CONTENTS FEBRUARY 15, 2017 ▪ VOLUME 7, ISSUE 26 PATRIOTS / KEITH NORDSTROM COURTESY OF NEW ENGLAND

DREAMS COME TRUE James White scored the Patriots’ game-winning touchdown in the Super Bowl. Despite his newfound celebrity, he’s staying true to his family roots and humble Badgers work ethic. DAVID STLUKA FEATURES WOMEN’S HOCKEY IN [FOCUS] PHENOMENAL FUN The week's best photos

Celebrating its seniors, Wisconsin BY THE NUMBERS earned a tough WCHA crown in Facts and figures on UW record-breaking fashion thanks to a dominating 8-0 shutout of UMD. WHAT TO WATCH Where to catch the Badgers

LUCAS AT LARGE ASK THE BADGERS Best Valentine’s gifts UW BROTHERHOOD BADGERING For both alumni and current players Baylee Wellhausen (Hockey) alike, the shared experiences of DAVID STLUKA playing and coaching at Wisconsin INSIDE MEN’S BASKETBALL builds ties across generations. Learning lessons from loss

-SCROLL FOR MORE- INSIDE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Future is bright for Badgers Wisconsin Athletic Communications Kellner Hall, 1440 Monroe St. Madison, WI 53711

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Brian Lucas Director of Athletic Communications

Jessica Burda Director of Digital Content Managing Editor

Julia Hujet Editor/Designer

Mike Lucas Senior Writer

Andy Baggot Writer

Matt Lepay Columnist

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Contributors Paul Capobianco, Kelli Grashel, A.J. Harrison, Brandon Harrison, Patrick Herb, Brian Mason, Diane Nordstrom

Photography David Stluka, Neil Ament, Greg Anderson, Bob Campbell, The Players Tribune, Cal Sport Media, Icon Sportswire

Cover Photo: Courtesy of the New England Patriots/David Silverman

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© 2017 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. All rights reserved worldwide. LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ▪ UWBADGERS.COM The Brotherhood of basketball Badgers ennis Sweeney. Dave Ted Voigt. Mark Newburg. different light today than when Mader. James Horsfall. Pete Brey. Lee Oler. Zach Mor- they played. DGary Anderson. Rob- ley. Buddy Faurote. Tom Hugh- “Of course, there’s always em- ert Jenkins. Joe Chrnelich. Rod banks. John Ploss. Andreas bellishment,” said assistant How- Ripley. Dave Vander Meulen. Helmigk. Tom Barth. Jay Peters. ard Moore. “We all embellish Roy Boone. Keaton Nankivil. Sean Mason. Brian Vraney. John about our stats and how good we W’Quinton Smith. Schwartz. were. Unless you were there to “I’ve tried to put my arms “I remind our players all the witness it, no one can dispel it.” around all generations that time that it wasn’t always like Moore played here in the ear- played here.” this.” ly/mid ’90s for Steve Yoder, Stu Tom Molaski. John Korth. Moe All the quotations belonged to Jackson and . He Peterson. Billy Douglass. Gary Wisconsin’s , who has cited the brotherhood and the ca- Zinkgraf. David Grams. Mike gone to great lengths to pre- maraderie of the alums, regardless Wilkinson. Louis Ely. Ben Brust. serve and honor the history of if they won a lot. Or, lost a lot. DAVID STLUKA Josh Gasser. Osita Nwachukwu. the basketball program by open- Nobody was put in an awk- “I wanted to make sure ev- ing his arms to its alums. ward position to feel like he was eryone feels important because The aforementioned players out there on an island. Explained everyone is important.” were in Madison last weekend. Moore, “As in, ‘I played for this Rashard Griffith. Rob Willey. Many got together for dinner on guy, I played for that guy.’ Or, Dan Fahey. Darin Schubring. Saturday night. Most got intro- ‘I played in this era, I played in Steve Radke. Bill Johnson. Rick duced at halftime of Sunday’s that era.’ Olson. Clayton Hanson. Charlie game at the Kohl Center. Instead, Moore said, “It was, Wills. Dan Hastings. Steve Ste- Some even scrimmaged Sun- ‘Hey, you wore Cardinal and phens. Jeff Hansen. Nick Murphy. day morning at a local high White and that’s all that mat- “I’ve really sensed from the school gym. Predictably, they all tered. That’s the connection and alums how appreciative they are exercised their right to remem- that’s what we want to keep to watch our players.” ber their skill level in a much together.’” DAVID STLUKA

LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 1 OF 2 LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ▪ UWBADGERS.COM DAVID STLUKA

Similar experiences. Different period of time put a lot of blood, ed in a positive interaction that storylines. That’s how Moore sweat, tears and resources into benefited everyone. put it. “And,” he said, “you want making this program what it is. “I wanted the players to learn to keep everyone connected, no “It doesn’t happen overnight. It something about the alumni, matter how many minutes they has been a quarter century-plus what they do in their profession, played or what their stats were.” in the making with a lot of differ- or what they did because there’s UW assistant Joe Krabbenhoft, ent people that have had their a lot of retired people,” Gard who played for (2005- hands in it. said. 2009), pointed out “once you “What was it like when you wear the jersey, everybody is in played? How has Madison and “I SENSED HOW MUCH PRIDE it together. Once you’re here, the university changed? I want- THEY TAKE IN SAYING, ‘I PLAYED you’re here, you’re a Badger.” ed our players to gain something AT WISCONSIN AND I HELPED Since last season, Gard has from talking with people who BUILD IT TO WHERE THEY ARE also reached out to former UW have walked in their shoes.” RIGHT NOW.’ AND THEY ALL DID. head coaches like John Erickson, Senior forward Vitto Brown THEY WERE ALL AN IMPORTANT , Steve Yoder and spoke to the gathering. “And he PIECE OF THIS PROCESS.” . Last Friday, he really did a good job of relaying talked with Ryan, his longtime the current team’s feeling and mentor. “I sensed how much pride they thoughts about how apprecia- “They’ve all been terrific, wel- take in saying, ‘I played at Wis- tive they are of the alums,” Gard coming and very supportive,” consin and I helped build it to said. said Gard, who has found it in- where they are right now.’ And No, it hasn’t always been like structive to learn more about they all did. They were all an im- this. “But our guys now have a the people who preceded him if portant piece of this process.” good appreciation of where this he didn’t already know. At Saturday’s dinner, Gard had place was and where it has come “Our current players are the his players pair off and sit at to,” said Gard. “I remind them recipients and benefactors of a different tables with the alums. quite frequently.” lot of people who over a long Much to his delight, it result- No embellishment needed. ▪

LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 2 OF 2 ASK THE BADGERS

WHAT’S THE BEST VALENTINE’S DAY GIFT YOU’VE? EVER RECEIVED? JACK MCLAUGHLIN ICON SPORTSWIRE LEN CEDERHOLM DAVID STLUKA

CAITLYN CLEM ALEC JAMES M.E. DODGE BAYLEE WELLHAUSEN Jr. ■ Women’s Soccer Junior ■ Football Freshman ■ Volleyball Jr. ■ Women’s Hockey Okemos, Mich. Brookfield, Wis. East Troy, Wis. Williams Bay, Wis.

“I would say my “In the history of “I haven’t gotten a “I haven’t had many favorite Valentine’s Valentine’s Day, for valentine since ele- special valentines Day gift was from me the best gift has mentary school. But that I’ve received my dad. He has four always been being that’s okay, because gifts from, but I women in our family, able to spend time nothing can compare think one of the best so his role during with my loved ones to the Scooby-Doo gifts I’ve received Valentine’s Day is ― whether it be my valentines and Fun was from my best important for my two mom, sisters, or who- Dip you would get friend and teammate sisters, mom, and me. ever my girlfriend has from almost every Maddie Rolfes. My He said I was expect- been at the time ― single classmate!” freshman year I was ing a ‘big’ box in the because time spent this lonely little val- mail for Valentine’s with them is always entine-less girl and Day. When it arrived, valuable and better Maddie surprised I was so excited. than any gift they me with a little dog Then I opened it and could give me… and stuffed animal and it was a blender. Ha! because I’m corny wrote a super funny Most random Valen- like that.” poem that I’ve kept tine’s Day present I since. The dog’s have received, but name is Hank (she hey, I use it every named it) and I bring day!” it on all of my road trips now!” BADGERING DAVID STLUKA BAYLEE WELLHAUSEN

The top-ranked Wisconsin women’s hockey team is fresh off clinching its second straight Western Collegiate Hockey Association regular-season championship and junior winger Baylee Wellhausen played a prominent role. She’s pro- duced a career-best 14 goals in 31 games — fourth on the club — including her first collegiate hat trick during the title-clinching victory over Minnesota-Duluth on Feb. 12. Wellhausen is making a name for herself in the Badgers hockey world, which is a tall order given her family ties. After her birth mother died of breast cancer when she was 8, Baylee’s father Kevin married the former Christina Granato, whose brothers Tony and Don now coach the Wisconsin men’s team. What’s it like having two doting uncles not only on campus, but headquartered in the same Kohl Center/ LaBahn Arena complex? Baylee talked about that more during a recent post-practice chat. Interview by Andy Baggot: What’s the best part about having your uncles here? “Oh, my goodness. I think just being able to see them around at the rink is kind of like a day brightener. I get to talk to them, see how it’s going. They’re always asking about hockey. I get to tell them congrats on a good weekend and they ask me about my weekend. Just seeing them on

SCROLL a daily basis is the best part of it.”

The men’s and women’s hockey offices are in different buildings, yet you’re a regular visitor to men’s headquarters, right? “I am actually, especially last summer when they were getting acclimated to the office, I’d pay them a visit when not many of the men’s players were here. It’s fun to have dinners at Tony’s house, too. It’s like having family here. It’s a really big comfort.”

Tony cooks? “No. Linda (his wife) does the cooking. Tony just invites everyone and Linda does the work.”

Tony said his conversations with you typically focus on the ins and outs — the tactics — of hockey. What drives those conversations? “That’s just a common interest we have right now with each other. From what I hear from my mom, we have very similar mindsets, Tony and I. We think very similarly.”

Can you give me an example? “I’m pretty self-critical. I’m pretty hard on myself if I’m not doing what I think I can be doing out there. My mom says Tony used to be the same way. He’d have a great game and go, ‘I didn’t do that well.’ We have those mindsets. He knows what I’m thinking when I’m out there. The best part is that ever since I was younger, he’s been one to be focused on having fun out there. His only question to me (after games) is, ‘Did you have fun?’ That’s been instilled in my mind growing up. He’s always making sure I’m loving the game.”

When Tony was an NHL assistant in Pittsburgh and you were at Shattuck St. Mary’s (Minneso- ta) School, you had a unique tie. He was working with future Hall of Famer Sidney Crosby and you were rooming with Crosby’s sister, Taylor, who’s now a goaltender at St. Cloud State. Tony said you shared a bond there. What did you get out of that arrangement? “Because Taylor was my roommate, Tony would always ask me how Taylor was doing and I think sometimes he would ask for Sid, which was kind of funny. He wanted the inside scoop on how his sister was doing and not just from his sister’s point of view. That was a pretty cool experience. We’re still friends to this day, Taylor and I, so that’s awesome.”

Is this new family dynamic in any way a burden for you? “I don’t think so, other than I have two pretty protective uncles. But I would never consider that a burden. It’s been surreal to have such great guidance all around me. It feels like I have family here, which is like the coolest thing.”

Tony and Don are regulars at your games when their schedule permits. Do you know where they are in the arena? “It’s funny because they both do different things. Donny will usually stand by the glass (in the north end) for a bit and then move up to watch with my mom or my dad. Tony always stands by the glass. I can tell when he’s watching the game. It always gives me that extra energy boost out there.”

Any critiques? “Tony is very positive. He rarely has anything critical to say. Donny is more of the person I’d ask for advice on that.”

Why? “Just personality-wise. I’m not really sure. He’s very focused. You can tell he’s the calm one and Tony’s like, ‘Go, Bayles, you did great.’ Donny would be the one who would say what I need to work on. I would ask Tony, but Donny would have that advice.”

Tony is famously finishing up his degree work while he coaches this season. Have you ever studied with him? “No. I haven’t done that because we haven’t been in the same class (an online course in human and family studies). But he is taking a class I took last semester. He was asking me all about it. ‘Is it easy? What are the quizzes like?’ It’s really funny seeing him in a class I already took.”

Knowing all that’s on his plate, what do you think about Tony going to school? “I think it’s awesome. He has to, I know, but he’s very into it. I know it’s hard for him to manage all that time with school and hockey — I know that’s a struggle for him — but somehow he does it. He’s just the best student, actually. I think sometimes he’s overly critical of himself. I say, ‘You just have to get through this class and you’re going to be fine.’ He puts everything into it and that’s just because he wants to be such a good role model for his team.”

You knew he was the WCHA Student-Athlete of the Year when he was a senior in 1987, right? “I heard. That makes sense with the way he takes school on even now. He just always wants to be the best he can be.”

You write a weekly blog on behalf of your team for UWBadgers.com. Do you want to be writer? “Yes, I do.”

In what genre? “Goodness, it changes all the time. When I was younger, and even now, writing fiction or a super, awesome novel. I would read ‘Harry Potter’ and want to be like J.K. Rowling forever. Part of me wants to write a best-selling fiction novel. But going the journalism route, I’d love to be writing for a team or in broadcasting, whether it’s the NHL Network. Staying around the hockey atmo- sphere is what I really want to be doing with my life.” ■

n Monday morning, James White traded high fives Owith a New York City stu- dio audience, hugged Kelly Ripa and exchanged banter with David Muir, the anchor of ABC World News Tonight and Ripa’s co-host. White was on the “Live with Kel- ly” marquee with Jeremy Jordan, a Broadway star (“Newsies”), and Kal Penn, who has dabbled in acting, producing and civil service. Penn does many things well. Sort of like White, the former Wisconsin tailback and the de facto Most Valu- able Player of Super Bowl LI after catching a record 14 passes from Tom Brady (the official MVP) and scoring the game-winning touch- down in the New England Patriots’ historic come-from-behind 34-28 overtime win over the Atlanta Fal- cons. White scored three times, ty- ing a Super Bowl record. COURTESY PATRIOTS/DAVID OF THE NEW ENGLAND SILVERMAN Attired conservatively but sharply in a grayish-blue suit and open-col- lared dress shirt, White looked com- fortable and very much at home in the presence of Ripa and Muir, who conducted the first one-on-one television interview with President Donald Trump after taking the oath of office. Almost all of White’s respons- es were accompanied by a throaty laugh — a trademark — along with his smile, which ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ he flashed often while fielding questions and com- ess than two hours after his appearance on ments, including Ripa’s unusual observation, “I’m “Live with Kelly” — one of a plethora of vari- always shocked you guys don’t get more injured Lety/talk show commitments that he has kept hugging each other than tackling each other,” which the last two weeks — the 25-year-old White was overlapped a replay of White’s two-yard scoring run on the phone confirming what he has been saying off right tackle with 11:02 left in OT. about his narrative to everyone on the interview “We’re actually pretty surprised, too — it’s just fun circuit. celebrating with your teammates,” said White, who “You definitely dream about something like this,” added that seeing the video always spurs the same he said Monday. reaction. “It still feels surreal to me. It doesn’t get Like most youngsters, he grew up with the am- old. But I get nervous watching it — every time I see bition of performing on the biggest of stages, the it — like I don’t know what happens.” Super Bowl. And it happened, the dream came true.

DREAMS COME TRUE: SUPER BOWL CHAMPION JAMES WHITE PAGE 2 OF 6 “NO MATTER WHAT, I’M GOING TO BE THE SAME HUMBLE GUY WITH A SMILE ON MY FACE. I’M GOING TO GO TO WORK EVERY DAY AND I’M GOING TO WORK HARD. IT’S THE SAME OLD, SAME OLD, I’M NEVER GOING TO CHANGE.” COURTESY PATRIOTS/ERIC OF THE NEW ENGLAND J. ADLER

But he says his newfound celebrity won’t change yards (6.2) and 45 touchdowns. “I was asked to do who he is. White is adamant about staying ground- a lot of things in the offense and I learned the play- ed, which is how he was raised in Fort Lauderdale, book inside and out and that helped me once I got Florida. here to the NFL. “I’m still the same guy,” White emphasized. “I’m “The Patriots and Wisconsin are similar organiza- not going to change.” tions. They have guys who work hard and put the That can’t be easy considering his burgeoning na- team first. They have guys who go out and just try tional profile, however fleeting. to do their job when they step on the field. Nobody “It’s easy for me,” he countered. “I’m never going cares who gets the credit as long as we get the win.” to change as a person. No matter what, I’m going to White never had any trouble sharing reps or play- be the same humble guy with a smile on my face. ing time with others. It was a way of life with the I’m going to go to work every day and I’m going to Badgers. In 52 career games, he had only 14 starts, work hard. It’s the same old, same old, I’m never 12 his senior year. It was something that he ad- going to change.” dressed after the Patriots selected him in the fourth White has stayed in touch with many of his old round (the 130th pick overall) of the 2014 draft. friends, his former UW teammates. “I just played my role (at UW),” White said then. “I have a group chat with a bunch of guys,” said “And it’s something I have to do once I get to this White, listing tailbacks Melvin Gordon and Montee organization (New England) is play my role. Wher- Ball and defensive lineman Warren Herring, among ever the coach puts me, I’m going to go out there, others. “I talk to them all the time. It’s always good whether it’s special teams or offense or whatever to stay in touch with good friends who helped you they want me to do. I’m going to go out there and along the way.” do everything I can to help the team, just like I did In retrospect, the 5-foot-9, 205-pound White felt at Wisconsin.” his UW training paved the way to being a solid pro. It didn’t hurt that White was familiar with how the “Wisconsin prepared me well,” said White, the Patriots had utilized Kevin Faulk and Danny Wood- fifth-leading rusher in school history with 4,015 head, a couple of products of the New England

DREAMS COME TRUE: SUPER BOWL CHAMPION JAMES WHITE PAGE 3 OF 6 system, interchangeable running backs. During his second-leading receiver with 60 catches. rookie season, White played in only three games White has always had confidence in his hands (nine carries) and was inactive for Super Bowl XLIX, and route-running even though the Badgers rarely a 28-24 win over Seattle. Shane Vereen, in the threw in his direction early on. Over his first three Faulk/Woodhead mold, had 11 catches for the Pats. seasons, he had 34 catches in 39 games. As a se- “I wasn’t expecting to play at all (against the Sea- nior, he came under the guidance of a new UW of- hawks),” he said. “But it was still a great experience. fensive coordinator (Andy Ludwig) and got far more I saw what it took to get to a Super Bowl. I saw all involved in the passing attack. White caught 39 the work that the guys put in. Players have different passes on his way to setting UW’s career records roles. Each player is different. But everybody does for receptions (73) and receiving yards (670) by a their role and nobody complains. When our number running back. is called as a running back, we just try to answer it.” “I learned a lot of things at Wisconsin,” he said. “I After Vereen signed as a free agent with the can’t pick out just one.” New York Giants and Dion Lewis tore up his knee, When he arrived in New England, it was just a White’s number got called more frequently during matter of time, he figured, before he would get a the 2015 season. He wound up with 40 receptions, chance to prove himself. “I didn’t have any doubts,” including 10 for 115 yards against the Philadelphia he said of his abilities to contribute. “I just contin- Eagles. As it turned out, it was a foreshadowing of ued to work and continued to show the coaches what was to come. This past year, he was the Pats’ what I could do. And they found a role for me.” That role obviously expand- COURTESY PATRIOTS/KEITH OF THE NEW ENGLAND NORDSTROM ed against Atlanta. But he didn’t treat the lead-up to the Super Bowl any differently than any oth- er work week. “I just wanted to be accountable,” he said. “If my num- ber is called, I’ll be ready. I stayed ready, so I didn’t have to get ready. Nobody knows on our team who’s going to get the most snaps, who’s going to get the most balls. Every- body is ready for the moment.” Nobody more so than Brady, a five-time Super Bowl champion. “He works extremely hard at his craft, he’s such a competitor, he has that drive to win,” White said. “He’s everything that you could ask for in a teammate and a play- er. He’s the greatest of all-time.” Returning the compliment, Brady praised White at the Super Bowl MVP news conference the day after Super Bowl LI: “James is everything you want in a team- mate. Dependable. Consistent. Durable. The best attitude. We kept going to him. I think that speaks for itself.”

DREAMS COME TRUE: SUPER BOWL CHAMPION JAMES WHITE PAGE 4 OF 6 Brady has gone so far as to compare White to his “THE PATRIOTS AND WISCONSIN ARE son, Jack, who’s 9. SIMILAR ORGANIZATIONS. THEY HAVE GUYS “He (White) just does everything right and you WHO WORK HARD AND PUT THE TEAM can never get mad at him,” Brady said. “Even when FIRST. THEY HAVE GUYS WHO GO OUT AND he doesn’t make the play, he feels worse about it JUST TRY TO DO THEIR JOB WHEN THEY STEP than you do.” ON THE FIELD. NOBODY CARES WHO GETS Truth be told, White wasn’t even aware that he THE CREDIT AS LONG AS WE GET THE WIN.” had 14 catches (on 16 targets). “I knew I was catch- ing a lot of passes, but I wasn’t keeping track of the number,” he said. “I was just trying to be open every single time and be a viable option. I was just playing hard for my teammates.” White is hoping to run into some of his old team- mates this weekend when he returns to Madison. He will be introduced during Sunday’s basketball game between Maryland and Wisconsin at the Kohl Center. “It will be special to get back with Badger nation,” he said. This won’t be White’s last trip to the UW campus. He still has work to do on his undergraduate degree and he has promised his parents and grandmother that he will graduate. “Yes, it’s important to me and I will get it done,” he stressed. “Everyone in my family has been sup- portive.” His mom and dad were in Houston. And after the locker room cleared out following the Super Bowl, White spoke on the phone with his grandmother. “She let me know how proud she was of me and how many phone calls she was getting back home,” he said. “She told me how many times she was praying on her rosary, 100 times a day. Her prayers were answered, I guess.” So were his. “I don’t really have one quote that I live by,” White said. “I just try to do everything in my life with a smile on my face. I’m blessed to have this opportunity that I have. A lot of people would die to be in my shoes. I don’t take it for granted.” That’s why he has been such a willing soul on the talk circuit despite his shyness. “How many interviews have I done? Too many,” he said, laughing. “I can’t count. There have been way too many. I’m pretty reserved, I don’t talk too much. But that’s what comes with it (a Super Bowl win and the type of game he had). It’s a once-in-a- JOHN FISHER lifetime opportunity. So I’m enjoying all of it.” White loved Walt Disney World, a three-hour drive from his home.

DREAMS COME TRUE: SUPER BOWL CHAMPION JAMES WHITE PAGE 5 OF 6 “I’ve been plenty of times,” he said. “But this was NFL championship game. “I didn’t know that,” White something I will remember forever.” said innocently. “But I heard of Ameche.” His most enjoyable interview was with Conan And, now, thanks to that short but determined O’Brien, the TBS late night talk show host. Since run, millions have heard of White. the Super Bowl MVP is no longer awarded a truck “As soon as they called the play in overtime, and I — Brady gave his from SB XLIX to cornerback Mal- knew that I was getting the ball, I felt like everything colm Butler, who intercepted Russell Wilson on the went into slow motion,” White said. “It was like, ‘I’m goal line — O’Brien, who has strong Boston ties, about to get a chance to win this game with the ball presented White with a white Ford F-150. “That’s in my hands.’ And I was going to find any way to get pretty cool, I wasn’t expecting that at all,” he said. into the end zone.” So, what was White expecting after the Patriots There’s not another carry of that magnitude in his trailed by 25 points in the third quarter? resume. Understandably so. But he does have a fa- “I just stopped looking at the scoreboard after vorite run at Wisconsin and it wasn’t his school-record awhile,” he said. “I knew if the defense continued 92-yard TD dash against Indiana at Camp Randall Sta- to stop their offense and if we continued to score dium. “But that was a pretty cool deal,” he conceded. points, we’d continue to get more into the game Instead, he hit rewind to his freshman year and and eventually we were within striking distance. a matchup against No. 1-ranked Ohio State. David Once Dont’a Hightower got that strip sack (of At- Gilreath electrified the home crowd by returning lanta’s Matt Ryan) that gave us the energy we need- the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown as ed. And, then, we got the ball first in overtime.” the Badgers jumped out to a 21-0 lead. The Buck- What was talked about in the huddle before the eyes didn’t surrender, though. They fought back. game-winning march? In the fourth quarter, Ohio State made it a one “There really wasn’t much said,” he recounted. possession game, 21-18, after an impressive 19- “We just wanted to end it on that drive.” play, 94-yard scoring drive that was capped with a On Monday, he was quizzed on the ending; his successful two-point conversion. But the Badgers two-yard TD run – “I think everyone has one of answered by traveling 73 yards, with White cover- those toss plays in their playbook,” he said – that ing the final 12 yards to the end zone. put White in the history book with another former “It was the game-sealing touchdown,” White said. Wisconsin running back, Alan Ameche, who rushed “That’s what made it special.” for the winning score in sudden death of the 1958 Speaks for itself. TOM PENNINGTON

DREAMS COME TRUE: SUPER BOWL CHAMPION JAMES WHITE PAGE 6 OF 6 DAVID STLUKA

PHENOMENAL

Badgers earn WCHAFUN crown in record-breaking fashion Dominating shutout of UMD another feather in the cap of UW seniors BY ANDY BAGGOT ■ UWBADGERS.COM INSIDER

isconsin women’s hockey coach Mark After the hard hat award was dispensed — on the Johnson sounded like a man reading off day of her 50th career shutout, Desbien gave it to Wa menu, but the smile on his face Sun- Wellhausen, who recorded her first career hat trick day afternoon fairly bellowed. — Johnson spoke in an easy, conversational tone. The top-rated Badgers had just clinched their “That was fun,” he said of the romp. second consecutive Western Collegiate Hockey As- “We earned it,” he said of the trophy. sociation regular-season title with an 8-0 thumping Johnson then shined a light on the unexpected of second-ranked Minnesota-Duluth at sold-out blowout, which came one day after the clubs du- LaBahn Arena. eled to a taut 1-1 overtime draw and engaged in The keepsake triumph came amid the intense a 12-round shootout before freshman defenseman emotions of Senior Day and included milestones Mekenzie Steffen scored to give the Badgers an ex- for goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens and left winger tra point for the standings. Baylee Wellhausen. Wisconsin (27-2-2 overall, 22-2-2 with 70 points Not long after first-year WCHA commissioner Ka- in the WCHA) dominated the Bulldogs on the shot tie Million presented the championship trophy to chart (48-15) as well as face-offs (41-24) on the way UW senior center and captain Sydney McKibbon — to one of its most impressive wins of the season. the sixth time that exchange has taken place since It was an appropriate backdrop to honor the six 2006 — Johnson joined his players in a happy, but seniors — Desbiens, McKibbon, defenseman Mellis- reserved dressing room. sa Channell, winger Mikayla Johnson, winger Sarah

PHENOMENAL FUN: BADGERS EARN WCHA CROWN PAGE 1 OF 3 Nurse and defenseman Jenny Ryan — who got loud “I GIVE OUR SENIOR CLASS AND OUR ovations in a pregame ceremony from the crowd of LEADERSHIP GROUP A LOT OF CREDIT,” 2,273. JOHNSON SAID. “IT’S A TOUGH TASK AND IT The Badgers, unbeaten in their last 14 games, have been ranked No. 1 in the national polls every TAKES A LOT OF COMMITMENT, TAKES A LOT week since September. They close out the regular OF CONSISTENCY, TAKES A LOT OF DEDICA- season next Saturday and Sunday with a series at TION ON THE PART OF THE PLAYERS.” defending NCAA champion Minnesota. “I give our senior class and our leadership group Twice she went hard to the net and was rewarded a lot of credit,” Johnson said of core that includes with tap-ins of rebounds. The other goal came off a his oldest daughter. “Knowing at the beginning of nifty tip-in just outside the crease. the year that everyone looks at you and puts you In the process, Wellhausen became the fourth in up there (at the top of the rankings), it’s a tough her family to record a hat trick on behalf of the Bad- task and it takes a lot of commitment, takes a lot of gers. consistency, takes a lot of dedication on the part of Her uncle, Tony Granato, had two of them long the players.” before he became the UW men’s hockey coach — in Quality depth helps. Only one senior, Nurse, 1983 and ’84 — while uncle Don had one in 1990, showed up on the scoresheet and that was for a well before he became the associate head coach of secondary assist. the men’s team. Seven of the goals came from juniors — in addi- ▼ TAP TO WATCH - Badgers Capture WCHA Title

tion to Wellhausen, right DAVID STLUKA winger Annie Pankows- ki had two, giving her 14 in the winning streak and a team-best 20 overall — while freshman center Abby Roque had the win- ner and two assists. “That was a good game today,” Johnson said after his club collected the 12th WCHA title, regular-sea- son or playoff, in program history. “We talk about puck pressure, supporting one another, getting bod- ies in front of the net and the result is we got some nice goals and everyone got a chance to contribute.” Wellhausen prompted seven patrons from the 10th sellout of the season to launch their hats onto DAVID STLUKA the ice when she finished off her three-goal outing late in the second period.

PHENOMENAL FUN: BADGERS EARN WCHA CROWN PAGE 2 OF 3 Another uncle, Kevin, also had a hat trick for Wis- “I can’t give you my stick,” she said. “It’s lucky.” consin, that coming in 1997. Johnson refuses to glorify statistics, but the guy “I’m pretty speechless,” Wellhausen said. who had 125 goals in 125 career games at UW and The UW onslaught came against an excellent another 219 conversions in the NHL seems some- goaltender, Maddie Rooney, who had allowed only what in awe of the milestone Desbiens reached in six goals in her previous seven starts. 111 career starts. The only real drama after the first 25 minutes was “They’re just phenomenal,” he said. whether Desbiens would nudge her NCAA-record Speaking of which, the Badgers lead the country shutout record to another in offense (4.16 goals per extraordinary level. game) and defense (0.94 She did so with 15 saves, “THAT’S A TOUGH TROPHY TO WIN,” goals allowed per game). giving her five shutouts in JOHNSON SAID. “IT TAKES A LONG, After a great weekend on her careervs. the Bulldogs, LONG TIME TO GET IT.” special teams — 2-for-5 12 for the season and 29 on the power play, 6-for- in her career at home. 6 killing penalties — they “I saved it for today, actually,” Desbiens joked of rank third nationally in those two categories. the milestone. Johnson looked around the dressing room at his In a more serious tone, Desbiens acknowledged players and congratulated them on winning the that 50 career shutouts are an impressive feat. WCHA crown. “I cannot believe it,” she said. “That’s a tough trophy to win,” he said. “It takes a Desbiens lingered a long time on the ice follow- long, long time to get it.” ing the game before exiting and greeting a cluster Johnson also thanked the seniors “not only for of young fans who presented her with flowers. She what you’ve done on the ice but off it.” laughed when one of the children asked for her One trophy has been secured. Time to chase stick. some more. DAVID STLUKA USA TODAY

PHENOMENAL FUN: BADGERS EARN WCHA CROWN PAGE 3 OF 3 INSIDE MEN’S BASKETBALL BY MIKE LUCAS ▪ UWBADGERS.COM SENIOR WRITER DAVID STLUKA

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Home Streak Snapped with Loss to Northwestern Badgers learning lessons from loss Breaking down Wisconsin’s Big Ten loss, looking ahead to Michigan

ADISON, Wis. — Mike Lucas had a front-row seat for TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE Wisconsin’s 66-59 loss to Northwestern. Here is what Mhe saw from courtside. “I’VE GOT YOUR BACK, SHOWY” Wisconsin’s Zak Showalter was the principal defender on Northwestern’s Bryant McIntosh, one of the most unsung point guards in college basketball. A year ago, the 6-foot-3, 185-pound McIntosh had 28 points in the Wildcats’ 70-65 win over the Badgers at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston. Proving it was not a fluke, McIntosh had 25 points, 7 rebounds SCROLL and 7 assists here Sunday night snapping the UW’s 19-game winning streak at the Kohl Center. In the process, McIntosh, a junior from Greensburg, Indiana, is only the second player in Northwestern history to go over 500 career assists. McIntosh has scored 20 or more points in four straight and five of the last seven. He was a handful for Showalter who ad-

mitted as much afterwards. TWEETS VIEW TO REQUIRED CONNECTION INTERNET Asked if he could have done anything differently, Showalter said, “There’s always something else I can do. When I go back SOCIAL MEDIA: and watch the film, I’ll find other ways to force tougher shots, I guess. He’s a heckuva player. He made a lot of tough ones. He was the best player on the court tonight.” The Badgers didn’t have an answer for McIntosh. Neither did Showalter. “So it’s not what I wanted to do,” Showalter said, “and he took advantage of it.” Without missing a beat, Nigel Hayes stepped in and came to Showalter’s defense, pointing out the volume of shots taken. McIntosh took 23 shots (10-of-23) to score 25 points. “Showy did a great job,” Hayes asserted. “I don’t want this to be all about McIntosh. He was a good player. But it’s not like he walked up and down the court and had his way. On a large portion of his shots, Showy did a tremendous job on him. We’d gladly give someone 25 points on 23 shots.” Showalter turned to Hayes and said, “That’s a teammate right there.” That was no slight on McIntosh, either. In fact, Wisconsin coach Greg Gard had the same things to say about McIntosh as Showalter. “He’s just a heckuva player — best player on the floor (Sun- day) hands-down,” Gard said. “Went there under-recruited. Got overlooked. He’s hungry. He’s a hard match, he’s a hard person to guard. He’s shifty with the ball … He’s a tough cover. He’s given a lot of people fits.” INSIDE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL BY DIANE NORDSTROM ▪ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS GREG ANDERSON

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Badgers Earn First Big Ten Win of the Season Future is bright for Badgers basketball Freshman class provides strong base to build success on the court

he future is bright for the Badger women’s basketball TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE team if this year’s freshman class is anything to go by. T The class of Courtney Fredrickson, Suzanne Gilreath, Gabby Gregory, Abby Laszewski, and Kendra Van Leeuwen has

been a key to some late-season success. Fredrickson, a 6-foot-2 forward, and Van Leeuwen, a 5-10 guard, have started at least 22 games for the Badgers, marking the first time since the 2006-07 season that two freshmen have earned starting roles. Van Leeuwen has started all 25 games and leads the team

SCROLL with 92 assists, which ranks eighth on the UW freshman season record list. The Brantford, Ontario, native adds 4.1 points and 3.3 rebounds per game while leading the squad with 32 steals. She shoots a Badger-best 43.5 percent (20-46) from 3-point range. Fredrickson has played in all 25 games, starting 22. She ranks

fifth on the team with 6.2 points per game and fourth with 4.2 re- TWEETS VIEW TO REQUIRED CONNECTION INTERNET bounds per game. The Minnetonka, Minnesota, native picked up

her first career double-double with 15 points and a career-high SOCIAL 10 rebounds vs. Nebraska on Feb. 9. She followed that up with MEDIA: 11 points at Michigan on Sunday, 13 points and six rebounds per game over the last two contests. A 5-4 guard, Gilreath is on track to break the UW freshman season record for 3-pointers. She has 51 triples, needing just two more to tie the Badger rookie season record set by Jolene Anderson in 2004-05. The Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, native has scored in double figures in 10 games this season, ranking fourth on the team with 7.0 points per game. Gregory and Laszewski have played in 23 and 21 games, re- spectively, averaging 9.7 and 7.5 minutes per game. A 5-8 guard, Gregory averages 3.3 points per game, while Laszewski, a 6-3 forward, adds 1.3 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. The final member of the class is Grace Mueller of Madison, who is redshirting this season after suffering a back injury. ■ INSIDE MEN’S HOCKEY BY ANDY BAGGOT ▪ UWBADGERS.COM INSIDER DAVID STLUKA

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Badger Hockey Digest Five takeaways from series vs. PSU Badgers’ sweep by Nittany Lions highlights improvements and need for more Move top up 2 & bottom down 1

ive takeaways on the Wisconsin men’s hockey team fol- TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE lowing its series with Penn State: F One: UW has shown so much improvement this season that it’s easy to forget that its margin for error has largely re-

mained unchanged, especially in the defensive end. It’s small. That point was driven home during 6-3 and 5-2 losses to the Nittany Lions at the Kohl Center. The Badgers (15-10-1 over- all, 8-4 with 24 points in the Big Ten) have scored 94 goals and allowed 86 so far. While that scoring differential of 0.31 ranks 26th among the 60 NCAA Division I programs, their goals

SCROLL against average of 3.31 puts them at No. 48. Two: Here’s some perspective about that unsightly defensive scoring average: There are 26 Division I teams currently yield- ing three or more goals per game and only two others besides UW have winning overall records (Ohio State, 14-8-6; Nebras- ka-Omaha, 15-12-5). One more thing about that defensive scoring average.

Three: TWEETS VIEW TO REQUIRED CONNECTION INTERNET A good deal of it can be attributed to the fact the Badgers have faced five of the top 10 offenses in the nation. Penn State (4.27) SOCIAL is first, Ohio State (4.14) is second, Minnesota (3.89) is fourth, MEDIA: Nebraska-Omaha (3.38) is ninth and Boston College (3.32) is No. 10. Those four combined to score 40 goals in 10 games against UW, which was 4-5-1 in those matchups. Four: The Penn State series marked the first time the Badgers dropped consecutive games this season — remarkable given their 12-45-13 overall record from 2014 to ’16 — and the first time they didn’t have a single lead during a series. UW remained 12-1-1 when it scores first, 8-0 when it leads after one period and 13-0 when it has the advantage after two periods. Five: Despite the back-to-back losses, Wisconsin sits in sole possession of second place in the Big Ten behind leader Minne- sota (18-8-2, 9-3, 27 points) with eight regular-season games left. The last time the Badgers lifted a conference trophy was when they won the inaugural Big Ten tournament title in 2014. Grant Besse was a freshman winger on that squad and every one of his eight goals came in a win. Getting Besse, now a senior assistant captain, untracked seems to be a major priority for first- year UW head coach Tony Granato heading into a home series with Michigan. Besse hasn’t scored a goal in 2017, a stretch of 10 outings in which he has 21 shots and is minus-5. The last five games have seen Granato start four different left wingers with Besse and sophomore center Seamus Malone — junior Cameron Hughes, freshman Max Zimmer, junior Matt Ustaski and junior Ryan Wagner — with an eye toward coaxing Besse (8 goals, 16 assists, 24 points) into a groove. If the Badgers are going to continue to contend for another championship, it’s vital they get more out of Besse. ■ INSIDE WOMEN’S HOCKEY BY A.J. HARRISON ▪ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS DAVID STLUKA

▲ TAP TO WATCH - 3 Takeaways with Women’s Hockey Border Battle awaits No. 1 Wisconsin After clinching WCHA title, UW has a lot to play for this weekend

he No. 1 Wisconsin women’s hockey team checked one TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE box off its to-do list last weekend, winning the WCHA Tregular season title with two games to spare in confer- ence play.

After earning a 1-1 tie with No. 2 Minnesota Duluth on Sat- urday, the Badgers blitzed the Bulldogs 8-0 on Sunday to claim the program’s second-straight WCHA regular-season crown and its sixth overall. But there’s still unfinished business for the Badgers as they wrap up the regular season with a road Border Battle at Minne-

SCROLL sota. “This weekend is huge for us and it will be a confidence builder heading into the playoffs,” senior captain Sydney McKibbon said. “We need to come out flying and set the pace of the game be- cause we know that the Golden Gophers will be ready to play us.” The Golden Gophers, who currently sit in second-place in the WCHA standings, are one of only two teams to beat UW this INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS TWEETS VIEW TO REQUIRED CONNECTION INTERNET year, as Minnesota earned a 2-0 on Dec. 3 in Madison. Howev- er the Badgers responded with an 8-2 win, the largest-ever win SOCIAL against the Golden Gophers, in the series finale. MEDIA: “I’m expecting a hard fought battle,” freshman Abby Roque said. “It’s a huge rivalry and I know both teams are going to want these wins and no one is going to let up in these games.” “These games will help us prepare for our playoff series the following weekend,” UW head coach Mark Johnson said. “We’re looking forward to the challenge. It’s always fun to play Minne- sota, whether we play them here at LaBahn Arena or up there at Ridder Arena. They are always entertaining and bring the best out of both teams.” This also marks the second-straight year UW has ended the regular season with a road trip to the Twin Cities after clinching the regular-season title. “Even though we clinched the WCHA title, in the bigger pic- ture we still have a lot of things at stake,” Johnson said. “De- pending on the outcome of the two games this weekend, it can have ramifications down the road.” INSIDE SOFTBALL BY KELLI GRASHEL ▪ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS JACK MCLAUGHLIN

Badgers starting strong as unified group Undefeated squad heads into challenging road weekend in Florida

n his famous collection of fables “The Jungle Book,” Rudy- TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE ard Kipling shares the profound idea of the “Law of the Jun- Igle.” Notably, one of the poems’ most famous lines is “for the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is

the pack.” After opening weekend, this year’s Wisconsin softball team echoes Kipling’s strong pack of wolves. Solid pitching heavily relies on the defensive support system in the field and that was evident in every game over the weekend at the UNI-Dome Classic. Any uneasiness about the Badgers’

SCROLL new pitching staff was quickly settled when freshman pitcher Kaitlyn Menz took the mound. Menz was the star of the show over the weekend behind a great defensive effort from the field. She threw a complete game shutout in her first time donning a Badger uniform and picked up three of the four wins on the weekend.

“Kate Menz was so mentally tough on the mound all weekend,” TWEETS VIEW TO REQUIRED CONNECTION INTERNET Wisconsin head coach Yvette Healy said. “She and Chloe Miller played outstanding in front of their hometown Iowa crowds.” SOCIAL Launching her senior season on a high note, Chloe Miller com- MEDIA: piled a .615 batting average and 1.000 slugging percentage with five runs and eight hits, including a home run and two doubles with four RBI. Easily the best opening weekend of her career, she was responsible for the team’s bursts of strength in Satur- day and Sunday’s games. Miller wasn’t the only senior putting up some nice numbers. Sara Novak tallied three RBI off of four hits, including one dou- ble. Her .400 batting average was only tied with one other bat- ter — a fresh face to the field: Jordan Little. Little began her Badger career with two runs and two hits, including a double. Junior standout Kelsey Jenkins was right behind all three of them in slugging percentage (.467) after she delivered the game-winning two-RBI home run against Drake on Sunday night. “Kelsey Jenkins showed so much leadership and composure at second,” Healy added. “She hit the ball hard all weekend and really deserved the payoff home run in the eighth.” The road ahead doesn’t get easier as the Badgers have their toughest opponents to date at the Michele Smith Pediatric Can- cer Foundation Invitational. Wisconsin will face 16th-ranked James Madison and 24th-ranked South Florida, fresh from a win against No. 6 Michigan during opening weekend. As the lineup solidifies and team grows closer, look for many exciting components coming together for the softball squad this year. With a strong freshman pitcher on the mound and a sturdy pack behind her, this team is ready to take on the trying chal- lenges ahead. ▪ INSIDE SWIMMING & DIVING BY KASSIDY FRANZ ▪ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Whitney Hite Weekly Presser: Birthdays and Superstars Kinney relishes key role on swim relays Senior key to Badgers’ highly-ranked relays heading into Big Ten meet

hampionship season is officially in full swing for the No. TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE 12 Wisconsin women’s swimming and diving program, Cwhich is set for four days of competition at the Big Ten championships.

The meet begins Wednesday with finals of the 200-yard med- ley relay and 800 freestyle relay and then continues on through Saturday at the Boilermaker Aquatic Center on the Purdue cam- pus in West Lafayette, Indiana. The battle for the conference championship will be no cake- walk for any team, as four other Big Ten squads are ranked in

SCROLL the Top 25 of the season’s final coaches poll. Michigan leads the Big Ten at No. 6, followed by the 12th-ranked Badgers, No. 15 Indiana, No. 20 Minnesota and No. 22 Ohio State. One senior who is looking to make a splash at her final Big Ten meet is Chase Kinney, who is individually seeded second in the 50 freestyle and fourth in the 100 free. “This is my last Big Tens so I want to leave a mark,” Kinney INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS TWEETS VIEW TO REQUIRED CONNECTION INTERNET said. “This is the team that I want to remember when I’m done swimming, so that’s pretty cool and I just want to go out with a SOCIAL good note.” MEDIA: Kinney has been the headline freestyle sprinter for the Bad- gers the past two seasons. She has cemented her place as the freestyle specialist in both the 200 and 400 medley relays and is the all-important lead-off swimmer for the 200 and 400 free relays. So, despite holding high seedings in her individual events, Kin- ney prefers to focus on the team aspect of the Big Ten champi- onships. “That’s my favorite part about it, that it’s not just individual because that would make me really nervous,” Kinney said. “I love the team aspect of it and that I know that me swimming is going to be more than just me, and that it’s for the team. “Relays are my favorite because I think it’s just fun to be able to be a part of a team.” INSIDE TRACK & FIELD BY A.J. HARRISON ▪ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS JOHN NEPOLITAN

Badgers host Shell Shocker meet Friday Wisconsin hosts final indoor tune-up before Big Ten Championships

W Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Mick TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE Byrne’s goal for the Wisconsin track and field teams at UFriday’s final regular season indoor meet is clear — per- form well to earn a spot at Big Tens.

That’s because the Badgers will send student-athletes that rank in the top-15 on the Big Ten performance list to the con- ference’s indoor meet next weekend in Geneva, Ohio. “We have a lot of student-athletes that are in the 15-20 range on the Big Ten list,” Byrne said. “Friday’s meet is their last op- portunity to move up the order into the top-15 and punch their

SCROLL ticket for Big Tens.” Wisconsin has enjoyed a successful season to date, as 14 stu- dent-athletes have cracked the program’s top-10 lists, including junior Banke Oginni, who moved up to second in program his- tory in the weight throw with a toss of 70 feet, 10 1/2 inches, earlier this year. “I think this season has been a great one for all of us,” Oginni, INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS TWEETS VIEW TO REQUIRED CONNECTION INTERNET one of six captains for UW this year, said. “We set our founda- tion early and continued to rise and get better whether it be with SOCIAL personal bests, NCAA-qualifying marks and times and growth.” MEDIA: “Across the board we have had some huge performances,” se- nior McKena Ramos said. “These big performances, along with a lot of the people on the team hitting new personals bests for themselves, helps creates a ‘pull’ for the rest of the team to want to compete hard and do well for themselves to share the success.” INSIDE WRESTLING BY KELLI GRASHEL ▪ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS PAM RUSCHELL

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Wisconsin Wrestling Takes Down #14 Michigan Badgers peaking at right time in Big Ten Wisconsin’s wrestling team wins two crucial conference dual matchups

f there’s a perfect time to turn up the heat and start hitting TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE their stride, the time is now for the Badgers. Finding its groove Iheaded into the final duals of the season, Wisconsin picked up wins over both Purdue and No. 14 Michigan this past weekend.

The Badgers will close out the season with home duals against Michigan State on Friday and Central Michigan on Sunday. The Badgers’ 5-5 dual record belies the team’s strength and skill this season. Consider this: All five of Wisconsin’s losses came at the hands of top-15 teams, while four of the five were to top-10 teams and three were to top-five. The Badgers per-

SCROLL formed well in each dual and have battled with some of the nation’s top wrestlers. The tough losses have provided plenty of hard-learned les- sons. And through those lessons, knowledge has helped the team continue to develop. This cycle continues up to postsea- son when all that growth and development will truly be put to

the test. There’s still plenty more to learn, of course, but the TWEETS VIEW TO REQUIRED CONNECTION INTERNET Badgers’ development so far is strong.

Both of the Badgers’ weekend duals promised exciting toss-up SOCIAL matches and both duals could’ve easily gone the other way, but MEDIA: UW fought back against travel and a quick turnaround to come out on top — 22-12 over Purdue and 19-18 over Michigan. UW took six of 10 matches against Purdue, including two bo- nus-point wins. It was just the first of two bonus-point victories on the weekend for Connor Medbery, who has been relentless in his race to the top. Medbery’s fall against Michigan was just one of two bonus-point wins over UM and one of five total wins for Bucky. TJ Ruschell and Hunter Ritter were the other Badgers to pick up bonus points over the weekend for Wisconsin. In addition to Medbery, both Ritter and Andrew Crone were the only other Badgers to sweep the weekend. Crone stuck true to his “Comeback Crone” nickname and hammered out two one- point wins to give him 23 total wins on the season. Ritter also had an impressive showing against a tough field, improving his Big Ten record to 3-3. There were some heartbreakers too, there always will be. Both Johnny Jimenez and Eli Stickley earned close losses due to sud- den victory over the weekend against two talented opponents. Against Michigan, the most highly-anticipated match was be- tween No. 3 Isaac Jordan and No. 2 Logan Massa. A rematch of the 165-pound title match at the Cliff Keen Invitational, Jordan took an early lead with a takedown. Both wrestlers took the lead back and forth, drawing the crowd to its feet. Tied up with only seven seconds on the clock, a Massa escape and riding time gave Michigan the heart-stopping 9-7 decision. Badger fans can expect Jordan to go very far again this sea- son, thanks to his drive, will to win and pure wrestling knowl- edge. Both Jordan and Medbery’s talents stand out in Wiscon- sin’s history. Many programs won’t see talents like both of these wrestlers for many years, let alone in the same class. It’s been a spectacle to watch and Badger fans have one last chance to see them in action at the UW Field House on Friday and Sunday. ▪