Lawrence University football standouts Luke Barthelmess and Sam Wagner are set to play for Team Stars and Stripes in the fifth annual Tazon de Estrellas (Bowl of the Stars) on Dec. 21 in Monterrey, Mexico.
Barthelmess (Appleton, Wis./Principia School) and Wagner (Salem, Wis./Burlington Catholic Central) will be part of a team of 51 college seniors facing Mexico’s CONADEIP All-Stars in the 36,000-seat Estadio Tecnologico. The game kicks off at 1 p.m. and can be seen via webcast at www.terra.com.mx.
“I’m excited that Sam and Luke get this opportunity,” said Lawrence head coach Mike Barthelmess. “It’s something that they deserve, and the Lawrence football program is honored that they were invited to participate.”
This marks the second consecutive season that Lawrence has had a football player participate in a postseason all-star game. In December 2012, wide receiver Tyler Mazur took part in the All-American Bowl at the Metrodome and scored a touchdown for his squad.
Barthelmess ended his Lawrence career as the most prolific passer in school history and holds nearly every passing record. He completed 648 of 1,181 passes in his career and finished fourth in conference history with 8,190 passing yards. Barthelmess’ 62 touchdown passes ranks seventh in league history.
“Very excited for this opportunity,” Barthelmess said. “Sam and I will get to play with some of the most talented athletes in Division III on an international stage. I can’t think of a much better way to go out. Flying to Mexico to play a football game is not something you get to do every December. I can’t wait to head south to represent LU on Team Stars and Stripes.”
Barthelmess was chosen for the all-conference team this fall after completing 193 of 346 passes for 2,133 yards and 14 touchdowns. He finished second in the league at 213.3 passing yards per game.
Barthelmess also ran 177 times for 889 yards and two touchdowns. Barthelmess, who averaged 5.0 yards per carry, finished eighth in the conference at 88.9 yards per game. He also finished first in the league in total offense at 302.2 yards per game. Barthelmess wound up ninth in Lawrence history with 1,819 rushing yards.
Wagner was chosen for the all-conference team for the second consecutive year as a standout defensive back, but he also saw significant action at wide receiver.
“It’s exciting to get another opportunity to represent the rich tradition of Lawrence football, especially on the international stage,” Wagner said. “The chance to play alongside a teammate in Luke will be very very special. I feel very blessed and fortunate to be awarded this opportunity, and I’m excited to cap off my collegiate career in this fashion.”
Wagner led the squad with 89 tackles, including 8.0 tackles for loss. Wagner, who finished fifth in the conference in tackles per game, also had one interception and six passes defensed. Wagner also finished with 23 catches for 435 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged an impressive 18.9 yards per catch.
Roubos selected
Freshman forward Blake Roubos has been named the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association Offensive Player of the Week.
Roubos (Niagara Falls, Ontario) continued a strong start during his rookie season by piling up five points with two goals and three assists in Lawrence’s 6-6 tie with Gustavus Adolphus College on Nov. 29. Playing in the NCHA-MIAC Thanksgiving Showdown, Roubos scored one goal and assisted on three more to help Lawrence build a 5-1 lead against the Gusties. Gustavus bounced back to take a 6-5 lead, but Roubos lifted his team in the final seconds of regulation. With an extra attacker on the ice, Roubos scored the game-tying goal with just nine seconds left to force overtime.
The five points ties for the fifth-highest game total in Lawrence history. Roubos also ran his consecutive games point streak to seven to start his career.
Solid start
The women’s basketball team stands at 2-2 after its first four games. That’s the first time the Vikings have split their first four games since the 2007-08 season.
Lawrence’s 80-29 win over Mount Mary University on Thursday marked its highest point total in a victory since the Vikings beat Knox College 81-77 on Dec. 13, 2011. The 29 points is the fewest scored by a Lawrence opponent since the Vikings defeated Grinnell College 66-22 on Feb. 1, 2002.
Editor’s Note: Inside LU Athletics is a notes package written by Lawrence University Director of Athletic Media Relations Joe Vanden Acker. It will feature teams and individual players, recap weekly awards or highlights and take a look at what’s ahead for the Vikings.