Mr. Ed
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Joined: 7/14/2007
From: Minne-so-ta
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This is just across the border
The only news better than what Annalese Lamke received to start her Wednesday was the news that ended it.
The Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau High School graduate went to bed Tuesday night with her basketball future stuck in neutral at Northern Illinois University and without a clue of what was going to happen in a matter of hours.
Lamke, a 6-foot-3 center, woke up Wednesday to learn of her release by the Huskies between 7:30 and 8 a.m. and accepted a scholarship offer from the University of Minnesota that was finalized just about 12 hours later.
“I had been waiting almost a month for my release to be processed, and we got the email in the morning,” said Lamke, the Daily News’ player of the year after averaging 19.8 points and 7.8 rebounds for the Red Hawks (22-2). “I heard my mom (Donna) scream, and she made me come and read the email myself.
“It said I had my complete release. I was so excited and so relieved that I could move on.”
Lamke only requested the release after coach Kathi Bennett resigned her post at NIU in April. The Huskies hired Lisa Carlsen to take over on July 1, but Lamke knew she wanted to explore other options. She talked to Carlsen once after she was hired and expressed her desire to leave.
“After Coach Bennett left,” Lamke said, “I wasn’t interested in Northern Illinois.”
That’s where the Gophers and familiar face of assistant coach John Motherwell entered the picture. Motherwell recruited Lamke when he was part of the staff at Detroit Mercy.
“I was kind of paying attention to Minnesota because of Coach Motherwell,” Lamke said. “I saw a lot of his tweets about the incredible season the team had last year.”
A conversation with associate head coach Nikita Lowry Dawkins, the paperwork was flowing, and Lamke was embarking on a new collegiate home, which eased some of the anxiety that had been building over the summer.
“I was starting to get worried about what was going to happen,” said Lamke, who won seven medals — a Division 2 shot put title as a sophomore and discus championship as a senior — as a thrower for the G-E-T track and field team. “My friends were talking about getting class schedules and going to orientations, and I hadn’t done any of that.
“(The process) just kept dragging on.”
Lamke said she’s excited about playing at Minnesota not only for the chance to compete in the Big Ten Conference, but for the chance to compete closer to the people she knows and loves.
Her parents aren’t the only ones who will be closer. Lamke’s brother, Chandler, plays football and attends St. Thomas in St. Paul.
“It’s a win-win-win situation for me,” she said. “I’m going to be a lot closer to everyone and playing for a team that is doing some exciting things.”
The Gophers are coming off a 23-9 season and their first NCAA Tournament berth in six years under coach Marlene Stollings, who took over the program prior to the 2014-2015 season.
“She has the team going in a great direction,” Lamke said of Stollings. “She’s already been great for the program, and I can’t wait to get there.”
Lamke said the coaching staff didn’t bring up playing time or the possibility of redshirting on Wednesday, but lamke was clear on her choice in the matter if she gets one.
“I have no desire to redshirt,” said the second-team Associated Press All-State selection. “It hasn’t been mentioned. I just want to play.”
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Escape while you can!
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