General

UW-Whitewater Athletics Reveals 2024 Hall of Fame Class

WHITEWATER, Wis.--The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has announced its 59th Hall of Fame Class.
 
Former student-athletes Amy Gahl-Sweeney '09, Suzanne Gersich Huss '09, Tiffany Morton '09, Beth Proeber '06, Jace Rindahl '10, Jeff Schebler '10, Cassie Uttech Schroeder '05, Ricky Spicer, Bob Stone and Bob Wickman will be inducted. Longtime UW-Whitewater Head Men's Basketball Coach Pat Miller will be inducted under the category of staff/coach, and Warhawk supporter Ray Jacobsen will be inducted for his distinguished service to the institution.
 
All 12 individuals will be recognized for their contributions to Warhawk Athletics as part of the UW-Whitewater football team's game against UW-River Falls on Saturday, November 2, at 1 p.m. Inductees will be part of the Homecoming Parade, which begins at 10 a.m., will be honored at halftime of the football game and at the annual Hall of Fame Banquet, which begins following the contest at 4:30 p.m. at the University Center's Hamilton Room.
 
More information on the Hall of Fame Banquet, including registration, will be posted in August.

Amy Gahl-Sweeney, an outfielder from 2006-09, was the first two-time All-American in Warhawk softball history. Gahl-Sweeney garnered First Team All-America honors in 2009 and was selected to the Second Team in 2008. She added First Team Academic All-America recognition in 2009. A three-time All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selection, Gahl-Sweeney was named the league's Player of the Year in 2007. A four-year standout for the Warhawks, Gahl-Sweeney helped the team to conference titles and NCAA tournament appearances in 2008 and 2009 including a run to the national championship game in 2008. One of the most consistent hitters in the history of the WIAC, Gahl-Sweeney boasted a 29-game hit streak from 2007 into 2008 that broke the program record and ranks third in the league. She broke the WIAC record in career hits with 230 and still holds the league record for runs in a season (62) and career runs (185). Additionally, Gahl-Sweeney holds top ten marks in the UW-Whitewater record book in batting average (.411), homeruns (21), triples (10), doubles (45), runs batted in (138) and at bats (560). A native of Beloit, Wisconsin and product of Parkview High School, Gahl-Sweeney graduated in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in psychology.
 
Suzanne Gersich Huss was an All-American outfielder that helped lead UW-Whitewater softball to a national runner-up finish in 2008. Competing from 2006-09, Huss was a four-time All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selection and three-time All-Region pick. Her 170 career runs batted in lead the league at the time of her induction. Huss, known for her power at the plate, broke the UW-Whitewater season record for homeruns with 13 in 2008 and holds the program record for career homeruns with 37. One of the best hitters in program history, Huss held top five marks in batting average (.417), homeruns (37), doubles (37), RBI (170), hits (227) and at bats (544) by the end of her collegiate career. She has more two-homerun games than any Warhawk in program history (3) and her career batting average of .417 is ranked eleventh in the WIAC. Huss helped lead the Warhawks to WIAC titles and NCAA Division III Tournament appearances in 2008 and 2009. A native of Wadsworth, Illinois, Huss graduated in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in social work.
 
Tiffany Morton was an All-American center for the UW-Whitewater women's basketball team from 2007-09. A Division I transfer from UW-Milwaukee, Morton quickly became one of the best to represent the Warhawks on the hardwood. She was a two-time All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selection and WIAC All-Defensive team pick in 2009, a two-time All-Region honoree and two-time All-American as a Warhawk. In her first season with the team, Morton led UW-Whitewater to its best season in program history with a 29-4 record, a WIAC tournament title and a run to the NCAA Division III Final Four. She was named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team that season. Morton broke the program record for double-doubles with 28, rebounds in a season with 302 and free throws made in a season with 129. By the end of her collegiate career, Morton held top ten marks in the UW-Whitewater record book in points (1215), points per game (14.0), rebounds (740), rebounds per game (8.5), blocks (98), field goals made (465), field goal percentage (.527) and free throws made (285). A native of Beloit, Morton graduated in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in psychology.  
 
Beth Proeber was a four-year member of the UW-Whitewater women's track and field program from 2002-05. Proeber finished among the top eight at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship seven times throughout her career. She was on the podium three times in the weight throw indoors and three times in the hammer throw outdoors, capturing her seventh podium spot in the discus outdoors. Proeber is a five-time NCAA Division III Championships qualifier and a three-time NCAA All-American.  At the 2004 Indoor Championships, Proeber finished sixth in the weight throw (16.11m). At the 2005 Indoor Championships she finished eighth in the weight throw (16.14m) and at the Outdoor Championships she placed fourth in the hammer throw (52.65m). The Franksville, Wisconsin native and product of Shoreland Lutheran High School earned a bachelor's degree in biology in 2006.    
 
Jace Rindahl was a linebacker who played in 60 college football games, on four Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship teams and made four Stagg Bowl appearances from 2005-08. Rindahl helped lead the Warhawks to two national finalist finishes in his first two seasons on the gridiron. Back in the national title game his junior season, Rindahl registered the best game of his career to that point with 16 tackles including 10 solo to lead the Warhawks to the NCAA Division III championship, the first for the football program. As a senior, Rindahl powered the defense on the way to earning All-WIAC, All-Region and All-America honors from three associations. He was named the Division III Defensive Player of the Year by D3football.com. Rindahl holds top ten marks in the program record book in interception yards (218), career tackles (248) and solo tackles (133). In 2011, Rindahl was named to the WIAC's All-Time Football Team. The Cambridge native earned a bachelor's degree in physical education, health, human performance and recreation in 2010.
 
Jeff Schebler was a kicker for two NCAA Division III championship teams during his time as a Warhawk from 2006-09. Schebler is the best kicker to have competed in Division III to date statistically. A four-time All-American, Schebler holds the NCAA Division III records for most points scored by kicking (470), most field goals made (75) and highest percentage of field goals made in a career (78.9; 75-95). Along with the All-America honors, Schebler was also a four-time All-Region selection and four-time First Team All-WIAC pick. He helped the Warhawks to four WIAC championships and went on to win national titles in 2007 and 2009. In 2007, as a sophomore, Schebler was the national kicking champion after converting on 21 of 27 field goal attempts (77.8%), an average of 1.75 per game. In 2009, Schebler received the Fred Mitchell Award as the top placekicker in FCS, Division II, Division III, NAIA and NJCAA competition. Over the course of his career, Schebler virtually re-wrote the program and WIAC record books. Schebler still holds the league record for extra points (245) and field goals made (75). He holds top ten marks in the program record book in every kicking category. Schebler was named to the WIAC All-Time Team in 2011. He was a candidate for the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame in 2023 and 2024. A native of Davenport, Iowa, Schebler graduated in 2010 with a degree in finance.
 
Cassie Uttech Schroeder was an outside hitter for the Warhawks' NCAA Division III Championship team in 2005. Competing from 2003-05, Schroeder was part of two Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships and three NCAA Division III tournament appearances. Schroeder was a two-time All-WIAC selection and two-time All-Region pick. During her junior campaign in 2004, Schroeder helped lead the team to a WIAC title en route to earning Third Team All-America honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association. She was named the AVCA National Player of the Week and WIAC Player of the week in October 2004. The Warhawks repeated as the league champions her senior season before going on to claim a NCAA regional title and the 2005 national championship. She was named to the NCAA Division III Championship All-Tournament Team in 2005. A prolific server, Schroeder holds two top ten marks for aces in a single match, both set in 2004.  Schroeder holds multiple top 20 marks in the program's season records in attacks and kills. She ranks among the top 20 in program history in kills (916), attempts (2512) and service aces (124). A native of Watertown, Schroeder earned a bachelor's degree in social work in 2005.
 
Ricky Spicer was a guard on the men's basketball team from 1987-90. The Milwaukee native helped lead the team to the 1989 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title and NCAA Division III national championship – the second in program history. During his three-year career, the Warhawks boasted a record of 68-17 (.800) including a 29-2 mark in 1989. A two-time All-WIAC pick, Spicer was named the league's Player of the Year in 1990, was a two-time All-Region selection and earned All-America honors in 1990 from the National Association of Basketball Coaches and Basketball Times. Spicer was the first player in program history to earn First Team All-America honors from two associations in one season. He was selected as the Basketball Gazette National Division III Player of the Week once during his career. A true point guard, Spicer still holds the program records in career assists (531) and steals (258), as well as free throws made in a game (18). By the end of his career, Spicer held top ten marks in the program record book in steals per game (3.04), total points (1,259), points per game (14.8), field goal percentage (.531) and free throw percentage (.810).
 
Bob Stone, a native of Flint, Michigan, was a member of the men's basketball team from 1971 to 1974. During his tenure, the Warhawks compiled an overall record of 60-15 including a 41-7 mark in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. A three-time all-conference selection, Stone led the Warhawks to WIAC titles in 1973 and 1974. The team's most valuable player helped the team advance to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics District 14 title all three seasons. Stone was named NAIA District 14 First Team in 1972 and 1973. Each season, Stone ranked among the top 12 in scoring and top five in rebounding in the WIAC. By the end of his career, Stone ranked among the top three in the UW-Whitewater record book in rebounding (746), points per game (15.0), rebounds per game (9.7), field goals made (417), field goal percentage (.498), free throws made (216) and points (1158).
Bob Wickman, a native of Oconto Falls, Wisconsin, was a member of the baseball team from 1988-90. The pitcher helped lead the Warhawks to the 1989 NCAA Division III World Series and a regional berth in 1990. Wickman earned All-Region honors from the American Baseball Coaches Association and was selected to the NCAA Division III Midwest Region All-Tournament Team in 1990. That same season he was named First Team All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference as both a pitcher and designated hitter – the first player in program history to earn all-league recognition at multiple positions in the same season. Wickman was drafted in the second round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Chicago White Sox in 1990. He went on to have the longest professional sports career of any former Warhawk. His MLB career spanned 15 years at 5 organizations including the New York Yankees, Milwaukee Brewers, Cleveland (Indians) Guardians, Atlanta Braves and Arizona Diamondbacks. Wickman made two All-Star Teams during his professional career including with the Brewers in 2000 and with the Guardians in 2005. Warhawk Baseball retired his #20 jersey as part of Bob Wickman Day in 2003. He is the only player in program history to receive the honor.    
 
Pat Miller led the men's basketball program from 2001-23, a span of 22 seasons. Compiling a career record of 434-167, Miller's win percentage of 72.2 ranks among the top 15 in NCAA Division III Basketball history. Leading the Warhawks to 20 or more wins in four of his first five seasons, Miller hit the 100-win mark during the 2005-06 campaign, reaching the milestone faster than anyone WIAC history. In 2015-16, Miller reached the 300-win milestone becoming the fastest to hit the mark among active coaches in Division III. Miller led the Warhawks to NCAA Division III national titles in 2012 and 2014, earning National Coach of the Year honors both seasons. He led the team back to the Final Four in his final season at the helm. Over the course of his career, Miller led the Warhawks to six Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles, five WIAC Tournament championships, 10 NCAA Division III Tournament appearances, three trips to the Final Four and two national championships. He coached one national player of the year, five conference players of the year, a WIAC Newcomer of the Year and two Max Sparger Scholar-Athletes while guiding players to over 65 all-conference honors, numerous all-region selections and seven All-America honors. Miller is a four-time WIAC Coach of the Year, three-time Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Division III Coach of the Year, two-time D3hoops.com National Coach of the Year, two-time National Association of Basketball Coaches Division III Coach of the Year, Schelde North America/DIII News Coach of the Year and CollegeInsider.com Glenn Robinson Award finalist. Miller was inducted into the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2019 and the Janesville Sports Hall of Fame in 2024. Prior to his tenure as head coach, Miller served as an assistant under Dave "Augie" Vander Muelen. As a player for the Warhawks, Miller led the team to a national title in 1989. He was inducted into the UW-Whitewater Hall of Fame as an athlete in 2006.  
 
Ray Jacobsen established his long-term relationship with UW-Whitewater in 1971 as a student-athlete participating in the Warhawk football and wrestling programs. He earned his degree in Education in 1976, and after a year of graduate studies he accepted a teaching and coaching position at Brookfield East High School. In 1980, he embarked on a successful career in business and reached a milestone in 1989 as President and CEO of EBI Companies. In 1997, Jacobsen received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the university. He has served as a board member on UW-Whitewater Foundation, Inc. through numerous terms dating back to the 1990's. Jacobsen has maintained his ties with UW-Whitewater, especially with wrestling, his former Coach Wille Myers and his teammates. In collaboration with his teammate and lifelong friend Wade Fletcher, they spearheaded the procurement of the Wrestling Room in 1997, followed by naming of the Willie Myers Family Wrestling Room in 2005. In December of 2021, Jacobsen was honored as the Commencement Speaker at UW-Whitewater's graduation ceremony. 
 
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