GREEN BAY, Wis. – It's another April edition of Phoenix Weekly, presented by
Captial Credit Union!
WEEK IN REVIEW
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
One of the most decorated coaching careers in collegiate women's basketball has come to an end. Green Bay women's basketball head coachÂ
Kevin Borseth, who coached for 37 seasons, including 21 with Green Bay, announced that he is retiring on Wednesday morning. Borseth addressed the media at a press conference at the Kress Center earlier today. Borseth's final year was much like most of his years as a coach, with the Phoenix winning a Horizon League Tournament Championship. The Bessemer, Mich. native won 14 tournament championships and 16 regular season championships at the helm of the program. The University will launch a national search for a new head coach for the women's basketball program immediately. Parker Executive Search has been retained to assist with the search. Borseth will assist the program with recruiting efforts this spring.
Read the full release and watch a replay of the press conference here.
GENERAL
The University of Wisconsin – Green Bay is mourning the
passing of former athletic administrator and university Associate Chancellor Donald F. Harden, Ph.D. Named one of the Top 50 Most Influential Leaders by Green Bay Athletics, in 2019, Harden was part of the UW-Green Bay faculty and administration from 1970-1994, including serving as Athletic Director from 1982-1985. He retired in 1994 as the university's Associate Chancellor, holding the rank of full professor. Among his many achievements at the University, he is credited with leading the move to Division I, creating the Phoenix Fund, and playing a key role in the development of the Mid-Continent Conference. Harden was inducted as a charter member of the Green Bay Phoenix Hall of Fame in 1993. He was also involved in a private partnership that built modern residence halls, assisted in the growth of the Founders Association in support of student scholarships and academics, and guided the University's first capital campaign. His presence can be felt today at "Donald F. Harden Hall", a residence hall built on campus in 1998. In addition to his impact on the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and Green Bay Athletics, Harden joined the Board of Directors at the Green Bay Packers in June of 1984. He became an Executive Committee member in December 1985 before achieving Emeritus Status in July 2005.
GOLF
Both golf teams had a busy week, beginning with the
Western Illinois Spring Invite last Friday and Saturday. Hannah Dunk impressed by tallying a round three best 71 (par) to finish third individually.
Lexi Meade finished with a 235 (+22) to take 17
th place overall, and Riley Pechinkski shot an 80 (+9) to finish the weekend with a 241 (+28) and a tie for 23rd place individually.Â
Grace Welch did not score for the Phoenix, but also finished the weekend tied for 23rd with a 241 (+28). For the men's team,
Joe Forsting led the squad by scoring a 220 (+7), good for a tie in ninth place. He dominated the second and third rounds, combining for seven birdies over the 36-hole span.Â
Zak Kulka was one stroke behind him, tying for 11
th overall. Kulka finished the Invite on a high note, recording four birdies, including two on the back nine, to finish even in round three.Â
Trent Meyer snuck inside the top 20 by tallying a 223 (+10), tying for 19
th place overall alongside two other individuals. FreshmanÂ
Yinta Yang rounded out GB's top four performances by stroking a 225 (+12), best for a tie in 22
nd place.
Kulka stole the show at the Stampede at the Creek Invitational, which took place on Monday and Tuesday. He started the tournament with a 75 (+3) in the first round before tallying a 71 (-1) in the second and third rounds, propelling him to the top-five finish. He recorded five birdies in Tuesday's final round, including three consecutive on the back nine. FreshmanÂ
Yinta Yang had another standout performance, totaling a 223 (+7) to tie for 11
th place. Dunk scored a 239 (+23) to tie for 37
th place.Â
Caylie Kotlowski,Â
Ellie Frisch,Â
Lexi Meade, andÂ
Grace Welch all tied for 48
th place with a score of 244 (+28).
SOFTBALL
The Green & White hosted Cleveland State in a
three-game series last weekend. In game one, the Phoenix got on the board with a run in the second inning after an RBI triple fromÂ
Lauren Porter to scoreÂ
Hailey Heckenlaible. CSU later took their 6-1 lead before the Phoenix bounced back with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. The Phoenix was unable to get any closer, as Cleveland State added two runs to their tally on the way to an 8-3 final after a two-RBI triple to left center.
Saturday's doubleheader featured a shutout by both teams. GB got the best of CSU in an 8-0 blanking, scoring in all five innings of game one, starting with one run in the bottom of the fifth. Sam Saloun drove in the run after an RBI triple scoredÂ
Bella Herman. Herman would drive in her own run in the second with a single in the second. The Phoenix extended its lead in the third with three more runs thanks to RBIs from Saloun andÂ
Lauren Porter and a fielding error on aÂ
Madyson Baker ball scoredÂ
Paige Hanson to make it 5-0. GB added two more in the fourth and one more in the bottom of the fifth inning to end the game by a score of 8-0.
The Vikings returned the favor in game two, scoring all of their runs in the first two innings, with one in the first and five in the second to take a 6-0 lead they would never relinquish.Â
Kelly Greene started the game, withÂ
Martha Miller pitching well in relief. Going 5.1 innings while allowing just three hits and one run. Melissa Holzopfel was lights out in the circle for the Vikings, pitching a complete game shutout. The right-hander struck out 10 while allowing just three hits.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Sundance Wicks is the
recipient of the 2024 Joe B. Hall National Coach of the Year award, which is presented annually to the top rookie, first-year head coach in Division I college basketball. Wicks, 43, made seven coaching stops before landing in Green Bay, and in his first season all of his experience helped the Phoenix improve more than 100 spots in adjusted offensive efficiency and adjusted defensive efficiency, per KenPom.com, upgrading their overall rating from 361st to 230th.
A LOOK AHEAD
GOLF
Each squad has one tournament left before the Horizon League Championships, which is scheduled for April 20-22. The GB men will turn their attention to the Wright State Spring Invite on April 14-15 (Sunday-Monday), while the women are slated to compete at the IUPUI Lady Jaguar Invitational on April 13-14 (Saturday-Sunday).
SOFTBALL
The squad hosts St. Thomas in a doubleheader this afternoon at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. (
watch on ESPN+ here and follow with
live stats) before welcoming Oakland for a three-game set over this Saturday and Sunday. Those contests will also be streamed on ESPN+.
OTHER HAPPENINGS
The Phoenix-Packers Steak Fry is less than one week away! Proceeds from the event impact the lives of 240 student-athletes at UW-Green Bay through the Phoenix Fund. The annual event draws nearly 1,000 attendees including community leaders, supporters, CEOs, and Green Bay Phoenix coaches, staff, and student-athletes, netting just over $200,000 each of the last two years for Green Bay Athletics, programs, and student-athletes. Check out the thread below on X/Twitter for auction information.Â
For more information, click here.Â
Now is the time to help Green Bay Basketball continue the rise! Place a new season ticket deposit today and secure your spot on the priority seating list for the 2024-2025 season. Each new account deposit commitment is just $50 and will be applied toward your full season ticket package purchase for the 2024-25 Men's or Women's Basketball Season. Men's Basketball season ticket deposits can be placedÂ
here and Women's Basketball season ticket deposits can be placedÂ
here. For more information,Â
visit this page for the full release.
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