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Lawrence rolls past Ripon 8-1

OSHKOSH, Wis. — The beat goes on for the Lawrence University men’s tennis team against Ripon College.

In a Midwest Conference North Division match late Wednesday night, the Vikings rolled to an 8-1 victory over the Red Hawks at the YMCA Tennis Center. It marks the sixth consecutive year that Lawrence (11-6, 2-0 MWC) has defeated Ripon (2-14, 0-4), and Lawrence head coach Kevin Girard improved to 6-0 against the Red Hawks.

Despite missing two starters to an academic commitment, the Vikings dropped only one match. Lawrence got the evening started with wins at Nos. 2 and 3 doubles. Craig Sherwood and Brian DeCorte were 8-0 winners at No. 2 and freshmen Daniel Anderson and Mitch Kasprzyk won 8-5 at No. 3.

The Vikings swept the singles with the two subs in the lineup, Anderson and Kasprzyk, both picking up wins. Anderson won 6-0, 6-1 at No. 5 and Kasprzyk was a 6-0, 6-1 winner at No. 6.

The 8-1 win for Lawrence snapped a four-match streak of 9-0 victories against the Red Hawks. It marked the first time Ripon had scored a point against Vikings since a 5-4 Lawrence win back in 2008.   

Lawrence University 8, Ripon College 1

Singles competition
1. Cooper Smith (LU) def. Eric Seiler (RC) 6-1, 6-3
2. Craig Sherwood (LU) def. Connor Greenwald (RC) 6-2, 6-0
3. Brian DeCorte (LU) def. Ryan Slowinski (RC) 6-0, 6-1
4. Jeremy Andereck (LU) def. Brian Schumacher (RC) 6-3, 6-2
5. Daniel Anderson (LU) def. Anders Goodwin (RC) 6-0, 6-1
6. Mitch Kasprzyk (LU) def. Tyler Hopewell (RC) 6-0, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. Eric Seiler/Connor Greenwald (RC) def. Cooper Smith/Jeremy Andereck (LU) 8-2
2. Craig Sherwood/Brian DeCorte (LU) def. Ryan Slowinski/Brian Schumacher (RC) 8-0
3. Daniel Anderson/Mitch Kasprzyk (LU) def. Anders Goodwin/Tyler Hopewell (RC) 8-5

Match Notes:
Ripon College 2-14, 0-4 MWC North
Lawrence University 11-6, 2-0 MWC North
T-3:30  A-20

Inside LU Athletics: Men’s tennis set for critical stretch of MWC play

The season, started so long ago last fall, boils down to the next five days for the Lawrence University men’s tennis team.

The Vikings have three Midwest Conference North Division matches in the next five days and that will determine if Lawrence gets to play for the league championship.

“We’ve got a lot of experience, and we are playing really well,” Lawrence coach Kevin Girard said. “We have to take it day-by-day, step-by-step. We want to win the North and win the whole thing. That’s the idea.”

Lawrence is currently 1-0 in the North Division (10-6 overall), and the top two teams from each division advance to the MWC Tournament. Those four teams then face off for the conference title. Lawrence is itching to get back into the tournament after just missing it the past two seasons.

“The team mantra or attitude is intensity and confidence,” Girard said. “Those are the key words we’ve been using. We instill that attitude for every single practice and every single match.”

Lawrence faces long-time rival Ripon College on Wednesday evening before traveling to Lake Forest College for another evening match on Friday. The Vikings then wrap up division play on Sunday against St. Norbert College, which is currently unbeaten in league play at 2-0, and the Green Knights have won four consecutive matches.

“St. Norbert, they always bring it against us,” Girard said. “They are a tough team. They have been playing really well.”

The Vikings bring a veteran presence to this quest to reach the conference tournament with seniors Cooper Smith, Jason Dunn and Max Zlevor playing Nos. 1-3 singles, respectively.

“It’s all about senior leadership, in my opinon,” Girard said. “They do a great job of keeping everyone in check but also letting the younger guys know when it’s time to get down to business. It’s what competition is all about.”

The rest of the lineup features sophomore Craig Sherwood, who was the MWC Player of the Week, at No. 4 singles, freshman Brian DeCorte at No. 5 and sophomore Jeremy Andereck at No. 6.

Lawrence’s leadership and talent was tested when the Vikings played five matches during spring break in Orlando, Fla., against some great competition. Girard believes the experience of those matches will now pay off. 

“It was basically to get us battle-tested for conference (play),” Girard said of the matches in Florida. “(The conference matches) are the matches that are the most important. We took some lumps down there, but it was getting us ready and knowing what you have to do to win a very important tennis match.”

Pro debut

Senior Phil Bushbacher made his professional hockey debut for the Louisana Ice Gators of the Southern Professional Hockey League earlier this month.

Bushbacher, a forward, played for the Ice Gators in their semifinal playoff series against the Huntsville Havoc.

Bushbacher is the ninth Lawrence player to play in the pro ranks in recent seasons. Matt Hughes, Jameson Raymond and Ben DiMarco all signed pro contracts after the 2011-12 season.

Schacht gets USTA honor

Former Lawrence tennis player Eric Schacht was recently honored by the United States Tennis Association. Schacht, who graduated in 1990 and played in the NCAA Division III Championships for Lawrence, won the Stanley Malless Award.

Now living in Champaign, Ill., Schacht won the award given to a volunteer for distinguished service in his or her district. Schacht led the formation of the Mahomet Community Tennis Association in 2009, and it has been a magnet for junior high and high school girls looking to play the game.

Schacht also has coached two girls’ high school teams and has been a volunteer women’s coach at the University of Illinois.

Pino wins golf award

Lawrence golf standout Rudi Pino was named the MWC Player of the Week after grabbed fourth place at the Marian Invitational. A freshman from Vancouver, Wash., Pino carded his collegiate-low round, a 4-under par 68, in the tournament’s first round at Morningstar Golfers Club in Waukesha, Wis. Pino followed that with a 75 for a 36-hole total of 143 to lead Lawrence to sixth place in the team standings.

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.

Sherwood picks up Midwest Conference tennis honor

APPLETON, Wis. — Lawrence University men’s tennis standout Craig Sherwood has been named the Midwest Conference Player of the Week.

Sherwood (Kenosha, Wis./Tremper), a sophomore, had a perfect week for the Vikings that included a key singles victory in Lawrence’s 5-4 win over Carroll University this past Saturday. Sherwood also posted a 2-0 record in doubles.

In Lawrence’s victory over Carroll, Sherwood defeated Isaac Jordan 6-0, 2-6, 6-3 at No. 4 singles to help clinch a critical North Division win over the Pioneers. He also teamed with Brian DeCorte (Southampton, Pa./William Tennent) for an 8-5 victory at No. 3 doubles. Sherwood and DeCorte also posted an 8-0 victory at No. 2 doubles in Lawrence’s 9-0 win over Dominican (Ill.) the following day.

Sherwood, who was honored by the conference for the first time, improved his singles record on the season to 8-7. Sherwood and DeCorte have a 9-6 mark in doubles.

Lawrence returns to action on Wednesday night when it hosts Ripon College in a Midwest Conference North Division match.

Pino earns weekly conference golf award

APPLETON, Wis. — Lawrence University golf standout Rudi Pino has been named the Midwest Conference Player of the Week.

Pino (Vancouver, Wash./Camas), a freshman, won the honor after taking fourth place at the Marian University Invitational. Playing at Morningstar Golfers Club in Waukesha, Wis., Pino carded a collegiate-low round of 4-under par 68 in the opening round on Sunday. Pino followed that with a 75 on Monday for a 36-hole total of 143.

Led by Pino, Lawrence placed sixth in the team standings with a score of 623. Pino was the highest finisher among the Midwest Conference players in the field.

Lawrence returns to action on Tuesday when it travels to the Carthage College Invitational.

Pino cards 1-under total to pace Lawrence golfers at Marian Invitational

WAUKESHA, Wis. — Rudi Pino finished at 1-under par to grab fourth place for Lawrence University at the Marian University Invitational on Monday.

Pino carded an opening-round 68, which was 4-under on the par-72 layout at Morningstar Golfers Club on Sunday. He followed that with a 75 on Monday to finish with a 36-hole total of 143.

Lawrence finished sixth in the team standings with a score of 623. Carthage College won the team title at 566.

Anton Olsson tied for 16th for the Vikings after rounds of 79 and 74 for a total of 153. Rounding out the scoring for the Vikings were Michael Vaubel (T37, 85-77 162), William Thoren (44th, 82-83 165) and Tyler Clark (61st, 95-86 181).

Results

Lawrence shoots down Stars 9-0

FOND DU LAC, Wis. — The Lawrence University men’s tennis team rolled to a 9-0 nonconference win over Dominican University on Sunday at Center Court.

The Vikings (10-6) got off to a hot start by dropping only five games en route to sweeping the three doubles matches. Lawrence then won all six singles matches without dropping a set.

Both Jason Dunn at No. 2 singles and Brian DeCorte at No. 4 lost just one game in their singles matches.

Freshman Mitch Kasprzyk picked up his first collegiate singles victory with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Mohit Shekhar at No. 5.

Lawrence University 9, Dominican University 0

Singles competition
1. Cooper Smith (LU) def. Amarantos, Kevin (DU) 6-2, 7-5
2. Jason Dunn (LU) def. Tabaka, Greg (DU) 6-1, 6-0
3. Max Zlevor (LU) def. Clark, Spencer (DU) 6-1, 6-1
4. Brian DeCorte (LU) def. Chavez, Adrian (DU) 6-0, 6-1
5. Mitch Kasprzyk (LU) def. Shekhar, Mohit (DU) 6-1, 6-1
6. Ethan Perushek (LU) def. Foley, William (DU) 6-1, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. Jason Dunn/Max Zlevor (LU) def. Amarantos, Kevin/Tabaka, Greg (DU) 8-4
2. Brian DeCorte/Craig Sherwood (LU) def. Clark, Spencer/Chavez, Adrian (DU) 8-0
3. Daniel Anderson/Adam Busch (LU) def. Shekhar, Mohit/Foley, William (DU) 8-1

Match Notes:
Dominican University 2-7
Lawrence University 10-6
T-3:00  A-25

Lawrence tops Carroll 5-4

NEW BERLIN, Wis. — The Lawrence University men’s tennis team topped Carroll University 5-4 on Saturday night in a Midwest Conference North Division match at Moorland Park Tennis Center.

The Vikings swept the doubles and then managed a pair of victories in singles to close out Carroll

The No. 1 doubles team of Jason Dunn and Max Zlevor pulled out a 9-8 win with a 9-7 victory in the tiebreaker. The No. 2 doubles team of Cooper Smith and Jeremy Andereck and the No. 3 team of Craig Sherwood and Brian DeCorte both won 8-5.

Dunn then posted a 6-3, 6-3 victory at No. 2 singles, and Sherwood was a 6-0, 2-6, 6-3 winner at No. 4.

Lawrence University 5, Carroll University 4

Singles competition
1. Jack Michael (CU) def. Cooper Smith (LU) 6-1, 6-2
2. Jason Dunn (LU) def. Kevin Rasmussen (CU) 6-3, 6-3
3. Ryne Fertitta (CU) def. Max Zlevor (LU) 7-5, 6-4
4. Craig Sherwood (LU) def. Isaac Jordan (CU) 6-0, 2-6, 6-3
5. Frankie Giuffre (CU) def. Brian DeCorte (LU) 6-1, 6-2
6. Matt Joost (CU) def. Jeremy Andereck (LU) 6-4, 4-6, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. Jason Dunn/Max Zlevor (LU) def. Jack Michael/Ryne Fertitta (CU) 9-8 (9-7)
2. Cooper Smith/Jeremy Andereck (LU) def. Kevin Rasmussen/Frankie Giuffre (CU) 8-5
3. Craig Sherwood/Brian DeCorte (LU) def. Isaac Jordan/Matt Joost (CU) 8-5

Match Notes:
Lawrence University 9-6, 1-0 MWC North
Carroll University 9-7, 1-1 MWC North
T-3:30  A-25

Lawrence picks up trio of wins at Wisconsin Lutheran Invitational

MILWAUKEE, Wis. — The Lawrence University track team took home three first-place finishes on Saturday at the Wisconsin Lutheran College Invitational.

Anna Bolgrien won the 400-meter hurdles, Katherine Dannecker won the 5,000 meters and Sam Stevens won the men’s 5,000 meters.

Bolgrien ran to first place in 1:08.53 and freshman teammate Hayley Cardinal wsa fourth in 1:13.44. Dannecker ran to her victory in the 5K in 20:01.60.

Stevens and teammate Jamie Brisbois swept the top two places in the men’s 5K. Stevens was first in 15:14.00, and Brisbois was second in 15:51.49.

Lawrence also posted a trio of second-place finishes. Rose Tepper took second in the high jump with a leap of 5 feet, 3 inches. The women’s 800 sprint medley relay team of Sam Luebke, Liza Girsova, Kassidy Rinehart and Katie Barie was second in 2:01.21. The men’s 800 sprint medley team of JP Ranumas, Bjorn Gowdy-Jaehnig, Matt Geleske and Ben Bard grabbed second in 1:41.41.

The Lawrence mwne were fifth in the team standings with 73 points, and the men were sixth with 45 points.

Results

Lawrence shuts out Grinnell 8-0

EAST PEORIA, Ill. — Shannon Murray and Jessica Demski combined to limit Grinnell College to only four hits as the Lawrence University softball team downed the Pioneers 8-0 on Saturday at the Midwest Conference Classic.

Murray tossed the first three innings, allowing two hits, striking out five and walking none, to get the win. Demski pitched the final three innings, allowed two hits, struck out two and didn’t walk a batter.

Alissa Geipel, Anna Wawiorka, Cory Paquette and Murray all had two hits for the Vikings, who piled up 12 hits against Grinnell starter Summer Wilke.

Lawrence took the lead with three runs in the second on two hits, but the Vikings got help in the form of three Grinnell errors in the frame. Lawrence added a run in the third to push the lead to 4-0 on Wawiorka’s RBI single.

The Vikings pulled away with three more runs in the fourth. Murray drove in a run with a bases-loaded groundout, Lawrence went up 7-0 when two more runs scored after an error on Wawiorka’s ground ball.

Lawrence pushed the margin to the eight-run rule when Wawiorka belted a run-scoring double in the sixth to score Geipel.

Lawrence wraps up play at the MWC Classic on Sunday by facing Monmouth College and Illinois College. Lawrence is now 2-2 for the event.

Vikings no-hit, blow out Knox at MWC Classic

EAST PEORIA, Ill. — Three Lawrence University pitchers combined to fire a no-hitter as the Vikings opened the Midwest Conference Classic with an 11-0 victory over Knox College on Friday.

Shannon Murray, Kara Vance and Jessica Demski combined for the fourth no-hitter in Lawrence softball history. Murray was the starter and this is the third no-hitter with which she has been involved. She fired a no-hitter against Alverno College in 2010 and no-hit Grinnell College at the MWC Classic in 2012.

Murray pitched the first two innings, Vance completed the next two innings and Demski pitched the final inning as Lawrence closed the game out on the eight-run rule. The only runner for Knox (3-16, 2-5 MWC) was on a walk in the third, but that runner was erased on a double play so the Vikings faced the minimum. Murray struck out two and Vance added a strikeout.

Lawrence (11-6, 1-0) blew the game open in the first inning by scoring 11 times in the bottom half of the frame. The Vikings pounded out 11 hits against Knox starter Amber Eisha in the inning. Murray started the scoring with a run-scoring single, and Taylor Dodson added a two-run double. Alex Chiodo had a run-scoring double, and Alissa Geipel later added a two-run single. Cathy Kaye had a run-scoring single, and Murray then delivered a two-run double before a run-scoring double from Anna Wawiorka.

Murray went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and three runs batted in. Wawiorka and Kaye both went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a RBI. Savanna Marsicek also had a pair of hits for the Vikings.

Lawrence faces Cornell College later this afternoon in the tournament which pits North Division teams against their South Division rivals. The Vikings play two more games on Saturday and two on Sunday.

Box score