From Thundar to Stomper: Examining Division II Athletic Excellence

As a native of West Fargo, N.D., I grew up a fan of North Dakota State University, who along with MSU was a long-time member of the North Central Conference.

Although my parents are alumni of the University of North Dakota and still bleed green and white to this day, my contradicting allegiance to the Bison began when I was only a toddler.  My aunt ran sprints as a member of the NDSU track team and also served as my babysitter during her four years as a student-athlete in Fargo.  Her and her friends took me to countless Bison athletic events over the years and had me hooked, but it wasn't until I grew older that I began to truly appreciate the success NDSU athletics has had and continues to experience.

As my fifth year as a student at Minnesota State draws to an end, I am finding more and more similarities between the former NCAA Division II powerhouse I grew up cheering for and the emerging NCAA Division II powerhouse I call my alma mater.  In my opinion, to be considered a powerhouse an institution must have a majority of its programs finish consistently at or near the top of its respective conference standings in addition to achieving some degree of success at the regional and national level.

North Dakota State's football, volleyball, basketball (M&W), wrestling, softball and track and field programs (M&W) were often considered the class of the North Central Conference and have the conference and national championship banners to prove it. When I look at Minnesota State, I believe MSU has quickly established itself as the class of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and is on the brink of being recognized nationally as an NCAA Division II powerhouse as the championship banners begin to pile up in Taylor Center and Myers Field House.

MSU's Division II team sports have collected four NSIC regular-season titles (soccer, football, men's basketball, men's indoor track and field) and two second-place finishes (wrestling and women's basketball) plus an NSIC tournament championship (men's basketball) in the 11 conference sports that have been decided thus far and have a combined 109-25-5 record (.802) in 2012-13.  The Maverick baseball and softball teams were both selected No. 1 in their NSIC preseason coaches polls and the men's outdoor track and field squad is also the pre-season conference favorite. Individually, 17 different Maverick student-athletes have garnered a total of 21 All-American awards this year for both academic and athletic success.

Did I forget to mention that the DI men's hockey team is No. 10 in the country and after securing home ice for the WCHA playoffs is well on its way to a berth in the WCHA Final Five and NCAA national tournament?

While Minnesota State is three years removed from its last national championship (women's basketball 2008-09), five programs have finished in the top eight nationally the past three seasons with the Maverick baseball team earning two of them (7th in 2010, 3rd in 2012).

Although some people around Mankato and the Upper Midwest may believe MSU is far from a national powerhouse given its history in the NCC, its performance at the national level is beginning to show otherwise. Of the all the sports at MSU that are ranked at the national level, only the women's swimming and diving and women's tennis teams have yet to crack the top-25 this year.

Since the collapse of the NCC, the Bison have won back-to-back NCAA Division I FCS national championships and along with former NCC-member and bitter rival South Dakota State, have combined for three appearances in the NCAA Division I "Big Dance" in just five seasons.

Minnesota State has filled the void left by schools like NDSU, SDSU and UND and if it can continue the athletic excellence it has achieved the past five years into the next five years... who wouldn't call it a powerhouse?

by Lucas Steckler, Minnesota State Athletic Communications graduate assistant

Rock

Loy "Rock" Young (right) with Kevin Buisman
(Director of Athletics) and men's basketball coach
Matt Margenthaler (middle)

We received an email back in January from a gentleman named Jerry Young.

Jerry was born in Mankato and attended MSU’s Wilson Campus School where he played basketball and football for Wendell Jahnke in high school in the mid-1960's. 

An admitted gym rat in the 50’s & 60’s, he spent a lot of time hanging out wherever his dad happened to be. Jerry's father happened to be school legend Loy "Rock" Young.

Born in 1923 in Summer, Iowa, in the early 1940’s, Rock was a four-year basketball letterman at what was then known as Mankato State Teachers College. His playing career and time in Mankato was interrupted by World War II as he spent four years as a pilot in the Army Transport Command, including 13 months flying a C-47 from India to China over the Himalayan mountain range. More than 1,000 men and 600 planes were lost in that battle. A member of "The Greatest Generation," Rock earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and an Air Medal with an Oak Leaf Cluster.

He returned from overseas to once again play in Mankato, helping the Indians to the NAIA finals in Kansas City, Mo., in 1947.  After graduating, he coached at two Minnesota high schools and was the head football coach at Dickinson State College before heading to Chadron State so he could coach basketball. One of the most successful coaches ever at Chadron, he was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 1992. Rock left Chadron to join the physical education department and serve as an assistant football and basketball coach at his alma mater, where he worked with MSU icons Bill Morris and Bob Otto until his retirement in 1984.  He was inducted into the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1983.

“Rock”  recently turned 90 and for the first time since retirement is back in Mankato - moving into Keystone Communities with his wife of 68 years, Janette.  

We had a chance to meet and visit with Rock prior to the men's basketball game vs. Southwest Minnesota State Feb. 23rd. And from that meeting, it became obvious that the passion for MSU flows strongly through him and his family.

A big thanks to Jerry for helping us all come together.

It's great to be a Maverick!

Spring is Nigh

Rated eighth in national preseason polls, the Minnesota State
Baseball team begins its season Feb. 16th in the Metrodome
with a doubleheader vs. Winona State

While our winter teams (men's and women's basketball, men's and women's hockey, women's swimming and wrestling) hitting their strides, heading towards the conclusion of the regular season and on into the postseason, we must realize that spring is nigh.

We've been extremely fortunate in this part of the country, relative to how the weather gods have been so kind to us.  And it's only now where we've had to don the boots and gloves, grab a shovel and head out to take care of the driveway and sidewalks.

And whereas our fall student-athletes and teams had tremendous success, so has it continued on with men's basketball (currently rated seventh nationally and on the verge of hitting the 20-win mark), women's basketball (16-4 overall and have been ranked as high as 20th), men's hockey (currently ranked 11th, 16-9-3 overall), wrestling (rated 10th, 9-2 on the season), men's indoor track (rated ninth) teams. Women's hockey was rated tenth in the country at one point early in its season and women's swimming and women's indoor track are expected to do well at national meets as well, with qualifiers racking up team points.

This leads into the spring season where our women's tennis team has already started things off by earning a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference win over Northern State last Saturday.

The Maverick Baseball team, which is coming off a third-place national finish in 2012 and rated eighth in preseason polls by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and Collegiate Baseball Magazine, officially kicks off its season Feb. 16th in the Metrodome. MSU Softball, under the guidance of Hall of Famer Lori Meyer, was 49-10 a year ago and enters 2013 rated #6 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association preseason rankings and starts Feb. 15 with a pair of games in Tucson, Ariz.

That leaves men's and women's outdoor track & field and men's and women's golf - four MSU sports that traditionally do extremely well at conference and national competitions. Spring break, which runs from March 11-15 this year, is typically the line of delineation for those seasons to kick in.

As Carly Simon sings in Anticipation..."We can never know about the days to come, But we think about them anyway."

It's great to be a Maverick.

Charging On

Jan. 17, 2013 will be a day the folks in Huntsville, Ala., will celebrate on a timeline from their "Important Dates in Alabama-Huntsville Men's Hockey History" list.

For it was on this date that the Western Collegiate Hockey Association announced that UAH had been accepted into the league as its tenth member for the 2013-14 season.

So the newly-configured WCHA next year will include Minnesota State, Bemidji State, Alaska Anchorage, Michigan Tech, Bowling Green, Northern Michigan, Lake Superior State, Ferris State, Alaska Fairbanks and Alabama-Huntsville. 

The Chargers are former members of College Hockey America, a league that at one point also included Bemidji State, Robert Morris, Findlay, Niagara, Wayne State (Mich.), Army and Air Force. But after the CHA dissolved when Army, Air Force, Robert Morris and Niagara left for Atlantic Hockey, Bemidji State was accepted into the WCHA and Findlay and Wayne State dropped their programs, UAH has been without a conference affiliation since the end of the 2009-10 season.

And in NCAA Division I men's hockey parlance, competing as an independent is akin to the 1970's power ballad proffered by Eric Carmen, "All By Myself."

Playing as an independent is problematic on several fronts, not the least of which includes scheduling games.  Then there's the opportunity to participate in the NCAA postseason tournament (an opportunity which doesn't exist if you play as an independent). And that leads to the most important issue of all - which is that a program in this situation faces a true challenge in convincing student-athletes to come to the school in order to be successful.

UAH, which won NCAA DII championships in 1995-96 and 1997-98 and went to the NCAA DI tournament in 2009-10 as the champions of the CHA, citing financial issues and lack of a conference affiliation, announced a year ago that it was going to decommission the program to the club hockey level. But a change in leadership at the school's presidential level changed the dynamic and the program was given a reprieve last spring with the idea that a final push toward league membership would be needed to keep things going.

The Chargers, who play in the recently-renovated Von Braun Civic Center in downtown Huntsville, hired former New Jersey Devil assistant coach Kurt Kleinendorst as head coach prior to the start of the 2012-13 season. And while not every detail regarding UAH's pitch to the WCHA has been revealed, it is known that there's a UAH travel subsidy involved, along with a proposed 20-game league schedule (not sure if this is doable for next year with teams already having scheduling agreements in place) and a membership fee. And while seven of nine "yeas" were needed for UAH to gain membership once a vote of league members took place, apparently the vote was unanimous.

Minnesota State's relationship with UAH dates back to 1988-89 and follows a similar arc in that both schools at one time were members of NCAA Division II before reaffiliating to Division I (MSU in 1996-97 and UAH in 1997-98). MSU, too, played as a NCAA Division I independent for a period of six years from 1992-99 before gaining membership in the WCHA.

Sounds a tad familiar, doesn't it? Not unlike the folks in "the Hockey Capital of the South" today, back in 1998 Don Brose, Don Amiot and the rest of the hockey folks in Mankato were dancing a similar jig.

Congratulations, Chargers.  A warm welcome to the WCHA.

It's great to be a Maverick!

Best Ever?

We're now completely finished with the fall sports seasons and what did we learn?

We learned that our fall sports teams had a pretty good fall, that's what we learned.  O.k., an understatement for sure, as pretty good doesn't do what just happened justice.  At all.

Old news to many of you, but just to reiterate - the Maverick football team just completed its most-successful season ever.  13 straight wins to start with.  A Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Southern Division title.  A Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference overall title.  A berth in the NCAA Division II tournament.  A bye in the first round as a result of being the #1 seed.  Win over Northwest Missouri State in a second round game and a vanquishing of Missouri Western in a national quarterfinal game with both games played at historic Blakeslee Stadium. Then a national semi-final game at The Blake with Valdosta State traveling from Georgia to take on the Mavericks.  Crazy to think about it, but MSU hosted three NCAA football tournament games in 2012 and two of those games were in December.  IN DECEMBER! While the Mavericks may have lost to Valdosta to finish 13-1 for the year (Valdosta ended up winning the national title, by the way), the season was anything but unforgettable and certainly unprecedented.

The Maverick women's soccer team, meanwhile also entered uncharted waters by advancing to the NCAA Elite Eight after capturing its first-ever regional championship.  MSU also claimed its first-ever NSIC regular-season title and including a #1-ranking for two weeks in October, was ranked in the top 25 of every poll in 2012.  The Mavericks finished the year with a 17-1-5 overall record. Nicole Dooher was the league's Offensive Player of the Year, Lauren Sommers the NSIC Defensive Player of the Year, Caitlin Graboskie the conference Newcomer of the Year and Peter McGahey the NSIC Coach of the Year. It had never happened before, but this year the Mavericks swept the NSIC postseason individual awards. MSU led the NSIC in virtually every statistical category and set 21 team or individual school records along the way.

The Maverick men's cross country team returned to the NCAA national meet for the first time since 2008 and posted a 20th place finish.  And although the women's cross country team didn't make it to the NCAA meet (they finished seventh at the regional meet after placing 13th at the same meet the year before), at one point they were rated #20 in the nation.

The question has come up as to whether or not this is the best-ever start for the Maverick Department of Athletics. The Directors' Cup standings, which awards points to schools based on how they finish in NCAA competition in order to determine the top athletic departments in the nation, have the Mavericks in sixth place following the completion of the fall sports season. The Maverick football team finished third nationally and women's soccer placed fifth. Throw in men's cross country and MSU had three teams score points nationally this fall.  Since the inception of the Directors' Cup in 1995-96, the previous best for MSU following the fall was a seventh-place rating in 1995-96 (women's cross country was fourth nationally that year and men's cross country was fifth).

MSU has had other great falls prior to 1995-96, when the Directors' Cup standings were inaugurated.  For example, in 1987-88 the men's cross country team finished second and the football team played in a NCAA quarterfinal game.  Based on the system used by the Directors' Cup folks, MSU would have received 160 points in 1987-88, placing it 17th in this year's standings. MSU has been credited with 210 points this year, based on the national finishes of football, women's soccer and men's cross country.  The next-best point total of 164 points for the Mavericks was in 2007-08 when men's cross country was fifth, women's soccer was ninth and women's volleyball was 33rd. MSU was rated 14th following the fall that year based on those 164 points.  You heard it here - a case can be made that this is the best fall ever for Minnesota State Athletics.

It is interesting to note that when the Mavericks finished second in the final Directors' Cup standings in 2008-09 (our best final finish ever), MSU stood 22nd after the fall.

Have a great Holiday Season everyone!  It's great to be a Maverick!

Merry Christmas from the Mavericks

This year's Christmas video from Minnesota State Athletics.

Merry Christmas from the Mavericks

Lot's to be thankful for.  Tremendous student-athletes, welcoming campus, supportive community, fans and alumni.

Wishing you all the joy, hope and wonder of the Holiday Season.

It's great to be a Maverick!

Get Your Ya Yas Out

Senior wide receiver Adam Thielen helped
lead the Mavericks to a 13-1 record this year.

Some quick catching up to do here as classes wind down and we make the final sprint toward Christmas.

Needless to say, the incredible fall our teams have been experiencing has been soaked in success.

The football team hosted three NCAA play-off games, dispatching Northwest Missouri State and Missouri Western before falling in the national semifinals to Valdosta State (Ga.) this past Saturday. The Mavericks went undefeated, racking up 13 straight wins, before falling to the boys from the Peach State at Blakeslee Stadium.  Historic, indeed.

The women's soccer team, which advanced to the Elite Eight, finished an incredible 17-1-5 on the year.  The Mavericks staged an unbelievable comeback late in the national quarterfinal game at Grand Valley State to send the game into overtime, only to eventually fall in a seven-round shoot-out to the host Lakers.

Character, leadership, family. We heard these words constantly as the teams worked their way through their seasons.  Same thing for the men's cross country team which made it back to the national meet for the first time 2008 and posted a 20th-place finish. The women's cross country team, which made an appearance in the national top twenty poll for the first time in a while this year, finished seventh at the regional meet and with several youngsters leading the way, are trending upward. The Maverick volleyball squad finished 18-11 and spent much of the year in the national top twenty poll. Included was a MSU win over Concordia on September 18th, the program's first win over the eventual national champions since 2002.

And so on it goes with our winter programs now in full swing.  More on those programs the next time, with lots of success there, too, to expound upon.

A few other things we did want to mention.

A big congratulations goes out to softball coach Lori Meyer with the announcement that she has been selected for induction into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2013.  Meyer, who has been skippering the Mavericks since 1985, has racked up more than 900 wins during her outstanding career.  Simply no one better.

A couple of notes on former Minnesota State football coaches with Jerry Olszewski being named a finalist for the head job at Augustana and Chuck Martin coaching in the NCAA Division I national championship game as a member of the staff at Notre Dame.  Olszewski, who has constructed a 32-18 mark in the last five years as the head coach at St. Olaf, had two stints on the MSU football staff (1993-97 and 1999-02).  Martin was on MSU's staff as a graduate assistant in '92.

It looks like Bemidji State will be looking for a new director of athletics this spring with the announcement that Rick Goeb's contract will not be renewed.

How 'bout this great play by senior forward Eriah Hayes of the Minnesota State men's hockey team. A lot of people thought it might be ESPN Top Ten Plays of the Day worthy.

Lastly, want to point out that more than 25,000 fans attended MSU home events over the course of the past two weekends with Blakeslee Stadium, Taylor Center, Myers Field House, All Seasons Arena and Verizon Wireless Center all hosting Maverick competitions. 

Truly great and proud to be a Maverick the past 14 days.

Living With the Lockout

Former Minnesota State forward David Backes is part of the
NHL PA negotiating team

Normally at this time of year, the National Hockey League is well into its regular-season schedule.

Teams would have been done with training camp and done with the preseason games. However, with the league owners locking out the players due to the fact that the two sides lack a collective bargaining agreement, two months worth of games have been lost. And while negotiations have been taking place, it appears that things aren't about to change.  NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has been quoted as saying that with the two sides deadlocked, that maybe they should step away from the process for a couple of weeks.

We thought we might check in with a couple of former Mavericks who have been affected by this situation.

St. Louis Blues team captain David Backes, who played for Minnesota State from 2003-06, has been heavily involved with the National Hockey League Players Association the last several months as member of the organization's negotiating team.

"(This involves) being at the meetings and having input on which direction we should go," said the Blaine, Minn., native. "We inform those that are not at the meetings and learn about the process and history of negotiations."

He and a number of his teammates also head to the rink where they skate four times a week under the guidance of their own hired coaches, then go to the gym to work out. Backes, who with his wife Kelly assists Five Acres Animal Shelter with Backes' Buddies, currently is in enrolled in six credits of online courses at Minnesota State and expects to complete his degree next fall.

Forward Ryan Carter of the New Jersey Devils, who patrolled the ice for the Mavericks from 2004-06, is riding things out in the Twin Cities.

"Having a long season last year and playing in the finals through mid June can take its toll on the body two fold," said Carter, whose Devils lost to Los Angeles in last year's Stanley Cup Finals. "Obviously it's a lot of games in high-intensity hockey. And it makes for a much shorter off season and less time to recover. This is part of the reason I have not looked into playing in other leagues throughout this lockout and have decided to make sure that when a season begins that I am healthy and ready to play. Another reason is the quality of skates and workouts that I have been involved in. Fortunately for me I come from Minnesota and the Twin Cities seems to be a hot spot for NHL players to reside. Four to five times a week a group of 30 NHL guys get together for an hour-and-a-half and play. Half the time is spent practicing drills being run by coaches that kindly step in and guide us and the other half is spent scrimmaging. Intensity is high, though there is no bone-crushing contact and the pace keeps us in pretty good shape. To supplement, I spend a few hours a couple times a week in the gym and training on a skating treadmill at Acceleration Minnesota."

Hockey continues on in other venues outside of the world's top league. Several former Mavericks are playing in Europe or in North American minor professional leagues. Forward Kael Mouillierat, who spent most of last year one step below the NHL as a member of the AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers, is in Boise enjoying a banner season with the Idaho Steelheads of the East Coast Hockey League. Mouillierat, who spent 2006-10 with Minnesota State and one and half seasons with Idaho before making the jump to the AHL last season, ranks second in the ECHL with ten goals and stands seventh in scoring with 20 points in 13 games. With several former NHLers assigned to AHL-affiliates as a result of the lockout, it's likely that the Edmonton, Alta., native is back in Idaho due to the trickle-down effect.

"Boise is a great city and definitely one of the best places to play in the ECHL," said Mouillierat. "I've enjoyed my time here and have been treated extremely well. Obviously I would have liked to have been back in the AHL, but am happy to back here for another year.  It was a great experience in Bridgeport last season and I was lucky enough to get a chance to earn a full-time role on the team and tried to make the most of it.  I learned a lot in my time there and what it takes to get to and stay at that level, as well as what it takes for guys to make the next step to The Show."

Given his domination of the competition at the ECHL level, it's possible he could be back in the AHL once things are settled at the NHL level.

And depending on how the NHL and the NHLPA continue to work with each other, Backes and Carter could be back on NHL ice soon. But one never knows for sure.

Brad Smith, a 1992 MSU graduate who interned in the Maverick athletic communications office in the early '90s, worked with the Minnesota Wild in media relations and team services from 2000 until the 2004-05 season in which an entire season was lost due to a lockout. No NHL games were played that year and Smith, who also worked for the Minnesota Twins prior to joining the Wild, said that the situation was tough.

"The lockout in 2004 was nerve wracking and awkward in many ways for the front office during that time," offered Smith, who transitioned to a successful real estate career after leaving the Wild.  "There were so many unknowns and so many erroneous reports about was happening with the negotiations ("they're close and an announcement could come tomorrow" and it wouldn't happen).  Even after they announced the official cancellation of the season, there were reports that maybe they would open the season back up. There was a lot of animosity in the front office because they chose to lay some people off, cut different hours for others, etc. A lot of people moved on to different careers at that time, including myself."

Here's hoping the NHL is back up and running soon. It'd be nice to see MSU alums performing in the best league in the world and others continuing on with the goal of getting there.

It's great to be a Maverick!

Hand and Foot

Senior wideout and holder Adam Thielen (left) holds for
Sam Brockshus (right) in MSU's win over MSU Moorhead
earlier this season.

The relationship between a holder and a kicker is one of the more unique ones in sports.  It is one built on trust, one that must be solidified on repetition.   For Minnesota State senior holder (and wideout) Adam Thielen and junior kicker Sam Brockshus, it is one that blossomed over the last three years.

Thielen has served as the primary holder for Brockshus for the better part of each of their careers, minus a few games missed when Thielen was injured and Brockshus’ redshirt season a year ago.  But it is safe to say that for the majority of Brockshus’ 225 points, it has been Thielen putting the ball on the ground for the hold.

“It took a little time for each of us to get used to each other,” said Thielen.  “But it probably took more time for Sam to get used to me than the other way around.  Like anything, we practice it quite a bit, especially during two-a-days.”

Thielen has taken his leadership role seriously this season as he serves as one of four team captains.   

He enters this week’s game as MSU’s active leader in receptions (53), yards (804), receiving touchdowns (6) and receiving yards per game (89.3).  In the Mavericks’ 30-20 win at Winona State on Oct. 20, Thielen hauled in ten catches for 128 yards and three touchdowns.  Additionally, he has caught 28 passes over the last three games for 394 yards and five touchdowns.

Ironically enough, Brockshus also recorded one of his best games as a Maverick against the Warriors as well, as he turned in a 12-point effort after nailing all three of his field goal and extra point attempts, including a career-long 47-yarder.  For the season, the Spencer, Iowa native has hit on 15-of-19 field goal attempts and 38-of-39 PATs en route to scoring a team-high 83 points this season.

For both of them they were named the NSIC Offensive and Special Teams player of the week for the effort.

Thielen, a native of Detroit Lakes, Minn., and sophomore offensive lineman and longsnapper Josh Meeker were the only players to have their hands on all 30 points in the win over the Warriors.

When asked about the career-long 47-yarder by Brockshus, Thielen knew it was true without even looking up.

“I knew right away,” said Thielen.  “I can tell the way it comes off my hand, how he kicks it, and by the sound.”

Kickers are known for being a bit quirky, but if there any quirks about Brockshus, they aren’t known, at least to us. 

“Prior to every kick, Adam tells me the same thing,” says Brockshus.  “ ‘Tempo.’ Once he says that, I know we are good to go.  Sometimes he gives me a high five but not much other than that.”

The duo is close both on the field and off it.

“We have a great relationship,” said Thielen.  “He is guy you want to be around.  It makes it easier to be on the field with a guy who doesn’t blame the holder when things go wrong.  And I don’t blame him either.”

“Adam does a great job keeping me relaxed,” said Brockshus.  “Both on the field and off he is very easy going.  He is such a great leader for this team.”

For both of them, their seasons are mirroring their careers.  Thielen ranks second in career receptions (177), third in receiving yards (2,430) and fourth in touchdown receptions (18) while Brockshus ranks second in points scored (225), second in PAT kicks made (123), tied for second in PAT kicks attempted (129), fourth in field goals made (34), and sixth in field goals attempted (47). 

Jamie Pass (left) holds for Kenny Navitsky in a contest
against North Dakota State on Oct. 2, 1993

But they aren’t the only duo ranks so highly amongst the school’s all-time holder/kicker combinations.  Perhaps prior to the Thielen/Brockshus tandem, the most prolific holder and kicker combo was Jamie Pass and Kenny Navitsky.  Pass, who was one of MSU’s most successful quarterbacks, held for Navitsky who is the Mavericks all-time leader in points scored (241), PAT kicks made (136), PAT kicks attempted (147), field goals attempted (62) and tied for the all-time lead in field goals made (35).

Much like Thielen and Brockshus, Pass and Navitsky had a great relationship on and off the field as well.

“He was my best friend and my roommate,” said Navitsky. “A lot of people don’t realize it, but the reason he came in to hold is that I went through a span of holders after Augie Hubbard graduated.  After that I had three different guys during camp and it was a disaster.  Finally, Jamie literally said ‘I am going to hold for you.’  Coach Runkle wasn’t over the moon for it, but he took charge.  His confidence obviously was overwhelmingly contagious. I am a confident guy but Jamie walked on a cloud of confidence and that is huge when you are a kicker, because when you get a good snap and good hold, you have no excuse not to make it.”

Brockshus has his sights set on virtually all of Navitsky’s records, but you wouldn’t know it by talking to him.

“It is hard sometimes not to get wrapped up in records and whatnot,” said Brockshus. “I take the approach that the reason I have scored so many points is purely a direct reflection of how good the teams have been since I have been here and how lucky I have been to be a part of some really good teams that score a lot of points and some great defenses that give the offense and myself good field position.  It (the records) is something I try not to think about too much but it does come up and it has really been an honor to be a part of.”

We're #1 and, um, some other stuff

Peter McGahey has led the Minnesota
State women's soccer team to a #1
ranking for the first time in the program's
history

With several of our programs doing so well this fall, it seems like it's been week after week of each team topping one another in terms of accomplishments.

The football team is undefeated. The Maverick men's cross country team won its first two meets of the year. The volleyball team defeated four-time defending national champion Concordia in a five-set match played before a large and noisy crowd in Taylor Center, etc.   

So you knew it was going to take something truly significant to really cause a stir.  That moment came Tuesday morning when it was announced that the National Collegiate Soccer Coaches Association released information that the Maverick women's soccer program had been rated #1 in the nation. 

Obviously being ranked as the top team in the land is unique, but for coach Peter McGahey and his crew the ranking took on added meaning due to the fact that it's the first time for the program.  That and the fact that at most schools, no matter what the sport, it really doesn't happen every week.

Besides women's soccer this week, recent Minnesota State teams rated #1 include: women's basketball (March 3, 2009. MSU was ranked #1 three times that year), wrestling (Feb. 7, 2008. MSU was rated #1 twice that year), men's basketball (Feb. 1, 2005).Women's soccer is rated #1 for the first time in the program's history.  So besides being the first time for women's soccer, it's also only the fourth time for a MSU team recently and the first since women's basketball back in 2009.

The Mavericks, who stand 12-1-1 on the year, head into this weekend riding a ten-game winning streak and a 12-game unbeaten streak.

As mentioned, a number of teams are enjoying great years.  Besides the #1 ranking by women's soccer, football is #2 in D2Football.com poll/#9 in AFCA poll, volleyball is rated #13, men's cross country ranks #16th and women's cross country is #20th. 

Speaking of cross country, the Maverick men are perfectly positioned for a return trip the national meet, which takes place Nov. 20 in Joplin, Mo.  Prior to that is the NCAA central region meet, which also is scheduled to take place in Joplin on Nov. 3.  The Mavericks are rated third in the region with the top four teams at the national meet receiving auto bids to the national meet.

The MSU women, meanwhile are rated fourth in the region with the top five teams in the region receiving auto bids based on regional meet performances.

Both teams are scheduled to compete at the 2012 NSIC meet this weekend (Saturday) at the Lee Bolstad Golf Course in Minneapolis.  The meet website is located here.

One other thing before signing off this afternoon.  Congratulations to Mike Hastings, first-year head coach of the Minnesota State men's hockey program.  The Mavericks earned a 4-1 nonconference road win at Alabama-Huntsville last Friday in giving the Crookston, Minn., native a win in his debut.

In the event you were curious as to how other MSU coaches did in their first outings as Maverick coaches, here you go...

Lori Meyer (softball): 7-0 loss at lost Texas Tech, 1985
Jim Makovsky (wrestling): 35-8 win over Iowa Central,1993
Matt Margenthaler (men's basketball): 86-76 loss at Wisconsin Parkside, 2001
Nate Owens (women's swimming) 163-64 win at Northern Iowa, 2004
Dennis Amundson (volleyball): 3-2 win over Michigan Tech, 2005
Peter McGahey (women's soccer): 3-2 home win over Metro State, 2008
Matt Magers (baseball): 6-4 loss at Southwest Baptist (Mo.), 2009
Eric Means (women's hockey): 5-2 win at Maine, 2009
 Christie Williams (women's tennis): 9-0 win vs. Bethany, 2012

Next up is new women's basketball coach Emilee Thiesse.  There's an exhibition game at the University of Minnesota Nov. 4, but her first real game as head coach takes place Nov. 16 vs. Black Hills State at a tournament hosted by Northern State in Aberdeen, S.D.

It's great to be a Maverick!