“Athletics have been part of my life since fourth grade,” Nickasch said. “I started participating in track and field club in Appleton.”

The lifetime athlete later went on to win four state championships in the hurdles and sprints in high school. In college at UW-La Crosse, Nickasch was also a member of the track and field team.

During his time at UW-L, Nickasch earned a degree in physical education and a minor in health. After earning his degree, Nickasch took the position as an elementary physical education teacher in Lancaster, where he worked for twenty years.

Nickasch resides in Lancaster with his wife, a Lancaster high school librarian and director of the Lancaster school district’s library.

“Roxann and I met during college when we were both working as summer playground leaders at the Appleton Rec.,” Nickasch said.

Nickasch and his wife married in 1981 and have one son, Matthew, 24, who works for the U.S. Government in Washington, D.C.

“Roxann is the crafty one,” Nickasch said. “She enjoys sewing and cooking, and she really balances me.”

Nickasch and his wife enjoy traveling to multiple locations around the U.S. together when they have the time.

“My favorite vacation spot would have to be Malibu, Calif,” Nickasch said. “It is such a beautiful place and absolutely gorgeous.”

In addition to traveling, Nickasch enjoys golfing, taking walks with his wife and watching his favorite sitcom, Modern Family. He recalls his favorite movie as the 1986 sports film Hoosiers. If he had to choose one food to eat for the rest of his life, it would be chicken parmesan.

“Roxann’s also an excellent cook,” Nickasch said. “She is talented in a variety of crafty activities, and cooking is something she does very well.”

As much as Nickasch enjoys his wife’s chicken parmesan, it’s not all he appreciates.

“My family is my primary focus,” Nickasch said. “The love of my life isn’t at my job; it is at home with my wife and son.”

After teaching elementary physical education for 20 years, Nickasch took the assistant coaching position at UW-Platteville. He served as the assistant track and field coach from 1988-95 and took the head coaching position in 2001. Nickasch is now in his 10th season at UW-P. His favorite memory at UW-P is the first time his team earned a trophy, at the 2005 national championships.

“I have so many great memories here, but the best part is seeing the kids come in and do fantastic things,” Nickasch said. “It is wonderful to meet and work with such a great and diverse group of young people.”

Junior first basewoman Jordan Johnson went 2 of 3 in the team’s victory, with a single and double to left field. Junior shortstop Chantel McReynolds also doubled in the win, with a shot down the left field line. In the second game, senior catcher Sam Niemann went 1 of 2, with a single down the left field line.

“Our batting was good in the first game,” Niemann said. “We just weren’t able to get the hits we needed in the second game to allow us to score.”

In game one, the Pioneers fell behind the Duhawks 0-1 in the first inning, but quickly answered and took the lead with two runs in the second inning. The Duhawks tied it up in the sixth, but the Pioneers responded quickly. The team scored one run on a Duhawk overthrow and followed up with an insurance run on a hit by sophomore first basewoman Nathalie Schattner that scored freshman outfielder Ellyn Goerdt.

“The team really pulled together to perform and get a win,” Goerdt said. “Everyone knew their job and we succeeded as a team.”

In the second game, Duhawk pitcher Stephanie Popovich held the Pioneers to only two hits. UW-P freshman pitcher Jeni Freiburger performed well, allowing five hits and striking out nine in the complete game.

The split put the Pioneers at a 6-8 on the season.

The team will work toward its goal as it continues WIAC play in a doubleheader at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 9, against UW-River Falls.

­­

Softball has been part of Townsend’s life for many years. She began playing little league at 8 years old, and later played outfield through her high school years and college career at UW-Green Bay. Before taking the head coaching position at UW-P, Townsend was the assistant coach at UW-La Crosse for six years.

“During my first year coaching at UW-P, we beat UW-Whitewater three times in the conference tournament,” Townsend said. “I didn’t realize it was such a big deal at first, but it was such a great feeling to accomplish that during my first year as head coach.”

As head softball coach for the past six years, Townsend has had the opportunity to create bonds and close friendships with her players.

“Watching the girls improve and have success as they progress throughout the years is the best part about being a coach,” Townsend said.

Sophomore elementary education major Molly Rice said she appreciates Townsend’s positive attitude and lively personality both on and off the diamond.

“I admire that she can have fun and be competitive at the same time,” Rice said.

“She’s usually in a goofy, silly mood, and she’s pretty laid back most of the time,” junior first basewoman Jordan Johnson said. “The thing I admire most about her is the fact that she keeps her head up and sticks up for her team. She will be the first person to stick up for us and tell people we are talented athletes, we do work hard, and it will pay off.”

Many fond memories have been made throughout Townsend’s coaching career, including the team’s recent trip to Kissimmee, Florida, for the Rebel Games.

“The trip was amazing,” Townsend said. “It was so great to play teams from different areas in the U.S.”

The Pioneers finished with a 4-4 record at the Rebel Games. With the conclusion of the tournament, the Pioneers now sit with an overall record of 5-5 for the 2011 season.

The team will begin WIAC play at noon Saturday, April 2, against UW-Oshkosh at the UW-P Softball Complex.

“The WIAC unquestionably is the toughest Division III conference in the country, and it really shows at our conference championships,” head coach Jim Nickasch said. “As a whole, I thought we performed pretty well.”

Senior Ann Tank, senior Patrick Klein and sophomore Aaron Loferski each won events for the Pioneers. Tank secured the 400-meter dash with a time of 57.62 seconds. Klein claimed the mile with a time of 4:12.04. And Loferski took the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 7.76.

“I personally felt that the meet went very well,” Klein said. “I think that, for the men, this was one of our best team showings since I have been a part of UW-P [track and field].”
Senior Gina Smith took fifth place in the mile with a time of 5:13.10.

“It was great to turn my season around when it really mattered,” Smith said. “It was also great to watch my teammates succeed in their events.”
Loferski and freshman TJ Valley were seeded seventh and 13th, respectively, in the men’s 55-meter hurdles. Valley followed Loferski in a close second place finish with a time of 7.77.
“That was fantastic, what they did,” Nickasch said. “Those are the things we get really excited about.”

Five Pioneers qualified for the NCAA D-III National Championships. Klein will compete in the mile run and Tank will compete for the title in the 800-meter dash. Freshman Stephanie Wyss, senior Shea Bierman, junior Deidre Dillman and Tank will also compete in the women’s 4×400 relay.

Senior Jason Garvens and sophomore Jake Wiederholt made provincial marks in the 5,000-meter run and the shot put, respectively. Advancement to the NCAA D-III National Championships for these events has yet to be determined.
“The athletes that will be attending the national meet need to rest and sharpen up before the championships,” Nickasch said. “Many of them competed in multiple events on Saturday, and worked very hard. We need to ensure they are fresh, healthy and rested for nationals two weeks from now.”

“I do believe the team met its expectations, if not exceeded them,” Klein said. “Coach Nickash was very pleased, and hopes that the experiences attained Saturday will propel us to train harder, perform better and to improve UW-P’s standing within the WIAC.”

The young talent put forth by freshman forward Chas Cross and freshman guard Eric Gerber has certainly contributed to the Pioneer’s success this season.
“I think the freshmen have done a great job stepping up and filling some big roles so far,” said senior forward Eric Wall. “The WIAC is a very competitive conference and for freshman to come in and play right away is tough. Our freshmen have helped us out tremendously.”

Cross led the Pioneers with 27 points in the game against UW-Lacrosse Jan. 29, but the team came up short in a 70-67 loss.

With the loss, the Pioneers fell to fifth place behind UW-L, with a record of 4-6 in the WIAC.

With three weeks left of regular season play, the team is determined to achieve the goals it set prior to the start of the season.

“Both the coaches’ and players’ expectations for the team this year are through the roof,” said freshman forward Chas Cross. “With the expectations being so high for us, we strive to get better every day in practice.”

“The expectations for the team never change,” Wall said. “I think that they are to win a conference championship and play in the NCAA tournament. I think our team has great potential and can accomplish these two goals.”

The Pioneers have plenty of opportunities to battle back in the WIAC standings. From top to bottom, the WIAC is an equal conference, where any given team can beat the first place team. Before the WIAC tournament begins Saturday, Feb. 22, the Pioneers have several intense games remaining on their schedule, including UW-Stevens Point, UW-Whitewater, and No. 1 UW-River Falls.

“In the remainder of the season, we are looking to climb the conference rankings and take some momentum into the conference tournament,” said senior guard Nick Allen.

With strong finishes in the games remaining on the schedule, the Pioneers will be able to carry on the aggressive momentum into the WIAC tournament.
“We want to be playing our best basketball entering the conference tournament and NCAA tournament,” Wall said. “We just need to focus on getting better every day to set ourselves up for success at the end of the season.”