Photo Courtesy of UW-Stevens Point Athletics.
For the fourth time in the last six year, the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference can claim ownership to the NCAA Division III National Champion after the UW-Stevens Point Pointers upended Augustana (Ill.) 70-54 in Salem, Va.
Four Pointers scored in double figures, led by senior Austin Ryf’s 17 points. Joe Ritchay scored 15 points, followed by Stephen Pelkofer’s 14 and Alex Richard’s 12. The Pointers shot 55.3 percent from the field and connected on 12-of-18 3-point attempts.
The championship is the fourth in program history and first since 2010. UW-Stevens Point won back-to-back championships in 2004 and 2005.Tenth-year head coach Bob Semling has 11 players on his roster from the state of Wisconsin. He was also an assistant to Jack Bennet during the back-to-back titles.
The impressive run by the WIAC conference also includes two championships by UW-Whitewater (2012, 2014). Warhawk senior guard Quardell Young was named Central District Player of the Year and a first-team All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.