Theisen siblings enjoy great fall for Tommies

December 2, 2005
Editor's Note: Junior football/track and field star P.J. Theisen and freshman cross country/track athlete Katie Theisen achieved a rare brother-sister feat in fall 2005 as they each made first-team All-MIAC in different sports.

Here's a feature story on the duo:


P.J. Theisen


Katie Theisen

By GENE McGIVERN
St. Thomas Sports Infotmation

He's called a "difference maker." He's an excellent student and team player who makes a huge contribution to two St. Thomas men's varsity sports. What could be better?

How about a sister making a similar impact on two Tommie women's sports.

Meet P.J. and Katie Theisen, New Prague High School graduates who bring smiles to the faces of several St. Thomas football, cross country and track and field coaches.

P.J., a junior, is one of the MIAC's best all-around athletes. On Dec.1 he was announced as a CoSIDA Academic All-American -- one of 26 Division III student-athletes honored out of approximately 15,000 eligible players.

A track and field relay All-American who also stars in the hurdles and long jump, the 6-2, 180-pound receiver has started all three years in football. He added kick return duties in 2005 and led the MIAC in all-purpose yards.

Theisen, who has a 3.89 gpa in Accounting, led the conference with 63 catches for 998 yards, including five consecutive 100-plus yard receiving games. In Division III national stats, he finished 12th in receiving yards per game and 13th in all-purpose yards. He tied a 19-year-old school record Nov. 12 at Hamline with four touchdown receptions -- all in the first half -- to lead a 35-13 victory. His four TD catches doubled his career total and matched the UST single-game record set by Brian Biehn vs. St. John's in 1986. Playing just three quarters, Theisen had 12 receptions for 224 yards -- believed to rank in the top-10 all-time in the MIAC for receiving yards in one game. Theisen has 118 career catches for 1,829 yards in 28 games and is on pace to finish in the top five of both UST career charts. In track and field, Theisen has run on three MIAC championship teams, qualified for nationals twice in the 400 hurdles, and has run on two NCAA runner-up 4x400 relays.

Katie, a freshman who was state runner-up in the triple jump in high school, made a surprise contribution to the Tommie women's cross country team this fall in her first experience in distance running.

A former volleyball player in just her first season as a distance runner, Katie made first-team All-MIAC this fall with a 13th-place conference-meet finish in cross country. She went on to take 17th out of 161 runners at the NCAA Central Region meet. She was UST's first finisher and led the Toms to their first NCAA team appearance since 1999. At nationals she placed 71st out of 213 finishers to help St. Thomas place 15th of 24 teams.

Tommie coaches say the Theisens have similar traits that help them succeed. They cite athleticism, work ethic, a zest to compete and a team-oriented spirit.

"P.J. is a difference maker," said UST receivers coach Dan Fogelson. "He has an ability to make a tough play look easy. Even with his ability he's a huge effort guy."

Theisen emerged as a big-play threat midway through his
freshman season. He's averaged an impressive 15.5 yards per catch on his career. In his last 21 games, he's had 30 offensive gains of 24 or more yards as a receiver or rusher. He's on pace to finish in UST's top five in career receptions and receiving yards. Not bad for guy who's had five different starting QBs in his era.

Head coach Don Roney calls Theisen refreshing. "He wants to do everything well, but he has an ability to joke and have fun."

Theisen was recruited by many Division III programs and picked the Tommies over St. John's.

"I was really attracted to the small campus setting, located right in the heart of the Twin Cities, with the opportunity to compete in two sports with traditions of excellence," Theisen said. "St. Thomas just had the right fit of school, sports, and most importantly great people both as teammates and coaches."

Katie Theisen originally thought her fall would involve conditioning work for track and field, where she will run the 400 hurdles, 400 meters and triple jump. But the plans changed.

"In Katie we knew we had an elite Division III triple jumper, then a good hurdler and maybe a 400 and relay runner," said UST women's cross country coach Joe Sweeney. "When we asked her to train with our cross country team, she showed ability right away to be competitive. She has the mental toughness, maturity and mechanics you don't often see in a freshman."

Sweeney's team had good balance but appeared to be one year away from making a strong bid to qualify for nationals. Theisen looked strong in workouts and agreed to try a cross country race. Thrown into the fire Sept. 25 at the pressure-packed University of Minnesota Invitational, Katie took 54th in a field of 340 runners.

"We had a safe strategy for her and she followed it well," Sweeney said. "You could tell she could help our team after that race, and she's such a team-oriented person she really took to that challenge. She's smart person and is very coachable."

In her next race, Oct. 15 at Carleton, Theisen placed 11th out of 90 runners and was UST's second finisher. "She has the potential to really finish races strong and pass a lot of people, which is ideal for cross country," Sweeney said.

Katie said P.J. has been a good role model and influence on her.

"P.J. sets his mind on success and it rubs off on everyone around him," Katie said. "Especially in my case. He is good at telling of his screw-ups to help me feel better after a poor performance."

Through all the ups and downs of athletics, P.J. said his college experience has been special.

"Everyday I am more sure that choosing to come to UST was the best decision I ever made.," he said. "Not only do I have great professors dedicated to preparing me for the working world, but I also get to compete in two sports that I enjoy very much. All of our coaches are great teachers and motivators that care about us as athletes, but also as young men.

"And I couldn't ask for more out of my teammates: when you work hard every day at practice with guys and then go to battle with them on Saturdays, you develop a certain respect that you can't find anywhere else. The friendships I have made through athletics will stay with me the rest of my life."


P.J. Theisen File:
.2005 Academic All-American, second team
.3.89 gpa in Accounting

College FB Career:
.28 starts at WR
.118 receptions, 1,829 yards, 8 TDs
.5 100-plus yard receiving games Oct. 1-Nov. 5, 2005
.1st MIAC in all-purpose yards, receiving yards
.All-MIAC first team

College Track & Field:
.2006 Co-Captain
.3 MIAC team titles
.3X relay All-American
.Ran on NCAA indoor runner-up 4x400 teams in 2004 and '05
.2X NCAA qualifier in 400 hurdles
.2X MIAC long jump champ
.13 top-5 MIAC finishes
.No. 2 all-time at UST in 400 hurdles (52.81)

New Prague High
.Academic All-State
.2X all-conference in football, basketball
.2nd state 300 hurdles; 7X conference champ in track and field