Q&A With Minnesota State Baseball All-American Cam Klein

Q&A With Minnesota State All-American Cam Klein

A junior pitcher/outfielder with the Minnesota State baseball team, versatile Cam Klein earned All-America honors last year after posting a 10-2 record while recording a 2.47 earned run average with 112 strikeouts in 80 innings pitched. The Stacy, Minn., native, who also patrols the outfield, hit a team-high .386 with six home runs and 36 runs batted in.

Minnesota State went 39-15 last year and 28-8 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference regular-season standings.

    

One of the most successful NCAA Division II programs in the country, the Mavericks made their 37^th postseason tournament appearance last year.  Klein took a moment to discuss the upcoming season with MavBlog correspondent Mason Tonsager.

MavBlog: “What kinds of things that the team is looking to improve on for this season?”

CK:  “The pitching staff has all came back from last season along with some freshmen. We also have new transfers that have come here to play and the overall starters from last year are back. The pitching will be solid, but we just have to work in some of the new players into this culture that we have.”

MavBlog: “How has the adjustment been like when working with a new catcher?”

CK:  “It’s difficult at times because Tom (Imholte) and I had a really great connection with each other and were both on the same page on certain situation that we get into. I have to develop that same kind of communication with the new catchers and the freshman have to get games in as well, so they know what it is going to feel like.”

MavBlog: “What are some challenges that you face coming into the season?”

CK:  “I have high expectations and I am surrounded with tons of talent that we have ever since I got her 2 years ago. The team itself has high expectations especially when a lot of returning players are back and healthy.”

MavBlog: “What are you looking at on improving this year?”

CK:  “We plan on winning conference and conference tournament which can help us with regionals. Expectations for the team are to make it further and getting over that hump last season and have a better record.”

MavBlog: “What are some fun memories that you’ve had so far in your career here at Minnesota?"
CK:  “The Florida trip is always fun especially this time of the year where it is really cold here and hot down there. We also have a fun time playing against some good competition. I also had fun last year because we didn’t make it to regionals my freshman year.”

A Football Legacy

Mankato native Ryan Schlichte has played a big role in
Minnesota State's success the past four years

A legacy always has to start somewhere. 

RyanSchlichte, a senior quarterback on the third-rated Minnesota State football team, came to the Mavericks with probably more knowledge about the program than most of his teammates.

A three-year starter at Mankato West, Schlichte racked up over 2,000 yards passing and 25 touchdowns as a sophomore and junior with the Scarlets. His senior year of high school, in which he threw for 3,141 yards and 45 touchdowns, he earned Minnesota High School Gatorade Player of the Year, Minnesota AP Player of the Year, Big 9 Player of the Year and USA Today Minnesota Player of the Year honors.

The connection with the local NCAA DII football program came with Ryan’s father, Dave, a defensive back and quarterback for the Mavericks in the early 1980s. Dave, a native of Wilmont, Minn., native who prepped at Worthington High School, served as offensive coordinator under Minnesota State head coach Dan Runkle following his college playing career.

“From as long as I can remember, our family went to the games at The Blake. It seemed like every Saturday the Mavericks had a home game and in the back of my mind it wasn’t me watching the Gophers, but it was me watching the Mavericks play. That kind of transitioned as to what I was playing when I was younger and into high school. My dad was a coach and always had great insight. I didn’t always listen to it first, but I’ve come to appreciate his knowledge of the game and for what he’s done for me as a player and for a young man as well,” Schlichte said.

“As a young man he definitely helped me mature and to treat everyone that I would like to be treated,” said Schlichte. “My dad treated everyone with respect and treated everyone the same. That’s how I’ve always kept that open mind and try to get to know as many guys as I can. I try to find something about someone on the team if I don’t know everyone on the team. I’ve always tried to be a leader and pick people back up when they are down.”

Following a redshirt year on 2015, Schlichte saw action in seven games as a freshman in 2016 prior to assuming the starting role for the Mavericks as a sophomore, helping guide the team to a 13-1 record as they claimed an NSIC Championship and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. Sharing starting duties with J.D. Ekowa in 2018, Minnesota State again posted a 13-1 record.

Dave Schlichte feels Ryan’s exposure to the Mavericks and the college football culture likely has played a role in Ryan’s success at Minnesota State. 

“Being a part of a team was one of the best moments I had at college and I thought it was something that would be good for him to be exposed to,” said Dave. “I think the ups and downs we had when we played made our group closer and that’s what being a part of team is all about.”

 In playing for his college coaches, Dave learned that there’s more than one way to get things done in understanding Al Sandona and Dan Runkle very different coaches and how they not only wanted their teams to play, but also how they worked with their players. “Sandona was more defensive than an offensive style and Runkle was more offensive than defensive,” said the senior Schlichte.  “It was an adjustment switching everything around between the two coaches, but we were able to overcome all of the years that we were struggling to winning the conference championship within a five-year span.”

On becoming a college coach right out of college, Dave felt that it was something he was ready for, even if it was a young age. “Runk’s staff was allowed to voice your thoughts and opinions on what to do. Sometimes as a team we were trying to figure out a way to be competitive. The hardest thing about changing from a player to coach was that it wasn’t about you anymore it was about the players and what their future holds. It also was about their families and what was best for them. Sometimes the mindset changes completely and it can’t be about you."

A football family, which besides Ryan and Dave includes Ryan’s mother Jody and brother, Jay, who was a tight end at Minnesota Duluth, you know where you’ll be able to find the Schlichte’s in the fall.  Most likely they’ll be at a football game.

                          - contributed by Mason Tonsager, Minnesota State Athletic Communications intern

           

Professional Development

 

Ty Dennis has taken full advantage of his
collegiate experience, serving on Minnesota State's SAAC
committee, as well as playing wide receiver for
the Mavericks.

College is much more than attending class, obtaining good grades and graduating with a degree.  Ty Dennis is a living example of this.

Dennis, a senior on the Minnesota State Mavericks football team, understands that attending university is an experience that can shape your life. As a wide receiver for the Mavericks, Dennis accounted for just shy of 2000 yards (1,977) and 19 touchdowns over his four-year collegiate career, including gaining an average of 16.8 yards per touch with the football in hand. During the last four years, not coincidentally, the Mavericks posted a 45-7 won-loss record, played in eight NCAA postseason games, including the national championship game in 2014.

Dennis’ collegiate experience is defined by much more than just football, however.

During his redshirt freshman year, Ty Dennis’ coach, Aaron Keen, knew he would be a leader. He was approached by Keen and asked if he would like to join the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). The SAAC is a committee comprised of student-athletes, established to provide insight on the student-athlete experience. The SAAC also offers input on the rules, regulations and policies that affect the university experience of student-athetes on NCAA member institution campuses. 

Dennis accepted his coaches offer and has grown within the organization ever since. 

Currently, Dennis serves as the Minnesota State University campus SAAC President as well as being the NCAA DII SAAC External Communication Coordinator since his sophomore year, acting as one of two at-large representatives from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). “MSU tries to enhance the student-athlete experience, the community engagement and deal with legislation from the NCAA. I have seen legislation get taken very seriously on the DII convention floor because we do get a vote when legislation is proposed. We are a voice for the students,” said Dennis when asked about his role both on campus and on the NCAA Division II national level. 

He said that being a SAAC member has only helped him in his endeavors as a student. “Organizing and presenting things has helped me become more confident in my abilities, specifically as a professional. I love working with people and collaborating on things. It has also helped me network with a lot of people. I have met people from California, all the way to New York,” Dennis said.

Kristle Wolcott, the campus SAAC liaison and assistant softball coach, said “Ty Dennis is a national SAAC representative of three years and has been a huge blessing to have in our organization. He’s been really great.”

Dennis, a Burlington, Wisc., native, had only positive things to report about his experience with the SAAC, and concluded “I would recommend anyone to it. My college career would have been missing something without it.”

Upon graduation, Dennis looks to further his education by getting a Masters degree in Sports Management and becoming a graduate assistant on a NCAA campus. College is much more than what you learn in the textbooks, and Mavericks wide receiver, MSU Campus SAAC President and NCAA DII SAAC External-Communication Coordinator, Dennis has reaped the rewards of having that understanding. The SAAC has developed Ty Dennis into a leader on the Minnesota State campus as well as on the national level which he expects will translate to success in his future career choices.

                     Contributed by Aaron Fitzner, Minnesota State Athletic Communications intern

Setting the Table

Autumn Risch is the latest in a long line of outstanding
setters from Minnesota State

Legacy.  A word that maybe gets tossed around in the sports world so much that sometimes it loses some of its meaning. 

However, in a situation where there is a direct line between the current setter with the Minnesota State women's program and the six ones that held the position dating back to the early 1990's, it's difficult to dismiss the correlation.

Take a look.  Heidi Schnagl racked up 3,963 assists for the Mavericks from 1991-94. Nichole Roethig had 3,804 assists from 1995-98. Jen Blendermann totaled 4,367 assists from 1999-2002. Steph Sandstrom finished with 3,417 assists from 2004-2007. Brittany Stamer established the school record with 4,718 assists in her four seasons with the program from 2008-2011 and Ellie Van De Steeg followed with 3,578 assists from 2012-15. An almost unbroken string of multiple-year all-conference, and in some cases, Minnesota State Hall of Fame setters (as Schnagl and Blendermann are).

While the first four setters on the list played for former coaches Marge Burkett and Doug Tully, Stamer and Van De Steeg played for Dennis Amundson, who coached the Mavericks from 2005-14. 

Current head coach Lori Rittenhouse-Wollmuth credits Amundson, who had a 181-111 won-loss record in his nine seasons with Minnesota State, for the recent spate of outstanding table setters. “Setting was his passion," said Rittenhouse-Wollmouth. "It’s what he really studied and what he really enjoyed coaching so he was able to establish his style of coaching that works. It definitely works in our league so it’s just been really great to have a setter established so when the newbie comes in we don’t skip a beat. Not many programs can have this many setters who have that level of success.”

Autumn Risch gained some unexpected experience last year due to an injury to Van De Steeg and in her first career start, helped engineer an upset over seventh-rated Minnesota-Duluth on Oct. 23rd. The Howard Groves, Wis., native is settling into the responsibility of being the starting setter in her second season with the Mavericks this year.

“It’s been great having Autumn as a starter," said Rittenhouse-Wollmouth. "She very savvy and she’s a real student of the game. She comes from a coach’s family. which I think always helps. She has a real calm intensity out there that has allowed our hitters to gain some confidence and just keep a steady vibe."

“It’s been going pretty well," said Risch, who is averaging 10.4 assists per set and is closing in on 700 assists through the team's first 17 matches. Her 10.29 assists in league play ranks eighth in the conference - a league in which seven teams are rated in the NCAA Division II top 20 poll. "I’m enjoying it a lot and, naturally, it’s a lot different than last year. My goal as a freshman was always to push Ellie in practice and now my goal is to push myself and challenge myself. My goal every day is to lead the team in the right direction toward our goals.” 

Risch gives much of the credit to her success to Van De Steeg.

“I got to work with Ellie a lot, which was a really great experience. She had a lot of knowledge to share and really made it easy for me to transition from high-school to college just because she helped me out so much allowing me to learn the game better through her,” she said.

                                                          contributed by Collin Wilmes, Minnesota State Athletic Communications intern

Williams Hurdling Her Way to Success

 

Minnesota State's Altoniece Williams established a
school record in the 60m hurdles this year

8.36 seconds.

That’s all it took for Altoniece Williams to break her school record in the 60-meter hurdles. And on the cusp of the NCAA Division II national championships, that performance ranks as the second-fastest time in nation.

A sophomore at Minnesota State who is pursuing a major in criminal law and corrections, Williams is a Miami, Fla., native which most everyone one would know, is more than 1,700 miles from Mankato.

Following high school, Williams spent a year at Iowa Central College running track where she caught the eye of Chris Parno, who coaches Minnesota State’s sprinters and hurdlers.  

 “Altoniece came to Minnesota State for a track meet last season as a member of the Iowa Central team and then I saw her at two other track meets. I also know her junior college coach which made it easy to recruit her here.”

“I wanted to experience something new and different,” said Williams about venturing northward from the Sunshine State. Intent on experiencing something different and getting away from the heat of Miami, Williams points out that while she’s experienced success on the track, she also enjoys her time in Minnesota. “I really enjoy the snow and the weather. I had never experienced snow until I went to Iowa. I made snow angels and snow balls and even tasted the snow when I saw it for the first time.”

Concentrating being the best that she can be as a well-rounded student-athlete, Williams does not do much outside of track and school work.

Jen Blue, the who was named 2016 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Women’s Indoor Track & Field Coach of the Year after leading the Mavericks to the league team title appreciates what Williams has contributed to the program in her first year in Mankato.

“Altoniece is a team player and leads by example. She has a solid work ethic and works hard every day at what she does,” said Blue. “Not only do her coaches know how hard she works, but she knows if she puts in the time and effort she will see the results she has been hoping for.

“I push myself to try and get better every day,” said Williams. “My goal is to be number one and it is always great to break my own records, but I also try to improve myself each week.”

Williams competed in the 200 meters, the 60-meter hurdles, and the 4x4 relay at this year’s indoor conference meet a post personal bests of 8.36 in the 60m hurdles and the in the 200m (:25.00).

The Mavericks compete in the NCAA DII championship meet March 11-12 in Pittsburg, Kan., where Williams will make her national debut.

Contributed by Shelbie Werden, Athletic Communications Intern

-30-

Is it Over?

Is it over?

It's hard to believe that the 2014 NCAA Division II Football season has finally come to a close. The Mavericks fell to CSU-Pueblo in the national championship game at beautiful Sporting Park in Kansas City Saturday, 13-0, in finishing the year with a 14-1 mark.

One loss for Minnesota State and it came in the national championship game. In getting to the last game of 2014, this team took everyone on an unprecedented ride.

We've had football at this institution since 1922. This was the 89th year of varsity football for us and no team had ever won 14 games in a season before.

Who does that? Who wins 14 football games in a season?

Including three NCAA playoff games, we hosted nine games at Blakeslee in 2014. Nine. In the last three seasons the Mavericks have gone 14-1 (2014), 11-1 (2013) and 13-1 (2012).  No team in NCAA Division II has won as many games during that time. Eight NCAA play-off games in three years. Minnesota State has not lost a conference game since 2011 and will head into 2015 riding a 33-game league unbeaten streak.

Those that follow the Mavericks, and we saw a ton of them in Kansas City at the national championship game and social media tells us that many who weren't there were watching on ESPN2, witnessed something special.

There's a lot of pride amongst our alums, the parents of our players, the students and staff at Minnesota State and the folks in Mankato with what happened and there's a tremendous amount of optimism moving forward.

This year's team loses 21 seniors who unquestionably have served as the backbone to the success the program has enjoyed during this run. So as we bid adieu to Nathan Hancock, Eric Clark, Erik Ruhland, Keyvan Rudd, Dorian Buford, Andy Pfeiffer, Anthony Lewis, Jeff Burns, Darius Clare, Kris Fleigle, Shonquille Dorsey, Josh Meeker, Gary Hiatt, Barry Ballinger, Max Hoffmeister, Kaleb Wendricks, Chris Reed, Jeffrey Raymond, Bryan Keys, Austin Rieder and Darin Howell, we also offer up our gratitude.  You'll walk together as champions for the rest of your lives.

Here's hoping everyone has a safe and enjoyable Holiday Season.

It's great to be a Maverick.

Updating the list

Minnesota State's beautiful Taylor Center will host the
2014 NCAA DII men's basketball Central Regional

Local college sports fans are in for a treat this weekend with Minnesota State hosting the Men's Basketball NCAA Division II Central Regional and a first round Western Collegiate Hockey Association play-off series.

For basketball, that means an additional seven games of postseason action in Taylor Center with four regional quarterfinal games Saturday, a pair of semi-final games Sunday and a championship game Tuesday.  Teams from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) and the Great American Conference (GAC) make up the Central Region and in addition to ninth-rated Minnesota State (NSIC) taking on Harding (GAC), the other three first-round games include Missouri Southern (MIAA) vs. Fort Hays State (MIAA), Central Missouri (MIAA) vs. Arkansas Tech (GAC) and Winona State (NSIC) vs. Northwest Missouri State (MIAA).  The regional champion advances to the NCAA DII Elite Eight championship tournament, which is slated for March 26-29 in Evansville, Indiana.

The Mavericks, who stand 29-4 on the year, are hosting the regional tournament for the fourth time in the last five years.

The Minnesota State men's hockey team, meanwhile, squares off against Northern Michigan in a best-of-three series beginning Friday with the hopes of advancing to the WCHA Final Five. The winner of the league post-season tournament gets the league's auto-bid to the NCAA tournament.  The Mavericks, who enter this weekend with a 22-13-1 overall record and have fashioned a nine-game unbeaten streak, finished second in the league regular-season standings.

Minnesota State is the only school in the country hosting the unique NCAA DII men's basketball regional/men's hockey league play-off series this weekend, but hosting postseason events is nothing new for the Mavericks.  We've blogged a little on this in the past, but have added a few events to this burgeoning list.

Events Hosted by Minnesota State Athletics
Year          Event                                                                                           
1983-84    NCC Baseball Tournament
1985-86    NCC Baseball Tournament
1987-88    NCAA DII Baseball Midwest Regional
1988-89    NCAA DII Softball Midwest Regional
1989-90    NCC Baseball Tournament
1993-94    NCAA DII Wrestling Regional/NCC Championship
1997-98    NCC Baseball Tournament
1998-99    NCC Baseball Tournament
2000-01    NCC Baseball Tournament
2002-03    WCHA Play-Offs First Round
2002-03    NCC Softball Tournament
2003-04    NCAA DII Wrestling National Championships
2005-06    NCC Baseball Tournament
2007-08    NCAA DII Wrestling Central Regional
2007-08    NCC Indoor Track & Field Championships
2007-08    NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships
2007-08    WCHA Play-Offs First Round
2007-08    NCAA DII Softball Central Regional
2008-09    NCAA DII Women’s Basketball Central Regional
2009-10    NCAA DII Men’s Basketball Central Regional
2009-10    NSIC Indoor Track & Field Championships
2010-11    NSIC Women’s Soccer Tournament
2010-11    NSIC Baseball Tournament
2010-11    NCAA DII Men’s Basketball Central Regional
2010-11    NCAA DII Softball Central SubRegional
2011-12    NSIC Indoor Track & Field Championships
2011-12    NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships
2011-12    NSIC Baseball Tournament
2011-12    NCAA DII Softball Central SubRegional
2011-12    NCAA DII Baseball Central Regional
2012-13    NSIC Women’s Soccer Tournament
2012-13    NCAA DII Football Second Round Game
2012-13    NCAA DII Football Quarterfinal Game
2012-13    NCAA SII Football Semifinal Game
2012-13    NCAA DII Women’s Soccer Central Regional
2012-13    WCHA Play-Offs First Round
2012-13    NCAA DII Men’s Basketball Central Regional
2012-13    NCAA DII Softball Central SubRegional
2012-13    NCAA DII Baseball Central Regional
2013-14    NCAA DII Football Second Round Game
2013-14    NCAA DII Men’s Basketball Central Regional
2013-14    WCHA Play-Offs First Round
2013-14    NCAA DII Softball Central SubRegional
2014-15    NSIC Women's Soccer Tournament
2014-15    NCAA DII Women's Soccer Regional 1st & 2nd Round
2014-15    NCAA DII Football Second Round Game
2014-15    NCAA DII Football Quarterfinal Game
2014-15    NCAA DII Football Semifinal Game 
2014-15    NSIC Indoor Track & Field Championships
2014-15    NCAA DII Wrestling Super Region 3 Championship
2014-15    WCHA Play-Offs First Round
2015-16    NCAA DII Women's Soccer Regional 1st & 2nd Round
2015-16    NCAA DII Football First Round Game
2015-16     NCAA DII Women’s Soccer Regional 1st & 2nd Round
2015-16    NCAA DII Football First Round Game (loss)
2015-16    NSIC Indoor TF Championships
2015-16    NSIC Men’s Basketball Play-Offs - First Round
2015-16    WCHA First Round series (3 games)

2016-17     NCAA DII Women’s Soccer Regional 1st & 2nd Round
2016-17    NSIC Indoor TF Championships
2016-17    NSIC Men’s Basketball Play-Offs - First Round
2016-17    WCHA First Round series (2 games)
2016-17    NCAA DII Softball Super Region 2 Tournament

2017-18    NSIC Women’s Soccer postseason tournament
2017-18     NCAA DII Women’s Soccer Regional 1st & 2nd Round
2017-18    NCAA DII Football First Round Game (win)
2017-18    NCAA DII Football Second Round Game (win)
2017-18    NCAA DII Football Third Round Game (loss)
2017-18    NSIC Indoor TF Championships
2017-18    NSIC Men’s Basketball Play-Offs - First Round
2017-18    WCHA First Round series (2 games)
2017-18    WCHA Second Round series (3 games)

2018-19    NSIC Women’s Soccer postseason tournament
2018-19    NCAA DII Women’s Soccer Regional 1st & 2nd Round
2018-19    NCAA DII Football First Round Game (win)
2018-19    NCAA DII Football Second Round Game (win)
2018-19    NCAA DII Football Third Round Game (loss)
2018-19    NSIC Indoor TF Championships
2018-19    NSIC Men’s Basketball Play-Offs - First Round
2018-19    WCHA First Round series (2 games)
2018-19    WCHA Second Round series (2 games)
2018-19    WCHA Championship (1 game)

2019-20    NCAA DII Women’s Soccer Regional 1st & 2nd Round
2019-20    NCAA DII Women’s Soccer Third Round & NCAA Quarterfinals
2019-20    NCAA DII Football First Round Game (win)
2019-20    NCAA DII Football Second Round Game (win)
2019-20    NCAA DII Football Third Round Game (win)
2019-20    NSIC Indoor TF Championships
2019-20    NSIC Men’s Basketball Play-Offs - First Round
2019-20    NSIC Women’s Basketball Play-Offs - First Round
2019-20    WCHA First Round series (2 games)

It's great to be a Maverick.

The Project

Minnesota State senior quarterback
Jon Wolf is a regional finalist for the
Harlon Hill Trophy, which goes to
the top NCAA DII football player in
the nation

It was announced last week that Minnesota State senior quarterback Jon Wolf is one of seven players in Super Region 3 under consideration to advance to the Harlon Hill Trophy national ballot. The Harlon Hill Trophy honors the NCAA Division II College Football Player of the Year. 

There are four super regions in NCAA DII and the top two players from each super region, based on voting conducted by sports information directors in each region, advance to the national ballot when regional voting concludes on November 22.  The sports information directors vote again on the eight national finalists with the winner of the 2013 award announced at the 28th annual Harlon Hill Trophy Presentation Banquet Friday, December 20.

As one of the top multi-purpose quarterbacks in the nation playing for an undefeated and number-one ranked team in the country, one would think that Wolf would receive a lot of consideration for this award.

The Oak Forest, Ill., native presents an unusual package of size and athleticism.  With 1,047 yards and 13 touchdowns along the ground, statistically Wolf is MSU's top rushing threat. And in the Mavericks' 11 games this year he's completed 63.4 percent of his passes with 104 completions on 164 attempts for 15 touchdowns.  Importantly, he's only thrown one interception and his passing efficiency rating stands at 180.4.

His numbers would be even more impressive if it not for MSU claiming several victories by large margins, which has meant he's not calling the signals for entire games. In the recent win over Upper Iowa, for example, the Mavericks held a 49-0 lead at the end of the first half and eventually won 73-7.  Wolf played the first two quarters during which he ran for 201 yards on ten carries and completed five-of-eight passes for 77 yards. The 201 yards are the most ever by a MSU quarterback.

"Jon has truly been a difference maker on a championship contending team," said head coach Aaron Keen. "His ability to lead the team as our quarterback, to throw the ball and run the ball so effectively against defenses designed to stop him has been remarkable. He's quiet but competitive and a perfectionist when it comes to making plays.  It's been special to see him develop.  He's grown up with us and it's been fun to watch."

Including Wolf, a total of seven Minnesota State players have appeared on the regional Harlon Hill ballot.  A pair of them, quarterback Jamie Pass in 1993 and wide receiver Josh Nelsen in 1994, advanced to the national ballot.  Nelsen finished seventh in the final tabulations.   Pass, not unlike Wolf, was a threat to run and throw and ended up third in the final balloting.  At 6-4 and 230 lbs., Wolf is taller and heavier than Pass and he runs a different offense. Pass threw the ball 490 times in '93 for 30 touchdowns and more than 3,700 yards and racked up 4,261 yards in total offense in 13 games as a senior. Wolf is closing in on 3,000 yards in total offense in 11 games with the play-offs looming.

Any way you slice it, Wolf undoubtedly ranks as not only one of MSU's best, but also amongst the best in the nation.

It's great to be a Maverick.
 

And That's a Wrap

Minnesota State claimed seven conference titles in 2012-13

Yowser!

The Boys of Summer officially concluded the 2012-13 school year of competition for Minnesota State Athletics last weekend with their second-place finish at the NCAA Division II Baseball Championship tournament.

What a run for head coach Matt Magers and the Mavericks as they rolled to a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference tournament title and captured the NCAA DII Central Region tournament championship en route to a 42-9 record. Magers, who owns a 215-66 record in his five seasons at the helm for the Mavericks, was named National Coach of the Year by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.  Senior right-handed pitcher Harvey Martin was named National Pitcher of the Year by the NCBWA, Daktronics and the American Baseball Coaches Association. Like Martin, junior pitcher Jason Hoppe was named an All American (Hoppe by the NCBWA, Martin by the other three organizations already mentioned). Hoppe also established a NCAA record for consecutive scoreless innings pitched at an incredible 55.1. Senior catcher Ben Keller, an Academic All-American, earned his second career Elite 89 Award, which goes to the student-athlete with the highest grade point average at NCAA championship events for their sport.

Today we announced that senior tennis player Brandi Dohmen has been named an Academic All-American. In doing so she becomes the eighth Minnesota State student-athlete to accomplish the feat this year. Since we began keeping track of such things, the most Academic All-Americans we've ever had in a season was four in 2004-05.

Back in December I did a blog post relative to the start of the year because it was a great beginning for our teams with football finishing third in the country, women's soccer claiming a NCAA regional crown and men's cross country placing 20th.

The success achieved in the fall continued on into the winter with men's hockey making the national tourney for the first time in ten seasons, men's basketball won the NSIC regular-season and post-season titles and hosted the regional tournament, women's basketball advanced to the NCAA regional tournament for the second consecutive year, men's indoor track won the NSIC title and placed fifth at NCAAs and wrestling placed eighth at the NCAA tournament.

And then onto the spring where the softball team claimed the NSIC title and hosted the NCAA subregional and men's track and field won the NSIC title and finished 12th at the NCAA championship meet. Baseball finished things up by playing in the national championship game June 1.

We'll wait until NACDA's announcement comes out, but it's expected that we'll have a top-five finish in the Directors' Cup final standings.  Not bad considering that there are more than 300 schools at the DII level and a healthy improvement on last year's 21st-place finish.

It should also be pointed out that it was a banner year academically with the aforementioned eight Academic All-Americans, six Myles Brand Award recipients (NSIC Award for student-athletes with cumulative 3.75 or better GPA), nine WCHA Scholar-Athletes (SAs with at least 3.50 GPA), 195 student-athletes named academic all-conference and 57 Maverick Achievement Award recipients (senior scholar-athletes).

By any measure, a tremendous year for Minnesota State Athletics.

Only 61 days until the first day our football team can officially start practicing!

It's great to be a Maverick.

It was Frank Zappa who said "Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible"

Black Hills State and South Dakota School of Mines have both been awarded membership in NCAA Division II.  Both schools, who are both members of the Dakota Athletic Conference (DAC) and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), will remain in the NAIA and the Dakota Athletic Conference for the 2010-11 season, followed by a year of candidacy and then a year of probation before gaining official NCAA Division II status.

Here are the releases from the BHSU site and the SDSMT site.  Other stories regarding this development appear in the Rapid City Journal, the Sioux Falls Argus Leader and KELO TV.