University of Wisconsin-River Falls

Tom Carroll
Tom Carroll played football for four years with the Falcons and earned letters in 1966, 1967 and 1968. He was the team's co-captain in 1968 and was named the squad's defensive player of the year in 1967 and 1968. He played linebacker. Carroll won the team's Belfiori award in 1968 and was named to the second all-WSUC team that fall. In 1967 he was named to the second all-NAIA District 14 squad. He is a 1970 graduate of the University and a 1965 graduate of Rosemount, Minn., High School. In 1976 Carroll began an illustrious coaching career at River Falls High School. He was an assistant football coach in 1976 and 1977 and took over as head coach in 1978 and led the Wildcats for 12 years. His record was 78-37 including five conference titles. The 1988 team won a Sectional title and lost in the state semi-finals by a field goal to the eventaul state champions. Carroll was named a District Coach of the Year in 1984 and a Region Coach of the Year in 1989. He was an assistant coach of the North team in the 1983 Wisconsin Shrine Game and he was the head coach of the 1990 North team. In 1990 he received the Wisconsin High School Football Coaches Association Service Award.

Dave Cowley
Dave Cowley was the first Falcons hockey player to receive All-American recognition. He played hockey for the Falcons for three years (1973-76) and earned three letters. He was the team's captain each year. In his final season he was named to the NAIA All-American team. He helped lead the Falcons to the NAIA national tournament in 1975 which was the first time a Falcons team had ever competed in the national hockey tournament. In 1976 the Falcons made a return trip to nationals and Cowley was named to the all-tournament team. He played center and finished his career with 53 goals, 35 assists for 88 points. He led the Falcons in scoring in 1974 and 1975 and was named the team's Most Valuable Player in 1975. He is a 1976 graduate of the University and a 1972 graduate of St. Thomas Academy, Minn., High School.

Bob Parker
Bob Parker played and earned four basketball letters for the Falcons from 1968-72. He was a four year starter and finished his career with 1,197 points and 822 rebounds. He is 10th in career scoring and second in career rebounding. He was the squad's Most Valuable Player in 1970 and co-Most Valuable Player in 1972. He was named to the all-WSUC and all-NAIA District 14 teams in 1972. He is a 1973 graduate of the University and a 1968 graduate of Alma High School. Before going to UW-Stevens Point as head basketball coach, he was the head coach at Valley City State, N.D., University where he coached for three years and built a 52-29 record. He led that team to the 1987 NAIA NDCAC regular season and post-season championships and a berth in the NAIA tournament by winning the District 12 title. He was the district's Coach of the Year. In the 1983-84 season he coached the Western Wisconsin Technical Institute team to an 18-11 record and a berth in the state championship game. From 1973-83 he was head basketball coach at Arcadia High School where his teams were 123-71 including a 69-12 mark over his final five years. His teams won two conference titles (1981 and 1982), and twice his teams won regional titles (1978 and 1980) and were runner ups in 1981.

Terry Franklin
Terry Franklin played football for the Falcons from 1972-75 and earned a letter each year. He was a senior on the 1975 team which won the WSUC championship. It was the first title for the Falcons since 1958. That year, Franklin was given honorable mention to the NAIA All-American team. He was named to the first all-WSUC and NAIA District 14 teams as a noseguard. Franklin also was named the team's Defensive Player of the Year award winner. He is a 1977 graduate of the University and a 1972 graduate of Hirsch, Ill., High School.

Jasper Freeman
Jasper Freeman was a quick and hard-running halfback for the Falcons football team for four years. He played from 1973-76 and earned letters each year. He was a member of the 1975 and 1976 WSUC championship winning teams. The 1975 title was the first for a Falcons squad since 1958. In 1975 and 1976 he was named to the all-WSUC and NAIA District 14 first teams. In 1974 he received honorable mention to the all-WSUC squad. He was a captain of the 1976 team. In 1976, when he earned honorable mention to the NAIA All-American team and was the team's Most Valuable Player, he rushed for 627 yards and led the Falcons with 12 touchdowns and 70 points. In 1975 he led the Falcons with 655 yards, nine touchdowns and 62 points. He is a 1978 graduate of the University and a 1973 graduate of Simon Gratz, Penn., High School.

Joe Jilek
Joe Jilek played football and wrestled for the Falcons. He played football from 1963-66 and wrestled in 1964. In football he was a hard-hitting linebacker who earned four letters. He was named to the first all-WSUC team in 1965 and 1966 and received honorable mention in 1964. In 1965 and 1966 he received honorable mention to the NAIA All-American team. He was named the Outstanding Defensive Player of the NAIA District 14 in 1966. He was a captain of the 1966 squad and was the team's Defensive Player of the Year in 1965 and 1966. He lettered in wrestling in 1964 when he placed third in the WSUC meet. He qualified for the NAIA national meet. In 1966 he was the president of the University's R Club. He is a 1967 graduate of the University and a 1963 graduate of Rice Lake High School. After his playing days Jilek was the head football coach for eight years at Clear Lake High School where he teams were 45-26-1 and won two conference titles. He was the head track coach for four years and he led one team to a conference championship and had three athletes compete at the state meet. He served as head baseball coach for five years and two teams won conference titles. He was also the school's athletics director. As a wrestling official he worked four state meets.

Dan McGinty
Dan McGinty, a great inside player with excellent rebounding and scoring abilities, played basketball for the Falcons from 1975-79 and earned four letters. He was named to the all-WSUC team in 1977, 1978 and 1979, and to the NAIA all-District 14 team in 1978 and 1979. He was the Falcons Most Valuable Player in 1978 and 1979. He led the WSUC and District 14 in rebounding in 1978 (11.8) and 1979 (12.5). He holds Falcons rebounding records in a single game ( 31), season (309) and career (1,097). In addition to his amazing rebound total he added 1,412 career points which is fourth in school history. He is a 1980 graduate of the University and a 1975 graduate of Clintonville High School. McGinty has coached and directed several basketball camps in the Upper Midwest. McGinty has worked in the admissions and financial aid departments at the University.

Dick Culver
Dick Culver earned four letters with the Falcons wrestling team. He won three Wisconsin State University Conference championships during his career. He captured the 137-pound title in 1961 and the 147-pound titles in 1962 and 1963. In 1963 he finished third at the NAIA National Tournament and was named an All-American. He is a 1964 graduate of the University and a 1959 graduate of Ellsworth High School.

Gerard Sonsalla
Gerard Sonsalla was a four year letter winner for the Falcons football team from 1977-80. In his final season he was an American Football Coaches Association and NAIA first team all-American as a guard. In 1979 he was named to the second NAIA All-American team. Sonsalla, who was a dominating blocker in all phases of the game, was one of just a few Falcons athletes to earn all-WSUC and all-NAIA District 14 first team honors for three straight years (1978-80). He was named the team's Best Blocker in 1978 and 1980. He is a 1981 graduate of the University and a 1977 graduate of Arcadia High School. Sonsalla served as a volunteer assistant football coach at Arcadia High School in 1984 and 1985 with the team winning conference championships both years.