UW-La Crosse’s Ahnen and UW-River Falls’ Tusa Lead All-WIAC Softball Team; Gabriel Named Coach of the Year
Printable version of the 2011 All-WIAC Softball Team
MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Jenna Ahnen and UW-River Falls’ Rose Tusa were chosen the Position Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year, respectively to headline the 2011 All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Softball Team that was recently chosen by the head coaches, while Falcons head coach Jody Gabriel was selected the Coach of the Year.
Ahnen joins UW-Stevens Point’s Kelly Rutta (2000-01) as the only individuals in WIAC history to win consecutive position trophies. Ahnen also claimed first team status in 2009. This year, she ranks second in the conference with 14 stolen bases, fifth with a .406 batting average, .456 on-base percentage, 54 hits and 32 runs scored, seventh with 10 sacrifice bunts and ninth with 69 total bases.
Ahnen has had at least one hit in 32 of 41 games this season, including 17 multi-hit contests, and scored at least one run in 23 contests. She is UW-La Crosse’s career leader with a .433 batting average, 234 hits, 37 doubles and 54 stolen bases.
Tusa is the first individual in program history to earn a conference pitching honor. She earned first team honors for the second straight year after receiving honorable mention status in 2009. Tusa leads the league with a 1.49 earned run average, 179.0 innings pitched, 217 strikeouts, 33 appearances, 19 wins and three saves, while ranking second with a .205 opponent batting average. Her 217 strikeouts and 19 victories established school single-season records, and she is third all-time with 46 career wins.
She has produced five games of double-digit strikeouts, including a career-high 17 against Wartburg College (Iowa) March 27. Tusa has allowed four or fewer hits in 14 starting assignments and two or fewer runs in 19 starts.
Repeat selections on the first team from a year ago included: UW-Eau Claire’s Aleisha Harper, UW-Oshkosh’s Sydnee Wyss, UW-Superior’s Ashley Martin and Taylor VanDamme and UW-Whitewater’s Jessica Stang. Harper and Wyss also claimed first team credit in 2009, while Stang captured Pitcher of the Year recognition in 2008 and 2009.
Gabriel has directed the Falcons to a 26-13 record, including the fourth WIAC championship in program history and first since 1994. UW-River Falls also won the league tournament title and will appear in the NCAA Division III Championship for the first time since 1994.
An All-Sportsmanship Team was chosen for individuals that displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season. It included one member from each school.
2011 All-WIAC Softball Team
First Team
Name, School, Year, Position, Hometown (High School)
Jenna Ahnen, La Crosse, Senior, Shortstop, Sparta, Wis.
Sara Baumgartner, Eau Claire, Senior, Centerfield, Arcadia, Wis.
Jamie Braden, Oshkosh, Senior, Catcher/Designated Player, Lake Villa, Ill. (Lakes Community)
Kelly Conway, Stout, Senior, Outfield, La Crescent, Minn. (La Crosse Aquinas)
Emily Epifanio, Whitewater, Sophomore, Catcher, Park Ridge, Ill. (Maine South)
Jess Freagon, Eau Claire, Junior, Firstbase, Chippewa Falls, Wis. (McDonell)
Ashley Goettl, River Falls, Sophomore, Firstbase, North Mankato, Minn. (Mankato West)
Emily Haluska, Eau Claire, Sophomore, Thirdbase, Stevens Point, Wis. (SPASH)
Aleisha Harper, Eau Claire, Junior, Secondbase, Mondovi, Wis. (Eau Claire North)
Katie Keyes, La Crosse, Junior, Firstbase, Green Bay, Wis. (Ashwaubenon)
Kalli Kucharyski, Superior, Senior, Thirdbase, Superior, Wis.
Ashley Martin, Superior, Junior, Catcher, Superior, Wis.
Amanda Mertes, Whitewater, Sophomore, Outfield, Des Plaines, Ill. (Elk Grove)
Elyse Nelson, Stevens Point, Senior, Designated Player/Outfield, Batavia, Ill.
Lauren Rankins, Whitewater, Senior, Thirdbase, Marengo, Ill.
Amanda Ryder, River Falls, Sophomore, Outfield, Menomonie, Wis.
Jessica Stang, Whitewater, Senior, Lefthanded Pitcher, Minnetonka, Minn.
Rose Tusa, River Falls, Junior, Righthanded Pitcher, Roseville, Minn. (St. Anthony Village)
Taylor VanDamme, Superior, Junior, Centerfield, Superior, Wis.
Sydnee Wyss, Oshkosh, Senior, Shortstop, Monroe, Wis.
Honorable Mention
Dana Book, River Falls, Senior, Shortstop, Brooklyn Center, Minn. (Champlin Park)
Hayley Buchanan, River Falls, Sophomore, Secondbase, Eden Prairie, Minn.
Lindsay Garay, Superior, Sophomore, Firstbase, Lake Nebagamon, Wis.
Kelsey Golackson, La Crosse, Senior, Thirdbase, Cross Plains, Wis. (Middleton)
Katie Krueger, Stevens Point, Sophomore, Firstbase/Designated Player, Plover, Wis. (SPASH)
Amanda LeBard, Superior, Junior, Righthanded Pitcher, Superior, Wis.
Kimberly Liegel, Stevens Point, Senior, Outfield, Madison, Wis. (LaFollette)
Colleen Lowe, Platteville, Sophomore, Thirdbase, Byron, Ill.
Sammy Peterson, Stout, Junior, Secondbase, Hudson, Wis.
Katie Pietrowiak, La Crosse, Senior, Catcher, Germantown, Wis.
Lacey Probst, La Crosse, Junior, Lefthanded Pitcher, Menasha, Wis.
Mimi Ramirez, Whitewater, Freshman, Secondbase/Outfield, Chicago, Ill. (Trinity)
Katie Shulfer, Stevens Point, Sophomore, Thirdbase, Stevens Point, Wis. (SPASH)
Natalie Stoll, La Crosse, Junior, Secondbase, Eden Prairie, Minn.
Courtney Wautier, Oshkosh, Sophomore, Righthanded Pitcher, Brussels, Wis. (Southern Door)
All-Sportsmanship Team
Kaity Acker, Eau Claire, Senior, Firstbase/Designated Player, Cross Plains, Wis. (Middleton)
Jena Ansorge, Stevens Point, Sophomore, Infield, Whitelaw, Wis. (Manitowoc Lincoln)
Dana Book, River Falls, Senior, Shortstop, Brooklyn Center, Minn. (Champlin Park)
Kelly Conway, Stout, Senior, Outfield, La Crescent, Minn. (La Crosse Aquinas)
Haley Krueger, Whitewater, Senior, Outfield, Beach Park, Ill. (Waukegan)
Samantha Niemann, Platteville, Senior, Catcher, North Freedom, Wis. (Sauk Prairie)
Ashlee Olson, Superior, Junior, Outfield, Superior, Wis.
Courtney Wautier, Oshkosh, Sophomore, Righthanded Pitcher, Brussels, Wis. (Southern Door)
Rachel Weyer, La Crosse, Senior, Outfield, Loyal, Wis.
Position Player of the Year: Jenna Ahnen of La Crosse
Pitcher of the Year: Rose Tusa of River Falls
Coach of the Year: Jody Gabriel of River Falls
Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete: Jessica Stang of Whitewater
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