1999/2000 News Last Updated: May 16, 2000

Four North players to continue careers

By Steve Beaudry Leader-Telegram staff

Nicki Robinson

One of Nicki Robinson’s biggest challenges early in her athletic life was keeping her abundance of long brown hair from framing her face during games.

Not because the hair got in her way. Robinson simply wanted to keep a low profile.

"She didn’t want opposing teams to know she was a girl," Brent Robinson said, recalling his daughter’s four-year stint as a Little League baseball player. "She always tried stuffing it in her cap so she wouldn’t make a spectacle of herself. She just wanted to blend in."

Through the years Robinson’s athletic abilities have ensured she never has blended in. She’s blossomed into an All-Big Rivers Conference performer in three sports at Eau Claire North, and last week she made a commitment to continue playing two of those sports in college.

Robinson gained an NAIA Division II scholarship in softball and volleyball from Viterbo College in La Crosse. Her 4.0 grade-point average also earned her an academic scholarship from the school.

Three of Robinson’s senior softball teammates -- catcher Melissa Blaskowski, center fielder Scooter Aspen and pitcher Leah Schlegelmilch -- also recently committed to continue their softball pursuits in college. Blaskowski and Aspen accepted NCAA Division II scholarships from Minnesota State-Mankato, and Schlegelmilch announced her intention to play NCAA Division III softball at UW-Eau Claire.

Scooter Aspen

"I can’t imagine any high school softball team anywhere having a better up-the-middle combination than we have right now," said North coach Dean Olson, whose 14-1 team has clinched at least a share of its second straight Big Rivers title this season. "I’m talking on and off the field -- athletically, socially and academically."

The other senior member of the Huskies’ up-the-middle quintet, second baseman/pitcher Emilee Planert, signed a national letter of intent in November to play NCAA Division I basketball at Kent State (Ohio) University.

"There’s no doubt she could play softball at the next level too," Olson said of Planert, whose .420 batting average this season is second on the team to Blaskowski’s .426.

Emilee Planert

Aspen and Robinson are batting .412 and .354, respectively, this season. Aspen leads the Huskies in runs with 16, and Robinson, a shortstop, has a team-high three home runs and 17 RBIs.

Brent Robinson said he received several inquiries from NCAA Division I colleges regarding his daughter’s interest in continuing her athletic pursuits.

"Nicki crossed the Division I’s off her list early on because they wanted her to concentrate on one sport," Brent Robinson said. "She wanted to play at least two, and she wanted to go to a smaller school with a low student-to-teacher ratio and excellent academic programs."

At Viterbo, Nicki Robinson will be playing softball for Coach Chris Helixon, a 1986 graduate of Menomonie High School who played baseball at West Point. Helixon’s father, Patrick, coached the Menomonie softball team to a 180-37 record in 1979-89.

"I might try out for basketball too," said Robinson, an All-Northwest second-team point guard this past season, "but that might be too big of a load. I’m not sure. I’ll probably wait a year and see how it goes school-wise."

Schlegelmilch said she’d planned to attend UW-Eau Claire for quite some time but until recently hadn’t planned to play softball.

"That would’ve been a shame if she quit playing," Olson said of Schlegelmilch, who has an 8-0 record this season. In 54 innings she’s permitted 11 hits and one run with 64 strikeouts and 24 walks. She’s won 27 straight decisions since her sophomore year.

Beaudry can be reached evenings at 833-9212 or (800) 236-7077 or at steve.beaudry@ecpc.com.