Student-athletes at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls earned the 2009-10 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Academic Award for their outstanding performance in the classroom.

During the 2009-10 academic year, nearly 50 percent of the student-athletes competing in the conference achieved a 3.0 grade point average or better (on a 4.0 scale) and were named to the Scholastic Honor Roll.

Individuals named to the Scholastic Honor Roll receive a certificate.

“This is another example of how engaged Falcon student-athletes are regarding the academic rigors of college life,” said Athletic Director, Roger Ternes. “They are model students for the young men and women who attend the University of Wisconsin-River Falls to emulate”.

Women’s Head Coach Cindy Holbrook said “It is a great honor for our student athletes. We expect all our players to excel in the classroom and the court.”

The six student athlets from the 2009-2010 season include:

Melissa Carmody   G 5-7 Fr.  Barneveld

Brittany Gregorich   F 5-9 Fr.  Altoona

Tiffany Gregorich   G 5-5 So.  Altoona

Kelli Hilt   G 5-6 Sr.  Lakeville, MN / North HS

Jenna Hanson   G 5-6 Sr.  Altoona

Lindsey Olson   F 6-0 Fr.  Plainview, MN / Plainview-Elgin-Millville HS 

Nikki, Tiff and Tess

Awards handed out at the UW River Falls Women’s Basketball Postseason Banquet. The Falcon players were honored with several awards Sunday April 11.

All players were thanked and honored for there contribution for the 18-7 season. Many great things were accomplished this year

The 18 wins are the most since 1988-1989 season, matching the 2000-2001 team with 18 wins.

13-0 start is the best in school history.

#13 rankings highest ever for the Falcon women.

Maranda Dohrn’s 22 rebounds ties a Falcon single game record.

Tiffany Gregorich’s 30 points is one of the tops in Falcon history.

The Falcon fan attendance almost triples from the prior year.

The Backcourt Club has record membership (first year of the Club so that was easy). Become a member now.

Summer Basketball camps best ever.

Falcon Buddies program has record participation (first year too).

Alumni weekend was special and a fun Alumni game.

The Ball Kids were the best ever always on time and very helpful to the players.

Record number of UWRF Falcon women basketball fans on Facebook. Become a fan of our team now.

Awards handed on this day included:

WIAC players of the week. Maranda Dohrn and Tiffany Gregorich.

Dohrn Named WIAC Basketball Player of the Week

Dohrn, 6-0, scored a career high 23 points and grabbed a career high 22 rebounds in the team’s 57-46 win. The 22 rebounds ties the Falcon record for most rebounds in a game. In the team’s two games last week she scored 33 points and had 28 rebounds. She also had one assist, one blocked shot and two steals.

WIAC Player of the week. Tiffany Gregorich, Sophomore (Altoona), Guard of UW-River Falls

Gregorich helped the Falcons to a perfect week with wins in two WIAC games, including a victory over No. 15-ranked UW-Stevens Point. She finished with a game-high 27 points in a 73-52 triumph at UW-Superior on Dec. 2, converting 9-of-12 shots from the field, including three-of-five from behind the arc. Gregorich also grabbed six rebounds and dished out two assists. In a 72-61 win over the Pointers on Dec. 5, she recorded a team-best 19 points, five assists and three steals. In the two games, she shot 16-of-25 (64.0 percent) from the field, four-of-eight (50.0 percent) from three-point range and 10-of-11 (90.9 percent) from the free-throw line. Her 59 minutes of playing time included 11 rebounds, five steals and four assists. 

Kelli Hilt award WIAC Sportmanship award

The WIAC’s All-Sportsmanship team is for individuals that displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season. The team included one member from each school as selected by that school.

Maranda Dohrn named WIAC honorable mention all conference

Her best game of the year was against Platteville on Feb. 23 when she scored a career-high 23 points and grabbed a career-high 22 rebounds. The 22 rebounds tied the school record. Dohrn was named the team’s Player of the week twice and was named the WIAC Player of the Week on Feb. 23.

Tiffany Gregorich was named to the first team all WIAC and all Defensive team

led the Falcons in scoring averaging 13.8 points a game. She also led the Falcons in assists (56) and was second in steals (47). Gregorich was named the team’s Player of the Week four times and was named the WIAC Player of the Week on Dec. 8.

Falcon seniors with coaches

UW River Falls parents joined  the coaching staff, managers and the basketball  players to honor the 2009-10 team. Seniors Jenna Hanson, Kelli Hilt and Katie Theisen  were featured during the Sunday afternoon banquet.  The group of seniors led the Falcons to a 18 -7 record during  the 2009-2010 season.  

 Jenna Hanson , 5-6, averaged 4.5 points and 2.9 rebounds a game. She had 45 assists, 30 steals and three blocked shots. She shot 39-113 (.345) from the field, including 6-27 (.222) from three point range. She was 15-25 (.600) from the line. Hanson, was a two year team caption and was well known for her tough defense. Jenna was a three year starter.

Katie Theisen, 5-6, averaged 3.7 points and 1.1 rebounds a game. She had 12 assists, 18 steals and 5 blocked shots. She shot 25-74 (.338) from the field, including 19-59 (.322) from three point range. She was 23-33 (.697) from the line. Katie  was well known for her three point shooting and her spark she provided when she entered the game.

Kelli Hilt, 5-6, averaged 6.1 points and 2.7 rebounds a game. She had 38 assists, 41 steals and a blocked shot. She shot 53-134 (.396) from the field, including 5-31 (.161) from three point range. She was 42-63 (.667) from the line. Hilt, who was named to the 2009 All-Sportsmanship team, scored in double digits three times. She twice scored 11 points in a game and had a season-high six rebounds in the team’s game against Stout on Jan. 6.

The seniors give thanks for their Falcon career video

Jenna and Coach Holbrook

Video of Tiff talking about Jenna

Katie and Coach Holbrook

Video of Lauren talking about Katie

Kelli and Coach Holbrook

Video of Tess talking about Kelli

Jenna and Katie

Kelli and parents

Kelli Hilt, 5-6, averaged 6.1 points and 2.7 rebounds a game. She had 38 assists, 41 steals and a blocked shot. She shot 53-134 (.396) from the field, including 5-31 (.161) from three point range. She was 42-63 (.667) from the line. Hilt, who was named to the 2009 All-Sportsmanship team, scored in double digits three times. She twice scored 11 points in a game and had a season-high six rebounds in the team’s game  aginast Stout on Jan. 6.

1-Parents’ name: Patti and Brian Hilt

2-Home town and School: Lakeville North

3-Major/Minor: Business Admin. Option Marketing

4-I plan on Graduating in (date). May 2010

5-Next year during Basketball season I will be? Working

6-Favorite UWRF Basketball memory from my Senior year?  Beating Whitewater finally

7-Why did you decide to attend UWRF? The business program and to play basketball, its close enough to go home far enough to get away

8-My Friends Call Me: Kelli

9-Favorite College Class:  Business Law

10-What is your favorite spot on campus? Locker room

11-Advice I’d give a young athlete: Never give up

12-In my free time I like to: Sleep

13-One word that best describes me: Caring

14-Nobody knows how much I love to: See my mommy!

15-The best thing about attending UWRF is: Friends

16-My dream job would be: Something new everyday

17- Advice for UWRF Basketball players next year. It only gets easier with time

18- What will you miss most about UWRF? Basketball

19-What will you miss most about UWRF Basketball? Teammates

20-My basketball teammates were? Amazing!

21-What is one word you hope to use to describe yourself in ten years? Movie star

Guards Tiffany Gregorich (So., Altoona, Wis.) and Kelli Hilt (Sr., Lakeville, Minn. North HS) and forward Maranda Dohrn (So., Lake City, Minn.) have all been named to 2010 All-WIAC teams.

. Dohrn earned honorable mention and Hilt was named to the All-Sportsmanship team.

Gregorich, 5-5, led the Falcons in scoring averaging 13.8 points a game. She also led the Falcons in assists (56) and was second in steals (47). She shot 110-228 (.482) from the field, including 33-87 (.379) from three point range. She finished 65-81 (.802) from the line. Gregorich, who earned honorable mention to the 2009 All-WIAC team, scored a career-high 30 points in the team’s game against Eau Claire on Feb. 3. She also had a career-high eight rebounds in the team’s game against Washington & Jefferson on Dec. 29. She scored in double figures in 16 games. Gregorich was named the team’s Player of the Week four times and was named the WIAC Player of the Week on Dec. 8.

Dohrn, 6-0, averaged seven points and 7.1 rebounds a game for the Falcons. She led the Falcons in rebounding and blocked shots (20). She also had 13 assists and 19 steals. She shot 68-144 (.472) from the field, including 1-5 (.200) from behind the arc. She was 37-59 (.627) at the line. Her best game of the year was against Platteville on Feb. 23 when she scored a career-high 23 points and grabbed a career-high 22 rebounds. The 22 rebounds tied the school record. Dohrn was named the team’s Player of the week twice and was named the WIAC Player of the Week on Feb. 23.

Hilt, 5-6, averaged 6.1 points and 2.7 rebounds a game. She had 38 assists, 41 steals and a blocked shot. She shot 53-134 (.396) from the field, including 5-31 (.161) from three point range. She was 42-63 (.667) from the line. Hilt, who was named to the 2009 All-Sportsmanship team, scored in double digits three times. She twice scored 11 points in a game and had a season-high six rebounds in the team’s game aginast Stouton Jan. 6. The WIAC’s All-Sportsmanship team is for individuals that displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season. The team included one member from each school as selected by that school.

RELEASED:  Thursday, March 4, 2010

UW-Stout’s Hirssig Tops All-WIAC Women’s Basketball Selections; UW-Whitewater’s Carollo Named Coach of the Year

MADISON, Wis.–University of Wisconsin-Stout’s Julia Hirssig was voted the Player of the Year to top the 10 individuals that were voted to the 2009-10 All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women’s Basketball Team by the league coaches, while UW-Whitewater head coach Keri Carollo was chosen the Coach of the Year.

Hirssig is one of four Blue Devils who have combined to win a total of five conference player of the year plaques.  She leads the WIAC with 21.4 points per game and a .682 field goal percentage, while ranking second with 10.6 rebounds per contest and ninth with 1.74 steals per game.  The .682 field goal percentage (217-of-318) leads the NCAA Division III, while her 579 points established a school single-season record.

Hirssig, who claimed first team honors for the third straight year, started all 27 games and reached double-figures in scoring in 26 contests.  She scored 20-plus points in 20 games, including a career-high tying 37 points at UW-Oshkosh on Jan. 16.  Hirssig tied for the league lead with 14 double-doubles, including nine in the last 12 games.  She grabbed 18 rebounds in back-to-back contests against UW-River Falls on Jan. 23 and UW-La Crosse on Jan. 27.

Her career totals included:  110 games played (including 81 straight starting assignments), 997 rebounds and school-records of 1,738 points, 416 free throws made, 675 free throws attempted and a .619 field goal percentage.  Hirssig’s career field goal percentage and free throws attempted lead the WIAC all-time chart, while her free throws made are third and points are fifth.

Repeat choices on the first team included:  UW-Stevens Point’s Britta Petersen (2009) and UW-Whitewater’s Kelsey Hendrickson (2008, 2009).

Named to the All-Defensive Team were:  UW-La Crosse’s Danielle Frank, UW-River Falls’ Tiffany Gregorich, UW-Stevens Point’s Andrea Flease, UW-Stout’s Julia Hirssig and UW-Whitewater’s Kelsey Hendrickson.  Hirssig received the honor for the third straight year.

Carollo claimed the coaching honor after directing the Warhawks to their second WIAC championship in the last three seasons and fifth in team history.   She is in her eighth year at UW-Whitewater and owns a career mark of 137-80.

An All-Sportsmanship Team was chosen for individuals that displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season.  It included one member from each school.

2009-10 All-WIAC Women’s Basketball Team
First Team
Name, School, Year, Position, Height, Hometown (High School)
Nicole Bundy, Whitewater, Senior, Guard, 5-9, Fredonia (Ozaukee)
Dana Churchill, La Crosse, Junior, Forward, 6-0, Sheboygan (North)
Andrea Flease, Stevens Point, Junior, Guard, 5-5, New London
Tiffany Gregorich, River Falls, Sophomore, Guard, 5-5, Altoona
Kelsey Hendrickson, Whitewater, Senior, Guard, 5-7, Monroe
Julia Hirssig, Stout, Senior, Forward, 5-11, Rochester, Minn. (Mayo)
Hannah Mesick, Eau Claire, Junior, Center, 6-2, Chatfield, Minn.
Stacia Nemitz, Platteville, Senior, Forward, 5-9, Bloomington (River Ridge)
Britta Petersen, Stevens Point, Junior, Forward, 5-11, Luck
Kim Stokke, Stout, Senior, Guard, 5-9, Menomonie

Honorable Mention
Cassie Bandow, Stevens Point, Sophomore, Guard, 5-11, Plover (Pacelli)
Danielle DeWitt, Stout, Senior, Guard/Forward, 5-11, Green Bay (Bay Port)
Maranda Dohrn, River Falls, Sophomore, Forward, 6-0, Lake City, Minn.
Danielle Frank, La Crosse, Junior, Center, 6-4, Caledonia, Minn.
Hailey Hart, Superior, Sophomore, Forward, 5-9, Osseo
Megan Maslowski, Stout, Senior, Forward, 5-11, Marshfield
Ellen Plendl, Eau Claire, Sophomore, Center, 6-5, Chippewa Falls (McDonell)
Charity Stotmeister, Platteville, Senior, Forward, 5-7, Cuba City (Potosi)
Connie Urmanski, Superior, Freshman, Guard, 5-4, Edgar

All-Defensive Team
Andrea Flease, Stevens Point, Junior, Guard, 5-5, New London
Danielle Frank, La Crosse, Junior, Center, 6-4, Caledonia, Minn.
Tiffany Gregorich, River Falls, Sophomore, Guard, 5-5, Altoona
Kelsey Hendrickson, Whitewater, Senior, Guard, 5-7, Monroe
Julia Hirssig, Stout, Senior, Forward, 5-11, Rochester, Minn. (Mayo)

All-Sportsmanship Team
Brittni Buechel, Stevens Point, Sophomore, Center, 6-1, St. Cloud (New Holstein)
Danielle DeWitt, Stout, Senior, Guard/Forward, 5-11, Green Bay (Bay Port)
Ali Gillberg, Eau Claire, Senior, Forward, 5-10, Drummond
Kelli Hilt, River Falls, Senior, Guard, 5-6, Lakeville, Minn. (North)
Melissa Lang, La Crosse, Junior, Guard, 5-10, Greendale
Megan Lund, Oshkosh, Sophomore, Guard, 5-8, Reedsville
Hillary Peterson, Superior, Freshman, Forward/Center, 6-0, Sturgeon Lake, Minn.
Heidi Sonntag, Whitewater, Senior, Guard, 5-6, Milwaukee (Wisconsin Lutheran)
Charity Stotmeister, Platteville, Senior, Forward, 5-7, Cuba City (Potosi)

Player of the Year:  Julia Hirssig of Stout
Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete:  Julia Hirssig of Stout
Coach of the Year:  Keri Carollo of Whitewater

We applaud you seniors

The seniors played their last game as a UWRF Falcon basketball player Tuesday night in the loss to Stout. Your leadership, heart and play will be missed by all Falcon fans

Thanks for the memories Jenna, Katie and Kelli. We have some season highlights of your  play below.

Watch Katie play

Katie with FT and good defense

Rebounds and Katie for two

Katie for two

Watch Jenna Play

Jenna for two

Jenna again for two

Jenna keeps knocking them down

Watch Kelli play.

Kelli for two and one.

Kelli for two

Kelli rebounding and scoring

By Charlie Korenchen
UWRF Sports Information

Kelli Hilt has been a great basketball player at UW-River Falls for a long time now. Last year she averaged seven points and 3.5 rebounds per game. She does a lot more, though, for the Falcons than just put up solid numbers night in and night out. She is one of the senior leaders on this basketball team as Hilt and her teammates try and conquer the WIAC this season.

Hilt leads this team by example. According to Head Coach Cindy Holbrook, “Kelli’s been a tremendous leader for us the last couple years. She see’s the big picture of how we want things to fit together. It’s hard to teach a person to lead like that.”

She is also, in fact, a great example for kids to watch and learn the right way to play the game. She was honored by being selected to the WIAC All-Sportsmanship team in 2009. On top of all of this she also was on the WIAC Scholastic Honor role in 2006 and 2009. She has received many other awards including Best Free Throw Shooter (2009), and Most Steals (2008). She finished 52-66 (.788) at the line last year and had 46 steals in 2008.

Hilt has been a starter for the undefeated and 4-0 Falcons this year. She is averaging 3-8 points this year and has six assists, a blocked shot and three steals. Her best scoring game came against Stevens Point when she scored 18 points in the 2007-08 season. That year she also had her best rebounding game when she had eight against Oshkosh. Last year she had five steals against Viterbo.

Hilt and Jenna Hanson are the two seniors on this year’s team and are leaders to a Falcon roster that has five freshmen and four sophomores among the 14 players on the team. There’s plenty of evidence that Hilt’s experience has helped the team in its early season success.

Hilt has been a part of the Falcon basketball program for four years now. She has played basketball for a very long time. She began playing organized basketball when she was in the third grade. As she grew older she played for Lakeville High School in one of Minnesota’s toughest conferences, the Lake Conference.

When she’s not knocking down shots or stealing the ball from an opponent you might see Hilt hitting the books. Hilt is a business administration major with an option in marketing. When she is not studying she can be found hanging out with her friends and the rest of the Falcon basketball team.

Hilt likes to head to the Twin Cities often as well. She enjoys watching sporting events there such as taking in a Vikings game, Twins game, or Timberwolves game. As she put it “I like to watch it all; whatever sport is in season.”

After Hilt graduates from UW-River Falls she plans to look for a job or an internship. Her leadership and great work ethic will be missed from the women’s basketball team after her graduation.

View Katie Theisen here.

View Kelli Hilt here.

View Jenna Hanson here.

Kelli Hilt

33 Questions with  Kelli Hilt of the UW-River Falls Falcons Women’s Basketball team

1­Parent(s) name(s):Brian and Patti Hilt

2­Home town and School: Lakeville North

3­Major/Minor:  Business Admin. Option marketing

4­My Friends Call Me:  kelli

5­Favorite College Class:  Business Law

6­Favorite Quote:  All for one and one for all

7­What is your favorite spot on campus?  Computer Lab

8­What makes you laugh?  A good joke

9­Advice I’d give a young athlete:  When you feel like you hit a brick wall, keep pushing and good things will come

10­In my free time I like to: Relax

11­Pre­game Superstition:  Tuck in my uniform before national anthem

12­One word that best describes me: Caretaker

13­Nobody knows how much I love to: Play with kids

14­If I weren’t playing basketball I would be:  Taking more classes

15­The best thing about attending UWRF is:  Making something of myself

16­My dream job would be:  Not sure yet

17­If you could be on the cover of a magazine, it would be? Why? Anything because it would mean I most likely have a lot of money

18­My greatest sports moment was:  Running out on the college court for the first game

19­What would you like to learn and achieve this sports season? I would like to push myself and see how far I can go and to push my teammates and see how much better we get as a whole 20­Describe an ideal teammate: One that cares more about the team then themselves and is willing to work as hard as they can

21­What is one word that describes you right now? Confused on what to do with my life

22What is one word you hope to use to describe yourself in ten years?  Working

23­What’s one television show that you can’t miss each week?  One Tree Hill

24­If you had a theme song, what would it be? Hot N Cold

25­ What is your biggest pet peeve? People that don’t pickup their dog poop

26­ If you were a traffic sign what would you be? yield

27­ If you could trade places with anyone, who would it be? My oldest sister because she is in Arizona

28­ If you could do anything just once, what would it be? Skydive

 29­If we made a movie of your life what would it be called and who  would star in it? 

30­If you were to choose an animal you most resemble, what would it be? giraffe

31-Why did you decide to come to UWRF? The program, the location, basketball, the size

32-What’s the best thing about UWRF in your experience so far?The whole experience of being on a team and how it changes every year

 33-How do you feel about your UWRF basketball teammates?  Coaches?Couldn’t ask for anything more