This Week in Blue Devils Athletics: Feb. 16-22

MEN'S ICE HOCKEY

The 14th-ranked Blue Devil hockey team swept a weekend series against UW-Eau Claire, winning 2-1 and 3-2, to claim the 2025-26 WIAC Regular Season Championship.

Sebastian Monaco made 72 saves (.960 save percentage) to lead the Blue Devils to a weekend sweep over (RV) UW-Eau Claire, securing the program's first outright WIAC regular season title. Monaco made 35 saves in a 2-1 win on Friday and 37 saves on Saturday, including a late flurry in the final 30 seconds to secure the WIAC title for Stout.

The Blue Devils are off next week and will host the winner of the Stevens Point/Superior play-in game. Puck drop at Fanetti Community Center is set for 7:30 p.m. on February 28.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

The Blue Devils dropped a pair of games last week, falling 80-90 at home to UW-La Crosse and 48-73 at #4 Oshkosh on Saturday.

Julia Rybacki averaged 18 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals for the Blue Devils. Against (RV) La Crosse, she scored a career-high 24 points on 11-16 shooting (68.8%). At #4 Oshkosh, she scored 12 points, pulled down four more rebounds, and had three steals.

Next up, Stout will close out the 2025-26 regular season with a pair of home games. The Blue Devils will welcome UW-River Falls to the Johnson Fieldhouse on Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 7:05 p.m., and close the season with a 3:05 p.m. tip against UW-Platteville on Saturday, Feb. 21. Stout needs to win both to qualify for the WIAC Tournament.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

The Blue Devils fell to No. 19 La Crosse 86-78 last Wednesday and to UW-Oshkosh on a last-second buzzer-beater, 68-67.

AJ Uttech is averaging 18.5 points per game while shooting 40.6 percent from the floor. He also added 5.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.5 steals per game. He scored 15 points against UWL, and then 22 points against Oshkosh with 5 rebounds and 5 assists.

Collin Vick recorded his sixth straight game with 10+ rebounds.

Aiden Shore ranks 14th nationally with 54 blocked shots.

Up next, Stout travels to River Falls, Wis. on Wednesday, February 18 for a 7:05 p.m. tip-off against the Falcons and then closes the regular season at UW-Platteville on Saturday, February 21.

GYMNASTICS

The Blue Devil gymnastics team dropped a dual meet at UW-Whitewater, 188.175-192.925, on Saturday.

Jamie Beatty tied for third on the uneven bars with a 9.650. She then placed fifth on the floor exercise with a 9.675 and scored a 9.400 on the balance beam.

Julia Rhoades won the balance beam with a personal-best 9.750.

The Blue Devils return home on Friday, Feb. 20, to host Gustavus Adolphus College and Simpson College at 6 p.m. in the Johnson Fieldhouse.

BASEBALL

The Blue Devil baseball team opens the 2026 season with three games this weekend in Jacksonville, Illinois. Stout will host Illinois College at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 21, followed by a game with Coe College at 2:30 p.m. The Blue Devils will then play the College of St. Scholastica on Sunday, February 22, at 11 a.m.

TRACK & FIELD

The Blue Devil Track and Field team hosted the Stout Quad on Saturday, turning in a strong showing against regional opponents UW-Eau Claire, St. Olaf, and Bethel University.

Isabelle Jaenicke claimed victory in the triple jump with a leap of 10.80m (35-05.25). 

Leah Zastrow cleared 3.97m (13-00.25) for the win and a meet record, with junior Raegan Sorensen placing second at the same height. Mack Champion took third (3.52m | 11-06.50), followed by freshman Zoe Myers (tied fourth, J3.52m). 

Kendall Jaenicke blazed to victory in the 200m dash (22.47). 

Patrik Dortch won the triple jump (13.85m | 45-05.25). 

Karter Rashke placed second in the shot put (17.58m | 57-08.25).

The Blue Devils will travel to La Crosse, Wis. on Friday, Feb. 20 to compete at the UWL Caged Eagle Invite at 3 p.m. in the Hetzel Fieldhouse.

SOFTBALL

The Blue Devils softball team opened the season splitting a pair of games at the Dundas Dome on Saturday. Stout dropped game one 2-1 against Macalester and defeated host Carleton College 8-3 in nine innings in game two.

Sarah Wilkins pitched 10.2 innings with 0 earned runs in Stout's opening two games of the year. She struck out 17 with just three walks. She pitched 4.2 innings in relief at Carleton, allowing 0 hits and striking out 11, including striking out the side looking in the bottom of the 9th to pick up the win. At the plate, she went 2-7, with an on-base percentage of .333. She had a double, 2 RBI, drew a walk, had a stolen base, and scored a run.

Rayni Bresnahan was 3-5 with 2 RBI and a stolen base (.600 batting average, .667 on-base percentage). She had the game-tying RBI single in the top of the sixth to force extras (8-3 win in 9 innings) over Carleton.

The Blue Devils will travel to St. Cloud, Minn. next Saturday, Feb. 21, for a doubleheader with the College of St. Benedict. First pitch from the Husky Dome is set for 2 p.m.