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Issued: April 4, 2008

2008 BLUGOLD WOMEN’S GOLF RECRUITING CLASS ANNOUNCED

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – Head women's golf coach John Means has announced the names of seven high school student-athletes who will continue their academic and athletic careers at UW-Eau Claire.

The seven individuals who will compete for the Blugolds next season are Lauren Gault, Emily Kerber, Sara Mattes, Katie Maurer, Jessica Spitzer, Emily Swift and Natalie Thiel.

Gault, a native of Shorewood, Wis., played three seasons for the Shorewood High School boys’ team and one year for the new Whitefish Bay/Shorewood cooperative team. She was the team captain for the new team her senior season. Under Gault’s leadership, her team won regionals and took second at sectionals to advance to the WIAA Division I state tournament. At the state tournament Gault’s team finished eighth overall, while she tied for 20th individually. Gault was named an honorable mention recipient on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s All-Area team for her efforts.

Kerber, a native of St. Cloud, Minn., was a four-time letterwinner and a team captain on her high school team. She was a two-time all-conference recipient and participated at the Minnesota high school state tournament twice. Last season her team placed second at the state tournament.

Mattes, a native of La Crosse, Wis., was a four-time letterwinner for Central, where she was also a team captain twice. Mattes secured recognition on the conference level three times, making first team all-conference, second team all-conference and honorable mention, each one time during her career. She was also a three-time all-academic selection and participated at state tournament as an individual.

Maurer, a native of Forest Lake, Minn., was a team captain at her high school and was also voted the team’s most valuable player once. She also received the team’s most dedicated player award twice. Maurer was an all-conference selection four times and received all-state honors three times.

Spitzer, a native of Burlington, Wis., participated on Burlington High School’s women’s golf team four years, where she was the team’s MVP each season. Spitzer received honors as a first team all-conference selection three times and was a four-time all-county selection as well. In 2006 she was named the Racine County Player of the Year. She was also a two-time state qualifier.

Swift, a native of Onalaska, Wis., received first team all-conference honors her sophomore and senior seasons, and was also a second team all-conference selection her junior year. Swift also received recognition with a sportsmanship award her junior and senior seasons. For her efforts during her senior year, Swift earned all-state honorable mention honors, after finishing tied for 20th place at the 2007 WIAA Division I state tournament. Her team also finished as the runner-up in Division I at the state tournament.

Thiel, a native of Hartland, Wis., has participated at state the last two seasons. This year she tied for 37th place at the WIAA Division I state tournament, while her team finished in fifth place overall. Thiel was named her team’s most improve player for her efforts this season and was named the junior varsity player of the year in 2005.

The seven recruits join the Blugold women’s golf program that has seen great success in the past few years. The team has gone to the NCAA Division III National Championships for the last seven seasons and has finished sixth and seventh, respectively, in Coach Means’ first two seasons with the Blugolds. In 2005 and 2006 the Blugolds were also Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champions.

- KM -

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