Female Athlete of the Year: Sara Bauer
A member of the women's hockey team was undoubtedly going to win this one, but the choice was not an easy one to make. Freshman goalie Jessie Vetter made her case in the NCAA tournament, allowing one goal on 96 shots and notching two shutouts, while junior Bobbi-Jo Slusar was the Defensive Player of the Year. But when a player sweeps every individual player-of-the-year award like junior Sara Bauer did, the accolade has to go her way.
The soft-spoken Patty Kazmaier Award winner consistently dominated opposing defenses all season long. Her 57 points (22 goals and 35 assists) ranked fourth in the country, and she chalked up an amazing plus-36 (36 more goals scored by Wisconsin than their opponent while she was on the ice), tops on the team. On a team filled with great scorers, the fact that she scored nearly a point and a half a game becomes even more impressive.
Bauer did not dominate in the postseason, with two points in three games, but her mere presence on the ice kept the other team wary. Perhaps the most underrated aspect of her game showed up in the double-overtime thriller against Mercyhurst in the NCAA Tournament. Bauer won 24 of 34 faceoffs and was called upon in key situations throughout the game.
Once again, this award may be sewn up for next season since Bauer returns for her senior season next year. But she has to be on the lookout for Vetter, who should get most of the starts next season instead of platooning with two other goalies.
Honorable Mention:
Jolene Anderson
If the women's basketball team were a bit better, Anderson would be in serious contention for female athlete of the year. Anderson defines an all-around player, as she ranks in the top 10 in scoring, rebounding, three-point scoring, assists and steals in the Big Ten. She led the Badgers in both scoring and rebounding, a magnificent accomplishment for a guard. With Anderson in the lineup, Wisconsin was a threat to win every night.
—Zach Kukkonen
