MADISON, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – UW-Eau Claire women's hockey player Nikki Kothenbeutel (Sr.-Sauk Rapids, Minn./Sauk Rapids-Rice) and wrestler Ryan Seidler (Sr.-Adams, Wis./Adams-Friendship) have been named Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Athletes of the Week, WIAC Assistant Commissioner for Media Relations Matt Stanek announced today.

Helping the Blugolds to two wins over St. Olaf College (Minn.), Kothenbeutel finished the weekend with two goals.  In a 5-2 win over the Oles on Jan. 3, Kothenbeutel scored an empty-net goal at 18:11 to give the Blugolds a three-goal lead.  In a 5-1 victory at St. Olaf on Jan. 4, she scored the Blugolds' fourth goal at 16:03 in the third period.  She completed the weekend with five shots and now has a total of four goals, tied for the most on the team.

Competing in three matches at the Lakeland College (Wis.) Duals on Jan. 4, Seidler went 3-0 at 149 pounds.  He started the day with a 10-6 win against Lakeland College, then won 16-0 over Milwaukee School of Engineering before ending the day with a 14-5 win against Wheaton College (Ill.).  Seidler is now 11-2 on the season and has won six straight matches.

-KM-