A look back at 2020: January
MEQUON, Wis. – Over the next few weeks, we will be taking a look back at 2020. Through all of the ups and downs, there has been a lot to cheer about in 2020 at CUW. We start our series in January.
The women's hockey team dropped the puck on the new year on Jan. 3 with a series against St. Benedict where the Falcons began a six-game unbeaten streak. CUW captured its first victory of the year with a 5-2 victory at St. Catherine on Jan. 10. The Blue and White looked to capture a sweep against the Wildcats but the game was canceled 17 minutes into the first period due to a fire at the rink in Minnesota. From a stretch from Jan. 10-24, Breanna Thomson broke the program record for the longest shutout streak in program history at 164:25 minutes, including two shutout victories over St. Norbert. After her two-shutout performance, she was named the NCHA Defensive Player of the Week on Jan. 21.
The CUW dance team captured its second CIT title in program history at Concordia Chicago on Jan. 25 with 58.83 points. The Falcons captured the first-ever dance title in 2018.
The foundation was laid for the CUW esports program on Jan. 7, when Lewis Smith was named the first head coach in program history.
The men's basketball team protected the home court in January with a perfect 4-0 record. On Jan. 11, Jordan Johnson scored the final 10 points of the game to reach the 1000-point plateau. The Falcons advanced to the CIT Finals with a 106-74 victory over the host Cougars of Concordia Chicago on Jan. 24.
Coming off a trip to sunny Hawai'i, the CUW women's basketball program opened the 2020 calendar on a seven-game winning streak. After a loss to a nationally-ranked top-five NAIA program, the Falcons bounced back to down Dominican, 71-63, capturing the eighth victory of the month. The Blue and White set a program record with 29 assists in a 97-43 victory over Illinois Tech on Jan. 22.
The first victory of 2020 for CUW came from the men's hockey team. The Falcons secured the sweep on Jan. 3-4 with 3-1 and 9-2 victories against Finlandia. CUW rode a three-game winning streak with a sweep of Lawrence and a victory at MSOE. The Falcons rewrote the record book in January with Nick Guerra breaking the school record with 34 career goals with a goal at Trine. On Jan. 17, Jasen Wise recorded his 200th career victory with a win at Lawrence. Braydon Barker also broke his own record for assists in a single season and Bo Didur broke the record for shutouts.
The ACHA men's hockey team posted a 5-1 record in January and closed the month on a five-game winning streak. The Falcons outscored their opponents their January victories, 35-9.
The track & field programs competed in two meets in January at the GVSU Bill Clinger Classic on Jan. 17 and at the Wisconsin-Whitewater Carl Schlender Invite on Jan. 25. Samual Spranger won the 600-meter dash title at Whitewater at 1:24.93. The CUW women won four events at Whitewater, with Megan Curran winning the shot put and weight throw crowns, Mackenzie Larsen winning the 3000-meter run and Alden Goucher claiming the 400-meter dash title.
After some tough defeats, the men's wrestling team closed the month with a 43-12 victory over Lakeland on Jan. 24. Gabe Rodriguez and Val Kochiu placed fourth at the 133-pound weight class and 141-pound weight class at the Al Hanke Invitational on Jan. 28.
The CUW cheerleading team competed at nationals in Florida on Jan. 17 and closed the month at CIT on Jan. 25.
The men's volleyball team posted a strong start to the year. On Jan. 14, the Falcons were projected to finish in sixth place in the NACC Preseason Poll. The Blue and White were able to start the season off at the Off the Block Grow the Game Challenge with a 3-0 victory over Thiel. CUW opened the home schedule with a 3-0 victory over Millikin to close the month on Jan. 31.
On Jan. 30, the NCAA voted for acrobatics and tumbling to earn emerging sport status.
The MLC and MWLC released their preseason polls on Jan. 28. The Concordia men were projected to finish in second place in the MLC. The CUW women were picked fifth in the MWLC poll.
We will continue our series over the next few days.
