Another year of sporting endeavors at Lawrence has come and gone. I present the year in review. The fall season was dominated by the achievements of the women’s soccer team. Not only did the Vikings win the MWC tournament for the second straight year to qualify for The NCAA Tournament, but the team also went on to beat Aurora University 2-1 in the opening round of the championships, giving the school its first victory in NCAA tournament play.
Senior forward Megan Tiemann was named the conference’s Player of the Year for the second time in her career. For the season, Tiemann scored 13 goals and had five assists for 31 points. She scored the game-winning goals in Lawrence’s 2-1 win over Grinnell College in the semifinals and the 1-0 victory over St. Norbert College in the championship match.
Tiemann closes out her college career by taking possession of all of Lawrence’s career scoring records. The former Meridian High School star has been the key part in the most successful stretch ever for Lawrence women’s soccer.
In the past four seasons, the Vikings have a record of 42-28-5, a MWC championship, two Midwest Conference tournament victories, and two NCAA tournament appearances. Moira Ruhly earned Coach of the Year honors for the first time
Andy Kazik’s profile loomed large over the winter sports landscape. The senior wrestler from De Pere, Wisconsin was unbeaten his final year, putting together a 40-0 record.
Not one to be satisfied with his perfect season, Kazik went on to crown his senior year with a National Championship, becoming the first wrestler in school history to do so and the third athlete in all. Kazik ends his Lawrence career with a 129-18 record, second on the school’s all-time wins list.
Finally, the spring season saw the emergence of the Lawrence golf team. The team won the Northern Division by 17 strokes, winning three of the five events that comprise the Northern Division section.
Freshman Jeff Henderson claimed the individual title and then went on to claim the individual title at the Midwest Conference Championships as well, while the team took third place in the rain-shortened event. That the event was called off after day one was a disgrace in the eyes of this columnist and not at all in keeping with the spirit of golf or competition.
Lawrence had three members of its golf team earn all-conference honors: Henderson, Blake Nelson, and team captain Brion Winters.
The tennis team, too, had its share of spring success. Jai Aurora finished runner-up in the top flight at the Midwest Conference championships while Tom Lipari won the second flight with teammate Nick Beyler winning the fourth flight.