By Joe Vanden Acker

Lawrence Today magazine, Summer 2005

Men’s basketball Lawrence completed another of the finest seasons in school history, finishing 20-6 and winning a second consecutive Midwest Conference championship. The Vikings defeated Ripon 82-77 to win the conference championship and advance to the NCAA Division III Tournament, where they won 70-56 at Gustavus Adolphus in the first round before falling to the eventual national champion, the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 79-45, in the second round

Chris Braier, ’06, was named an All-American by D3hoops.com and selected for the All-Midwest Region team for the second consecutive season. Braier was a first-team all-conference selection, Jason Holinbeck, ’05, made the second team, and Dan Evans, ’05 (pictured), received honorable mention. John Tharp, who broke Lawrence’s record for career coaching victories this season, was named conference Coach of the Year for the second straight time.

Women’s basketball The Vikings compiled an 18-6 record and finished in second place in the regular season Midwest Conference standings. Lawrence advanced to the MWC Tournament but dropped a 69-59 decision to Ripon in the tourney semifinals. All-conference selections Felice Porrata, ’05, and Claire Getzoff, ’06, both passed the 1,000-point plateau this season. Porrata finished her career second on the school’s scoring list, with 1,186 points, but Getzoff, with another season left to play, has 1,122 points and is poised to break the record of 1,225, held by Sarah O’Neil, ’92
.
Hockey Lawrence completed one of its best seasons ever by taking second place in the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association standings. The Vikings (11-13-2, 9-7 MCHA) were knocked out of the MCHA playoff semifinals by Finlandia. Forward Ryan Blick, ’05, completed his career as Lawrence’s all-time leading scorer, with 103 points, and was named to the all-conference team. Goaltender Andrew Isaac, ’07, and defenseman Josh Peterson, ’08, also received all-conference honors. In addition, Peterson was named to the United States College Hockey Online All-West Rookie Team, and Isaac received USCHO national Defensive Player of the Week honors.

Wrestling Ben Dictus, ’06, advanced to the NCAA Division III Championships for the second consecutive season and became Lawrence’s first Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champion. Dictus won the title at 184 pounds at the WIAC Championships and posted a 1-2 record at the NCAA meet. Lawrence finished seventh in the WIAC team standings. John Budi, ’07, was named to the NCAA Division III Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar All-America Team. The selection of Budi, a biology major, marks the 12th consecutive year a Lawrence wrestler has been chosen for this honor.

Swimming and diving Nick Heuer, ’05, was the star of the Midwest Conference Championships. Heuer led the Vikings to a second-place finish in the team standings and won two events. He won the 200-yard breaststroke in 2:09.47, breaking both the meet record (2:09.78) and conference record (2:09.55). Heuer also won the 100 breaststroke in 59.60 seconds. The Lawrence women took third in the team standings.

Indoor track and field Kolade Agbaje-Williams, ’06, paced Lawrence by winning the long jump and placing in two other events at the Midwest Conference Championships. Agbaje-Williams won the long jump with a leap of 22 feet, 3 inches. He took second in the triple jump at 45-7.25 and was fourth in the 400 meters in 51.32 seconds. He was named one of the meet’s Outstanding Performers. The Lawrence men took sixth place in the team standings, and the women were ninth.