Upper Iowa News -- www.upperiowaathletics.com

Northern Sun Conference Preseason Women's Soccer Coaches' Poll Announced

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:37:47 PST

The Northern Sun Conference has released its Preseason Coaches' Poll for the upcoming women's soccer season. The NSIC is now made up of fourteen universities and colleges that cover Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota. In addition to the ten institutions that competed in the NSIC last year, there are now four new schools which have joined the NSIC from the now defunct North Central Conference.

These four schools include Augustana College, the University of Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota State University, Mankato, and St. Cloud State University. The head coaches of all fourteen schools voted in the 2008 NSIC Preseason Volleyball Poll and the Upper Iowa University women's soccer team was picked to finish seventh overall after graduating All-Conference performers Lauren Smith and Erica Baedke, as well as three other starters and a key reserve. The Peacocks finished the 2007 season in third place in the NSIC losing a first round home match to MSU Moorhead in the conference tournament.

Northern Sun Conference Preseason Volleyball Coaches' Poll Announced

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:16:24 PST

The Northern Sun Conference has released its Preseason Coaches' Poll for the upcoming season. The NSIC is now made up of fourteen universities and colleges that cover Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota. In addition to the ten institutions that competed in the NSIC last year, there are now four new schools which have joined the NSIC from the now defunct North Central Conference. These four schools include Augustana College, the University of Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota State University, Mankato, and St. Cloud State University.

The head coaches of all fourteen schools voted in the 2008 NSIC Preseason Volleyball Poll and the Upper Iowa University volleyball team was picked to finish fourteenth overall after graduating All-Conference performer Darcy Hageman and finishing the 2007 campaign with a 0-18 mark in conference play.

Upper Iowa Football Media Day Scheduled for Saturday, August 16

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 14:37:00 PST

Upper Iowa University will hold its annual football media day at Eischeid Stadium in Fayette on Saturday, Aug. 16, beginning at 12 p.m. This will be the first opportunity to talk to Peacock Head Coach Mike Knoll, who is entering his fourth year at the helm, as his team prepares for the 2008 football season. Players and coaches will be available for photos and interviews. The 2008 season marks Upper Iowa's third season as a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).

Media members are invited to attend a media luncheon at noon at Eischeid Stadium, where Coach Knoll will be available to discuss the upcoming season. Get first-hand information about the football program and its upcoming season in the expanded Northern Sun Conference. The Peacock football players will be at the field by 1 p.m. and available to the media.

Northern Sun Conference Preseason Football Coaches Poll Announced

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:25:03 PST

MANKATO, MINN.: The Northern Sun Conference held the first annual NSIC Football Media Day today in Mankato, Minn. The NSIC is now made up of fourteen universities and colleges that cover Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota. In addition to the ten institutions that competed in the NSIC last year, there are now four new schools which have joined the NSIC from the now defunct North Central Conference. These four schools include Augustana College, the University of Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota State University, Mankato, and St. Cloud State University.

The head coaches of all fourteen schools voted in the 2008 NSIC Preseason Football Poll and the Upper Iowa University football team was picked to finish thirteenth overall and seventh in the South Division.

Peacocks Add New Face to Coaching Staff

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:44:26 PST

Upper Iowa Head Baseball Coach Mark Danker announced today that Timm Pint will join the Peacocks' coaching staff for 2008-09 year. Pint will join Kevin Post, now in his sixth year with UIU, as the two assistant coaches under Danker.

"We are excited to have Timm join the Peacock baseball team. He will take on the duties of hitting coach and will instruct our catchers. His experience in recruiting the upper Midwest will make us even stronger in our methods for scouting quality student-athletes."

UIU Alum Gary Korhonen Named 2008 Football National Coach of the Year

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:58:25 PST

The National High School Athletic Coaches Association held its 43rd Annual Meeting in Colorado Springs, Colorado on June 23-25. The meeting culminates with its Annual Awards Banquet that includes the awarding of the NHSACA Coach of the Year Awards. Eight Finalists from 18 sports and athletic director are recognized for their outstanding accomplishments and service. The final award of the evening is the naming of the National Coach of the Year recipient in each of the sports and an athletic director.

The award recipients are evaluated on longevity, professional service, win-loss percentage, championship years, and professional awards. Every state in the nation is provided opportunity to nominate candidates for evaluation for the award. The evaluation process is a two-tiered process; first the finalists are determined and the second evaluation is to determine the National Coach of the Year recipient.

Two Peacocks Earn National Academic All-American Honors

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 10:54:15 PST

Two members of the Upper Iowa University women's golf team have been named as National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) All-American Scholar recipients at the NCAA Division II level. The two honorees are Laura Taylor (Woodbury, Minnesota) and Lindsey Holien (Ossian, Iowa). The honor is the second for Taylor, who earned the honor last year as well.

The criteria for selection to the All-American Scholar Team are some of the most stringent of all college athletics. The minimum cumulative GPA is 3.50 and student-athletes must have competed in at least 50% (Division I) or 66% (Division II & III) of the college's regularly scheduled competitive rounds during the year.

Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Officially Expands to 14 Teams

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 09:46:02 PST

St. Paul, Minn. - Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Commissioner Butch Raymond has announced the results from the NSIC Board of Directors teleconference call dealing with expansion. The Board of Directors, consisting of the ten NSIC Presidents/Chancellors, voted to expand the NSIC to 14 teams with the addition of Augustana College (Sioux Falls, S.D.), the University of Minnesota Duluth (Duluth, Minn.), Minnesota State University Mankato (Mankato, Minn.) and Saint Cloud State University (Saint Cloud, Minn.). These four institutions, which were all voted on individually, will begin participating within the NSIC in the 2008-09 season.

New Peacock Women's Basketball Coach Named

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:48:37 PST

Upper Iowa University named Mike Brown as the Interim Head Women's Basketball Coach for the 2008-09 season today. The Polk City, Iowa native will move up from his assistant coach position to lead the Peacock program into the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, or NSIC, in 2008-09.

"We are pleased to have Mike Brown take over as the Interim Head Women's Basketball Coach. He has a wealth of experience as a head coach. He also possesses the knowledge of this basketball program and has three years of experience in the Northern Sun Conference. He has proven to be a loyal, hard working member of our coaching staff," said Gil Cloud, Upper Iowa Director of Athletics.

Head Coach Ben Conrad Moving On

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:39:30 PST

Upper Iowa University head women's basketball coach Ben Conrad has resigned his position, effective immediately. Conrad will be introduced as the new head women's basketball coach at Johnson County Community College. Conrad managed the Peacocks' first three seasons at the NCAA Division II level.

Upper Iowa University presented Cedar Rapids Duane Kramer Sports Tourism Award

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:37:46 PST

FAYETTE, Iowa (June 13, 2008) -- Upper Iowa University (UIU) was presented with the Duane Kramer Sports Tourism award at the annual Cedar Rapids Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Celebration of Sports banquet held at the Cedar Rapids Marriott on June 4.

The Duane Kramer Sports Tourism Award recognizes an organization(s) for hosting an event that attracted a significant number of visitors to the Cedar Rapids area.

Upper Iowa's Ryan Arp Picked by Dodgers in 2008 MLB Draft

Sun, 08 Jun 2008 22:07:07 PST

Ryan Arp (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), a senior, righthanded catcher, for the Peacocks has been selected in the 45th round (1356 overall) by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

After signing a contract with the Los Angeles, Arp expects to report to a Dodger rookie league team in either Utah or Florida. Arp told Peacock Head Coach Mark Danker that he was "excited for the opportunity to continue his playing career."

Rachael Schmidt Wins U.S. Women's APL Qualifying Medal

Thu, 29 May 2008 09:17:05 PST

Rachael Schmidt has never played in the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship before, mainly because until fairly recently she was unaware of its existance.She found out about the tournament for the best public course players in the country this spring, when someone at her home course, Elk River Golf Club, suggested that she should try to qualify.On Wednesday, Schmidt made her first attempt at qualifying. It was an impressive debut. Despite some issues with her putter, she shot a 1-over-par 73 and claimed medalist honors by four strokes.

Winans Named to the Ping/GCAA Division II All-Region Team

Thu, 22 May 2008 16:59:06 PST

The Division II All-Region teams presented by Ping and the Golf Coaches Association of America, or GCAA, have been released and one Peacock has earned a spot. Adam Winans (LaGrange, Ind.) was named to the All-Central Region Team.

Winans led the Peacocks' seventh place finish in the 2008 Central Regional with rounds of 76-70-76 for a 54-hole total of 222 (+6). The three day effort placed the junior in fifth place. Winans registered one eagle, eight birdies, and 31 pars; shooting par or better on 40 of the 54 holes.

Schmidt Named to the Duramed FUTURES Tour NGCA Division II All-American Team

Thu, 22 May 2008 16:20:48 PST

The Division II All-American teams presented by the Duramed FUTURES Tour and the National Golf Coaches Association, or NGCA, have been released and one Peacock has earned a spot. Rachael Schmidt (Elk River, Minn.) was named to the Second Team. This is the third time Schmidt has been named to the NGCA All-American team. She earned a spot on the Honorable Mention Team both her freshman and sophomore seasons.