News northern Meuleners finishes his career as one of the most decorated wrestlers in NSU history. The winter sports season came to a close in early March with both NSU basketball teams in post-season tournament competition and two individual wrestlers competing on the national stage. Both the NSU men’s and women’s basketball squads hosted first-round NSIC tournament games by virtue of their Top 4 finishes in the NSIC North Division standings. The women’s squad hung on through the end of the regular season to finish fourth in the North, earning them a first-round match-up with Wayne State. The two teams also met in the first round of last season’s NSIC tournament when WSC was the regular season champion and NSU claimed the No. 8 seed. WSC got the upper hand in that game, but it was the Wolves who turned the tables in 2013. NSU moved on to face regular season champion Concordia-St. Paul on the road in the tournament quarterfinals. The Wolves were the only team in the NSIC North to hand the Golden Bears a loss in the regular season, but were unable to replicate the outcome in tournament play, falling 80-65. The Wolves ended the season at 16-12 overall. The men picked up the No. 2 seed in the North Division, securing themselves home-court advantage for both the first and second rounds of the tournament. The Wolves took advantage, surviving a physical back-and-forth battle with the University of Sioux Falls in the first round before falling to a nationally ranked Augustana squad in the quarterfinals. The post-season home games were the first for the Wolves since the 2008 conference tournament. The first-round win over USF – a conference newcomer – gave the Wolves their first 20-win season under head coach Paul Sather. NSU ended its season at 20-9 overall. In wrestling action, Northern State sophomore Anthony Bruno and senior Matt Meuleners stamped their tickets to the national tournament via their finishes at the NCAA Super Region 3 meet in late February. Bruno, making a return to his native state of Alabama, went 1-2 at 125 pounds and just missed a shot at what would have been his first All-American certificate. Meuleners set out to defend his back-toback titles at heavyweight and marched through the early competition before falling 4-3 to Tyrell Fortune of Grand Canyon University. Meuleners hit a flurry of late shots, including one on the edge of the mat late in the third period, but was unable to finish any for the win. A native of Young America, Minn., Meuleners finishes northern today 9 his career as one of the most decorated wrestlers in NSU history, becoming the Wolves’ first four-time NCAA Division II All-American. Northern State senior hurdler LukeHauert closed out his indoor track and field career as the bright spot for the Wolves’ program. Hauert hit the NCAA provisional qualifying standard in the 60-meter hurdles in every meet he competed in this season, but barely missed the cut to qualify for the national championships field. Hauert, a native of Plankinton, S.D., was the NSIC champion in that event and the NSIC Indoor Championships. Looking back at 2012-13 Winter Sports ABOVE: Left to right: Mike Birgen (’92, vice president of athletic major gifts and alumni relations), Josh Moon (director of athletics), Mike Evans (’72), Barb Evans, Dr. Alan LaFave (’85, dean, School of Fine Arts), Kari (Laubach) LaFave (’87), Mike Bockorny (’97, vice president of investments and annual fund). ABOVE: Left to right: Carol Ward, Dr. Connie Ruhl-Smith (director of special initiatives), Dr. James Smith (president, NSU), Gerald Ward (’70). Alumni Event at the home of Mike and Barb Evans in Scottsdale, Ariz.
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