UW-Stevens Point Names 2005-06 Athletes of the Year

     Four athletes who each led their respective teams to top 10 national finishes during the past year have been selected as UW-Stevens Point�s Athletes of the Year for the 2005-06 school year.

     Women�s cross country and track and field athlete Jenna Mitchler won the women�s individual sport Athlete of the Year for the second straight year, while hockey player Amy Statz was the female team sport winner. Swimmer Alex Anderson captured the men�s individual sport award and baseball player Chuck Brehm was selected as the men�s team sport winner. The awards are annually selected by UW-Stevens Point�s head coaching staff.

     Mitchler, a senior from Kaukauna, placed 13th at the NCAA Division III cross country championships last fall to become the third athlete in school history to earn two cross country All-American finishes. She also helped the Pointers place 10th overall in the team standings. Mitchler placed third at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference meet as the team earned a runner-up finish. Mitchler finished third in the mile run at the Division III indoor track and field championships this spring for her fifth career track and field All-American honor.

     Statz, a junior from Wisconsin Rapids, ranked second in the country with a 1.22 goals against average and fifth with a .934 save percentage while leading the Pointers to their second straight Northern Collegiate Hockey Association title and a third place finish at the Division III women�s frozen four as they finished 21-5-4 overall. Statz set a school record with 10 shutouts, including two in national tournament play, and became the fourth goalie in Division III history to record 50 career victories.

     Anderson, a senior from La Crosse who attended Central High School, posted runner-up finishes in the 100 and 200-yard breaststroke events at this year�s Division III championships as the Pointers placed ninth overall. He also captured six conference titles to help the Pointers win their seventh straight WIAC crown. Anderson concluded his career with 20 conference titles, 10 All-American awards and 15 honorable mention All-American performances.

     Brehm, a senior from Spencer, leads the baseball team with nine home runs, 15 stolen bases and 38 runs scored through 30 games this spring. Brehm is hitting .348 and also has a team-high 19 walks as the Pointers are 20-10 overall. He currently ranks fourth in school history with 29 home runs and second with 39 stolen bases. Brehm was a first-team All-WIAC and All-Region selection last season while hitting .386 with 14 home runs and 54 RBI�s as the Pointers went 38-11 and advanced to the Division III regional final.

     Also, four athletes have been selected as the UW-Stevens Point freshman athletes of the year. Hockey players Sean Fish and Nicole Grossmann took the team sport honors and swimmers Rob Donisch and Caitlin Hake captured individual sport awards.

     Fish, a Ramsey, Minn. native, was a first-team all-NCHA and all-WIAC performer for the men�s hockey team. He shared the NCHA scoring lead in league games with seven goals and 12 assists for 19 points, while totaling 25 points in overall games.

     Grossmann, a Lindstrom, Minn. native, was a first-team all-NCHA performer and led the women�s hockey team in scoring with 16 goals and nine assists for 25 points. Her 15 points in NCHA games ranked second in the league.

     Donisch, a Wheaton, Ill. native who attended Warrenville South High School, was the WIAC champion in the 200-yard butterfly and runner-up in the 100-yard butterfly, qualifying for nationals in both events.

     Hake, a Red Wing, Minn. native, placed sixth at nationals in the 100-yard freestyle and seventh in the 50-yard freestyle. She also won the WIAC title in the 50-yard freestyle and swam on three conference champion relays.