By Mike Vail
KYLIE RULE, a former Mineral Point High School athlete, collected all-American honors last weekend for the Wartburg College women’s wrestling URA MONTLIGHT team. Rule, a junior at 138 pounds, placed fifth at the inaugural NCAA National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships held in Coralville, la. She won four of six matches to claim her second all-American honor in three years. Rule downed Jacinda Espinosa from Lindenwood University (Mo), 7-2 to earn a spot on the podium. Entering the competition seeded seventh, Rule opened with a pin of Ragan Retell East Stroudsburg University {PA}, 1:55; it was Rule’s 11th pin of the season. An 11-1 technical fall loss to Claire Di- Cugno from North Central College (III) sent Rule into the consolation bracket. Victories over Carina Giangeruso Presbyterian College (SC) 14-4 MD and Ruby Julien-Newsom King University {TN), 10- 2 advanced Rule into the consolation semifinals where she was defeated by Lilly Luft from the University of lowa, 12-2 TF. The win over Giangeruso secured all- American status for Rule With Rule providing 32 percent (12.5) of the team’s 39.5 points, the Knights finished 11th in the 46-team field. The Knights were also one of three Division III programs to place inside the top 15 of the team standings, joining North Central College (III), 3rd, and Aurora University (III), 13th. Rule finishes the season winning 80 percent of her matches, 28-7.
KADE RULE, a former Mineral Point High School champion had a perfect weekend on the mat for the UT Chattanooga (UTC) wrestling team last weekend. Kade Rule, a freshman at 197 lbs, won all three bouts in convincing fashion to become champion at the Southern Conference Championships in Asheville, NC. He scored a pair of technical falls and a major decision to add 17 points to the team total. Rule and Cooper Flynn at 125 lbs were the only Mocs to win individual titles. “They came out and looked to wrestle. They didn’t look to just hold on and win, they got takedowns early and scored,” said head coach Kyle Ruschell. “That’s what you have to do to win a conference championship. You can’t just sit back and let it come to you.” Rule wasted little time showing why he was seeded No. 1 in the class as he destroyed Haydn Daniels from Gardner- Webb University (NC) with a 19-2 technical fall. Moving on to the semifinals, the result was almost identical – a 19-4 technical fall over Adam Ortega from The Citadel (SC). To win the championship, Rule notched a 10-point win over Logan Ellar from Appalachian State (NC), 14-4. The Mocs finished runner-up in the team race with 93 points, only a mere 1.5 points behind champion App State. UTC (10-5, 7-1) now focuses on the NCAA Championships in Cleveland beginning March 19.
CHARLOTTE FERSTL, a former River Valley High School athlete, had her season on the UW-Superior women’s basketball team come to an end last Friday night. Ferstl, a 6- 3 junior for- UPERLA 14 ward, and the Yellowjackets dropped 73-61 contest a to Concordia-Moorhead University (Minn) in the opening round of the NCAA III playoffs. She was UW-Superior’s leading scorer with 14 points, which accounted for 23 percent of the team’s total against the host, and 19th-ranked, Cobbers. Ferstl shot 64 percent from the field (7- for-11), and was the only Yellowjacket to finish in double figures. She also collected five rebounds, had two assists and a block in her 19 minutes on the court UW-Sup ends the season with a 12-16 overall record that included going 7-5 against conference opponents.
OLIVIA ARGALL, a former Dodgeville High School athlete, was part of a pair of wins by the UW-Oshkosh women’s basketball team last weekend. Argall, a 5- 10 senior forward, scored six points and collected five rebounds for the Titans as they advanced to the NCAA DIII Sectional round. Inside the friendly confines of the Kolf Sports Center, the Titans upended Webster University (Mo), 57-36, and Wisconsin Lutheran College (WLC), 65-56, advancing to the Sweet 16 for the 13th time and eighth occasion since 2014. Argall scored at the 6:45 mark of the third quarter against WLC, giving the Titans their biggest lead of the contest at 45-32. UW-O (26-3, 12-2) hosts Washington University (Mo) on Friday for an 8pm tipoff.
DAELYNN RHOADES, a former Barneveld High School athlete, made three starts for the Cornell College (la) softball team last week. Rhoades, a 5-4 senior P/INF, was the pitcher of record in two of the games – both victories for the Rams. She shutout Fitchburg State University (MA), 11-0, and Franciscan University (OH), 2-0. In the victories, she pitched a total of nine innings and faced 30 batters, allowing three hits and a walk while fanning nine. Rhoades also started the season opener against New England College (NH), but was relieved after 3.1 innings. Against the Pilgrims, she allowed three runs, two earned, on two hits and a pair of walks while striking out three. Cornell (6-0, 0-0) is scheduled to play at home this weekend with Eureka College (Ill) and Loras College (Ia) visiting Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
LIAM STUMPF, a former Mineral Point High School athlete, picked up his first victory for the Central Michigan University baseball team last week. Stumpf, a 6-0 redshirt senior pitcher, closed the eighth inning against Ball State University to get the win. He needed just 11 pitches to record the final two outs of the inning; a fly out and a strikeout. The Chippewas had just taken an 8-7 lead in the top of the eighth, and Stumpf entered the game with the potential game-tying run on second base. “Stumpy came in and got two big outs and I just thought that was awesome for him,” said head coach Jake Sabol. CMU (6-7, 1-2) plays its next four series on the road: at Youngstown State (OH) on Wednesday, at Kent State this weekend, and at Notre Dame next Tuesday.
AIDEN FISHNICK, a former Barneveld High School athlete, appeared in one game for the UW-Milwaukee baseball team last week. Fishnick, a 6-2 redshirt junior pitcher, took to the mound in the sixth inning and closed out the series opener at Southeast Missouri State (SEMO). He threw 43 pitches to 13 batters, allowing three runs, two earned, on six hits a walk, and a wild pitch while striking out a pair. The host Redhawks scored eight runs over the final four innings to defeat the Panthers, 8-2. UW-M (2-13, 0-0) opens Horizon League play this weekend at Northern Kentucky University before a single game at Western Illinois University next Tuesday.
MCKENZIE KRUSE, a former River Valley High School athlete, had a recordsetting day last Saturday for the UW-Eau Claire women’s track team. Kruse, a sophomore multi-event athlete, anchored the Blugolds’ 4×400-meter relay team to a pair of records at the UW- La Crosse Final Qualifier. After crossing the finish line in 3 minutes 49.52 seconds, the Blugolds established a new meet record by over two seconds and new fieldhouse record by just under one second. Kruse brought home the baton with a split of 57.15, which was the fastest on the team. UW-EC will send athletes, including Kruse, to the NCAA DIII championships in Birmingham, Ala, beginning Friday.
AIDEN MURPHY, a former Dodgeville High School athlete, made one appearance for the Viterbo University baseball team last week. Murphy, a 5-8 freshman pitcher, came out of the pen in the series finale against Trinity University (lll) Entering the game in the third inning, Murphy faced 13 batters in three innings of work. He allowed a pair of earned runs on four hits and a walk to go along with one strikeout. Murphy tossed 54 pitches to Trolls hitters with 36 being strikes in the 8-2 loss. Viterbo (2-10, 1-3) plays at Indiana South Bend University this weekend.
LILY PETTIT, a former lowa-Grant High School athlete, started one game for the Lakeland University softball team last weekend. Pettit, a 5-1 sophomore P/INF, earned the start against Baldwin Wallace University (OH) in the Muskies’ second game in Florida. She allowed two earned runs on three hits and four walks in three innings of work, but was not the pitcher of record. Pettit struck out one of the 14 batters she faced in the Yellow Jackets. Lakeland (1-3, 0-0) plays six games in Melbourne, Fla., this week.
CALEB KITELINGER, a former Dodgeville High School athlete, had a top performance for the UW-P men’s track team last Saturday. Kitelinger, a freshman sprinter, was part of the Pioneers’ 4×400 relay running at the Wartburg Last Chance Meet. Kitelinger ran the third leg for the Pioneers, who finished seventh with a season-best time of 3:17.59. UW-P will open its outdoor season with a home meet on March 27.
ZACH BAUMBERGER, a former River Valley High School athlete, was in action last weekend for the University of Dubuque men’s track team. Baumberger, a junior sprinter, competed in two events at the UW-Platteville Final Qualifying Meet. He placed 12th overall in the 200m with a time of 24.49 and 17th in the 60m prelims in 7.59 UD begins the outdoor season at the end of the month in Platteville.
ELIJAH KNUTSON, a former Pecatonica High School athlete, made his season debut for the Wisconsin Lutheran College (WLC) baseball team last weekend. Knutson, a 5-10 sophomore catcher, drew a five-pitch walk in the seventh inning of a 10-3 loss to Alfred State (NY). He was the only Warrior to reach base in the inning, and was left stranded. WLC (1-5, 0-0) continues play at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic in Fort Myers, Fla., this week.
MCKENNA REILLY, a former Dodgeville High school athlete, played in her first games of the season for the Edgewood University women’s lacrosse team last week. Reilly, a 5-8 sophomore defender, was on the field against UW-River Falls and the College of St. Benedict (Minn). She was credited with two turnovers with one each ground ball and caused turnover. The Eagles dropped both contests, 20 2 and 21-2, respectively. Edgewood (1-4) plays at UW-L on Wednesday before making a trip to California this weekend. Former area athletes who participated for their respective teams last week, but did not record any statistics, or statistics were not available included Mallory Lindsey (MPHS), UW-O women’s basketball, Jameson Johnson (PHS), Rock Valley College (III) baseball, Tarron Bockhop (DHS), UW-P baseball, and Sean Reilly (DHS) UW-L baseball.