Outlook Magazine - Fall 2024

Blue Devil Athletics fans had a vested interest last spring in March Madness — the NCAA basketball tournaments. The women’s team advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2006, losing to defending national champion Transylvania, 63-58. It was a highlight of the 2023-24 academic year that saw numerous Blue Devil teams post strong showings and many athletes earn All-American, all-conference and Scholar Athlete awards. Women’s Basketball: The Blue Devils, 23-8, won the WIAC tournament for the first time since 2007, earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III tournament. They started the season 10-1, lost six of seven, then won 11 straight. Raegan Sorensen received All-American honors, the first Blue Devil since 2010. Sorensen and Amanda Giesen were first-team All WIAC. Men’s Basketball: The Blue Devils won 12 games and advanced to the WIAC semifinals. Brody Fox became the second All-American in program history (Mel Coleman in 1969). He led the nation in field goals with 265 and was second in total points with 719 (school record), averaging 26.6 points per game. Hockey: The Blue Devils, 13-14-2, were third in the WIAC. Boyd Stahlbaum was WIAC Newcomer of the Year, leading the league in points and tying for the lead in goals, 14, with teammate Peyton Hart. Nicolas Pigeon was first-team All-WIAC. Matt Dahlseide won the Max Sparger Scholar Athlete award. Gymnastics: The Blue Devils qualified for the NCGA championships for the second straight year, placing fifth with a 191.650, second best in school history. All-Americans were Genevieve Czaplewski (beam, tied for second), Effie Ferguson (beam), Gillian Cummins (all-around) and Anna Mielke (vault). Track & Field: During the indoor season, Hannah Zastrow (60 hurdles), McKayla Felton (3,000), Leah Zastrow (pole vault) and Jenna Driscoll (long jump) were WIAC champions. Hannah Zastrow and Connor Walechka (hammer throw) were national runners-up and first-team All-Americans. Outdoors, Arely Jamie Luevano (10,000) and Hannah Zastrow (100 hurdles) won WIAC titles. At nationals, Hannah Zastrow (fourth), Walechka (seventh) and five others were All Americans. This fall, a new team will join Blue Devil Athletics, men’s soccer.

Football: The Blue Devils’ 4-6 season included an eighth straight win over UW-Eau Claire, 38-13. Four players made the All-WIAC first team. Will Hammen was All-American. Gervase Thompson received the Max Sparger Scholar Athlete award and was a semifinalist for the national William V. Campbell Trophy. Esports: The Valorant squad defeated UW-Madison Red 3-0 in the best-of-five Grand Final to take the Wisconsin Valorant Summit LAN championship, capping off a perfect state tournament. The Valorant and Super Smash Bros. teams also won their conferences and qualified for nationals. Volleyball: The Blue Devils finished 17-7, including a school record 11 straight wins to start the season. Sidney Hoverman was All-WIAC. She averaged 4.11 kills per set, third in the WIAC and 18th in the nation. Cross Country: McKayla Felton finished fourth in the region and earned All-American honors at the national meet. The women were fourth in the WIAC. For the men, Ian Williams, Calvin Fiala, and Matt Thomas were all-region as they took 21st nationally. Softball: The Blue Devils started the season 10-1 en route to a 22-20 record, their first 20-win season since 2018. They advanced to the WIAC semifinals. Pitcher Mackensie Wolterstorff was first-team All-WIAC with a 2.23 ERA and batted .357. Women’s Golf: Abbey Filipiak led the Blue Devils to third in the WIAC, winning the individual title for the second time and the WIAC Judy Kruckman Scholar Athlete award. Sydney Grimm (fourth) joined her on the All-WIAC first team. Baseball: The Blue Devils won 17 games, including over two ranked WIAC foes. Jacob Endreas led the WIAC with 14 home runs while Justin Sedin, All-WIAC first team, batted .414, third in the league. Women’s Soccer: Hailey Kane was first-team All WIAC, switching to offense the last four games and scoring six goals, including a hat trick and assist in a 4-2 win over UW-Whitewater. Lacrosse: In their second season, three players were All-WIAC second team. Emma Mathews led the team with 39 points — 33 goals and six assists.

Blue Devil Sports. Watch Every Season.