UWS RDP: Jerry Brusletten named to all-time wrestling team

Former University of Wisconsin-Superior standout Jerry Brustletten has been named to the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference’s all-time wrestling team. As part of its centennial, the WIAC is announcing an all-time team in each of its championship sports.

Brusletten, a native of Amery, was a championship grappler for the Yellowjackets from 1972-76. In four seasons Brusletten fashioned a 95-15-2 record, including 35 pins, which was the second-highest total in school history.

Wrestling in the 126-pound weight class, Brusletten performed the rare feat of winning four-consecutive conference championships. His four WSUC (now WIAC) titles are the most in school history. Twice, Brusletten was the NAIA national runner-up in his weight class.

“Coach (Mertz) Mortorelli was an outstanding developer of wrestlers here at UWS. He had some great teams and those teams were made up of extremely talented individuals and there is no better example of that then Jerry Brusletten,” UWS athletics director Steve Nelson said. “I was not here when he was, but by all accounts he was one of the greatest competitors we’ve had here, combining his skill with a tremendous drive to win. We’re very fortunate to be able to call him a Yellowjacket and are excited about his inclusion on this team.”

Brusletten was the Yellowjackets’ Rookie of the Year as a freshman, and followed that up with Most Inspirational Wrestler honor as a sophomore. In his final two years, he was a co-captain for the Yellowjackets and was named the team’s Most Valuable Player, as well as the Outstanding Athlete of the Year at UWS.

All-time team members receive certificates from the conference and it is hoped that most, if not all, of the recipients will be in attendance or represented at the WIAC Centennial Banquet to be held at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison on Aug. 4.

WIAC All-Time Wrestling Team

Ryan Allen UWLC 2003-06

David Brandvold UWRF 1983-85

Jerry Brusletten UWS 1972-75

Tim Carmin UWW 1979-82

Josh Chelf UWLC 2005-08

Paul Corner UWLC 1985-89

Dale Evans UWSt 1970-73

Paul Frandsen UWRF 1981-83

Rick Gruber UWO 1981-84

Brian Keller UWRF 1983-86

Jake Larsen UWLC 2004-07

Dan Laurent UWLC 2007-10

Rob Llorca UWW 1988-91

Jason Lulloff UWLC 2003-07

Corey McCauley UWSt 1991-94

Matt Mauseth UWLC 2008-11

Perry Miller UWSP 1995-98

Jeff O’Gara UWLC 1993-96

Jason Ott UWLC 1999-2002

Brandon Penzkover UWLC 1993-96

Derek Sikora UWEC 2003-06

Mike Schmitz UWLC 2009-pres.

Terry Schuler UWW 1985-88

Davey Starks UWEC 2000-03

Yan White UWSP 2001-04

Bebeto Yewah UWLC 2009-present

Wrestling All-Time Coach

Willie Myers (UWW 1969-2004

UWS women honored

The Yellowjacket women’s cross country team has been named an NCAA All-Academic Team by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. The award marks the fifth-straight year that the Yellowjacket women’s team has been so honored.

To qualify as a USTFCCCA All-Academic Cross Country Team, a team must have a cumulative GPA of 3.10 through the 2011 fall semester.

“We take a lot of pride in the fact that our runners work extremely hard on the course and even harder in the classroom,” UWS coach Glen Drexler said. “Receiving this award once is a great thing, but to do it five years in a row just goes to show that we are doing things the right way in our program. I’m very proud of that.”

The Yellowjackets team posted a cumulative team GPA of 3.36, which was tied for third highest among WIAC teams. All nine WIAC members received the award for the 2011 season.

The 2011 Yellowjacket roster included: Danielle Anderson, Wrenshall, Minn.; Samantha Anderson, Wrenshall, Minn.; Alyssa Breu, Faribault, Minn; Katie Huberty, Hermantown; Kristen Jasperson, Osceola; Christina Micheletti, Mason, Wis.; and Nicole Olson, Superior.

In all, 187 teams representing 38 conferences received all-academic status. Washington University of St. Louis was named the women’s Division III Scholar Team of the Year after compiling a 3.70 GPA.

Hockey playoffs begin

The Northern Collegiate Hockey Association men’s playoffs begin tonight with three quarterfinal series, including No. 5 UWS at No. 4 UW-Stevens Point. The opening round series are two games plus a mini-game format, where the first team to gain three points wins the series.

The two other quarterfinal series are No. 6 UW-Eau Claire at No. 3 UW-River Falls and NO. 7 UW-Stout at No. 2 St. Scholastica. No. 1 St. Norbert received a bye.

The semifinals are Feb. 25 and the championship game is March 3.

Both games at Stevens Point begin at 7 p.m. and may be heard locally on KUWS 91.3 FM.

’JACKET JOTTINGS: The Yellowjackets, for the second time in three seasons, will open the 2012 Peters Cup Playoffs on the road, this time traveling to K.B. Willett Arena in Stevens Point for a weekend showdown with the Pointers. … The Yellowjackets and Pointers are meeting in the first round of the NCHA post-season for the first time since 2003-04. … UWS holds a 1-0-2 advantage with Point this season. … The Yellowjackets hold an edge in the all-time series of 60-47-8. … The Yellowjackets have tied the school record for overtime games played in a season with 10. … Point’s Kyle Heck was the top goal scorer in the NCHA in 2011-12. … The teams have gone to a mini-game five times, with the Pointers winning four of them.

Women’s hockey

The UWS women wrap up its regular season with a home-and-home series with St. Scholastica.

Today’s game is at 5 p.m. at Mars Lakeview Arena in Duluth and Saturday’s game at 2 p.m. is at Wessman Arena.

The Yellowjackets are attempting to hold on to second place in the NCHA and guarantee themselves a home series when the O’Brien Cup playoffs begin Feb. 24.

Men’s basketball

UWS has already qualified for the WIAC playoffs, but a win over UW-La Crosse on Saturday would give the Yellowjackets a home playoff game.

It is believed the Yellowjackets have never hosted a playoff game under the current WIAC format and UWS officials are researching past records to see if has ever hosted a home game in the postseason.

UWS (14-10 overall, 8-7 in the WIAC) hosts UWLC (15-9, 7-8) at 5 p.m. Saturday. An Eagles win would force a three-way tie with UW-Platteville (14-11, 8-8), which is idle Saturday. One possible tiebreaker is a coin flip.

Women’s basketball

For the Yellowjackets’ women’s basketball team it’s much easier, win and they’re in the playoffs.

UWS (11-13, 4-11) hosts UW-La Crosse (16-8, 9-6) at 3 p.m. Saturday and a Yellowjacket victory would give them the final berth in the WIAC playoffs.

A UWS loss would leave them tied with UW-Platteville (8-17, 4-12), but the Pioneers would win the tiebreaker because they have one more conference road win than the Yellowjackets.

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