Wiscnews.Com : Portage Daily Register Online

WiscNews.com : Portage Daily Register Online http://www.wiscnews.com/pdr/sports/276358

Classifieds | Jobs | Autos | Homes | Rentals

weather poll

High: 32°F Brett Favre is certainly in Low: 21°F the discussion when it Partly Cloudy comes to the NFL’s top quarterbacks, but is he the greatest? Who do you Columbia County's Daily Newspaper Monday, March 10, 2008 think is the greatest NFL quarterback of all time?

SPORTS email story print story John Elway Leading the Pack OTHER STORIES IN SPORTS Joe Montana By Kevin Morales, Daily Register BOYS BASKETBALL: Pardeeville, Rio honored by Roger Staubach Trailways South Four area players help MATC to NJCAA UW MEN'S BASKETBALL: Badgers ready for 'second Bart Starr Division III National Tournament season' UW FOOTBALL: DeCremer's recovery this spring will be Fran Tarkenton MADISON — Rochester Community and crucial to defense in '08 Technical College called a timeout as Johnny Unitas GIRLS BASKETBALL: McDermott lands first-team soon as Alicia Baldowin hit the first free honors for Rio throw. Steve Young BOYS STATE BASKETBALL: Eleva-Strum sacks So the Madison Area Technical College Randolph Terry Bradshaw forward, who had just 11 tries from the charity stripe all season, toiled for a advertisement Joe Namith minute before attempting the most important free throw of the Wolfpack's vote! season. MOST VIEWED current results "I don't really even remember what was said during the timeout," said Baldowin, a Man found dead in Marquette County house fire 2006 Pardeeville graduate, "I was just Lake drawdown comes to a head advertisement like, 'oh no.'" Kara Roelke, a 2006 Poynette High $10,000 Powerball ticket sold in Portage Baldowin hit two free throws with 16 School graduate and second-year player Police Notebook, March 8 seconds remaining to lift MATC's on the MATC women's basketball team, is one of four area athletes who have helped Sex offender registers Wyocena address women's basketball team to a 66-64 the Wolfpack earn a trip to the NJCAA Four area families are leaping with joy; Divine Savior regional final win Feb. 29, earning the Division III National Tournament. delivers four babies on Feb. 29 Wolfpack a berth in the National Junior Montello's Megan O'Malley and Nicole College Athletic Association Division III Kleist join 2006 Pardeeville graduate Alicia Baldowin on a team that has won its last National Tournament. 14 games. (Dan Wiza/MATC Athletics) WISCNEWS Baldowin is one of four former area 2 images << 1 of 2 >> athletes who have played varying roles extras contact us this season in helping the Wolfpack get Sportmen's Showcase Reader services back to the National Tournament for the first time since 2006, when they placed Daily Sudoku Puzzle Subscribe here third. Reach staff Montello natives Nicole Kleist and Megan O'Malley, as well as Poynette's Kara Newspapers in Education Roelke join Baldowin on this season's squad.

Roelke was a three-year letterwinner with the Indians and enrolled at MATC last year because she wanted a chance to explore her career options while being able to play basketball.

Since a player is only eligible for two years at a junior college, Roelke will transfer next year to continue her education.

"It means a lot," said Roelke of making the tournament in her final season with MATC. "I think all of us girls are really excited to go and I think we're glad we got to go while we're here."

Kleist is in her first year at MATC, where she plays volleyball and basketball.

She didn't plan on playing basketball until her roommates — Baldowin and O'Malley — provided the inspiration.

"They played and I love basketball, so I decided to play," she said. "Megan is pretty much like my sister. And I met Alicia through Megan, but I also played against Alicia (in high school) because we graduated the same year."

While she's enjoyed playing, balancing her academic load with two sports while living away from home hasn't been easy.

Kleist is going to pass on playing basketball next season in order to focus on getting her administrative assistant associates degree and taking advantage of internship opportunities.

It's trying at times and surely there isn't the glitz and glamour of playing at the NCAA D-I level, playing college basketball is an experience none would trade.

"Just the enjoyment of it. I love playing basketball, I love being in shape," Kleist said. "The social aspect of it is the best... you meet so many people when you're involved with something."

"My heart's into it," Roelke said of playing at MATC. "I'm close with my family, I

1 of 2 3/10/2008 3:17 PM WiscNews.com : Portage Daily Register Online http://www.wiscnews.com/pdr/sports/276358

want to stay close to my family, too. I love basketball, I don't want to quit playing."

Baldowin is in her second year of pursuing a nursing degree at MATC. She has started 22 games this year and is averaging just over 1 ppg. She admits she's not the best shooter, but her two pivotal points went a long way in continuing MATC's season.

"She's the kind of kid that doesn't want to let anybody down," MATC coach Jessica Pelzel said. "She's not necessarily our best free-throw shooter by any means..., but she's the type of kid that won't give up."

"She gets nervous, she felt like she was going to throw up," Kleist said with a laugh. "I knew she was going to make them. She gets nervous but she's good at what she does. I had all the confidence in the world in her."

MATC opens the tournament by facing will play Brookdale Community College (Lincroft, NJ) at 3 p.m. on Thursday, March. 13. Mohawk Valley Community College, in Utica, N.Y., is hosting the tournament.

The Wolfpack are guaranteed three games, likely the final three times all four local athletes will take the hardwood.

"It's very exciting," Baldowin said. "You can only play here for two years, so it's a good way to kind of end my whole basketball (career)."

2 of 2 3/10/2008 3:17 PM