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Athletes of the Week
Ashley Gabler
Softball
Ashley Gabler (OF, So., Minnetonka, Minn./Benilde-St. Margarets HS) led the Wolves with a .357 batting average in six conference games this week. After struggling in two home games on Wednesday, Gabler bounced back to go 5-for-9 (.556) at the plate for the Wolves in their four-game road trip and racked up a .600 on base percentage. The sophomore drilled her second home run of the season in the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader against 24th ranked Minnesota State, Mankato, breaking up the Mavericks’ shut-out bid in the process.
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James Paul
Baseball
James Paul (Sr., SS, R/R, 5-8, 165, Paynesville, Minn. / Paynesville HS) led the Wolves batters with a .542 average in their 1-5 week this week. He went 13-24 with five RBI, two doubles, and four runs scored with a .625 slugging percentage and a .577 on-base percentage (1.202 OPS). The senior also earned two walks and was a perfect 2-2 on stolen base attempts.
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Wolves Take Second Attendance Title
Northern State leads in both men's and women's attendance
Melissa Wolf, SID
6/18/2008 11:50:07 AM
ABERDEEN, S.D. - For the second time in three years, the Northern State men's basketball team led the nation for attendance. Released last night by the NCAA, the official attendance report has Northern State leading all Division II teams not only in attendance average, but also in total attendance. The Northern women also led the nation in attendance.
"This distinction indicates on a national stage the significant role Northern State plays to the viability and the economy of our region," said NSU President Patrick Schloss. "A rich athletic program is another example of the superior campus life programs and academic offerings available at Northern State."
The Wolves played 18 games at Wachs Arena in 2007-08 and drew in 58,869 fans, an average of 3,270 fans per game. This is the second time in school history that Northern has led the nation in attendance. In 2005-06, the Wolves drew in over 70,000 fans and averaged 3,916 backers per contest. Under the direction of head coach Don Meyer both of these years, the Wolves were NSIC runners-up and appeared in the NCAA North Central Region championship game both seasons. 2007-08 was the second most successful season on record for NSU, as the squad went 29-4 overall, with all four losses going to eventual Division II National Champion and conference foe, Winona State.
Basketball has long been a community affair in Aberdeen. Fans have put Northern State in the top eight ranked teams for attendance in all but one year since joining the NCAA in 1995-96. The Wolves have been ranked in the top five for attendance in each of the past four years, and eight out of 13 years under NCAA affiliation. The largest overall season draw came in 1994-95 with 69,050 fans in attendance (NSU was in an NCAA probationary period). The 2005-06 average of 3,916 is still the single season record to beat.
The Northern Sun Conference ranked third among Division II conferences for attendance with an average of 1,378 fans per NSIC game. Winona State was the next-leading NSIC program, ranking eighth with 2,499 fans. The North Central Conference led the nation in attendance, ushering in 1,946 fans per game. The NCC had three schools in the top ten, including Augustana and St. Cloud State, both of which are joining the NSIC this summer.
“It is a credit to the coaches directing our basketball programs that such talented student-athletes play at Northern State every year,” commented NSU athletic director Bob Olson on Northern State sweeping the attendance leaders on the men’s and women’s sides. “We are grateful for the tremendous support and interest given to our athletes by our community and the surrounding areas.”
2007-08 Division II Men's Basketball Attendance Rankings
| Rk |
School |
G |
Att. |
Avg. |
| 1. |
Northern State |
18 |
58,869 |
3,270 |
| 2. |
Morehouse |
14 |
42,816 |
3,058 |
| 3. |
Elizabeth City St. |
12 |
35,520 |
2,960 |
| 4. |
South Dakota |
16 |
46,165 |
2,885 |
| 5. |
Augustana (SD) |
15 |
40,882 |
2,725 |
| 6. |
Central Missouri St. |
15 |
39,766 |
2,651 |
| 7. |
St. Cloud State |
16 |
41,576 |
2,598 |
| 8. |
Winona State |
23 |
57,490 |
2,499 |
| 9. |
Virginia State |
12 |
29,664 |
2,472 |
| 10. |
Washburn |
13 |
31,107 |
2,392 |
NSU Men's Basketball Attendance Averages
| Year |
Rk |
G |
Att. |
Avg. |
| 2007-08 |
1st |
18 |
58,869 |
3,270 |
| 2006-07 |
4th |
18 |
56,886 |
3,160 |
| 2005-06 |
1st |
18 |
70,499 |
3,916 |
| 2004-05 |
2nd |
16 |
54,529 |
3,408 |
| 2003-04 |
8th |
18 |
49,340 |
2,741 |
| 2002-03 |
5th |
16 |
50,451 |
3,153 |
| 2001-02 |
6th |
16 |
46,242 |
2,890 |
| 2000-01 |
7th |
13 |
32,588 |
2,507 |
| 1999-00 |
3rd |
15 |
50,306 |
3,354 |
| 1998-99 |
6th |
17 |
50,665 |
2,980 |
| 1997-98 |
2nd |
15 |
56,167 |
3,744 |
| 1996-97 |
13th |
16 |
40,900 |
2,455 |
| 1995-96 |
4th |
16 |
55,800 |
3,488 |
| *1994-95 |
4th |
19 |
69,050 |
3,634 |
| *1993-94 |
8th |
16 |
49,500 |
3,094 |
*NCAA probationary period
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