University of Wisconsin-Stout Athletics

2018 WIAC Hall of Fame Induction Video

Laura Verdegan-Knudsen (2001-05)
Few will match the attributes of Laura Verdegan-Knudsen. A 12-time track All-American, Verdegan-Knudsen won the NCAA indoor triple jump title in 2004. During her track career, she was the 2005 United States Track Coaches Association (USTCA) female athlete of the year, won 10 WIAC individual championships, held or was part of nine UW-Stout track records and two WIAC records. Verdegan-Knudsen was named to the WIAC All-Time Track and Field team in 2012. As adept on the basketball court as the track, Verdegan-Knudsen was a two-time All-WIAC basketball selection and three-times selected to the All-WIAC defensive team. Verdgan-Knudsen finished her basketball career with 991 points, currently ranking 10th, and 604 rebounds, ranking sixth. A dietetics major, Verdegan-Knudsen received the WIAC Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete for indoor track, outdoor track and basketball and was a two-time first team Academic All-America selection. Verdegan-Knudsen was the men’s and women’s track and field head coach from 2009-13. The 2012 men’s team finished fourth nationally indoors and third outdoors. In 2012, Knudsen was named to the WIAC All-Time Women's Track & Field team. She was inducted into the WIAC Hall of Fame in 2018.