05/20/2009
GREAT FALLS, Mont., May 20, 2009 — University of Great Falls athletic director Jim Hall has announced the hiring of Ginger Casagrande as the next Cheer and Dance coach for the Argonauts. Casagrande is originally from Great Falls. She attended high school at Cibola High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, but has lived in Great Falls for the last nine years since graduating from Montana State University with a degree in sports medicine in 1999. Casagrande has been coaching the Charles M. Russell High School dance team for the past eight years.
“Obviously we are thrilled to find someone of Ginger’s caliber right here in our own back yard,” commented athletic director Jim Hall.”We had a pool of outstanding applicants from all around the country. After her interview, it was clear to everyone that Ginger was that right person to lead our expanding spirit programs.”
During her time with the Rustlers, her teams have become widely recognized in Montana for their performances. Four consecutive years her teams captured 1st place in their classification at the Bobcat Open dance team competition from 2002-2005. In 2005, her squad also won the overall crown at the same event. Additionally, the Rustlers also qualified for the United Dance Association and National Dance Association national championships on six different occasions while being ranked nationally.
Casagrande and her dancers have also won multiple individual honors as well. During each year of her tenure at CMR, her seniors have qualified for All-American status and earned spots on all-star performance squads. Casagrande has also won awards for her innovative choreography. She has been a two time judge for the Big Sky State Games Dance Sport and is currently scheduled to speak at the Montana High School Association’s Annual Conference this summer.
“Ginger brings a tremendous energy and a ton of great ideas for energizing the atmosphere at our home athletic events,” noted Hall. “She’ll also do a great job of not only building our teams and leading them to competitive success, but making sure that her athletes excel in the classroom as well.”
“I am so excited to take the next step in my professional career,” noted Casagrande. “The University of Great Falls is a prestigious university and I am thrilled to be a part of helping build the future of the athletic program. I was extremely impressed on my interview with all of the renovations to the campus facilities, the growth within the athletic department and all of the people I met. I can really sense that there is a huge positive momentum there that I want to be a part of.”
Casagrande who will officially begin her duties on June 1st has already begun to make the transition. “I have a lot of work to do to get ready for the fall,” stated Casagrande. “I want our spirit programs to be outstanding. UGF is a great place. Hopefully, my teams can help make it even better.”
04/28/2009
BILLINGS, MT– April 28, 2009 – The Frontier Conference has announced the Frontier Academic All-Conference Men’s and Women’s Basketball selections for the 2008-2009 season. The University of Great Falls men were represented with seven selections while the Argo women had two members on the team. The selections were announced by Frontier Conference Commissioner Mike Walker.
The student-athletes need to be at least a sophomore in standing, maintain a 3.0 GPA and had to participate in at least half of their team's games in order to be considered for the award.
Representing the Argo men's basketball with Academic All-Conference honors are seniors Keithan Gregg (Cut Bank, MT/Elementary Education) and Brian Harrison (Richland, WA/Business Administration), juniors Trevor Fehr (Corvallis, MT/Biology), Marko Lakic (Novi Sad, Serbia/Business Administration), Matt Niemeyer (Great Falls, MT/Biology) and Aaron Skogen (Ronan, MT/Math Education) as well as sophomore Tom Donnelly (Helena, MT/Business Administration).
“We are extremely proud of these seven individuals, who have dedicated their time in the classroom over the course of the last year,” said UGF men’s basketball coach Steve Silsby. “For these seven student-athletes to compete at a high level on the court while excelling in the classroom is truly a testament to their character as upstanding young men, and ones we are proud to have represent the University of Great Falls and our men’s basketball program. They have certainly grasped the University’s motto of ‘preparing for living and making a living’.”
Meanwhile, honored from the Argo women's hoop team were juniors Keyla Briese (Chester, MT/Biology) and Kassie Holmund (Great Falls, MT/Business). “I am very happy for Kassie and Keyla. They exemplify what college athletics are truly about, “said UGF women’s basketball coach Shawn Chaffin. “Our student-athletes spend a lot of time on their course work, athletics and community service, and do a magnificent job of balances all of those areas.”
Click here to view all of the Academic All-Conference selections.
03/10/2009
BILLINGS, MT – March 10, 2009 – The Frontier Conference has announced their 2008-2009 Frontier All-Conference Men’s and Women’s Basketball selections and all-conference awards. The University of Great Falls were represented with one selection each on the men’s and women’s teams. The Frontier Conference selections were made by the head coaches from each team and were announced by Frontier Conference Commissioner Mike Walker.
Senior Rayshaun Ames, the 6'5" forward from Little Rock, Arkansas, was named to the Frontier Conference First Team All-Conference Men's Team. He led the Argo men’s team in scoring this season by averaging 20.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Jocelyn Moore, a senior from Graham, Washington was selected to the Second Team All-Conference Team on the women's side. She led the University of Great Falls women’s team in both scoring (11.1 points per game) and rebounding (7.1 rebounds per game).
Here is the full list of this year’s All-Conference Selections and individual all-conference awards.
Frontier Conference Men’s Selections
Frontier Men’s: First Team All-Conference
Rayshaun Ames, Senior, University of Great Falls
JaRon Brown, Junior, Montana Western
Andy Garland, Freshman, Carroll College
Chris Johnson, Senior, MSU-Northern
Chad Myers, Senior, Montana Western
Travis Noble, Senior, MSU-Northern
Geoff Payne, Senior, Westminster College
Chase Sukut, Senior, Rocky Mountain College
Devin Uskoski, Senior, Rocky Mountain College
Chad Vaculin, Senior Carroll College
Frontier Men’s: Second Team All-Conference
Curtis Allen, Senior, Lewis-Clark State
Weston Anderson, Junior, Westminster College
Brian Duckworth, Senior, Lewis-Clark State
Josh Monagle, Junior, Montana Tech
Nate Richardson, Junior, Rocky Mountain College
Nate Sanchez, Senior, Westminster College
Danny Stosich, Senior, Westminster College
Frontier Men’s: Most Valuable Player
Geoff Payne, Senior, Westminster College
Frontier Men’s: Defensive Player of the Year
Chris Kaschmitter, Carroll College
Frontier Men’s: Freshman of the Year
Andy Garland, Carroll College
Frontier Men’s: Newcomer of the Year
Geoff Payne, Senior, Westminster College
Frontier Men’s: Coach of the Year
Tommy Connor, Westminster College
Frontier Conference Women’s Selections
Frontier Women’s: First Team All-Conference
Stacie Barker, Senior, MSU-Northern
Elly Bruursema, Junior, Carroll College
Jessie DePell, Junior, Montana Tech
Shannon Evans, Senior, Westminster College
Elisa Leader, Senior, Westminster College
Liz Lewis, Senior, Rocky Mountain College
Janie Rayback, Senior, Rocky Mountain College
Samm Schermele, Sophomore, MSU-Northern
Sadie Short, Senior, Lewis-Clark State
Jasmine Stohr, Freshman, Lewis-Clark State
Frontier Women’s: Second Team All-Conference
Alysha Green, Freshman, Carroll College
Taylor Keller, Sophomore, MSU-Northern
Jocelyn Moore, Senior, University of Great Falls
Chloe Mosey, Sophomore, Montana Western
Kaylee Shaw, Senior, MSU-Northern
Jenessa Todd, Junior, Montana Tech
Alexis Tucker, Senior, Westminster College
Frontier Women’s: Most Valuable Player
Shannon Evans, Senior, Westminster College
Frontier Women’s: Defensive Player of the Year
Stacie Barker, Senior, MSU-Northern
Frontier Women’s: Freshman of the Year
Jasmine Stohr, Lewis-Clark State
Frontier Women’s: Newcomer of the Year
Janie Rayback, Senior, Rocky Mountain College
Frontier Women’s: Coach of the Year
J.D. Gustin, Westminster College
3/01/2009
BILLINGS, MT — Sunday, March 1, 2009 — The Frontier Conference regular season concluded on Saturday night (February 28th) for all sixteen Frontier Conference teams. This year their will be a format change to the post-season for both the men’s and women’s teams as the highest seeded teams will get to host throughout the playoffs based on their finish in the regular season in the conference.
The eighth-seeded University of Great Falls women's basketball team will head to Salt Lake City, UT to take on top-seeded Westminster College on Wednesday, March 4th. Meanwhile, the seventh-seeded University of Great Falls men's team will be in action on Thursday, March 5th as they face #2 Rocky Mountain College in Billings, MT. Both games tip-off at 7:00 PM.
The complete first-round schedule is below.
What: 2009 Frontier Conference Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament Schedule (Single Elimination)
When: March 4, 6, 9th (Women) / March, 5, 7, 10th (Men)
All games begin at 7:00 PM.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009 (Women's First Round Pairings)
#8 University of Great Falls Lady Argos (1-13, 7-22) @ #1 Westminster College Lady Griffins (14-0, 24-5)
#7 Montana Western Bulldogs (4-10, 8-20) @ #2 MSU-Northern Skylights (10-4, 18-11)
#6 Montana Tech Lady Orediggers (4-10, 7-17) @ #3 Lewis-Clark State Lady Warriors (10-4, 20-7)
#5 Carroll College Lady Saints (4-10, 15-15) @ #4 Rocky Mountain College Lady Bears (9-5, 15-14)
Thursday, March 5, 2009 (Men's First Round Pairings)
#8 Montana Tech Orediggers (1-13, 7-22) @ #1 Westminster College Griffins (11-3, 25-4)
#7 University of Great Falls Argos (2-12, 8-22) @ #2 Rocky Mountain College Bears (10-4, 21-8)
#6 Lewis-Clark State Warriors (5-9, 11-13) @ #3 MSU-Northern Lights (10-4, 21-8)
#5 Montana Western Bulldogs (8-6, 15-13) @ #4 Carroll College Saints (9-5, 19-6)
University of Great Falls athletic director, Jim Hall, has announced that the athletic department will add a dance team as well as expand the cross country program to include full track and field for the fall 2009 seasons. The additions mark the continuation of recent sport additions to the Argo athletic department.
The dance program will be lead by head cheerleading coach Becky Acra and will perform at Argo athletic events and other university functions. Additional outside opportunities will allow the dance team to compete against other schools from around the region. The team will practice and compete at the university's McLaughlin Center. Scholarships for the dance program are available.
The track and field program will be an expansion of the existing cross country program that will move the team to a full fledged track and field program. Currently, the spring track portion of the program's season involves the distance events. The expansion will open up the opportunity for student athletes to compete in the sprints, jumps, and throwing events as well. The team plans to compete in several spring meets each year, including NCAA division I events. All athletes will have the opportunity to qualify for the NAIA national meet by reaching national qualifying standards throughout the year. Athletic scholarships for track and field will be offered.
"The addition of these two new programs will strengthen our department and provide many more opportunities for athletes from Montana and the Pacific Northwest to compete in these programs," noted athletic director Jim Hall. "We will have the only NAIA track and field program in Montana. That is important as we continue to value giving local athletes the chance to continue their career close to home. The dance program will help round out our sport offerings and improve the atmosphere at our home sporting events."
Recruiting for both programs has already begun. Interested student athletes should contact each program's coach as soon as possible to discuss interest and scholarship opportunities. Dance - Becky Acra 406-781-4590 or email to bacra01@ugf.edu / Track and Field - Jim Brewer 360-303-1939 or email to jbrewer02@ugf.edu