V OLUME 5, I SSUE 1
J UNE 2009
GO SKYLIGHTS!
SKYLIGHT NEWSLETTER
P AGE 2
S KYLIGHTS W ELCOME
2009 RECRUITS
Montana State University-Northern
women’s basketball coach Chris Mouat
has announced the signing of six players
to join the Skylights next fall.
Laci Keller
6’1” Post
Big Sandy, MT
Big Sandy High
Keller, a 6’1”
post player from
Big Sandy High
School, is a two-time All-State selection
and All-Conference selection for the
Pioneers. She was also a member of the
All-Tournament team at the 2008 State
Class C Tournament. As a freshman,
she helped lead the Pioneers to a 3rd
place finish at the state tournament, and
she was named the team MVP as a junior on Big Sandy’s runner-up team at
the State C Tournament.
In addition to basketball, Keller has
participated in track and field as well as
volleyball during her career at Big
Sandy. She has been a part of three consecutive Class C State Champion track
and field teams. At the 2008 State C
Track Meet, she finished second in the
discus.
Mouat stated, “Laci has the potential to
be a very good post player in the Frontier Conference. She has good hands
and finishes well. She has also shown
the ability to step out and hit the open
jumper. We are looking forward to her
progress as a senior at Big Sandy High
School, and are thrilled that she’s chosen to be a Skylight.”
Mouat added, “Laci is coming from one
of the premier high school basketball
programs in the state of Montana. She
has a good understanding of the game
and has been well-coached. She has a
huge upside to her game, and her longterm potential is very exciting.”
Keller has been active in student gov-
ernment and was a representative at Montana Girls State in 2008. She is currently
serving at the Secretary of the Big Sandy
High School Student Council. She is the
daughter of Demrece and Harvey Keller.
vanced to the NJCAA National Championship in Salina, Kansas. Bingham was
also an All-Wyoming Conference selection and was a member of the Region IX
All-Tournament team.
Kori Bingham
5’8” Guard
Shoshone, ID
Sheridan College
Kori is the daughter of Bob and Janie
Bingham. She plans on majoring in biology at MSU-Northern.
Bingham is a 5’8”
guard from Shoshone,
Idaho. She played the past two seasons at
Sheridan College.
Katie Kuntz
6’0 Forward
Wenatchee, WA
Wenatchee Valley
Bingham is a 2007 graduate of Shoshone
High School (ID). At Shoshone, she helped
lead her team to the state tournament as a
sophomore, junior, and senior. In 2005,
Shoshone claimed the Idaho State 1A title. In 2006, they placed third, and in
2007, they placed fifth. She was a twotime All-Conference and All-State selection.
According to Mouat, “Kori brings a ton to
the table. She is a true leader and will do
whatever is in her power to see that her
team is successful. She has the capability to
step in and do great things for us immediately.”
Bingham was the starting point guard at
Sheridan College this season, but Mouat
believes that she will be every bit as effective at the wing.
“Kori did an outstanding job of running the
point at Sheridan, and really was a catalyst
for their team. However, I believe that she
will be even better at a wing where she can
come off of screens and get good looks at
the basket. Kori will represent a scoring
threat every time she gets the ball and always seems to play in attack mode.”
This season, Bingham averaged 11 points
and 3 assists per game. She connected on
74 of 188 three-point attempts and shot
74% from the free throw line. The Lady
Generals won the Region IX title and ad-
Go Skylights!!
Kuntz is a 6’0” post
transferring from
Wenatchee Valley
Community College
where she played the past two seasons.
According to Mouat, “Katie possesses the
tools to be a very good player in our
league. She runs the floor extremely
well and is very athletic. We feel like
her upside is huge and that she is only
going to continue to get better and better
as time goes on. She has a lot of passion
for the game and had a great visit here.”
Kuntz was a starting forward as both a
freshman and sophomore at Wenatchee
Valley, averaging 7 points and 5 rebounds per game this season. She is also
a graduate of Wenatchee High School,
where she was a three-sport standout. During her career, she earned 8
varsity letters and was a First Team AllConference selection in basketball.
Katie is the daughter of Pamela and Dean
Peer and Eric Kuntz. She plans on majoring in education at MSU-Northern.
Julie Wichman
5’9” Guard
Moore, MT
Moore High
Wichman, a 5’9’
guard from Moore
-Judith Gap High
School, was a 2009 Class C All-State pick
and a two-time All-Conference selection. She helped lead Moore-Judith Gap
V OLUME 5, I SSUE 1
P AGE 3
2009 S KYLIGHT R ECRUITS C ONT .
to a fourth place finish at the 2009 North- conference, Swaggard was also an allconference selection as both a freshman and
ern C Divisional Tournament. At the
Northern C Divisional, she was named to sophomore.
the All-Tournament team.
Mouat said, “We are really excited about
According to Mouat, “Julie possesses the Casceal. She has a ton of accolades to her
athletic ability to be a very good player in credit at this point in her career, and I feel
our league. She has had an excellent high like she will help make us better immedischool career and really developed into a ately.”
go-to kind of player for her team. Julie
According to Mouat, Swaggard will bring
jumps well and already has some good
good athleticism to the Skylight prooffensive skills. We were impressed with
gram. He said, “Casceal has a great first step
her as a person as well as a player, and
to the basket, and she finishes well inbelieve that her future as a student-athlete
side. She understands how to play against
at MSU-Northern is very bright.”
bigger players in the post and always seems
This season, Wichman averaged 15 points to be in position on the boards at both
and 6 rebounds per game while shooting ends.”
77% from the free throw line. Wichman
This season, Swaggard helped Ohlone to a
is also a two-time All-Conference selec19-12 overall record and a 12-0 mark in
tion in volleyball and a three-time AllCoast Conference play. She averaged 11.8
Conference pick in track and field. She
points and 7.3 rebounds per game and shot
qualified for the State C Track Meet as a
50% from the field this year. As a freshman,
freshman, sophomore, and junior.
she averaged 12 points and 8 rebounds per
game while shooting 56% from the field.
In the classroom, Wichman has excelled. She carries a perfect 4.0 Grade
Mouat added, “Casceal will give us muchPoint Average and is a three-year member
needed depth in the post, and she will proof the National Honor Society. She was a
vide some matchup problems for teams. She
Montana Girls State delegate and is curcan play with her back to the basket and is
rently the President of her Student Counvery good getting to the rim off of the dribcil. She has been an Academic All-State
ble. She has had a very successful two years
Selection for four years in basketball, volat Ohlone College and we are very excited
leyball, and track and field.
about her future as a Skylight.”
Julie is the daughter of Thomas and
Casceal is the daughter of Steven Swaggard.
Kristine Wichman. She plans on majoring
Jessica Montgomery
in biology at MSU-Northern.
6’1” Forward
Oakland, CA
Casceal Swaggard
Foothills College
5’11” Forward
Oakland, CA
Montana State UniversityOhlone College
Northern women’s basSwaggard, a 5’11” post
ketball coach Chris Mouat
player from Ohlone Colhas announced the signing of Jessica Montlege (Fremont, CA), was
gomery to play for the Skylights next
recently named the Most
fall. Montgomery, a 6’1” post player, just
Valuable Player of the Coast Conference
finished her second season at Foothill Colin California.
lege in Los Altos Hills, California.
Swaggard is a 2007 Graduate of Oakland
According to Mouat, “Jessica is a very big
Technical High School in Oakland, Calisign for us. She brings size and athleticism
fornia. She played the past two seasons at
and will go a long way toward helping fill
Ohlone College. In addition to being
some holes in the post.”
named the Most Valuable Player of her
Go Skylights!!
Next Issue– Fall 2009
Montgomery is a 2007 graduate of Burlingame High School where she helped lead her
team to a Division III CCS title her senior
season. She was a four-year varsity player and
a two-time All-League selection.
During her freshman season at Foothill College, Montgomery was a starter on the team
that advanced to the California Community
College Athletic Association championship
game. She was a second team All-Coast Conference pick.
This season, Montgomery was a first team All
-Coast Conference selection and she was a
second team All-State selection in the
CCCAA. She averaged 10 points and 7 rebounds per game and connected on 43 of 123
3-point field goals (35%). She scored a season-high 27 points in a win against San Joaquin Delta College, and connected on five, 3point field goals against Allan Hancock College. During Montgomery’s two seasons at
Foothill, her teams posted a combined record
of 59-9.
Mouat said, “Jessica is unique in the fact that
she can step out from the post position and
shoot the three-point shot very effectively. She also has the ability to play with
her back to the basket and is good in the high
post.” He added, “Jessica is coming from a
highly successful program at Foothill. She has
been well-coached and had a ton of individual
success. We’re expecting great things from
her in a Skylight uniform.”
Montgomery is the daughter of Gene and
Colleen Montgomery. She plans on majoring
in elementary education at MSU-Northern.
SKYLIGHT NEWSLETTER
P AGE 4
CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES!!
Congratulations to 2009 MSU-Northern graduates Jennie Lee, Dana Ball, Becky Sorenson and Jordan
Kambich. You have all made a huge impact on the program and university and will be dearly missed!
Good luck in all that you do!
Dana Ball
Business/Liberal Studies
Jennie Lee
Education
Becky Sorenson
Health Promotion
Jordan Kambich
Biology
S KYLIGHT B ASKETBALL C AMPS
The Skylight basketball program hosted
their annual basketball camp for girls entering grades 7-12 June 15-18. Campers
were instructed on fundamentals and participated in a number of competitions
throughout the week. Instruction was
provided by MSU-Northern coaches and
former and current Skylights.
5 on 5 Champions:
Grizzlies (Grades 7-8)-Coach Bruursema
Wolfpack (Grades 9-12)-Coach Keller
2009 Skylight Camp
S KYLIGHT E VENTS
2009 Demo Derby
Laramie-Taylor at Demo Derby
Cashiers Jordan & Ariana
Garage Sale
2009 Skylights-Light Garage Sale
Go Skylights!!
Jordan-Jessica at Demo Derby
Follow the Skylights online at www.msun.edu/athletics/womensbb
SKYLIGHT NEWSLETTER
P AGE 5
S KYLIGHTS E ARN F RONTIER C ONFERENCE A CCOLADES
The Frontier Conference recently announced its 2009 All
-Conference and Academic
All-Conference awards.
Taylor Keller
Kaylee Shaw
Stacie Barker-First Team
All Conference (repeat selection) and Defensive Player of
the Year in the Frontier Conference (repeat selection)
Samm Schermele-First
Team All-Conference
Stacie Barker
Samm Schermele
Taylor Keller-Second Team
All-Conference
Kaylee Shaw-Second Team
All-Conference
The Skylights also had a number of players make the Frontier Conference’s Academic
All-Conference team. To
qualify, players must maintain
a minimum of a 3.0 grade
point average, be at least a
sophomore, and appear in at
least half of their team’s
games. Skylights earning
Academic All-Conference
honors are:
Jordan Kambich-Jr.
Jennie Lee-Sr.
Stacie Barker-Sr.
Samm Schermele-So.
B ARKER N AMED A LL A MERICAN
Stacie Barker
Skylight senior Stacie Barker
was named to a pair of AllAmerican teams at the conclusion of the 2009 season.
She was a First Team
Women’s Basketball Coaches
Association pick and a Third
Team NAIA All-American
selection.
during her time in a Skylight
uniform including:
Barker, a 6’3” senior from
Taylorsville, Utah, set numerous individual records
In addition, Stacie garnered
three of the five triple-double
efforts of the entire season at
*Career blocked shots-294
*Blocks in a game-11
*Blocks in a season-147
the NAIA Division I level.
She was an NAIA National
Player of the Week, and
earned Frontier Conference
Player of the Week honors
three times.
*Rebound average-12.2
*Season Rebounds-366
L EE , S HAW A RE A CADEMIC A LL -A MERICANS
Jennie Lee and Kaylee Shaw were named to the 2009 Daktronics All-America Scholar-Athlete
team. To qualify, players must be nominated by their head coach, maintain at least a 3.5 grade
point average, and be at least a junior in class standing. Over the past four seasons, a total of 7
Skylights have earned Academic All-American status.
Kaylee Shaw and Jennie Lee earn academic honors.
B ALL , S HAW
Dana Ball and Kaylee Shaw award Student Excellence
Award.
EARN STUDENT EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Congratulations to Dana Ball and Kaylee Shaw, two of MSU-Northern’s eleven recipients of
Student Excellence Awards for the 2008-2009 academic year. To be considered for the award,
students must maintain at least a 2.75 grade point average, be active in the campus community,
and be nominated by an instructor or member of the MSU-Northern faculty/staff. Kaylee
Shaw will graduate in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education, while Dana Ball
graduated in 2009 with degrees in Liberal Studies and Business Administration. Kaylee will be a
student assistant coach with the Skylights while she completes her degree, while Dana will be
attending Law School at Southern Methodist University.
V OLUME 5, I SSUE 1
P AGE 6
B ARKER N AMED MSUN F EMALE AOY
Skylight senior Stacie Barker was named MSU-Northern’s female
Athlete of the Year for the second straight year. Barker, a Taylorsville, Utah native, averaged 13 points and 12.3 rebounds per game.
She led the nation in blocked shots for the second straight season,
and was ranked in a number of statistical categories nationally. She
was a First Team WBCA All-American and a Third Team NAIA All
-American selection.
The announcement was made at the Northern Lights Athletic
Scholarship Foundation’s Spring Fling Auction. The Athlete of the
Year award for both men and women was started at the conclusion
of the 2008 season. The male Athlete of the Year award went to
MSU-N men’s basketball standout Travis Noble.
Stacie Barker at Northern’s Spring Fling
L EE A NN E LLIOT M EMORIAL
The Skylight basketball program has announced the creation of the
Lee Ann (Knobloch) Elliot Scholarship. The scholarship, whose
first recipient will be announced during the 2009-2010 season, is in
the name of former Skylight Lee Ann (Knobloch) Elliot, affectionately known by her teammates and coaches as “Cookie”. Elliot
played during the 1993-1995 seasons. She lost a battle with cancer
in May 2008. The majority of the funding for the scholarship will
come from money generated through the Skylight 3-Point Club and
other Skylight fundraising efforts. However, many people
(including former teammates and coaches) have asked about how to
make a donation to the scholarship. To contribute to the scholarship fund, make checks payable to Skylight basketball and mail to
P.O. Box 7751 Havre, MT 59501.
2009 A LUMNI
2006-07 Alumni Game
Cookie last attendance at alumni game.
GAME SET
Please contact us if you are planning on playing in the 2009
Alumni game. The Alumni Game will take place on SATURDAY, October 17th. We are in the initial stages of putting
rosters together and need to hear from you! Please contact
Anna Bateman at [email protected] as soon as possible. We are expecting a great turnout of former Skylights
this year, and hope that you can make it!
SKYLIGHTS VS. ALUMNI: October 17, 2009 at 6:00 p.m.
P LEASE H ELP !
The Skylight basketball program is actively looking for people willing to donate airline miles to the program to assist in obtaining airline tickets for recruiting and/or team travel. If you have miles
that you would like to donate, please call Chris Mouat (265-3584)
or Anna Bateman (265-3779).
2008 Alumni Game
SKYLIGHT NEWSLETTER
P AGE 7
T HANKS
TO OUR
“SIXTH MAN”
The Skylight Basketball would like to thank all Skylight students, fans, and boosters for their
overwhelming support this past season. You truly are a “Sixth Man” and make a huge impact on
the game. You make the Armory a very special home court for us!
V OLUME 5, I SSUE 1
P AGE 8
SUMMER CAMP PHOTOS
2009 Skylight Boulder Camp
Grades (6-12)
2009 Skylight Boulder Camp
Grades (K-5)