Rushing Ahead

 

Minnesota State has been one of the most dominant NCAA Division II football programs of the last decade and a case could be made that one of the key reasons for the success starts with the Maverick offensive line.

These things are cyclical, of course and long-time followers of the program will point to the Bob Otto-era of the 1950s and 1960s when the likes of Hall of Fame running back Bernie Maczuga rambled for 3,129 yards along the ground from 1967-69. The program had All-Americans in the trenches with the likes of Scott Annexstad and Duane Goldammer in the late 1980s when the Mavericks featured an option-oriented offense, but it's only been recently that the program's rushing numbers from those times have been surpassed in the school's record books.

Todd Hoffner was named head coach of the Mavericks before the start of the 2008 season and he transformed a team that finished 4-7 the year before into a team that finished 9-3, won the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference South Division and qualified for the NCAA tournament for the fourth time in school history. 

In 2007, Minnesota State finished 4-7 while throwing the ball for 376.4 yards a game and rushing for 41.5 yards a game. Hoffner changed the narrative to running the ball. In his second season in 2009, Minnesota State finished with a 10-2 record and were NSIC South Division Champions. The Mavericks qualified for their second straight NCAA Tournament  and hosted the first playoff game at Blakeslee Stadium for the first time. That year, they ran for 216.8 yards per game and 34 total rushing touchdowns while throwing the ball for 180.8 yards per game and putting up 23 touchdowns through the air. Hoffner quickly turned that pass-first offense around with a win-in-the trenches mentality where his team ran the ball through opponents unrelentlessly.

Chad Henning, a Sun Prairie, Wis., native who played on the Minnesota State offensive line from 2007-11, now is a coach with the Mavericks where he serves as the program's offensive line coach. He had been a part of two completely different offensive schemes while at MSU.

“Well, my freshman year we were a 95% passing offense,” Coach Henning said. “When Coach Hoffner got here, we changed that completely. We ran the ball about 60% of the time and had some really good luck doing so. The size of the offensive line helped run block for sure.”

You cannot run the football without a great offensive line. Over the course of history, Minnesota State football has had 18 All-American offensive linemen, dating back to 1974 when Dan Miller was the first offensive linemen to receive All-American honors. Minnesota State’s Evan Heim, who was named an All-American in 2018 and 2019, was the last Maverick lineman to be honored before he graduated in the fall of 2019. Heim, who started in all 54 games at left tackle during his career at MSU, was the anchor in the offensive line while the Mavericks made a run at the national championship in 2019 - group of offensive linemen that refer to themselves The Hogs.

“Being a hog offensive lineman just meant about being something bigger than yourself and offensive line is one of the only positions in sports where all five guys need to do their job in order for us to be successful,” Heim said.

As successful as they were, in the 2019 season the Mavericks set a program record 4,246 total yards along with the single-season rushing yards record, the Mavericks also set records in points scored (712), rushing attempts (713) and rushing touchdowns (59) and ranked fifth in the nation for rushing offense.

“We were very dominate up front but the offensive line only gets you so far like ten yards but all runs more than that is thanks to offensive line sustaining blocks and caring about the team and doing it for the team and wide receiver downfield blocking where most schools wide receiver don’t care about blocking and normally wide receiver are very selfish but not at Mankato,” Heim said. “Also helps to have great tight end (Tyler Schmidt) and an All-American running back (Nate Gunn). Having a great offensive line is just part of the equation.”

Minnesota State takes pride in its offensive line and bringing in the best linemen every year. The Mavericks rushing offense had made the top 20 in the nation seven out of the last nine years. Those two seasons they did not, were the only two seasons they lost more than one game, one was in 2015, they finished 10-2, with 227.7 rushing yards per game, 25th in the nation for rushing offense. The other was in 2016 where they finished 8-3, with only 169.5 rushing yards per game, 60th in the nation for rushing offense.

 Colin Prosser joined the Minnesota State staff as offensive line coach in 2017 and now serves as the program's offensive coordinator. Under his leadership the Maverick offensive line led a third-ranked rushing offense in the nation with 4,036 rushing yards on the year for an average of 288.3 rushing yards per game in his first year. The Mavericks set a program single-season rushing yards record with 4,246 yards on the ground in 2019. MSU also set records in points scored (712), rushing attempts (713) and rushing touchdowns (59) and ranked fifth in the nation for rushing offense.

“Coach Prosser has done a great job of holding everyone accountable and getting the most out of his players,” said Henning. “We are a lot better now than we were back then when I played, not only as a talent level but also from a depth perspective. We have a lot more pride in the offensive line room now.”

 Contributed by Tanner Johnson, Minnesota State Athletic Communications student intern

Checking in with Rachel Shumski

Rachel Shumski is averaging 13.6 points
per game as a senior for Minnesota State

A senior forward (and a graduate student academically) with the Minnesota State women’s basketball team, Rachel Shumski is a three-time member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference All-Academic Team.  She's also president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.  MavBlog took a moment to check in with the Granada, Minn., native to see how she and and head coach Emilee Thiesse are doing in this challenging season. 

MavBlog: How is the season going?

Rachel Shumski (RS): The season is going well as we can play and have the opportunity to get better each day. Not many teams have that opportunity, and I (we) are so grateful.

MavBlog:  What are some challenges you see when displaying leadership to a young team?

RS: Some challenges that I see when displaying my leadership style or leadership (in general): creating the understanding that the expectations are the same for everyone - no matter your age, etc.

MavBlog:  How stressful is COVID testing protocols and why?

RS: COVID testing protocols are not stressful for the student-athletes as it has created the opportunity for us to play. I can see this being stressful for others involved - trainers, athletic administration, coaches, etc.

MavBlog:  How frustrating is it when there are schedule changes to your games?

RS: It may be frustrating at the moment, as we love to plan - everyone loves to plan! But, again, we must look back and understand that this an opportunity that we can play rather than dwell on the changes that we can't control.

MavBlog:  How do you feel about how this season is going so far?

RS: The season has contained some highs and lows, but it sure has been fun to compete with my best friends beside me. We have four games left before the conference tournament. Taking and applying the learning lessons from the lows throughout the season will help us as a team have success as we move forward.

MavBlog:  Can you tell me about a time that Rachel demonstrated leadership skills?

Emilee Thiesse (ET): Rachel is a natural born leader. Rachel has gone above and beyond to keep our team connected. At times when we have had players in quarantine, she has been a true servant leader in reaching out to her teammates, checking-in regularly, offering to help anyone in need of supplies, etc. She truly cares about her teammates and their overall wellbeing. She has always had the natural ability to lead both in her communication and in her effort. As a sophomore Rachel experienced a season ending injury which can be hard to manage physically, but almost more of the battle during injuries is the emotional and mental toll it can take. Rachel handled her situation with an incredible amount of poise, maturity, and selflessness. She never felt sorry for herself and always put the team first! She would do her injury rehab around practice time, then during practice she was as engaged as the healthy players. She was consistently bringing energy and positivity, staying involved in drills and huddles, coaching younger players between reps, etc.

It made a significant impact on our team that even if Rachel wasn’t out on the court competing, we still felt her leadership and presence day in and day out. When she was cleared to return to basketball activities it was such a natural transition back to the chemistry on the team because of the involvement and leadership she brought while she was out.

MavBlog:  How does she hold her teammates accountable?

ET: She is so caring for those around her, always bringing positivity and lifting others up. She has a great balance of holding her teammates accountable by knowing what each teammate needs in a given situation and how to get through to them. Her teammates know that she cares for them and wants them to be their best.

 Contributed by Mason Tonsager, Athletic Communications student intern

Where Are They Now? Blaine Joerger

Blaine Joerger racked up
1,475 points in his four years with
the Mavericks

Former Minnesota State men’s basketball guard Blaine Joerger played from 1996 until 2000 with the Mavericks where he was one of the best three-point sharp-shooters and overall scorers to ever don the Purple & Gold.

The Staples, Minn., native held the school record for most three-pointers made with 241 when he graduated in 2000, a record that was later broken by a recent inductee into the Minnesota State University Hall of Fame, Luke Anderson. Joerger ranked sixth all-time in scoring upon graduation and currently ranks tenth all-time with 1,475 points. Joerger scored 407 points in his sophomore season, 500 points in his junior season and 395 points in his senior season as a Maverick. 

Joerger also ranks third on the single-season three-point field goals made list with 87 made during his junior season.

On back-to-back nights back in 1999, Joerger enjoyed what was probably his best weekend of college basketball when he scored 40 points vs. Augustana and 42 against South Dakota State. All told, he shot 25-of-42 from the field, including 17 of 31 from three-point range, and was 15 of 18 on free throws.

While playing basketball for the Mavericks, Joerger ended up interning with Northwestern Mutual in Mankato back in 1999 and he has been with the company ever since.

MavBlog checked in this week with Joerger who now resides with his family in Richfield, Minn.

MavBlog: What are you up to these days?
Blaine Joerger: Living in Richfield, where I first moved to after graduating college. I work as a financial advisor for Northwestern Mutual, the same job and company I started with as a college intern while playing for the Mavericks!

MavBlog: Tell us about your family.
Blaine Joerger: Wife, Kyla, and three kids. Our oldest son is a junior this year in high school and plays soccer and basketball. Have a seventh grade daughter who is also into basketball and tennis and our youngest is in first grade and she does whatever her older siblings are doing!

MavBlog: How has Minnesota State affected your career after college?
Blaine Joerger: While I played for the Mavericks, I made several great relationships with professors, coaches, and other students. Having been on the basketball team, I was fortunate to be able to meet a number of community members as well as other athletes within the University. These interactions were beneficial as I transitioned from college to the work force.

MavBlog: Following his college playing career, your brother David has gone on to a coaching career that includes NBA head-coaching stints with Memphis and Sacramento.  What kind of impact has your brother had on you?
Blaine Joerger: While in high school and college Dave made a tremendous impact on me and the athlete I became. Very few people understand what he did and went through to get where he is today, but I was fortunate enough to have a front row seat! Yes, he is gifted in the sense of basketball acumen, but the amount of work he put in and the sacrifices he made are what set him apart. His dedication and work ethic (along with high expectations within our high school programs) set the bar high for me early in my athletic career. I learned from Dave that natural talent alone wasn’t going to make me successful.

MavBlog: What were some of your most memorable moments as a Maverick?
Blaine Joerger: It may seem a little cliché, but the most memorable moments are those with my teammates outside of games. Don’t get me wrong, my brain works in such a way that I could still tell you how many points I scored, how I scored them and the shots I missed from a good number of games in college. However, most of my retrievable memories include personal interactions and activities with my teammates.

If we’re talking on the court memorable moments —
    • Beating SDSU the last weekend of the season at Otto when they were ranked #1 in the country (during my sophomore season) that gave us a shot at being selected to NCAA tournament, which ended up not happening.

    • January of 1999 games - I had a decent month and was named National D2 player for the month.

    • Playing the last collegiate basketball game at Otto with the knowledge of the rich history of all that had taken place within the arena.

MavBlog: What was it like playing in Otto Arena?
Blaine Joerger: I have mixed feelings about Otto. When I was recruited to play, the idea was that home conference games were going to be played at the civic center, which had recently been built. That never transpired, which is too bad. Otto was really fun to play in when it’d get filled up- but I’ll tell you I don’t miss running on the concrete like floor! I’ll always be able to say I played the last college basketball game in Otto my senior year. I can also say it was tough to watch the new Taylor Center being built and walking by it each day knowing I was one year off from playing in it!

MavBlog:  Do you keep in touch with any of your former teammates from Minnesota State?
Blaine Joerger: Yep, quite a few actually. The cool thing about the relationships I built while playing basketball in Mankato is that I keep in touch with two different age “tiers” on a regular basis. I have the guys my age and older and then the crew that was younger as I was finishing college. Each group gets together at least once per year, including a fantasy football league that I started while in college as a team bonding activity that is still active. Some of my best friends are from the basketball team.

MavBlog: Tell us about your experience with your coach with the Mavericks, Dan McCarrell.
Blaine Joerger:  Mac was great and I’m very appreciative of him allowing the me the opportunity to play college basketball. He is simply a good, down to earth type of guy who cared for his players. Coach was full of basketball knowledge and I always enjoyed listening to his stories. I still keep in touch and now swap some of my own basketball stories with him!

MavBlog: Tell us about your experience with refereeing high school and college basketball.
Blaine Joerger: I got into officiating basketball while in college as I was intrigued to experience the game from an unbiased viewpoint and wanted to put my own basketball experience as a player to work. Plus, it was a great way to earn some money while doing something I enjoyed!

After college, I found officiating to be a way to stay connected to the sport as I had zero desire to coach. Also, I wanted to give back to the game as I didn’t always feel all officials fully understood the game from a player standpoint. I was fairly successful and given some opportunities early in my career to move up through the high school ranks. I also had a couple doors open to break into the local D2, D3 & JUCO leagues at a relatively young age. Eventually I only officiated college basketball and attempted to work my way into the D1 level. After several years attempting to get hired onto a D1 staff, I was told by the people in power that it likely wasn’t going to happen. While disappointed, it all worked out with the direction the rest of my life ended up heading. The last year I officiated basketball was the 2013-14 season.

Since officiating, I’ve gotten involved in coaching a lot of youth basketball. It’s kind of fun to be one of the few people out there with a good amount of experience from playing, officiating, and coaching and being able to see the game from multiple perspectives at the same time.

MavBlog:  How well did you know another sharp-shooting guard from the Mavericks.........Brian Koepnick?
Blaine Joerger:  I got to know him a little bit in the years after I played with the Mavericks. We had lunch a couple of times and we even officiated a few basketball games together. I knew of his battle (Brian Koepnick recently passed away after a lengthy bout with cancer), but he was never one to bring it up. He was a good dude with a positive outlook on life, even in his darkest hours. His legacy will live on as one the best basketball players to ever put on a Maverick jersey.

MavBlog: Do you still come back for some Mavericks athletics?
Blaine Joerger:  Not as much recently as I’d like. It’s amazing how quickly a calendar can fill up with your own kids! The guys I played with attempt to come back at least one time per season to take in a basketball game. I’ve missed the past couple of years due to scheduling conflicts, but it’s always fun to come back when I can. I’ve brought a few of my son’s traveling basketball teams to play in winter tourneys played at MSU simply because of my history at the school - has been a good reason to make a trip to Mankato!

    Contributed by Hogan Greenwood, Minnesota State Athletic Communications intern

Where Are They Now? Shane Joseph

Shane Joseph registered 68 goals and 76 assists
for 144 points in 139 games at Minnesota State

Minnesota State's foray into the NCAA Division I men's hockey ranks only goes back into the mid-1990's and it wasn't until the 1999-2000 season that the Mavericks became members of the vaunted Western Collegiate Hockey Association - a league at the time that included the likes of the University of Minnesota, North Dakota, Denver and the University of Wisconsin.

Under the guidance of coaching legend Don Brose, Minnesota State put up a 21-14-4 mark in that first season in the WCHA, but three years later, in 2002-03, the Mavericks made a splash with a regular season that included an amazing 17-game unbeaten streak, a second-place finish in the league standings and the first-ever invitation to the NCAA DI men's hockey postseason tournament.

The Minnesota State offense that year featured a pair of dynamic forwards from Alberta in junior Shane Joseph and sophomore Grant Stevenson. Joseph finished the year with 29 goals and 36 assists for 65 points in 41 games, while his running mate Stevenson racked up 63 points on 27 goals and 36 points in 38 games. Both were named All-Americans.  Stevenson signed a free agent contract with the National Hockey League's San Jose Sharks following the conclusion of the season, while Joseph, who had 19 goals and 24 assists for 43 points as a senior with the Mavericks, would also sign with the Sharks following the 2003-04 campaign. 

Joseph, a Brooks, Alta., native, totalled 144 career points and ranks fourth on the school's career scoring charts for the DI-era.

MavBlog recently checked in with Joseph, who resides with his family in the Twin Cities.

MavBlog: How did you end up playing for Minnesota State?
Shane Joseph: I was originally planning on playing major junior.  Saskatoon cut me and at that moment I decided to go to college. Playing junior hockey in Canmore I believe Eric Means was the first to come watch, followed by Jutts and Brosie.  They asked me to come there a month into the year and I liked what I saw..... had the potential to make an impact on a program and didn’t look back.  

MavBlog: You were an All-American on the team that made the school’s first appearance in the NCAA Division I tournament.  Tell us what you remember about that season in 2002-03.
Shane Joseph: We had such a good group of guys, and it will go down as the most memorable year of hockey I have been a part of.  We worked hard, had fun and enjoyed a team confidence that propelled us to go on......what was it 17 games unbeaten?  That was Fun!

MavBlog: The chemistry you had with a fellow Albertan in Grant Stevenson was noticeable in that great run in 2002-03.  What was it like playing with Grant, both with the Mavericks and then later on with Cleveland in the American Hockey League?
Shane Joseph: Grant was a special player, very intelligent and extremely skilled......not to mention could fly.  We just had great chemistry.......we also pushed each other that year and we had a confidence going out together that we were going to make it happen.  

MavBlog: After your time in the San Jose Sharks organization, you headed to Germany where you played for four teams in the DEL.  What was it like playing pro hockey in Europe?
Shane Joseph: Europe was a lot of fun with a lot of great memories.  However, I remember getting there my first day and they dropped me off at my apartment.  This was before everyone had cell phones and GPS.  They gave me a map, circled the rink and told me to be here at 10 a.m. tomorrow.  I remember laying in that apartment with no phone, internet, tv and not speaking a lick of German and asking myself what I got myself into.  Made it to the rink the next day and met the team and it was amazing from that point out.  The hockey is great, the atmosphere of the games is exciting and it was great to travel and experience the German culture and make some great friendships along the way. 

MavBlog: Tell us what you’ve been doing following the conclusion of your professional hockey career.
Shane Joseph: I help people buy and sell homes.  In other words, I am a realtor here in the Twin Cities.  

MavBlog: How did your experience with the Mavericks and Minnesota State serve you after you graduated in 2003-04?
Shane Joseph: I was just a punk, naive 18-year old kid coming in......I grew up a lot during my time with the Mavericks.  There were a lot of great teammates, coaches and staff who guided me through those five years.  Other than the education of course, my time at MSU taught me a lot about being an adult and a professional. 

MavBlog: Tell us about your family.
Shane Joseph: I am blessed with a beautiful wife (former Minnesota State volleyball player Melanie Jude) and three beautiful daughters.   Lydia (9), Adeline (7), and Lucille (2).  We are busy with sports and activities......a wise person told me you aren’t busy, you are just are just living full and to embrace it.  I try to remind myself of that often  :)

MavBlog: Do you keep in touch with any of your former Maverick teammates?
Shane Joseph: That is one of the best things about playing with this program.  The tight-knit bond that is created there not only with players you played with, but with other hockey alumni, as well.  There is a large group of us that all hang out in the Twin Cities and, of course, the alumni events throughout the year bring everyone together. 

MavBlog: Are you still playing? What else do you do besides work and spending time with your family?
Shane Joseph: I started to play a little again last year with some guys, and it was great to get back on the ice.  I didn’t play for seven years after I retired and it was good to get back to enjoying the game again. Other than that, you can only have so many hobbies and the one I choose is golf.  It has become an addiction :)

Where Are They Now? Darryl Wills

Darryl Wills was an All-American
for the Mavericks in 1987

Throughout the years, Minnesota State Football has had great success and been fortunate to play in many big playoff games.

Realistically, though, considering the fact that varsity football has been here since 1922, NCAA playoff games are a relatively recent phenomenon. The head coach of the Mavericks beginning in 1983 was Dan Runkle. And after a couple of sub-.500 years, things began to get better. By 1986, Runk’s team won six of its seven games, serving as a portent of what was to come next fall. And what did come next fall was a 9-3 overall record and an 8-1 mark in conference play for the program’s first North Central Conference championship and, for the first time, a place in the NCAA Division II postseason tournament.

A key player on the 1987 team was Nicollet, Minn., native, Darryl Wills. A two-year starter at free safety for the Mavericks from 1986-87, Wills was second on the team in tackles as a senior with 107 and recorded seven career interceptions over the course of his college career.

A two-time All-NCC pick, Wills was named All-American by the Football Gazette as a senior and in 2013, he was inducted into the Minnesota State Athletics Hall of Fame.

MavBlog recently checked in with Wills, who lives with his family in Chaska, Minn.

MavBlog:  Tell me a little about yourself

Darryl Wills: I’ve been married for 27 years to LizAnn (MSU grad) and we have two childern - Madyson 23 (MSU grad), Dawson 20 – attending Washburn University, where he’s a junior with the men’s golf program.  I work for Optum, serving the last 15 years in my current role of SVP Payer Sales.

MavBlog: What was the adjustment like, playing high school football in Nicollet, a small farming town, to the North Central Conference, where you and your teammates were going up against the likes of North Dakota State, North Dakota, South Dakota and South Dakota State every weekend?

DW: Players, as you can imagine, were bigger/faster/stronger and overall, much more skilled.  We did have some very good multi-sports athletes like myself from high school, Many of my high school teammates went on to play college sports.  A pretty quick adjustment had to be made if you wanted any playing time.

MavBlog: Why did you choose to come play football at MSU and how has your time at MSU impacted where you are today?

DW: I was looking at the University of Minnesota for football, Winona State for basketball, a few other North Central Conference teams also had a slight interest.  During the summer/fall of 1983 my dad became very sick and it was determined he had cancer (he is still with us today), so I decided to stay close to home. The number of friendships I still have today are because of MSU which has resulted in doing trips, extending business relationships and lifelong friendships that keep you motivated.

MavBlog: What was it like winning that first conference championship in 1987?

DW: Incredible – we had a very good recruiting class and many of the guys from that year stuck around.  It was even more special because it was the first team to accomplish it.  Demonstrated that when you put your mind to it and get the team aligned much can be accomplished.

MavBlog: Talk about your head coach Dan Runkle and maybe one thing you learned from him that you still use today. What kind of head coach was he and how did he get players behind him?

DW: Coach Runk taught me how to do your prep work – study your competition – work on all the small things and get to know your teammates.. Coach Runk was a players coach – while he had many rules, he made sure we had a lot of fun along the way and got to know each player as an individual.  I use all of those skills today in my sales leadership role in a fortune 6 company.

MavBlog: Talk about Optum, how it got started and what you do there.

DW:  I am one of 130,000 employees and been with the company for 15 years and the company started in 1997 as Ingenix. Optum is part of UnitedHealth Group (320,000 employees) and started as a technology company selling technology/consulting to healthcare organization.  I have always wanted to be in healthcare so my career journey has included selling computer hardware & services, disposable medical products to long term care, home care and hospitals.  So Optum is culmination of my previous roles where I get to utilize all of my previous experiences and I always wanted to make a bigger impact on peoples lives and healthcare is one great way to do that.

MavBlog:  Explain your relationship with former teammate and long-time friend Greg Vonderlippe.

DW:  Greg and I have always stayed in touch and been good friends and assisted him in getting into the company about 10 years ago and we still work together today as Greg is part of my sales leadership team.  Makes the daily grind much more enjoyable and we get to make the healthcare system work better for everyone together which is pretty cool.

MavBlog: Did you want to stay local in southern Minnesota? If so, why was that important to you?  

DW: I live in the Twin Cities/Chaska – I prefer bigger cities and I travel the world.  On average I fly about 130,000 miles a year primarily in the United States.  I did lead sales for our Life Sciences business for about two years which included a lot of international travel.  I will always have a home in Minnesota but looking to move to warmer climate during the winter season.

MavBlog: You’re an inductee into the Minnesota State Athletics Hall of Fame. What was that experience like?

 DW: Humbling.  To  be recognized by Minnesota State as a team and as an individual – so Hall of Fame twice is off the charts remarkable.  Motivates me to take the message of Minnesota State to all of my colleagues and friends. I had my family (LizAnn, Madyson, Dawson), Mom/Dad, my high school principal in attendance when I was inducted, so it was very rewarding and something we could all enjoy together.

MavBlog:  Have you been back to Blakeslee Stadium in the last couple of years and how much pride do you take in the success the program is currently experiencing?

DW: Yes, I have been back to Blakeslee and I go to a few games each year and have traveled to watch the Mavericks play in the national championship games along with a few of my teammates.  Blakeslee grass is among the best in the country and while the stadium is showing its age – when the ball is “Teed Up” for kickoff the chills still go through the body.  The level of talent MSU attracts now I do believe is in place to what we started back in 1987 and many of the teams following have continued that success and taken into higher levels.

      Contributed by Brevin Kaiser, Minnesota State Athletic Communications intern.

 

Where Are They Now? Lisa (Walters) Sukalski

Lisa (Walters) Sukalski was a
two-time All-American during
women's basketball career at
Minnesota State

Former Maverick women’s basketball great and member of the Minnesota State University Hall of Fame, Lisa (Walters) Sukalski is doing quite well, thank you.

The Henderson, Minn., native received a plethora of accolades during her time with the Mavericks, which spanned 1984-99. A two-time Kodak All-American who was named GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year in 1988, Sukalski was named the North Central Conference's Stan Marshall Award recipient as league's outstanding female student-athlete for 1987-88 and MSU's Senior Female Athlete of the Year in 1987-88.

A three-time All-Region selection, Sukalski still owns several school records including most career points (2,072) and rebounds (1,074) and at the end of her time with the Mavericks. Sukalski owned the NCC records for career points, rebounds, and field goals.

 Significantly, Sukalski was the keystone on the 1985-86 team where as a sophomore center, she helped lead the Mavericks to its first-ever North Central Conference championship and first-ever NCAA tournament appearance.

After graduating from Minnesota State, she ended up playing professionally in Sweden for one year in 1988-89 before starting a teaching career that has lasted more than three decades.

MavBlog: What are you doing now?

Lisa (Walters) Sukalski: I am currently in my 30th year of teaching second grade in the St. Michael-Albertville School District. 

 

MavBlog:  Tell us about your family.

Lisa (Walters) Sukalski: I am married and have three adult children, all graduates of St. Michael-Albertville. My youngest is still attending college. The other two are college graduates and live in the Twin Cities area.

 

MavBlog: How has Minnesota State affected your career after college?

Lisa (Walters) Sukalski: My degree from Minnesota State (it was Mankato State when I was there) was Elementary Education with a Coaching certification. Mankato State prepared me for my first teaching job right out of college. My time playing college basketball propelled me into getting the job as the head girls basketball coach at St. Michael-Albertville High School. The dedication and hard work ethic I learned through being a college student and a college athlete at the same time as well as the lessons I learned through sports, has carried over into helping me be a successful teacher and coach. 

 

MavBlog: What kind of impact did Mary Willerscheidt have on you during your time at Minnesota State?

Lisa (Walters) Sukalski: Mary was my coach my freshman year. She believed in me and pushed me to become a better player. This had an impact on my belief in myself and my desire to become the best player I could be. My growth in confidence and in setting my goals high carried over into my remaining years. Even when she stepped down as the coach, she remained a huge supporter. 

 

MavBlog: What is your best memory from the Minnesota State women’s basketball team?

Lisa (Walters) Sukalski: My best memory was the 1985-86 season. We had a very successful season and became the North Central Conference Champs. But more than that, I got a chance to play with some of the best players that have ever played together at Minnesota State including Pat Burns, Annie Christopherson, Carla Schuck, and Julie Cink. It was an honor to play with such talented teammates and a whole lot of fun! 

 

MavBlog: What do you remember from your time playing professionally in Sweden in 1988-89?

Lisa (Walters) Sukalski: Playing professionally was a great experience. The style of play was different from the women’s college game at that time, but it was fun to adjust to a new style of play. My teammates were very welcoming as was the family I lived with. I also had an opportunity to coach a youth team. Living in the city of Stockholm was a great experience for me as well. 

 

MavBlog: Are you still involved with or still have connections with the Minnesota State women’s basketball team? If so, in what ways?

Lisa (Walters) Sukalski: I don’t have a lot of involvement in the women’s basketball program anymore. My first decade out of college I stayed connected and in touch, attending alumni events and keeping up with the team. As time went by, my basketball involvement shifted to the high school basketball program at St. Michael-Albertville. 

 

MavBlog: Are you still involved with the game of basketball?

Lisa (Walters) Sukalski: After being a head coach for 10 years, coaching my own kids in youth and traveling basketball and then watching them play basketball through middle school and high and high school, I am now what you would call a basketball fan and enjoy attending both boys’ and girls’ basketball games. Up until my youngest child graduated in 2019, I had been involved in basketball as a player, coach, or parent since I was in 7th grade. 

 

MavBlog: What has the game of basketball meant to you in your life? Did it shape you in any way?

Lisa (Walters) Sukalski: The game of basketball has been a huge part of my life. Through basketball, I learned the importance of hard work, dedication, and teamwork and these things carried over into my teaching, parenting, and just being the person I am today.

MavBlog: Have you kept in touch with any of your former teammates from Minnesota State?

Lisa (Walters) Sukalski: Yes. I keep in touch with several former teammates and we are able to get together at least once a year.

 

Contributed by Hogan Greenwood, Athletic Communications intern

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.”

Bigger Than Basketball

Former Minnesota State men's basketball guard
Cam Hodges is a player development coach with the NBA's
Philadelphia 76ers (76ers photo)

Cam Hodges, a Minneapolis native, spent the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons with the Minnesota State men’s basketball team where he averaged 6.5 points and 3.9 rebounds as a junior and 13.7 points and 4.8 rebounds as a senior. His junior season almost didn’t happen because of a military commitment. He has since been honorably discharged from the military.

Under the guidance of veteran head coach Matt Margenthaler, Hodges and the Mavericks finished the 2010-11 season with a 28-5 record. Named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Hodges enjoyed a stellar senior season, earning Second-Team All-NSIC honors. The 6-foot-5 guard helped lead Minnesota State on a memorable run through the NCAA tournament which led all the way to the NCAA DII Final Four in Springfield, Mass.  The Mavericks eventually fell to second-ranked Bellarmine in the national semifinals, but Hodges was playing his best basketball, tallying a career-high 24 points and grabbing seven rebounds in the loss to the Knights.

Following his collegiate career, Hodges played professionally in Romania, Hungary, Luxembourg and Slovenia.

Stemming from an internship with the National Basketball Association's G League that he competed in 2015, Hodges knew that he wanted to coach in some capacity.

“I knew I wanted to coach once I was done playing, I just wasn't sure at what level,” Hodges said. “I kind of found my path once I did an internship in the NBA G League and the rest is history,” he said.

And he did just that, becoming an assistant coach under one of the NBA’s legendary coaching minds, Gregg Popovich.

Hodges spent three seasons with Popovich and the Spurs, serving as a player development assistant during the 2018-19 season, where he worked under shooting coach Chip Engelland, who took over as San Antonio’s head of player development after Brett Brown left to take the head coaching job with the Philadelphia 76ers.

After three seasons with the Spurs, Hodges was hired as a player development coach with the Sixers, where he currently works individually with three players.

“Day-to-day, I'm in charge of the development of three players on our roster. It's usually some on-court development work followed by some individual film sessions with those players to identify areas we are excelling in and areas we can improve in,” Hodges said.

.

Hodges gives a lot of credit to Margenthaler and the rest of the Minnesota State coaching staff for putting him in the position he is in today. 

“The impact that the coaching staff at Minnesota State had on me was huge,” Hodges said. “I realized that coaching wasn't about the X's and O's. At the core of it, it's all about relationships. They brought out the best in me on the court and helped me develop into a better man off the court because of the time and energy they invested in me as a human being before a ball player. So naturally I wanted to have a career that would allow me to serve others,” he said.

Another trait that Hodges carries over from MSU to his career is accountability.

“I think the biggest lesson I learned from my time at MSU was being able to hold myself accountable day in and day out,” Hodges said. “If for one second Coach thinks you're slacking, you will be called out in front of the group. Being able to hold yourself accountable every day and perform your job the best you can was the mindset and that has carried over into my coaching career and my personal life,” he said.

When asked what his favorite part of his career is, Hodges gave a simple but incredibly important answer that he learned from his time with the Mavericks.

“The relationships,” Hodges said. “Investing my energy into another person to help them get to where they are trying to go in life and their career. In sports, we are all trying to accomplish something greater than ourselves and being able to play my role in doing so I find very fulfilling,” Hodges said.

Looking into what the future may hold for him, Hodges isn’t concerned about it as he focuses on his time with the Sixers.

“Honestly, I really try not to think about the future too much,” Hodges said. “I try to focus on learning and developing myself every day and life will come together like it should,” he said. 

Contributed by Collin Wilmes, Minnesota State Athletic Communications Intern

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Mission Possible: Mavericks Work to Overcome Injuries to Get Back on the Mat

At any second in the game an injury can occur, whether it’s in practice or during one of the most important matches of your career. It’s the moment you face adversity that will dictate the outcome of your career, will you let it beat you or will you conquer it?

For a pair of Minnesota State wrestlers in senior Matthew Blome and sophomore Trevor Turriff, it's this type of adversity that would put them to the test in the past year.

Blome, who wrestles at 197, dislocated his knee during practice on October 6th, 2018, resulting in a full tear of his anterior collateral ligament, medial collateral ligament, posterior collateral ligament, and a partial tear in both his lateral collateral ligament and meniscus.

“You could say it was catastrophic because he had a complete knee dislocation, it was everything,” said Jim Makovsky, Minnesota State's veteran wrestling head coach. “He stayed really stoic amidst it all, though.” 

An All-American as a freshman in 2016-17 when he went 28-11 overall, Blome went 18-8 and became a two-time NCAA national tournament qualifier as a sophomore in 2017-18. The injury, which happened before the start of the 2018-19 campaign, ultimately took Blome out of the game for a year, and it’s the recovery period that is so essential to his healthy return.

“A lot of my time overcoming adversity was done with the team, having people to work with every day; especially Christian Goetz, out athletic trainer that helped me through a lot of my recovery who was there from the day it happened,” said Blome. “It was nice to be able to be on the side of the mat with them instead of just being up in the stands, I was still with the team.”

“Matt is someone who has a lot of passion with a positive outlook on things; but when its go time he gives everything he has, and we are lucky to have him,”  said Makovsky.

"Being away makes it that much better to be back on the mat, watching people do the stuff you do is difficult; but when you get to go back out there and do it with your teammates that’s probably one of the best feelings ever,” said Blome, a native of Mount Horab, Wis. “If I were to have to do it alone, I don’t know how it would go but with the team and the people we have in the room it makes it that much easier.”

For Turriff, who wrestles at 184, he season ended last year when he tore his PCL and LCL in the semi-finals round of the 2018-19 NCAA DII Super Regionals. These injuries ultimately led a lengthy rehabilitation process over the course the next six months.

“I stayed busy with the rehab and we have a great team; the athletic training team as well as the wrestling team that constantly kept me on my toes to get better,” said Turriff, who finished his freshman year with a 13-7 record.

“Overcoming adversity was all about just staying hungry and rearranging my goals, to now let’s get healthier every day and reach a new goal in rehab.”

“Trevor has had to put a lot of extra work in," said assistant coach Ty Eustice. "He’s been doing a lot of things on his own or meeting with the athletic trainer when he’s supposed to and putting in those extra workouts. He's is very coachable and upbeat every day. He’s not the kind of kid you got to get on to bring energy and he’s always showing up ready to work and push himself.”

"The love for the game is really what fuels the flame," said Turiff, a native of De Pere, Wis. "Knowing I’m a part of a team that I am very close with helps fuel my motivation as well.”

The Mavericks, who entered the 2019-20 season rated seventh in the national preseason poll, hope that with both Blome and Turriff healthy, that they can improve upon last year's 31st-place finish at the NCAA DII Championship.

contributed by Schaelly Hildebrandt, Athletic Communications intern

Drost Leads Mavericks into 2019-20

Taylor Drost averaged 13.4 ppg and was named All-NSIC
Second Team as a junior in 2018-19

The Minnesota State women’s basketball team opened the 2019-20 season with a 91-74 nonconference home victory on Nov. 6 vs. against UW- Eau Claire.


Emilee Thiesse, who is beginning her eighth season as head coach of the Mavericks, has been impressed with the energy and consistent effort the team has put in this year. “This season is looking bright and our goals are centered around the core values of this program.”


Thiesse expects to lean on the 13 returnees from last year’s roster and especially so on the leadership of senior forward Taylor Drost.


Drost, a Menominee Falls, Wis., native, had an outstanding junior season in 2018-19. Named All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Second Team, Drost led Minnesota State in scoring with 336 points last season, averaging 13.4 points per game and 3.4 rebounds per game.


“Taylor’s growth over her career has been incredible. She is a tough match-up due to her ability to score in multitude of ways. She has become more aggressive at disrupting shots at the rim and making plays off the ball.” said Thiessse.


Drost, a three-year letterwinner who is a two-time NSIC All-Academic honoree, said that while the returnees will have to lead, it’s expected that the newcomers will also contribute. “We have four freshmen that came in this season and they have been picking things up quickly in practice. Even though we only lost two seniors last season, our junior class is very solid for how small our group of seniors is. Our core group of junior and senior are strong leaders of the team who are dominant players on the court.”


Thiesse agreed, stating that the young players on the roster have fit in nicely with the veterans. “The chemistry the team has on the court is second to none and it shows by how well they play together and how much fun they have.”


In addition to the nonconference contest vs. UW-Eau Claire, the Mavericks also squares-off in nonconference play vs. Northern Michigan (Nov. 14), Michigan Tech (Nov. 18), Bethany Lutheran (Nov. 25) and UW-Parkside (Nov. 30) prior to starting NSIC action Dec. 6 with a home game vs. Southwest Minnesota State.

     Contributed by Morgan Keim-Wolfe, Minnesota State Athletic Communications Intern