Haese gets unexpected opportunity

November 3, 2016

The Brillion News

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Zac Haese, who graduated from Wrightstown High School with the Class of 2016, expected to get little playing time as a freshman basketball player at Lindenwood University in suburban St. Louis this winter.

But that could change.

Two weeks ago, three juniors on the Lindenwood men’s basketball team were suspended after they were charged in connection with a rape at an off-campus apartment.

Tylan Birts, 19, of Homestead, Fla., and Ermias Nega, 22, of Robbins, Va., were charged with second degree rape. The third suspect, Bradley Newman, 20, from Menomonee Falls, Wis., was charged with invasion of privacy for allegedly watching Birts rape the woman.

Prosecutors believe Nega had consensual sex with the woman, then offered her to the other two players without her knowledge.

With the three men charged criminally and under investigation by the university, the team has 10 players remaining on the roster, including Haese, a 6-foot-4, 175-pound guard, the eldest son of Wrightstown varsity coach Cory Haese.

The team includes two other players from northeast Wisconsin – sophomore forward Chandler Diekvoss of De Pere and sophomore guard Adam Pohlman of Neenah.

Lindenwood plays two games in Wisconsin Dells on November 11 and 12 at the Just-A-Game Field House.

At 5:30 p.m. on Friday, November 11, Lindenwood plays Bemidji State. It plays Minnesota-Duluth on Saturday, November 12, at 3 p.m.

File photo: Zac Haese (right) was a 2016 Wrightstown graduate and is now attending Lindenwood University in St. Louis.