May 23, 2012

Div. 3 UW schools set to leave NCHA

Wisconsin schools playing in the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association are expected to announce today they will leave the men’s hockey league following the 2013-14 season. 

According to a story in today’s Green Bay Press Gazette, the five schools playing in the NCHA (Eau Claire, River Falls, Stevens Point, Stout and Superior) are expected to play in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC).

Such a move would leave Division 3 powerhouse St. Norbert College and St. Scholastica as the only remaining members of the NCHA, which was formed in 1980. 

The UW schools would play exclusively in the WIAC starting with the 2014-15 season.

St. Norbert could become eligible to play hockey in the WIAC, but they’re expected to look at other options as well.

WIAC men’s basketball race remains tight

The race for the men’s WIAC regular season basketball championship remains tight.

UW-Stevens Point (19-4, 12-2 WIAC) survived a scare on Wednesday night, holding off UW-Oshkosh (4-18, 0-13) to win 87-83 in Oshkosh.  The Pointers have a half game lead on UW-Whitewater for the league lead.

UW-Whitewater (20-2, 11-2 WIAC) earned a 77-58 road victory over UW-Platteville (12-11, 6-8).

UW-River Falls is also just 1/2 game off the conference lead after the Falcons (17-5, 11-2 WIAC) rallied for a 57-56 win over the visiting Yellowjackets of UW-Superior (13-10, 7-7).

La Crosse also knocked off Stout 63-52.

Whitewater to face Albion in NCAA playoffs

Two-time defending NCAA Division III Football Champion UW-Whitewater will host Albion College of Michigan at noon this Saturday.

The unbeaten Warhawks earned an automatic bid into the 32-team field by winning their 7th straight conference title.  The Warhawks are riding a 30-game winning streak, the longest in the country.  It’s the 10th straight NCAA appearance for Whitewater.

UW-Oshkosh football in top 25 for first time

UW-Oshkosh is ranked in the D3football.com Top 25 for the first time in the poll’s nine-year history.  The Titans are listed 25th in this week’s (Oct. 10) NCAA Division III standings.

The 4-1 Titans have won three straight.

Two-time defending national champion UW-Whitewater (5-0) is the top-ranked team in the poll.  The Warhawks, who share first place in the WIAC standings with the Titans, visit UW-Oshkosh on Oct. 22.

The University of Mount Union (Ohio), which handed Oshkosh its only loss this season, ranks second in the nation.

Whitewater picked to win another football title

Two-time defending NCAA Division III National Champion, UW-Whitewater is the preseason choice to win the 2011 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) football title.

UW-Whitewater, ranked No. 1 nationally in preseason rankings by D3football.com, Sporting News and Lindy’s Sports.  The Warhawks captured all eight first-place votes in the conference poll of Sports Information Directors.  They’re aiming for an unprecedented seventh consecutive WIAC first-place trophy.  The Warhawks enter the 2011 campaign riding a NCAA-best (all divisions) 30-game winning streak.

UW-Stevens Point, ranked No. 23 by D3football.com, is 17-4 in WIAC play in the last three seasons and the last conference team to beat the Warhawks (October 25, 2008).  The Pointers are picked to finish second, followed by UW-Stout, UW-Oshkosh and UW-Platteville.  La Crosse, Eau Claire and River Falls round out the predicted conference finish.