Dec. 7, 2004

MILWAUKEE -

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The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team continues to add depth and quality to its roster with the announcement that three Wisconsin high school standouts have decided to continue their baseball careers at UWM. Josh Groves, Tim Patzman, and Dan Buchholz, all current high school seniors, will bring a wide variety of skills and abilities when they come to campus in August of 2005.

One of the best high school athletes in the state of Wisconsin, Groves will come to Milwaukee from Monona Grove High School just outside of Madison. A two-sport star at Monona Grove, Groves was named a Second-Team All-State selection by the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association last season while earning First-Team All-Badger Conference accolades each of the last two seasons. A three-year starter on the diamond, Groves batted .461 as a junior last season with two home runs, 20 RBI, and a .697 slugging percentage. This came after a sophomore campaign that saw Groves bat .449 with 28 runs batted in to go with a .739 slugging percentage.

A standout on the gridiron as well, Groves was recently named a First-Team All-State linebacker by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Groves, the 2004 Wisconsin State Journal Player of the Year, helped lead the Silver Eagles to a runner-up finish in the 2004 WIAA Division 2 State Football Championship. Groves also excels in the classroom where he is a member of the National Honor Society.

"Josh is really a good athlete," UWM assistant head coach Scott Doffek said. "He is a very good left-handed hitter and he has the toughness needed to play at the collegiate level. Judging from his play in both baseball and football he knows what it takes to win games and get the job done."

Patzman, a Waukesha native, is a three-year varsity letterwinner at Waukesha West High School and a two-time First-Team All-Classic 8 Conference performer. Patzman batted .394 as a junior with five home runs, 33 RBI and a .688 slugging percentage. A 3.91 student in the classroom, Patzman posted a .448 batting mark as a sophomore with four home runs, 26 RBI's, 17 doubles and a .712 slugging percentage. A second-team All-District 8 selection last season, Patzman was selected as one of 18 juniors to represent Wisconsin in the Midwest Classic Baseball Tournament.

"Tim is really a top-line recruit," added Doffek. "Without a doubt, he is one of the top three of four offensive players in the state. He's a solid kid and he is a quality left-handed hitter who can hit for power and average."

The final member of UWM's 2005 recruiting class is Racine's Dan Buchholz. The catcher from Case High School earned First-Team All-Southeast Conference honors following his junior season. Buchholz drove in 13 runs last season in just 46 at-bats to go with eight extra base hits. A three-year honor roll student, Buchholz was a member of the U-17 American Legion State Champions and an Honorable-Mention All-County selection.

"Dan is a good catcher with a solid frame," Doffek noted. "I think if he adds some quality strength and weight he will turn into a very good college catcher. He has huge potential as an offensive player."

Milwaukee returns 17 letterwinners and seven starters from last season's 23-30 team including Second-Team All-Horizon League first baseman Ross McCoy. UWM will open its 2004 season versus Austin Peay on February 25 in Clarksville, Tenn.