Varsity Magazine Vol. 6 No. 34

CONTENTS APRIL 6, 2016 ■ VOLUME 6, ISSUE 34 DAVID STLUKA

FEATURE STORY

BLUEBLOOD BLUEPRINT Jonathan Tsipis learned from legends Mike Krzyzewski and Muffet McGraw. But what got him the job at Wisconsin was how he used those lessons to build a winning program of his own.

FEATURES FOOTBALL IN [FOCUS] PRIMARY FOCUS The week's best photos

The back end of the defense is a BY THE NUMBERS front-burner issue for the Badgers,

DAVID STLUKA Facts and figures on UW who have seen a new cast eagerly take the teachings of a new coach. WHAT TO WATCH Where to catch the Badgers

ASK THE BADGERS LUCAS AT LARGE What team would you own?

MORE TO BE DONE BADGERING Josef Dodridge (Men’s Tennis) Joe Krabbenhoft already made his

mark on the Badgers as a player and DAVID STLUKA INSIDE FOOTBALL a staffer, but the draw of his alma Taking in Lambeau Field mater has brought him back again. INSIDE -SCROLLVOLLEYBALL FOR MORE Marquette matchup on tap Wisconsin Athletic Communications Kellner Hall, 1440 Monroe St., Madison, WI 53711

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Brian Lucas Director of Athletic Communications

Julia Hujet Editor/Designer

Brian Mason Managing Editor

Mike Lucas Senior Writer

Andy Baggot Writer

Matt Lepay Columnist

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Contributors Paul Capobianco, Tam Flarup, Kelli Grashel, A.J. Harrison, Brandon Harrison, Patrick Herb, Diane Nordstrom

Photography David Stluka, Neil Ament, Greg Anderson, Bob Campbell, Max Siker, Cal Sport Media, Icon Sportswire

Cover Photo: David Stluka

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hat’s the most important That was not only on the court, sophomore at Roosevelt High word in basketball? according to Krabbenhoft, but in School in Sioux Falls, South Da W Kelby Krabbenhoft, a all walks of life. kota. rawboned Division III banger on “It probably doesn’t mean Krabbenhoft was 16 when he the low block, taught his young much to anybody else but me verbally committed to the Bad son to answer the same way and him,” he conceded. “But we gers midway through his junior whenever he prodded his friends always used that word … finish. year. Gard was the primary re to ask the question in their com That was one of the lessons that I cruiter and made a lasting im pany. took from him.” pression on Krabbenhoft and his “He kind of had fun with it Maybe it’s only fitting, then, family. when I was a little boy,” Joe that Wisconsin’s Greg Gard has “I saw the look in his eyes,” he Krabbenhoft remembered of the hired Krabbenhoft for his coach said, “and I believed him when exercise with his dad and the ing staff since it will allow Krab he was telling me things. We standard reply. “Between me and benhoft to “finish” what he start just hit it off. We enjoyed talking him, it was a simple word.” ed here as a player and video about family and life and, of Finish. coordinator. course, basketball. “What it meant,” he explained, There’s little doubt that he will “This was a guy speaking “was to do the job the right way.” do the job the right way. about values that I hold true to Finish. Besides, he’s always had trou my heart. Honesty and integrity. “To never leave anything un ble saying “no” to Gard dating Hard work. Doing things the right done,” he added. “To continue to back to his college recruitment way. Similar words you’ve heard work hard.” which began when he was a spoken about the program.”

LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 1 OF 4 LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ■ UWBADGERS.COM DAVID STLUKA

“THIS WAS A GUY SPEAKING ABOUT VALUES THAT I HOLD TRUE TO MY HEART. HONESTY AND INTEGRITY. HARD WORK. DOING THINGS THE RIGHT WAY.”

er room,” he said. “I didn’t say a lot. I wasn’t ready to. It wasn’t my place. But I listened to the communication between Coach Ryan and Coach Gard and Coach (Lamont) Paris and Coach (Gary) Close (who he’s now replacing on the staff). “It was such a different per spective. As a player, you think you know so much and you don’t. I’m sure it will be that way for the rest of my coaching career. That’s just the way I ap proach things. “There’s always something more I can learn,” he stressed, sounding very much like Gard. That sold him on Wisconsin. It with Coach (Bo) Ryan and things The next step in his education didn’t take him long to establish just clicked in my mind. brought him back to Madison. his identity. Early on, Gard called “I thought, ‘This is the way “Although I’m confident and him a “Don’t-worry-how-you-get I believe the game should be ready to do all the things I need it done type player who doesn’t played. And this is the way I to do as an assistant coach, I’m worry about headlines or spot would recruit and do things ― not naïve enough to think I can’t light.” sharing the experiences I had learn something new about the Over the years, the Badgers with my mentors and coaches.’” game and about relationships,” have won a lot of games with Once his playing days were Krabbenhoft said. those players ― glue guys. And over ― including a professional “It started that year,” he said of now Krabbenhoft will be recruit tour/odyssey that allowed him to his introduction to the profession ing them for his alma mater; not see the world, from South Korea in 2012-13. “That’s when you’ve that he will limit himself or ste to Greece ― he came back to got the suit on and you’re not reotype. Wisconsin to get started in the worried about turning it over and “I came to Wisconsin because business. getting taken out of the game.” he (Gard) sold me on all of those “I learned a lot (as a video co Since leaving Madison, Krab things,” he said. “And I watched ordinator) just being behind the benhoft, now 29, has contin him work and teach the game scenes and in the coaches lock ued to grow the last three years

LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 2 OF 4 LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ■ UWBADGERS.COM

thanks in large part to former Minnesota. He got his law degree from Kan South Dakota State head coach Kelby Krabbenhoft, 58, is the sas. Scott Nagy, who just took the president and CEO of Sanford Joe’s older sister, Sarah, also Wright State job. Health, which is based out of competed athletically. She played “I was just a young kid that was Sioux Falls and has 27,000 em basketball at Concordia. This a video coordinator, so I’m thank ployees, including 1,400 physi shouldn’t come as a surprise, but ful to Coach Nagy for giving me cians. she was a co-captain. Leadership that opportunity,” he said. “I was Joe’s younger brother, Louie, runs throughout the family. able to sell that program because works in the Sanford legal de As such, Joe Krabbenhoft has I believed in it, I loved it. partment. Louie Krabbenhoft always tried to be there for his “There’s a different way to run was a starting left tackle on the teammates. And his close friends offenses and a different way to Augustana College football team. ― something that can be traced construct your ball screen de DICK CARLSON fense. But the values were the same. Coach Nagy believed in those things the same way. “It’s not rocket science. There’s no secret to it all (coaching). It’s about relationships and trust and hard work, and those things will never change.” Finish. Kelby Krabbenhoft taught him well. So did his mom, Heidi. “That’s where it all starts,” Joe Krabbenhoft said. “All those words and phrases I’ve used about life and hard work and dis cipline and being humble comes from my mom and dad, and my family.” Joe married his high school sweetheart, Sara, also a coach’s kid. “She grew up knowing what it was like being around the game,” he said. “She has a lot on her plate, too; she’s 32 weeks pregnant.” The couple has two young boys, Joe and Tristan. The for mer is Joseph Kelby ― obvi ously named after his 6-foot-6 grandfather who played hoops at Concordia College in Moorhead,

LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 3 OF 4 LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ■ UWBADGERS.COM

to a tragedy that he confessed, I leaned on Sara (his wife to-be). red and white now.” “Changed the course for my life.” I leaned on my pastor. I need The Masterson kids lived right In the summer of 2003, Krab ed to be there for the brother of down the street from the Krab benhoft was boating with friends Lindsay. To this day, I don’t know benhofts. Their father, Tom Mas on a Minnesota lake near Fergus if I have closer friend.” terson, who played basketball at Falls. The boat, driven by John Krabbenhoft still stays in touch Minnesota, is a doctor in Sioux Masterson, struck a jet-skier, with John Masterson. Falls. Masterson’s sister, Lindsey. “They’ve supported me every Krabbenhoft jumped into the “IT’S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE. single step of my career,” he water, got her back in the boat IT’S ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS said of the Mastersons. “In the and administered CPR. same way, I’ve always kept close AND TRUST AND HARD WORK, Lindsey Masterson didn’t sur to them, and not just because of AND THOSE THINGS WILL vive the accident. She was 19. what happened. It has been so “I still think about it often,” he NEVER CHANGE.” many years (since Lindsey Mas said softly. “This August will be terson’s death), and that’s some 13 years.” “I don’t know that we go a thing that is still huge in my life. Krabbenhoft admitted that week or a month without com “Not many people know about he doesn’t like talking about it municating,” he said. “He’s one it. But I sure still think about it.” much. of those guys when we get to It helped shape who he is to “But just the whole way that it gether, it’s like we never left mid day. “As a coach of young men,” went down kind of forced me to dle school. Krabbenhoft said, “to be able to grow up,” he said. “And I’m not “He’s married and working and talk about experiences like that is saying that I was strong enough living in Sioux Falls. He’s as big far more important than putting where I didn’t need anybody. of a basketball fans as there is. the ball in the hole.” “I leaned on my mom and dad. I’m sure he’ll be busting out the Finish. ■

LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 4 OF 4 ASK THE BADGERS

WHICH PROFESSIONAL SPORTS FRANCHISE WOULD YOU? WANT TO OWN? BRUCE KLUCKHOHN JACK MCLAUGHLIN JIM’S PHOTOS MAX SIKER MAX

BRENNA DETRA CHRISTOPHER MUELLER JORDAN HILL CHLOE MILLER Junior ■ Women’s Track Junior ■ Men’s Soccer Soph. ■ Men’s Basketball Junior ■ Softball Peoria, Ill. Schaumburg, Ill. Pasadena, Calif. Bettendorf, Iowa

“If I could own “I would have to “My top choice “If I could own any a sports team, it choose FC Barcelo would be the L.A. sports franchise would probably be na. Although I am Lakers. That organi I would own the the Chicago Bulls. a Cristiano Ronal zation is universally Boston Red Sox. I grew up in Illinois do fan, being able recognized, has a One, because the and lived about 2 to have full con great winning tradi New England area 1/2 hours south of tact with all of the tion and it’s located is awesome. Two, Chicago. Michael players ― especially in the best place on Boston is awesome. Jordan inspired be Lionel Messi ― on earth, Los Angeles! Three, they have to get involved in one of the best My second choice a history of being sports and I love clubs to ever play would be either FC awesome. Four, if watching basketball the game would be Barcelona or the you own a baseball the most!” a dream come true. New York Yankees.” team, you get to go Also, having access to spring training in to watch all of their the winter so that’s games in person warmth. They also would be an amaz play from April to ing experience. I October so that’s don’t think there will the warmest months be another soccer of the year.” team as dominant in world football as them for a very long time.” BADGERING DAVID STLUKA JOSEF DODRIDGE

A sophomore from Bournemouth, England, Josef Dodridge has played ALL ABOUT JOE a vital role in the development and newfound success of the Wiscon Class: Sophomore sin men’s tennis team. Starting at No. 1 singles and doubles, Dodridge Height: 6-0 leads by example on and off the court for his team. Named second-team Hometown: Bournemouth, England All-Big Ten last season, Dodridge was the first Wisconsin freshman to Go to full bio » earn all-conference honors since 2007. This spring, he has helped lead the team to the best start in program history at 13-3. QUICK Qs WITH JOE What is it like to be viewed as a leader as a sophomore? Favorite spot to eat in Madison? “Mediterranean Café, although any “It’s a great feeling to be playing No. 1 on the team as a sopho where on State Street is good!” more. It gives me the opportunity to play the best players from each team, which is what anyone would ask for in order to Favorite all-time tennis player? get to the next level and improve. As for being a leader, it can “Roger Federer because he’s a great sometimes be difficult as you constantly are being looked upon role model and one of the best players of all time.”

SCROLL as an example, however I see it as an opportunity to develop myself into a stronger person who can make an impact on the If you could only watch one TV show... program. Also, the rewards of seeing each individual on the “Breaking Bad.” team work their hardest together to achieve a common goal is great and I think being a major key towards the team’s success Favorite artist? is pretty cool.” “Tough question as I like lots of differ ent music, but it would either be Drake Did you feel heightened expectations coming into the season? or Kendrick Lamar.” “I definitely felt as though our expectations for this year were higher as the majority of the team has had at least one year of Favorite sport to play besides tennis? experience, so we knew what was coming in terms of the lev “Does chilling on the beach listening to music count as a sport? If not, soccer.” el of competition. I feel as though the team has made drastic improvements since last year which I believe have contributed towards this year’s success.”

How has the atmosphere around the team changed this season? “Last year was tough because most of the team were freshmen and we were thrown into very tough competition, which per- haps we weren’t ready for. This year, however, I feel as though the team has more positive energy which has led to better practices and greater improvement, allowing us to be better prepared to fight against some of the best teams in the coun- try. Our new head coach, Danny Westerman, has also done a great job of improving aspects of each player’s game, allowing us to play at a much higher level.”

What does it mean to be part of a group that has turned the program around so quickly? “To achieve the best start in program history is a special achievement and is something we all pride ourselves upon. However, I truly believe that we are only scratching the surface with the amount of things we can potentially achieve. With the outstanding facilities, determined coaches, and a great college town atmosphere, I know the future of Wisconsin tennis is bright.”

What do you want to achieve at Wisconsin? “For me, the dream is to win the Big Ten Conference and be able to wear the ring around campus. Aside from that, I would like us to become a respected team that is consistently inside the top 20 and to be a real contender to win the NCAA tournament.”

What is the best thing about being a Badger? “One wouldn’t understand what it’s like to be a Badger unless you actually are one. To be a part of such a well-recognized university with such a powerful alumni network is a privilege and I hope to contribute towards its positive evolution … not to mention the town of Madison, which everybody loves.” ■ DAVID STLUKA JONATHAN TSIPIS has been exposed to excellence at every turn of his journey through the coaching ranks. His latest charge? Take what he’s learned ― both as a head coach and as an assistant to some legendary figures ― and use it to raise the profile of women’s basketball at Wisconsin, a program he considers to be a “sleeping giant.” DAVID STLUKA

onathan Tsipis grew up in Ohio, the youngest of ing first alongside Mike Krzyzewski as an undergrad five children, his daily routine defined by bas uate assistant at Duke in 1995-96 ― a notable de Jketball. but given Tsipis graduated from Tobacco Road rival His father, Lou, is a Naismith Hall of Famer as a North Carolina with a degree in pharmacy ― before referee who starred as a post player for the Greek moving to Cornell, Le Moyne and Elon. national team at the tender age of 15. Tsipis transitioned to the women’s side at Notre His brother, Dean, played four seasons at NCAA Dame from 2003 to ’12, cultivating a reputation as Division III Case Western Reserve University. an elite recruiter and strategist while helping the His sister, LuAnn, was a letterwinner in basket Fighting Irish reach the NCAA title game in 2011 ball, track and volleyball at NCAA Division III Bald- and ’12. win-Wallace University. Tsipis (pronounced Sip-iss) followed that up by So the concept of Jonathan Tsipis carving out a quickly building George Washington into a force. career in the field, becoming the head women’s bas GW had three consecutive losing seasons before it ketball coach at Wisconsin, has been in the works won the last two Atlantic 10 titles and qualified for for quite a while. the NCAA tournament. “I like to say I never had a babysitter growing up,” Barry Alvarez, the Wisconsin director of athlet he said. “I went to one of my brother’s games, my ics, said Tsipis came highly recommended by Notre sister’s games (or) my dad was refereeing or coach Dame coach Muffet McGraw. ing.” “Can’t miss. Can do it all,” was her summation to Tsipis glanced around the nearly empty practice Alvarez. “Well prepared. He’s the guy. He’ll get your gym at the Nicholas-Johnson Pavilion on Wednes program straight in a hurry.” day afternoon and smiled. Alvarez said he liked the fact Tsipis had such a “This is the place I feel most comfortable,” he said. prominent role ― associate head coach and recruit Tsipis’ diverse resume would seem to bear him out. ing coordinator ― in an elite program like Notre He started out coaching on the men’s side, work Dame.

HEAD COACH TSIPIS: TURN THE TIDE PAGE 2 OF 4 McGraw was looking for a male to be on her staff and asked McCaffrey if he knew anyone whose en “HE KNOWS WHAT IT TAKES TO PLAY AT A ergies might fit the role. He suggested Tsipis. “It absolutely was my niche,” Tsipis said. CHAMPIONSHIP LEVEL,“ AND THEN YOU GO Tsipis said he was attracted to UW in part because, OUT AND DO IT ON YOUR OWN,” ALVAREZ like Cornell, Duke, Notre Dame and George Wash SAID. “I LIKED THE FACT HE WENT OUT ington, it places a premium on academics. AND TOOK HIS OWN TEAM AND BUILT IT.” Tsipis and his wife, Leigh, have two children, Emily and Joshua. Becoming a father put his profession under a brighter light. “He knows what it takes to play at a championship “It became the most eye-opening when I had a level, and then you go out and do it on your own,” daughter and those opportunities that I wanted for Alvarez said. “I liked the fact he went out and took her are the same things that I think each and every his own team and built it. player that I’ve had a chance to coach, I’m trying to “He’s a guy, I understand, that will get out in the get to that same place,” Tsipis said. community and sell the program. He was everything Tsipis said he I was looking for.” didn’t spend a lot Tsipis, 43, will be the seventh wom of time recruiting in en’s basketball coach in Wisconsin Wisconsin while he history, but its first male. He was hired was at Notre Dame, to replace Bobbie Kelsey, who was dis missed after five straight losing seasons. As an assistant, “I’m honored to be the first male,” Tsi Tsipis helped Skylar pis said. “You don’t have to go too far Diggins and Notre around campus to see the success other Dame reach the NCAA male coaches in women’s sports championship game in 2011 and 2012. have had here at Wisconsin.” Tsipis mentioned Mark John son, who has led the women’s hockey team to four NCAA titles, and Kelly Sheffield, who guided Room for a caption here the volleyball team to the nation al championship match in 2014. “When you look for a coach, you look for the best person available, male or female,” Al varez said. “We interviewed both. This is who we felt is the best fit for us.” Tsipis said his transition from the men’s side to the wom en’s side was driven by cir cumstance. An acquaintance, current Iowa coach Fran Mc- Caffrey, once served as an assistant at Notre Dame and married one of McGraw’s for mer players.

HEAD COACH TSIPIS: TURN THE TIDE PAGE 3 OF 4 “I've seen Wisconsin, in so many other sports, win championships,” Tsipis said. “I kept saying, ‘Why can't Wisconsin (women's) basketball do that same thing?’”

but he noticed that a host of talented players from Tsipis left no doubt as to his top priority. the state were playing somewhere other than UW. “To make sure that the best high school and AAU DAVID STLUKA What was his view of the Badgers from afar? girls’ basketball players understand this is a place “I’ve seen Wisconsin, in so many other sports, that is going to be special and going to compete for win championships," he said. “I kept saying, ‘Why championships,” he said. can’t Wisconsin (women’s) basketball do that same “That starts with the outreach with the high school thing?’” coaches and the AAU coaches. It’s going to be an Tsipis raved about the facilities and student-athlete open-door policy ― practice, shoot-arounds, games support system at UW, but didn’t have an answer for ― as much as we can have that involvement. why its women’s basketball program has struggled “Wisconsin is just a state that prides itself on to find a consistent vein of achievement. blue-collar work and I love that fact that kids would “The first part always starts with making sure you have that option to say, ‘I can go to Wisconsin and have the right kids here," he said. “Not only do you write the next history of women’s basketball.’” want to have highly-talented and highly-motivated Tsipis said he’s still in the process of assembling players, you have to have the right mix.” his staff. Some may come from the pool of assistants That process helps explain why Tsipis went recruit at GW. Some will be off his short list of options. ing Wednesday before he held his first-ever team “We’re going to give a great experience to the bas meeting with the Badgers. ketball student-athletes here,” he said. "I happen to A month-long NCAA recruiting window to contact be a male. They’re going to be surrounded with pos prospects closes Thursday and Tsipis wanted to itive female role models and different personalities. make as much use of the time period as possible. “The players have different needs and personali “There’s not going to be, to me, a place that works ties and I want to make sure all of us can pull that harder in the nation to put women’s basketball in a out of each player so that at the end of their four championship caliber,” he said. years they’ve had this amazing experience.”

HEAD COACH TSIPIS: TURN THE TIDE PAGE 4 OF 4 DAVID STLUKA tanding well behind the defense, 25 to 30 feeling of what happened on the play and you can yards off the ball, Jim Leonhard’s sight line work through it. Sduring the 11-on-11 drill was different/deeper “The other side of it is,” Leonhard pointed out, as a secondary coach than it was as an All-American “when it’s time to compete, like the scrimmage (last safety. Saturday), per se, or some of the live stuff during The view was to his liking, too. practice … Coach is done. “Obviously, I’m kind of taking that big picture ― “I always tell them, ‘That’s when you have to take pre-snap,” said Wisconsin’s first-year assistant. “I’m care of each other on the field. You have to commu making sure we’re aligned right. Then, you’re just nicate. You have to work through issues because the trying to see as much as you can. coaches can’t help you during a game.’ “With me, I’ve got four or five guys (DBs) on the “After a series, obviously, we’ll make adjustments, field all the time. When you’re on the sidelines, you’re we’ll make changes. But when they’re out there (on kind of glued into half of the field and the angles are the field) and something happens, they can’t look to different and you don’t see it all. the sidelines and get you to correct it. “Whereas when you get a little depth, you see so “When Saturdays come, you’re kind of on your much more. I always tell our safeties, ‘Depth is your own.” friend.’ It’s definitely helped me as a coach. No one may feel that more than senior cornerback “You’re trying to see as much as you can so you Sojourn Shelton, who has been on his own ― in a can make some coaching points immediately.” sense ― all spring as the only returning starter in the The player-friendly Leonhard didn’t hesitate to in secondary. But he has relished the challenge. struct and help others Tuesday. First, he was with “I don’t have any other choice, but I truly do,” he Lubern Figaro, a safety-slash-corner; then with Kee said, grinning. “Some of the other guys look to me lon Brookins, a linebacker-turned-safety. for inspiration and the best thing for me is to be an “You try to hit a lot of that stuff right after it hap example for them. pens,” he said. “When it’s fresh, they have a better “I try to show them,” said Shelton, who has started

DEFENSIVE BACKS: BACK END, FRONT BURNER PAGE 2 OF 6 37 of 40 career games, “I’m not doing anything dif have been taking corner reps. The graduation loss ferent from what you guys are doing.” of Darius Hillary (41 career starts) has fueled the And he leaves them with this, “We can all play at competition. a high level.” “They’re just hungry to get better, which is fun to Derrick Tindal is one of the corners that Shelton work with,” Leonhard said of his defensive backs, has already impacted. They have a natural bond in corners and safeties included. “That makes it easier that Tindal, a junior, and Shelton are both Floridians because they’re going to go into every day and try to from the Fort Lauderdale area. take every coaching point that you make. And, then, “I feel like I’m still learning a lot from him (Shelton) you see them trying to work it on the field. ― I still go to him and ask question on how he feels “It’s not perfect. There’s a lot of growth that we’re about situations,” said Tindal, who functioned, when going to have. But it’s a group that has the right men healthy, as a nickel back last season. tality to have success and to keep getting better.” “I know what Sojourn has been through and he has obviously played a lot here. Having him in the room, someone who was a freshman All-American, we all listen to him and respect him.” Tindal has a chance to start opposite Shelton. But “I TRY TO SHOW THEM,” SAID SHELTON, he’s being pushed. Everybody is. “I'M NOT DOING ANYTHING DIFFERENT “DT has come a long way,” Shelton said. “He’s “ definitely prepared to take on that role. But a lot of FROM WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING. WE guys are prepared to play a lot more football than CAN ALL PLAY AT A HIGH LEVEL.” they’re used to playing.” Natrell Jamerson, a junior DAVID STLUKA from Ocala, Florida, is in that category. After making the conversion from wide receiv er to cornerback last season, Jamerson got some valuable reps in the specialty packag es. “The competition is really good,” Shelton said. “We’re all out there making plays to be honest with you. It’s a sight to see. And it all starts from the confidence we’re getting from Coach Leonhard.” Beyond Tindal and Jam erson, Shelton singled out “T-Book” ― redshirt fresh man Titus Booker. Tindal also mentioned Booker saying, “He’s learning, he’s very ag gressive and always in the right spot.” Shelton, Tindal, Jamerson, Booker, Figaro and Serge Trezy, a converted tailback,

DEFENSIVE BACKS: BACK END, FRONT BURNER PAGE 3 OF 6 Addressing the corners, Leonhard said, “We’ve way better. It’s definitely a confidence thing.” got a handful of guys who have gotten game reps. Not that he lacks any on the surface. “At corner Now, it’s about technique and you can tell it’s com back,” Tindal agreed, “you have to be the cockiest ing, they’re getting better and better. player on the field. Honestly. But you’ve got to back “With the young guys, the spring is so important it up. You can’t just talk.” for them. Every rep is a new rep.” Shelton has never shied away from calling it, “The That has been the case with Tindal, who has en toughest position on the field.” dured some ups and downs the last two years. “You’re going to make mistakes,” he said. “But “Last year, I was dealing with a lot of injuries and you have to be able to move on to the next play, un it was frustrating,” Tindal said. “I was kind of letting derstand what you did wrong and find a way to make it get to me at times. But I tried pushing through it. the play the next time.” “Right now, I’m a little more patient and smoother Shelton credited Leonhard with expanding his out of my breaks. Coach Leonhard has been helping football IQ. me a lot as far as trusting my speed ― knowing that “I’m understanding the game of football more,” someone is not going to run past me.” Shelton said. “If you dissect things before the ball is Leonhard has accented a number of things in his snapped, you will put yourself in a lot of good posi one-on-ones with Tindal. tions.” “He told me I can make plays,” Tindal recounted. Leonhard is a stickler for pre-snap awareness. “He told me I’m a good player. He said that he loves “It’s knowing down-and-distance,” Shelton said. my athleticism. So it’s just a matter of me trusting “It’s knowing splits and what kind of routes that they myself and knowing what I can do. can run out of formations so I can eliminate a (cer “He told me I can play off or on (a wide receiver) tain) route. It’s understanding the defense more. knowing you’re as athletic as the receiver that you’re “It’s knowing when blitzes are coming and when facing. He told me to have fun. And I’m covering the quarterback has to get it out right now. I’ve got DAVID STLUKA DAVID STLUKA

DEFENSIVE BACKS: BACK END, FRONT BURNER PAGE 4 OF 6 has an idea of what he wants to get accomplished and more often than not, it’s happening.” Leonhard’s influence can’t be understated. Neither can that of Antonio Fenelus, a second-year graduate assistant. In 2010 and 2011, Fenelus was a first-team All-Big Ten corner back at Wisconsin. “With Coach Leonhard,” said Shelton, “we understand his background and track record. He played in the league (the NFL) 10 years. He has done it. Same thing with Coach Fen elus. “He has done it here. We’ve seen him play ― with him be ing more recent. We know what he’s talking about and we just follow his lead. Those two guys have been tremendous for us as a group.” Leonhard has been grateful to have someone like Fenelus to split the workload. “There are so many coaching points that I want to get across to each group, whether it’s the ▲ PHOTOS - Tap to pause/play ■ Swipe to change safeties or the corners,” said to find a way to jam the receiver, not hold him at the Leonhard, the 33-year-old native of Tony, Wiscon line, but mess up his timing. sin. “Knowing there’s a guy (Fenelus) who has been “I’m just learning more about the game from him there and done it and understands the game, I feel (Leonhard). We all are. And he is doing a tremen totally confident saying, ‘Hey, let me take the cor dous job of giving us confidence. He’s believing in ners for this drill, you take the safeties,’ or ‘You work us and allowing us to make mistakes. But he’s also with the corners and I’ll take the safeties.’ giving us the blueprint for when we do make them.” “That’s really priceless as a coach.” Leonhard likes where Shelton has taken his game. Leonhard and Fenelus understand that their posi “He’s competing,” he said. “Every single day, he’s tion group is the team’s most inexperienced, espe going out there and competing. He’s playing physi cially at safety with the loss of a leader like Michael cal and doing a lot of things that maybe don’t show Caputo and a playmaker like Tanner McEvoy. up on tape all the time. “It all starts with communication,” Leonhard said “It’s fun to watch because it’s really clicking for of the safeties. “Get everybody lined up, have a little him. I was just telling him, ‘You have to have a plan pre-snap awareness of what’s going on and then go as a corner for every play.’ And you can tell with his play fast. mindset that he’s locked in right now. “I like to keep it as simple as possible. That was “Every play is not perfect. But on every play, he always kind of my mentally (as a player). I’ve been

DEFENSIVE BACKS: BACK END, FRONT BURNER PAGE 5 OF 6 RICHARD DUNBAR: “MARK MY WORDS, DALLAS JEANTY WILL SOMEDAY BE A POSITIVE FIGURE IN AMERICA.”

Leonhard went from being introduced as a UW Athletic DAVID STLUKA Hall of Famer last fall to patrolling the field at Camp Randall as an assistant coach this spring.

trying to push that with the guys. Let’s have a little (Hillary) and Mike (Caputo) and how they carried thought early and then play, let it all go.” themselves through practices and meetings and on Junior D’Cota Dixon, who missed Tuesday’s prac road trips. tice with an injury, is one of the frontrunners for play “This is a very important spring because I’m get ing time. ting a chance to contribute a lot more than I did last “You lose him and that tests your depth,” Leonhard season. I’m stepping into a role that I want to be in. said. “That changes your communication. You’ve got I’m getting better.” different guys playing with each other which is great When asked if he’s playing with the same confi for the spring. dence that he had in “You don’t want that high school ― when he to happen in the fall. was first-team all-state But it’s great now be “IT’S NOT PERFECT. THERE’S A LOT OF GROWTH in Georgia ― he said, cause all of a sudden THAT WE’RE GOING TO“ HAVE. BUT IT’S A GROUP “No. I’ve got to get to you’re mixing and THAT HAS THE RIGHT MENTALITY TO HAVE that point. It’s a pro matching guys ― see SUCCESS AND TO KEEP GETTING BETTER.” cess.” ing what the right He needs more work. fit is and what their They all do. strengths are.” There are no guarantees, particularly in April, only As a true freshman last season, Arrington Farrar that Dixon and Farrar are in the safety mix, along saw action in 12 games, mostly on special teams. with senior Leo Musso, junior Joe Ferguson and the Because of that taste, the 6-foot-2, 208-pound Far aforementioned juniors, Brookins and Figaro. rar has a different perspective on things this spring. “I love where we’re at as a group,” Leonhard en “It’s more so in the knowledge of the game, know thused at the halfway point of spring drills. “Like I ing what to do, knowing where to be and where to line said earlier, the guys all want to get better.” up,” said Farrar, who’s from Atlanta. “I got valuable And he will have a large say in helping them get experience from watching Tanner (McEvoy), D-Hill there.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: BACK END, FRONT BURNER PAGE 6 OF 6 INSIDE FOOTBALL BY ANDY BAGGOT ■ UWBADGERS.COM DAVID STLUKA

Badgers get perspective on past and future Practice in Green Bay brings chance to soak in surroundings ahead of season opener

he past, present and future collided forcefully in Green Bay TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE on a snowy Saturday. T Members of the Wisconsin football team were definitely in the present during a unique two-hour practice, one that fea tured the first full-pad scrimmage of the spring. The spirited session took place at the Don Hutson Center, the indoor facility of the Green Bay Packers located across Oneida Street from Lambeau Field. The Badgers bussed up from Madison on Friday and stayed overnight, replicating their hotel site and planned itinerary for

SCROLL their Sept. 3 season-opener with LSU at one of the most famous stadiums in the world. UW players and coaches dressed in the visitor’s locker room inside Lambeau ― the Tigers, by the way, will use an auxiliary gym since the Packers’ digs are off-limits ― and made their way to the indoor site.

That’s where an important step toward the future occurred. INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS During a team meeting on Friday night, Wisconsin senior out side linebacker Vince Biegel told his audience that 155 days sep- SOCIAL arated the group from its marquee opener with the Tigers. MEDIA: He reminded them that building a strong physical, tactical and emotional foundation now will help change the minds of those who believe the Badgers will be vulnerable in 2016. “A lot of people have already written the script for how Wiscon- sin’s going to be this year, meaning they already assume we’re going to lose a few games,” Biegel said. During the presentation, Biegel told his teammates that the next time they gather in the Hyatt hotel ballroom and sit in their current seats they will be getting amped for game time. In other words, soak in the moment. “I think it’s going to give us an edge come September,” he said. UW coach Paul Chryst picked up on the theme after the sixth practice of the spring. Eight remain before the annual spring game on April 23 at Camp Randall Stadium. “What we do with those days is big for this group,” he said. The opportunity to stage a practice here, to get the players familiar with the rhythm of the moment, came courtesy of the Packers. Club president Mark Murphy addressed UW players and coaches before they went about their business. He said the game with LSU, the perennial Southeastern Conference powerhouse, “is going to be something special.” Murphy explained that the only other college games held at Lambeau Field pitted NCAA Division III St. Norbert’s vs. Ford- ham ― the late, great Vince Lombardi’s alma mater ― in 1982 and ‘83. “I think you’ll have a bigger crowd,” Murphy joked, mindful that it will be an extremely tough ticket. INSIDE VOLLEYBALL BY DIANE NORDSTROM ■ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS GREG ANDERSON

Badgers open spring season Saturday Wisconsin takes on Marquette in one of three spring matches

t’s the off-season for Wisconsin, but that doesn’t mean that the TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE Badgers are resting on their laurels. I The team began practicing in small groups in late January, only a week after returning from semester break. The full team started practicing on March 14 before taking a week off for spring break. Wisconsin has been back on the court the last two weeks, pre paring for its first spring match on Saturday. The Badgers host Marquette at 1 p.m. in the UW Field House and admission is free. “We have a lot of players that are coming back so our focus has been a lot more on individual instruction rather than trying to get SCROLL up to speed in system or team play,” UW head coach Kelly Shef field explained. “We’ve really spent a lot of time on fundamentally getting better, getting cleaner with what we’re trying to do. “I think everybody has kind of gone into the spring with one or two things they’re trying to get better at. We always talk about

the fall is about the team, about the team getting better (and) INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS moving forward. The spring is about the individual and individual improvement, so that’s what we’ve been focusing on.” SOCIAL The Badgers will need that focus as they take on the Golden MEDIA: Eagles. Marquette was 22-12 last fall, advancing to the second round of the NCAA tournament before falling to Minnesota. MU will be led by redshirt freshman Taylor Louis, who earned honorable mention All-America honors in 2015. The 6-foot-2 outside hitter averaged 4.93 kills per set to lead Marquette while earning first-team All-Big East honors. Like the Badgers, the Golden Eagles lost only one starter to graduation. INSIDE WOMEN’S HOCKEY BY A.J. HARRISON ■ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Rigsby leads Team USA to gold at Worlds Nine past and current Badgers earn medals at IIHF World Championships

or the 17th time, the United States and Canada met in the TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE gold medal game of the International Ice Hockey Federation FWorld Championships on Monday night in Kamloops, Brit ish Columbia. Former Badger Alex Rigsby, along with five current and former Wisconsin players, led the U.S. to a 1-0 overtime victory over Team Canada ― a squad featuring three current and former Bad gers ― in a defensive clash. Rigsby, the winningest goaltender in UW program history, stopped all 32 shots she faced from the high-powered Canadian attack to earn her third win of the tournament. The Delafield, SCROLL Wisconsin, native finished with a goals-against average of 0.31 and a save percentage of .986, stopping 71 of 72 shots. “Overall the tournament was an amazing experience,” Rigsby said. “Winning in overtime in front of a sold-out Canadian crowd is pretty surreal. Being a part of this World Championship team

was truly a remarkable and humbling experience.” INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS Rigsby wasn’t the only Badger to shine on the world stage, as Hilary Knight was named the top forward of the championship SOCIAL with a tournament-leading seven goals; her nine points were tied MEDIA: for the most by a skater in the event. Knight finished the week- long competition with a plus/minus rating of +8. The 2012 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award recipient, Brianna Decker, joined Knight on the Americans’ top line, scoring twice while adding four assists. UW sophomore Annie Pankowski tied for fifth on the U.S. in scoring, tallying a goal while dishing out three assists in her second World Championships appearance. INSIDE TRACK & FIELD BY KELSEY CARD ■ STUDENT-ATHLETE KELSEY CARD

Card’s Corner: Heading down to Georgia Senior recaps spring break in San Diego and previews Wisconsin’s upcoming meet

ey Badger fans! TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE I think I can honestly say that I have never experienced Hsuch a stark temperature contrast as I did coming back from our spring break training in San Diego; it was hard for me to step off the plane in Chicago. We were blessed all week with the glorious weather San Diego is known for. Even though the throws group practiced predominantly at UC San Diego, our meet was actually at San Diego State University. I have competed at many places but SDSU’s track has to be one of the most unique. The entire 400-meter track, as well as all the field events, sit on top of a parking structure. Yes, I said a park SCROLL ing structure. It may seem scary, but it was really only one level above ground because most of the garage was below ground lev el. There was not much shade on top so many of the teams were camped below in the garage while others braved up top with an umbrella. We had some wonderful performances all across the

board from both the women’s and men’s side. I am really excited INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS for our teams because it is only early April and track and field really comes to life in late May and June. SOCIAL On one of the practice days we were fortunate enough to get MEDIA: to train at the Olympic Training Center located in Chula Vista, California. It is a little bit of a drive from the city; it is so far south that the Mexican city of Tijuana is visible from the Training Center campus. The center is host to sports other than track and field, like rowing and sand volleyball, but it is clear that track holds a dominating presence at the facility. I have been to the training center before, but it is always fun and it was cool to see the reactions of my teammates that had never been before. We were also super lucky this time and got to meet multiple-time World Championships and Olympic medalist sprinter Alyson Felix. Even though I am not a runner, it was still so exciting to see such a huge icon of track and field. Because it is an Olympic year, the training center is definitely bursting at capacity. The whole team was off last weekend but will be back in action this weekend with a competition in Athens, Georgia. I am not only excited to get back to warmer weather, but I also get to see my older sister and my 8-month old twin niece and nephew. She only lives an hour and a half away from Athens and is driving up to watch me for the weekend. Although we are focused during meet and practice times and always put that first, traveling is nice because we get opportunity to see friends and family that we might not otherwise get to. Have a great week Badger fans! Kelsey ■ INSIDE SOFTBALL BY KELLI GRASHEL ■ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS JACK MCLAUGHLIN

Badgers proving to be pure fun this spring Wisconsin enjoying Big Ten season filled with dramatic results

here is one thing that is undeniable about the 2016 Wis TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE consin softball team: The Badgers are fun to watch. T One game is all it would take this team to quickly remind people why they love sports in the first place. These are young, gritty and passionate Badgers who clearly are excited to be playing the game. It has been evident in almost every plate appearance this spring. This team is going to fight no matter who they’re up against, but give them a top-25 team on home turf and they’ll show what the fight in an underdog really looks like.

SCROLL It’s a blast to witness SportsCenter Top 10-esque plays like se nior Ashley Van Zeeland diving for a clutch catch and freshman Kelly Welsh smacking against the outfield wall for the final out in an inning. Or freshman Melanie Cross blasting a home run in each game of last weekend’s series vs. Ohio State, as well as Jenkins knock

ing one out of the park. And the team’s reactions during those INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS moments? It’s worth going to Goodman just to see the raw emo tions. SOCIAL “Ohio State is in the Top 25 for a reason, so when you face a MEDIA: team like that and the wind is blowing the way it is, you know you just have to be in for a fight and that’s what I’m most proud of,” UW head coach Yvette Healy said Sunday after the Badgers finished a 1-1-1 weekend against the 24th-ranked Buckeyes. “That’s a win for us because the better team should win more games and on paper they’re the Top 25 team, so for us to go one win and one loss and then a tie, I think the advantage goes to us,” Healy said. “I’m pretty happy, you always get greedy and want more, but that’s an awesome effort by the Badgers.” INSIDE MEN’S ROWING BY NATE OEHRLEIN ■ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Wisconsin eyeing a return to the top Badgers set to begin their quest to regain championship form on the water

hen you consider their history of national championships TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE and dominating seasons from the Wisconsin men’s row Wing team, the last couple seasons have been nothing short of a disappointment. “The last couple of seasons have been a disappointment to say the least,” UW head coach Chris Clark said. “Not only have the results been poor by our standards, but toughness, a hallmark of Wisconsin rowing, has been absent.” But this year seems to be headed down a different path. The Badgers, who enter the season ranked 12th in the USRowing

SCROLL Collegiate Poll, have one goal in mind, and that’s to return to the top of the collegiate rowing world. With numerous returning row ers from last season and a group of young players who are dedi cated to changing the culture here in Madison, there’s no say in what this team could accomplish this season. “Our younger players have little interest in keeping the recent

status quo and are vocal about it,” stated Clark. “But everyone INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS from top to bottom wants improvement this spring.” The Badgers have already have already had the opportunity to SOCIAL spend a lot of time in the water and work towards their goal. MEDIA: This winter, Coach Clark and his team took their 22nd trip to Austin, Texas, where over the span of about 26 practices, walked away with a pretty good vision of what’s to come. This is because for the first time in the last couple years, Coach Clark saw guys in the water that he felt flat out dominated and there were guys who won nearly every time they got into the water. According to Clark, having players who dominate early like this, “has been a good predictor of future success over the years.” INSIDE WOMEN’S ROWING BY DAN CORCORAN ■ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS BEBE BRYANS

Eye-opening performance begins season Wisconsin varsity eight tops No. 2 Cal on Saturday to highlight Crew Classic

isconsin head coach Bebe Bryans said she would learn TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE a lot about the team she has this year as soon as the Woars hit the water. After a winter training season that was one of the fastest Bryans has seen in her 12 years at the helm, the 13th-ranked Badgers translated that to the water last weekend at the San Diego Crew Classic in their first official races of the season. Competing in San Diego for the first time in two years, Wiscon sin turned in some solid performances, highlighted by a pair of exceptional races on Saturday in the preliminary races for both

SCROLL varsity eight boats. “I think for the coaches, we were really confident that we were going to see the crew that we’ve been seeing for awhile now, and they absolutely did that,” Bryans said after the first day of compe tition on Saturday. “Both boats performed the way we hoped that they would and the way we knew that they would.”

The varsity eight boat opened some eyes by blazing through INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS the 2000-meter course in 6 minutes, 36.342 seconds, which was the fastest time in the two heats of the Jessop-Whittier Cup SOCIAL prelims. That time helped UW edge No. 2-ranked California and MEDIA: No. 11 Washington State inside of Heat A and was also faster than No. 9 Texas, which competed in Heat B. The second varsity eight boat followed with an impressive race of its own, turning in the second-fastest time among 20 total boats with a finish in 6:48.585― Cal came in eight seconds ahead of UW in Heat A. Wisconsin was two seconds faster than Texas (6:50.498), which turned in the third-fastest time overall to win Heat B, and was well ahead of USC (6:58.275), which won Heat C. “We had a really good first day,” Bryans said. “It was what we knew we could do, and so it just turned out that we ended up being pretty fast doing that relative to other people. So that was pretty exciting.” INSIDE WOMEN’S LIGHTWEIGHT ROWING BY SPENCER NATZKE ■ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS PAUL CAPOBIANCO

Expectations raised for the lightweights It’s back to basics for the five-time national championship-winning program

or the Wisconsin lightweight rowing team, spring training TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE was a chance to go back to the basics before competition Fgets underway this weekend at the Knecht Cup in West Windsor, New Jersey. Lightweight coach Dusty Mattison took the opportunity to raise expectations for her athletes and, in turn, saw improvement from even her veterans. “This year we have tried to figure out how to continue to elevate the expectations and the standards of the team, while still focus ing on the basics,” Mattison said. “That could be anything from

SCROLL technique to mental training to race preparation, and what that has allowed us to do is to all get on the same page. “What I did was set standards, fitness standards, and they’ve risen to that occasion and that’s really elevated the whole perfor mance of the team. That’s been awesome to see.” In her first season as the coach of the varsity lightweight squad,

Mattison looks at the team’s first competition as another prepa INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS ration for the rest of the season. The nature of the sport requires UW to travel long distances for competition, so the opportunity SOCIAL to see and compete against so many different teams early in the MEDIA: season gives the Badgers a preview of what is to come. “Basically, the Knecht Cup and (the Charles River Lightweight Invite) the weekend after, we’re seeing all our main competition,” Mattison explained. “We’ll see Stanford, BU, I believe Radcliffe is going to be there, and MIT. “I think we’ll be right in the mix. It’s a group that is very motivated, very determined, especially off previous results that they’ve had in the last couple years.”