Racheal Riopel (Gardner Webb) -- All District III 1st Team Academic All American
Jill Janke (UW-Eau Claire) -- NFCA 1st Team All Region
Mallory McKinney (UW-Eau Claire) -- NFCA 2nd Team All Region
Casey Leisgang (UW-Eau Claire) -- NFCA 2nd Team All Region
Tanya Rogers (Marian College) -- NFCA 2nd Team All Region
Tanya Rogers (Marian College) -- All Lake Michigan Conference First Team
Tanya Rogers (Marian College) -- All LMC Rookie First Team
Nikki Jensen (UM-Duluth) -- All Northern Sun First Team

Spring 2003

Danes in High School Honors and Successes

All State Selections

 Jill Janke -- First Team
Jackie Juan -- FIrst Team
Michelle Butkus -- Honorable Mention
Casey Leisgang -- Honorable Mention
Amanda Wilhelm -- Honorable Mention
Rachel Haines -- Honorable Mention