Women's Hockey Signs Three in Early Period
November 19, 2002 | Women's Hockey
Head women's ice hockey coach Mark Johnson announced today that defender Kristen Witting (Beloit, Wis.), and forwards Heidi Kletzien (Manitowoc, Wis.) and Phoebe Monteleone (Pittsburgh, Pa.) signed national letters of intent and will join the Badgers for the fall of 2003.
Defender Kristen Witting is a three-time attendee at USA Hockey age-group women's festivals in Lake Placid, N.Y., recording a goal and two assists at the 2002 USA Hockey Girls 18/19 Festival. Beloit Memorial High School Boys' Team Rookie of the Year for the 2000'01 season, Witting helped Team Wisconsin to the 2002 National High School Championship. A 2001'02 member of the Wisconsin Challengers AAA 19-Under team, the 5-7 Witting is currently skating as one of the captains for the Madison Capitols. Witting has also lettered in golf, softball and volleyball at Beloit Memorial. She helped her 2002 golf team to a ninth-place finish at the state tournament after the team won regional and sectional titles.
'Kristen's a left-handed defenseman,' said Johnson. 'I would categorize her as a very skilled individual. She skates very well, sees the ice real well, and should be a real good addition to the program. In regards to her being from Wisconsin, I've been able to watch her develop and play over the course of many years. I think with her overall skill, she will be a real asset to our program.'
Forward Heidi Kletzien, captain of the Madison Capitols, played at three USA Hockey age-group women's hockey festivals, scoring three goals and an assist at the 2002 USA Hockey Girls 16/17 Festival for the champion white team. Kletzien previously played for the Wisconsin Challengers as co-captain and collected 63 points her junior season. Her Challengers won the 2002 Chicago Showcase. A member of state champion teams as a frosh and sophomore, she recorded 50 and 53 points for those seasons, respectively. Teams she played on won state titles during 2000 and 2001, and won a Hockey Night in Boston title in 2000. The 5-6 Kletzien was also named a most outstanding forward at the Hockey Night in Boston in 2001.
'She's another local Wisconsin gal who I 've seen play the last couple of years,' Johnson commented. 'Again, very skilled and an excellent skater with some capabilities of putting the puck in the net, as our staff saw this summer when she was out at Lake Placid at the development camp. The two Wisconsin girls will be two great additions.'
Pennsylvania native Monteleone, the leading scorer at the Under-19 2002 U.S. Nationals with 13 points, captains the Ohio Flames. Monteleone has led the Flames in scoring the past two years, collecting 80 points with 44 goals in 60 games for the 2001 '02 season. During the 2000'01 campaign, she recorded 52 points with 24 goals in 54 games. While with the Flames, she has been invited to USA Hockey girls festivals the past years. Monteleone has also played for Fox Chapel Area High School, leading the team in scoring the last three seasons. A two-time high school team most valuable player, she captained the team as a junior. The 5-4 Monteleone has competed two years as a member of her high school golf team.
'Phoebe is another skilled forward who skates very well, ' said the former Pittsburgh Penguin Johnson. 'She is a gal with whom we had in for a visit and really liked the atmosphere, liked what we are trying to do here at the University in regards to women's hockey and is a Penguins fan. She will be a real nice addition to our program. She's a forward that will add speed and a scoring touch to our line-up for next year.'
