You reached this page through the archive. Click here to return to the archive.

Note: This article is over a year old and information contained in it may no longer be accurate. Please use the contact information in the lower-left corner to verify any information in this article.

Ole athletics look to build on last year's impressive run

By Matthew Tiano '09
August 19, 2007

Last year St. Olaf athletic teams saw success in all seasons. As the college gears up for a new academic year the athletes, or Oles ("OH-lees"), have plenty of reasons to look forward to a successful 2007-08. "One of the great aspects about college athletics is that every year is a new and different experience," says St. Olaf Director of Athletics Matt McDonald '89.

Last fall the Ole football team was favored to contend for a conference title -- but their second-best scoring offense in the nation (38.8 ppg) took many by surprise. While the Oles were one game away from a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) title, the team did boast a league-high 12 All-Conference honorees -- none of whom graduated and all of whom will be back to contend this fall.

WestbyNelson
Westby
Last winter, St. Olaf played host to several Ole athletic milestones. Nelson Westby '09 captured an NCAA Division III National Individual Championship in the Individual Medley, followed by his performance in the MIAC Championships that earned him Swimmer of the Meet honors. Westby led the Oles to their first MIAC title since 2002. The women were second at the MIAC Championships, and head coaches Dave and Bob Hauck '87 were named MIAC Coaches of the Year.

The men's basketball team earned its first-ever postseason victory with an MIAC playoffs first-round win at Bethel. The win came in double-overtime and at the buzzer on a Jon Bain lay-up.

On the rink, both the men's and women's hockey teams earned MIAC playoff berths for the fourth straight season. The women had their best finish ever (MIAC second place) behind the All-American performances of forwards Susannah Brokl '07 and Lindsey Boeser '08. John Bazzachini, in his second year at the helm of the Oles, was named the MIAC Coach of the Year.

Andrew Schmiesing
Schmiesing
Last spring, the campus athletic scene went abuzz as the St. Olaf baseball team earned its way into the national rankings, reaching sixth at one point. The Oles began their year 25-2, won a share of the regular-season MIAC title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Head coach Matt McDonald '89 was the league's coach of the year -- his third such honor in 13 years as Ole coach. Andrew Schmiesing '08, a second-team All-America and two-time All-MIAC selection, became the highest drafted baseball player in school history when the Minnesota Twins drafted the outfielder in the 11th round (362nd overall) of the 2007 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft in June. The Twins and Schmiesing negotiated to allow Schmiesing to return to St. Olaf for his senior football season.

On the track, Andrea Gelle '07 earned All-America honors with an eighth-place finish in the 1,500 meter run at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships in May.

With a handful of 2006-07 All-American honorees, a number of conference titles and the onset of Ole athletics upon a national stage, the future looks bright.

"We're proud of the MIAC championships we won last year, and plan to compete for more in 2007-08," says McDonald.

Contact David Gonnerman at 507-786-3315 or gonnermd@stolaf.edu.