Michelle Wenino

Kansas State

Sep 18 (Thu)

7 p.m.

Position:
Defender
Height:
5-8
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Aurora, Colo.
High School:
Smoky Hill

2006 Big 12 All-Academic first team
2007 first-team All-Big 12
2007 NSCAA second-team All-Central Region
2008 first-team All-Big 12
2008 Big 12 Co-Defensive Player of the Year
2008 Big 12 All-Tournament Team
2008 NSCAA second-team All-Central Region

SENIOR (2008): Wenino was named Big 12 Co-Defensive Player of the Year after leading the Buffs to the NCAA Tournament, the Big 12 Tournament final, and a 14-5-4 record. CU's defense had the second-best goals-against average in school history (0.71) thanks to Wenino's efforts in the back. She started all 23 games and played a team-high 2,114 minutes, scoring two goals and attempting 13 shots. She also played every minute of the team's final 16 games. She scored her first goal in a 4-1 win over Fresno State on Sept. 21. Wenino's second goal led the Buffs to a 1-0 win over Nebraska in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament, scoring in the 49th minute on a header off a cross from Gianna DeSaverio.

JUNIOR (2007): Wenino’s junior campaign proved to be her most prolific season to date as she was the rock of the defense, leading the Buffs in 10 shutouts on the year. Wenino’s lone goal on the season snapped a four-game scoreless and winless streak as the Buffaloes held off Drake for the 1-0 win. She logged a team-high 2,018 minutes on the season, only coming out of the game due to brief injuries. Wenino’s solid performance in the backfield landed her a spot on the All-Big 12 First Team and NSCAA All-Central Region Second Team for the first time in her career.

SOPHOMORE (2006): Got her second season at CU off to a great start, scoring goals in two of CU’s first three games. She posted two against Alabama in the second game of the season and also scored the first goal against Clemson on Sept. 1. Wenino saw action in just 16 games due to an ankle injury suffered against Wyoming that kept her either out of action or in a limited role until the Nov. 8 NCAA contest against Colorado College. She started 13 games, and played 1,113 minutes on the season.

FRESHMAN (2005): Wenino stepped in as a freshman and made an immediate impact on the defense, starting 23 of CU’s 24 games at defender. She had a goal and an assist on the season for three points. She had seven shots on the season, four of which were on goal. Wenino logged 11 complete games on the year, and played over 45 minutes in all but the overtime loss at Oklahoma.

HIGH SCHOOL: Wenino played four seasons at Smoky Hill for coaches Randy Freeman and Betsy Sprafka. The Buffaloes were the 2003 Centennial League Champions. She is a Colorado Girls Soccer Academy teammate of CU classmate Alex Cousins who were members of the 2004 State Cup runners-up team. Wenino was a Tulsa (Okla.) All-Tournament team member in 2004 and received the Fair Play Award in ’00 State Cup play.? She was first-team Centennial league as a senior and second-team as a junior and was named MVP for Smoky Hill as a senior.? A four-sport, and 15-time letterwinner, she received the SHHS Athlete of the Year with Honors award in 2005. Wenino also ran track (200-800m distances) and cross country as a member of the 2002, ’03 and ’04 5A state championship teams that finished second at nationals in 2004 in Portland, Ore.? She was also a point guard on the Buffaloes’ basketball team (for former CU assistant coach Ron Burgin) that won the 2002 Centennial League Championship.? Off the pitch she was second-team all-league in basketball as a junior and senior, and first-team all-city and all-region in cross country her sophomore through senior seasons.

IN THE CLASSROOM:? An academic honor roll student all four years at Smoky Hill, she also received the all-school grade point average award the past eight semesters for carrying a better than 3.75 grade point average.

PERSONAL: Born May 3, 1987 in Aurora, Colo., Michelle Lynn Wenino is the daughter of Pat and Sherri Wenino.? She has two older brothers, Brian (25) and Brad (23).