Spring Break
Eau Claire athletes receive conference honors
Blugold players earn weekly WIAC honors as they continue to help with team success
Frank Pellegrino
Issue date: 10/13/08 Section: Sports
The UW-Eau Claire athletics programs are off to one of the most successful starts in recent history.
The Blugold football team began its season 4-1 after defeating UW-La Crosse this weekend, and is currently the eighth ranked division III football team in the country.
Although the Eau Claire women's soccer team lost a tough game this weekend against UW-Stevens Point, they still have climbed to become the third best team in the country. Prior to the defeat, the Blugolds had set a record for most consecutive games in a row without a loss.
Equally as impressive as the success that many of the teams have accomplished is that the talent of individual players is starting to be recognized as well.
Each week the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference awards the WIAC players of the week to female and male athletes who had the best performance over the week prior on offense and defense.
Impressively, the Blugolds have already had nine athletes named to the award, but even more remarkable is the fact that two Eau Claire athletes were given the award in the same week. For the week of Sept. 28th to Oct. 4th senior Matt Ebner of the football team and senior Liz Kooistra of the soccer team both received the honor.
Ebner, a defensive lineman, had his success come against UW-Oshkosh in a 34-0 blowout of the Homecoming game.
"On Homecoming you're always really pumped," Ebner said. "The band is loud, the stadium is packed and there is always a lot of energy."
The exciting environment must have had Ebner ready to play as he had what he described as statistically one of the best games of his career.
Recording four tackles, one tackle for loss and one and half sacks, Ebner spearheaded the victory for him and his Blugold teammates. While keeping Oshkosh off the scoreboard the entire game, Eau Claire was able to record its first shutout since Sept. 9, 2006, and Ebner played a big role of the effort.
"It's really a sign that things are starting to change," Ebner said. "Hopefully now we can go out and get a few more (shutouts) this season."
The Blugold football team began its season 4-1 after defeating UW-La Crosse this weekend, and is currently the eighth ranked division III football team in the country.
Although the Eau Claire women's soccer team lost a tough game this weekend against UW-Stevens Point, they still have climbed to become the third best team in the country. Prior to the defeat, the Blugolds had set a record for most consecutive games in a row without a loss.
Equally as impressive as the success that many of the teams have accomplished is that the talent of individual players is starting to be recognized as well.
Each week the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference awards the WIAC players of the week to female and male athletes who had the best performance over the week prior on offense and defense.
Impressively, the Blugolds have already had nine athletes named to the award, but even more remarkable is the fact that two Eau Claire athletes were given the award in the same week. For the week of Sept. 28th to Oct. 4th senior Matt Ebner of the football team and senior Liz Kooistra of the soccer team both received the honor.
Ebner, a defensive lineman, had his success come against UW-Oshkosh in a 34-0 blowout of the Homecoming game.
"On Homecoming you're always really pumped," Ebner said. "The band is loud, the stadium is packed and there is always a lot of energy."
The exciting environment must have had Ebner ready to play as he had what he described as statistically one of the best games of his career.
Recording four tackles, one tackle for loss and one and half sacks, Ebner spearheaded the victory for him and his Blugold teammates. While keeping Oshkosh off the scoreboard the entire game, Eau Claire was able to record its first shutout since Sept. 9, 2006, and Ebner played a big role of the effort.
"It's really a sign that things are starting to change," Ebner said. "Hopefully now we can go out and get a few more (shutouts) this season."
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