Danes Alumni College Successes

The Danes are proud of the successes and honors that our alumni have achieved in college softball.

We know that their success is a combination of their strong work ethic, focus and performance and the hard work of their college and high school coaches as well as 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 University, Loras College, Marion College, University of Minnesota, UM-Duluth, UM-Mankato,  Northland College, Ripon College, St. Cloud State University, St. Scholastica College, St. Thomas University, Waldorf College, Winona State University, UW-Eau Claire, UW-Green Bay, UW-LaCrosse, UW-Oshkosh, UW-River Falls, UW-Superior, UW-Stevens Point, and UW-Stout. 

Spring 2010 Honors

Merryssa Teideman -- UMAC Player of the Year Selection for St. Scholastica
Merryssa Teideman -- First Team NFCA All Region Selection for St. Scholastica
Erin Stenseth -- Third Team NFCA All Region Selection for St. Mary's
Lauren Schaller -- HM WIAC All Conference Selection for UW-LaCrosse
Bekki Kidnie -- HM WIAC All Conference Selection for UW-Eau Claire
Nikki Bromelkamp -- WIAC Sportsmanship Award for UW-Eau Claire
Rosie Weyer -- WIAC Sportsmanship Award for UW-Eau Claire
Brittany Schmitt -- UMAC First Team All Conference for Northland College

Spring 2009 Honors

Rachael Click -- Second Team NFCA All American for Gustavus Adolphus
Rachael Click -- MIAC Player of the Year and First Team All Conference Selection for Gustavus Adolphus
Rachael Click -- CoSIDA Academic All American All District 5 First Team for Gustavus Adolphus
Rachael Click -- First Team NFCA All Midwest Region Selection for Gustavus Adolphus
Amanda Wilhelm -- First Team NFCA All Central Region Selection for Winona State University
Amanda Wilhelm -- First Team Datronics All Central Region Selection for Winona State University
Amanda Wilhelm -- All Northern Sun Tournament Team Selection for Winona State University
Amanda Wilhelm -- First Team Northern Sun All Conference Team for Winona State University
Rachel Haines -- CoSIDA Academic All American All District 5 First Team for St. Cloud State University
Mindy Rudiger -- CoSIDA Academic All American All District 5 Second Team for UW-River Falls
Mindy Rudiger -- Second Team NFCA All Great Lakes Selection for UW-River Falls
Mindy Rudiger -- First Team All WIAC Selection for UW-River Falls
Sarah Stalker -- CoSIDA Academic All American All District 5 Third Team for St. Cloud State University
Brittany Schmitt -- UMAC 1st Team All Conference for Northland College
Brittany Schmitt -- UMAC 1st Team All Defensive Team for Northland College
Bekki Kidnie -- Second Team NFCA All Great Lakes Selection for UW-Eau Claire
Bekki Kidnie -- First Team All WIAC Selection for UW-Eau Claire
Ainsley Klar -- First Team All WIAC Selection for UW-Eau Claire

Congrats is in order for all the Danes Alumni who qualified for NCAA Post-Season Play....

Amanda Wilhelm (Winona State), Ainsley Klar, Jenn Barron, Bri Sturm, Bekki Kidnie, Nikki Bromelkamp, Kaity Acker, Sara Baumgartner (UW-Eau Claire), Rosie Weyer, Beth Schmidt (UW-LaCrosse) and Rachael Click (Gustavus). 

Wilhelm and Click will be playing in their respective divisions Women's College World Series!

Danes in the College Record Books

Char Koski -- Viterbo University Career Record for RBIs (110)
Char Koski -- Viterbo University Career Records for ERA (2.67), IP (457), CG (46), K's (248) and Wins (38)
Casey Leisgang -- UWEC Career Record for HR (38)
Casey Lesigang -- WIAC Career Conference Record for Runs (184), Hits (223 Tied), HR (38 Tied) at UWEC
Mallory McKinney -- UWEC Career Record for Games Pitched (127), Innings Pitched (666.6), K's (590), Wins (76), Shutouts (Tied with 27), Saves (7), and ERA (1.14)
Mallory McKinney -- WIAC Career Conference Record for Wins (76) at UWEC
Sarah Tarasewicz -- WIAC Career Conference Record for HR (38 Tied) at UW-Superior
Nikki Jensen -- UM-Duluth Career Record for Games Played (196), At Bats (624), Total Bases (268)

Spring 2008 Honors

Kaity Acker -- NCAA D3 National Championship with UW-Eau Claire
Bekki Kidnie -- NCAA D3 National Championship with UW-Eau Claire
Casey Leisgang -- NCAA D3 National Championship with UW-Eau Claire
Casey Leisgang -- NCAA D3 National Tournament All Tournament Team at UW-Eau Claire
Casey Leisgang -- NFCA D3 All American 2nd Team at UW-Eau Claire
Casey Leisgang -- NFCA 1st Team All Region at UW-Eau Claire
Casey Leisgang -- WIAC First Team All Conference at UW-Eau Claire
Michelle Butkus -- NCAA D3 National Championship with UW-Eau Claire
Michelle Butkus -- WIAC First Team All Conference at UW-Eau Claire
Michelle Butkus -- NCAA D3 National Tournament All Tournament Team at UW-Eau Claire
Sara Baumgartner -- NCAA D3 National Championship with UW-Eau Claire at UW-Eau Claire
Jill Janke -- NCAA D3 National Championship with UW-Eau Claire (Game Winning Walk Off HR) at UW-Eau Claire
Jill Janke -- NCAA D3 National Tournament All Tournament Team at UW-Eau Claire
Jill Janke -- NFCA Second Team All Region at UW-Eau Claire
Jill Janke -- WIAC First Team All Conference at UW-Eau Claire
Jill Janke -- WIAC's Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete Award at UW-Eau Claire
Jill Janke -- CoSIDA All District Academic Third Team at UW-Eau Claire
Ainsley Klar -- NCAA D3 National Championship with UW-Eau Claire
Jen Barron -- NCAA D3 National Championship with UW-Eau Claire
Bri Sturm -- NCAA D3 National Championship with UW-Eau Claire
Rachel Haines -- NFCA All Region First Team at St. Cloud State
Rachel Haines -- CoSIDA All District Academic First Team at St. Cloud State
Rachael Click -- NFCA First Team All Region at Gustavus
Rachael Click -- MIAC First Team All Conference at Gustavus
Rachael Click -- MIAC Batting Champion (.580) (2nd Best in NCAA D3) at Gustavus
Rachael Click -- MIAC Sluggling % Champion (1.055), RBI (50) (2 HR short of Triple Crown) at Gustavus
Rachael Click -- CoSIDA All District Academic First Team at Gustavus
Rachael Click -- CoSIDA All Academic American at Gustavus
Mindy Rudiger -- NFCA Third Team All Region at UW-River Falls
Mindy Rudiger -- WIAC First Team All Conference at UW-River Falls
Rachel Weyer -- WIAC Second Team All Conference at UW-LaCrosse
Brittany Schmitt -- UMAC First Team All Conference at Northland College
Brittany Schmitt -- UMAC All Defensive Team at Northland College
Tiffany Datko -- UMAC All Defensive Team at Northland College

WIAC PLayer of the Week 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.

UW-Eau Claire’s Leisgang Named Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division III Player of the Week

Starkville, Miss.--University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire infielder Casey Leisgang (Sr.-Seymour, Wis.) has been named the Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association NCAA Division III Player of the Week.

Leisgang led the seventh-ranked Blugolds on their spring break trip in Tucson, Arizona to an 8-1 record between Monday and Friday last week. The team also played three additional games to start the trip on Saturday and Sunday (March 15 & 16) making its entire trip record 10-2. The NFCA only considered stats for the team’s nine games, played Monday through Friday, however.

Leisgang started all nine games and appeared at the plate 29 times. Leisgang accumulated 18 hits, including three doubles, two triples and a home run, for a .621 average. She picked up 15 runs and five RBIs. In the Blugolds’ 9-1 win over Lakeland College on Wednesday, Leisgang was walked four times, three of them intentionally, and scored three times. In an extra-inning game against Delaware Valley College (Pa.) on Monday, Leisgang homered, bringing in two runs for the Blugolds to help lift the team to a 12-8 victory.

Spring 2007 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 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 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

Historical Articles

May 19, 2005

4 DANES NAMED TO NFCA ALL REGION TEAM

Casey Leisgang and Tanya Rogers return to the Danes next summer at 18U while Mallory McKinney will serve as a full time assistant coach and Jill Janke will serve as a part time assistant coach. All 4 players were multi-year players as Danes.

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Jill Janke (Fr.-Black River Falls) was named to the Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Great Lakes Region first team while Mallory McKinney (So.-Brooklyn Park, MN/Champlin Park) and Casey Leisgang (Fr.-Seymour) garnered second team honors, it was announced recently by the NFCA.

The trio led the Blugolds to the WIAC regular season title with a conference mark of 13-3. They finished the season with an overall record of 33-11. Eau Claire carried the No. 1 seed into the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament but dropped consecutive games to UW-Stout to finish in second place at the event. All three of the All-Region players were named to the All-WIAC first team.

Janke had a phenomenal rookie season as she led all Blugold regulars and finished eighth in the WIAC with a .358 batting average. She provided a big bat in the heart of the Eau Claire lineup, tying for the conference lead with 36 RBI. She finished second on the team and tied for fifth in the conference with five home runs. She was tied for fourth in the WIAC with a .575 slugging percentage.

McKinney had another great season this spring as she led the Blugolds with a 16-6 record and 158.2 innings pitched. She was second in the WIAC in both categories. The sophomore hurler posted 134 strikeouts, the second most in the conference. She allowed just 26 walks and posted a miniscule 1.15 ERA for the season. Her ERA was the fifth best in the WIAC as she limited opposing hitters to a .192 batting average, second in the conference.

Leisgang had a great debut season for Eau Claire out of the leadoff spot. She led the team and was third in the conference with eight home runs while posting a .316 batting average. She was second in the WIAC in slugging percentage (.623) and runs scored (36) while leading the conference with 19 walks. She struck out just 13 times all season. Her .422 on-base percentage was good for sixth in the WIAC.

Tanya Rogers -- The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) and Louisville Slugger announced their NCAA Division III All-Region teams late Thursday (May 12) evening, and three Marian College softball players were members of the Great Lakes Regional squads.Choices included senior first baseman Erin Schultz (Campbellsport, WI), senior catcher Bobbi Jo Merten (St. Cloud, WI), and freshman outfielder Tanya Rogers (Hastings, MN).

Rogers caps a stellar freshman campaign, adding the Second Team All-Region honors to the All-Conference and All-Rookie accolades she received earlier this month. She finished second in the LMC in average (.410) and in slugging (.564), finishing with a .336 batting average overall on the year. Her 10 doubles tied the record for most two-base hits in a season by a freshman.



May 12, 2005

RIOPEL NAMED TO ACADEMIC ALL DISTRICT FIRST TEAM FOR THIRD TIME

CLEMSON, S.C. -- Gardner-Webb senior Rachael Riopel was selected to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III First Team, the College Sports Information Directors of America announced Thursday.

Riopel is now a three-time academic all-district selection, and earned first-team honors for the second consecutive year. She is one of just two three-time selections on this year's squads, joining Winthrop's Janiva Willis, who earned a spot on the second team.

Riopel completed degree requirements at Gardner-Webb in May, 2004, graduating with a 3.906 grade point average and a degree in biology. The Rhinelander, Wis., native then attended the University of Arizona for the first semester of the 2004-05 school year, posting a 3.583 gpa there before transferring back to Gardner-Webb for her final season of eligibility as a graduate student in GWU's business school.

With her selection to the academic all-district first team, Riopel will now be on the national ballot for Academic All-America voting. Riopel earned a spot on the Academic All-America Third Team last year.

Riopel was an offensive juggernaut for the Bulldogs this season, as she paced the team in virtually every offensive category, including batting average (.321), hits (53), doubles (11), triples (three), home runs (eight), RBI (38), total bases (94) and slugging percentage (.570). Riopel was named to the All-Atlantic Sun Conference Second Team on Tuesday for the second time in as many seasons.

May 10, 2005

RIOPEL NAMED 2ND TEAM ALL ATLANTIC SUN FOR SECOND YEAR IN A ROW

MACON, Ga.-- Gardner-Webb senior Rachael Riopel was named to the All-Atlantic Sun Conference Second Team for the second time in as many seasons, the league office announced Tuesday.

Riopel batted .321 on the year, and led the Bulldogs in batting average, hits (53), runs (29), doubles (11), triples (three), home runs (eight), RBI (38), total bases (94), slugging percentage (.570) and intentional walks (two).

The Rhinelander, Wis., native committed just eight errors in the field, where she split time at left field and second base on the year. After earning second team honors at second base last season, Riopel started this year in the outfield. A rash of Gardner-Webb injuries forced Riopel back to the infield, where Riopel was again selected to the all-conference team.

Riopel, who graduated from Gardner-Webb with a degree in biology after the 2004 season, returned for her final year of eligibility and made the most of it, posting career-bests in batting average, home runs, RBI, total bases and slugging percentage in 2005.

Several of Riopel's home runs were huge for the Bulldogs, as she hit a walkoff, three-run shot in the bottom of the eighth inning to give GWU a win over Charleston Southern on March 29, and smashed a solo bomb in the sixth inning to propel Gardner-Webb to a 1-0 win over Campbell on April 20. Riopel also went deep in the first inning against North Carolina on March 9, helping the Bulldogs upend the Tar Heels, who were receiving votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll at the time, for GWUs first-ever win over an Atlantic Coast Conference school. Riopel also hit home runs against South Carolina, East Carolina, Georgia State, Furman and Belmont.

Riopel put together 17 multi-hit games, and had 10 games with at least two RBI. She was named the Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Week on April 4 after hitting .450 and slugging .900 in six contests.

The senior earned spots on the Auburn War Eagle Classic All-Tournament Team and the Georgia Tech Buzz Classic All-Tournament team for her play in those tournaments on the season.

With Tuesday's announcement, Riopel becomes Gardner-Webb's first two-time all-conference player at the Division I level, and GWU's fifth overall.

Riopel left her mark firmly on the Gardner-Webb record book, as she is the Bulldogs' career leader in virtually every offensive category at the DI level. Riopel holds the school career records in everything except walks, runs and stolen bases, and holds single-season marks in home runs, total bases, games played and games started.


May 10, 2005

3 DANES NAMED ALL WIAC FIRST TEAM

Mallory McKinney (So.-Brooklyn Park, MN/Champlin Park) earns All-WIAC first team honors for the second time in as many seasons. She led the Blugolds with a 16-6 record in 158.2 innings pitched. She was second in the WIAC in both categories. The sophomore hurler posted 134 strikeouts, the second most in the conference, against just 26 walks and posted a miniscule 1.15 ERA. Her ERA was the fifth best in the WIAC. She limited opposing hitters to a .192 batting average, second in the conference.

Jill Janke (Fr.-Black River Falls) and Casey Leisgang (Fr.-Seymour) join McKinney as WIAC first-teamers. Both posted impressive numbers in their rookie seasons with the Blugolds. Janke led all Blugold regulars and finished eighth in the WIAC with a .358 batting average and tied for the conference lead with 36 RBI. She finished second on the team and tied for fifth in the conference with five home runs. She was tied for fourth in the WIAC with a .575 slugging percentage.

Leisgang had a great season for Eau Claire out of the leadoff spot. She led the team and was third in the conference with eight home runs while posting a .316 batting average. She was second in the WIAC in slugging percentage (.623) and runs scored (36) while leading the conference with 19 walks. She struck out just 13 times all season. Her .422 on-base percentage was good for sixth in the WIAC.


April 5, 2005

Stacie Reichert was a 3 year Dane and in 2004 served as pitching coach of Danes 16U.

REICHERT SETS GWU STRIKEOUT MILESTONE

"Reichert struck out four in the game, and with her second strikeout of the afternoon, became the first player in GWU history to record 500 strikeouts for her career." 

Mallory McKinney -- NFCA Second Team All American (UW-Eau Claire)
Mallory McKinney -- NFCA First Team All Region (UW-Eau Claire)
Mallory McKinney -- WIAC Pitcher of the Year (UW-Eau Claire)
Mallory McKinney -- WIAC First Team All Conference (UW-Eau Claire)
Dianne Baglein -- NCAA Championship as part of St. Thomas University
Stacie Reichert -- 2nd Team All Atlantic Sun (Gardner Webb)
Rachel Riopel -- 2nd Team All Atlantic Sun (Gardner Webb)
Rachel Riopel -- All District Academic All American (Gardner Webb)

December 6, 2004

Of the 4 athletes in this article, 3 were former Danes in Jess Wilke, Stacie Reichert and Rachel Riopel. Between them they played a total of 10 season with the Danes and are great model's of scholar-athletes that develop skills in the Danes.

GWU SOFTBALL HAS FOUR NAMED NFCA SCHOLAR ATHLETES

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Gardner-Webb’s softball team had four players earn National Fastpitch Coaches Association Scholar Athlete recognition for the 2004 season, the NFCA announced.

Shortstop Allison Murphy, pitcher Stacie Reichert, second baseman Rachael Riopel and outfielder Jess Wilke were named Scholar Athletes for GWU. A student-athlete must post a grade point average of at least 3.5 for the academic school year to be named a Scholar Athlete.

Reichert turned in one of the most impressive pitching performances in GWU history as a junior in 2004, going 18-20 with a 1.71 ERA and a school-record 213 strikeouts. The Mosinee, Wis., native was named to the All-Atlantic Sun Second Team, the North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association All-State Team, and was named GWU’s Pitcher of the Year for the second time in her career. Reichert turned in a 3.862 gpa in 2004, and has earned A-Sun All-Academic honors in both of her years in the league.

Riopel batted a team-high .312 as a redshirt junior last season, and led the team in hits (63), doubles (11), triples (three), RBI (34) and total bases (86) and shared the team lead in home runs with Murphy with two. The Rhinelander, Wis., native also earned All-A-Sun Second-Team honors, NCCSIA All-State honors, and was GWU’s Offensive Co-MVP, marking the third time in her career she either won or shared the award. Riopel put together a near-perfect 3.969 gpa on the year to earn a spot on the A-Sun All-Academic team for the second time in her career and was a Third Team Academic All-America selection.

Wilke battled a hand injury for much of the 2004 season, but still started 56 games and batted .195 as a sophomore last year. The Marinette, Wis., native collected a career-high 31 hits, and matched her career best in runs scored with 12. Wilke turned in a 3.794 gpa on the year to earn A-Sun All-Academic honors for the second time in her career, but will not get a chance for another selection, as she transferred out of Gardner-Webb at the end of the season.

June 3, 2004

RIOPEL EARNS COSIDA ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICAN HONORS

TOLEDO, Ohio – Gardner-Webb second baseman Rachael Riopel was named to the Academic All-America University Division Third Team, the College Sports Information Directors of America announced Thursday.

Riopel, who helped GWU to a 30-32-1 record and a spot in the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship this season, graduated in May with a degree in biology. The Rhinelander, Wis., native turned in a cumulative grade point average of 3.888 and minored in chemistry and Spanish.

Riopel made her way onto the national ballot by being named to the Academic All-District III Team in mid-May. Riopel was also an all-district selection in 2003, earning second-team honors that year. CoSIDA named only a first team in 2004. Riopel was an Academic All-Atlantic Sun selection last season, and will likely be again this season.

Gardner-Webb’s Offensive MVP for the third straight season, Riopel led the team in batting average (.312), hits (63), doubles (11), triples (three), home runs (two), RBI (34), total bases (86) and slugging percentage (.426) in 2004. For her efforts, Riopel was named to the All-Atlantic Sun Conference Second Team, as voted by the league’s 11 head coaches.

The A-Sun had three players earn Academic All-American honors, as Jacksonville’s Dianna Korcak, who set an NCAA record with 17 triples this season, earned a spot on the second team, and UCF’s Stephanie Best, the A-Sun Player of the Year, joined Riopel on the third team.

Riopel is Gardner-Webb`s first-ever Academic All-American in the sport of softball.

May 15, 2004

GWU'S REICHERT NAMED TO A-SUN ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Gardner-Webb pitcher Stacie Reichert was named to the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship All-Tournament Team, the A-Sun announced Saturday.

Reichert went 0-2 in the circle for the Bulldogs at the A-Sun tournament, but turned in an ERA of 0.72 in a pair of gritty performances. The Mosinee, Wis., junior was dazzling against eventual champion and No. 1 seed Florida Atlantic on Thursday, allowing just one unearned run on five hits in six innings of work in a 1-0 loss.

Reichert went back into the circle with virtually no rest after her complete-game effort against FAU, as she took the ball against No. 5 seed Mercer in the game immediately following the loss to the Owls. Reichert was again impressive, allowing three runs – just one of which was earned – and striking out six, but was lifted after 3.2 innings with the Bulldogs trailing 3-0. GWU went on to lose 5-1 to Bears, eliminating Gardner-Webb from the Championship.

For the tournament, Reichert allowed just one earned run and three unearned runs in 9.2 innings, striking out eight and allowing 11 hits. As was the case in several of Reichert’s losses this season, the Bulldogs ran up against some impressive pitching and couldn’t muster much run support for the right-hander. All three pitchers GWU faced at the Championship – FAU’s Amanda Morin and Candace Freel and Mercer’s Katie Rosentreter – were also named to the All-Tournament Team, with Freel earning Tournament MVP honors.

Reichert, a second-team All-A-Sun selection this season, finished the year with an 18-20 record, shattering her personal best mark of 10 wins, which she set as a freshman in 2002. Reichert also recorded 213 strikeouts on the season, by far eclipsing her previous career high of 90 whiffs, which she set last season.




May 14, 2004

Mallory was a 5 year Dane, -- these honors are the result of hard work and dedication and everyone with the Danes knows that it could not be earned by a more deserving athlete.

McKINNEY NAMED TO ALL-AMERICA SECOND TEAM

SALEM, Virginia - UW-Eau Claire softball player Mallory McKinney (Fr.-Brooklyn Park, MN/Champlin Park) has been named to the 2004 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division III All-America second team, it was announced recently by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

McKinney becomes the first Blugold to earn Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American honors on any team since 2000, when Heidi Bergstrom and Lisa Schueler were named to the second and third teams respectively. Only one softball player in Eau Claire softball history, Jill Schoenike in 1999, has earned first team honors.

McKinney adds the second team accolade to an already impressive list of honors for a freshman. Earlier this year she was named to the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Conference first team and was named the WIAC Pitcher of the Year. She also earned All-Great Lakes Region first team honors and now adds the Louisville/NFCA All-America second team accolade to the list.

McKinney proved to be a threat both at the plate and in the circle in 2004. She led the Blugold offense in both home runs (7) and RBI (30) while tying for the lead with nine doubles. She finished second on the team in batting (.362), hits (50), total bases (80), slugging (.580), and on-base percentage (.403) while finishing tied for third in the conference in homers.

The freshman Blugold also enjoyed an excellent season in the circle and received the WIAC Pitcher of the Year award for her efforts. She is the third Blugold to earn the award, joining Lisa Schueler (2000) and Jill Schoenike (1999 and 1997). She finished the season with a 14-7 record and led the Eau Claire staff in ERA (1.15), complete games (8), shutouts (3), innings pitched (128.1), opposing batting average (.215), and saves (3). She appeared in 30 games, 18 of them starts, and walked a team-low 13 batters while striking out a team-high 91. She finished near the top in the conference in many pitching categories, including posting the lowest ERA in the WIAC. She finished second in opposing batting average, third in wins, and fourth in appearances and innings pitched. She also tied for the conference lead in saves.