University of Wisconsin-River Falls

Kate (Pelinka) Anderson was a member of the Falcon soccer team from 1996-99. She was named to All-WIAC teams in 1997, 1998, 1999 and to All-Region teams in 1998 and 1999. Anderson is the school’s all-time leader in career goals (79) and second in career points (131). She led UWRF in scoring in each of the four seasons she played. She holds the school record for goals in a game (4) and she accomplished that feat twice. 

Kent Becker played basketball for the Falcons from 1999-2002. He was named to All-WIAC teams three times. After his senior season Becker earned the WIAC’s Scholar-Athlete award. He played in 97 games and scored 1,089 points. He is ranked in the top 20 in the WIAC in career free throw percentage (.819) and career steals (178). Becker led the team in scoring in 2001, assists in 2000 and 2001 and in steals in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002.

Melissa (Johnson) Hanson was a member of the Falcon basketball team from 1996-99. She was named to the All-WIAC teams in 1997, 1998 and 1999. After her senior season she was selected as the WIAC’s Player of the Year and Scholar-Athlete. Her name still appears in 11 WIAC records categories including fifth in career scoring average (16.9). Hanson scored 1,714 points and grabbed 773 rebounds in her career. She is second in career points and fifth in career rebounds at UWRF.

Holly (Olson) Hatten played volleyball at UWRF from 1997-2000. She was named to the AVCA All-Region team three times and to first All-WIAC teams three times. Hatten is UWRF’s all-time career assist leader (5,646) and is third in WIAC career assists. She played in three NCAA Tournaments (1997, 1998, 1999) and helped lead the team to a 112-35 record during her career. Hatten was also a member of the 1999 team that won the WIAC Championship.

Adam Kragthorpe played hockey at UWRF from 2000-03 and finished his career as a three-time AHCA All-American. A talented defenseman in both ends of the rink, he was named to the All-NCHA and All-WIAC teams for four straight years. In 2001 Kragthorpe became the only defenseman in NCHA history named the league's Player of the Year. He finished his career with 20 goals and 64 points. He was the team’s captain in 2002 and 2003 and won the team’s Don Norqual Award in 2001. He is currently an assistant coach with the Minnetonka girl’s high school team and has helped lead them to Minnesota State AA Championships in each of the last three seasons. 

Bruce Larson played football from 1983-86. He was a member of three conference winning championship football teams (1984, 1985, 1986). Larson has been the head football coach at Somerset High School since 1999 and has led the Spartans to two WIAA State Championships (2002, 2012) and three runner up finishes (2004, 2005, 2011). His teams have qualified for the state playoffs 13 times, including the past 11 years in a row. Entering the 2013 season his teams had a 136-35 record. 

Gee Pope wrestled for the Falcons from 1972-75. In his first season he placed second in the WIAC Tournament at 142 pounds. During the 1974 season he was the WIAC Champion at 134 pounds and earned NAIA All-American recognition with a fourth place finish at the National Meet. In his final season in 1975 he again won the 134 pound WIAC Championship and earned All-American honors for his second place finish at the NAIA National Meet. Pope has coached wrestling for 25 years.

Mary (Boeser) Schieffer played field hockey for the Falcons from 1979-83. She was named to the All-WIAC teams in 1981 and 1982. In 2012 Schieffer was named to the WIAC’s Field Hockey All-Time Team in conjunction with the conference’s Centennial Celebration. She has spent 20 years “paying it forward and back” by coaching soccer and hockey in Amery, Wis.

The 1983 hockey team won the University’s first team National Championship. The Falcons, under Coach George Gwozdecky, finished the season with a 24-6-1 record. The 24 wins was a school record at the time. The Falcons defeated Hawthorne, 7-0, in the semifinals. Mike King and Tom D’Andrea both scored two goals. UWRF demolished Michigan-Dearborn in the title game, 12-5. D’Andrea and Mike Kelly both scored hat tricks. D’Andrea was named the tourney’s MVP while King, Greg Dey and Mike Piette were all named to the All-Tourney team.