[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.
____________________