DRAGON ATHLETICS
Dragon TALES
DRAGON TALES
By Larry Scott, MSU Moorhead Sports Information Director
A marvelous ambush opportunity awaits Moorhead State University Moorhead women on Saturday when travel partner Concordia University makes its annual appearance at Alex Nemzek Hall. The Golden Bears, ranked second on the latest NCA Division II national poll, will pack a 18-0 overall record and a spotless 9-0 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference mark for the Red River Valley invasion. MSUM, 11-7 overall and 5-4 in the NSIC, begins the second half of the 18-game NSIC odyssey in search of a homecourt site for the approaching NSIC playoffs. MSUM men, 11-7 overall and 4-5 in the NSIC, meet the Golden Bear men at 8 p.m. and a victory would surely enhance hopes of a home court site when the playoffs unfold in early March.
MSUM MEMOS. . . . . Super Bowl dreams evaporated on Sunday for serious Green Bay Packer fans, including ex-Dragon ROCK GULLICKSON. A native of Moorhead and a former All-American offensive guard at State, Gullickson is the strength and conditioning coach of the Packers and had a front row seat to the loss to the New York Giants. . . . . Junior JUSTYN BURGESS (Minneapolis) did not play in Tuesday’s 88-71 loss at St. Cloud State but should be available for Saturday’s showdown with Concordia. Junior transfer RYAN ROZELL (Brandon, SD) delivered 16 points and 10 rebounds in a splendid relief role. . . . . Senior post JESSICA FESENMAIER (Olivia) leads the NCAA II in field goal percentage, .661, and is 14th in blocked shots. . . . . Three Dragons, including senior SARAH CHAUSSEE (Forest Lake) and sophomores ANN GUSEWELLE (Osakis) and KAYLA KOENIG, (Crookston), have reached qualifying standards for the 2008 NCAA Division II Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships. Chaussee and Koenig qualified in one and three meter diving and Gusewelle in the 100 yard breaststroke. MSUM will host Northern Iowa, a NCAA Division I swimming affiliate, at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Alex Nemzek Pool in Moorhead. Last week MSU Moorhead placed fifth at the eight-team Get to the Point Invitational at Stevens Point, WI with 347 points, its highest finish ever, while North Dakota captured the team title with 866.5 points. MSUM received first place finishes from junior LAUREN BAALMAN (Frisco, TX) in the 100 yard butterfly, 1:00.78, and Gusewelle in the 100 yard breaststroke, 1:06.94. . . . . MSU Moorhead, 10-4 overall and 1-0 in the NSIC, visits Aberdeen, SD on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. NSIC dual wrestling meet with Northern State. MSUM divided a pair of matches with Jamestown College and NCAA Division I North Dakota State last weekend. MSUM is ranked 17th on the latest NCAA II national poll. . . . . Minnesota State Moorhead claimed nine first place finishes at the Super Eight indoor track meet on Saturday at Bemidji. Junior ASHLEY ROEMER (Maple Lake) captured the women’s 800 meters, 2:17.35, and high jump, 5-5, junior SARA JULSRUD (Grand Forks, ND) was first in the 600, 1:39.23, junior JENNIFER HENSEL (Frazee) soared 12-5 ½ to win the pole vault and the 4 X 400 relay crew posted a winning time of 4:01.06. Sophomore PERCY WATSON (Green Acres, FL) swept the men’s 200, 22.87, and 400, 50.96, sophomore ADAM KNE (Moorhead) was first in the 5000, 15:55.87, and junior KYLE ECKHOFF (Willmar) was first in the 800, 2:00.79, and second in the mile, 4:24.94. . . . . The Dragons have unveiled a new athletic website designed by TOM CHALLEY. . . . . The next Dragon Fire luncheon is scheduled for Wednesday, February 13, at the Courtyard by Marriott in Moorhead. . . . . Dragon basketball games are broadcast over ESPN Radio 1660 AM. STEVE d’EUSTACHIO returns as play-by-play announcer. All Dragon games are also available on the World Wide Web at www.msumdragons.com. . .
