CONTENTS AUGUST 24, 2016 ▪ VOLUME 7, ISSUE 2 DAVID STLUKA

TAKING THEIR PLACE From a coach that continued a culture of championships on the ice to a record-breaking receiver to a women’s soccer pioneer, we welcome eight new members to the UW Athletic Hall of Fame.

FEATURES LUCAS AT LARGE IN [FOCUS] MOVING ON The week's best photos

Dan Beunning and Peter Konz are BY THE NUMBERS each following their own path and Facts and figures on UW finding their way after careers in pro football have come to a close. WHAT TO WATCH Where to catch the Badgers USA TODAY SPORTS ASK THE BADGERS OLYMPICS Who will be in the HOF? GWEN GETS IT DONE BADGERING Lauren Carlini (Volleyball) Four years after a flat tire derailed her Olympic dream, nothing was INSIDE FOOTBALL going to stand between Gwen Jor- Cooperating for care gensen and a gold medal in Rio. INSIDE-SCROLL MEN’S FOR TRACKMORE- Ziemek already thinking 2020 Wisconsin Athletic Communications Kellner Hall, 1440 Monroe St., Madison, WI 53711

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© 2016 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. All rights reserved worldwide. LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ▪ UWBADGERS.COM Linemen adjusting to life after football an Buenning and Peter “I feel pretty good,” said Buen- Brooks Bollinger. Konz will be in the dis- ning, 34. “I’ve had two post-ca- “It was a numbers game (in Dcussion. Rest assured, it reer surgeries and I probably Chicago),” said Buenning, a will happen at some point in the could have had more. I try to Green Bay native. “They wanted future for the former Wisconsin keep it together by staying fit someone younger and I couldn’t offensive linemen and first-team and going to the chiropractor.” catch on anywhere else. All-Americans. “I feel so much better,” said “At the time, my shoulders They may not be locks for the Konz, 27. “I was told by the were aching, I couldn’t lift a lot UW Athletic Hall of Fame, the doctors that every pound you and my knees were in bad shape. focus of this week’s Varsity. But take off your body, it’s like eight That made the decision easy to their names will come up for pounds off the knees and ankles, move on.” consideration and their creden- and that’s where I needed to But he admitted that it was tials will be discussed. take it off.” hard to leave the game and ad- Until then, they will contin- Buenning, a fourth-round draft just without it. ue to adjust to a life without pick of the Tampa Bay Bucca- “I worked, it seemed, my whole football; a “normal” life without neers in 2005, hung around the life to get into football, which excess bulk and weight. From a NFL for four seasons (36 games, is what it takes,” Buenning said. high of 320 pounds, Buenning is 23 starts), including a year with “I didn’t have a huge plan after- 260. From a high of 325, Konz is the Chicago Bears. Before retir- wards. But I had some ideas on 275. ing, he also played for the UFL’s what I was going to do.” Both are on a “high” after slim- Florida Tuskers, whose play-call- For the last couple of years, ming down. er was former UW quarterback Buenning has been selling cars TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Dan Buenning

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

at Neuville Chrysler Dodge Jeep “I think it would be hypocritical in Waupaca. He has three young of me to say no,” Konz said. “It’s “FOOTBALL HAS PROVIDED boys, ages 8, 6, and 3. Will he easy to say that you don’t want ME WITH SO MANY GREAT allow them to play football? your children to get hurt. But it’s OPPORTUNITIES. I’VE PLAYED “I understand how I was at hard to say that they can’t pro- WITH GREAT PLAYERS AND that age,” he said. “If they have vide a life for themselves. GREAT BUSINESSMEN. I the want-to, if they want to do “Football has provided me with COULDN’T TELL MY SON ‘NO’ something, I say, ‘Go do it.’ It’s so many great opportunities. I’ve BECAUSE I KNOW HOW IT hard enough to get people to played with great players and HAS BENEFITED ME.” do things. I’m not going to stop great businessmen. I couldn’t tell them.” my son ‘No’ because I know how didn’t have expectations on how Konz, who has a 2-year old it has benefited me.” long he’d play in the NFL; he son, was asked the same ques- Konz walked away from the didn’t have a number, not after tion. Will you let him play? sport while he still could. He a blood clot issue in his lungs at Wisconsin. But he knew when it was time to move on (39 games/28 starts; comparable to Buenning’s totals.) “You come to the realization that you’re thankful for every year that you do get (in the NFL),” said Konz, a second-round selection (55th overall) of the Atlanta Falcons in 2012. “When I got to four years and started to have more injury problems, I thought it would be a good time to hang it up. You’re vested, so you’re good on the money side. And you just want- ed to get out before the health problems got more serious, especially with the concussion stuff coming out. “The players aren’t getting any smaller or slower, and that kind of ramps up the injuries.” Buenning was part of a 2012 concussion lawsuit filed against the NFL. Last September, Konz

ICON SPORTSWIRE reached an injury settlement with the Falcons after tearing Peter Konz his ACL in Week 7 of the 2014 season.

LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 2 OF 3 LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ▪ UWBADGERS.COM

“For most people, maybe they Good people.” (since 1990) include Aaron Gib- don’t understand it, but I had my Just being around O-linemen son, Kraig Urbik, Gabe Carimi, dream job,” said Konz, a prod- put a smile on his face, too. John Moffitt, Kevin Zeitler, Travis uct of Neenah. “I had the job “It’s forever,” he said of the Frederick, Kyle Costigan and Rob that I had been preparing for bond with that position group. Havenstein. my whole life and now that has “And I’ve noticed it not just for Upon further review of his pro ended. the years that you were here. It’s career, Konz won’t miss “taking “I have other priorities (his with everybody. It’s with the Dan brutal beatings on Sundays.” wife is a second grade teacher Buennings and Joe Thomases...” To survive, he added, “You in Waunakee). My health and my have to do more than the other family have taken over and I’m guy. You have to make that a pri- trying to balance and juggle that “BEING A PART OF THESE ority; pretty much 365 days. The in finding a job that fits.” EVENTS IS REALLY HELPFUL. guys who do it the best make it Konz found some needed re- IT’S A WAY TO BE INVOLVED the No. 1 thing in their life.” WITHOUT BEING A PLAYER assurance and positive energy What does Konz miss the most OR IN THE SPOTLIGHT. BUT just by being around former UW about putting on the pads and YOU’RE STILL WITH DONORS, football players and boosters playing? STILL WITH THE PROGRAM, earlier this summer at the annu- STILL IN THE COMMUNITY.” “I’d be a fool if I didn’t say win- al Legends of Wisconsin Classic ning,” he emphasized. golf outing at University Ridge. There was a pause to collect “Being a part of these events is Obviously, Thomas will be his thoughts. really helpful,” he said. “It’s a way no-brainer for the UW Athletic “That feel of winning at Camp to be involved without being a Hall of Fame. Three offensive Randall,” he went on. “There is player or in the spotlight. But linemen from the Barry Alvarez nothing like it.” you’re still with donors, still with era have already been inducted: What else will he miss? Espe- the program, still in the commu- Joe Panos, Cory Raymer and cially from the NFL? BRIAN MASON

nity. Chris McIntosh. “The checks,” said Konz, un- DAVID STLUKA “That has helped a lot ― just Besides Buenning and Konz, leashing his Hall of Fame cackle. being back with Wisconsinites. the list of O-line All-Americans “The checks.” ▪

LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 3 OF 3 ASK THE BADGERS

WHO HAVE YOU PLAYED WITH THAT BELONGS IN THE UW ATHLETIC HALL? OF FAME? JACK MCLAUGHLIN JACK MCLAUGHLIN DAVID STLUKA DAVID STLUKA

KELLI BATES ZAK SHOWALTER MIKAYLA JOHNSON DARE OGUNBOWALE Junior ■ Volleyball Senior ■ Men’s Basketball Sr. ■ Women’s Hockey Senior ■ Football Bradley, Ill. Germantown, Wis. Madison, Wis. Milwaukee, Wis.

“Lauren Carlini, be- “Well, I might have “I would have to say “No question, it’s cause why not? She’s some current team- Brianna Decker. She Melvin Gordon. Not our only three-time mates who end up had a great career only are his stats All-American and will in the Hall of Fame here at Wisconsin, unbelievable, but the be our only four-time also, but in terms of winning the Patty number of memora- All-American after past players, I think Kazmaier in 2012. ble moments he pro- this season! She’s Frank Kaminsky and She has gone on to duced just screams one of the best play- Sam Dekker are both not only play for the ‘Hall of Fame.’ Plus he ers ever to wear a no-doubters. They National Women’s was my roommate, Wisconsin volleyball are both incredible Hockey League so I have to show uniform.” talents and took our and be a star in the him some love.” program to places league, but she has it had never been been on an Olympic before, back-to-back team as a key player Final Fours. They for Team USA.” both have to be on the list of best ever at Wisconsin.” GREG ANDERSON BOB CAMPBELL DAVID STLUKA JOHN FISHER BADGERING DAVID STLUKA LAUREN CARLINI

Lauren Carlini enters her final season at Wisconsin with high hopes for ALL ABOUT LAUREN her Badgers volleyball squad. The first three-time All-American in program Class: Senior history, Carlini has been the quarterback of the UW squad at setter. Wis- Position: Setter consin enters the season ranked fourth in the preseason coaches’ poll and Height: 6-2 opens the year at No. 6 Hawai’i on Friday. Hometown: Aurora, Ill. High School: West Aurora Can you believe you’re a senior already? Go to full bio » “No! It’s weird because people always tell you it’s going to come before you know it. When they’re telling you this as QUICK Qs WITH LAUREN What do you do during the national freshmen, you’re like ‘It won’t get here that soon.’ Then in the anthem? blink of an eye here you are, it’s your senior year. It’s your last “Sing, and get pumped up.” shot at everything, the last of everything. It’s kind of cool be- ing in this position, being a leader and being a senior.” Best word to describe you? “Passionate.”

What did you learn from competing with U.S. National Team What’s your theme song? SCROLL at the Pan American Cup this summer? “‘Candyman’ by Zedd and Aloe Blacc.” “It taught me to be comfortable in a different role, in different Can’t live without? positions. I’ve always been used to being the leader and the “My phone or dessert.” big dog on the court. Going to USA (Volleyball), that turned

out not to be the case and I was a sub the last half of the Hobby nobody knows about? “Reading about Navy SEALS.” tournament. I had to get comfortable in a position I’ve never been in before. So it’s coming back and being able to work Favorite cartoon character? myself through different situations, be comfortable with the “Dory from Finding Nemo.” positions I’m in and the types of games we’re playing in. Also Best thing about Madison? being more physical and becoming a better blocker and serv- “How many activities there are to do er, and reading the game a little better.” around town. You can’t get bored here!”

Does this team have a target on its back with its No. 4 ranking? “It depends on the team, if they put a lot of stock on where a team is ranked in the preseason. I know we don’t put a lot of stock into it. I know Hawai’i is ranked sixth but it doesn’t matter to us. They’re just another team and we have to play the best we possibly can to beat them. Does it put a target on our backs? Maybe, but that’s not the thing we think of most.”

What does it mean to have the chance to be the most dec- orated player in school history? “I don’t really think about the individual stuff, that’s not really important to me. I saw today that Haleigh and I were named preseason All-Big Ten and we’re thinking, ‘That’s cool but we haven’t even played a match yet!’ That’s not what is import- ant to me. It’s about the team winning. It’s about working to- gether and going through the process of getting better each and every day. Hopefully that process pays off in the end and we win a Big Ten championship and a national championship. I’m focusing on the little steps, not what accolades come my way.” ■

BY ANDY BAGGOT ■ UWBADGERS.COM INSIDER

ruce Driver didn’t know it at the time, but him a spot in the latest class of Hall of Fame induct- a moment of personal anguish when he was ees. B13 would steer him to the Wisconsin Athletic Driver, 54, played in three straight NCAA title Hall of Fame. games with the Badgers, 1981, ’82 and ’83, and is Driver was cut after trying out for his Toronto-ar- one of 10 players in program history to own multi- ea bantam hockey team ― evaluators thought he ple championship rings (1981, ’83). was too small ― leaving him “devastated.” Driver was a first-team All-American in 1982, was A couple years later, Driver was big enough ― and captain of the ’83 squad and is one of 11 Badgers good enough ― to make the Major Junior club in defensemen to top 100 points in his career. Oshawa, Ontario, but turned down an invitation to That success and production led Driver to be play in one of the premier developmental leagues chosen in the NHL draft in 1981 ― 108th overall by outside of the NHL. New Jersey ― earned him a spot playing for Team “I said, ‘You know what? It’s great. It’s an honor to Canada in the 1984 Winter Olympics and paved play in a Major Junior A league, but I should really the way for a 14-year career in the NHL that in- think about focusing on an education because if I cluded a Stanley Cup championship with the Devils don’t make it as an NHL player, I need something to in 1995. fall back on,’” Driver recalled. “I feel very blessed to have chosen a school that So Driver played another year at the Tier II lev- had that much success,” Driver said. “It allowed me el, drawing the attention of college recruiters. One the chance to be drafted. It also opened up the day, after an 11-4 loss no less, he sat in his living doors for me to have the chance to play for the room and heard Wisconsin men’s coach Bob John- Canadian Olympic Team.” son and his top assistant, Grant Standbrook, offer Driver turned pro after his junior season and said him a full scholarship. he took summer school classes at UW until the Driver accepted and embarked on one of the most ones he needed for graduation were no longer of- decorated careers in UW history, one that earned fered during the summer.

HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2016: BRUCE DRIVER PAGE 2 OF 4 BRIAN MASON

“I FEEL VERY BLESSED TO HAVE CHOSEN A SCHOOL THAT HAD THAT MUCH SUCCESS. IT ALLOWED ME THE CHANCE TO BE DRAFTED. IT ALSO OPENED UP THE DOORS FOR ME TO HAVE THE CHANCE TO PLAY FOR THE CANADIAN OLYMPIC TEAM.”

“Probably more so now, but it’s all good,” he said. “It’s a lot of planning.” Driver is among six UW players who own NCAA and Stanley Cup rings. Joining him are Adam Burish, Chris Chelios, Davis Drewiske, Sean Hill and Dave Maley. Driver was surrounded by elite players and coach- es during his 127-game career at Wisconsin. He played with three fellow Hall of Fame inductees in Behrend (Class of 2006), Chelios (’11) and Theran Welsh (’10). Driver played two seasons for Johnson (1992) and is joined in the current class by Jeff Sau- er, who coached the Badgers from 1983 to 2003. Driver also played with Mike Richter, a 2005 se- lection, for three NHL seasons with the New York Rangers. In addition, Driver had the distinction of serving as captain at UW as well as in the NHL with the Devils. He doesn’t have a degree, but the way Driver sees “Certainly anytime you get that honor it’s some- it, he still came away from his time in Madison with thing that you value,” he said of wearing the “C’’ on a quality education. his sweater. “But every time I’ve been put in that “Everything outside of what I’ve done playing the situation I was surrounded by great teammates. game, I’ve taken stuff I learned at school in Wiscon- That was the situation at Wisconsin.” sin and applied it,” he said. Driver had a front-row seat for one of the most Driver wears multiple hockey-related hats these storied periods in Wisconsin hockey history. days. The 1980-81 national title-winners were known He’s president of the New Jersey Devils alumni as the “Backdoor Badgers” because they were upset association. He’s president, general manager and in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association play- part-owner of the Twin Oaks Ice Rink in Morris- offs by Colorado College and needed some intense town, New Jersey. He also coaches a boys’ midget lobbying by Johnson to secure an at-large berth in team and the Morristown-Beard High School girls’ the NCAA tournament. team. Driver said the 1981-82 squad was the most tal- “I’m always running,” Driver said. ented of the three he played on at UW ― it won 35 It sounds as though Driver is more immersed of 47 games and came away with the WCHA play- in hockey now than he was when he was playing off title ― but fell to mega-rival North Dakota in the 1,030 NHL games from 1984 to ’98. NCAA championship game.

HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2016: BRUCE DRIVER PAGE 3 OF 4 Driver said his father, Gord, and older brother, Gary, helped steer him in the right directions. Gary played hockey and Gord coached in Toronto while working full-time in a Goodyear Tire factory for 45 years. “I learned a lot of valuable lessons from both of them,” Bruce said. Driver and his wife, Tracy, have two grown chil- dren ― Whitney and Dillon ― and two grandchil- dren. The call informing Driver of his induction was jar- ring. “I was surprised, certainly,” he said. “A great honor.” Driver said he still keeps tabs on the Badgers and college hockey in part because he works with kids who aspire to play at that level. Looking back, Driver said he didn’t know a lot about Wisconsin when he was being recruited, but he cherishes the memories he made. “It was a pretty easy decision,” Driver said. A good one, too.

The 1982-83 club prevailed even though John- son left for the NHL ― he became coach of the Calgary Flames ― turning the reins over to Sauer. “The transition was incredibly seamless,” Driver said. It helped that the Badgers had a steady hand in a leadership role in Driver, who finished his college career with 28 goals, 86 assists and 114 points. “He didn’t talk a lot,” Sauer said. “He wasn’t one of those rah-rah guys. I didn’t have to worry about him off the ice and stuff. “I can see where he had such a successful career professionally because he was a professional when he was here, both character-wise and hockey-wise. He was just a very steady player for us. He was one of those guys you could really count on in all situ- ations.” Driver and his granddaughter, Harper

HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2016: BRUCE DRIVER

BY ANDY BAGGOT ■ UWBADGERS.COM INSIDER

ohn Easker churned out his share of milestones rower Carie Graves in ‘91 and national champion while a member of the Wisconsin men’s cross diver D’Lynn Damron-Prins in ’92. Jcountry and track teams. Not only was Branta a four-time All-American in He was the first four-time All-American in the his- cross country and a three-timer in track, she won tory of the cross country program (1981 to ’84). four NCAA track titles, the Big Ten Medal of Honor He was a key member of the first NCAA champi- and was the overall champion in the NCAA cross onship cross country squad in school history (1982). country meet in 1984, leading the Badgers to their He was the first member of the track team to first national championship. win the daunting double ― the 5,000 meters and But being part of the latest induction class ― the 10,000 meters ― in consecutive Big Ten Confer- eight will have their plaques unveiled on the Camp ence outdoor meets (1984, ’85). Randall Memorial Sports Center on Sept. 16 ― But perhaps the most caught Easker unaware. enduring breakthrough in “Totally shocked by it,” Easker’s collegiate career Easker said. “Totally off the came more than three de- radar.” cades after its conclusion. Easker thought his resume He got a surprise midsum- fell short of such an hon- mer phone call from Wis- or because he failed in his consin Director of Athletics primary mission to win an Barry Alvarez telling Easker NCAA individual cross coun- that he was being inducted try title. He finished 27th in the school’s hall of fame. as a freshman and 16th as That meant Easker would a sophomore before closing be joining his wife, Cathy out his career with two top- Branta-Easker, on the UW five spots: third in 1983 and Hall of Fame honor roll. They fourth in ’84. are the first husband-wife But he was part of some- ensemble in school history thing “really special” in 1982 to be so recognized. when the Badgers won their “Not very common, I first NCAA championship. guess,” he said simply. The top five UW finishers Branta-Easker was a bit were all from Wisconsin ― more effusive. Tim Hacker (Menomonee “Oh, wow,” she said. “We Falls) was fourth, Scott made history.” Jenkins (Kenosha) fifth, Easker said it was ful- Easker 16th, Joe Stintzi ly expected when his wife (Menomonee Falls) 23rd and was part of the 12-person Jim Brice (Wrightstown) was Class of 1993. The UW 26th ― a year after Texas-El Hall of Fame welcomed its Paso pulverized the field first honorees in 1991 and with a lineup dominated by Branta was ultimately the foreign talent. fourth woman chosen, join- Easker and Hacker were ing Olympic distance runner sophomores and Jenkins a Cindy Bremser and Olympic freshman in ‘82, which made ▲ PHOTOS - Tap to pause/play ■ Swipe to change

HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2016: JOHN EASKER PAGE 2 OF 3 BRIAN MASON

Easker and Branta are the first husband and wife duo in the UW Athletic Hall of Fame. the feat even more extraordinary. Curiously, one of Easker’s colleagues in the busi- “For the whole running community, we really sur- ness venture is Wayne Solinsky, whose son Chris prised a lot of people and changed recruiting in the won five NCAA individual track titles and helped Midwest,” Easker said. the Badgers to national championships in cross But the sense of euphoria ― and any idea of a country (2005) and indoor track (2007). budding dynasty ― evaporated the following spring Easker and Branta, a teacher and coach at Witten- when UW coach Dan McClimon was killed in a berg-Birnamwood High School, have three children plane crash while on a recruiting trip. ― Bethany, Aaron and Matthew ― and are expect- “In my instance he re- ing to become grandpar- ally was a father figure to ents later this year. Beth- me,” Easker said. “He did “I FELT HE WAS QUALIFIED FOR IT, any, 27, ran for UW-Eau a very good job of keep- SO I WASN’T AS SURPRISED AS HE WAS,” Claire’s NCAA Division ing that group of us very III championship cross close and down to earth. BRANTA-EASKER SAID OF HER HUSBAND. country squad and Aar- It was a very close-knit “HE DID A LOT FOR THE UNIVERSITY AS on was the NCAA Di- group and he played a big FAR AS ATHLETICS GOES.” vision III champion at part in making it that way.” 10,000 meters for UW- Easker members being Eau Claire. a pallbearer at the funeral along with his devastated Easker said his motto for living is simple: Your teammates. How did they get through it? reach should always exceed your grasp. “We really had no choice,” he said. “You have to. “It’s a good way to look a life,” he said. “You’re al- You have no choice but to grow up and learn. We ways trying to better yourself.” had each other to lean on, which helped a lot.” The Easkers continue to follow UW Athletics as Martin Smith took over the men’s cross country best they can, attending the occasional football and program and Ed Nuttycombe assumed the reins of men’s basketball game. Easker said he and his for- the track team. mer teammates are planning a get-together in Mad- UW finished second in the NCAA cross country ison in November. meet in ’83 and fourth in 1984 before returning to But first comes a bit of history. The UW Hall of the top of the podium in ’85. Fame has a father and son ― Bob and Mark John- Easker and Branta, from Slinger, met as freshmen son ― but this marks the first marriage of greatness. and got married in October of 1985. Easker oper- “I felt he was qualified for it, so I wasn’t as sur- ated his own dairy farm until 2008 and now works prised as he was,” Branta-Easker said of her hus- for Jay-Mar, Inc., an agriculture supply company, as band. “He did a lot for the university as far as ath- a certified crop adviser. letics goes.”

HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2016: JOHN EASKER PAGE 3 OF 3

BY MIKE LUCAS ■ UWBADGERS.COM SENIOR WRITER

enry Mason was reminiscing with one of It was fitting, too, that Evans got the Hall of Fame his former wide receivers, Lee Evans, when news from Alvarez ― whom he still addresses as HWisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez “Coach” ― and in the company of Mason, who re- popped his head into the office to say hello. cruited Evans out of Bedford, Ohio. Mason, a longtime Alvarez assistant coach (1995- “He (Mason) brought a competitiveness out of me 2007), now serves as the UW’s director of player that I always had but he brought it out on a much personnel and external operations. Alvarez did a bigger level,” Evans said. “He taught me about com- double-take when he spotted Evans. peting, being aggressive going for the ball and not “I was kind of surprised; I didn’t know he (Evans) being afraid to make mistakes; things that I still re- was going to be up there,” said Alvarez who was on member to this day. his way to see head football coach Paul Chryst. “So “I don’t know where I would be without him.” I told Lee, ‘You saved me a call.’” Alvarez had a similar influence over the 5-10, That’s not all he blurted out. 210-pound Evans. “Coach (Alvarez) says, ‘You know Lee, you’re go- “Coach epitomized how to work like a champion,” ing into the Hall of Fame,’” Mason recalled with a he said. “You really can’t put into words all of the chuckle. It was Evans’ turn for a double-take. knowledge that he was able to give to us as players “It caught me by surprise,” Evans said. “I was more not only on the field but off the field. It’s still great shocked than anything.” to this day to be able to go back to Wisconsin and He really shouldn’t have been. Thirteen years re- Coach Alvarez and Coach Mason are still there.” moved from his Wisconsin playing career, Evans What will never leave anyone is the memory of still ranks as the school’s career leader in receiving the 2002 spring intra-squad game. yards (3,468) and touchdowns (27). His 175 recep- “That was something,” Evans said, “that changed tions are second only to the 202 registered by Jar- my life forever.” ed Abbrederis and Brandon Williams. ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ DAVID STLUKA

HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2016: LEE EVANS PAGE 2 OF 5 liding effortlessly over the middle of the and tried to get back on the field for that next sea- field on a post route, Evans went up for a son, I just wasn’t able to. And it forced me to un- Gthrow over freshman defen- derstand what my body was telling me and what I sive back Johnny Sylvain and se- couldn’t or couldn’t handle.” cured the football in his strong What fueled Evans’ rehab? What was the motiva- hands before going down. It tion that drove him to return? was a pattern that he had exe- “The fear of failing,” he said. “That kept me going to cuted repeatedly on a daily basis in accomplish a goal (of playing in the NFL) that I was seven-on-seven drills. so close to having. Another thing was the doubt- It looked like such an innocent pitch-and-catch. ers. And third, and not of the least importance, was There was no collision at the end of the play. Just my support group ― my backbone to fight through silence when Evans didn’t get up. On the jump ball, some things.

he came down awkwardly and twisted his left knee. DAVID STLUKA Evans was eventually helped off the field. His team- mates reacted predictably afterwards. “It was like the bottom of my stomach dropped out,” said quarterback Jim Sorgi. “It deflated everybody,” said center Al Johnson (now a UW graduate assistant). “It was hard to breathe,” said quarterback Brooks Bollinger. Fourteen years later, Alvarez was reminded of that late April practice/scrimmage and confided, “That was really devastating for me because I wasn’t go- ing to play him that day.” Evans blew out his knee and had ACL surgery. Although he embarked on an aggressive rehab pro- gram with the intent and hope of returning for the Big Ten season, he never made it back for what would have been his senior year. He needed a sec- ond surgery and was forced to take an injury red- shirt. As a junior, Evans was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, catching 75 passes for 1,545 yards, a Big Ten record. “Boy, I was hoping he’d bounce back after the surgeries,” Alvarez said. “But you never know on those things. You never know how someone is go- ing to rehab. And after rehabbing, you never know if they’re going to have the confidence to put their foot in the ground and make the cuts.” Without recourse, Evans entered a discov- ery phase. “One of the biggest things I learned from that whole experience was patience,” he said. “As much as I worked

HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2016: LEE EVANS PAGE 3 OF 5 “THE FEAR OF FAILING. THAT KEPT ME “That’s when I learned a lot about myself and I learned a lot about some of the people around me. GOING TO ACCOMPLISH A GOAL (OF When things are going good, everybody is good. PLAYING IN THE NFL) THAT I WAS SO When things are bad, not all of those people are CLOSE TO HAVING. ANOTHER THING who or what they said they were. That was motivat- WAS THE DOUBTERS. AND THIRD, AND ing in itself. I had to learn that lesson.” Mason remembered Evans’ first game back ― the NOT OF THE LEAST IMPORTANCE, WAS 2003 opener at West Virginia. MY SUPPORT GROUP ― MY BACKBONE “Lee jumped right in,” Mason said, “and played 68 TO FIGHT THROUGH SOME THINGS.” plays.” Evans also scored on a 20-yard touchdown pass DAVID STLUKA from Sorgi, tying the game in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter. He finished with seven catch- es in a 24-17 victory. The following week, Evans came up even bigger with nine receptions for 214 yards in a 48-31 win over Akron. Most of the yardage came on one play: 56 Jerk. The number refers to the blocking protection: maximum protection with two tight ends and a full- back. Jerk is code for the flanker, who was Evans. It was his assignment to execute a double-move: out and up. The play was called with the ball resting on Wisconsin’s 1-yard-line. Akron cornerback Rickey McKenzie bit on the out, Evans flew past him and Sorgi dropped the ball into his hands. Evans didn’t have to break stride and he ran away from McKenzie for a 99-yard score, the longest in UW history. It would not be the last time Evans heard “56 Jerk” in the huddle. On October 11, 2003, Ohio State brought a 19- game winning streak into rain-swept Camp Randall Stadium. The defending national champions were also coming off a bye in the schedule. The key matchup was Evans vs. cornerback Chris Gamble, a converted receiver the Badgers tried to recruit. “Great player,” Mason said of Gamble. “Top five corner in the country.” Protecting a 10-3 lead in the third quarter, Wis- consin lost Sorgi when he was tackled by Ohio State linebacker Robert Reynolds, who applied a WWE-style chokehold to Sorgi’s windpipe. Sorgi had trouble breath- ing and left the game. Matt Schabert replaced him. The Buckeyes rallied for a 10-10 tie in the fourth quarter. Evans had yet to catch a pass when Schabert was fed the call from the sidelines: 56 Jerk. Gamble was a gambler. That was his M.O. “If we would have run the out pattern there,” Mason said, “Gamble would have picked it and scored.”

HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2016: LEE EVANS PAGE 4 OF 5 But it was the out-and-up. reer, “you have the Ohio State and Michigan State Gamble took the bait. Schabert got the ball to a games, two polar opposites, one being the one play wide-open Evans, who sprinted 79 yards for the (beating Gamble) and the other being a game that game-winning TD. “In my mind,” Evans said, “I can symbolized all the work that went into getting back run it back and visualize everything from running to that point and being successful.” the route to watching Schabert throw it to tracking Evans played seven years in Buffalo and one the ball in the air to catching and running with it.” in Baltimore. In 2006, he had 82 receptions for Mason knew the NFL scouts would be watching, 1,292 yards for the Bills. He ended up playing in especially because of the challenge that Gamble 118 games and finished with 381 catches for over presented. “He really hit his stride about the Ohio 6,000 yards and 43 touchdowns. He retired in State game,” Mason said, “where he really felt com- 2012. fortable. I think in his own mind he was all the way “I don’t have any regrets,” he said. “I really enjoyed back (from the knee surgeries).” playing; I really enjoyed the game.” In mid-November, Evans solidified his argument Evans and his wife, Miranda, are living in north- to be a No. 1 draft pick when he caught 10 passes ern Virginia. They have one son, Lee IV. Besides his for 258 yards and five touchdowns against Michi- degree from Wisconsin in consumer science, he gan State. Evans showed off his arsenal by virtue also earned his MBA from the University of Miami. of the variety of routes and passes that he caught Evans loves the competitiveness of the real estate from Sorgi, who completed 16-of-24 for 380 yards. world as an investor and manager. “Lee Evans did it every which way,” Mason said. But the 35-year-old Evans insisted nothing will “He caught long ones (TD’s of 70 and 75 yards). ever top his love for the Badgers. He caught medium ones (two TD’s of 18 yards). He “I have a ton of memories from Wisconsin ― the caught a red zone pass (a 9-yard TD). I was talking injury being one of them,” said Evans, eyeing the with a scout and it was like, ‘Any more questions? Hall of Fame induction ceremony. “My parents hav- Anything else you need to see?’” en’t been back to Madison since I left and my wife The Buffalo Bills selected Evans with the 13th is from Wisconsin. I feel extremely humbled and overall selection in the 2004 draft. very grateful to have this opportunity.” “When I look back on it,” Evans said of his UW ca- Particularly since he beat the odds.

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HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2016: LEE EVANS PAGE 5 OF 5

BY MIKE LUCAS ■ UWBADGERS.COM SENIOR WRITER

om Grantham hasn’t embellished the nar- rative over the years; 35 to be exact since Tthree jogging buddies came up with a “Hall of Fame” idea (as it turned out) over beers at Char- ley’s Café, a block off State Street and long since gone from the Madison landscape. “We’d run and then we’d have a beer ― I’m not sure which we did more of by the way,” kidded Grantham, who was accompanied in this brain- storming endeavor by Ken Sparks and Rich Backus, the owner of the café. “We were talking about hav- ing a run, a fun run.” They were all intrigued by the potential of such a run. Might even be a fundraiser. They just needed others to feel the same way about it. To this end, Grantham felt like the event could use a hook, a catchy name to create interest and draw partici- pants, one that would resonate with the runners. “Hey, I’ve got just the name for it,” Grantham an- nounced excitedly. “Crazylegs.” No explanation was needed, not then, not really now. To loyal Wisconsin fans/Cheeseheads, there was only one Crazylegs ― the legendary Elroy (Cra- zylegs) Hirsch. “Coincidentally,” Grantham remembered of the era, the early ‘80s in Badger athletics, “Elroy was still trying to do everything that he could to get things turned around. “He had the Crazylegs Classic golf outing for boosters (donors) and he’d put about 55 guys on a bus and we’d go to Century World or Spring Green or wherever.” Sparks and Backus encouraged Grantham to take the idea to Hirsch, the UW athletic director. So he did. “Elroy,” he began, “We want to start this fun run and we want to use your name.” Hirsch’s response to Grantham? “He said, ‘You’re crazy.’” They shared a laugh. But the more they discussed it, the more it made sense to Hirsch, especially the part about using the money that was raised to endow athletic scholarships at Wisconsin. So he signed off on it and Grantham, Backus and Sparks had their fun run, the Crazylegs Classic. Since then, Grantham has jokingly confessed on

HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2016: TOM GRANTHAM PAGE 2 OF 4 (the mid-to-late ‘50s),” Grantham said. “The likes of “I HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF Jerry Stalcup, Danny Lanphear, and Jim and John GRATITUDE FOR THE ATHLETIC Heineke. But you’ve still got to compete, take your DEPARTMENT. THAT’S ONE OF THE licks and play when you get your chances. It was PRIMARY REASONS WHY I’VE STAYED frustrating that I didn’t get to play more.” He has forever joked, “I was a teammate of Pat SO ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN TRYING Richter and Jim Bakken.” TO HELP RAISE FUNDS.” The punchline? “They played,” he said, “and I watched.” more than once occasion, “The idea came out of But he still got the most out of his Wisconsin ex- the blue. Other guys sat around and started Inter- perience, particularly academically. net companies. We thought of a race.” “I got into the School of Business and that just Who knew, though, it would grow so fast and be led me to all the things that occurred,” he said of so successful? The first run in 1982 attracted a little his off the field success after graduation. “I have a over 1,500 runners and raised almost $10,000. Last great deal of gratitude for the athletic department. spring, the 35th edition, drew more than 13,000 That’s one of the primary reasons why I’ve stayed entries. Over the last three decades, the Crazylegs so actively involved in trying to help raise funds.” Classic has raised over $3 million. Grantham, now 78, has been present for each one of them. As a runner, walker, or- ganizer. “It’s so gratifying each spring to see all of these different people come out (for the event) whether they’re old, young, or kids,” said Grantham. “Most of us take Camp Randall Stadium for granted because we’ve been in there and out of there so many times. “But for many of these runners and walk- ers, it’s a first time ― it’s an opportunity to enter the stadium and look up and see themselves on the Jumbotron (the score- board video screen in the north end) while crossing the 50-yard-line. It really gives them a thrill.” Many years ago, Grantham was recruit- ed out of Chardon, Ohio (30 miles east of Cleveland) to play football for the Badgers. He was a lineman in the one platoon era. “I was a legendary athlete,” he said, “in my own mind.” But there was no shortage of star power among his teammates. On his recruiting weekend, he was intro- duced to a player from Kenosha. Alan (the Horse) Ameche, the school’s first Heisman Trophy winner. “There were so many good athletes here

HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2016: TOM GRANTHAM PAGE 3 OF 4 After leaving school, Grantham worked for Stan- “you want a guy like him on your side.” dard Oil of Indiana. He bounced around from Mil- Biegel returned the compliment. waukee to Green Bay to Clintonville to Chicago to “Tom is a phenomenal guy; an extremely gracious Janesville. “Finally, I said, ‘Enough is enough,’” he man and someone I will keep in contact with the related. “I decided to get into the financial services rest of my life,” said Biegel. “It was definitely a busy business and moved back to Madison.” summer at the office with all of the things that were Grantham has been a fixture at Merrill Lynch for going on (namely Brexit, the withdrawal of the Unit- over three decades. During that time, he has helped ed Kingdom from the European Union). oversee a summer internship for UW athletes. Line- “Every single year you learn different things about backer Vince Biegel, tailbacks Corey Clement and the market and market trends. You learn how the Dare Ogunbowale, center Dan Voltz and basketball people in the office react. There’s pressure on all guard Zak Showalter were recent interns. sectors, no matter what you’re doing ― coaching, “It’s really pretty neat,” Grantham said. “A lot of the playing, investing, portfolio management. These athletes that come in here have no idea of what the guys are true professionals.” markets are all about. And a lot of them are going to Grantham knew that he wouldn’t qualify for the have opportunities to earn substantial amounts of Hall of Fame if it was based solely on his accomplish- money, a lot of them are going to get drafted.” ments as a UW athlete. But his contributions and Grantham has been impressed by the “the quali- impact extended well beyond the playing field. And ty” of the student-athletes who have taken part in he’s being recognized accordingly, which doesn’t the internship and how they’ve been “very consci- surprise athletic director Barry Alvarez. entious” in the office and “class guys, too.” “Tom is a former athlete who believes in giving Biegel, for one, has interned each of the last two back,” Alvarez said. “The athletic department and summers. university mean a lot to him. He’s always there for “If you have to be on a battle field,” Grantham said, us.” And all those runners/walkers every spring.

HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2016: TOM GRANTHAM PAGE 4 OF 4

BY MIKE LUCAS ■ UWBADGERS.COM SENIOR WRITER

he prospect of becoming Wisconsin’s first to believe you could beat anybody and he expected national champion in wrestling never crossed you to. He was a great motivator. TRick Lawinger’s mind. Not even close. Not “Over the years, I’ve been in Olympic training while growing up on a dairy farm south of Mineral camps with Dan Gable and other guys and Al Bau- Point. man was the best motivator I’ve ever been around.” Truth is, he didn’t pay attention to sports, any As he neared graduation, Lawinger was all set to sports, let alone wrestling. And he wasn’t even sure accept a wrestling scholarship to Minot (N.D.) State that he would go on to college. No one in his family when Bauman intervened and pointed him in an- had. other direction. Lawinger was too busy with chores and milking “He told me that I should go to the UW ― he cows with his brothers to think about anything that thought I could become their first national champi- might distract him from the work at hand. And there on,” said Lawinger. “That didn’t mean much to me was always plenty of work around the farm. at the time.” “I went to the barn at age 5,” he said. “But I couldn’t Plus, it didn’t make sense to turn down a full ride pick up the milk pail. It was too big.” since he would have to borrow money to attend So his dad went into town and purchased two Wisconsin in order to fulfill Bauman’s expectations. smaller pails. Problem solved. He really didn’t have any of his own. “That’s how I got started in the cow milking business,” said Lawing- er, laughing. “Our farm was only a couple of hundred acres but we milked a lot of cows … around 120. “At one time, we had the larg- est bulk tank (a storage tank for cooling and keeping milk) in Iowa County. I didn’t get to go out for any sport until my dad sold the cows when I was in eighth grade. “I didn’t play Little League (base- ball) or any of that. I was always baling hay and working on the farm. I didn’t know much about wrestling ― only that I had a cousin who finished second in the state.” It didn’t take long for Lawinger to get up to speed on the mat. At Mineral Point High School, he came under the wing of Hall of Fame wrestling coach Al Bauman. As a freshman, he made the jayvee team. As a senior, he won a state title. That was his growth spurt. Crediting Bauman for his devel- opment, he said, “He taught you mental toughness. He taught you

HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2016: RICK LAWINGER PAGE 2 OF 5 tling at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. “Those were heady times. Those were the days when Ben and John Peterson won Olympic medals and we had wrestlers in and out of there (the room) that were the best in the world.” Hellickson’s profile was indis- putable. Meanwhile, Kleven ele- vated the program to new levels. “He understood the impor- tance of toughening up our schedule,” Lawinger said, “and not to be afraid of the Oklaho- ma’s and Iowa’s but to expect that you could beat them. “There was a period where Duane had as many national champions as Iowa did. He was “I was just a country kid, a farm kid,” he said. “I going toe-to-toe with them and he was doing it didn’t understand all of those things. But I knew with Wisconsin kids for the most part. how to work hard. Mr. Bauman worked you like you “Of course, they recruited Lee Kemp the year af- were in a Marine training camp.” ter I left and that set a whole new standard, too. It Lawinger took Bauman’s advice and committed to was the birth of the program, a coming of age at the George Martin, a veteran of well over 35 years at national and international scale. It was exciting.” Wisconsin. But he never competed for Martin, who As a freshman, Lawinger didn’t get to nationals. drowned in a canoeing accident. He was 59. As a sophomore, he got there but didn’t place. As a “That was a shock,” Lawinger said. “I had never junior, he lost to Michigan’s Jarred Hubbard in the gotten to know him well. But he recruited me.” 150-pound NCAA finals. So did UW-Oshkosh head coach Duane Kleven, who wound up replacing Martin in Madison. “Duane just meant the world to me,” Lawinger said. “I had total faith in him.” Kleven knew that he couldn’t lure Lawinger to Oshkosh, not when he was devoted to be- coming Wisconsin’s first na- tional champion, a crusade that was later aided by the presence of Russ Hellickson. “Russ would work out at the end of the UW wrestling room with the heavier weights,” he said of Hellickson, who won a silver medal in freestyle wres-

HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2016: RICK LAWINGER PAGE 3 OF 5 This was after Lawinger had beaten Hubbard at “He ran up to my car and I said, ‘Rick what are you the Big Ten meet. doing?’” Rather than bump heads with Hubbard again, “Coach, I just ran five miles. I got nationals next Lawinger dropped to the 142-class as a senior. week.” Kleven wasn’t sure what to make of his decision Kleven realized then Lawinger was not about to and the wisdom in cutting so much weight. let anything get in his way of winning a national “Rick, you wrestled at 145 in high school,” he championship. And he didn’t. Lawinger beat Okla- pointed out. homa State’s Steve Ran- “I don’t care,” he coun- “I REALIZED I COULD FOCUS AND I WAS dall, 8-2, in the 1974 fi- tered. “I’m going down.” CONFIDENT. THAT WAS THE BIG THING. nals. That summer, Lawing- “He said, ‘Coach, I’m er had wrestled in the NO ONE KNOWS FOR SURE THEY’RE going to win’ ― he was World University Games GOING TO WIN. BUT YOU CAN GET TO just so confident,” Klev- and the food was so bad WHERE YOU KNOW YOU CAN WIN.” en said. “That guy (Ran- that he lost a bunch of dall) had a move that he weight. “After I got sick over there,” he said, “I real- hadn’t seen a lot of. But he adjusted to it and beat ized I could get down to 142.” him pretty handily.” Despite winning his second Big Ten title, he strug- What did it mean to Lawinger to be Wisconsin’s gled, which was completely understandable. Klev- first NCAA titleholder? en remembered talking with Lawinger the Sunday “It took awhile for it to settle in,” said Lawinger, morning after the conference meet. whose brother Steve was a UW-All-American in

HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2016: RICK LAWINGER PAGE 4 OF 5 1977. “I didn’t fool myself. I wouldn’t have been There was a lot of clarity to it all.” able to do it without the background that I had. As there is now for his supporters from Miner- “That was Al Bauman and the Mineral Point wres- al Point and River Valley, where he coached for six tling tradition; the expectations and the confidence years. A lot of those people ― “Lifelong friends,” he he gave you. And it was Duane taking over at the said ― will be celebrating his Hall of Fame induc- UW at that time. It was all instrumental.” tion. Decades later, Lawinger still can recall the details “They’ll all be there cheering for him ― the whole of one match. And it wasn’t against Randall or Hub- town,” Kleven predicted. “It’s typical of Mineral bard. It was against Iowa’s Chuck Yagla, a two-time Point. They get behind everything.” NCAA champion. The timing is good. Lawinger just turned 64. “I “There were only five seconds left on the clock had a stroke last May, and I’m working my way back and I knew I was going to beat him,” he said. “We out of it,” he said. “It’s a mental thing. I need to build were on the edge of the mat and I knew he was my endurance. going to take a bad shot and he did. “I’ve got to get tough like the old days and just “And I took him down. It was a real confidence make darn sure I’m doing the walking and the work- thing with me. I knew that I was on as good of a outs and the rehab.” plane as I could be mentally. The public recognition of a Hall of Fame career “I realized I could focus and I was confident. That may even accelerate the recovery. was the big thing. No one knows for sure they’re “I’ve got four kids and eight grandkids, and this going to win. But you can get to where you know means a lot to me,” he said proudly. “I’m very appre- you can win. ciative of the honor and I feel very good about it.” “I understood myself. I understood who I was It’s something he can treasure until the cows wrestling. I understood what the situation was. come home.

HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2016: RICK LAWINGER PAGE 5 OF 5

BY ANDY BAGGOT ■ UWBADGERS.COM INSIDER

ari Maijala-Ornes played her last game for twice (1988 and ’91). the Wisconsin women’s soccer team 25 “It seems like a lifetime ago, but yet it seems like K years ago, but her legacy remains vibrant. it was yesterday,” Maijala-Ornes said. She remains the all-time leading career goal-scor- UW, overseen at the time by future U.S. national er (47) and point-producer (112) in program history. team coach Greg Ryan, lost to North Carolina 3-1 in She continues to hold the school standard for the national championship game in 1991. The dy- most hat tricks with three. nastic Tar Heels were in the midst of winning nine She remains the only player in UW history to consecutive NCAA titles. score a goal in an NCAA title match. North Carolina was without legendary forward She continues to be on a short list of first-team Mia Hamm ― she took the year off to compete All-Americans ― four in all ― to play for the Bad- for the U.S. in the World Cup ― but the Badgers gers. were unable to capitalize. Maijala-Ornes, playing on The enduring nature of that resume helps explain a balky knee that was injured in the semifinal win why Maijala-Ornes is in the latest class of inductees over Colorado College, scored the final goal of her in the UW Athletic Hall of Fame. career in that match on a penalty kick. Maijala-Ornes came to UW when its soccer pro- “We had such a great team,” Maijala-Ornes said, gram was still in its youth. It debuted as a varsi- adding that Ryan and his top assistant Dean Du- ty sport in 1981 and her career spanned 1988 to erst ― who took over as UW coach from 1994 to ’91. During that stretch the Badgers were 62-13-3 2006 ― “did a phenomenal job of getting our group (.814) overall and advanced to the NCAA semifinals together with the chemistry and the talent.”

HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2016: KARI MAIJALA-ORNES PAGE 2 OF 4 “THERE’S ALWAYS THOSE PLAYERS OUT THERE THAT HAVE THAT KIND OF INTUITIVE KNACK FOR BEING AROUND THE GOAL AT THE RIGHT TIME,” TAGGART SAID OF HER FRIEND. “NOT ONLY DID SHE HAVE THAT INTANGIBLE ... SHE HAD A REALLY QUICK RELEASE ON HER SHOT. SHE’S TREMENDOUSLY DESERVING OF THE HONOR SHE’S GETTING.”

“There’s always those players out there that have that kind of intuitive knack for being around the goal at the right time,” Taggart said of her friend. “Not only did she have that intangible ― being able to be in the right place at the right time by reading the game appropriately, of course ― she had a re- ally quick release on her shot. When she made that decision to hit a ball, it came off her foot so quick and gave goalkeepers a very difficult time trying to save that. “She’s tremendously deserving of the honor she’s getting.” Maijala-Ornes came to UW from Bloomington (Minnesota) Jefferson High School where she won 16 varsity letters in five sports ― track, softball, soccer, Nordic skiing and basketball ― but her call- ing was on the pitch. There she was a three-time all-state and two-time prep All-American selection. That love for soccer continues. Maijala-Ornes serves as a coach and director of the Prior Lake (Minnesota) Soccer Club and recently agreed to work at the major college level as a volunteer assis- tant with the Minnesota women’s program. The Big Ten Conference didn’t sponsor women’s “It will be fun to get into the Big Ten and see how soccer until 1994, so schools were defined by what things are run from the athlete’s side of the coin,” they did on the national stage. she said. “It doesn’t seem possible at all,” Maijala-Ornes It will be another opportunity for Maijala-Ornes said of the quarter century that has come and gone. to see how the game has grown. She looks around “It’s hard to believe that much time has passed.” at the faces on her youth teams ― especially the Maijala-Ornes’ roommate at Wisconsin was girls ― and revels in their futures. Heather Taggart, a two-time first-team All-Ameri- “Women’s soccer has progressed tremendously in ca goalkeeper who holds the program career record the last 25 years,” she said. “There’s so many peo- with 52.5 shutouts. Fifteen years after Taggart was ple who coach soccer who have a great degree of inducted in the UW Athletic Hall of Fame, she’s be- knowledge of the game and I think that’s great for ing joined by her gifted teammate. the kids.

HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2016: KARI MAIJALA-ORNES PAGE 3 OF 4 “It’s a great a time to be a female athlete. They “I’m just very thankful that I had that opportunity have so many choices that are available to them. It’s to go to the University of Wisconsin, a great aca- really wonderful to see.” demic institution,” Maijala-Ornes said. “Being a stu- Maijala-Ornes said that while some things have dent-athlete shapes your lives in ways that, at that changed, the foundation has not. time of your life, you have absolutely no idea of the “It’s still a daily grind,” doors that open for you. I she said. “It’s still talking was very fortunate.” to the academic advisers. “I’M JUST VERY THANKFUL THAT I HAD Maijala-Ornes said she It’s still seeing the ath- THAT OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE was surprised to get the letic trainer. It’s still two- UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN, A GREAT call informing her of her a-days. The grind, the ACADEMIC INSTITUTION. BEING A induction. She joins Tag- sweat. The wonderful re- gart and Karen Lunda, a lationships you have with STUDENT-ATHLETE SHAPES YOUR LIVES 2012 honoree who set your team.” ... YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA OF the single-season pro- Maijala-Ornes, 46, said THE DOORS THAT OPEN FOR YOU. gram record with 22 goals she owes much of her life I WAS VERY FORTUNATE.” and 62 points in 1981. and well-being to her time “It really is remarkable at UW. It’s where she met that we both had a cou- her husband, Mike, who grew up in Madison and ple of records that withstood the test of a quar- was a member of the men’s soccer team. It’s where ter-century,” said Taggart, now a physican in Oma- she found direction and maturity. It’s where she ha, Nebraska. earned a degree in communication arts. “She’s a great person and certainly deserving of Kari and Mike have two children, Kaija and Jake. representing the University of Wisconsin in the hall Kaija plays soccer at Colorado State. of fame.”

HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2016: KARI MAIJALA-ORNES PAGE 4 OF 4

BY MIKE LUCAS ■ UWBADGERS.COM SENIOR WRITER DAVID STLUKA

aken from the Kohl Center catwalk, high of which were from beyond the 3-point arc in the above the scrum of fans who had stormed 127 games that he played for the Badgers. Tthe court, the photograph centered on the Only Ben Brust (235) and Tim Locum (227) made unbridled ecstasy of Kirk Penney, who appeared to more triples than Penney (217). be floating on air. “Like a lot of athletes, the response is, ‘Are you “I remember Alando (Tucker) and Deandre (Bu- sure? Are you sure you made the right decision?’” chanan) on either side of me,” Penney said of his Penney posed incredulously of his HOF selection. Wisconsin teammates who were propping him up “I’m very flattered. on their shoulders. “And I remember leaning back.” “I guess it just makes you think of your time at Eyes closed, it was as if Penney didn’t want to Wisconsin and how thankful I was to be a part of wake from a dream after the Badgers had clinched some really good teams with some outstanding the outright 2003 Big Ten championship by edging coaches and really good players.” Illinois on a clutch Devin Harris free throw. In sum, he played for three head coaches: Dick “It really was a special moment because that was Bennett, Brad Soderberg and Bo Ryan. (Soderberg my last home game,” Penney said. “You’re so hap- was technically an interim coach after Bennett re- py you’ve won and it’s almost a relief because the tired three games into the 2001 season.) stage was set and you want to fulfill the journey. Penney played alongside of such stalwarts as “When I saw it (the photo), it was like, ‘My mo- Tucker, Harris, Mike Kelley, Mark Vershaw, Andy ment.’” Kowske, Jon Bryant, Roy Boone, Mike Wilkinson, There have been many other cherished basketball Freddie Owens, Charlie Wills and so many more. moments, whether it was playing on a Final Four “When you’re so far from the States and wak- team as a freshman or representing New Zealand in ing up at 5 a.m. (in New Zealand) to watch college two Olympics and four World Championships. basketball,” he said, flashing back to his youth, “you Along the way, Penney made some history by be- want to be a part of it one day more than anything. coming the first UW player to be named first-team “I suppose you wonder if you can do it. You won- All-Big Ten in back-to-back seasons since the late der if you’re good enough. You wonder if you’re go- Ab Nicholas pulled off the feat in 1951 and 1952. ing to get the opportunity. A lot of things have to It all added up to a Hall of Fame career for Penney, line up. I felt real lucky to be at Wisconsin.” who accounted for 1,454 points; a high percentage ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2016: KIRK PENNEY PAGE 2 OF 4 ony Bennett was in New Zealand for less ting starting in the coaching profession, wrote up a than a year when he got his first glimpse of scouting report and filled in the blanks on Penney TPenney, then, a raw 14-year-old basketball for his dad, Dick Bennett, the UW head coach. prodigy. “There aren’t many kids his size and age that Bennett, the former UW-Green Bay sharpshoot- stroke the ball like he does,” he informed him. “He’s er, was running a camp in not your high-flying ath- Auckland, the country’s “I WAS SO LUCKY TO HAVE letic, slasher. But when his largest city, and Penney, OLDER PLAYERS WHO WERE GOOD feet are set, he’s a beauti- an old hand at rugby and ful shooter. cricket, was among the LEADERS AND TO BE A PART OF A “If you penetrate and hopefuls. HARD-WORKING, HONEST CULTURE kick, he’s automatic. That’s Bennett, who played THAT WAS GROWING IN SUCCESS.” a nice weapon to have.” three years in the NBA, had And the Badgers were an eye for talent. But he barely paid attention to definitely looking for a scorer after managing just Penney, though it was clear that he was among the 32 points in an NCAA first-round loss to Southwest better players who had showed up for the camp. Missouri State. Penney fit the bill, mate. He could A few years later, a North Island native who had stroke the ball. been helping develop Penney’s skills contact- “From a young age, I always enjoyed shooting,” ed Bennett and asked if he would be will- Penney acknowledged. “I remember doing ing to critique Penney’s overall game. shooting games with my brother (Rodd) At the time, Bennett was playing for and playing one-on-one with him. and coaching a professional team in “He played 10 years of professional Auckland. Maybe it was out of curi- rugby and when we played, he kind of osity to see how far Penney had de- kicked my butt. But when we’d shoot, veloped, but he accommodated the I’d win and when you beat your older request. brother in something, you stick to it.” After watching Penney battle one of Penney had no qualms about his pro league teammates one-on-one making the jump to Wisconsin af- ― inadvertently giving him a bloody ter his apprenticeship with the nose ― Bennett wanted to see more. North Harbour Kings, a semi- So he took the court and challenged pro outfit with a smattering Penney. of experienced national team After a few minutes, Bennett also players. walked away bloodied by a Penney “It was wonderful prepara- elbow. tion,” Penney said. “You were Bennett later invited Penney to playing against 30-year-old men practice with his team (the Burg- and to have them throw you er King Kings) since the high school around a little bit, you felt like competition in New Zealand was sus- you were more prepared for the pect and Penney often dominated Big Ten.” players his own age. Penney thus made the 8,000- While scrimmaging, Bennett and Pen- plus mile trek from Auckland ney collided ― leaving Bennett with a to Madison where he joined broken nose. That was his first im- a Wisconsin recruiting class pression of Penney: he played hard that included Julian Swartz, and he wasn’t afraid to compete Dave Mader and Roy Boone, a with older men. junior college transfer. Tony Bennett, who was just get- As a freshman, Penney experi-

HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2016: KIRK PENNEY PAGE 3 OF 4 “It’s such an honor,” he said, “represent- ing your country on the national stage, es- pecially when you’re from a smaller country like New Zealand and you’re going against the giants. “In all four World Cups, we advanced. We don’t have the same amount of players to choose from like a lot of countries, but if we can get 9 or 10, we can have a great crack at it. “I absolutely loved my time playing for New Zealand and putting on the black jer- sey (No. 6). It’s a neat place to be from and a beautiful country.” Kirk and his wife Audra live in Takapuna, a suburb on the north shore of Auckland. Audra Jeffers was the captain of the 2008 Wisconsin volleyball team and has played on the professional beach circuit. The Penneys, who have a young daugh- ter (Olivia), spend a lot of time traveling be- tween New Zealand and Wisconsin. Kirk Penney, 35, finished work on his UW un- dergraduate degree this summer. “Like I’ve said to friends, ‘It has been kind of a monkey on my back that has grown into a gorilla,’” he admitted. “It’s just so nice to think that you’re finishing something that ▲ PHOTOS - Tap to pause/play ■ Swipe to change you started.” enced the ultimate high on an overachieving team Although Penney, a landscape architecture major, that made an improbable March run to the Final retired from international competition last spring, Four. He was a role player who largely came off the he signed a three-year deal to return to the SKYCI- bench. TY Breakers of the New Zealand pro league. “I was so lucky to have older players who were Because of that commitment, he will not be able good leaders,” Penney said, “and to be a part of a to attend the Hall of Fame induction ceremony in hard-working, honest culture that was growing in Madison. Instead, he will pass along his thoughts success. and his thank-yous in a video. “I just think it was a process for me ― adjusting to “I’m really bummed because I would have loved to playing at this high level, adjusting to practices that be here ― it’s such an honor for me and my family,” were much harder than I had done before against a said Penney who will, no doubt, thank one person level of athlete that was better. in particular for making it all happen. “You come in every day and you work hard and “Tony and (wife) Laurel Bennett introduced me to you hope that you can find success. There were a the state of Wisconsin let alone the University of lot of milestones, but not one turning point.” Wisconsin,” he said. “Tony was a huge impact on my Penney went on to play for New Zealand in the life and we remain close to this day.” 2000 Sydney Olympics and the 2004 Athens Olym- Bennett, the University of Virginia head coach, pics. He also sparked the Kiwis to a fourth-place knows enough now about Penney not to get too finish in the 2002 FIBA World Championships. close. It’s the best way to avoid a bloody nose.

HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2016: KIRK PENNEY PAGE 4 OF 4

BY ANDY BAGGOT ■ UWBADGERS.COM INSIDER

n the process of adding his name to another dis- of people to be up on the end of the building.” tinguished list, former Wisconsin men’s hockey Four are former Badgers who skated for Sauer, Icoach Jeff Sauer is helping finish off a unique including fellow 2016 inductee Bruce Driver. The project. others are current UW men’s coach Tony Grana- Sauer is included in the eight-person class being to (2000), Steve Reinprecht (’14) and Brian Rafalski inducted in the UW Athletic Hall of Fame on Sept. (’15). 16. “I’ve been inducted into a lot of different things It may seem like old hat for Sauer, who has al- over the course of time and this one is special be- ready been inducted in the U.S. Hockey Hall of cause of the amount of time we spent in Madison,” Fame (2014), the Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Sauer said. “The kids grew up here. The grandkids Fame (’13) and the Colorado College Athletic Hall are still in town. All those things are very positive.” of Fame (’07). The addition of Sauer to the UW Hall of Fame But this is a big deal to Sauer, who coached the means that almost every Badgers coach to produce Badgers from 1982 to 2002 and still lives in Mid- multiple NCAA championship teams is enshrined. dleton with his wife, Jamie. Their children, Chip That list also includes John Walsh (eight, boxing); and Beth, also live in the area as well as their four Mark Johnson (four, women’s hockey), Bob Johnson grandchildren. (three, men’s hockey) and Peter Tegen (two, wom- A bronze plaque featuring Sauer’s many accom- en’s cross country). plishments ― including NCAA championships in The lone exception is Martin Smith, whose men’s 1983 and ’90 ― will be displayed on the outer wall cross country teams won NCAA titles in 1985 and of the Camp Randall Memorial Sports Center. ’88. He’s still active, currently coaching at Iowa “I’m very honored,” Sauer said. “It’s a great group State.

HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2016: JEFF SAUER PAGE 2 OF 4 Sauer spent 31 seasons coaching college hockey, The Badgers featured two future NHL captains on including his last 20 at Wisconsin. His 655 career defense in Chris Chelios and Driver as well as two wins overall rank among the top 10 all-time. His elite NHL-caliber wingers in Pat Flatley and Dave 489 victories are the most in program history. Maley. In goal was Marc Behrend, a two-time NCAA Sauer, a Colorado Col- Frozen Four Most Out- lege graduate, took over “I’VE BEEN INDUCTED INTO A LOT OF DIF- standing Player. for a pioneering legend, FERENT THINGS OVER THE COURSE OF “There were a lot of the late Bob Johnson, TIME AND THIS ONE IS SPECIAL BECAUSE name players on that and guided his first team team,” Sauer said. “I was at UW to the national OF THE AMOUNT OF TIME WE SPENT IN very fortunate to inherit title in 1983. MADISON. THE KIDS GREW UP HERE. those guys.” Sauer’s greatest asset THE GRANDKIDS ARE STILL IN TOWN. Those who declined during his debut season ALL THOSE THINGS ARE VERY POSITIVE.” to give Sauer credit in in Madison might have ’83, saying he won a been his ability to embrace the obvious. title with Johnson’s talent, were hushed in 1990 “I think he came in and saw we had a tremendous when his hand-crafted lineup swept the WCHA group that had success the year before,” Driver said, regular-season and playoff titles before securing referring to an NCAA runner-up finish in 1981-82. the NCAA crown. “There wasn’t a whole lot for him to change.” When Sauer resigned in 2002 he thought his days as a coach were through. He was approached by teams in the NHL need- ing an assistant coach and had interest from European teams looking for a head coach, but that would have required some major sacrifices by his family. Sauer looked for ways to stay involved in the game as much as possible ― tak- ing administrative assignments with the WCHA and USA Hockey ―but didn’t think anything would lure him back be- hind the bench again. To his eternal joy and satisfaction, he was wrong. Sauer has national coaching jobs with hearing impaired and disabled sled hock- ey teams on behalf of USA Hockey. “It’s really rejuvenated me,” he said. “When I left the university I was really in a situation where the recruiting was really getting out of whack. The day-to- day operation was kind of drawing on my stressful side, so to speak.” It all changed the first time Sauer ran a practice for his now-powerhouse Paralympic sled team. The squad is made up of athletes who have physical disabil- ities such as limb loss, spinal cord injury or cerebral palsy.

HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2016: JEFF SAUER PAGE 3 OF 4 ▲ PHOTOS - Tap to pause/play ■ Swipe to change “I was on the ice with the guys for probably a total ing. That’s how I feel. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.” of about 10 minutes and I said, ‘This is for me,’” he It’s been decades since Sauer matched coaching said. wits with the likes of Johnson, Herb Brooks, Ron “People told me when you retire you should go Mason and John MacInnes. What keeps bringing into a completely different business. There’s some Sauer back to the rink? good thoughts about that because you’ve got re- In short, the hearing impaired and disabled ath- sponsibilities and you’re doing something different.” letes bring a unique attitude. Sauer said staying involved with hockey was the “I may be patting myself on the back, but they’ve right thing for him. never had a coach with the type of experience I’ve “It’s turned out to be a very, very good situation,” had,” Sauer said. he said. “The big thing is we treat them like hockey play- Sauer, now 73, said his coaching plate is as full as ers; I don’t treat them like handicapped individuals. it’s ever been, but it’s a different pace. “It’s refreshing to see how much of a sponge they “It’s more relaxing,” he said. “The players that I’m are because they really haven’t had a lot of coaching. coaching right now ― in both activities ― are very “It’s a different kind of coaching. With the sled appreciative, very responsive and very coachable. team, we’re the best in the world. I boast about it, They’re happy to be there. but we are. We can go against anybody in the world “It’s really a positive group of players, both the right now and I have a good feeling going into the hearing impaired and the sled hockey.” game.” Sauer has guided the sled team to gold medals As for the hearing impaired, Sauer said, “we’ve in all the top international events since 2011, in- developed a really good group of talented players cluding the Paralympics, and helped the hearing im- at that level as well.” paired squad to multiple medals since 2007. That kind of handiwork will get you into the hall “I’ve never really had a real job,” Sauer said. “My of fame. dad told me that 40 years ago when I got into coach- Perhaps more than one.

HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2016: JEFF SAUER PAGE 4 OF 4 INSIDE FOOTBALL BY ANDY BAGGOT ▪ UWBADGERS.COM

Athletic trainers cooperating on care UW Sports Medicine, Wisconsin Army National Guard partnership a ‘no-brainer’

t all began with a familiar pose: A man sitting on his living TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE room sofa watching sports on TV. I Tim Ehlers was relaxing at his home in Tomah, tuned into a Wisconsin men’s basketball game, when he saw something that

piqued his professional curiosity. Ehlers, a staff sergeant and medical training instructor for the Wisconsin Army National Guard, watched as longtime UW ath- letic trainer Henry Perez-Guerra came onto the court to tend to an injured player. “Henry quickly evaluated a guy who had an ankle injury and it

SCROLL was a matter of 45 seconds and they had him up and were tak- ing him off the floor,” Ehlers recalled. “I thought to myself, ‘Why can’t my medics do that in the field?’” Ehlers, an Army medic for seven years, began to organize his thoughts and devise a plan of action for his volunteer charges. “Over the past 15-ish years now we’ve been at war and we’ve

learned great lessons about trauma medicine,” he said. “We TWEETS VIEW TO REQUIRED CONNECTION INTERNET pound into their head every year ‘trauma, trauma, trauma.’ They can treat people with missing arms, legs, shot in the chest. SOCIAL “But when it comes to the fundamentals of simple clinical skills MEDIA: ― how do we evaluate a sprained knee or a sprained ankle or a shoulder or back injury ― we don’t have a set training plan on how to execute those skills.” So Ehlers, a 37-year-old who grew up in Hudson, contacted Denny Helwig, the assistant athletic director for sports medi- cine at Wisconsin, in December of 2014. In an email, Ehlers outlined how the two staffs ― medics from the Wisconsin Army National Guard and UW Sports Medicine personnel ― take a similar approach to diagnosing and treating concussions. “I’m looking for an environment where I can teach my medics clinical skills, but put them in an environment where they’re go- ing to learn,” Ehlers wrote. “The more Tim and I talked about it ― the medic training and our training ― we thought it would be a good way for their peo- ple to come down and observe,” Helwig said. “The same people pulling from the same resources in terms of care for concussions and it went on from there.” For the better part of a year, UW Athletics and the Wisconsin Army National Guard have been working together to improve their instincts and vital handiwork. There have been multiple exchanges of personnel ― UW ath- letic trainers trekking to Fort McCoy and Army medics volun- teering to come to Madison ― all under the guise of education. The biggest chapter in that process will be written throughout August as the Badgers stage their preseason football camp at Camp Randall Stadium. UW athletic trainer Kyle Gibson, one of the exchange coor- dinators, said 13 Army medics will come in small groups to ob- serve one of the more strenuous periods for medical attention by the UW sports medicine personnel. “That’s when we see a lot of injuries,” he said of the three-week training camp, which includes five two-a-day practice sessions. It began Tuesday and runs through the season opener Sept. 3. The month-long exercise comes on the heels of two trips to Fort McCoy, located just west of Tomah, by UW athletic trainers. Four went up in the first wave “and they came back with rave reviews on how realistic it is,” Gibson said, describing how $120,000 mannequins can have their heart rates and blood flow altered based on the treatment circumstances. INSIDE MEN’S TRACK & FIELD BY A.J. HARRISON ▪ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Bright future lies ahead for Ziemek Badger finishes seventh at Olympics, eyes professional career in decathlon

ach Ziemek made the most of his Olympics debut, fin- TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE ishing seventh on his sport’s biggest stage thanks to a Z decathlon score of 8,392 points. “The experience in Rio de Janeiro was amazing,” Ziemek said. “I

know that it will help me in the future. What I was able to learn firsthand during my time has taught me how to be an Olym- pic-caliber decathlete. Even with his finish ― the best ever by an American collegian in the decathlon ― Ziemek was focused on areas in which he can improve.

SCROLL “I was disappointed with my first day performance but to come back on the second day and compete is what I’m most proud of,” Ziemek said. “To take seventh at the Olympics is huge for me, my coach Nate Davis, my team and my supporters.” “Double Z” came close to matching his personal-best score of 8,413 points thanks to a stellar second-day performance in which he set personal bests in the discus and javelin. Ziemek INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS TWEETS VIEW TO REQUIRED CONNECTION INTERNET began the second day in 10th place but rose as high as fifth after nine events before sliding back two spots when the dust SOCIAL settled on the 1500-meter run that wrapped up the 10-event MEDIA: competition. “My biggest takeaway is that competing in the Olympics has the same approach as any other meet,” he said. “I must be pre- pared mentally and physical to be at my best.” INSIDE WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD BY A.J. HARRISON ▪ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Jorgensen finds redemption in Rio Former UW multi-sport star wins Team USA’s first gold in the triathlon

wen Jorgensen not only swam at Wisconsin, but ran TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE track and cross country, earning a pair of All-America G honors during her collegiate running career. Jorgensen used those foundations in proving last Saturday in

Rio de Janeiro that she is the top woman on the planet in the triathlon, scoring the United States’ first Olympic gold medal in the event. UW’s Big Ten Medal of Honor recipient in 2009, Jorgensen’s victory in the triathlon came four years after she competed at the 2012 Summer Games when a flat tire during the bike leg

SCROLL derailed her medal dreams. “I’ve said for four years that this is my goal,” said Jorgensen, who has dominated the sport en route to winning back-to-back world championships over the previous two years. “August 20, I want to cross that line, I want to get a gold medal. “It’s pretty incredible that I was actually able to do it. Four years comes down to one day. To be able to perform on the day INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS TWEETS VIEW TO REQUIRED CONNECTION INTERNET is something pretty amazing.” The Waukesha, Wisconsin native won by a 40-second margin SOCIAL thanks to a superb showing in the running section of the event. MEDIA: Battling 2012 gold medalist Nicola Spirig of Switzerland in the run, the pair zig-zagged the course, playing a cat-and-mouse game to determine who would lead. “No one wanted to lead,” said Spirig, who took home the sil- ver. “In the end I said, ‘Well, I already have a medal, so it’s you that has to work.’” INSIDE MEN’S SOCCER BY KELLI GRASHEL ▪ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS BRANDON HARRISON

Young players making immediate impact New class will play big roles for Badgers in upcoming years

here’s nothing like playing in your first game as a Badger. TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE But there’s really nothing like playing your first game as T a Badger and handily defeating the No. 7-ranked team in the country. That’s exactly the experience Wisconsin’s new-

comers had when UW took down Creighton last week in its final exhibition match of the season. It’s the excitement of a new season with new players, new at- titudes and new beginnings that make wins like that electrifying and meaningful. “The coaching staff has been pleasantly surprised by the play

SCROLL of some of the new members of the team,” head coach John Trask said. “Both Philipp (Schilling) and Noah (Leibold) have set- tled very well into the team and will be important pieces for the success of the team this year. “We are anxiously awaiting the return of Connor Maki from injury; he’s just about 100 percent and itching to get out and

start making his presence felt within the group.” TWEETS VIEW TO REQUIRED CONNECTION INTERNET Two players who have also shown plenty of potential early in the season are Mitch Guitar and Blake Carr. Guitar has already SOCIAL seen quality minutes, the second-most by any freshman behind MEDIA: Leibold. “Mitch is a very mature player and has been in a lot of big games in his career and I feel it’s only the tip of the iceberg for him,” Trask said. “As some of our attackers learn how special a passer he is and how he can unlock defenses and provide killer passes, his role will continue to evolve within the group.” Carr scored the first goal in the exhibition opener against Northern Illinois. “Blake is scoring goals and providing a nice spark of the bench,” Trask said. “He took his goal extremely well against NIU and has been scoring goals in training as well. As he becomes a bit more acclimated to the strength and pace of the collegiate game, we are expecting big things from him. “We’ve been pushing him on finding his ‘beast mode’ because he has all the tools to be a big-time player for this team.” INSIDE WOMEN’S SOCCER BY KELLI GRASHEL ▪ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS LEONARD CEDERHOLM

Maximum effort will be key to success Badgers look for every edge heading into opening weekend at home

ffort. It’s the word that’s been looming around the Wiscon- TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE sin women’s soccer team during the preseason. It’s been E the theme of head coach Paula Wilkins’ Twitter feed. And it’s effort that is going to determine where the Badgers go this

season. “With Milwaukee coming up, the biggest thing is that we want to make sure that we bring it in front of our home crowd and also make sure that we represent and uphold the tradition that has been developed by our former players that we better bring that effort and energy to the first home game,” Wilkins said,

SCROLL referencing the Badgers’ home opener Thursday against the in- state rival Panthers. Wisconsin opened its first weekend of play with an excit- ing win on the road that was followed by an unsatisfying loss. Through both games one thing was very clear, that the Badgers know their effort will be a key factor if they want to find success early in the season. INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS TWEETS VIEW TO REQUIRED CONNECTION INTERNET “I said to the team, ‘There’s little margin of error for you guys but the one thing we know we can all control is our effort,’” SOCIAL Wilkins said. “So I think that’s something we are going to stress MEDIA: all week and it will be important for our success moving for- ward.” The most vital part of opening weekend for a young Badgers squad was not necessarily to look flawless on the pitch but rath- er gain some experience. This is a team that has to adjust to playing together with new pieces in new roles.