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Benson honored by state coaches

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:47:08 CST

Sophomore Adam Benson, a member of the Lakeland men's soccer team, has been named honorable mention All-Wisconsin NCAA Division III by local members of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

Benson, a midfielder from Anoka, Minn., finished the 2009 season with three goals and a team-high five assists. He was named second-team All-Northern Athletics Conference and also received CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District 5 second team accolades.

Benson started all 19 matches for the Muskies, who finished 8-10-1 overall and 6-5 in conference play.

A total of 33 players from around the state were selected to the All-Wisconsin teams.

Defense, depth key Muskies' perfect start

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:56:44 CST

Nine games into the 2009-10 season, the Lakeland women's basketball team is among the Northern Athletics Conference leaders in several statistical categories, including scoring offense (second), scoring margin (second) and field goal percentage defense (third).

However, there is one important statistic the Muskies have yet to record - a loss.

Lakeland is off to the best start in program history with an unblemished 9-0 record, including a 5-0 mark in NAC play. The previous record was held by the 1983-84 team, which started its season 6-0.

On Thursday, the Muskies knocked off North Division rival Edgewood, 66-61, after losing the five previous contests against the Eagles. Three days later, Lakeland shot just 35.8 percent from the field, but defeated Concordia Chicago, 50-47, on the road.

Despite shaky offensive performances this season - the team ranks 10th in the league in field goal percentage - Lakeland is relying on a full-court pressure defense to create offense and keep opponents in check.

As a result, the Muskies are first in the conference with 15.4 steals per game, and lead the league with a plus-8.78 per game turnover margin. They force 28.1 turnovers per game, which is also first in the league.

"Coach (Teri) Johnson has done a good job of making sure we know that defense wins games," said senior forward KC Blahnik, who leads the team in scoring at 14.6 points per game. "Our defense creates our pace and our offense. Coach Johnson has stressed defense since the first day of practice."

Johnson, the team's third-year head coach and a 2000 Lakeland graduate, said she has preached defensive consistency all season and has stressed intensity in practice. She pointed to senior guard Terra Hiben, whose impact is felt beyond the box score, as an example. Hiben averages a modest 1.8 points per game, but averages 24.0 minutes and is 10th in the conference with 2.2 steals per contest.

"There are certain players that bring out the best in our team," Johnson said. "Terra Hiben doesn't get the credit she deserves because her defensive intensity pushes others."

Depth is another cog behind the Muskies' fast start. Nine Lakeland players average more than 12 minutes per game, while 10 players have appeared in all nine games so far this season. Johnson believes the team's depth has helped the Muskies push the tempo in games and has increased the quality of practice.

"Going nine or 10 players deep helps us stay fresh, and it brings competitiveness in practice," Johnson said. "That competition is important to our progression and improving our mental toughness. It shows our players' willingness to make their teammates better."

After losing just one senior from the 2008-09 team, which went 17-9 overall, much of the Muskies' core returned this season with another year of experience, while several new players have emerged as vital contributors.

Johnson has started the same group of four seniors and one junior in each contest this season. That kind of consistency has helped the Muskies settle comfortably into their roles.

"Last year, those players weren't ready for the roles they were given," Blahnik said. "The biggest thing is that people are stepping up. We don't have the same leading scorers every game, so it's good that the team doesn't rely on just one person."

The Muskies are just over half way to the school record for consecutive wins, which was set when the 2001-02 team won 17 straight contests. However, Lakeland players and coaches remain concentrated on what is coming next - a trip to California for games against Occidental (Dec. 20) and Redlands (Dec. 21).

"We've got to stay focused mentally," Johnson said. "We're winning right now, so we'll have kind of a target on our back. We have to have fun with the position we're in right now and we can't be afraid.

"We have a great opportunity going into every game, and it's a great challenge for our players to face. We're going to find a lesson in every game."

Muskie Spotlight - Rob Frias

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:35:45 CST

In just his second semester of college wrestling, Lakeland sophomore Rob Frias has shown the ability to compete like a veteran.

Frias, a 133-pounder, pushed his record to 8-3 this season with a pair of wins Saturday at the University of Dubuque Duals in Dubuque, Iowa.

Against No. 16 Dubuque, Frias won a 9-5 decision over Derek Smith. Later in the day, Frias defeated Mark Beatty by pin in 6:15 to help the Lakeland wrestling team defeat Loras 26-21.

An Oak Lawn, Ill., native, Frias also placed second at the MSOE Invite (Dec. 5) and fourth at the Knox Invite (Nov. 14). He transferred to Lakeland from Illinois State midway through last season.

"Rob is way better than last year," Lakeland coach Pete Rogers said. "He really did the work in the offseason after having only one semester of competition last year. He catches on to things quickly ... if you teach him something on Monday, he's already doing it in matches on Saturday."

Frias, who is listed as honorable mention at 133 pounds in the latest d3wrestle.com Individual Rankings, won the Northern Wrestling Association championship for his weight class after posting a 13-9 record in 2008-09.

According to Rogers, Frias' length and toughness make him a handful for any opponent.

"Rob's opponents have a long way to get to his legs because of his long arms," Rogers said. "He's not the most fun guy to wrestle because he's constantly rough and physical. He's kind of intimidating to others because he has a style about him."

Frias is undecided on a major and is a member of the Mu Lambda Sigma fraternity.

Did you know?

Career ambition: To achieve most career wins

Favorite TV show: Anything on the Food Network

Favorite movies: "Fight Club," "Never Back Down"

Favorite website: Google

Favorite musicians: Bob Marley, 311

Favorite food: Mexican food or chili

Favorite sports team: Chicago Bears

For me to improve as a wrestler I need to: Identify my weaknesses and work on them

Heroes/influential people: My father - has always encouraged, supported and comforted me

When not playing sports, you'll find me: Writing, drawing or playing video games

Muskie Spotlight - Mary Dennewitz

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:34:49 CST

Mary Dennewitz's leadership as the point guard on the Lakeland women's basketball team was on full display Sunday.

Dennewitz, a junior, nailed a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:44 remaining in the Muskies' 50-47 victory at Concordia Chicago, helping the team remain undefeated at 9-0 overall. For the game, Dennewitz scored a team-high 11 points and knocked down 3-of-6 from beyond the arc.

On Thursday, the Chicago, Ill., native recorded team highs with 20 points and four steals in a 68-66 home win over Edgewood, the Muskies' first win over the Eagles since the 2005-06 season.

"Mary Dennewitz is playing very good basketball right now," Lakeland coach Teri Johnson said. "She is such a different player from the last two seasons. She understands what we want to accomplish, and has matured a lot as a person and player."

For the season, Dennewitz leads the team with 21 assists and is second on the team with 11.9 points per game. She is also shooting 77.4 percent from the free throw line.

According to Johnson, Dennewitz has increased her leadership role, taking younger guards such as sophomore Becca Tilleman under her wing.

"Mary is a great mentor to Tilleman," Johnson said. "We need someone who is a strong leader and isn't afraid to take chances at point guard, and Mary has certainly stepped up to the plate in that respect."

Dennewitz is majoring in accounting and is a member of Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE).

Did you know?

Career ambition: FBI or IRS special agent

Favorite movies: "Wedding Crashers," "V for Vendetta," "The Lion King"

Favorite website: YouTube

Favorite musicians: Mat Kearney, Matt Nathanson

Favorite food: anything Mexican

Favorite sports team: Chicago Cubs

For me to improve as a player, I need to: Not dwell on a mistake or a missed shot

Not many people know this about me: I can eat salsa by the jar - by itself

Heroes/influential people: Parents

Favorite Lakeland class: Readings & Research in Fraud & Forensics

Dennewitz keys late Muskie win

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 13:30:00 CST

Athletics - Womens Basketball Junior Mary Dennewitz (Chicago, Ill.) sank her third three pointer of the day with 1:44 remaining in the second half to give the Lakeland women's basketball team a one point lead on the final lead change of the day as the Muskies downed Concordia Chicago 50-47 on Saturday afternoon on the campus of Dominican University.

After holding Concordia Chicago scoreless on its next three possessions, Terra Hiben (Boyceville) converted a pair of free throws with three seconds left and Concordia Chicago's three point attempt with no time remaining fell short as Lakeland (9-0, 5-0) won its ninth consecutive game to open the season. The Muskies' previous best to start the year was a six game run in 1983-84.

"Mary is playing with a lot of confidence and has grown tremendously each season," Lakeland head coach Teri Johnson said. "She as really stepped her game up as of late for us."

Lakeland took a 24-20 lead into halftime after an opening half that involved six ties and six lead changes with neither team being able to pull away by more than four points. Sophomore Erin Cepa (Glenview, Ill.) scored all ten of her points in the first 20 minutes, including seven in the final 2:34.

Concordia Chicago stormed out of halftime with threes on two consecutive possessions and used a five minute scoreless streak by Lakeland to take a 40-31 lead midway through the half.

The Muskies responded with 10 points of its own, including five straight from senior Chelsea Coenen (Wrightstown), to take a one point lead with six minutes remaining.

"We played in spurts and showed heart at different points today," said Johnson. "We had weaknesses that were exposed that we have to work on. No matter if we win or lose, we always try to find positives and negatives to take away from games."

Dennewitz led all scorers with 11 points and was 3-for-6 behind the three point line. Coenen added nine points and grabbed a game-high five steals.

Katie Leiterman and Marche Smith each scored nine points for Concordia Chicago and Leiterman led all players with nine rebounds.

Lakeland opens its two game California trip on Saturday, Dec. 20 at 3 p.m. against Occidental

Muskies drop NAC road opener

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 13:30:00 CST

Athletics - Mens Basketball The Lakeland men's basketball team suffered its first Northern Athletics Conference loss of the 2009-10 season, dropping an 82-72 decision at Concordia Chicago on Sunday afternoon in River Forest, Ill.

The Muskies (4-4 overall, 3-1 NAC) turned the ball over 16 times and surrendered 19 offensive rebounds, which led to 20 second-chance points by the Cougars.

Sophomore forward Jake Schwarz (Sheboygan, Wis.) led Lakeland in scoring for the fourth consecutive contest with a game-high 25 points to go along with a team-best seven rebounds.

Concordia Chicago (5-1, 3-0), which hadn't played since Dec. 1, put together a 16-0 run starting at the 8:25 mark of the first half to take a commanding 34-17 advantage.

Over the course of that run, which was extinguished by a Schwarz layup at the 2:51 mark, Lakeland committed three turnovers and missed four 3-pointers.

The Cougars wouldn't relinquish their double-digit lead until the waning moments of the game, when freshman Eric Strzok's layup pulled the Muskies to within nine with 17 seconds remaining.

Lakeland's bench, which outscored the Cougars' reserves 26-10, was led by senior guard Khendal Andrews, who had 17 points in 23 minutes of action.

A string of three consecutive 3-pointers by Andrews (Kankakee, Ill.) cut a 21-point CUC lead to 71-59 with just over three minutes left in regulation.

The Muskies' strong finish, however, came too late, as the team shot just 34.8 percent from the field in the first half to put itself in a 37-23 hole heading into the locker room.

Sophomore point guard Josh Regal (Suring, Wis.) added 12 points, six rebounds and a team-high five assists for the Muskies.

In a game marked by physical, aggressive play, the two teams combined for 43 fouls and 56 trips to the free throw line. Lakeland shot 20-of-27 (74.1 percent) from the charity stripe.

The Muskies return to non-conference play this Saturday, Dec. 19, against Beloit. Tip-off at Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium is slated for 2 p.m.

Muskies split duals at Dubuque

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 17:00:00 CST

Athletics - Wrestling The Lakeland wrestling team defeated Loras 26-21 in its second match-up Saturday at the University of Dubuque Duals in Dubuque, Iowa.

The Muskies (2-5) were knocked off earlier in the day by No. 16 Dubuque 29-12 to split the dual matches.

Against Loras, sophomore Nick Kusta (Chicago Ridge, Ill.) gave Lakeland a 16-15 advantage with a 16-6 major decision over Colin Hagerty at 149 pounds.

The Muskies wouldn't relinquish the lead, as freshman Ryan Renon (De Pere, Wis.) and senior captain Jacob Frias (Oak Lawn, Ill.) recorded victories by major decision and by fall, respectively.

Against Dubuque, freshman Cory Hildebrandt (Granger, Ind.) took home a win by forfeit, while Jacob Frias and sophomore Rob Frias (Oak Lawn, Ill.) each won by decision.

Jacob and Rob Frias, who are brothers, each finished 2-0 on the day.

The Muskies return to action on Sunday, Dec. 20, at the Purdue Duals. Action begins at 11 a.m. in West Lafayette, Ind.

Match results listed in order of play:

184- Chris Weber (Lake) won by fall in 2:29 over Matt Dickman
197- Josh Kirkland (Lor) won by decision 2-1 over Andrew Aaronstam
285- Jeremy Klein (Lor) won by fall in 2:24 over Bill Wood
125- Pat Pfantz (Lor) won by decision 4-3 over Cory Hildebrandt
133- Rob Frias (Lake) won by fall in 6:15 over Mark Beatty
141- Matt Holmes (Lor) won by decision 7-0 over Jake Montie
149- Nick Kusta (Lake) won by major decision 16-6 over Colin Hagerty
157- Ryan Renon (Lake) won by major decision 12-4 over Mike Calafiore
165- Jacob Frias (Lake) won by fall in 6:01 over Tiegen Podliska
174- Kile Beaver (Lor) won by inj. default over Chris Collins

Lakeland downed by No. 16 Dubuque

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 15:00:00 CST

Athletics - Wrestling No. 16 Dubuque 29, Lakeland 12

Match results listed in order of play:

184- Evan Brown (UD) won by a Tech. Fall (17-2) in 6:12 over Chris Weber
197- Samuel Johnson (UD) won by decision 3-1 over Andrew Aronstam
285- Nick Hagen (UD) won by decision 9-3 over Bill Wood
125- Cory Hildebrandt (LC) won by forfeit
133- Rob Frias (LC) won by decision 9-5 over Derek Smith
141- Mark Schultz (UD) won by decision 11-9 over Isaac Roberson
149- Andrew Knoll (UD) won by fall in 3:46 over Nick Kusta
157- Ryan Warczynski (UD) won by decision 13-9 over Ryan Renon
165- Jacob Frias (LC) won by decision 7-1 over Logan Einerson
174- Josh Terrell (UD) won by fall in 1:45 over Chris Collins

Regal's late jumper give Lakeland two-point win

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:15:00 CST

Athletics - Mens Basketball SHEBOYGAN - Sophomore Josh Regal's jumper with 2.5 seconds remaining gave the Lakeland men's basketball team a 68-66 victory over Northern Athletics Conference rival Edgewood on Thursday evening at Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

With the win, the Muskies (4-3 overall, 3-0 NAC) sit alone atop the NAC North Division and have won three consecutive contests.

Regal, a guard from Suring, Wis., took a ball screen on the right wing from sophomore forward Jake Schwarz and hit a leaning, 10-foot jumper going glass, sending the Lakeland bench and fans into a frenzy.

"We noticed that Edgewood had a hard time guarding a ball screen going away from the middle, so we set it up that way," Lakeland coach Aaron Aanonsen said. "We just wanted to let Josh or Jake make a play. Both of them showed throughout the game that big players make big plays."

Edgewood (3-4, 2-1) heaved a last-second 3-pointer from 25 feet out, but it hit the backboard without drawing iron.

Schwarz (Sheboygan, Wis.) finished with a game-high 37 points and seven rebounds after a monster first half, in which he shot 13-of-15 on his way to 32 points, which is believed to be a school record for one half.

"Jake played one of the best individual games I've coached in," Aanonsen said. "He had two people on him at all times, but didn't turn it over and was unselfish with the ball. He had one of the best games of his career at both ends of the floor."

Lakeland and Edgewood cooled off after each shooting over 55 percent in the first. Both squads shot 36 percent from the field in the second period.

The Muskies took their largest lead of the game, 63-54, at the 10:05 mark following a jumper by sophomore Brandon Young (Milwaukee, Wis.). However, the Eagles scored on the ensuing possession and made a 9-0 run to tie the contest with 5:08 remaining.

The two teams struggled offensively the rest of the way. Schwarz tied the game at 66-66 with a pair of free throws at the 1:55 mark. An empty possession by Edgewood, in which it missed three shots despite a pair of offensive rebounds, gave the Muskies the ball with 35 seconds remaining.

The Eagles knocked down seven 3-pointers in the first half to offset Schwarz's stellar performance and remain within two heading into the locker room.

"The basket looked like a hula hoop to Edgewood in the first half," Aanonsen said. "They hit some tough shots. We made some defensive adjustments at the half and they shot much worse in the second."

Besides Schwarz, no other Lakeland player scored in double figures, but four players had at least six points. The Muskies' bench outscored the Eagles' reserves 17-2.

Lakeland returns to action this Sunday at Concordia Chicago. Tip-off is set for 1:30 p.m. in River Forest, Ill.

Muskies take NAC North lead with win

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:00:00 CST

Athletics - Womens Basketball Junior Mary Dennewitz scored 20 points and recorded four steals to lead the Lakeland College women's basketball team to a 66-61 victory over Edgewood College Thursday night at Moose & Dona Gymnasium.

The victory gives Lakeland (8-0, 4-0 NAC) sole possession of first place in the Northern Athletics Conference North Division.

Lakeland never trailed in the game and jumped out to a quick 13-6 point lead after five minutes. Dennewitz scored 12 of her points on 4-of-7 shooting and was 2-of-3 from behind the free throw line in the first 20 minutes as Lakeland took a 36-26 lead into halftime.

"We played hard and executed well tonight," Lakeland head coach Teri Johnson said. "We forced 25 turnovers and played well on defense."

Lakeland scored the first six points of the second half and pushed the lead to 20 on a three pointer from Dana Henrichs after five minutes.

Edgewood slowly chipped away the lead through the remainder of the half as they went 19-of-23 from the free throw line to cut the lead to five points inside of two minutes remaining. Dennewitz and Alyssa Schuttenhelm combined to make four consecutive free throws to seal the victory.

"We showed a lot of toughness in the second half by not breaking down," Lakeland senior KC Blahnik said. "Coach told us at halftime that they'd make a couple of runs and that we needed to counter and match their intensity."

Blahnik scored 16 points on 50 percent shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds for the game's only double-double and her second of the season.

Amber Hemp led Edgewood (3-4, 3-1) with 10 points. The game was the first for former Muskie Casey Thousand, Edgewood's first-year head coach, against her alma mater. Thousand played four years for Lakeland before graduating in 2004.

Lakeland returns to action on Sunday, Dec. 13, at 1:30 against Concordia Chicago. The game will take place at Dominican University.

Lakeland men's, women's basketball games rescheduled

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:10:19 CST

The Lakeland women's and men's basketball games against Edgewood scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday of this week have been moved to Thursday, Dec. 10, due to winter weather conditions in the Sheboygan area.

The women's game will begin at 5 p.m., while the men's contest will tip off at approximately 7:15 p.m. at Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

Check back to the Lakeland athletics website for the latest information.

Lakeland men's, women's basketball games rescheduled

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:02:34 CST

Schwarz captures NAC Player of the Week honor

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 09:26:17 CST

Lakeland sophomore Jake Schwarz has been named Northern Athletics Conference Student-Athlete of the Week in men's basketball for the week of Nov. 30-Dec. 6, the league announced late Monday.

Schwarz, a sophomore forward, averaged 32 points and nine rebounds in a pair of Lakeland home victories last week.

On Saturday, Schwarz scored 11 of his team-high 26 points in overtime in the Muskies' 74-70 win over Benedictine. The Sheboygan, Wis., native also collected seven rebounds and made 10-of-12 from the free throw line.

Last Tuesday, Schwarz poured in a career-high 38 points on 17-of-19 shooting from the field and pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds in Lakeland's 85-75 win against Maranatha Baptist.

Six games into the 2009-10 season, Schwarz leads the conference in points (22.2 per game) and is sixth in rebounding (8.7 per game). He is shooting just over 81 percent from the free throw line and 55.3 percent from the field.

Last season, Schwarz earned NAC honorable mention and All-Freshmen team honors after leading the team with 16.6 points and 8.2 rebounds per contest.

Each week, the league's head coaches nominate a player from their own team to be voted on for each sport by NAC sports information directors.

To see other NAC Student-Athlete of the Week winners and nominees from the past week, click here.

Muskie Spotlight - Jake Schwarz

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 11:45:52 CST

It is safe to say Jake Schwarz's impact on the Lakeland men's basketball team may only be exceeded by his 6-foot-5, 210 pound frame.

Schwarz, a sophomore forward, scored 11 of his 26 points in overtime to help the Muskies defeat preseason conference favorite Benedictine 74-70 on Saturday at Woltzen Gymnasium. He shot 10-of-12 from the free throw line.

"Jake was huge for us in the second half," Lakeland coach Aaron Aanonsen said. "We tried to get him isolated in the post to where he could make plays and run our offense from the inside out."

Four days earlier, Schwarz posted a career-high 38 points on 17-of-19 shooting from the field in an 85-75 home win over Maranatha Baptist. The Sheboygan, Wis., native also grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds in the contest.

All in all, Schwarz averaged 32 points and nine rebounds and shot 66 percent from the field in the two games to help Lakeland start undefeated in Northern Athletics Conference play.

For the season, Schwarz is averaging 22.2 points and 8.7 rebounds while shooting over 55 percent from the field and 81 percent from the free throw line. Aanonsen hopes Schwarz, a gifted offensive player, will improve defensively during the season.

Last season, Schwarz earned NAC honorable mention and was named to the league's All-Freshmen team.

Schwarz is undecided on a major.

Did you know?

Career ambition: Business owner

Favorite TV show: "SportsCenter" or "Family Guy"

Favorite movie: "Shooter"

Favorite website: ESPN.com

Favorite musician: Lil' Wayne

Favorite food: Prime rib or shrimp

Favorite athlete: Dwight Howard

For me to improve as a player, I need: Defense

Heroes/influential people: Parents - they have taught me about sports and have been there all the time to encourage me

When not playing sports, you'll find me: Playing Xbox 360 or working out

Favorite class: Persuasive writing

Muskie Spotlight - Jake Frias

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 11:43:06 CST

Lakeland wrestler Jake Frias is always among the top contenders in tournaments, but on Saturday he got the one thing that had eluded him his whole career.

Frias, a senior captain, recorded his first collegiate tournament victory at 165 pounds at the MSOE Invite in Milwaukee, Wis. The Oak Lawn, Ill., knocked of top-seeded Justin Skillings of St. Olaf (Minn.) by a 3-2 decision in the final match after winning once by pin, once by forfeit and twice by technical fall.

"Jake looked great from the beginning," Lakeland coach Pete Rogers said. "He did a lot of things technically that he hasn't done before. He's wrestling like a veteran"

Frias was one of three Lakeland wrestlers to win their respective weight class, helping the team finish second overall.

In 2008-09, Frias scored runner-up finishes at the Cornell Matman Invite and the Northern Wrestling Association Tournament and posted a 27-12 record for the year.

This season, Frias, a team leader both on and off the mat, has an 11-3 record.

"He has a lot of goals in mind, and after watching him this weekend, I think he can attain them," Rogers said. "He's always been a hard worker and a good leader, but now he's having success on the mat."

Frias is majoring in fitness studies with a minor in criminal justice. He is also the vice president of the Mu Lambda Sigma fraternity, president of Mortar Board and a SAAC representative.

Did you know?

Career ambition: High school coach, open my own gym or a power lifter

Favorite TV show: WWE's "Raw" or "SportsCenter"

Favorite movie(s): "Rocky" movies, "Goodfellas," "Alpha Dog"

Favorite website: bodybuilding.com

Favorite food(s): Chorizo, tamales, menudo, steak

Favorite sports teams: Chicago Bears, Chicago Cubs

For me to improve as a player, I need to: Demonstrate true leadership skills

Not many people know this about me: I write poetry, I do a crossword daily

Heroes/influential people: My father - taught me my work ethic

Favorite Lakeland class: Advanced Poetry with Karl Elder

Lakeland wins OT thriller over Benedictine

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 16:15:00 CST

Athletics - Mens Basketball SHEBOYGAN - The Lakeland men's basketball team erased a 13-point second half deficit, forced overtime and defeated Benedictine 74-70 in a Northern Athletics Conference contest on Saturday at Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

Sophomores Jake Schwarz and Josh Regal (Suring, Wis.) combined for 51 points as Lakeland shot 30-of-41 from the free throw line to offset a 33.9 percent shooting performance from the field.

Schwarz scored 11 of his 26 points in overtime.

"We ran a lot of two-man action with Jake and Josh in the second half in our motion offense," Lakeland coach Aaron Aanonsen said. "We basically spread the floor, punched gaps and played from the inside out.

"Jake and Josh each had a huge second half as we tried to isolate them and let them make plays."

Down 13 with 11:36 to play, the Muskies (3-3 overall, 2-0 NAC) chipped away at the Eagles' lead, drawing to within a point at the 6:43 mark following a layup by Regal.

Senior Anthony Cobb (Milwaukee, Wis.), who posted a team-high 12 rebounds in the game, grabbed a missed layup by Schwarz and put it back in to tie the game at 61 with 29 seconds remaining. Benedictine (3-3, 1-1) missed a potential game-winner at the end of regulation to force the extra period.

In overtime, the two teams went back and forth over the first 3 1/2 minutes before Lakeland pulled away with a combination of stops and free throws. Schwarz, who was 10-of-12 from the free throw line for the game, made 7-of-8 in OT to ice it.

Aanonsen credited the change in momentum to a defensive adjustment along with the team's ability to make shots down the stretch in regulation.

"We switched our defense midway through the second half to try and change the tempo," Aanonsen said. "Our guys did a great job defensively and played together. They had the look in their eye that they weren't going to give up."

Benedictine, which was picked to finish first in the NAC South Division preseason coaches' poll, held a 32-24 advantage at the half after shooting 48.1 percent in the opening frame.

The Muskies closed the margin to 39-37 just under five minutes into the second half, but the Eagles quickly made a run to gain a double-digit lead.

For the game, Lakeland outscored the Eagles 22-11 off turnovers and 19-6 on second-chance points. Benedictine, which had 23 turnovers to Lakeland's 14, received 33 points off the bench.

"I hope we don't get complacent," Aanonsen said. "The trend for our young team the past couple years is to feel good with wins and come out flat next time. We need to enjoy tonight, but come back ready to work this week."

The Muskies close out a four-game home stand this Thursday against Edgewood at 7:15 p.m.

Muskies continue win streak against Benedictine

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 14:00:00 CST

Athletics - Womens Basketball The Lakeland College women's basketball team pushed its season-opening win streak to seven games with a 65-55 victory on Saturday against Benedictine in a Northern Athletics Conference contest at Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

Senior KC Blahnik (Gladstone, Mich.) led Lakeland (7-0, 3-0) with 14 points on 10-of-12 shooting from the free throw line and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds. Junior Mary Dennewitz (Chicago, Ill.) and sophomore Alyssa Schuttenhelm (Waterford) also finished in double digits for Lakeland with 14 and 12 points, respectively.

Despite continued shooting woes, Lakeland surged ahead at the end of the first half to take a 35-18 lead into halftime. Benedictine was held to 25 percent shooting in the first 20 minutes.

"I was pleased with how we started the game and took the lead," Lakeland head coach Teri Johnson said. "Benedictine adjusted well in the second half and we were fortunate to have the lead we did coming out of halftime."

Benedictine (3-4, 1-2) chipped away at the Lakeland lead, eventually cutting it down to nine points with 1:30 remaining in the second half. The Eagles shot 52 percent in the second half as the Muskie offense struggled, completing just 27 percent of their shots.

Lakeland was benefited by strong defense, forcing Benedictine into 28 turnovers and collecting 29 points off of turnovers.

"We don't want our defense to fail us," Johnson said. "As today showed, our defense helps us find ways to score. We need to keep working hard every game. Not only do the coaches expect it, but the players expect it from each other every day."

Lakeland returns to action on Tuesday, Dec. 8 for a Northern Athletics Conference game against Edgewood. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Muskies place second at MSOE Invite

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 09:30:00 CST

Athletics - Wrestling The Lakeland College wrestling team finished in second place Saturday at the MSOE Invite in Milwaukee, Wis.

"We did very well today," Lakeland wrestling coach Pete Rogers said. " We had a couple of heartbreaking ends to matches in the finals, and it was disappointing to not win the team championship, but it was an exciting day today."

Seniors Adam Sutter (HWT) and Jake Frias (165) and freshman Ryan Renon (157) each took home championships in their respective weight classes.

The victory was the first collegiate tournament victory for Frias, and both Frias and Renon have collected 11 wins through four dates of competition.

Jake Montie and Rob Frias took second place at 141 and 133, respectively, as each lost by a point in their championship matches.

A.J. Aronstam also finished in second at 197 as he wrestled in his first tournament of the year.

Lakeland also had Bill Wood place third at heavyweight and Derek Flok finish fourth at 165 behind champions Sutter and Frias.

Chris Weber rounded out Lakeland wrestlers who placed with a 4th place finish at 184.

Lakeland returns to action on Saturday, Dec. 12 at the University of Dubuque Duals in Dubuque, Iowa.

MSOE Invitational - Final Team Standings

1. Central 122.0
2. Lakeland 120.0
3. UW-Platteville 119.5
4. UW-Oshkosh 115.5
5. St. Olaf 73.0
6. MSOE 72.0
7. Wheaton 48.0
8. Hannibal LaGrange 40.0
9. Concordia, Wis. 25.0
Knox 25.0
11. Maranatha Baptist 0.0

Defensive effort pushes Muskies to victory

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:00:00 CST

Athletics - Womens Basketball WATERFORD, Wis.--- Despite its lowest offensive output of the season, the Lakeland women's college basketball team won a decisive 59-37 defensive battle against Maranatha on Thursday night in Northern Athletics Conference action.

Trailing by four in the early minutes, Lakeland (6-0, 2-0 NAC) rattled off 14 consecutive points to take a 21-11 lead. They ended the first half by holding the Crusaders scoreless in the final 3:02 to enter halftime with a 35-23 lead. The Muskies forced 19 Maranatha turnovers in the half and scored 35 points off of a season-high 37 forced turnovers.

"Our defense carried us through the first half when we needed it," Lakeland head coach Teri Johnson said. "We've stressed all season that we have to be consistent with our pressure on defense the entire game.

Both teams struggled from the floor on the night as each completed just 32 percent of their shots from the floor. Leading by 12 at halftime, the Muskies held Maranatha to just 14 points in the second half.

KC Blahnik (Gladstone, Mich.) and Alyssa Schuttenhelm (Watertown) each scored eight points as Lakeland failed to have a scorer in double digits for the first time this season. Mary Dennewitz (Chicago, Ill.), Katie Kilton (Waukesha), Dana Henrichs (Fall Creek) and Erin Cepa (Glenview, Ill.) all scored six points apiece as the Muskies' benchtotaled 36 points on the evening.

"We know that no matter what night it is they have to be ready to play," Johnson said. "Our starters and players of the bench know that they have to be ready to do what we ask of them. It's nice to see on nights like tonight that other people step up when our top players have an off night."

Autumn Peotter scored 15 points for Maranatha (4-1, 1-1) to lead both teams and Torey DeLozier grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds for the Crusaders.

Lakeland has forced its opponents into committing at least 32 turnovers in each of its previous four games, and is averaging just over 30 turnovers a game on defense on its current six game winning streak to open the season.

The Muskies return home on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 2 p.m. for a NAC contest against Benedictine.

Schwarz, Muskies notch victory in NAC opener

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:00:00 CST

Athletics - Mens Basketball SHEBOYGAN - Forward Jake Schwarz scored a career-high 38 points Tuesday in a 85-75 victory for the Lakeland men's basketball team against Maranatha in the Muskies' Northern Athletics Conference opener at Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

One week after a frustrating 2-for-11 performance in a Lakeland loss, Schwarz, a 6-foot-5 sophomore, scored 25 in the first half and also tallied a team-high 11 rebounds in the contest. The Sheboygan, Wis., native finished strong around the rim and got several easy looks around the basket, shooting 17-of-19 (89.5 percent) from the field.

"It's all mental with Jake," Lakeland coach Aaron Aanonsen said. "Tonight, he posted up hard and wouldn't let anybody stop him. He also didn't turn the ball over, which is key.

Lakeland (2-3 overall, 1-0 NAC) pounded the ball inside early and often, jumping out to a 19-5 advantage just over six minutes into the game.

The Muskies outscored the Crusaders 50-28 in the paint for the game and received key minutes from several reserves. The team also shot a sizzling 55.4 percent from the field.

"Offensively, we shot the ball well, got the ball in the paint, didn't turn it over and shared it well," Aanonsen said.

Maranatha (1-2, 0-2) cut the Lakeland lead to one point at the 12:25 mark in the second half. However, sophomore guard Josh Regal (Suring, Wis.) hit a jumper on the ensuing possession to start the Muskies on a 10-2 run.

The Crusaders shot 53.8 percent in the first half compared to 41.4 percent in the second.

"We came out energized, which was completely different from last week's game," Aanonsen said. "We played a little bit different and tried to attack their weaknesses, and they exploited us in the second half on a few ball screens."

Regal finished with 15 points and nine assists, which ties a career high. Freshman guard P.J. Marion (Milwaukee, Wis.) scored all nine of his points in the second half.

The Muskies return to action this Saturday at home against Benedictine. Tip-off is set for 4:15 p.m.

Blahnik awarded NAC weekly honor

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:08:45 CST

Senior forward KC Blahnik has been named the Northern Athletics Conference women's basketball Student Athlete of the Week.

Blahnik (Gladstone, Mich.) averaged 24 points and 8.5 rebounds to lead the Muskies (5-0, 1-0 NAC) in wins over Finlandia and Rockford. She scored 18 points in Lakeland's 77-57 victory over Finlandia and carried Lakeland with 30 points, tying her season-high, and shot 14-of-18 from the free throw line as the Muskies pulled out a 79-72 overtime victory in their NAC opener against Rockford.

Blahnik has been selected to the NAC all-conference second-team for two consecutive seasons. She is currently tied for second in the conference with 17.8 points per game and places seventh with a 55.4 field goal percentage through five games.

Lakeland travels to Maranatha on Thursday, Dec. 3 for a 7 p.m. match up before returning home on Saturday, Dec. 5 for the front end of a men's/women's doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.

Men's, women's basketball enter conference play

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:36:02 CST

The Lakeland men's and women's basketball teams enter the Northern Athletics Conference portion of their respective schedules this week with hopes of contending for league championships in the 2009-10 season.

Women

The women's team opened conference play on Saturday with a 79-72 overtime victory at Rockford to remain undefeated on the season with a 5-0 overall mark. The Muskies will head to Watertown, Wis., on Thursday for a contest at Maranatha Baptist.

Prior to its winter break trip to California on Dec. 20-21, Lakeland will host Benedictine (Saturday) and Edgewood (Dec. 8), and hit the road to face Concordia Chicago (Dec. 13) in its last league match-up of the calendar year.

Last season, the Muskies finished third in the NAC North Division with an 11-6 league record (17-9 overall). The team was knocked off in the NAC Tournament quarterfinals, 76-69, at Aurora.

With four senior starters and a deep supporting cast, head coach Teri Johnson's squad should be in good position to improve its 2008-09 finish and push deeper into postseason play.

Men

The men's team, led by second-year head coach Aaron Aanonsen, will look to improve on its 4-12 conference record (10-15 overall) from a year ago.

The Muskies open up league action on Tuesday night against Maranatha Baptist, the start of a three-game NAC home stand which also includes contests against Benedictine (Saturday) and Edgewood (Dec. 9). The team heads to Concordia Chicago on Dec. 13 before returning home for a non-conference date against Beloit (Dec. 19).

Lakeland (1-3), which finished fifth in the North Division last season, will look to its two seniors, Anthony Cobb and Khendal Andrews, for leadership and consistency during league play.

The Muskies' lone victory this season came at the North Central College Holiday Inn Select Tip-Off Tournament against Oberlin (Ohio) on Nov. 21.

Men's, women's basketball enter conference play

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:35:08 CST

Muskie Spotlight - Khendal Andrews

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:11:50 CST

To be successful this season, players and coaches on the Lakeland men's basketball team know they need consistency from guard Khendal Andrews.

Andrews, one of the team's two seniors, stepped up with a team-high 15 points and made four 3-pointers in the Muskies' 77-57 home loss against Finlandia last Tuesday.

A fiery competitor, Andrews is averaging 9.5 points through four games this season and is shooting 11-of-26 (.423) from 3-point range. He is also one of the team's best on-ball defenders using a unique combination of quickness and strength.

"There's no question Khendal is our best shooter, but now he just has to learn that role and embrace it," Lakeland coach Aaron Aanonsen said prior to the season. "He needs to stick to what he does well offensively. We need him to be more consistent this season if we want to win games."

Last season, Andrews averaged 10.8 points shooting just over 36 percent from beyond the arc. He was a steady contributor in a reserve role on the 2007-08 team that won the Northern Athletics Conference Tournament title.

Andrews grew more consistent as the 2008-09 season went on, averaging 2.7 3-pointers per game shooting at a 40 percent clip in conference play.

Andrews is a fitness studies major and a member of the Lakeland's Black Student Union (BSU).

Did you know?

Favorite TV shows: Anything on ESPN or CNN

Favorite movie(s): "Love and Basketball," "He Got Game," "Gladiator"

Favorite website: livemixtapes.com

Favorite musician(s): Young Money, Ryan Leslie, Trey Songz, Jay-Z, Kanye West

Favorite athlete(s): Devin Hester, J.R. Smith

Favorite sports team(s): Chicago Bulls, New York Yankees

For me to improve as a player, I need to: Slow down

Not many people know this about me: I enjoy getting tattooed

Heroes/influential people: My family - without them I would be nothing

Favorite Lakeland class: Core II: Pseudoscience and Science

Muskie Spotlight - Alyssa Schuttenhelm

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:08:42 CST

It might not have shown in the box score, but Alyssa Schuttenhelm had a deep impact on the Lakeland women's basketball game on Saturday.

Schuttenhelm, a freshman guard/forward who saw limited playing time in the team's first four contests of the season, played 29 minutes and contributed with eight points, four rebounds and two blocks in the Muskies' 79-72 overtime win at Rockford.

"Because of the tempo of the game, we needed defense and scoring, so we felt comfortable going with Alyssa," Lakeland coach Teri Johnson said. "We are deep at her position, so we went with a quicker lineup against Rockford's size."

The Waterford, Wis., native is in her second year with the program, but was sidelined last season with a knee injury. She has played in all five games and is averaging 6.6 points and 2.4 rebounds so far this season.

Schuttenhelm plays a crucial role in the rotation of Lakeland, which is undefeated heading into the bulk of Northern Athletics Conference play.

"Alyssa is gradually getting more comfortable and more settled in," Johnson said. "She finds a way to get good looks at the basket, and we are working with her on her defensive capabilities as well."

Schuttenhelm is majoring in sports studies with a minor in coaching. She is also a member of Lakeland's tennis and softball teams.

Did you know?

Career ambition: Fitness trainer

Favorite TV show: "House"

Favorite movie: "Pirates of the Caribbean"

Favorite musician: Jason Michael Carroll

Favorite food: Tater tot hot dish

Favorite sports team: Milwaukee Brewers

For me to improve as a player I need to: Strengthen my knee and become mentally tough

Not many people know this about me: I am a black belt and did kickboxing for about 10 years

When not playing sports, you'll find me: Reading

Favorite Lakeland class: History of Africa