Location: Eau Claire, Wis.
Founded: 1916
Enrollment: 10,500
Colors: Navy Blue & Old Gold
Gymnasium: Zorn Arena (2,450)
Conference: WIAC
Chancellor: Dr. Donald J. Mash
Athletic Director: Marilyn Skrivseth
NCAA Appearances: First
Tournament Record: 4-0 (1.000)
National Championships: None
|
88 |
Northland |
53 |
|
68 |
Mt. Senario Coll. |
59 |
|
71 |
UW-Stevens Point (OT) |
68 |
|
70 |
at UW-La Crosse |
57 |
|
63 |
at UW-Stout |
52 |
|
58 |
vs. Sewanee |
42 |
|
71 |
vs. Holy Family |
54 |
|
60 |
vs. Hillsdale |
47 |
|
82 |
Mich-Dearborn |
55 |
|
86 |
Gustavus Adolphus |
73 |
|
60 |
UW-Platteville |
62 |
|
90 |
at UW-Superior (2 OT) |
85 |
|
71 |
at UW-River Falls |
65 |
|
97 |
UW-Whitewater |
74 |
|
68 |
UW-Oshkosh |
62 |
|
99 |
Northland |
48 |
|
67 |
at UW-Stevens Point |
72 |
|
79 |
UW-La Crosse |
53 |
|
86 |
UW-Stout |
70 |
|
51 |
at UW-Platteville |
55 |
|
65 |
UW-Superior |
49 |
|
80 |
at UW-Whitewater |
70 |
|
71 |
at UW-Oshkosh |
83 |
|
65 |
UW River Falls |
49 |
|
WIAC Tournament |
||
|
92 |
UW-Stout (OT) |
85 |
|
71 |
UW-Oshkosh |
55 |
|
56 |
at UW-Stevens Point (OT) |
59 |
|
NCAA Tournament |
||
|
72 |
Concordia |
54 |
|
74 |
at Carthage |
62 |
|
82 |
at Buena Vista (OT) |
75 |
|
60 |
vs. UW-Stevens Point |
58 |
Injuries: The Blugolds have had their share of injuries and sickness this year but none more untimely and critical than the ACL injury suffered by 6-8 senior Jon Wallenfelsz in the sectional semifinal against Buena Vista. Wallenfelsz was a three-time All-WIAC selection. Several other players have suffered through illness during the year, including Eric Gardow and Ben Schneeberger.
Winning Ways: UW-Eau Claire broke and NCAA Division III record this year with their 32nd consecutive winning season (UWEC was a member of the NAIA until 1992). Shortly after the Blugolds broke the mark, Wittenberg tied the record by also earning its 32nd straight winning season. Albany State and New York had shared the record heading into this season. The Blugold record includes the 27-year coaching tenure of the legendary Ken Anderson plus the five years Terry Gibbons has been the head coach.
Old Timers: The Blugolds have two of the oldest players in the nation. Eric Gardow is 31 and Quintin Johnson 30. Gardow's career was interrupted by a battle with cancer. He has now appeared in both the NAIA and NCAA national tournaments. Johnson was working in Eau Claire at the Eau Claire Academy when he decided to return to school and hit the books.
Extra Periods: UWEC was involved in five overtime games this season, winning four. Besides losing twice to conference champion UW-Stevens Point (whom they also beat twice), the Blugolds were beaten twice by defending NCAA Division III champion Wis-Platteville and lost another conference game to UW-Oshkosh. The Blugold losses have been by 2, 3, 4, 5, and 12 points.
Roster
|
No. |
Name |
Pos. |
Yr. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Hometown |
|
5 |
Eric Konkol |
O |
Sr. |
6-1 |
180 |
Amherst Junction, Wis. |
|
10 |
Jed Durni |
O |
Fr. |
6-3 |
185 |
Alma Center, Wis. |
|
12 |
Matt Fermanich |
O |
Jr. |
6-0 |
170 |
Antigo, Wis. |
|
15 |
Jesse Larson |
O |
Fr. |
6-2 |
190 |
Sugar Land, Tex. |
|
20 |
Jeff Kassing |
O |
So. |
5-11 |
170 |
Eau Claire, Wis. |
|
22 |
Steve Syrjala |
O |
Fr. |
6-3 |
165 |
Antigo, Wis. |
|
24 |
Quintin Johnson |
O |
Jr. |
6-2 |
190 |
Racine, Wis. |
|
30 |
Todd Marks |
O |
Jr. |
6-5 |
200 |
Fall Creek, Wis. |
|
32 |
Dave Mellenthin |
I/O |
Sr. |
6-6 |
210 |
Green Bay, Wis. |
|
34 |
Eric Gardow |
I |
Sr. |
6-8 |
230 |
Eau Claire, Wis. |
|
40 |
Sherm Carstensen |
O |
Jr. |
6-6 |
215 |
Eau Claire, Wis. |
|
42 |
Jon Wallenfelsz |
I |
Sr. |
6-8 |
220 |
Mosinee, Wis. |
|
45 |
Josh Schultz |
I |
Jr. |
6-7 |
220 |
Madison, Wis. |
|
50 |
Andy Witte |
I |
Fr. |
6-7 |
235 |
Monona, Wis. |
|
52 |
Ben Schneeberger |
I |
Jr. |
6-5 |
215 |
Custer, Wis. |
|
54 |
Joe Jacobson |
I |
Sr. |
6-6 |
230 |
Eagan, Minn. |
Head Coach: Terry Gibbons (UW-Oshkosh, '83), 139-105 (.570)
Assistant Coaches: Todd Oehrlein, Bill Macozek, Dick Palm
About Coach Gibbons
Terry Gibbons is currently in his fifth season as the men's basketball coach at UW-Eau Claire. He has compiled a 91-39 record in his five seasons with the Blugolds. This year marks UWEC's first trip to the NCAA playoffs and thus, first trip to the national championship round.
Last season Gibbons guided the team to a 17-8 overall record and tied for second in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference at 11-5, the team's highest finish in the league since capturing the conference championship during the 1990-91 season.
Prior to becoming head coach, Gibbons spent seven seasons as an assistant under legendary Ken Anderson and was the head man at Western State College in Gunnison, Colorado, for four years. While at Western, he rebuilt the Mountaineers from a team that averaged four wins and 20 losses a season for the two decades prior to his arrival, to a squad that earned its first ever NAIA National Tournament appearance in 1987.
Gibbons received his bachelor's degree from UW-Oshkosh in 1983 and masters from Western in 1985. He grew up in Antigo where he played basketball under current Eau Claire North coach Pat Hammond and former Eau Claire Memorial coach John Nicholas.
Gibbons also teaches in the Department of Kinesiology. He and his wife Yvonne are the parents of two daughters, Haley, who was born in August 1996 and Hannah, who was born in February 1998.