CONTENTS NOVEMBER 25, 2015 ■ VOLUME 6, ISSUE 16

FEATURE STORY DAVID STLUKA

MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE Who’s the real Vince Biegel? The reckless rollerblader in short shorts? The thoughtful, “sensitive” man of faith? The 100-miles-per-hour playmaker? All of the above.

FEATURES MEN’S BASKETBALL IN [FOCUS] ATHLETES, ADVOCATES The week's best photos

A pair of Native Americans on the BEHIND THE DESK same college basketball team? That’s UW defense a sight to behold rare. So is the opportunity for UW’s Will Decorah and Bronson Koenig. THE VOICE Axe gives reason to move on

BY THE NUMBERS LUCAS AT LARGE Facts and figures on UW

QUARTERBACK CLUB WHAT TO WATCH Where to catch the Badgers Better than anyone, Brooks Bollinger knows that wins don’t come easy for ASK THE BADGERS a college quarterback. That’s why What are you thankful for? he’s pulling for his record to fall. BADGERING Tionna-SCROLL Williams FOR (Volleyball) MORE­ Wisconsin Athletic Communications Kellner Hall, 1440 Monroe St., Madison, WI 53711

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© 2015 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. All rights reserved worldwide. LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ■ UWBADGERS.COM Bollinger knows wins don’t come easy rooks Bollinger is a socia­ is 29-10 and a lightning rod for said. “I internalized a lot and it ble person who survived some in the fan base. sometimes made me a little too Bwithout social media. In Bollinger can relate. “For me, sensitive to what anybody else fact, the winningest quarterback it was the message boards,” he was saying.” in Wisconsin history is glad that recalled. “If you didn’t go look­ Bollinger was a coach’s kid. he played his college football in ing for them, you weren’t going So he understood that certain the pre-Twitter era. to see them. But I had to call things, positive and negative, “It’s a different world that these my dad sometimes and tell him, came with the turf. Especially at guys have to live in today,” said ‘Don’t look.’” such a commanding and visible Bollinger, a four-year starter for Late in his career, Bollinger fell position as quarterback. the Badgers. “And it’s easy for us in disfavor because of the “Back­ “Everyone in the stadium ― on the outside to go, ‘That stuff up Is Better” syndrome. “I had from the 80-year-old women doesn’t matter. Just ignore it.’” Jim Sorgi behind me,” he said, in the top row to the guy who Easier said than done? “It’s “And after one incompletion, knows the game pretty well ― different when they’re saying that they were chanting for him.” knows when the quarterback about you,” he said. “It can get screws up,” he rationalized. “It’s to everybody in your life in 30 very easy to see. I knew it when BOLLINGER: seconds, from your grandma to I was playing well and when I your parents’ friends.” “AS QUARTERBACKS, wasn’t playing well. And I’d think, Bollinger, a two-year member WE ALL HAVE A UNIQUE ‘They’re booing you, but, yeah, of Paul Chryst’s staff at Pitts­ UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT that was a stupid throw you just burgh, is now working in the IT’S LIKE TO GO THROUGH made.’ Twin Cities for a financial plan­ THE CRITICISM AND SOME OF “It would kind of go in cycles. ning firm. He’s also coaching the You’d play well and you’re feeling THOSE DIFFICULT TIMES.” quarterbacks at Cretin-Derham good. And, then, you’d stumble Hall High School. or whatever, and not play as well, One of Bollinger’s former prep Bollinger still remembers one and you’d get a catcall and get players at Hill-Murray ― where particular missive that he re­ booed a little bit. he was the head coach for one ceived from a disgruntled fan. “For me, somebody might say season ― is UW starting inside “It read, ‘Dear Mr. Bol­ something in the paper. Now, it’s linebacker Jack Cichy, a redshirt lin-(bleep), Can you please do in social media. At some point, sophomore from Somerset. what you can to do stop (bleep­ you’d draw the line and say, ‘I’m Last weekend, Bollinger was ing) so bad, so me and my playing for these guys, my team­ in Madison for the Northwestern friends can start watching the mates; this is not about me.’” game at Camp Randall Stadium. games again … sincerely Joe Bollinger doesn’t know Stave He visited with Cichy’s parents Blow,’” Bollinger recounted. that well. But he did talk with on Friday night. And he agonized Laughing, he said, “It was very him briefly last season. over the 13-7 loss on Saturday. politely laid out.” “As quarterbacks, we all have Bollinger was hoping to see Try to laugh is all he could do a unique understanding of what senior quarterback Joel Stave tie about it at the time, too. it’s like to go through the criti­ his school record for most career “Looking back, I probably cism and some of those difficult wins. Bollinger was 30-12. Stave didn’t handle that really well,” he times,” Bollinger said. “That’s

LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 1 OF 3 LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ■ UWBADGERS.COM

kind of what I told him. will never change in that respect. ing to the level that he is now. “Of all the things that he went He always wants what is best for The sky is the limit seeing his through (notably his benching the program. It’s one of the many confidence and comfort level out by the previous coaching staff), reasons why he was so popular there.” I was proud of the way he came and well-respected in the locker Like everyone else, Bollinger out of it and persevered.” room. was uncomfortable with how the Before the Northwestern game, As you might expect, Cichy’s game ended against Northwest­ Bollinger asked Chryst to relay a development has been most ern with Jazz Peavy’s apparent message to Stave. pleasing to Bollinger, who guid­ touchdown catch getting over­ “I told Paul to tell him to break ed Hill-Murray to a 9-3 record in ruled by replay. the damn thing,” he said of the 2011 and the Class 4A semifi­ “I hate the rule,” Bollinger career victories mark. “I’m proud nals, the school’s first trip to state said. “I got burned by it in the of having been a part of that in 24 years. NFL early on.” many wins, but they aren’t my “Jack was undersized (as a Bollinger was then quarter­ wins. junior); he was more long and backing the New York Jets “I was on some good football lean,” Bollinger said. “But he has against the New Orleans Saints. teams with some good players that natural knack for finding the “And I threw a touchdown to (like Heisman Trophy winner Ron football and a total disregard for Laveranues Coles,” he said. “It Dayne) and I was just fortunate his body, the way he flew around was a good play and I was fired to be around long enough to the field. up. They reviewed it and they have those wins. “He wasn’t built at that time to went, ‘No catch.’ I went, ‘What “I’m proud and thankful for the play middle linebacker, but he the hell are you talking about?’ guys I got to play with and the just willed himself. He did every­ “Wins for me as a starting success we were able to have. At thing you asked of him and never quarterback in the NFL were the same time, somebody else complained. He worked his butt hard to come by. And we’ve seen coming along and having more off. that (catches being overruled by wins is a good thing for the pro­ “He was a good high school interpretation) happen over and gram.” player but I wouldn’t have over again. Bollinger, who just turned 36, guessed that he would be play­ “It can be a black-and-white

LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 2 OF 3 rule. But they have this proto- Bollinger did his part by run- was in the hands of his top assis­ col and the receiver has to pos­ ning for 112 yards and throwing tants. sess the ball back to the bus. It for 134. Safety Jim Leonhard Behind their playmakers, not doesn’t really make sense and it also did his part by intercepting the least of which were Bollinger doesn’t fit the rest of the rules.” two passes in the end zone de­ and Dayne, the Badgers re- Bollinger expects to get ques­ spite having a broken wrist. sponded in impressive fashion tioned about the Peavy catch/no with a 20-17 overtime win on Vit­ catch in advance of Saturday’s aly Pisetsky’s 31-yard field goal. renewal of the ancient rivalry be­ “I TOLD PAUL TO TELL (STAVE) “You talk about a defining tween Wisconsin and Minnesota TO BREAK THE DAMN THING,” moment in our season,” said at TCF Bank Stadium. BOLLINGER SAID OF THE Bollinger. “With the win at Ohio He has already agreed to ap- CAREER VICTORIES MARK. State the week before, the rest pear on a couple of radio shows “SOMEBODY ELSE COMING was history. That kind of pro- in the Twin Cities. If they ask him ALONG AND HAVING MORE pelled us on to the Rose Bowl.” to reminisce about the series, he There will be much less at will have plenty of memories to WINS IS A GOOD THING FOR stake Saturday. But it won’t take share with the audience. THE PROGRAM.” away from the rivalry element. During his senior year, the “At the end of the day, this Badgers needed to beat the Go- But there was another mem­ is what makes college athletics phers to get bowl eligible, which orable win that may have up- what it is,” Bollinger said of the was more significant than ever staged that one. It came during annual Border Battle. “It’s a very because they went 5-7 the previ­ Bollinger’s redshirt freshman important part of what makes it ous year (2001) and didn’t play season ― right after he led the so special.” in a bowl. Badgers to win at Ohio State in Stave has two more games. Playing in front of their home his first start. This one and the bowl. If the crowd at Camp Randall, the Bad- UW coach Barry Alvarez was Badgers win both, he will gers regained Paul Bunyan’s Axe not on the sideline at the Metro- hold the record for most wins. with a convincing 49-31 win. An- dome. He was hospitalized with Bollinger didn’t need help doing thony Davis rushed 45 times for a knee infection at the Mayo the math. “I’d love to see him 301 yards and five touchdowns. Clinic in Rochester, so the game win out,” he said. ■ DAVID STLUKA

LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 3 OF 3 BEHIND THE DESK BY BARRY ALVAREZ ■ UW DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS Exciting bowl matchups for Badgers, CFP t was a classic old coal miner’s against them, especially up front. things, which saved us time. I game. That’s what I was think­ You could see why they were un­ think everybody was pleased and I ing watching Michigan State defeated and I think they gained felt good about it when we left play Iowa for the Big Ten cham­ more respect with their play Sunday. pionship. against Michigan State. • • • • It was about field position and I know Paul Finebaum has nev­ Like Paul Chryst, I’m excited what it was not. It was about not er cut the Big Ten any slack. But about our matchup with USC. beating yourself. It was about not he finally relented the other day. When you have an opponent turning it over. It was about not He was impressed with what he like this — with name recognition doing anything stupid, no foolish saw and referenced the Big Ten and football tradition — it gives penalties. in a positive note. He knows how you something to shoot at and One guy in our meeting room good Ohio State is. To see Michi­ focus on during bowl preparation. for the College Football Playoff gan State beat them on the road, It was just like opening the sea­ selection committee would have and for Iowa to play Michigan son with Alabama — there’s extra known what I was talking about. State the way they did, it changed motivation. Your team changes That was Dan Radakovich, the a lot of people’s thinking. from the end of the regular sea­ Clemson athletic director. Like I like the final four matchups. son to the bowl. Going into the me, he grew up Pennsylvania. We You have totally different games game with the right attitude is laughed about it afterwards. He with Michigan State vs. Alabama important. was definitely invested with his and Clemson vs. Oklahoma. Any I know the people from the team playing last Saturday. matchup of those teams would Holiday Bowl selection committee As a committee, we watched have been very interesting. are thrilled by the matchup. And the league title games together. As far as the top four, it has I know our kids will be excited We had all the games going on at been well-documented that there about San Diego. I know I am. one time. was not a lot of discussion. We I’ve been in that bowl. People were talking openly did have quite a bit on who would The last game that I coached at about different things that came be three or four, with the Spar­ Iowa was in the Holiday Bowl (a up and they were making com­ tans moving ahead of the Soon­ 39-38 win over San Diego State in ments throughout the games. It ers. We also had a lot of discus­ 1986). It was a great game. Rob was just like if you were watching sion on five, six and seven (Iowa, Houghtlin kicked a 41-yard field from your living room. Stanford and Ohio State). And we goal as time expired. For me, the Big Ten title game probably spent our most time fill­ This week, I’m going to Texas was as good as it gets. ing out the final three or four final with our volleyball team for their Iowa has been criticized all year spots in our Top 25. Sweet 16 matchup Friday against because people undervalued All in all, we were pleased and Florida in the NCAA tournament. them. I was high on them. You felt like we got it right. They’ve been really fun to watch. have to beat them. That’s just the The core of our group returned You can say the same about way they play. They have good for a second year and everyone Mark Johnson’s undefeated hock­ enough skill players on offense knew what to expect this time ey team. Last Friday, we had big, and their secondary is athletic around. It’s a good group of peo­ enthusiastic crowds for hockey enough to cover people. ple that work well together. We and volleyball. That’s awesome. You have to be able to hold up condensed and modified some It’s an exciting time of the year. ■

BEHIND THE DESK PAGE 1 OF 1 THE VOICE BY MATT LEPAY ■ VOICE OF THE BADGERS Axe Week means it’s time to move on fter last weekend, is there tain complete and continuous This year’s group of seniors any doubt sports gives us control of the ball throughout the is 7-1 in trophy games, and the Aone heck of a rollercoaster process of contacting the ground, Badgers have not lost to Minne­ ride? From the Wisconsin football whether in the field of play or in sota since 2003. team having three touchdowns the end zone.” In Peavy’s case, It is probably safe to assume erased, to seeing Bo Ryan’s bas­ the replay official determined the Gophers are well aware of ketball team get a game-winning that, as Peavy hit the turf in the that little nugget. bucket from Bronson Koenig in end zone and was rolling out of Certainly, it has been a bumpy Madison Square Garden. I’ll even bounds, the ball popped out of ride for Minnesota this fall. Their throw in the Packers ending their his hands. The ball never hit the highly-respected and well-liked losing streak by beating the Vi­ ground, but while he was rolling coach, Jerry Kill, had to step kings. On Sunday, some order out of the end zone, he lost con­ down for health reasons. Tracy was restored. trol ― for a fraction of a second. Claeys, a longtime assistant un­ It can drive us nuts, but we Just long enough to overturn the der Kill, has stepped in, and he keep watching, so there must be call on the field. is in line to be the coach for the something to it. You can hate the rule, but ― next three seasons. After losses There is little to add to all the well, you know the rest. in hard-fought games against talking/venting after Northwest­ Trying to figure out what defines Michigan and Iowa, the Gophers ern came to Camp Randall and a catch can give you a headache. bounced back with a victory spoiled the Badgers’ Senior Day. The rule book isn’t exactly juicy against Illinois. The very cold, hard facts are as reading, and one could argue the A win against the Badgers follows: by waving one’s arms, game has become more compli­ could make Minnesota’s season. Alex Erickson made an invalid cated than necessary. Between Then again, a Wisconsin victory fair catch signal. He was waving the college game and the NFL, it would extend its winning streak teammates away from a bouncing will be interesting to see whether in the series to 12. That would be punt, but his motion meant he the rules makers at either level sweet. So would the parade lap could not advance the ball. will take another look at this one. with Paul Bunyan’s Axe. It would have helped if the It will change nothing from last It is part of what makes college officials had blown the play dead, week, but who knows how many football so much fun. In a perfect but in the end, they got the call more times a game can hang in world, there would be a division right. The only problem with the the balance on a play like this, title on the line, just like last No­ rule, as UW coach Paul Chryst be it involving the Badgers or any vember. Still, there is a prized pointed out after the game, is that other team. trophy at stake. Those players in this case, the player can be hit. After further review, I’m done from Wisconsin and Minnesota So much for player safety. with this topic. know all about it. Players from Bottom line: You can hate the ■ ■ ■ ■ other states learn in a hurry what rule, but the officials can only en­ Perhaps the best thing to come this game means. force what is written in the book. out of last Saturday’s result is It means a ton. Always has. Jazz Peavy’s catch/no catch knowing what lies ahead ― Axe Always will. will have people talking for a long Week. There is nothing like one of Move on from Northwestern. time. When a receiver goes to the college football’s best rivalries to Enjoy Axe Week. It promises to be ground, by rule “he must main­ get everyone’s attention. a good show. ■

THE VOICE PAGE 1 OF 1 ASK THE BADGERS WHAT ARE YOU? THANKFUL FOR? JACK MCLAUGHLIN WALT MIDDLETON DAVID STLUKA DAVID STLUKA

ROICHELLE MARBLE AUSTIN BYRD BRIANNA BOWER ALEX ERICKSON Freshman ■ W. Basketball Senior ■ Men’s Swimming Senior ■ W. Track & Field Senior ■ Football

“I am thankful for “I’m thankful for so “I am thankful to “My family. It’s a God giving me the much. Currently, have the opportunity pretty cliché answer ability to play bas­ I’m very thankful to dream big know­ but I’ve got a great ketball at this level. that my parents are ing that I have the supporting cast I’m also thankful for safe from being in most amazing family and they’re always mine and my fami­ Paris during the and friends who will there to support ly’s health.” attacks. They had always be there to me. They’re at every flown in the day support me.” game, they’ve been before and were with me all the way there the day that it through. They’re happened. I’m also always so positive. very thankful for the Win or lose, they opportunity to wear still love me and I the Motion W while always have their competing. One support.” more thing is that I’m thankful for my awesome friends I’ve made here at Wisconsin and my great teammates!” BADGERING GREG ANDERSON TIONNA WILLIAMS

Fort Wayne, Indiana, native Tionna Williams has made a considerable ALL ABOUT TIONNA impact in her freshman season with the Wisconsin volleyball team, start­ Year: Freshman ing 26 matches for the Badgers as a middle blocker. Twice named Big Position: Middle Blocker Ten Defensive Player of the Week, Williams ranks second on the team Height: 6-2 with 126 total blocks and stands fourth among the Badgers with 210 Hometown: Fort Wayne, Ind. kills. Williams and her UW teammates carry a 10-match win streak into High School: Concordia Lutheran their final home date of the regular season Wednesday vs. Rutgers. How would you characterize your transition to the college QUICK Qs WITH TIONNA game? One word to describe you? “Hungry ... all the time.” “Starting out was a little rough at first because I was just get­ ting used to the different styles of play and different tempos. One word to describe the team? But now I feel like we’re all working harder so it’s coming along “Spunky.” nicely and it’s gotten easier.” Goal as a college player? “Win Big Ten and national champion­

SCROLL What made you choose Wisconsin? ships and make history at UW.” “I’ve known the coaches for a while since they were at Dayton, Best thing about Madison? so I really grew up with them and liked them a lot. I also clicked “There’s a lot of things to do. You can well with everybody here, especially the coaching staff and the get away from campus and do other team. And of course I just love Madison because everybody is things.” proud to be a Badger.” Your bucket list? “Skydiving, cage diving with sharks, What’s your favorite thing about Wisconsin volleyball? become an Olympic gold medalist.” “My favorite thing would be the tradition here. It’s a great com­ What are you most thankful for? munity and the culture here is phenomenal. The crowd is al­ “Being given so many amazing opportu­ ways into it during every match, and singing ‘Varsity’ after our nities to make my dreams a reality.” home matches really sums up the feeling of tradition and com- munity here.”

What has enabled you to be so successful as a freshman? “I wouldn’t be able to have that success without my teammates. It’s obviously not a one-person game, so everyone contributes. We’re really taking care of our side of the net and everybody is motivating each other and pushing each other during practice, so it’s really just a reflection of my teammates.”

What are you most excited for down the final stretch of the season? “I think we’re all clicking together really nicely right now, so I’m excited to see how that progresses throughout the rest of the season and how people will make a bigger impact on the team through different leadership roles.” ■ JACK MCLAUGHLIN DAVID STLUKA CONVENTIONAL WISDOM SAYS THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY. THAT MIGHT NOT BE ENOUGH TO TELL THE TALE OF VINCE BIEGEL, WHOSE STORY IS DOTTED WITH THE MANY CHARACTERS HIS UNIQUE PERSONALITY BRINGS TO LIFE ― IN COSTUMES RANGING FROM FLOWING BLONDE WIGS TO NO. 47 FOOTBALL JERSEYS. SO WHO IS THE REAL VINCE BIEGEL? THE RECKLESS ROLLERBLADER IN SHORT SHORTS? THE THOUGHTFUL, ‘SENSITIVE’ MAN OF FAITH? THE 100-MILES-PER-HOUR PLAYMAKER? THE ANSWER IS ALL OF THE ABOVE ― AND FAR FROM CONVENTIONAL. DAVID STLUKA

s a tribute to the military, and some family being overruled by a booth review. members who served, Vince Biegel had a “This is a great example.” Biegel said, “of up-and­ A“Stars and Stripes” design shaved on to the down emotion.” side of his head for Wisconsin’s game against North­ The upside was clearly the Wisconsin defense. western. And he was talking from the heart now. Biegel likes to make statements … off the field. “I’ve got to give our guys credit for their relentless­ Whether donning a long-flowing blond wig, T-shirt ness,” he said. “There were a lot of times where we and jorts for a summer rollerblading excursion on had our backs against the wall ― backed up in our campus or dressing up as “’70s Guy” for Freakfest red zone or our side of the 50. on State Street, he loves expressing himself. “I thought we did a great job of stepping up in “I don’t mind being called a character,” he said, those situations.” pausing to add definitively, “in the right context.” Biegel wasn’t about to point any fingers at a turn­ Biegel likes to make statements … on the field. over-prone UW offense. To this end, the fourth-year junior linebacker “I will never say anything bad about our offense,” made one Saturday with a personal-best 14 tackles he emphasized. against the Wildcats; the first time that he reached And he went out of his way to defend quarterback double-digit stops in 40 career games. Joel Stave, who threw a couple of picks and lost a DAVID STLUKA But after the heartbreaking 13-7 loss, he had a fumble before getting knocked out of the game on hard time expressing what he was feeling about a Northwestern’s sixth sack. potential game-tying touchdown pass completion “I’m going to have his back every single day,” he

VINCE BIEGEL: MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE PAGE 2 OF 8 said, once more speaking from the heart. ■ ■ ■ ■ Revisiting the crazy final seconds, during which ike Taylor was deer hunting last weekend in Biegel thought the Badgers had won the game twice northern Minnesota; he was stalking prey in on Stave throws to Troy Fumagalli and Jazz Peavy, he Mthe woods outside of International Falls ― noted, “Joel put together a great drive at the end.” about 500 miles from Madison and Camp Randall But he wasn’t about to dwell on what could have Stadium. been. “Didn’t really see much,” sighed the former UW “We can’t sit back and linebacker. “Saw a doe, pout about what happened that was about it.” and the refs, this and “I DON’T CARE ABOUT ANY OF THE NOISE OUT­ He didn’t see much of the that,” he said, rejecting SIDE OF THIS LOCKER ROOM. IT’S US MOVING Northwestern-Wisconsin any self-analysis such as, “ game, either. But he heard FORWARD AS MEN. THAT’S WHAT IT IS. “Did we play good? Did we about the ending. “I guess THAT’S HOW YOU BOUNCE BACK. not play good? Who played it was pretty bad,” he said. good? Who didn’t? IT’S A TROPHY GAME. IT’S MINNESOTA.” Taylor also endured a “Hey, we have to focus on tough loss on his senior Minnesota and bringing that Axe back home again day: 21-14 in overtime to Ohio State in 2012. Taylor (the Badgers have won 11 straight in the series). was a fifth-year senior when Biegel was a true fresh­ Guess what? That’s the only thing that is important man. They had adjoining lockers, and a bond. to us. As a result, Taylor has been a strong influence on “I don’t care about any of the noise outside of this Biegel as a mentor; role model and friend. locker room. It’s us moving forward as men. That’s “I still keep in contact to this day,” said Biegel, what it is. That’s how you bounce back. It’s a trophy who also has stayed in touch with a couple of Tay­ game. It’s Minnesota.” lor’s classmates, quarterback Curt Phillips and line- DAVID STLUKA

VINCE BIEGEL: MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE PAGE 3 OF 8 backer Brendan Kelly. “I still text them constantly.” In the same breath, Biegel acknowledged their dif­ Taylor hasn’t forgotten his first impression of Bie­ ferences, “Mike is more of a true inside linebacker gel, a touted prospect out of Wisconsin Rapids. and he was a volume player. He’d have 10 to 15 to “The first thing you do, no matter who it is, you 20 tackles a game. read about the recruits and see if there’s hype or no “I’m good for those three big plays every game with hype,” said Taylor with this caveat, “I wouldn’t say fewer tackles. We’re different. But we have a lot of you feel threatened. passion. We’re Wisconsin boys. You can’t get much “But it keeps you on your toes, it keeps you mo­ better than that.” tivated. Healthy competition between younger and Biegel casually mentioned that Taylor was a “fun­ older guys keeps you going. The young bucks want ny character off the field.” to come in and show you what they can do. Quizzed on what he meant, he said, “If you knew “When you just looked at Vince, you saw his size. I Mike Taylor, you would understand. He’s a different was aware that he was pretty athletic; good in track guy, a funny guy. What’s the word I’m looking for…” and field (second in the high hurdles at the state Biegel paused before saying, “He’s a real passion­ meet). He was big, strong, fast. He just looked ath­ ate guy. He’s real personable, too. You could always letic.” There was something else about Bie­ DAVID STLUKA gel. Maybe it was the way he carried him­ self around others. “Part of that has to do with being confident,” Taylor said. That would be the guy with the swag­ ger and the mullet. “Vince has always been able to com­ pete with older and stronger guys,” Taylor said. “There’s just something about Wisconsin kids. They have that fight in them― that pride for their home-state team.” Biegel learned from Taylor by watch­ ing ― how he practiced and competed ― and by listening to what he had to say about preparing for an opponent and playing through pain. In 2011, Taylor led the Big Ten in tackles with 150, the third most in the country that season and the most by a Wisconsin player in 10 years. “I really, really have a lot of respect for Mike,” Biegel said. “He was banged up here a lot but he always managed to strap it up for the games and he played in the big moments. “More than anyone else, he took me DAVID STLUKA under his wing when I was a freshman and he showed me how to approach the game the right way.” “More than anyone else, he took me under his wing when I was a freshman and showed me how to approach the game the right way,” Biegel said of Mike Taylor.

VINCE BIEGEL: MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE PAGE 4 OF 8

DAVID STLUKA

count on being a real good friend to you off the field. He’d treat you straight.” As of now, Biegel is planning on submitting his “TO EXPERIENCE THAT INJURY AND COME name to the NFL Draft Advisory Board, a panel of BACK FROM IT, I REALIZED THAT THE GAME OF scouts and general managers that will assess and “ FOOTBALL IS SO FRAGILE. I LEARNED YOU HAVE project a prospect’s draft status. TO WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY LIKE IT’S YOUR “As that happens,” Biegel said, “I’ll talk with my family, I’ll talk with the coaches, I’ll talk with my LAST DAY TO PLAY FOOTBALL.” teammates, and outside sources, and I’ll figure out the best decision for me next year. s a freshman, Biegel felt alone. He broke his “But right now,” he was quick to stress, “my focus foot in the August training camp and re-ag­ is truly with the guys right here in Madison and fin­ Agravated the injury in late September after ishing out the season. I’ll answer those questions at appearing on special teams in two games. the end of the season.” He was later granted a medical redshirt after the A series of Injuries have prevented Taylor, most school petitioned the NCAA. Although he regained recently a Seattle Seahawk, from realizing his NFL that year of eligibility, it was a challenging time in his dream. life. “I had surgery in January and I’m rehabbing still,” “I was an 18-year-old kid and my season was cut said Taylor, an Ashwaubenon native. “I’m not think­ short,” he said. “You know how it is? When a guy ing about playing football again. It’s unlikely. I’m gets hurt, he gets swept under the rug until the next probably done. season. It’s hard to feel like you’re part of the team “I wish I would have gone out (left school) sooner when you’re not contributing. than I did. But I stayed because I wanted my de­ “Guys who get hurt are down in the dumps. We gree. There are a whole bunch of factors. call it ‘injury depression.’ I definitely went through “I haven’t talked to Vince about it. It really depends that. But it’s another thing that has built my charac­ on how you feel and what the grades are (from the ter here at Wisconsin. draft board). Have you done everything you can do? “To experience that injury and come back from Do you want to come back? it, I realized that the game of football is so fragile. “And what it comes down to is a decision that I learned you have to work every single day like it’s Vince has to make by himself.” your last day to play football. “Off the field, you have to take care of your body; ■ ■ ■ ■

VINCE BIEGEL: MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE PAGE 5 OF 8 DAVID STLUKA

you have to take care of your mind with film and prep work. You have to take this game seriously and VINCE ON HIS BROTHER’S INJURY: you have to take it as far as you can go.” “IT REALLY PUTS THINGS INTO PERSPECTIVE ... His younger brother has reached the end of that “ road. Hayden Biegel, a redshirt sophomore, started YOU ARE JUST ONE PLAY AWAY ― ONE PLAY AWAY the first four games of the season at right offensive FROM YOUR CAREER BEING OVER. THAT REALLY MADE tackle before running into concussion issues. ME VALUE THE GAME THAT MUCH MORE. I HAVE A “He has always had football in his life with our TRUE LOVE FOR THE GAME. I ALWAYS HAVE. family,” Vince Biegel said. Their grandfather, Ken, was a Hall of Fame high school coach at Wisconsin Rapids. Their uncle, T.J., played at BYU. And so did their father, Rocky, one of the all-time leading tacklers with the Cougars. “Hayden has really gone through a lot,” Vince Bie­ gel said. “He always had a love for the game and it’s always hard when your career is cut short in an aspect. “Right now, Hayden is going through the process of transitioning from being a college football player and athlete to being a student and everyday per­ son. He has a really bright future because there’s so much more to Hayden than just being a football player. That can be said for a lot of guys on this team. “It really puts things into perspective, though. I definitely did some self-reflecting when he went down. You are just one play away ― one play away from your career being over. “That really make me value the game that much more. I have a true love for the game. I always have. It has always been a big part of my life and it will continue to be a big part of my life.” Vince and Hayden Biegel lived together for one year on campus. They looked out for each other. For the last three years, Vince Biegel has been rooming with defensive lineman Arthur Goldberg. It’s somewhat of an odd pairing given that Biegel is an avowed Cheesehead and a diehard fan of the Green Bay Packers, and Goldberg is from Pittsburgh Steelers country (Mount Lebanon, Pennsylvania.) “We just took a liking to each other,” Biegel said. “Goldberg is a clean guy and that might surprise a lot of people because he looks more like … I don’t want to bag on him … “But he looks more like a sloppy player, he’s a trench guy. But off the field, he has his closet orga­ nized to completeness and he makes his bed every Football has always been a part of life for Vince, left, and Hayden day. Biegel, whose father and uncle both played college ball at BYU. “The place is spotless and Arthur is always trying

VINCE BIEGEL: MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE PAGE 6 OF 8 to smell good. He’s definitely a good guy to live with. play and I will, too. I can’t say that I’m necessarily as clean as Arthur. I “I’m more professional off the field.” slack in the dishes department a little bit.” More spiritual, too. On Sunday mornings, you will Mr. Goldberg, your thoughts? find Biegel at church― The Church of Jesus Christ “I’m a decently clean guy and I don’t know why of Latter-day Saints. I’m like that,” shrugged the 6-3, 295-pound junior. “There’s a little student ward which has been great, “He’s the opposite. I find myself cleaning up after and the bishop in Madison has also been great,” he him just because I can’t take it.” said. “I have values and I try to be a positive influ- Goldberg did vol- ence. unteer some little “I don’t drink at all, I haven’t had a sip of alcohol in known insight on college. The church is very important, it always has Biegel. “Vince is actu- ally a very sensitive guy,” he said. Tell that to the quarterbacks that the 6-4, 246-pound Biegel has been hounding in the Big Ten. “Our next door neighbor has a dog,” Goldberg said, “and when he brings him around, Vince is down on his hands and knees playing with the dog, rubbing his belly DAVID STLUKA and talking to him like he’s a baby.” What separates that Biegel from the banshee wear- ing No. 47 and pumping his fist in the air? “It’s his intensity,” Goldberg said. “When he’s on the field, he’s a different guy. He’s going 100 miles an hour and nothing is going to stop him.” Joe Schobert’s first impression of Biegel was con- sistent with Goldberg’s profile. “I didn’t know him off the field at all,” said Schob- ert, a senior outside linebacker. “All I ever saw of him was the screaming and yelling at practice. So I thought he was kind of a nut-job.” After getting to know him a little bit, what did Schobert learn about Biegel? “He’s not a nut-job, for one thing,” he said. “Off the field, he’s a great guy and fun to hang out with. We do a lot of things together ― go to dinner or play video games or just watch football.” Sounds normal enough when he isn’t in pads. “I definitely am a character in my own right,” Biegel said of his football persona. “I would say I’m more of a vocal leader. I’m more of an energizer versus Mike (Taylor), who was more subtle. “Joe (Schobert) is more of the Mike Taylor, soft-spo- ken guy. He’s more of the silent assassin like Mike. Chris (Borland) would let you know if he made a

VINCE BIEGEL: MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE PAGE 7 OF 8 DAVID STLUKA

PAGE 8 OF 8 PAGE

“I love having fun with dif­ “I love having fun with rock star,” he said of his out- he said of his rock star,” it was time to fits. “I thought the ’70s, right? go back to suit, a nice I had a flannel afro and ’70s medallion, big glasses. ferent outfits and hair styles.”

That attitude translates to his spirited play on the That attitude translates this game,” Mike why we started playing “That’s every Saturday. Biegel makes that statement And, of course, he is that guy. that guy. he is of course, And, offensive UW concurred man,” wild a of kind “He’s sometimes to Biegel than depth more But there’s the rocker, ’80s thing before, the “I’ve done the field. He might zig when he’s supposed to zag in a he’s field. He might zig when makes plays. And it sure particular defense. But he having fun. looks like he’s is all about having fun.” said. “Football Taylor tackle Tyler Marz. “That can be a good thing. He’s a thing. He’s be a good “That can Marz. Tyler tackle dude.” a long, explosive just He’s guy. high-energy especially on Halloween. meets the eye,

“ ­ NOTHING IS GOING TO STOP HIM.” NOTHING IS GOING TO STOP GOLDBERG SAID. GOLDBERG SAID. “IT’S HIS INTENSITY,” GUY. HE’S GOING 100 MILES AN HOUR AND HE’S GOING 100 MILES GUY.

“WHEN HE’S ON THE FIELD, HE’S A DIFFERENT “WHEN HE’S

“I always try to think positive,” he said. “I always “I always try to think positive,” for that crazy guy on the “People like to see me It’s a hybrid saying; part Mahatma Gandhi, part a hybrid saying; part Mahatma It’s Off the top of his head, he recited one of his favor his of one recited he head, his of top the Off But it doesn’t stop there. Biegel is fond of noting, of fond is Biegel there. stop doesn’t it But In that sense, he said, “I’m a very serious person.” serious person.” “I’m a very sense, he said, In that thoughts become “Your

world with all the different temptations. world with all the different try to think of moral thoughts. That’s hard in today’s hard in today’s That’s try to think of moral thoughts. field ...” Margaret Thatcher, and now a part of Biegel. and now a part of Margaret Thatcher, your words,” Biegel said. your words,” - words become your ac “Your tiny.” character becomes your des- character becomes your come your character. Your Your come your character. - habits be Your your habits. tions. Your actions become actions become tions. Your

“I’m a big-thought guy.” guy.” big-thought “I’m a ite sayings.

me into the man I am today.” today.” I am man into the me been and it will continue to, because it helped shape shape it helped because to, continue it will and been VINCE BIEGEL: MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE “All I ever saw of him was the screaming and yelling at practice,” Schobert, left, said of Biegel. “So I thought he was kind of a nut-job.” “All I ever saw of him was the screaming and yelling at practice,” JACK MCLAUGHLIN TO FIND A NATIVE AMERICAN ON A COLLEGE BASKETBALL TEAM IS UNCOMMON. TO FIND TWO ON THE SAME ROSTER IS DOWNRIGHT RARE. THAT’S WHY WISCONSIN’S WILL DECORAH AND BRONSON KOENIG, BOTH MEMBERS OF THE HO-CHUNK TRIBE, WON’T SHY AWAY FROM BEING ROLE MODELS FOR THOSE THAT NEED GUIDANCE AND ADVOCATES FOR THOSE THAT NEED A VOICE.

ill Decorah and Bronson Koenig are more seeking a degree in community and non-profit lead­ than just teammates on the Wisconsin ership ― is something to explore and celebrate. Wmen’s basketball team. That’s especially the case during 25th anniversa­ They are more than just homegrown talents ― ry of Native American Heritage Month, which was Decorah is a junior guard from Waunakee; Koenig formalized in 1990 by President George H.W. Bush a junior guard from La Crosse ― who helped lead and runs through November. their high schools to multiple state championships The concept of having two Native Americans on in football and basketball, respectively. the same major college men’s team came to life They are more than just good friends with thought­ when Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan added Decorah to ful voices and even-keeled personalities. the roster after Decorah had spent the previous two They are uncommon symbols of cultural diversity. seasons as manager. Decorah and Koenig are Native Americans ― proud Koenig, meanwhile, has started 29 of 82 career members of the Ho-Chunk tribe ― whose roles with games and currently leads the Badgers in scoring the Badgers put them in remarkable company. heading into a non-conference game with Prairie History shows that a tiny percentage of NCAA Di­ View A&M on Wednesday night at the Kohl Center. vision I men’s basketball rosters are Native Ameri­ “To have two on one team is pretty incredible,” cans. A year ago, there were 13 out of 5,432 play­ Decorah said. “I think it’s kind of a close bond that ers, according to data compiled by the NCAA. The me and Bronson share. We’ve been friends since year before that, there were 14 in a pool of 5,493. high school ― knowing each other through basket­ That two would share the same uniform and walk ball ― and now being on the same team brings us the same prestigious Big Ten Conference campus together even more. ― Decorah is majoring in economics and is Koenig “I think it’s spectacular. It’s something that’s real- DAVID STLUKA DAVID STLUKA

DECORAH & KOENIG: WITHOUT RESERVATION PAGE 2 OF 5 ly cool. I feel lucky to be a part of it and I feel very Aaron Bird Bear, the interim assistant dean of stu­ lucky that my friend in Bronson is a guy who is also dent diversity programs in the UW School of Educa­ sharing that with me.” tion, said there are generally 300 to 350 self-iden­ It’s a shared distinction to be sure, but Decorah tified American Indians or Alaskan Indians in the will be the first to say that Koenig has set the tone of entire student body on the Madison campus of ap­ activism. Koenig said supporting the cause of Native proximately 43,000 undergraduates. That translates Americans ― speaking out about issues and offering to less than 1 percent of the academic population. a hand of encouragement to all who seek it ― “is So the odds of being a Native American stu­ one of the biggest priorities in my life.” dent-athlete at Wisconsin are extremely long. “I feel it’s necessary to be an activist,” he added. “We don’t see a lot of American Indian role models “I do because there aren’t in Division I athletics,” Bird enough activists out there Bear said. “That’s incredi­ for Native Americans in “I FEEL IT’S NECESSARY TO BE AN ACTIVIST,” ble leadership (for Decorah general.” KOENIG SAID. “I DO BECAUSE THERE AREN’T and Koenig) to be a part of Koenig estimates that ENOUGH ACTIVISTS“ OUT THERE FOR NATIVE in a top-tier program” like he’s made five or six pre­ AMERICANS IN GENERAL.” the UW men’s basketball sentations to Native Ameri- team. can audiences, including a Bird Bear said he doesn’t remarkable one in March of 2014 when the Badgers know Decorah or Koenig all that well ― their ma­ were in Lincoln, Nebraska, to play the Cornhuskers jors are outside the school of education, he notes in a Big Ten game. ― but Bird Bear can accurately measure the optics Students and coaches from a high school in Win­ of having two Native Americans in the UW athletic nebago, Nebraska, made the two-hour trip to hear spotlight. Koenig give a 20-minute talk about his life and ask “It’s astounding to see two tremendous young gen­ questions. At the heart of the presentation was Koe­ tlemen succeeding in scholarship athletics,” he said. nig’s pride in his heritage and the sacrifices he’s Decorah and Koenig say they have not yet sat down made to live a rare dream. and discussed their new circumstances at length,

DECORAH & KOENIG: WITHOUT RESERVATION PAGE 3 OF 5 but they expect to do so as the season unfolds. and evolving into the state Player of the Year and a “That will be really cool,” Koenig said. highly-regarded prospect. College basketball blue- There’s much to talk about. bloods such as Duke, Kansas and North Carolina Decorah, whose father, Tim, was a guard for Ryan tried to recruit him, but a unique pitch by Ryan ulti­ during his days at UW-Platteville and is a member mately kept Koenig home. of the Ho-Chunk tribe, said he was in middle school According to Koenig, whose mother, Ethel Fun- when he first began to realize that he had a different maker, works for the Ho-Chunk in their technolo­ background than his classmates. gy department, Ryan emphasized that the Native He understood “it was something I should em­ American population in Wisconsin would be able to brace” but was unaware of the plight facing most revel in his exploits. Native Americans because he was “spoiled a little “A big selling point,” Koenig said. bit” by his parents. “There are definitely a large number of people “Growing up in Waunakee it’s kind of hard to … around here that obviously are looking to support relate to people that actually go through struggles of me and Bronson,” Decorah said. growing up in poor economic times and places like Being a role model to Native Americans in the state the reservation where kids don’t have a lot,” he said. ― Bird Bear said there are 12 tribes in Wisconsin ― Koenig said he first became aware of his heritage is important to Koenig, but he doesn’t draw the line while in grade school before attending Aquinas High at his heritage. “I’m trying to be the best role model I can be,” he said. “Me and Bronson both are kind “WE DON’T SEE A LOT OF AMERICAN INDIAN of representing,” Decorah said. “We have to set an example not ROLE MODELS IN DIVISION I ATHLETICS,” BIRD only on the court ― the level of BEAR SAID. “IT’S ASTOUNDING“ TO SEE TWO skill that we can attain ― but also TREMENDOUS YOUNG GENTLEMEN SUCCEEDING off the court by setting an ex­ IN SCHOLARSHIP ATHLETICS.” ample of getting involved in the community. “A lot of kids are looking up to us whether they’re Native Ameri­ can or not.” Is there a specific agenda? Yes, said Koenig. “I like speaking to Native Amer­ ican youth and just kind of inspir­ ing them,” he said. “I just try to give them any motivation I can to help them better their lives, their selves and their situations.” “Even if their situation isn’t al­ ways good, they can change that with hard work and belief in themselves. You see the suicide rates and the alcohol abuse and the drug abuse on some of these reservations. They’re just incredi­ DAVID STLUKA bly high. Hopefully I can make an impact that way.

DECORAH & KOENIG: WITHOUT RESERVATION PAGE 4 OF 5 “But I also want to help (how) people view Native “Educate yourself on a little bit of Native American Americans in general. We’re kind of like the forgot­ history and appreciate Native Americans,” Koenig ten race a little bit. We’re the minority of the minority. said. “Just be aware of what we went through and That’s kind of crazy because we were the first to ever why the Native American society is the way it is to­ inhabit this country.” day.” Decorah wants to follow in his friend’s footsteps. Decorah said people should embrace the Native “Going forward, looking at what Bronson has done, American culture because its roots in this state are I’d really like to try to be more aware of the cultural deep. aspects of the Ho-Chunk “It’s something to be Nation,” he said. “People proud of because it rep- look at me and see Native resents Wisconsin as a American. It would be defi- “WE HAVE TO SET AN EXAMPLE NOT ONLY whole,” he said. “All the nitely something I’d be in- ON THE COURT ― THE LEVEL OF SKILL THAT WE tribes across Wisconsin are terested in going forward.” “ a huge part of what makes CAN ATTAIN ― BUT ALSO OFF THE COURT BY How should people em- SETTING AN EXAMPLE OF GETTING INVOLVED up Wisconsin. People know brace this cause? Koenig IN THE COMMUNITY,” DECORAH SAID.“A LOT about the Ho-Chunk tribe. said most of us draw our OF KIDS ARE LOOKING UP TO US WHETHER People know about the knowledge of Native Amer- THEY’RE NATIVE AMERICAN OR NOT.” Potowatomi tribe. That’s icans from the Trail of Tears something that kind of ― a series of forced relo­ makes Wisconsin unique.” cations of multiple nations following the Indian Re­ Bird Bear, a member of the Mandan Hidatsa tribe moval Act of 1830 ― while he often cites the 2011 out of the Dakotas, said Decorah and Koenig amount documentary Off the Rez. That film chronicles Sho­ to “astounding representation” as student-athletes ni Schimmel, a standout women’s basketball player, at Wisconsin. and her family as they struggle to find the right path But there’s work to be done. off an Oregon reservation. “I still have a long ways to go,” Koenig said. DAVID STLUKA DAVID STLUKA

DECORAH & KOENIG: WITHOUT RESERVATION PAGE 5 OF 5 INSIDE FOOTBALL BY ANDY BAGGOT ■ UWBADGERS.COM DAVID STLUKA

Bowl Buzz: Still time for fun in the sun Projections still point to Holiday Bowl as a potential destination for Badgers

ach week leading up to the announcement of the Badgers’ TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE bowl destination on Dec. 6, Andy Baggot will take a look at Eone of Wisconsin’s potential destinations on UWBadgers. com. More information is available at UWBowlCentral.com. Now that the Wisconsin football team has qualified for a bowl assignment for the 14th-consecutive season ― the longest streak in the Big Ten Conference ― a guessing game has come to life: Where will the Badgers go bowling and who will they play? The Big Ten has contractual agreements with 10 bowls, includ­ ing the College Football Playoff, which seeds the top four teams in the nation as determined by a 12-member selection commit­ SCROLL tee. One of the committee members is Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez. The CFP isn’t an option for the Badgers, who are 8-3 overall and 5-2 in the Big Ten West Division heading into their annual rivalry game with Minnesota (5-6, 2-5) Saturday at TCF Bank

Stadium in Minneapolis. INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS Of the nine remaining bowl possibilities, one is off-limits to Wisconsin. Because they played in the Outback Bowl in Tampa, SOCIAL Florida, last January, knocking off Auburn 33-30 in overtime, the MEDIA: Badgers can’t play there again this year. That leaves the following options: ■ Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl, Jan. 1, Orlando, Florida ■ Holiday Bowl, Dec. 30, San Diego, California ■ Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl, Dec. 30, Nash- ville, Tennessee ■ Taxslayer Bowl, Jan. 2, Jacksonville, Florida ■ New Era Pinstripe Bowl, Dec. 26, New York, New York ■ Foster Farms Bowl, Dec. 26, Santa Clara, California ■ Quick Lane Bowl, Dec. 28, Detroit, Michigan ■ Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, Dec. 29, Fort Worth, Texas Multiple national media outlets offer weekly predictions on bowl matchups. Entering the final week of the regular season, Jerry Palm of CBS Sports projects the Badgers will face unranked Utah (8-3, 5-3 in the Pac-12 Conference) in the Holiday Bowl. That’s the same destination forecast last week by ESPN, only its match- up called for Wisconsin to face Oregon. With Michigan State beating Ohio State last Saturday and Iowa clinching the Big Ten West Division, all signs point to a Spar- tans-Hawkeyes clash in Indianapolis for the Big Ten title. The winner of that game would presumably go to the CFP with the loser going to the Rose Bowl. Most bowl projections also have the winner of the Ohio State-Michigan game earning a New Year’s Six bowl invitation, with the loser heading to the Citrus Bowl. That then leaves the Outback Bowl for Northwestern.

Headline: Badgers face Utah in Holiday Bowl debut. Pertinent details: Kickoff at 8:30 p.m. (CST) at Qualcomm Sta- dium. ESPN will televise. Series: Wisconsin has faced the Utes three times dating back to 1961 and is 2-1. The last meeting took place in the 1996 Cop- per Bowl in Tucson, Arizona. Tailback Ron Dayne finished off his record-setting freshman season with the Badgers by rushing for 246 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-10 victory. Personal note: This matchup would have had much greater appeal had Gary Andersen stayed on as coach of the Badgers instead of leaving for Oregon State after last season. Andersen and Utah coach Kyle Whittingham are close friends and former colleagues. Andersen was Whittingham’s defensive coordinator and assistant head coach from 2005 to ’08. Key matchup: You probably couldn’t ask for a more even pair- ing in terms of offense. Utah began the week ranked 79th in the nation in total offense, averaging 381.6 yards per game. The Badgers, meanwhile, were 81st with an average of 381.1 yards per outing. The Utes have amassed 4,198 yards of offense com- pared to 4,192 for Wisconsin. Wow factor: While Wisconsin hasn’t defeated a team with a winning record this season, the Utes have wins vs. Michigan (9- 2), Oregon (8-3), Arizona State, (6-5), California (6-5) and Utah State (6-5). Final thought: The matchup would highlight the health of two star-crossed running backs. Devontae Booker, a two-time 1,000- yard rusher for Utah, underwent knee surgery after a loss to Ar- izona on Nov. 14 and reports say he could be back in time for a bowl. Meanwhile, Wisconsin junior Corey Clement will look to be completely healthy after sports hernia surgery on Oct. 1 tam- pered with his effectiveness all season. For complete details on potential bowl destinations, ticket infor- mation and travel packages, be sure to check out UWBowlCen- tral.com. ■ INSIDE VOLLEYBALL BY DIANE NORDSTROM ■ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS GREG ANDERSON

No coasting to finish for red-hot Badgers UW looks to build on 10-match win streak while closing out regular season

ome may think the 10th-ranked Wisconsin volleyball team TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE can’t get much better. After all, Wisconsin has won its last S10 matches in mostly dominating fashion. UW has lost only four sets and has defeated five ranked teams over the stretch. But don’t expect the Badgers to go dial back the intensity any­ time soon. “I always feel like we can get better at serve and pass,” UW coach Kelly Sheffield said. “I don’t think that changes. I think we can cover our attackers better. I think we can be a better out- of-system attacking team. We’re working hard on blocking and defense. I don’t know; there is a litany of things that I think we SCROLL can get better at. “If you’re in coast mode right now, then those teams tend to get clobbered when they really don’t want to get clobbered at the end (of the season).” Wisconsin is one of the hottest teams in the nation heading into

the last week of the regular season. The Badgers wrap up Big Ten INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS Conference play by hosting Rutgers on Wednesday night in the UW Field House before traveling to No. 14 Purdue on Saturday. SOCIAL The Badgers will be looking for their 19th NCAA tournament MEDIA: berth when the 64-team bracket is announced at 8 p.m. Sunday, live on ESPNU. Wisconsin has advanced to at least the NCAA regional final in its first two seasons under Sheffield and looks to be peaking at the right time this year. “We felt like by the end of the year we could actually be a pret- ty good team,” Sheffield said. “We were going to be a team that was going to need every single one of the practices to get to that point. INSIDE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL BY KELLI GRASHEL ■ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS JACK MCLAUGHLIN

Cichy is definition of consistency for UW Senior guard elevates Badgers’ momentum despite back-to-back losses

onsistency. It’s a word that is loved, truly adored, in sports. TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE Why? Because if you’re using the word consistency, it’s C often in reference to a player that goes the extra mile re­ gardless of circumstance. A player that is giving their all every single game. Tessa Cichy is that player for Wisconsin, and Cichy is the defi­ nition of consistency for a team struggling to find its stride. “Tessa just has this mentality, it’s an iron will. She doesn’t let things bother her or get under her skin,” UW head coach Bobbie Kelsey said. “That’s the thing I love about her. She doesn’t pout,

SCROLL she doesn’t have pity parties and she just plays. She finds a way to get the ball, whether it’s rebounding or stealing, she is just playing her rear-end off, and you want somebody else to see the effort.” The stats from the Badgers’ game Sunday at Dayton weren’t what the team wanted to see. It wasn’t what the team wanted to

do against an NCAA tournament-caliber team. But one line that INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS stood out was that of Cichy’s. The senior from Somerset, Wisconsin, knocked in 15 points SOCIAL in UW’s 87-64 loss to Dayton. She also dished out six assists, MEDIA: grabbed three rebounds, had two steals, tallied a block and shot 55.6 percent from the field. “I think the consistency comes from maybe just knowing that I have to stay on the floor,” Cichy said. “I know I can’t get in foul trouble. I want to be out there and I want my other teammates out there too, obviously. “I think the consistency stems from both wanting to be on the court and feeling as though I need to be, as well.” Perhaps the most impressive of Cichy’s stats was her game- high 39 minutes played. She leads the Badgers in minutes this season, with 112. Her average of 37.3 minutes per game is near- ly six minutes better than any of her teammates. INSIDE MEN’S HOCKEY BY ANDY BAGGOT ■ UWBADGERS.COM GREG ANDERSON

Time for taking stock before Big Ten play Badgers visit Michigan, Michigan State to open conference season and close 2015

isconsin has finished off the bulk of its non-league TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE schedule, so now seems like a good time for a mea­ Wsurement. The Badgers hit their second bye week of the season with a 3-5-4 overall record, a mark defined by a high degree of difficulty and, for the most part, growth. Wisconsin foes are 45-21-9 (.660) overall. The only other Big Ten Conference schools with winning opponent records are Ohio State (25-19-5, .561) and Michigan (24-19-8, .549). The Badgers have faced four teams that have shown up in the

SCROLL top-10 national rankings since the season began: Boston Col­ lege, Boston University, Denver and North Dakota. Wisconsin has taken on four of the top 15 offenses: BC, Den­ ver, North Dakota and BU. The Badgers have encountered four of the top 15 defenses: BC, North Dakota, Denver and Northern Michigan.

They also have played on the road against four opponents ― INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS BC, BU, North Dakota and Ferris State ― with a combined home record of 17-4-3 (.771). SOCIAL Since opening the season 0-3-3 ― including one-sided losses MEDIA: at BC and BU ― Wisconsin is 3-2-1 heading into its 20-game Big Ten schedule. The Badgers get this week off before traveling to Michigan on Dec. 4 and 5 and Michigan State on Dec. 11 and 12. Wisconsin associate head coach Luke Strand offered a suc- cinct overview of the first 12 games. “We have to have the confidence to know the best teams in the country are there and we can do it,” he said of the difficult first-half schedule. “At the same time, we have to know that if the performance balance of our entire group doesn’t occur, it’s a steep climb to get it done.” The last two series bring that thought into focus. The Badgers sent a loud buzz around the college hockey world when they went on the road Nov. 6 and knocked off then-top- ranked North Dakota, 3-1. Two Fridays later, Wisconsin gave Denver all it could handle before settling for a 3-3 overtime draw. But the Badgers were unable to finish either series with gusto. They were outshot 38-16 in a 3-1 loss to UND on Nov. 7 in Grand Forks and endured a 6-2 pounding at the hands of Denver on Saturday night at the Kohl Center. “There was just a misfire in a lot of different areas,” Strand said of the latest loss to Pioneers. “When they happen more than once, at more than one time, it was in the back of the net.” Until that setback to Denver, Wisconsin was 2-0-3 at home. INSIDE WOMEN’S HOCKEY BY A.J. HARRISON ■ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS DAVID STLUKA

No. 1 UW wraps up non-conference play Badgers continue homestand as Dartmouth makes first trip to Madison since 2009

op-ranked Wisconsin continues its six-game homestand TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE over Thanksgiving weekend by welcoming Dartmouth to TLaBahn Arena for a non-conference series this Friday and Saturday. The Badgers enter the weekend on a roll as winners of their first 14 games. That win streak is tied for the third-longest in pro­ gram history and is tied for the sixth-best in WCHA history. “We have had a strong start to the season, but I don’t think we really think about our record or the streak too much,” UW soph­ omore Emily Clark said. “We’re more focused on making sure we are getting better every game and every week so we can put SCROLL ourselves in the best position possible at the end of the regular season.” This week’s series marks the teams’ first meeting since Wiscon­ sin dispatched Dartmouth, 7-0, in the 2009 NCAA quarterfinals on its way to the program’s third national title.

The matchup also marks the final non-conference series of the INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS season for UW after playing Providence from Hockey East and Lindenwood of College Hockey America. The Badgers swept the SOCIAL Friars, 5-1 and 8-1, in San Jose to begin the season before de- MEDIA: feating the Lady Lions, 5-1 and 4-0, last weekend at LaBahn Arena. “It’s nice to get to play someone that we don’t normally play four games a year,” assistant captain Sydney McKibbon said. “I think it changes up the game plan and we get to see someone who we haven’t seen.” INSIDE WRESTLING BY KELLI GRASHEL ■ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Jordan returns with a bang at Navy Classic Reigning Big Ten champion takes title in his first competition of the year

njuries could only hold Isaac Jordan for so long. TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE The nation’s No. 2-ranked wrestler at 165 lbs., Jordan sliced Ithrough his bracket at last weekend’s Navy Classic by collect­ ing two falls and three decisions on his way to the title. An injury kept Jordan from competing in UW’s first dual against UW-Whitewater and the Michigan State Open, but that wasn’t ev­ ident during his return to the mat. Jordan started on a powerful note, claiming back-to-back falls at the 1:51 and 1:53 marks of his first two matches to begin his quest to the top. Jordan had the fastest total fall time of any wrestler in the tour­

SCROLL nament and the third-most pins in any bracket. “I think he worked his way through that tournament with a cou­ ple of pins,” UW head coach Barry Davis said. “There’s obviously still some things to work on. “This gives him a good warmup for Vegas,” Davis added, refer­ encing the upcoming Cliff Keen Invitational in Las Vegas.

As a team, the Badgers improved on their showing from the INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS MSU Open with a solid weekend at the Navy Classic. UW totaled 11 falls, the second-highest pin total of any team in the tourna- SOCIAL ment behind only Princeton’s 14. The Badgers finished third in MEDIA: the 10-team field despite having the smallest roster of any com- peting team, with just 13 wrestlers. By contrast, team champion Princeton entered 23 wrestlers. INSIDE SWIMMING & DIVING BY BRANDON HARRISON ■ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS DEB LINDSEY

Signed, sealed, delivered: UW signs 12 Wisconsin announces a stellar recruiting class set to enroll in 2016

hitney Hite and his staff are continually building the TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE Badgers into a more competitive program. That was ev­ Widenced by 13th- and 21st-place finishes for the Wis­ consin women and men, respectively, at last year’s NCAA cham­ pionships. The Badgers program took another step forward this past week, as Hite announced a 2016 signing class of high school freshmen that ranks among the best in the country. “The women’s class is by far the best class that we’ve had since I’ve been here. I would argue that the men’s class is, as well,”

SCROLL Hite said. “It’s a very good group and there’s a lot of potential on both the men’s side and on the women’s side. Hopefully this class catches people’s attention. This is something that we’ve worked really hard on for the last five years.” With the addition of 11 standout swimmers and one national- ly-ranked diver, the Badgers continue to establish themselves as

a growing threat, not only in the Big Ten, but the country. INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS “It’s important to us that we’re making sure that we’re getting the right type of people for this program,” Hite said. “We not only SOCIAL feel like these are the right type of people, but are also individuals MEDIA: that value hard work.” Learn more about the newest Badgers set to begin competing in Madison in the fall of 2016:

WOMEN’S SIGNEES: Megan Doty (Hartland, Wis.) The three-time Wisconsin state champion heads to Madison with a quartet of runner-up finishes in the 200-yard individual medley and 100-yard butterfly under her belt. Doty played a key role in collecting team titles in both 2014 and 2015 for the Arrow- head swim team. A butterfly specialist and Olympic trials quali- fier, Doty ranks second in state history in the 100-yard butterfly, trailing only future teammate Beata Nelson.

Abby Kochevar (Castle Pines, Colo.) Kochevar hails from Castle Pines, Colorado, and attends Rock Canyon High School. The Olympic trials qualifier and 2014 and 2015 Colorado state champion in the 100-yard backstroke swims club for the University of Denver Hilltoppers. Kochevar was also the 2015 state runner-up in the 50-yard freestyle.

Hannah Lindsey (Potomac, Md.) An Olympic trials qualifier in the 200-meter backstroke, Lind- sey hails from Maryland, where she is the two-time defending state champion in the 100-yard backstroke. Swimming for Win- ston Churchill High School, Lindsey also was state runner-up in the 200-yard individual medley in 2015. She swims club for All- Star Aquatics.

Beata Nelson (Fitchburg, Wis.) The 12-time Wisconsin state champion holds state records in the 100-yard backstroke, 100-yard butterfly and 200-yard free- style relay. Nelson’s time of 51.62 in the 100 butterfly at the 2015 Wisconsin state meet also broke her own American public high school national record. The five-event Olympic trials qualifier also owns the national age group record in the 100 butterfly, at 51.08. Nelson is a member of the USA Junior National Team, and swims under Shane Ryan for Madison Aquatic Club.

Elise Roediger (Phoenix, Ariz.) Hailing from Phoenix, Roediger was the runner-up in the 100- yard butterfly at the 2015 Arizona state championships. Roed- iger attends high school at Xavier College Prep and swims for the Phoenix Swim Club. The butterflier was also a USA Junior Nationals qualifier in the 100-yard butterfly.

Kendall Smith (Carmel, Ind.) Joining the Badgers from Carmel, Indiana, Smith is a Wisconsin native and swam for the same club team as former UW 50-yard freestyle record-holder Beckie Thompson and current Badgers Rachel Johnson, Anna Meinholz, Maddi Tew and Molly Man- chon. Smith is the 2015 Indiana state champion and national high school record-holder in the 200- and 400-yard freestyle re- lays. Smith also earned runner-up finishes in the 500- and 100- yard freestyle events at the Indiana state championships and is a four-event USA Junior Nationals qualifier.

JOINING THE WISCONSIN MEN’S TEAM: Griffin Back (Eden Prairie, Minn.) Back joins the Badgers from Eden Prairie, where he is a mem- ber of the Aquajets Swim Team and swims for Eden Prairie High School. A five-time Minnesota state champion, including the two-time defending champion in the 200-yard individual medley, Back also is a USA Junior Nationals qualifier. Both of Back’s par- ents are UW alumni.

Eric Geunes (Gainesville, Fla.) An Olympic trials qualifier in the 400-meter freestyle, Geunes heads to Madison from the Gator Swim Club. Also a member of Gainesville High School swim team, Geunes was third in the 500- yard freestyle and runner-up in the 200-yard medley relay while also contributing to the title-winning 400-yard freestyle relay at last year’s Florida state championships.

Cooper Hodge (Cincinnati, Ohio) Hailing from Cincinnati, Hodge is an incredibly versatile swim- mer who was third in the 200-yard individual medley and fourth in both the 400-yard individual medley and 200-yard breaststroke at the 2015 NCSA National Championships. The USA Swimming Junior Nationals qualifier also is a multiple-time finalist at the Ohio state meet. Hodge attends Archbishop Moeller High School and swims for Mason Manta Rays Swim Club.

Michael Milinovich (Aurora, Ill.) An Olympic trials qualifier in the 400-yard individual medley, Milinovich heads to Madison after finishing third in the 400 IM at the 2015 NCSA National Championships, finishing just ahead of future UW teammate Cooper Hodge. Milinovich attends West Aurora High School and swims for Academy Bullets Swim Club.

Kevin Pomeroy (El Granada, Calif.) The seven-time USA Junior Nationals qualifier competed for Stanford Diving Club. Pomeroy has claimed one junior nationals title on the 3-meter board and two crowns on the platform. The California native is also a member of the U.S.’s Junior Pan Am Games team.

Justin Temprano (Madison, Wis.) The four-time Wisconsin state champion ― and two-time de- fending champion in the 100-yard backstroke ― Temprano joins the Badgers from Madison Memorial High School. A member of Badger Aquatics Club, Temprano has trained with current and former Badgers including Drew teDuits, Ivy and Maddie Martin, Aja Van Hout, Katie Delaney and Chris Wills. Temprano is the WIAA state record-holder in the 200-yard medley relay and is a USA Swimming Junior Nationals qualifier.■