[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 29 (Wednesday, March 16, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 16, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                  NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY BASKETBALL

  Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, my colleague from Connecticut, Senator 
Lieberman, earlier this morning signaled the start of March madness--
the annual NCAA countdown to the final four. I wish good luck to all my 
colleagues with teams in the tournament. However, I would like to point 
out that there is great basketball outside the NCAA. In my home State 
of South Dakota, I am proud to boast of the NAIA Division II women's 
basketball national champion team.
  Congratulations to the Northern State University women's and men's 
basketball teams. Last night, both teams played in the NAIA Division II 
National Championship. The women's team triumphed over Western Oregon 
48 to 45. This was the Lady Wolves third trip to the finals in 3 years 
and their second national title. Northern State's Paula Stolsmark of 
Pierpont, SC was named tournament MVP. The Lady Wolves boast the 
longest winning streak in the Nation with 32 wins to their credit.
  The Northern men play in the championship game for the second year in 
a row. After a valiant rally, tying the game in the final minutes and 
sending the game into overtime after being down by 18 points in the 
second half, the men fell 98-95 to Eureka College of Illinois. Eureka's 
coach, Dave Darnall, will retire after 20 years with a 
national championship. I understand the Eureka team had a secret 
weapon--a message from President Ronald Reagan, an alumnus of Eureka 
College, who not only told them ``to win one for the Gipper'' but also 
offered his services in the game as ``a healthy, feisty, and very 
mature right guard.''

  Before the championship game last night, my friend Senator Simon and 
I made a little wager on the outcome. So in tribute to the national 
champion Eureka College Red Devils and in payment of my bet with 
Senator Simon, I will now read the Eureka school song:

                       Eureka College Alma Mater

     'Neath the elms upon the campus, glorious to view, stands 
           Eureka Alma mater, faithful, tried and true.

     Lift the Chorus, speed it onward, Ne'er our voices fail! 
           Praise to thee, O fair Eureka, praise to thee, all 
           hail!

  Three Northern State players were honored with berths on the NAIA 
all-American team: Julie Jensen of Langford, SD, Eric Kline of 
Aberdeen, SD, and Kevin Burckhard of Lakota, ND.
  Lady Wolves Coach Curt Fredrickson deserves much credit for leading 
his team to a superb 32-1 season and three visits to the national 
championship game in 3 years. Curt was honored as NAIA Coach of the 
Year in 1992. Assisting Curt is Neil Chalmers. Bob Olson, coach of the 
Wolves, also has done an outstanding job with his team. He is assisted 
by Tim Miles, Brad Christenson, and Mike Hultz. I look forward to 
following the teams during next year's season. I know the NAIA has not 
heard the last of the Northern State University Wolves and Lady Wolves.
  I also commend Northern State University president Dr. John 
Hutchinson, director of athletics, Dr. James Kretchman, as well as the 
entire staff and student body for supporting and encouraging excellence 
in both academics and men's and women's athletic programs.
  In tribute to the national champion Lady Wolves and Northern State 
University, I now will read the Northern State University fight song:

     Up, Northern Wolves! Up, Northern Wolves!
     We are for you every day.
     Our hearts are true! Smile down on you!
     As we go cheering, cheering on our way.
     Oh watch that sign! Come, hit that line!
     Move along and lose no time.
     We're on our way: Hip, Hip, Hooray!
     We're cheering for you today!

  I ask unanimous consent to place in the Record articles on these 
championship basketball games from the Aberdeen American News. I also 
ask unanimous consent that the team rosters of the Northern State 
University women's and men's basketball teams appear in the Record 
following my remarks.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

         [From the Aberdeen (SD) American News, Mar. 16, 1994]

                         Stolsmark Sparks Women

                           (By Matt Schmidt)

       Monmouth, OR.--The last time the Northern State women's 
     basketball team had one senior it won the NAIA Division II 
     national championship.
       That happened again Tuesday as Paula Stolsmark sank four 
     foul shots in the final 14 seconds to lift NSU to a 48-45 win 
     over Western Oregon State for the school's second national 
     title in three years.
       Stolsmark, the tournament's most valuable player, stole the 
     ball from WSOC's Julie Miller and sank a layup to tie the 
     game at 42 with one minute and 24 seconds left.
       Julie Jensen, who had a game-high 19 points, sank two foul 
     shots with 51.8 seconds left to give NSU a 44-42 lead. 
     Western Oregon State's Lorrie Emery missed and NSU rebounded. 
     Stolsmark was fouled with 13.9 seconds left. She hit both 
     shots to give Northern a 46-42 lead.
       Emery then sank a three-point shot with just over four 
     seconds left to make it a one-point game, 46-45. NSU 
     inbounded the ball to Stolsmark who tucked the ball away and 
     stood in the corner.
       Miller fouled Stolsmark and after an NSU time-out, 
     Stolsmark hit two foul shots with 1.1 seconds on the clock to 
     clinch the win. Miller's three-point heave at the buzzer was 
     short and to the right.
       ``It was a tough, physical game and I think we responded 
     well to the pressure and shot our free throws,'' said Jensen. 
     ``It was good we practiced those a lot earlier today.
       ``If I got the shot and it looked like it would be a good 
     one, I shot it with a lot of confidence,'' continued Jensen. 
     ``I thought about shooting free throws in practice. I was 2-
     of-6 yesterday, and today I shot them like I usually do.''
       Jensen made all seven of her free throw opportunities.
       Stolsmark sank her last four after missing her first two.
       ``Neil (Chalmers, a NSU student assistant coach) and I were 
     talking on the way back today (from practice) about what it 
     would be to be the person at the line in the last 10 seconds 
     of the game,'' said Stolsmark. ``Neil said `If you make the 
     first one, the second one will be a lot easier but if you 
     miss the first one, you'd be kicking yourself.'
       ``I told him leaving the huddle I was going to make them 
     and I did,'' continued Stolsmark about the free throws with 
     13.9 seconds left. ``Then I wanted the ball when we inbounded 
     it. I just tucked it away and waited to get fouled.''
       Stolsmark did, and sank two more foul shots. But the key 
     might have been her steal and layup.
       ``Like I always play, I went for it all,'' said Stolsmark. 
     ``Coach (Curt Fredrickson) didn't say anything about picking 
     anybody up and I just decided to go for it. I wanted to go 
     out with a bang.
       ``I think she was going to try to go by me and reverse 
     pivot,'' she said. ``I just got lucky enough to get a piece 
     of the ball when I stuck my hand out.''
       ``There couldn't have been a better person to win the most 
     valuable player award than Paula,'' said Fredrickson. ``She 
     had a great career for us and has been a great example for 
     our basketball program.
       ``You have to gamble a bit in games like this,'' continued 
     Fredrickson. ``We wanted to pack it in and make the Emery's 
     and (Molly) Duggan work hard for their shots. I though Nancy 
     King's defensive job on Duggan was outstanding. Nancy didn't 
     score a basket the whole game but worked Duggan hard. She did 
     the defensive job we needed to win.''
       Western Oregon State's Pam Emery won the hustle award. THe 
     first-team all-tournament selections were: Stolsmark, 
     Panhandle State's Vernetra Allen, Concordia's Livija Medne, 
     Mount Mercy's Peg Loecke, and WOSC's Lorrie Emery. The second 
     team selections were: Jensen, Evangel's Katarzyna Dydek, 
     Shawnee State's Jenni Wessel, Wilmington's Jenny Asbury and 
     WOSC's Molly Duggan.
                                  ____


         [From the Aberdeen (SD) American News, Mar. 16, 1994]

                        NSU Men Lose in Overtime

                          (By Eileen Briesch)

       Nampa, ID.--So close.
       Northern State came within one shot of another overtime 
     period, one more chance to try to overtake Eureka College for 
     a national title.
       But when Chad Boekelheide's bomb bounced off the front of 
     the rim, the Wolves' dream of an NAIA Division II 
     championship died as Eureka won a 98-95 overtime thriller 
     Tuesday night.
       As Eureka fans mobbed their team and coach Dave Darnall, 
     who will retire after this game, Kevin Burckhard of Northern 
     State gathered the Boekelheide twins in his arms like a 
     protective father trying to shield the boys from the pain.
       Coach Bob Olson's tears welled up from the emotional 
     upheaval at the loss. ``We've got a gutsy bunch of kids. It's 
     been like that all year,'' he said, holding the runner-up 
     trophy, the second straight such trophy the Wolves have 
     received. ``I can't say enough about our kids.''
       The Wolves battled back from a 19-point deficit early in 
     the first half and pulled within 14 at halftime. They kept 
     chipping away and chipping away, using pesky defense to turn 
     back the Red Devils' seemingly unstoppable shooters.
       ``We just kept believing in each other. We've been doing 
     that all year,'' said Eric Kline, one of two Northern State 
     players named to the all-tournament team. Senior forward 
     Kevin Burckhard also received all-tourney honors.
       And then it came down to Kline, whose shooting had been off 
     earlier. The 6-foot-1 junior from Aberdeen knocked down the 
     three-pointer with 11 seconds left to tie the game at 87.
       ``I was hoping to get one of those shots. I like to be in 
     that kind of place,'' said Kline. ``And Buck (a Boekelheide 
     twin) made a good pass to me.''
       Eureka could not get a shot to fall in the last seven 
     seconds and the overtime was necessary.
       That gave the Wolves new life. ``In overtime I thought we 
     were going to win,'' said Olson. ``We got a good lead but 
     they hit the big three, a huge three. We came down and 
     executed well but couldn't get anything.''
       That three-pointer was made by tourney Most Valuable Player 
     Chris Peterson. Peterson, who had a game-high 36 points, then 
     knocked down four straight free throws to seal the victory.
       ``I just blocked out everything. I acted like it was 
     practice and blocked out the fans,'' said Peterson, a 
     championship cap perched on his head. ``I don't think any of 
     us are tired. we're going strictly on adrenalin out there.''
       Peterson said the five senior starters had hoped to give 
     their retiring coach the championship as a going away 
     present. ``Coach had a great career. With our five senior 
     starters, it was the one thing we wanted him to have,'' he 
     said.
       ``But that Northern State, they're one heck of a team. they 
     hit some big threes and played good defense against us. It's 
     too bad somebody had to lose this game.''
       Kline was philosophical about the loss. ``We got here last 
     year and fell short and then it happened again this year,'' 
     he said. ``We played hard, we did our best, and that's life. 
     We have to move on.''
                                  ____


         [From the Aberdeen (SD) American News, Mar. 16, 1994]

                    Kline, Burckhard on All-America

                          (By Elleen Briesch)

       Nampa, ID.--Northern State players Eric Kline and Kevin 
     Burckhard were named to the first team NAIA All-America team 
     Tuesday.
       Kline, a 6-foot-1 junior, averaged 27.7 points per game 
     during the season and 27.5 points per game in the NAIA 
     Division II men's basketball tournament.
       Burckhard, a 6-foot-7 senior from Lakota, N.D., averaged 
     17.4 points and 10.2 rebounds during the season for the 
     Wolves, but really made a difference in the tourney. In the 
     national championship tournament, he averaged 21.5 points and 
     14.7 rebounds. He ranked second in rebounding in the tourney.
       Also named to the first team were Chris Eaton of Eureka, 
     (Ill.) College; Rafid Kiti, Oregon Tech; Matt Stuart, 
     Caldwell; Mark Davidson, Trinity; Raymond Alley, Husson; 
     Craig Douma, Northwestern (Iowa); Derek Foster, Lewis & 
     Clark; and Sean Walker, Tarleton State.
       Joe Divis of Black Hills State earned third-team honors 
     while Stacy Koolstra of Sioux Falls College received 
     honorable mention.
                                  ____


         [From the Aberdeen (SD) American News, Mar. 16, 1994]

                   Stolsmark Earns Women's MVP Honor

                           (By Matt Schmidt)

       Monmouth, OR.--After taking second place at the 1993 NAIA 
     Division II national tournament and second as teammates at 
     Langford High School, Paula Stolsmark and Julie Jensen walked 
     away as champions.
       Stolsmark, a Northern State senior from Pierpont, was the 
     tournament's most valuable player as the Wolves picked up a 
     48-45 win over Western Oregon State Tuesday night.
       The win gives the Wolves their second national title in 
     three years.
       The two were teammates at Langford High School and were the 
     State B runners-up there during Stolsmark's senior year, 
     1990.
       ``I thought about that before we played tonight,'' said 
     Jensen. ``We've been second a lot of times and I didn't want 
     to be second again. I wanted to finish first.
       ``We seemed to be stuck at second in high school,'' 
     continued Jensen, who had a game-high 19 points in the 
     championship.
       Jensen was happy to see her long-time teammate walk away 
     from the basketball court with a championship.
       ``I'm just so happy for Paula,'' said Jensen. ``This is the 
     best way for her to go out and get the MVP. I couldn't be any 
     happier for her.''
       Stolsmark finished the tournament with 12 steals.
       ``I can't think of any better way to go out with a better 
     group of friends,'' she said. ``I don't think we would have 
     been happy taking second. I tell you what, I couldn't be 
     happier than I am right now.''
       And it came down to a pair of former Langford High School 
     players to clinch a national championship for NSU.
                                  ____


         [From the Aberdeen (SD) American News, Mar. 15, 1994]

                  Wolves' Jensen is All-America Choice

                           (By Matt Schmidt)

       Monmouth, OR.--For the second straight season, Northern 
     State's Julie Jensen is a first-team selection on the NAIA 
     Division II All-America team.
       Jensen, a 5-foot-11 junior forward from Langford, was one 
     of three returning selections on the 10-member first team 
     announced Monday. The NAIA Division II men's All-America team 
     will be released today.
       Nine of the 10 players listed on the first team are members 
     of teams in the NAIA Division II national tournament.
       Jensen was the lone Northern State representative on the 
     All-America selections for first team, second team or 
     honorable mention.
       The rest of the first team is: Jenny Asbury, Wilmington, 
     Del.; Kayarzyna Dydek, Evangel, Mo.; Lorrie Emery, Western 
     Oregon State; Kathy Gibson, Lewis & Clark, Ore.; Janet 
     Gribnitz, University of Dallas; Rhonda Lelnius, Mary, N.D.; 
     Livija Medne, Concordia, Wis.; Amy Ochsner, Hastings, Neb.; 
     and Jenni Wessel, Shawnee State, Ohio.
       Second team selections are: Tamir Anderson, Peru State, 
     Neb.; Kaelie Butler, Tarleton State, Texas; Nicole Clerver, 
     Findlay, Ohio; Tamara Kindrick, Georgetown, Kent.; Jennifer 
     McClure, Whitman, Wash.; Peg Loecke, Mount Mercy, Iowa; 
     Rhonda Morgan, Dakota Wesleyan; Sharon Rines, St. Joseph's, 
     Maine; Leslie Wade, Marion, Ind.; and Nicole Whitney, 
     Southern Oregon State.
                                  ____


        NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY WOLVES MEN'S BASKETBALL ROSTER        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wh.                            Pos.                                     
               Name                  Ht.   Yr.           Hometown       
------------------------------------------------------------------------
00.  Destin Coles............  G     6-0   FR    Valley City, ND.       
3..  Brian Groff.............  G     5-10  SO    Clara City, MN.        
5..  Paul Sather.............  C     6-7   SR    Princeton, MN.         
10.  Jared Vergeldt..........  F     6-5   FR    Aberdeen, SD.          
12.  Brad Neugebauer.........  F     6-5   FR    Parkston, SD.          
13.  Corey Stephens..........  F     6-4   SO    Burlington, IA.        
14.  Scott Boekelheide.......  G     6-0   JR    Northville, SD.        
15.  Kevin Costain...........  C     6-10  FR    Baltic, SD.            
20.  Chad Boekelheide........  G     5-11  FR    Northville, SD.        
22.  Jamie Liudahl...........  G     5-9   FR    Pierre, SD.            
24.  Lance Luitjens..........  G     6-2   SO    Custer, SD.            
30.  Ryan Johnson............  F     6-2   FR    Pierre, SD.            
32.  Chad McGough............  F     6-5   SO    Miller, SD.            
34.  Matt Clooten............  F     6-7   SO    Beulah, ND.            
40.  Nate Streed.............  F     6-5   SR    Chaska, MN.            
42.  Eric Kline..............  G     6-1   JR    Aberdeen, SD.          
44.  Mark Sipple.............  C     6-8   JR    Shoreview, MN.         
50.  Jeremy Vliem............  F     6-8   FR    Lodge Pole, SD.        
52.  Kevin Burckhard.........  F     6-7   SR    Lakota, ND.            
54.  Al Hansen...............  C     6-8   JR    Prior Lake, MN.        
     Jerrod Becker...........  C     6-7   FR    Omaha, NE.             
     Troy Kurth..............  G     6-2   FR    Langford, SD.          
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head coach--Bob Olson.                                                  
Assistant coach--Tim Miles, Brad Christenson & Mike Hultz.              


       NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY WOLVES WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ROSTER       
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wh.            Name            Pos.   Ht.   Yr.          Hometown       
------------------------------------------------------------------------
10.  Renae Osthus............  G     5-3   JR    DeSmet, SD.            
12.  Roberta Sparling........  G     5-6   FR    Athol, SD.             
14.  Wanda Radel.............  G     5-6   SO    Parkston, SD.          
20.  Melissa Schott..........  G     5-9   FR    St. Charles, MN.       
22.  Sara Struzyk............  F     5-10  FR    Holdingford, MN.       
24.  Rachel Dick.............  G/F   5-9   FR    Marion, SD.            
30.  Chris Swanhorst.........  F     6-0   FR    Mellette, SD.          
33.  Paula Stolsmark.........  G     5-8   SR    Pierpont, SD.          
34.  Jenny Seesz.............  G     5-9   JR    Montevideo, MN.        
40.  Sara Brooks.............  F     5-10  FR    Chamberlain, SD.       
41.  Toni Schmidt............  G     5-10  FR    Miller, SD.            
42.  Julie Jensen............  F     5-11  JR    Langford, SD.          
43.  Barb Johnson............  F     5-9   JR    Mound City, SD.        
50.  Rachelle Lesnar.........  F     5-11  FR    Roslyn, SD.            
52.  Nancy King..............  F/C   6-0   JR    Blunt, SD.             
53.  Stephanie Franzen.......  F     5-11  JR    Langford, SD.          
54.  Amie Kiehn..............  C     6-6   SO    Chamberlain, SD.       
55.  Shari Carney............  C     6-1   FR    Hayti, SD.             
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head coach--Curt Fredrickson.                                           
Assistant coach--Neil Chambers.                                         

                   Northern State University Coaches


                               bob olson

       Bob Olson's journey to the NSU head job seemed destined by 
     location and circumstances. An Aberdeen native, Olson 
     attended Northern State and played collegiate basketball for 
     Coach Wachs. Olson earned a bachelor's degree from Northern 
     in 1977 and moved to Mayville State University where he 
     served as an assistant coach to Pierre duCharme, Olson's high 
     school basketball coach.
       A job in the NSU Admissions Office brought Olson back to 
     Aberdeen, the men's basketball program, and Coach Wachs. 
     Olson assisted Wachs with the Wolves' basketball squad while 
     earning a master's degree from Northern in 1980. Next, Olson 
     spent two years at Aberdeen Roncalli High School and coached 
     the boys' basketball team to a 27-13 record and a conference 
     title. Olson moved across town to the NSU campus in 1983 and 
     coached the women's basketball team for two seasons. He 
     established a 44-10 record, won a district title, and was 
     named NAIA District 12 Coach of the Year.
       When Coach Bob Wachs retired after more than 30 years and 
     more than 500 wins, Olson was selected as NSU's 15th 
     basketball coach.
       After three transition seasons, Northern State basketball 
     began a return to the forefront of District 12. The 1988-89 
     squad played in the district championship game and the 
     following season, Northern again returned to the district 
     finals but this time the Wolves won the championship crown 
     and advanced to the NAIA National Basketball Tournament in 
     Kansas City, Mo. Olson was named the District 12 Coach of the 
     Year.
       In 1990-91, NSU won repeated as district champions and 
     returned to the national tournament. This time, the Wolves 
     advanced to the round of sixteen before losing by one point 
     to Taylor University. Olson was named Coach of the Year by 
     the district, the conference and NAIA Area III.
       In 1991-92, the Wolves' season ended with a semi-final loss 
     to Dakota State. Last season, NSU reeled off 18 consecutive 
     wins to begin the season and claimed the NSIC title. Olson 
     was named the conference Coach of the Year. The Wolves 
     claimed the district crown with victories over Sioux Falls 
     College and Black Hills State and Olson was named the 
     district coach of the year for the third time.
       The Wolves won their first three games in the national 
     tourney in Nampa, Idaho. In a hard-fought championship game 
     against Williamette College, NSU lost for just the second 
     time all season. Olson was named the NAIA II Coach of the 
     Year by the Basketball Times.
       Bob and his wife, Cheri, are the parents of one girl, 
     Stephie.


                            curt fredrickson

       Curt Fredrickson and the Northern State University women's 
     basketball program are combining forces for the 15th time and 
     there is one thing they have never done--finish the season 
     with a losing record.
       An Aberdeen native, he attended Northern State where he was 
     an NAIA All-American in baseball and honorable mention All-
     American in football. After graduating in 1974, he taught at 
     Canton High School. He returned to Northern in 1976 to work 
     on a master's degree. Fredrickson finished in 1977 and was 
     named the women's basketball coach that fall.
       The Wolves have played in three national tournaments 
     winning the national title in 1991-92, finishing second last 
     season and claiming third in 1980-81. During Fredrickson's 
     tenure, NSU has collected two district basketball 
     championships, and two first-place and four second-place 
     finishes in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The 
     Wolves finished the 1980s with eight 20-win seasons. The 
     other two years, NSU recorded 19 victories.
       Fredrickson spent two years in private business before 
     returning to Northern State University in 1985. In 1987-88, 
     the Wolves were a record-setting 28-3, won their first-ever 
     conference title, and finished second in the district.
       NSU went 20-8 in a rebuilding season in 1988-89 and 
     followed that up with 24-7 and 25-6 seasons. The 1991-92 team 
     won a national championship and established a new school 
     record for most wins in a season with its 30-4 mark. Despite 
     a loss to Northern Montana in the district championship game, 
     NSU advanced to the national tourney in Monmouth, Ore., with 
     an at-large berth.
       With four returning starters, Northern State set out to 
     defend its national crown in 1992-93. A fourth consecutive 
     loss to Northern Montana in the district finals robbed the 
     Wolves of a district crown but NSU received another at-large 
     berth to nationals. The Skylights and Wolves met up in the 
     championship game with Northern Montana continuing to defeat 
     the Wolves. The second-place finish marked the second time in 
     two seasons that NSU advanced to the title game at nationals.
       Last season, Fredrickson was the NAIA's sixth winningest 
     active women's basketball coach in winning percentage. He 
     wins 81 percent of his basketball games. He also was ranked 
     ninth nationally in number of career wins with more than 300.
       Fredrickson has been named the NAIA II National Coach of 
     the Year in 1992 and has received additional coach of the 
     year honors from the South Dakota Press Association, Royal 
     Order of the Gyps, and NAIA District 12 three times. In 1992 
     he was inducted into the NSU Athletic Hall of Fame.
       Curt's family includes his wife, Vicki, daughter Lindsey 
     and two boys, Cole and Blair.
  Mr. ROTH. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The Senator from Wisconsin is recognized.
  Mr. KOHL. I thank the Chair.

                          ____________________