Lakeville's Rochel hitting the road to select a college

Lakeville North basketball standout Cassie Rochel is headed to Iowa -- to start the process of choosing between UCLA and Wisconsin.

Rochel, the state's most coveted senior yet to choose a college, has narrowed her list to the Bruins and the Badgers. The hard part will be making a final decision. Lakeville North coach Andy Berkvam devised 18 criteria to rate the schools by location, coaching staffs and degree programs, among other factors, and they each scored the same point total.

Rochel, a 6-4 center capable of dominating games with her defense and shot blocking, will make her decision after seeing UCLA and Wisconsin play this month. She will be in Iowa City on Nov. 14 to watch UCLA play in the Hawkeye Challenge tournament, then drive to Madison on Nov. 15 to catch Wisconsin take on North Dakota.

"She wants to watch each team and take it all in," Berkvam said.

"She will probably make her decision on Sunday, the day before our high school season starts."

• Woodbury's girls' soccer team, undefeated in its past 43 games, is led by a half-dozen talented players who have made their college plans. Class 2A Ms. Soccer and Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year Kassey Kallman verbally committed to Florida State. Other players giving verbal commitments are Catie Sessions (Wisconsin), Caitlin Graboski (Iowa State), Mary Kroening (Georgetown), Sam Lumberg (Bemidji State) and Brittany Cygan (Minnesota State, Mankato).

• Bloomington Jefferson boys' hockey defenseman Joe Faust gave a verbal commitment to Princeton's hockey program.

• Osseo guard Aaron Anderson gave a verbal commitment to North Dakota's basketball program.

• Three Stillwater swimmers have made verbal commitments to the Gophers: Kaela Anderson, Maggie Keefer and Monica Radecke.

• Andover wide receiver Jason Schneider has taken unofficial visits to Minnesota-Duluth, North Dakota and North Dakota State. Teammate Jim Kemp, a 310-pound nose tackle, has visited Minnesota-Duluth and St. Cloud State. Running back Brad Beeskow has visited St. Cloud State and Winona.