Kalsow and Nechuta Both Finalists for Josten�s National Player of the Year

     UW-Stevens Point seniors Jason Kalsow and Amanda Nechuta are both finalists for the Josten�s Award presented to the NCAA Division III men�s and women�s basketball Players of the Year.

     The duo is among 10 finalists for each award that is given annually by the Salem (Va.) Rotary Club. The awards are presented during the men�s championship weekend in Salem on March 17. Kari Groshek is the only previous UW-Stevens Point player to be a finalist for the award in 2002.

     Kalsow and Nechuta each set UW-Stevens Point�s all-time respective scoring records within 15 days of each other earlier this season. They are the only Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference players among the finalists. Buena Vista (Iowa) is the only other school with both a men�s and women�s finalist.

     Kalsow, a Huntley, Ill. native, has 1,745 career points and is also the school�s all-time leading rebounder with 823 for his career. He is fourth in school history with 431 career assists and needs one more field goal to match Tim Naegeli�s school record of 689 for his career. Kalsow hit the game-winning shot with 0.2 seconds left in last year�s Division III championship game.

     This season, Kalsow ranks among the leaders in all 12 of the league�s statistical categories. He leads the WIAC in scoring at 19.9 per game and assists at 4.3 per contest. Kalsow also is shooting a league-high 51.5 percent from three-point range and is third in the league in rebounding at 7.1 per game. He ranks 39th in the country in scoring and has scored in double figures in 59 straight games.

     Nechuta, a Mosinee native, has 1,780 points to rank third in WIAC history and just 54 points behind the league�s career record. She holds the school record for career field goals made and ranks fourth in school history with 747 rebounds. Last season, she scored a single-season school record 617 points.

     Nechuta is currently leading the WIAC in scoring for the third straight year, averaging 16.6 points per game. She is also an outstanding defensive player, ranking second in the league at 2.6 steals per game.

     In addition to their basketball ability, the award also recognizes academic prowess and community service, recognizing those who fit the ideal of a well-rounded Division III student-athlete.

     The other men�s finalists are J.D. Byers, Lebanon Valley (Pa.); Russ Churchwell, Oglethorpe (Ga.); Seth Hauben, Rochester (N.Y.); Adam McCoy, Aurora (Ill.); Jon Nielson, Wheaton (Ill.); Tyler Rhoten, Trinity (Conn.); Andrew Schiel, Amherst (Mass.); Tommy Stolhandske, Texas Lutheran; Eric Wiebers, Buena Vista (Iowa).
    The other women�s finalists are Alyssa Antolick, DeSales (Pa.); Amy Argetsinger, DePauw (Ind.); Ashley Edwards, Concordia-Austin (Texas); Katie Maguire, Buena Vista (Iowa); Diana Martinez, Hardin-Simmons (Texas); Tara Rohde, Trinity (Texas); Megan Vig, Carleton (Minn.); Siobhan Zerilla, Wilmington (Ohio); Olivia Zurek, Bates (Maine).