UW‐Stevens Point Fall 2008 Athletics Update Pointers in Pointer Basketball: the Pros Showcasing Success Chancellor Linda Bunnell and the University Another focus of the lobby is to better ac‐ Porter Heads Suns of Wisconsin‐Stevens Point are proud to an‐ commodate fans, community members, staff, Terry Porter was recently named nounce that a campaign is under way to reno‐ faculty, and students by increasing the ease of head the head coach for the Phoenix vate Quandt gym and Quandt lobby and to traffic flow for the ticket office, entrance, rest‐ Suns, making him the 13th coach in honor Coach Dick Bennett and Coach Jack Ben‐ rooms, and other facilities by increasing the franchise history. nett by dedicating Quandt gym basketball size of the lobby. After a domi‐ court to the two brothers for their lifelong nating basketball commitment and dedication to basketball in career at UWSP, the community, state, and nation. Porter was the Quandt gym renovations are focused pri‐ 24th overall pick marily on the game experience for players, in the NBA draft fans, coaches, and future Pointers. In addition and spent 17 to a new scoring system, media tables, and years in the NBA lighting, Quandt gym will be enhanced with as a player, three new customized portable basketball standards, as an assistant shot clocks, and goal lights. coach, and two as Quandt lobby will also be renovated in order a head coach. to showcase the long tradition of Pointer bas‐ The floor dedication will take place on Satur‐ Porter received his degree in com‐ ketball success and will feature custom display day February 7th against UW‐Superior and will munications from the University of cases, wall murals, National Championship consist of a personalized logo with the names Wisconsin‐Stevens Point. In 1999, he displays, and new lighting. of both Dick and Jack Bennett placed perma‐ was given the university’s Distinguished nently on the Quandt gym floor. Alumnus Award. This $200,000 project is part of a compre‐ hensive athletic campaign focused on showcas‐ ing Pointer tradition and success. Zimmermann Named Pitcher of the Year It has been just over a year since Jordan Zimmermann was drafted by the Washing‐ ton Nationals and already he Bennett Logo concept only is making a splash. Along with Leonard Davis, In This Issue: who was named player 1 Pointers in the Pros 3 Excellence in Athletics Fund of the year, Zimmermann was named the organization’s pitcher of the year. 1 Honoring the Bennetts 3 Excellence in Athletics Fund 2008 There is already speculation that Recognition Zimmermann could make the Nats’ 2 Letter from the Director rotation this spring after making his 4 Focus on New Facilities: Outdoor way to the Double‐A mid‐season all‐ 2 Director’s Cup Final star game and finishing this season Standings 5 Focus on New Facilities: Indoor with a 10‐3 record and a 2.89 ERA for 2 Pointers on the Web 6 Aerial Circus: Celebrating 35 Years Class A Potomac and Class AA Harris‐ burg. THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF UWSP ATHLETICS FALL 2008 Letter from the Director: Welcome to 2008–09! elcome to Last year we finished 15th, out of 443 ties and experiences. The Excellence Fund W another year Division III schools nationally, in the Di‐ is a vital source of annual revenue that of athletics at the rector’s Cup, which is an overall meas‐ helps support travel, equipment upgrades, University of Wisconsin urement of athletic success. This contin‐ meals, uniforms, coaching, facilities, events, Stevens Point, and ues our streak of 11 years of being and much more. In this newsletter we welcome to our first ranked in the top 25. We have also fin‐ recognize and thank all of those who helped edition of the Pointer ished as the top WIAC school 6 times in this last year’s annual campaign be so suc‐ Update. We hope this the Director’s Cup 13‐year history. cessful. newsletter finds you as The Pointers had one national Our facilities have changed greatly over excited as we are for champion this season and qualified the last year with the help of our coaches, the ‘08–’09 college Frank O’Brien teams or athletes to NCAA tournament players, and most importantly, alumni, par‐ athletics season. UWSP Athletic Director competition in 13 different sports. We ents, fans, and members of the Stevens The fall is often a had two conference titles, two WIAC Point community through their support and time of reflection on the past year as the conference tournament championships, 16 donations. These renovations directly af‐ bar is set for the one ahead. The ’07–’08 NCAA Division III First Team All‐Americans, fect all 20 of our varsity sports and are high‐ year proved to be another great one both in 6 Coaches Association First‐team All‐ lighted in this newsletter as well. the classroom and in athletics. Americans in their respective sports, four On behalf of all our student‐athletes, Once again this year, the average GPA conference athletes of the year, and four coaches, and staff, thank you again for your for our student athletes was higher than conference coaches of the year. Overall, continuous support and loyalty to Pointer non‐athletes and our retention rate re‐ our teams finished 203‐83‐8 with a .704 Athletics. Without your generosity and mains higher as well. This year UWSP had winning percentage. enthusiasm for UWSP, none of our success two Academic All‐Americans, which brings In addition to our successful teams and would be possible. the total to 36 in school history; 33 of those athletes, we are proud and thankful to say were in the last nine years. In addition, we that we had our most successful Excellence Go Pointers! had five WIAC Scholar‐Athlete award win‐ in Athletics Fund annual campaign since it ners. As part of our mission, academics will started in 1999. continue to be a focus on our campus and This fund impacts all the coaches and Frank O’Brien, Athletic Director in athletics. student‐athletes by enhancing opportuni‐ Pointers on the Web 2007‐08 Director’s Cup Standings http://athletics.uwsp.edu/ 1. Williams (Mass.) Sign Up for the Pointer Weekly Report! 2. Washington (Mo.) The Weekly Report keeps readers up to date on the latest 3. New Jersey UWSP sports action. This free bulletin is delivered to the 4. Amherst (Mass.) email account of your choice. Sign up now at 5. Middlebury (Vt.) http://athletics.uwsp.edu/. 6. Wisconsin Whitewater Keep in touch! 7. Emory (Ga.) 8. Wartburg (Iowa.) There is no better way to check schedules, listen to 9. Cortland State (N.Y.) games, and read about the latest in Pointer Athletics than 10. Wisconsin Eau‐Claire to check us out on the Web. The Pointer Athletics Home‐ 11. Messiah (Penn.) page also contains links to university, WIAC, NCHA, and 12. St. Thomas (Minn.) NCAA pages as well. 13. Trinity (TX) Support Athletics Online! 14. Ithaca (N.Y.) 15. Wisconsin Stevens Point UW‐Stevens Point now has the capability of processing 16. Tufts (Mass.) donations online. If you would like to give a gift to your 17. John Hopkins (Md.) favorite sport or the Excellence in Athletics Fund visit 18. De Pauw (Ind.) http://athletics.uwsp.edu/ today or contact Tony Romano 19. Wisconsin LaCrosse at (715)346‐3406 or toll free at 1‐866‐291‐5707. 20. Illinois Wesleyan 2 Athletics Update Thank you! Excellence in Athletics Fund Gold Club Surpasses Annual Goal to Mary Ann and James Nigbor Reach $14,000 Jim and Krista Mendyke This year the Excellence fund surpassed our goal by over $4,000 thanks to generous contributions from alumni, fans, former Pointer Silver Club athletes, friends and the community. Kenneth and Sandra Falkinham The fund is designed to enhance opportunities and experiences Ken Kulick for student‐athletes at UWSP; this is a vital source of annual reve‐ nue that helps support travel, equipment upgrades, meals, uni‐ Greg Diemer and Peggy Carrier‐Diemer forms, coaching, facilities, events, and much more. Philip and Helen Marshall The UWSP Athletic Department would like to recognize and Bob and Kim Spoerl thank everyone who made this possible. Pewter Club Sean and Lisa Brick Stephanie and Keith Hicklin Carlton and Gail Ruys Fred and Gail Kestly Marvin and Becci Van Kekerix Chris L. Kuter Wendy M. Kohrt Richard L. Lund Allen and Adeline Barrows Roy and Margaret Menzel Richard B. Berndt Anonymous in honor of Eileen Gary and Cheryl Bork Carl R. Moesche Alice Clawson in memory of Duaine Counsell Ray and Ruth Mundt Helen R. Godfrey Anonymous Marjorie Spring in memory of Duaine Counsell Storm and Joan North Susan M. Brogaard in memory of Carol Huettig Orland and Marge Radke Richard and Barbara Jordanger Richard C. Raisler Scott and Renee Pompe Kenneth and Barbara Roloff in honor of Coach John Roberts John and Mary Jo Boyne Joseph and Linda Serpico Anonymous James and Sheryl Sharp Karen and Bob Engelhard in honor of Dick Bennett, Gregory C. Simonis in memory of Duaine Counsell Jack Bennett, John Miech, and Terry Porter Anonymous Alice L. Faust Rick and Joan Witt James and Patricia Hansen in memory of Hale Quandt and Barbara and William Koehler Duaine Counsell (“These men were the best”) Fan Club John and Janet Roberts Gordon and Patricia Parsons Jody and Jason Berry in honor of Whitney Offedahl Terry and Connie Pease in honor and memory of Joe Pease Karen K. Hoffman Bryan and Arlyss Purchatzke Yvonne and Terrell Arnold Anonymous Jeffrey and Lori Boeder Thomas and Nora Schnell Jack and Ann Larsen Paul and Cathie Woita Roxanne and Mark Pawluk Donald at Barbara Yahr Eugene and Jack Van Beaver in honor of John and Sheila Miech and Brion and Laura Demski great job they are doing with young men and women Mary and John Hauke Brad Fox Gerard and Pam O’Connor Barbara and Michael Slagle Gary C.