Meet the Norse: Lauren Boleen

Lauren is a member of both the women's volleyball team and the women's track and field team. She is also the current president of SAAC (student athletic advisory committee). She has had success in both sports but during the current season of track and field she has seen alot of individual success. She qualified for NCAA championship multiple times and is currently ranked in the top 4 for the javelin. LAst year Lauren was crowed the IIAC champion in the javelin and was also voted MVP by her teammates. Here is a little bit more from Lauren:

Hometown: Monticello, MN
Year: Junior
Major: Biology/ Spanish
Highlight of being on the track team: I think so far the highlight is watching our program imporve. We weren't running nearly as fast or jumping/throwing nearly as far as a team a year ago. I also get an excuse to spend time with all of my friends and have the opportunity to watch them compete in the events and have them watch me. I love the coaches, I love the team, and I love to comptet. So I feel like the entire year has been a highlight.
Goal to accomplish by the end of the season: My main goal would be for the team to place in the top 3 at the IIAC championship (both men and women). Personally my goals for the end of the season are to win the conference in the Javelin, and place in the top 8 (hopefully 1st) at nationals to earn All-American Honors.

Meet the Norse: Ross Jacobucci

Ross is a member of the Men's Golf Team. He has earned two letters during his time with the team. Last year was a great year for Ross, he posted the lowest stroke average on the team, and placed 12th at the IIAC championships. He also earned the All-American Scholar award last season. Here is a little bit more from Ross:

Hometown: Woodbury, MN
Year: Senior
Major: Psychology
Highlight of being on the golf team: Winning the conference tournament at Oneota Country Club.
Goal to accomplish by the end of the season: To win conference individually and as a team.
What one or two things do you currently do in your training that are key to your success: I video record my swing in the North Gym and also do some Yoga and stretching.
What is the best advice you have ever received: Just hit the ball hard and don't worry about where it goes

Meet the Norse: Kim Lambert

Kim Lambert is a senior member of the Norse Softball team. She has had a successful career in the norse uniform as one of the teams top pitchers. Here is a little bit more information from Kim

Hometown: Coal Valley, IL
Major: Biology with a Spanish minor
Highlight of being on the softball team: "Making it to regionals in 2007 and 2009 (hopefully 2010 too) also all of the fun we have as a team on every Spring Break trip"
Goals you hope to accomplish by the end of the season: "play our best softball in the post-season"
What one or two things do you currently do in your training that are key to your success: "We condition the legs and approach every practice like it is a game"

Meet of Champions for Track & Field

Nick Clark

The Luther College men's track and field team traveled to Augustana-Rock Island for the Meet of Champions Invitational. The Norse tallied 21 points and finished 11th.

Shane Steele and Nick Clark registered top-10 performances in the 10,000 meter run and the 200 meter dash respectively for the first time of their careers.

Steele posted a time of 31:53.94 that ranks eight on Luther's all-time list. He finished 19th from the field of 48 runners. Clark was clocked at 22.50 and finished ninth from the field of 48 competitors. Clark's time ranks sixth all-time.

Evan Neubauer was Luther's highest place winner for the afternoon. Neubauer placed fourth in the 5,000 meter run with a time of 15:48.38.

This coming weekend the team will bring 4 realy teams to the Drake Relays to compete.

Track & Field: Boleen Sets New Record

Lauren Boleen

The Luther College women's track and field team posted a point total of 99 points at the Augustana-Rock Island Invitational this afternoon. The Norse placed fourth from the field of 10 teams.

Lauren Boleen, the 2009 Iowa Conference champion and national qualifier in the javelin, won this event with a school record of 138-8. Boleen broke her own mark of 137-0 set last season. Twenty-seven competitors were in the field. Boleen's mark is also a provisional qualifying distance and currently ranks seventh in the nation.

Michelle Voigts and Katie Dolan also posted first place finishes. Voigts won the 400 meter hurdles with a personal best time of 1:05.50. Dolan led a foursome of Luther runners to cross the finish line ahead of the field of 28 competitors in the 5,000 meter run. Dolan crossed the line in 17:43.72. She was followed by teammates Sarah Lundine (18:01.24), Sharon Heyer (18:09.88) and Kim Horner (18:15.89).

Sam McAllister and Andrea Caldwell registered top-10 performances for the first time of their careers in the 800 meter run and the pole vault respectively.

McAllister finished fifth clocked at 2:18.53 that ranks eighth on Luther's all-time list. Dani Meirick, a 2009 outdoor qualifier in this event, finished just ahead of McAllister in fourth place with a provisional qualifying time of 2:14.18. Meirick holds the school record in this event of 2:13.30.

Caldwell vaulted over the bar at 8-3 1/4 that was good for 13th place. Caldwell's height ranks eighth on Luther's all-time list. Liz Knutson placed ninth in this same event with a mark of 9-3. Knutson already ranks fifth all-time with a personal best of 9-6 1/4.

The team will bring 4 relays and Boleen to this weekends Drake Relay competition.

Women's Tennis Continues Winning Streak

The Luther College women's tennis team extended its win streak to four matches after posting wins over St. Cloud State University and Augustana-Rock Island this afternoon here in Decorah. The two wins increased Luther's overall record to 24-6.

The Norse defeated St. Cloud State 6-3, posting wins in two of three doubles matches and four singles matches. Four of the singles matches went to three set tie breakers with both teams recording two wins. Kelsie Allen won one of these at #1 as did Katie Nichols at #5. Brynne Zinnecker at #4 and Cassandra Chalhoub at #6 won in straight sets.

Luther lost one doubles match en route to an 8-1 victory over Augustana-Rock Island. The Norse won all six singles matches in straight sets. Fran Fairfield won at #1, Zinnecker at #2, Chalhoub at #3, Katy Lindstrom at #4, Elise Allen at #5 and Katie Patterson at #6.

Luther will return to action on Saturday, April 24, when it will host Northwestern (MN) at 9:00 a.m. and Wartburg College at 3:00 p.m.

The Luther College men's tennis team traveled to Dubuque and played two non-conference matches and Iowa Conference opponent Loras College. The Norse defeated all three teams increasing their overall record to 26-8 and 7-0 in the Iowa Conference.

Luther started the afternoon with a 7-2 victory over regionally ranked #15 Carthage College. The Norse won two of three doubles matches and five of the six singles matches en route to the victory. Harrison Whitely posted a straight set victory over #8 Sammy Ramoni at #2 singles. , Scot Sundstrom who is ranked #7 in the Central Region, battled to a three set win over Jack Schiro. Utsab Rijal at #3, Mark Mateski at #4 and Nick Mozena at #6 all posted straight set wins. Luther's record against Central Region teams is now 15-3.

Luther wrapped up the afternoon posting 8-1 victories over both Augustana-Rock Island and Loras College. The victory over Loras also secured the #1 seed for the Iowa Conference tournament.

In the Augustana match, Rijal, Mateski, Mozena and Max Piepkorn all won in straight sets, while Samriddh Burman won in three. The Norse swept doubles action.

The Norse swept Loras 3-0 in doubles and proceeded to win five of six singles matches in straight sets. Posting wins in singles was Tyler Zinnecker, Nate Jung, Jacob Reitz, Chase Krebsbach, and Tyler Van Heest.

Luther will return to action next Saturday, April 24, when it will host Buena Vista University at 9:00 a.m. and Northwestern (MN) at 3:00 p.m.