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Issued: June 13, 2007

2007-08 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL RECRUITS ANNOUNCED

EAU CLAIRE - Head women's basketball coach Tonja Englund has announced the names of five high school student-athletes who will continue their academic and athletic careers at UW-Eau Claire.

2007-08 Blugold Recruits

They will be joining a Blugold program that finished 19-9 in 2007 including a perfect 13-0 home record in Zorn Arena. Last season the Blugolds advanced to the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) tournament championship game for the third time in seven years. During Englund’s tenure at Eau Claire the Blugolds have compiled an overall record of 143-54 (a .726 winning percentage) with a conference record of 77-35 (.688). The Blugolds won both the WIAC regular season and post-season tournament titles 2001 and 2003 earning automatic bids to the NCAA post-season tournament. The 2002-03 Blugold team posted a record of 32-2 advancing to the NCAA Division III Women’s Final Four.

Jackie Hauser - C, 6-1, Fr., Whitehall, WI

EAU CLAIRE – Jackie Hauser, a center from Whitehall High School, will attend UW-Eau Claire and play basketball next fall, Blugold head coach Tonja Englund has announced.

The 6-1 Hauser played for head coach Nikki Auserdall and was a four-year starter for the Norse. A four-time first team All-Dairyland Conference selection, Hauser led her team in rebounding and blocked shots for four years while leading the team in scoring in three seasons. Last season Hauser earned special mention All-Northwest honors. A four-time team Co-Most Valuable Player, Hauser scored over 1,000 career points and will play for the Division 3 South All-Stars at the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-Star Game held on June 23 at the Alliant Energy Center.

A three-sport athlete, Hauser was a three-year starter in both softball and volleyball. In softball Hauser was a three-time All-Conference selection and two-time team Co-MVP. In volleyball Hauser was a two-time first team All-Conference selection as a junior and senior while earning second team All-Conference honors her sophomore season in addition to being a three-time team Co-MVP.

Outside of athletics Hauser was an A-Honor Roll student and was actively involved in banc, chorus, academic decathlon, Youth Tutoring Youth Program, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, girl scouts, Ecology Club, Teens Against Tobacco use (TATU) and the National Honor Society.

Hauser is the daughter of Jeff and Ellen Hauser.

Ashley Hightower - F, 5-8, Fr., La Crosse, WI/Logan

EAU CLAIRE – Ashley Hightower, a forward for Division 1 state semifinalist La Crosse Logan High School, will attend UW-Eau Claire and play basketball next fall, Blugold head coach Tonja Englund has announced.

The 5-8 Hightower played for head coach Tom Campbell and was a four-time letterwinner and three-year starter for the Rangers. Hightower began the season as one of the top 100 seniors in the state of Wisconsin by the Wisconsin Women’s Basketball Yearbook and ranked among the top 30 seniors in Wisconsin by the United States Basketball Yearbook. Hightower is a three-time team Most Valuable Player, All-City Team and first team All-Mississippi Valley Conference selection. Hightower is a two-time honorable mention All-State selection and was the Mississippi Valley Conference Player of the Year as a junior.

A three-sport athlete, Hightower was a three-year starter in both softball and volleyball. In softball Hightower was a team captain her senior season earning the team’s Best Baserunner Award in addition to receiving honorable mention All-Conference honors. In volleyball Hightower was a team captain as a senior leading the Rangers in hitting and earning second team All-Conference honors.

Outside of athletics Hightower is a member of the National Honor Society, Peer Tutors and was the La Crosse Logan Student of the Month. Hightower is the daughter of Dawn and Quentin Lamers.

Hannah Mesick - C, 6-2, Fr., Chatfield, MN

EAU CLAIRE – Hannah Mesick, a center from Chatfield High School, will attend UW-Eau Claire and play basketball next fall, Blugold head coach Tonja Englund has announced.

The 6-2 Mesick played for head coach Brian Baum and was a four-year starter for the Gophers. Mesick began the season as one of the top 12 centers in the state of Minnesota by the Minnesota Girls Basketball Yearbook. As a senior Mesick averaged 16.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 2.3 assists per game shooting 59.7% from the field. Mesick was a first team All-Three Rivers Conference selection as a junior and senior while earning honorable mention accolades as a freshman and sophomore. Mesick led the Gophers in scoring, rebounding and steals during her junior and senior seasons.

A three-sport athlete, Mesick was a three-year starter in volleyball and a one-time letterwinner in track and field. In volleyball Mesick earned first team All-Conference honors as a junior and senior.

Outside of athletics Mesick is a member of the National Honor Society, Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD), National History Day, band, jazz band and all-state orchestra. Mesick will graduate Chatfield High School as her class valedictorian.

Mesick is the daughter of Michael and Kathi Mesick.

Nikki Nusberger - C, 6-2, Fr., Wheeler, WI/Boyceville

EAU CLAIRE – Nikki Nusberger, a center from Boyceville High School, will attend UW-Eau Claire and play basketball next fall, Blugold head coach Tonja Englund has announced.

The 6-0 Nusberger played for head coach Jolene Bird and was a four-time letterwinner and three-year starter for the Bulldogs. Nusberger began the season as one of the top 100 seniors in the state of Wisconsin by the Wisconsin Women’s Basketball Yearbook. Nusburger earned team Most Valuable Offensive Player as a junior and team Most Improved as a sophomore. Nusburger is a two-time first team All-Dunn-St. Croix Conference selection who also earned third team All-Northwest honors.

A three-sport athlete, Nusberger was a three-year starter in volleyball and a one-time letterwinner in track and field. In volleyball Nusburger earned first team All-Conference honors as a senior and second team honors as a junior.

Outside of athletics Nusberger is a member of the National Honor Society, Color Guard and the school newspaper.

Nusberger is the daughter of Michael and Wanda Nusberger.

Katie Weinberg - G, 5-7, Fr., Dresser, WI/St. Croix Falls

EAU CLAIRE – Katie Weinberg, a guard from St. Croix Falls High School, will attend UW-Eau Claire and play basketball next fall, Blugold head coach Tonja Englund has announced.

The 5-7 Weinberg played for head coach Angie Matunowsky and was a three-year starter for the Saints. Weinberg began the season as one of the top 100 seniors in the state of Wisconsin by the Wisconsin Women’s Basketball Yearbook. Weinberg was a two-time team Best Offensive Player and three-time All-Lakeland Conference selection. As a junior Weinberg was one of the top scorers in the state averaging 21.5 points per game. Selected as St. Croix Falls Outstanding Senior Athlete, Weinberg concluded her three-year varsity career with 1,000 points, 282 steals and 138 assists including a 45-point game during her junior season.

A three-sport athlete, Weinberg was a three-year starter in softball and a two-time letterwinner in cross country. In softball Weinberg was a two-time first team All-Conference selection and received the team Most Improved Award in cross country.

Outside of athletics Weinberg was a four-year member of the school honor roll who was involved in band, forensics, Students Supporting Other Students (SOS) and the S-Club

Weinberg is the daughter of Joe and Mary Weinberg.

- KM -

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