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Warriors Add Four For 2008-09 Season

Story by: Winona State Sports Information Office


WINONA, MN -- Winona State University head men’s basketball coach Mike Leaf has announced that three players have signed national letters of intent and that one player is transferring in for the 2008-09 season.
Signing for the Warriors was, forward/center, Joel Armstrong (6-7) of Lakeland Shores, MN and Stillwater Area High School, guard, Dan Kratz (6-4) of Waukesha, WI and South High School and, guard/forward, Jordan Fischer (6-4) of Wausau, WI and East High School.

The lone transfer is 6-foot, 9-inch forward Clayton Vette of Waverly, IA and Waverly-Shell Rock High School. Vette is transferring after a season at Iowa State University.

Leaf said the Warriors lost key players who led WSU to its successes the past four year. He feels the group will fill voids and he likes what he has coming in.

Kratz was rated as one of the top 50 players in Wisconsin and went on to average 12.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.
Fischer is the younger brother of the Warriors’ Ben Fischer, who helped play a key role in the Warriors’ run for another national championship. Jordan Fischer led his team in scoring in his final prep season.

Armstrong is the all-time leading scorer and rebounder for the Stillwater Ponies. Armstrong finished with a SAHS all-time high 1,166 points and averaged 18.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists in his final prep season.

Vette played in five games with the Iowa State Cyclones. While at Waverly-Shell Rock Vette led the team to a 2007 Class 3A state championship with averages of 19.1 points and 11.9 rebounds and was named Iowa’s Mr. Basketball.

Winona State is a member of NCAA Division II and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

In the 2007-08 season the Warriors won their second NCAA Division II national championship and appeared in their third national championship game in the last three years. WSU went 38-1 during the season and captured a third straight NCAA Division II North Central Region championship along with a third straight NSIC regular-season and tournament championship.

Here is a capsule look at the signees:
Joel Armstrong, Fr, 6-7, Forward/Center, Lakeland Shores, MN (Stillwater)
High school: MBCA Academic All-State, Two-Time All-State, St. Paul Pioneer Press All-State, Minnesota Breakdown All-State, Minneapolis Star and Tribune All-Metro, MBCA All-Star participant, Mr. Basketball Top 20 finalist, Two-Time All-Conference, All-Time leading scorer with 1,166 pts, Averaged 18.5 pts. 9.0 rep and 1.4 apg in 07-08 season, Team Captain.
Dan Kratz, Fr, 6-4, Guard, Waukesha, WI (South)
High school: Named Top 50 seniors by Wishoops, Two-Time All-Conference, Averaged 12.7 pts and 4.3 rpg in 07-08 season.
Jordan Fischer, Fr, 6-4, Guard/Forward, Wausau, WI (East)
High school: Led team in scoring and three-point field goal shooting percentage for 07-08 season.
TRANSFER
Clayton Vette, So, 6-9, Forward, Waverly, IA (Waverly-Shell Rock)
Transfer: Iowa State. 5 games, FG% 1.000 (3-3), FT% .250 (1-4), 1.6 rpg, 1.4 ppg.
High school: Member 2007 state championship team, Two-Time All-State INA and Des Moines Register, 2007 Iowa’s Mr. Basketball, Class 3A State Tournament MVP, Averaged 19.1 pts and 11.9 reb in 06-07 season, Team Captain.

Last Modified: Thursday, May 29, 2008 12:48 by Michael Herzberg