WIAC Centennial story by Master of Ceremonies Bob Brainerd |
Photos from the evening can be purchased at ProProductions |
Centennial Banquet draws capacity crowd
MADISON (August 4, 2012) - Four of the most prominent sports personalities in UW-Stout history were inducted into the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Hall of Fame Saturday during the WIAC Centennial Banquet at the Alliant Energy Center.
Julie (Maki) Wanless,
Terry Anders,
Ray C. Johnson and
Max Sparger were inducted into the inaugural Hall of Fame as the conference officially kicked off its 100 year celebration.
Maki, a point guard on the women's basketball teams from 1990-93, is one of UW-Stout's brightest star to shine in a sport that has shone very brightly in UW-Stout sports history.
Maki held the school's scoring record with 1620 points until the mark was broken by Julia Hirssig during her 2007-10 career. Maki held the school single season scoring record, tossing in 575 points during her senior year, a mark that was also broken by Hirssig. Maki, a 1993 All-American and WWIAC player of the year, averaged a school best 23.0 points per game. In addition, Maki was not a selfish player and, nearly 20 years later, still holds the school record for career assists with 469 assists.
Anders had the honor of techncially being the very first student-athlete inducted into the WIAC Hall of Fame (the class was introduced alphabetically), dominated the 400-meter dash during his decorated career from 1994-97. Anders won four 400-meter NCAA Divison III titles (1995 indoor and outdoor; 1996 indoor and outdoor). in 1996, Anders was named the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track Athlete of the meet after also winning the 100- and 200-meter outdoor national track titles.
In the WSUC, Anders won all six 200- and 400-meter races, indoor and outdoor, during the 1995, 1996 and 1997 seasons. Anders won the WIAC outdoor triple jump title in 1996. Anders was also an Academic All-American in 1997.
As the UW-Stout athletic director for 30 years from 1938 until his retirement in 1968, Johnson helped to shape Stout athletics throughout his tenure. In addition to being the athletic director, Johnson was the football coach and the men's basketball coach. His football team won the WSUC title in 1941 and his basketball teams won the 1942 conference title, twice advancing to the NAIA Championships - in 1942 and 1943 - in Kansas City.
Johnson, a committee member of the Wisconsin Governor's Committee for Physical Education during the mid-1960s, spearheaded the construction of what is now the Sports and Fitness Center. The current basketball arena is named his honor. Johnson, who passed away in 1988, was represented at the WIAC Centennial Banquet by his son Larry, daughter-in-law Janice and grandson, Gene. Larry accepted the award on behalf of his father.
Sparger, who was actually inducted as a member of the WIAC administrative staff, had his collegiate coaching roots at UW-Stout during the late 1950s through the early 1970s.
Sparger was the second commissioner of the Wisconsin State University Conference (WSUC), the predecessor of the WIAC for 22 years from 1971 through 1993. A 1980 UW-Stout Hall of Fame inductee and a 1985 NAIA District 14 Hall of Fame inductee, Sparger came to Stout in 1959 and coached a variety of sports, including football, track, wrestling and golf. His 1965 football team won the WSUC title. Sparger was the Stout athletic director from 1969-71 before moving to the WSUC. The WIAC Men's Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award is named in his honor. Sparger, who passed away in 1993, was represented by his son, David.
All-Time Teams Honored
The WIAC was formed as the Inter-Normal Athletic Conference of Wisconsin was formed in July, 1913, and a constitution and by-laws were adopted on December 20, 1913. Charter schools included La Crosse, Milwaukee, Oshkosh, Platteville, River Falls, Stevens Point, Superior and Whitewater. Stout Institute joined the confernce in 1914 and Eau Claire joined in 1917. Milwaukee withdrew from the conference in 1964, the same year the league was reorganized as the Wisconsin State University Conference.
The Wisconsin Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WWIAC) was established in 1971 and is comprised of Carthage College, Eau Claire, La Crosse, UW-Madison, Oshkosh, UW-Parkside, Platteville, River Falls, Stevens Point, Stout, Superior and Whitewater. Milwaukee, Carroll College, UW-Green Bay and Marquette University were also conference members during the 1970s. The WWIAC and the WSUC merged to become the WIAC in 1997.
During the centennial celebration, the all-time teams were honored. Those in attendance were introduced and the entire teams were scrolled across a screen in front of the more than 1400 people in attendance.
Listed are all Stout student-athletes selected to the teams. The entire teams can be found at the
WIAC website.
Baseball
Seth Maier
Women's Basketball
Julie Maki
Julia Hirssig
Kelsey Duoss
Football
Tony Beckham
Joe Bullis
Luke Bungaard
Ben Knepper
Men's Golf
Steve Dahlby
Derek Holmes
Men's Gymnastics
Paul Speltz
Women's Gymnastics
Meghan Hargens
Naomi De Lara
Becky Beaulieu (current Stout head coach, competed at UW-La Crosse)
Softball
Suzanne Brion
Erin O'Connell
Women's Swimming
Wendy Heineke
Men's Tennis
Rob Oertel
Men's Track & Field
Terry Anders
Jason Lehman
Daniel Drewek
Tim Nelson
Mike Turgeon
Kyle Steiner (current assistant track coach, competed at UW-Stevens Point)
Wrestling
Dale Evans
John Peterson
Corey McCauley
Women's Track & Field
Laura Verdegan
