The winter sports season is the longest collegiate season. From Oct. 15 until March, our winter sport athletes at Olaf spend every day practicing and competing. I spent part of my fall break at home, while the rest of it was dedicated to the dreaded two-a-days and off-ice workouts as our women’s hockey team began our season. I can definitely say that I am incredibly excited for this year’s season and for all winter sports on the Hill to start up!
Although women’s basketball doesn’t begin playing games until Nov. 21 with a trip to Colorado Springs, they are eager to begin their season. Last year the team had an overall record of 17-9, while placing fourth in the MIAC with a record of 14-8. The team unfortunately lost to St. Mary’s in playoffs last year in a close 55-52 game.
Senior Captain Mackenzie Wolter said about the upcoming season, “It’s going to be a really fun and exciting season for our team, as we didn’t graduate anyone last year, but we gained a really talented, and large I might add, group of freshman. We hope to accomplish some things this season that St. Olaf women’s basketball hasn’t accomplished ever before.”
If you’re looking to watch some basketball a little earlier than Nov. 21, the men’s team’s season opener is on Nov. 15 vs. Bethany Lutheran, with a home opener on Nov. 17 against UW-Stevens Point. The Oles placed third in the MIAC last season with a record of 15-5, while garnering a 16-10 record overall. The team graduated four seniors last year, including star guard Stuart Neville (’12) who was sixth in the MIAC for scoring and second for rebounding. However, the team gained four new recruits and hopes to return to the MIAC playoffs this year, this time for a victory.
Men’s and women’s swimming also had two very successful seasons. The men’s team finished second in the MIAC Championships and 32nd in the NCAA finals. The women’s swim team also placed second in the MIAC Championships, but placed 23rd in the NCAA finals. Both teams open up the season on Oct. 27 with the St. Thomas Relays on Nov. 27.
Men’s hockey also graduated some outstanding players last year, including four All-Conference players. The team is coming off of a successful playoff run too; last year they lost to Gustavus in the MIAC finals 4-2 as the fifth seed.
Senior Joel Lundstrom says, “The goal this year is to get back to the MIAC Championship, but this time with a different result. The first couple weeks of the season are going to be key for us as we try to figure out our identity as a team. We also feel that we have some of the best goaltenders in the league, and just like previous years, their play will put us in the top of the MIAC if we play like we can and should in front of them.” The team opens up the season with the MIAC Showcase on Oct. 27 and 28, vs. Augsburg and St. Thomas, respectively.
Now, excuse my shameless plug for my own team, but the women’s hockey team was able to have a successful year last year, despite a heartbreaking loss to Bethel in the MIAC quarterfinals. The Oles were seeded fourth in the MIAC with a record of 9-7-2 (9-13-4) overall. Most people don’t know this, but the women’s hockey team was able to take a trip to Italy and Switzerland for 10 days over the summer to play against some European teams.
[Above: Our team playing against a Swiss team when the Oles went to Europe this summer]
My fellow teammate and captain Nicole Stumpf (’13) said about the upcoming season: “We have great leadership, determination, and enthusiasm from the upperclassmen which will hopefully help us be dominant in the MIAC. I think our trip to Europe this summer has prepared us greatly for the season. The team energy, individual motivation, and positive energy at practice has been incredible so far.”
Check out women’s hockey at the Northfield Ice Arena (affectionately nicknamed “The Pepsi Center”) in the home opener vs. Steven’s Point 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 26 and 2 p.m. on Oct. 27.
Good luck to all the winter sports, and be sure to check out your fellow Oles as they begin their seasons in the next couple of weeks!