Post-Bulletin, Austin MN
Austin High graduate Marcus Ball is a member of the football team at the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie. Ball recently was named to the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference all-conference first team as a defensive lineman. Ball, a 6-foot-1, 220-pound junior led the Blue Devils in several statistical categories, including sacks and tackles for loss. This was Ball’s first season with the Blue Devils after playing at Rochester Community and Technical College and Minnesota State University, Mankato. Fellow Austin grad Matt Day is a member of the football team at UW-Eau Claire. Day was a four-year starter on the offensive line. He wrapped up his career by being named to the WIAC all-sportsmanship team.
- Austin High graduate Tibisa Thor is a member of the women’s basketball team at William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Thor is a 5-foot-6 senior guard for the Statesmen. She is off to a cold start this season, averaging 2.9 points per game and 3.1 rebounds per game. She leads the team with 17 assists. Thor started the first six games for the Statesmen but has come off the bench for the past three games. Thor is shooting just 23.5 percent from the floor this year and 12.5 percent from 3-point land. William Penn dropped to 5-4 on Tuesday after a 101-40 loss to Minnesota State, Mankato
- Austin High graduate Kristen Faber is a member of the women’s hockey team at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. The junior forward scored a goal for the Blugolds on Sunday in a 2-all tie against Adrian College in Adrian, Mich. Faber’s goal was the team’s first and it came at the 6:08 mark of the second period. Faber leads the team in scoring this season with 11 points. She has leads the team in goals (five) and assists (six), along with shots (52), penalties (10) and penalty minutes (20). Faber carries a plus-3 rating. She has started all eight games for the Blugolds, who are 5-1-2 overall so far this season. The Blugolds are off this weekend but return to action Dec. 5-6 with road games at Concordia University (Wis.) and Lake Forest College (Ill.)
- Austin native Shannon Doyle is a member of the women’s swimming and diving team at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Doyle is a sophomore diver. She competed at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh dual on Nov. 14, turning in a score of 214.75 in the three-meter diving competition. Doyle’s score was good for first place. Doyle also competed in the one-meter dive, placing fourth at 204.54. She helped UW-La Crosse earn a 184-53 victory over Oshkosh. La Crosse is at the UW-River Falls Inviational on Dec. 5-6.
- Austin High graduate Stacy Bjorlie is a member of the women’s swimming and diving team at the University of South Dakota. Bjorlie is a senior who specializes in sprints. South Dakota suffered a 173-120 loss to Minnesota State, Mankato on Saturday. Bjorlie was a member of the 400 medley relay team that placed second in 4:05.19. She also placed third in the 50 freestyle with a time of 25.30 and sixth in the 100 freestyle in 56.28. Bjorlie also was a member of the USD 200 freestyle relay team, which placed second in 1:42.40. On the same day, USD also swam against St. Cloud State, suffering a 148-95 loss. bjorlie finished second in the 50 freestyle in 27.74. The team returns to action Dec. 5-6 at the Falcon Invitational in Minneapolis.
Is your kid playing college athletics? How about your neighbor’s kid? If you know of any former area standout currently participating in college athletics, please contact Ben Pherson at Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN
