The Highlights

Scores, news and more from Lawrence University Athletics

Harris named to All-America baseball team

APPLETON, Wis. — Lawrence University baseball standout Davide Harris has been named to Jewish Sports Review All-America baseball team.

Davide Harris
Davide Harris

Harris (Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township), a senior outfielder, was a first-team selection on a squad that encompassed players from NCAA Division II and III and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Harris was the lone player from a Wisconsin college to be named to the team.

Harris, who finished in the top 20 in the Midwest Conference in batting average, hit a team-high .341 on the season and also posted a team-best .449 on-base percentage. Batting from the lead-off position, Harris had seven doubles, one triple, 22 runs scored and 15 runs batted in.

Harris was one of the Midwest Conference’s most feared base runners as he swiped 24 bases in 25 attempts this season. Harris’ 24 steals in 2013 was the third-highest season total in school history. Harris finished his career with a Lawrence record 64 stolen bases.

For his career, Harris hit .311 with 51 RBI, and his name is all over the Lawrence record book. A four-year starter, Harris ranks third with 441 at-bats, third with 70 walks, fourth with 89 runs scored, fifth with 137 hits and ninth with 21 doubles.

Lawrence student-athletes named to Academic All-Midwest Conference team

APPLETON, Wis. — More than 100 Lawrence University student-athletes have been chosen for the Academic All-Midwest Conference team.

Lawrence had 133 student-athletes earn the academic all-conference honor, which is given after having a grade point average of 3.33 during that academic year.

The Lawrence women’s swimming and diving team had the largest numbers of honorees with 12. Women’s tennis and women’s indoor track both had 11 and volleyball and women’s outdoor track both had 10.

Complete list

Francour to lead Lawrence tennis programs

APPLETON, Wis. — Steve Francour has been named the new men’s and women’s tennis coach at Lawrence University,

Steve Francour

Director of Athletics Mike Szkodzinski announced Tuesday.

Francour comes to Lawrence from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, where he has been the men’s and women’s tennis coach for 23 seasons.

“We are tremendously excited to announce the hiring of Steve,” Szkodzinski said. “During the interview process and after speaking with a number of people who know Steve well, it was clear that Steve would be the right person to lead our men’s and women’s tennis programs. His vast experience will benefit not only our scholar-athletes, but our staff as well. We look forward to watching Steve lead us toward a Midwest Conference title in the near future.”

A native of South Milwaukee, Wis., Francour brings experience and nearly 400 dual match victories to Lawrence.

“Fate had a bit of a hand in leading me to this new opportunity,” Francour said. “The timing is just right with respect to my career, and I am very much looking forward to refreshing the challenge of building a successful program. I am grateful to the Lawrence administration and the athletic department for giving me the chance.

“I’m very excited to meet the women’s team and get started with our season. I’m confident this first group will help me get off in a positive direction, and I know we will both be learning what it takes for Lawrence to succeed.”

During his 23 seasons at UW-Oshkosh, Francour’s men’s teams posted a 240-239 record. Despite the fact that the UW-Oshkosh men’s program competed as an independent, Francour guided the Titans to the NCAA Division III Tournament in 1996, 1997 and 2001.

UW-Oshkosh posted double-digit victories 14 times under Francour, including 10 consecutive winning seasons from 1994-2003. Francour also had 30 of his players selected for the Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-Academic Team.

On the women’s side, Francour has a record of 156-150 in 23 seasons. Francour has guided the Titans to three runner-up finishes and two third places in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. He received the league’s Coach of the Year honor in 2011 after UW-Oshkosh compiled a 9-8 record.

Francour’s 2000 team set the UW-Oshkosh season record with 14 wins, and Jennifer Pekulik represented the Titans at the NCAA Division III Championships after going 16-3 at No. 1 singles. Francour has coached seven conference singles champions, four doubles champions and three WIAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year winners. The Titans also have had 35 players named to the ITA All-Academic Team.

“I completed my undergraduate degree at UW-Oshkosh in 1988 and was part of the tennis program all four years. After graduate school at Baylor University, I was fortunate to be considered for the head coaching position at my alma mater,” Francour said. “Twenty-three years later, I can say it has been quite the honor to have developed great relationships with my colleagues and student-athletes. I leave UW-Oshkosh with countless fond memories and friendships that will hopefully continue into my new chapter at Lawrence.”

Francour earned a bachelor’s degree in sports management from UW-Oshkosh in 1988 and his master’s degree in sports administration from Baylor University in 1989.

Francour has been the head tennis professional at the Oshkosh Country Club since 1993 and at the Butte des Morts Country Club since 2008. He also has been the director of tennis at the Oshkosh YMCA Tennis Center since 1998.

Francour is a member of the United States Professional Tennis Association and was the USTA Specialist in Competitive Player Development during 2002.

Francour and his wife, Patty, have a son, Cade, and live in Oshkosh, Wis.

Francour succeeds Kevin Girard, who coached the Lawrence men’s and women’s teams for six seasons.

Lawrence student-athletes receive awards at Honors Celebration

APPLETON, Wis. — Nine Lawrence University student-athletes were recently honored at the 2013 Honors Celebration.

The awards and winners are as follows.

The Ruth Bateman Award is given for excellence in scholarship, athletic ability and leadership by a female athlete. Senior Rose Tepper (Mount Vernon, Iowa/Mount Vernon) was honored after an outstanding career in track and field. A five-time all-conference honoree in the high jump, Tepper was 2010 Midwest Conference outdoor champion. Tepper, who holds the Lawrence record indoors in the high jump, was a qualifier for the 2011 NCAA Division III Championships.

The Iden Charles Champion Cup is given for excellence in scholarship, athletic ability, college spirit and loyalty. Senior Tyler Mazur (Reedsburg, Wis./Reedsburg) completed an outstanding football career at Lawrence and remains a key contributor to the men’s basketball squad. Mazur finished his football career ranked fourth in receiving yards (2,253), fifth in catches (130), fifth in touchdown catches (25), fourth in total touchdowns (37) and fifth in points (224). Mazur also was a key member of the men’s basketball team and broke the school record by making nine 3-pointers in a game this past season.

The Outstanding Freshman Athletic Award for Men is given the freshman man who has made the most outstanding contribution to Lawrence athletics. Brandon Boelter (Saginaw, Mich./Heritage) earned the award after an outstanding rookie season with the Lawrence hockey team. Boelter was a first-team All-Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association selection and was named to the All-MCHA Freshmen Team. Boelter led all defensemen in the conference in scoring with six goals and 15 assists for 21 points.

The Outstanding Freshman Athletic Award for Women is given to the freshman woman who has made the most outstanding contribution to Lawrence athletics. Hayley Cardinal (Lombard, Ill./Glenbard East) won the award after a big impact on the swimming and track and field teams. Cardinal broke the Lawrence records in the 100-yard breaststroke and 200 breaststroke and placed second and third, respectively, in those events at the Midwest Conference Championships. Cardinal also was part of two record-setting relay teams. Cardinal also won a letter in track and field.

The Ralph V. Landis Award was established by the Lettermen of Lawrence in honor of Dr. Landis, physician to Lawrence students from 1926-78, and is awarded for outstanding contributions to Lawrence athletics by a senior male athlete. Senior hockey player Brad Scurfield (Midland, Mich./Midland) was an All-Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association selection and was the team’s Most Valuable Player each of the past two seasons. Scurfield finished his career ranked in the top eight in school history in points, goals, assists and power-play goals.

The Charles E. Pond Award for Men is given for all-around athletic ability by a senior man in two or more sports and for sportsmanship, school spirit and scholarship. Sam Stevens (Suamico, Wis./Bay Port) was a four-time Midwest Conference champion in track and field was a 15-time All-Midwest Conference performer. The 2011 Midwest Conference cross country champion, Stevens led the Vikings to the team title. Stevens, who holds Lawrence track records in the mile, 3,000 meters and distance medley relay, was a four-time all-conference honoree in cross country.

The Charles E. Pond Award for Women is given for all-around athletic ability by a senior woman in two or more sports and for sportsmanship, school spirit, and scholarship. Cathy Kaye (Sturgeon Bay, Wis./Sevastopol) was a four-year starter in both softball and basketball and also earned a letter in cross country. Kaye was a three-time All-Midwest Conference softball selection and also earned All-Great Lakes Region honors. The team’s center fielder, Kaye also served as team captain.

The Marion Read Award is given for outstanding contributions to Lawrence athletics. Shannon Murray (Lawrenceville, Ga./Dacula) earned the award for the second consecutive year. A four-year starter in softball, Murray was named to the All-Midwest Conference honors for the last two seasons and was the 2013 North Division Pitcher of the Year. A team captain, Murray also was a two-time All-Great Lakes Region softball selection. Murray also served as a student athletic trainer for both women’s tennis and basketball.

The Letterwinner Award is presented by the L Club to those outstanding seniors who have earned eight or more letters. The winners are:

Amanda Dwyer (Ralston, Neb./Ralston), cross country and track and field;

Cathy Kaye (Sturgeon Bay, Wis./Sevastopol), basketball, cross country, softball;

Sam Stevens (Suamico, Wis./Bay Port), cross country and track and field;

Rose Tepper (Mount Vernon, Iowa/Mount Vernon), indoor and outdoor track and field.

Adamovich joins Lawrence football coaching staff

APPLETON, Wis. — Ryan Adamovich has joined the Lawrence University football coaching staff, head football coach Mike Barthelmess announced today.

Adamovich will serve as the special teams coordinator and coach the wide receivers, Barthelmess said.

“I am very excited about the addition of Ryan Adamovich,” Barthelmess said. “Ryan is a native of the Fox Valley area and will immediately make a positive impact on our ability to recruit the state of Wisconsin. Coach Adamovich brings a strong knowledge base and great enthusiasm that I am certain will be greatly appreciated by our scholar-athletes. His most recent experience at the University of Dubuque has developed in Ryan a work ethic that I know will benefit everyone in which he comes in contact with. I couldn’t be happier about the addition of Ryan to our staff.”

Adamovich comes to Lawrence from the University of Dubuque, where he was a graduate assistant coach in 2011 and 2012. Adamovich coached the running backs in 2011 when Dubuque won the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with a 7-1 record and finished with a 9-2 overall mark. The Spartans earned a berth in the 2011 NCAA Division III playoffs for the first time in 30 years.

Adamovich, who earned a Master of Arts degree in communications from Dubuque, then coached the wide receivers for the 2012 season. During his two seasons at Dubuque, the Spartans posted an overall record of 14-7.

A native of Kaukauna, Adamovich was an All-Fox Valley Association football selection at Kaukauna High School. He served as the football team captain and won a pair of letters for the Galloping Ghosts. Adamovich also won three letters in track and field and played basketball at Kaukauna.

A 2010 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran College, Adamovich earned a bachelor’s degree in communications with a minor in coaching. A standout wide receiver for the Warriors, Adamovich was a three-year starter and finished his career with 71 catches for 743 yards and six touchdowns. He was a member of the first football team at Wisconsin Lutheran, which didn’t have football until the 2002 season, to finish with a record above .500 in the Northern Athletics Conference.

Lawrence opens its 2013 football season when it travels to Cornell College on Sept. 7.

Teams coming from coast to coast to compete for NCAA Division III Baseball Championship

APPLETON, Wis. — Teams are coming from coast to coast to compete for the 2013 NCAA Division III Baseball Championship.

Eight college baseball teams from Maine to Oregon will arrive at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium later this week to play in the double-elimination tournament. The 38th edition of the championship begins Friday, May 24, and runs through Tuesday, May 28. This marks the 14th consecutive year the finals will be contested in Appleton.

Three former national champions are in the field and three of them represent the East Coast.

The University of Southern Maine (42-8), which won the national title in 1991 and 1997, is making its seventh trip to the finals and its first since back-to-back appearances in 2000 and 2001. The Huskies reached the finals with a 9-0 victory over Endicott College (Mass.) in the Harwich, Mass., Regional final.

Another East Coast squad, Kean University (N.J.), is making its sixth appearance in the finals and third consecutive trip to Appleton. The Cougars have made all of those appearances in the last seven years, starting with 2007, the year Kean (38-11) won its national title. The Cougars punched their ticket to Appleton with a 6-1 victory over Keystone College (Pa.) in the Moosic, Pa., Regional final.

The other former national champion in the field is Ithaca College (N.Y.), which won titles in 1980 and 1988. This is Ithaca’s 12th trip to the finals but its first since 1994. Ithaca (38-6) earned its berth in the finals with a 4-2 victory over the State University of New York-Cortland in the Auburn, N.Y., Regional championship game.

From the West Coast, Linfield College (Ore.) is making its third appearance in the finals. The No. 1-ranked Wildcats (38-7) return to Appleton for the first time since 2010 and earned their trip to the finals with a 3-1 victory over Trinity University (Texas) in the Austin, Texas, Regional championship game.

The team with the shortest travel time to Appleton is the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (39-9), which is located just 65 miles west of the Fox Cities. Stevens Point is making its fifth appearance in the finals and its first since 2010. The Pointers won the Whitewater, Wis., Regional with a 1-0 victory over Case Western Reserve University (Ohio) in the regional title game.

Manchester University (39-5-1) stopped Marietta College’s hopes for a three-peat by downing the Pioneers 8-5 in the title game of the Terre Haute, Ind., Regional. Manchester makes its second trip to Appleton, with the first coming in 2004.

Webster University (Mo.) is making its second consecutive and second overall appearance in the finals. The Gorloks (36-10) punched their ticket to Appleton with a 7-3 win over Concordia University (Ill.) in the championship game of the Moline, Ill., Regional.

The lone newcomer to the finals is Millsaps College (Miss.), which earned its berth among the final eight teams with a 7-6 victory over Sailsbury University (Md.) in the Millington, Tenn., Regional title game. Millsaps (38-12) won the regional championship game with a walk-off, run-scoring single in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Friday’s Game Schedule (All times Central)

10 a.m. — University of Southern Maine (42-8) vs. Millsaps College (38-12)

1:15 p.m. — Linfield College (38-7) vs. Ithaca College (38-6)

4:30 p.m. — University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (39-9) vs. Manchester University (39-5-1)

7:45 p.m. — Kean University (38-11) vs. Webster University (36-10)

Brewer earns all-conference baseball honors

APPLETON, Wis. — Lawrence University baseball standout Alex Brewer has been named to the All-Midwest Conference North Division team.

Brewer (Rio, Wis./Rio), a senior pitcher, made the all-conference team for the first time.

Brewer posted a 1-1 record in conference play with a stellar 2.88 earned run average. In 25 innings, Brewer allowed 25 hits, struck out 10 and walked 10.

In his first season as a starting pitcher, Brewer went 4-1 with a 3.52 ERA. He made six starts, pitched 46 innings, struck out 21 and walked 16.

Lawrence finished with an 11-24 overall record.

Midwest Conference news release

Lawrence men fifth, women ninth in all-sport standings

APPLETON, Wis. — Lawrence University finished fifth on the men’s side and ninth on the women’s side in the Midwest Conference all-sport standings.

The Lawrence men finished with 63.5 points, and St. Norbert College won the men’s title with 85.5 points. Lawrence’s top finishes on the men’s side belonged to cross country and tennis, which both finished second.

On the women’s side, Lawrence finished with 41.5 points, and Monmouth College won the title with 86. The top finisher for Lawrence was softball, which also took second place in the league.

Midwest Conference news release

Murray earns all-region softball honors for third time

APPLETON, Wis. — Lawrence University softball standout Shannon Murray has been to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Great Lakes Region Team.

Murray (Lawrenceville, Ga./Dacula) was a second-team selection in the utility category, and this marks the third time she has earned all-region honors in her career. Murray was a third-team selection in 2010 and 2012.

Murray was Lawrence’s top pitcher and top hitter this season.

In the circle, Murray posted a 13-11 record with a 2.32 earned run average in 148 innings. She struck out 93 and walked 22 while tossing a pair of shutouts and pitching a combined no-hitter, the third of her career.

Murray, who played first base and served as the team’s designated player, hit a team-high .379 with nine doubles, one triple, one homer and a team-high 22 runs batted in.

Murray was named the Midwest Conference North Division Pitcher of the Year and earned all-league honors for the second consecutive season. Murray led Lawrence to a second-place finish in the Midwest Conference.

This marks the 17th consecutive season that Lawrence has had at least one all-region selection.