Eight to be Inducted into UW-River Falls Athletics Hall of Fame

NEWS RELEASE
Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Matt Stanek * Sports Information Director * 780 Regent Street * Madison, WI 53715 * Phone: (608) 265-6406 * www.uwsa.edu/wiac/

RELEASED: Tuesday, October 11, 2005

Eight to be Inducted into UW-River Falls Athletics Hall of Fame

River Falls, Wis.--Eight new members will be inducted into the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Athletics Hall of Fame on Oct. 29.

The eight include: Mark Cota (football), Merilee (Healy) Cardinal (gymnastics); Dick Novak (hockey); Chris Stainer (softball); Steve Stocker, (track & field); Keven Syverson (track & field, cross country); Steve Walker (football) and Doris (Hop) Wolf (service).

The inductees will be honored at halftime of the UW-River Falls - UW-Platteville football game on Oct. 29. Kick off is set for 1 p.m., at Ramer Field.

The Hall of Fame banquet will be held at Rodli Commons on the UW-RF campus. A reception will start at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. The induction ceremonies will take place after dinner. Tickets are $20 and reservations can be made by calling the UW-RF Office of University Advancement at 715-425-3505.

Cota, who earned his undergraduate degree in pharmacy at the University of Minnesota, lettered in football in 1985, 1986 and 1987 as a quarterback. The Falcons won the WSUC championship each of those seasons. He was named to the All-WSUC team in 1986 when he led the Falcons in rushing (1,279 yards), scoring (96 points) and total offense (1,767 yards). He was named the team's Most Valuable Player in 1986. He also led the team in total offense (1,354) in 1987. Cota holds the Falcon season total offense record of 1,767 yards (1986). The Falcons led the entire NCAA Div. III in rushing in 1986 (3,614 yards) behind his leadership. He is currently a staff pharmacist at Corner Drug in Red Wing, Minn.

Healy-Cardinal earned four letters in gymnastics at UW-River Falls from 1992-95. She was a National Collegiate Gymnastics Association All-American in 1993, 1994 and 1995. She earned All-American honors in 1993 in floor exercise and bars; in 1994 in bars, floor exercise, beam and all-around and in 1995 in bars, beam and all-around. She won the individual national title in 1994 on the bars with a score of 18.6 and the individual national title in 1995 on the beam with a score of 18.325. In 1993 she earned All-WWIAC honors on the bars and beam. In 1994 she was named to the All-WWIAC team in all five events. In 1995 she earned All-WWIAC honors in the all-around and floor exercise. She was named the team's Most Valuable gymnasts in 1994 and 1995. She is currently the quality assurance operations manager at Tapemark in West St. Paul, Minn.

Novak played hockey at UW-River Falls and earned four letters from 1977-79. The Falcons competed in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics National Championships in each of those seasons. The Falcons placed fourth in 1978 and 1979. After the 1979 season Novak earned NAIA All-American honors - only the fourth Falcon at the time to have earned the award. In his first season he finished second in scoring for the Falcons with 13 goals and 31 assists for 44 points. In 1978 he was also second in scoring with 17 goals and 23 assists for 40 points. He led the 1979 team in scoring with 20 goals and 36 assists for 56 points. The 56 points is fifth in a single season and the 36 assists is fourth in a single season at UW-RF. He scored 50 goals, 90 assists and 140 points in his career. He is currently sixth on the all-time scoring list at UW-RF. He is currently the superintendent of the Arrowhead Country Club in Rapid City, S.D.

Stainer earned four letters in softball from 1989-92 at UW-RF. In 1992 Stainer was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Midwest Region third team as a pitcher. She earned All-WWIAC honors in 1990, 1991 and 1992. Her name still stands out in several categories in the Falcon records book. She led the 1990 team in hitting with a .390 batting average. Stainer led the team in doubles in 1989 (3) and 1990 (6), in triples in 1989 (1) and 1990 (2) and in home runs in 1989 (1). She led the Falcons with 23 RBIs in 1990 and in slugging percentage in 1989 (.472) and 1990 (.512). On the pitching mound she led the Falcons in appearances, wins, earned run average, strike outs and innings pitched in 1990, 1991 and 1992. In her pitching career at UWRF she is fourth in games (89), second in games started (58), second in earned run average (2.32), third in strike outs (211), third in innings pitched (460.1), second in wins (39) and second in saves (2). She is currently the head softball coach and an instructor at UW-Stout.

Stocker excelled in both indoor and outdoor track & field for the Falcons and earned three letters from 1992-94. While at UW-River Falls, Stocker qualified for national track & field meets all three years he was enrolled. The 1992 season ended with a trip to Abbotsford, B.C., where Stocker participated in the 400 Hurdles at the NAIA Meet. Stocker was the first NCAA track & field All-American at UW-River Falls. He earned NCAA All-American honors four times during his Falcon career. In 1993, which was considered his "break-out" season, Stocker led Div. III in the 400 hurdles posting a time of 51.45. That very performance 12 years ago continues to stand as the WSUC record today and earned Stocker's first U.S. ranking of 47th for all collegiate and professional competitors. Stocker qualified for the NCAA Meet in three events as a junior, the 110 high hurdles, the 400 IM hurdles, and as a member of the 4x400 relay. He placed third in the 400 intermediate hurdles with a time of 52.29. During his senior campaign, Stocker once again qualified in three events. He earned All-American honors in two events by placing fourth in the 400 intermediate hurdles, with a time of 52.28, and as a member of the Falcon 4x400 relay team that placed fourth in 3:12.57. In the 1994 NCAA indoor meet he was a member of the 4x400 relay team that placed sixth and earned All-American recognition. At WSUC meets, he won championships three times. At the 1993 outdoor meet he won the 400 intermediate hurdles (51.45). At the 1994 outdoor meet he helped the Falcon 4x400 relay team to the event championship (3:15.8). In the 1994 indoor meet, he won the 600 (1:22.65). He also placed second in seven other events at WSUC Meets. He still holds the Falcon school records in the 200 intermediate hurdles (25.0) and as a member of the indoor 4x400 relay team (3:19.94), the 400 intermediate hurdles (51.45) and as a member of the outdoor 4x400 relay (3:12.57). Stocker was the team's captain and Most Valuable Performer in 1993 and 1994. Upon completion of his collegiate career, Stocker moved to La Crosse to train for the 1996 US Olympic Trials. The 1995 season ended prematurely with an injury, so Stocker decided to come back home to UW-River Falls and train in more familiar surroundings. The 1996 campaign was successful in that Stocker qualified provisionally for the U.S. Olympic Trials on two separate occasions, running a lifetime personal record of 50.74 in the 400 intermediate hurdles at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Col. His time earned him a U.S. ranking of 42nd during the 1996 campaign. Stocker continues to give back to his sport as he is entering his ninth year as head track & field coach for River Falls High School, where he coaches both boys and girl's sprints and hurdles. While at River Falls High School, Stocker has contributed to five conference champion teams, 57 conference champions, 57 state qualifiers, and two state champions. His teams have virtually rewritten the record books holding 30 indoor school and 34 outdoor school records. Stocker currently resides in River Falls with his wife Wendy, children Brady (9) and Brandon (6). He is currently the Director of the W.H. Hunt Arena and Knowles Recreation Center at UW-River Falls.

Syverson was a multi talented student-athlete who earned eight letters in two sports at UW-River Falls. He earned four letters in track & field (1991-94) and four in cross country (1990-93). He was a two-time All-American in track & field. He helped the 4x400 relay team to a sixth place finish in a time of 3:40.2 at the NCAA indoor meet. He was also a member of the 4x400 relay team that placed fourth in a time of 3:12.57 at the NCAA outdoor meet. At WSUC meets he won five championships. At the 1994 outdoor meet he won the 800 (1:54.61) and helped the 4x400 relay team to a first place finish (3:15.8). At the 1994 indoor meet he won the 800 (1:55.73). At the 1993 indoor meet he won the 1,000 (2:32.24). At the 1992 indoor meet he won the 600 (1:21.95) becoming the first WSUC athlete to win all three sprint distance events in his career (600, 800, 1000). Syverson also placed second in four other events at WSUC meets. He was named the team's Most Improved Runner in 1991 and was named the Most Valuable Performer in 1992. Syverson was the team's captain in 1992, 1993 and 1994. He still holds six Falcon records; in the indoor 600 (1:21.95); the indoor 800 (1:55.73) and as a member of the indoor 4x400 relay team (3:19.94); the outdoor 4x400 relay team (3:12.57); the outdoor distance medley relay team (10:20) and the outdoor sprint medley relay team (3:29.05). In cross country he was named the team's Most Valuable Runner in 1991 and 1992 and was the team's captain in 1991, 1992 and 1993. He lives in River Falls with his wife Jennifer and three children (Alaina, Jared, and Erin). He is currently the Health Education Coordinator at UW-River Falls and the distance coach for the Falcon track & field team.

Walker was one of the team's top football players and earned four letters from 1990-93. A true inspirational leader, Walker earned honorable mention to the Champions All-American football team in 1992 and to the Football Gazette team in 1993. He led the Falcons in tackles for three straight seasons form his linebacker position. Walker was named to the All-WSUC teams in 1992 and 1993. He earned the WSUC's highest individual honor in 1993 when he was named football's Scholar-Athlete. The award is presented to the most outstanding senior from each conference sport during the year who exhibits the greatest combination of performance and achievement in academics, athletics and leadership. Walker holds the Falcon record for most tackles in a single season, 161, in 1991. He led the team in solo and assisted tackles in 1991, 1992 and 1993. He led the 1991 team with four tackles for loss and three fumble recoveries. He led the 1992 team with 10 tackles for loss. In 1993 he led the Falcons with 20 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, two fumbles forced and 3.5 sacks. In 29 career games he had 169 solo and 397 total tackles. He had 36 tackles for loss, three fumble recoveries, six fumbles forced, six passes broken up and 6.5 sacks. Walker was named the team's Most Valuable Player and Most Valuable Defensive Player after the 1993 season. He currently is a physical education instructor and football coach in the Appleton East school district.

Wolf began her employment with the UW-River Falls athletic department in 1974. During her 28 years of employment she played one of the most critical roles in the developing history of the department. Beginning as a limited-term secretary for all coaches of all sports, she was the one-person office for the department. During her employment Wolf handled the secretarial duties for the coaching staff and the Director of Athletics. She also had responsibility for the department's travel and eligibility compliance with the University, the NCAA and the WIAC. She ordered all awards, served as ticket manager, event manager, concession manager, along with purchasing and accounting responsibilities. If there was a home event at UW-River Falls, Wolf not only directed the behind-the-scenes details but also was in attendance. In 1996 she was elevated to the position of financial specialist. Still maintaining many of her old responsibilities, Wolf officially became the department's accounts and budget director. Over the 28 years of her dedicated service, she was the face of the UW-River Falls Athletic Department serving with loyalty and distinction.

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