Everyone is back in action this week including a couple of home events in the middle of the week.   
 
Let's take a look at what's happening this week in UW-Parkside Athletics. (Home games in bold)
 
-Wrestling
Last week:  Went 1-2 at Ranger Duals
This week:  Wednesday, Dual vs. Stevens Point, 7:00 p.m.; Friday & Saturday at Wheaton College Invitational; 11:00 a.m./9:00 a.m.

Of note:  The UW-Parkside wrestling team went 1-2 at the 2012 Ranger Duals in the DeSimone Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon. The Rangers opened the event with a 19-13 win over #16 Findlay before dropping a 30-6 decision against 18th-ranked Ashland. UW-Parkside finished the day by falling to Indianapolis in a tight contest 21-19.

In the first match of the day the Rangers trailed 13-6 before winning the last four matches. Luke Rynish started the streak with an 8-6 win over Michaely Lybarger. Rynish and Lybarger are the top two wrestlers at 174 pounds in Division II. Matthew Gille earned a decision and Davien Willis got a major decision to put Parkside up 16-13 with one match to go.

James Malechek came up with the clincher earning a 4-2 overtime win against Andrew Tumlin. The extra time victory finished the match at 19-13.

This week will be a busy one for the team as they host the only home dual of the year Wednesday night against UW-Stevens Point before heading to the Wheaton College Invitational on Friday and Saturday.

On Wednesday night the Rangers will recognize Rynish, the program's only senior, in a Senior Day acknowledgement prior to the match. The program and University will also salute former head coach Jim Koch who led the program for 41 years before retiring this past summer.
 
Many alumni will be back in the DeSimone Gynasium to honor their former coach. We hope to see everyone out for what should be a special night for Ranger wrestling. The first bout is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m.
 
- Men's Basketball (8-9, 1-8 GLVC)
Last week: Defeated by Lewis; Defeated by #9 Northern Kentucky; Defeated by #2 Bellarmine.
This week: Thursday vs. Saint Joseph's, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at Indianapolis, 2:15 p.m.

Of note: The Rangers return home looking to bounce back from a tough week on the road. UW-Parkside dropped a pair of contests against the nation's elite in Northern Kentucky and defending national champion (soon to-be #1 team in the country) Bellarmine.
 
Parkside gave Bellarmine all it could handle in the first half in front of a sellout crowd in Louisville on Saturday before the Knights were able to pull away in the final 18 minutes.
 
This week the Rangers have their sights set on starting a push towards a GLVC Tournament berth with games against Saint Joseph's and Indianapolis. It's a rare split travel week with Thursday's game at home before hitting the road for Indianapolis on Saturday.
 
The Rangers and Pumas will meet Thursday for the 33^rd time ever. Parkside swept the season series last year with a three-point win at home and a one-point victory in the regular season finale in Indiana. Leneal Harris knocked down a go-ahead three pointer on the Rangers final possession to key the road win.
 
Jeremy Saffold averaged 14.5 points a game against the Pumas last year. With both games coming down to the final possession, there is no reason to think Thursday's game will be any different.
 
Harris is currently in a hot streak for the Rangers having scored in double digits in seven straight contests. The senior is averaging 15.7 points per game since the calendar turned to 2012. He is also 15-for-28 from the three-point line (.536) over that stretch.
 
Educators Credit Union will also be sponsoring a 3-on-3 contest at halftime of the men's game on Thursday night with Visa Gift Cards going to the winners. UW-Parkside students can sign up in the athletic department main office until 1:00 p.m. on Thursday to have a chance at competing for the title.
 
Both games will once again be available over the air on NewsTalk 1400 AM and on the web at gatewaysportsweb.org.  Remember that Saturday's game against Indianapolis (in the Eastern Time zone) will start at 2:15 p.m.
 
 
-  #21 Women's Basketball (13-4, 6-3 GLVC)
Last week: Defeated Lewis, 83-63; Defeated Northern Kentucky, 66-60; Defeated by Bellarmine, 79-82.
This week: Thursday vs. Saint Joseph's, 5:30 p.m.; Saturday at Indianapolis, 12:00 p.m.
 
Of note: The Ranger women enter a key stretch as they face the only two opponents they have yet to see from the Eastern Division in Saint Joseph's and Indianapolis.
 
Parkside won four of five games in a tough ten day stretch suffering their only loss at the hands of Bellarmine on Saturday in Louisville. The Rangers scored a pair of road wins last week including the program's first victory at Northern Kentucky since 2004.
 
Jadee Rooney was the catalyst for the Rangers as she averaged 21.3 points per game in leading the team to a 2-1 record last week. The senior from Markesan scored at least 20 points in all three games while averaging four rebounds and shooting 53% from the floor (64% from the three-point line).
 
Both games this week will be important in the standings as five teams are within two games of the top spot in the Eastern Division. Thursday's opponent, Saint Joseph's, is a game behind the Rangers as they come in on a three-game losing streak after recording eight straight wins.
 
Saturday's trip to Indianapolis could be for first place as the Greyhounds enter the week atop the division at 7-2. Parkside is tied for second with Northern Kentucky and Kentucky Wesleyan at 6-3.
 
Again, if you can't make it out to the games they will be broadcast locally on 1400 AM and on the web at gatewaysportsweb.org. Check the schedule for live game coverage of all Ranger events.
 
-Indoor Track & Field
Last week:  Lewis University's Dick Pond Invitational
This week: Friday at Carthage College's Tadd Metzger Invitational
 
Of note: The Rangers had a successful trip to the Dick Pond Invitational at Lewis University last week. On the women's side Roxanne Stratenwerth and Jessica Watychowicz each won an event as the majority of the squad competed for the first time this season.
 
Stratenwerth claimed the 400m dash with a time of 1:02.20. She had a busy day in the sprints finishing eighth in the 200m (27.64) and ninth in the 55m dash (7.78).
 
Watychowicz is now two-for-two in the mile this season as she took the event in a time of 5:08 on Friday. Taylor Miller finished fourth for the Rangers in a time of 5:18.
 
Shalby Reed made her UW-Parkside debut on Friday with a fifth place finish in the 800m run (3:00).
 
Charlotte Smith also had a successful day finishing second in the high jump (1.50m) and seventh in the 400m dash at 1:04.
 
The men dominated the distance events and got some strong performances in the sprints as well. The Rangers had the top six finishers in the 3000 meter run and the top three in the 5000 meter run.
 
Ben Orvold led the group of six to the line in the 3000 meters. His time of 8:45.43 was over 13 seconds ahead of Jesus Escareno who finished second. Ron Hedman, Josh Mulloy, Phil Simac, and Travis Payne rounded out the place finishers.
 
In the 5000 meter run it was Evan Lewandowski finishing first with two Rangers right behind. Lewandowski won the event in 15:11.43. Jordan Theiler was second in 15:20.03 and Cody Kurschiedt finished third at 15:20.54.
 
Parkside also had success in the relays with both the 4x200 and 4x400 teams taking second place. The 4x200 recorded a time of 1:34.40 and the 4x400 crossed in 3:30.78.
 
The Rangers also had success in the sprints with Michael Karkowski winning the 200m dash (23.45 and finishing third in the 55m dash (6.66).
 
Dylan Rivard was also strong finishing second in the 400 in a time of 51.46. Eddie Lockhart was seventh in that event in 55.26.
 
The Rangers finished fourth and fifth in the triple jump led by Zacke Lyons 12.83 leap for fourth. Cedric Ray was fifth with a jump of 12.27.
 
The teams will now head back across town to Carthage for the Tadd Metzger Invitational on Saturday. The program will host the 2nd Annual UW-Parkside Track & Field Classic on January 4.