Pointer Notes - Sept. 15, 2004

Cross Country Teams Both Earn High National Rankings

     The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point men�s and women�s cross country teams are both among the top-ranked teams in this week�s NCAA Division III polls.

     The women�s team is ranked third in the preseason national poll after dominating last weekend�s Luther Invitational and placing third at last year�s NCAA championships. Defending national champion Middlebury (Vt.) is the top-ranked team and Williams (Mass.) is ranked second.

     The men�s team moved up one spot to sixth this week after being ranked seventh in last week�s preseason rankings. The Pointers were last year�s national runner-up and competed last week at the Lawrence Invite, resting many of their top runners. UW-Stevens Point will run at the Grinnell Invitational on Saturday. Defending national champion Calvin (Mich.) is ranked No. 1.

Men�s Basketball Team to Be Honored at Saturday�s Football Game

     Last year�s NCAA Division III men�s basketball championship team will be honored and receive its championship rings at halftime of Saturday�s UW-Stevens Point football game at Goerke Field.

     The Pointers finished 29-5 overall and defeated Williams (Mass.) in the title game on March 20 in Salem, Va. UW-Stevens Point returns all but one player from last year�s squad for the 2004-05 season.

     The football team hosts Linfield (Ore.) on Saturday at 2 p.m. in a game between two of the nation�s top teams. UW-Stevens Point is ranked seventh in Division III and Linfield is ranked second.

Craig and Ryan Named WIAC Athletes of the Week

     One of UW-Stevens Point�s most successful athletes in recent years and one of its newest athletes were both honored as Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Athletes of the Week.

     Senior Megan Craig, a Bangor native, was named the conference�s women�s cross country athlete of the week after winning the Luther Invitational by nearly 30 seconds with a 5,000-meter time of 18:27. It is the second athlete of the week award for Craig, who placed fourth at last year�s conference meet.

     Freshman John Ryan, a Verona High School graduate, had an impressive kicking debut for the Pointer football team and was named the league�s special teams Player of the Week. Ryan booted a 44-yard field goal in a win over Tri-State, marking the team�s longest field goal since 1996. He also converted a pair of extra points and had three touchbacks on kickoffs.