By Michael S. Hoey
Correspondent
Badger High School graduate Lana Wieseman added another record to her collection Jan. 16.
The Beloit College senior basketball player already held the single game and single season scoring records with 37 points in a game and 468 points in a season. On Jan. 16 she became the school’s all-time leading scorer surpassing the previous record of 1,462 points. Wieseman has 1,501 points.
“Lana is a gifted athlete and one of the best, if not the best, to have played at Beloit,” head coach Jennifer McCormick said.
McCormick said the career scoring mark did not come easily.
“It has been through her hard work and drive to improve that allowed her to reach that goal,” McCormick said. “Anyone who sees her play knows that the scoring is just one of the things she brings to our team.”
Wieseman, a 6-foot-1-inch senior forward, set the mark on a three-pointer with 4:35 left in the second quarter of a 62-58 road loss to Illinois College. She finished the game 14 of 29 from the field with 32 points and 17 rebounds. It was her sixth 30-point performance as a Buccaneer, and her 17 rebounds were the fifth-highest total in school history for a single game. Wieseman also made four three-pointers, an area of her game that McCormick said she has improved on since coming to Beloit College.
As a result of her record-setting performance, Wieseman was named Midwest Conference Player of the Week. Wieseman passed six Bucs greats this season on the scoring list before claiming the record against Illinois College.
Wieseman said she knew before the game she was close to setting the record and knew she had set it in the second quarter by the reaction of her teammates and fans when her three-pointer was good.
“It was a moment I will always remember,” she said.
Wieseman said the moments, not the records, are the most meaningful.
“What I value the most are the memories associated with the records,” she said.
Wieseman has had plenty of memorable moments in her high school and college careers. At Badger High School, Wieseman earned All-Southern Lakes Conference recognition twice and was the SLC most valuable player her senior season as she led the Badgers to their first conference championship in 14 years. She was also an All-SLC performer in golf.
At Beloit College, Wieseman earned All-Midwest Conference Second Team recognition as a sophomore and was a First Teamer last season. She has also been an All-Academic selection three years in a row. Wieseman is averaging more than 21 points and more than 7.5 rebounds a game, leads the Midwest Conference in three-point accuracy and is second in the conference in overall shooting percentage.
“Lana is one of the most hard-working and competitive players I have ever coached,” McCormick said. “She demands excellence and has a strong drive to improve and win.”
McCormick said Wieseman is a well-rounded player on both ends of the floor. She is good offensively inside and out, making her very difficult to guard. She is also very athletic, can defend multiple positions and is a strong rebounder.
“Lana is a great person and really wants others to succeed,” McCormick said.
Wieseman, McCormick said, is a good leader who has served as a team captain for two years and is intelligent, thoughtful, caring, funny and witty, which isn’t a side of her everyone gets to see.
“Lana has improved our program in so many ways,” McCormick said. “Because of the type of player she is, she makes her teammates better every day in practice.
“Lana does not accept mediocrity, and she has helped create and establish our program’s culture by her toughness, drive and hard work,” she said. “Her individual accomplishments have also brought positive attention to our program.”
Wieseman was part of McCormick’s first recruiting class at Beloit College. McCormick said she first heard about Wieseman from Beloit College’s men’s basketball coach Brain Vraney, who was coaching Wieseman’s older brother Laramie at the time. McCormick then attended several of Wieseman’s high school games and found her to be a wonderful person and a tremendous basketball player.
Wieseman said she chose Beloit College for the opportunities it would provide like nowhere else.
“I had the opportunity to get a great education, continue playing basketball, stay close to home where my family could continue to watch me play, as well as attend the same college as my brother,” Wieseman said.
Wieseman said she has strived to improve her game in every area at Beloit College and has learned invaluable lessons on and off the court in her time there. She said the biggest differences between high school and college basketball have been the pace of the game and the heightened level of competition.
“There are many people who have encouraged, inspired and supported me throughout my basketball career,” Wieseman said.
“From the time I was young, my parents, siblings and coaches from all levels have believed in me and did everything they could to help me improve,” she said. “Most importantly, my teammates are why I love the sport and a huge reason why I have had success.”
McCormick said Wieseman’s improvement in almost every statistical and non-statistical category every season is most impressive.
“I’ve seen many talented players come in their freshmen year and not get much better throughout their careers,” she said. “Knowing that she would be targeted by all of our opponents, she has found a way to expand and improve her game every year. To me, that’s the sign of a true player.”
Wieseman is majoring in health and safety and plans to get a master’s degree in nursing. She said she believes the liberal arts education she has received at Beloit College and the life lessons she has learned through competing in basketball have prepared her well for her future in graduate school.
“She is an excellent student and has done a tremendous job in the classroom during her time at Beloit,” McCormick said.
“I have no doubt she will succeed in graduate school and in her career as a nurse,” she said. “Personally I hope she also continues to pursue opportunities in the game of basketball as well.”
