Lake Forest College Sports Information
February 25th, 2002
Contact: Mike Wajerski, SID

Slaats is MWC Coach of the Year, Klusman and McCants on 1st Team 
Coach wins the award for the third straight year
  

Jackie Slaats was named MWC Coach of the Year for the fourth time in the last five seasons.
LAKE FOREST, IL - The Midwest Conference released its all-conference teams and other post-season awards Monday (February 25th) and Lake Forest College was well represented on the list.

For the second straight year, Katie McCants (Menasha, WI/Menasha) was listed on the league's First Team. The junior forward finished the regular season ranked 10th in the conference in scoring (11.7 ppg), 9th in rebounding (6.2 rpg), 4th in field goal shooting (50.4%), and 3rd in free throw accuracy (85.0%).

McCants also played a major role in the team's third straight MWC Title. In the semifinals, she scored a game-high 22 points, including 6 in overtime, and pulled down 7 rebounds in Lake Forest's 70-64 victory over Lawrence University. In the championship game at Carroll College, McCants recorded game-highs in both points and rebounds with 14 and 15, respectively in the 72-56 triumph.

Joining McCants on the First Team for the first time is senior Jenni Klusman (New Berlin, WI/New Berlin West). The 5'3" guard has always been known for her tenacious defense but added some offensive punch this season. Klusman led the MWC in three-point field goals with 38 in 16 league games and finished ninth in accuracy (34.9%) from beyond the three-point arc.

In 26 games this season, Klusman came within 11 points of matching her scoring output from her first 66 games as a Forester combined. She reached double figures 10 times in 2001-02, including a career-high 25-point performance at Illinois College on February 6th.

Head Coach Jackie Slaats directed Lake Forest to a third straight conference championship and, in turn, garnered her third consecutive Midwest Conference Coach of the Year award. It is the fourth time in her career she has earned the distinction, with the first coming in 1998. 

After graduating three starters, including the team's leading scorer, from last year's team, Slaats and assistant coaches Sally Booy, Charle Fern, and Jacquie Vinje led a number of newcomers on another run at the title. Only six of the 2001-02 Foresters were on the team last season.

For the fourth straight year, Lake Forest defeated each of the other nine teams in the conference at least once over the course of the season. The Foresters were defeated at Lawrence University in their only regular season meeting with the Vikings and at home to Carroll College in their only scheduled game against the Pioneers. In the four-team Midwest Conference Championship Tournament, hosted by Carroll College, Lake Forest knocked off Lawrence in the semifinals and upended Carroll in the title game.
 
FIRST TEAM: SECOND TEAM:
Adrienne Dickerson (JR), Illinois C. Allison Doye (SR), Knox
Michelle Fink (SR), Carroll Melissa Jones (JR), Monmouth
Corey Grosskopf (JR), Carroll Krista Kuhlman (SO), Illinois C.
Karin Kedrowski (JR), Ripon Amanda Perkins (JR), Knox
Jenni Klusman (SR), Lake Forest Felice Porrata (FR), Lawrence
Molly Kneip (JR), Ripon Stacy Ritter (JR), St. Norbert
Sarah Letourneaux (SR), Carroll Melissa Skurzewski (SO), Ripon
Katie McCants (JR), Lake Forest Carrie Yerkey (SR), Monmouth
Beth Pollnow (SR), Lawrence
Susan Schramka (JR), St. Norbert PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Corey Grosskopf, Carroll
Julie Wilke (SR), Beloit COACH OF THE YEAR: Jackie Slaats, Lake Forest