Induction Video
(Written: July 2018)
Arlene (Meinholz) Beardsley was a member of UW-Eau Claire’s women’s basketball team from 1992-95 and women’s track & field team from 1992-96. On the basketball court, Beardsley was a Women’s Basketball Coaches Association All-America First Team selection in 1995. That same year, she was named the conference’s Player of the Year and Judy Kruckman Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete. The Blugolds compiled a 92-20 record in her four seasons, won three conference titles and advanced to the NCAA Division III Final Four in 1994 and Elite Eight in 1995.
Beardsley established a conference single-game record for field goal percentage when she made all 13 of her attempts against UW-Platteville on Feb. 12, 1993. She owns the WIAC and school record with 1,834 career points, and upon graduation, held school marks with 213 blocked shots, 492 free throws attempted and 358 free throws made.
In track & field, Beardsley won the NCAA Division III outdoor high jump championship in 1995 and indoor high jump title in 1996. She was a five-time All-American, four-time conference high jump champion and still holds the school record in the outdoor high jump at 5-8 (1.73m).
Beardsley was a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American and the state of Wisconsin’s NCAA Woman of the Year in 1995. She was inducted into the UW-Eau Claire Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2012, she was selected to the WIAC Women’s Basketball and Women’s Track & Field All-Time Teams in conjunction with the conference’s Centennial Celebration.
Beardsley earned a bachelor’s degree in math education and resides in Poynette, Wis.