Augustana's tournament-low round of 316 propelled the Vikings to the Central Region title Tuesday afternoon at the Hillcrest Golf Club in St. Paul, Minn., as they finished with a three-round total of 967-37 strokes better than runner-up and host, Concordia University of St.
Well, folks, this is it. The school year is almost in the books, and I've officially stopped learning. With the end of classes in sight, though, so is the end of Viking athletics for the year. With my last column, I'd like to look back on some memories and say thank you for another successful year.
The Vikings women's golf team again stood at the top of the podium last weekend at The Jewel Golf Club in Lake City, Minn., after winning the Minnesota State Invitational. Augustana carded a second-round score of 314 for a two-day total of 636. The Vikings also had five of the top 10 golfers in the tournament en route to winning their fifth tournament this season.
Colo. sophomore continues to shine for Viking squad
Although sophomore Michelle Wadas knew she enjoyed visiting Augustana College as a prospective student, she still wasn't quite sure what to expect when she arrived from Fort Collins, Colo., last season. "My ending up at Augustana was pretty random," Wadas said.
As May rolls around, I find myself looking forward to the end of classes and economics homework, but am also sad that another year of Augustana sports are nearing an end. Still, with the end of Viking sports, my life will be full of free time, so, I've decided to come up with other athletic activities to pass my time over the summer months.
When the season began for the Augustana men's tennis team, they weren't expecting to raise a championship trophy, but instead they aimed to improve as the year played out. "I think we all knew it would be a tough season, but I think we got a lot better throughout the year," ," junior Isaac Krueger, who played flight No.
Augustana junior TravisBeniakwon the men's 1,500-meter run and freshman AndreaWhitneywon the high jump at the sixth annual Vance Butler Invitational on Saturday at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls. "It was great to see them win," head coach Tracy Hellman said, "It was a really tough meet, so it's nice to see them perform well.
In an interview last month, I was asked the question, "What is your favorite sport to cover?" Now, most would assume it'd be football or basketball, but I didn't go with the popular choice. "Women's golf," I said. And I stand by that today.
Riding a seven-game winning streak, the Augustana Vikings softball team has climbed back up the national polls to No. 17. The Vikings began the season ranked No. 14, but after losses to Indianapolis, Wayne State (Mich.), Merrimack and Chadron State, they had fallen to No.
Coming off the most successful season in Augustana Viking football's history, a team of unfamiliar faces took the field last Monday, April 4. Last year's team featured a senior-heavy starting lineup, and the loss of those seniors will provide opportunities for new players to step into their roles.
When Friday, March 18 hits, many people are headed to the beaches of Florida or California. Some are headed to Las Vegas and some are headed home. Me? I'm headed where all sport fans should find themselves this next week. My couch. Now, yes, I'd love to be in Ft.
Augustana softball coach Gretta Melsted knew she had a good team coming into this season. However, even she did not envision the outstanding start her team has put together to begin its 2011 season. Augustana will look to improve on its perfect 9-0 record when it travels to Orlando, Fla.
Last week, members of Augustana's indoor track and field team traveled to Albuquerque, N.M., and competed in the NCAA championships held at Adams State. The women's distance medley relay (DMR) team was composed of freshmen Kristin Brondbo and Colleen Everson and sophomores Molly Kokesh and Runa Falch.
There are many reasons not to watch the Minnesota Timberwolves. The franchise traded Kevin Garnett in 2007, was at the bottom of the league last year and drafted three point guards a year ago – one who is so bad that he was relegated to the Sioux Falls Sky Force for part of this season, one who is still playing in Spain and one who has flourished off the bench and is about to earn a starting role…for another team (the Denver Nuggets, a division rival).
Last week, all the baseball fans in the world spoke the world's greatest words: "Pitchers and catchers report." The cold winter is over; the smell of green grass and the pop of the ball in a glove are soon to fill the spring air. With this baseball season, though, comes a few interesting questions.
The Augustana women's basketball team extended their winning streak to 6-0 when they beat Puerto Rico-Mayaguez 92-49. The win ended a three-game series and a week-long stay in Puerto Rico over Thanksgiving break. "Normally, the travel is what I like least about my job," head coach Dave Krauth said.
When I was in middle school, I received possibly the most exciting gift ever for Christmas: 10,000 Minnesota Twins baseball cards. Now, many people will view this gift as a joke. After all, how could baseball cards really be the greatest gift ever? What about that Nintendo 64? A Chicago Bulls winter jacket? Do baseball cards really even beat new underwear? In my opinion, yes.
I'm a man that can appreciate a fair fight. I've been out here doing things the old way—the hard way—and all these prancy little whitetails have been alluding me for nearly three days now. I'm out here with a stick, a string and a pointy arrow in the snow-blanketed Dakotan prairie looking to put food on the table, and I'm starting to think they may have just gotten the best of me.
University of Sioux Falls’ Division II move creates interesting dynamic within Sioux Falls
Augustana College may soon have a new neighbors in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), as the University of Sioux Falls (USF) and Minot State prepare for a NCAA D-II move and hope to join the local conference. USF Athletic Director Willie Sanchez is excited for the move, and hopes the NSIC strength will help his school.
In perhaps the biggest game of Augustana's football history, the Vikings played their best first half of the season, as they led 24-0 at half and had already tallied three Grand Valley State University (GVSU) turnovers. The Vikings ended up winning the game 38-6, as senior Tyler Schulte caught three touchdown passes, senior Joe Clark rushed for 117 yards, and a linebacker corps of seniors Chris Janisch, Andrew Keel and Ryan Isaacson combined for two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one interception.
Growing up, Augustana College held a special place in my heart as a sports fan. I would attend football games and watch Eric DeGraff pass to Matt Holmlund at Howard Wood Field. I'd go to the Augustana basketball double-headers to see the "Augie-Doggy" dunk at half-time while Andrea Seefeldt or Matt Wilber led their team to successful seasons.
Both cross country teams will be seeking national titles at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships at Sawyer State Park in Louisville, Ky., this weekend. The men and women's teams are ranked No. 11 and No. 6 respectively after the regional meet in Wayne, Neb.
Sophomore guard Cameron McCaffrey has been a major asset for the Augustana men's basketball program this season, helping them to an early season record of 3-1. Through four games, McCaffrey has been the team's leading scorer, averaging 20.8 points per game.
Football team earns first-round playoff bye; to host second-round game
The Augustana Vikings football team is playoff bound. For the first time since 1989, the Vikings earned a spot in the NCAA Division II playoffs and, for the first time in school history, earned a first-round bye. "That bye gives us the chance to rest and get healthy," senior Tyler Schulte said.
Nationwide, Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tears have become increasingly prevelent, and the Augustana soccer team has suffered five ACL injuries in the past five seasons. Earlier this season, senior Katie Shandri, midfielder for the Augustana soccer team, tore her ACL and brought an early end to her soccer career.
Rachel Amble, a life-long resident of Sioux Falls, is serving her fourth year as Augustana's Intramural Coordinator. Amble graduated from Augustana in 2007 with a degree in business administration. As a student, she participated in the work-study program at Augustana's Elmen Center and was an avid participant in intramurals.
A friend of mine asked me once to write on the Detroit Lions. After two years of putting it off, mostly due to a lack of enthusiasm, I've finally accepted the challenge to discuss a team that has had a very dark decade. The Lions, for one simple reason, are looking up: Ndamukong Suh.
(2)Augustana vs. winner of Grand Valley State (Mich.) and Colorado School of Mines Kirkeby-Over Stadium Saturday, Nov. 27 12 p.m. Student Tickets: $5 Visit augietickets.com, call 274-4311 or stop by the Athletic Office between 8am-4pm &
Ladies and gentlemen, I am excited. Thanksgiving is only two weeks away, Brad Childress is still hated, and Duke basketball is soon to be hitting Cameron Indoor Stadium. This Sunday, Nov. 14, the new 2010 "dream team" will head to Princeton for the season opener.
Augustana and Augieholic president preach similar message: Be smart
In light of last year's events leading up to the Augustana versus University of Sioux Falls (USF) basketball game, Augustana President Rob Oliver took a preventative measure this week in issuing a letter to all Augustana students. That letter, which can be accessed through the student portal, mentions the good, the bad and the ugly of last year, and how the school aims for this year to be different.
This year's 3-on-3 Late Night Basketball Showcase will be held Nov. 20 at the Elmen Center. Augustana students and faculty can sign up teams and compete in a round-robin tournament, with the winning teams receiving prizes. "Last year was a big success with this event," Intramural Coordinator Rachel Amble said, "and we can't wait to see what this year brings.
Augustana men's and women's cross country teams will travel to Wayne, Nebr., to compete in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Championships. "It'll be a good day," head coach Tracy Hellman said. "We are feeling pretty confident.
Amidst an uncharacteristic silence, Augustana's wrestlers held their first intra-squad dual of the year last Sunday in the Elmen center. Instead of the usual roar of spectators and anxious coaches that accompany most meets, there was a sustained quietness throughout the gym as the team wrestled against each other, competing for their position on the team.
For the third consecutive year, Augustana College hosted their "Dig Pink" night, where supporters rallied against breast cancer and honored survivors, while raising $2,500 for breast cancer research. "One in every eight women is diagnosed with breast cancer," assistant volleyball coach Kasey Loeslie, said.
eBron James. What comes to mind when I say the name? A lot of different things for each person. Me? I love the guy. I can relate to him. I can cheer for him because I feel he is real. His latest commercial, the one that deals with the question, "What should I do?" has created a fair amount of buzz.
The Augustana men's and women's cross country teams went to Wayne, Neb., knowing the day would be successful, but weren't sure where they would stand at the end of the race. The men had six runners in the top 10, with senior Tom Karbo taking first, and scoring only 19 points in the meet, effectively blowing away any competition opponents hoped would be present.
Senior Liz Helsper lived on the hardwood as a child. She was the tallest girl in her class and found her gift on the Brookings, S.D., basketball courts: Scoring points and playing tough defense. When Augustana came to her door, she agreed to play basketball, study biology and embark on a new journey that began in the third grade.
Experience, skill, and a profound knowledge of basketball are three key attributes of this year's women's basketball team. After graduating only one senior last season, the Vikings are experience-heavy this year, with four seniors and four juniors hoping to lead the team to regional and national tournament births.
You know, I'm sure Jesus started with a pretty small outfit, too. Not that I'm saying super-senior Brian Werner is the second messiah or anything, especially at a good evangelical Lutheran school like this one. But I am fairly certain, however, watching him lead his small flock through Rubik's Cube algorithms has got to be at least somewhat similar to watching a bearded Arabic man turn water into wine.
Family and friends gathered last weekend for the home finale of the women's soccer season to watch Augustana defeat Minnesota-Duluth 1-0, and then lose to Bemidji State 0-1. "It's bittersweet knowing that our time at Augustana is coming to an end," senior Jill Goodrich said.
At five feet seven inches, Joe Clark doesn't pose a very intimidating threat. Clark, though, has run through defenders and straight into the record books. As a senior, Clark came into the year needing only 538 rushing yards to break Chris San Agustin's career record, and finally overtook him at Winona State last weekend.
Losing four seniors from a nationally-ranked program is never easy to overcome, but for the men's basketball program this season, head coach Tom Billeter looks at it as an opportunity. "We have a neat situation," Billeter said. "We lost four really good seniors last year, but our young guys performed well when they had playing time.
Mark Twain once said, "The weakest of all weak things is a virtue that has not been tested in the fire." The Augustana Vikings volleyball team has been tested in that fire several times this year. Through tough losses, solid victories, and growth in consistent play, they are steadily improving.
During college, he was the guy behind the camera at KVRR TV Fox News in Fargo. Today, Tim Gerszewski, 23, is on the other side of things as sports information director (SID) at Augustana. Leaving his video camera and bags of equipment up north with the news crew, Gerszewski continues his career at Augustana ready to utilize his undergraduate degree in mass communications and his master's degree in sports leadership.
After being rained out last weekend, the Augustana men's and women's cross country teams are headed for stiff competition in Fayetteville, Ark., according to head coach Tracy Hellman. "I think so far the year has been going well," Hellman said, "but it's hard to get a feeling with just one competition.
In the wake of compliance troubles at Division I schools, Augustana's athletic programs may be forced to change their recruiting of and marketing styles with athletes. With the media's attention focused toward Univeristy of Southern California and University of North Carolina mainly, the average sports fan has found himself or herself in the middle of a compliance nightmare, where agents, recruiters, coaches and student athletes have been uncovered as liars and cheats.
"Why are you hanging around our practice?" senior Jenna Doerneman asks me, looking perplexed. I'm doing a story. "About what?" Soccer. I'm hoping Goos and whoever else will help me out. "What do you want to do?" senior Steph Goos asks me. I want to learn to be a goal tender.
In the fall of 1979, Augustana's intramural community was blessed (or cursed) to meet the Renegade Cows. Based on the short story in comedian Steve Martin's 1977 book, Cruel Shoes, these Augustana freshmen were "born for trouble" and aimed for people to learn the lesson: "don't fool with renegade cows.
While many of Augustana's recent graduates have scored good jobs, one in particular might have ended up with the game-winning shot. Jordan Dalton graduated last spring with a double major in accounting and sports management and is now working as an inside sales consultant for the Charlotte Bobcats.
The Augustana Viking's women's golf team came back from Grand Rapids, Mich. as a second-place team. It was their first non-first finish of the season, and another statement toward any doubters that this team is here to stay, and their recent success is only yielding more success.
"Cheerleading is, like, super-omega-awesome." Freshman Katy Hazeltine looks at me with utmost sincerity as she discusses the deep philosophical underpinnings of her craft. I'm being eyed suspiciously by some of the men playing intramural volleyball in the gym as I stretch out with the cheerleaders during one of their final practices before their homecoming performance.
Trapped in the locker room with a group of men who might just as well be a band of agitated silverback gorillas, I'm quickly finding out that "Yes" is the only answer that will leak out of my mouth when questioned by any of these hulking wrestler types.
Welcome, Augustana, to the Greatest Month of Sports: October. Why, you ask, is it the greatest? Three reasons: Major League Baseball playoffs, College football upsets, and National Basketball Association preseason. With all the MLB playoff spots clinched, it looks to be a race between the Philadelphia Phillies and Cincinnati Reds on the National League side and the Minnesota Twins and the Tampa Bay Rays.
Hoping to do well in the Northern Sun Intercolligiate Conference fall championship, the Augustana men's golf team is practicing hard and working on putting two solid team rounds together for the event. Placing fourth in the NSIC preview in Hudson, Wisc.
The Augustana Softball team has their focus on another successful season, using this offseason as a chance to grow closer and gain team chemistry. Last weekend, Augustana hosted their fall tournament at Harmodon Park and finished 3-1 overall. "We really hit well last weekend," Kapsch said, "that's one of strong suits, and we showed that.
Diego Oquendo walked out of Michigan State's locker room and figured his football career was over. Featured mainly as a special teams player, Oquendo spent more time in the training room with injuries than on the field running plays. After three knee surgeries, Oquendo had to go through 18 months of rehabilitation before his knee was healed, and would have graduated before he could step back onto the field for Michigan State.
The 2010 Vikings soccer team is here, and they mean business. Entering his fifth season as head coach, Brandon Barkus is pushing his team to pursue three simple goals: first, be the hardest working team on the field. Second, make it to the NCAA tournament.
Elvis Presley once said, "I think all people have a natural instinct to rebel." The idea of rebellion is almost always negative. However, this year's volleyball team rebels against a state of complacency, and against everyone who has said they are too young and inexperienced to make any noise.
Ryan Isaacson wasn't sure he would play again after a hit that nearly broke his back last season, yet he finds himself leading the Augustana Vikings football squad in tackles this season. Alongside Isaacson, two fellow seniors, Chris Janisch and Andrew Keel, have led the team to a 3-0 record so far this season.
Trying to finish an interview with anyone, cross country pretty boy or not, is difficult when you're staring at the undigested chunks of your breakfast floating around in a dirty toilet bowl. In order to fit into his hectic schedule, I had the opportunity to go on an early morning run with senior runner Austin Vande Berg last Thursday, an accomplice to what he called "a light warm-up jog.
Students interested in cheering for the Augustana football team next fall will try out on May 8, in front of a new head coach. The Augustana athletic department is currently in the process of interviewing applicants. The previous cheer coach and dance adviser, Sally Sheley, announced she will not be returning to the squad next season.
I believe that in 1,000 years, an archaeologist researching the history of Augustana will excavate the exact location of the currently barren ground to the east of the Lookout House on the corner of 28th and Summit. The artifacts he or she will find will, among other things, be primarily dominated by the remnants of 40 mm.
The Augustana Vikings women's golf team continued a successful season this past weekend with a victory in the NCAA Super Region 3 Championships in Lake City, Minn. The Vikings, who won the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) tournament two weekends ago, continued their hot play, placing three golfers in the top 10, and scoring a three-day total of 972.
The Green Zone
It's been a long season, friends, and after this semester, all I feel is tired. I've hit that part of a college education when you run your face into a wall and hold that moment of insecurity right in front of your face. I realize that after this college thing is all done, I might be just as much of a f**k-up as I was four years ago.
A huge chapter of my life has ended. I have been asked by numerous people – family, friends, journalists – within these past few months to describe the feeling, to express my emotions, to ''paint a picture'' for others to understand how I feel about being done playing competitive soccer.
Augustana softball hosts the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) tournament this weekend, and the Vikings hope to build on their 41-10 record. The Vikings clinched the NSIC championship for the season this past weekend, but look to sweep the conference with a first-place victory on May 8.
Students interested in a career in the sports realm were given an opportunity to learn about possible careers this last week, as Augustana's chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) hosted a Sports Fair on Thursday, April 22, at the Elmen Center.
Augustana's tracksters set themselves ahead of the pack at the 2010 Drake Relays at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, last weekend. It was an impressive meet that displayed the hard work both the men and women's track teams have put into this season.
The Green Zone
I suppose you learn something new every day. Today is the first nice weather we've had in days, and senior tennis players Ben Aslesen and Jon Hawkinson are out teaching me how much a serve can look like a fuzzy yellow cannonball as they lazily fire them past my head.
Augustana has one athletic complex to finish before football, track and field, baseball, tennis, basketball and soccer have received improvements to their facilities. Since 2006, the athletic improvements have included the Hall Football Complex and Sanford Gymnasium, worth $4 million, Kirkeby-Over Stadium, a cost of $11 million, the $300,00 campus soccer field and $400,000 toward the new Huether Tennis Centre.
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