University of Wisconsin-River Falls

Emily (Howlett) Dabrowski - Emily was a member of the Falcon softball team from 2006-08. During her career, Emily was named to the All-WIAC (2006-08), All-Great Lakes Region (2007, 2008) and All-American (2008) teams. She was named WIAC Position Player of the Year in 2008 and was named to the WIAC Softball All-Time Team in 2012. She still holds UWRF records for single season hits, single season batting average, career doubles and career batting average. Emily graduated from UWRF in 2009 with degrees in physical and health education.
 
TJ Dahl - TJ was a member of the Falcon men’s hockey team from 2005-08. During his career, TJ was named to the All-WIAC (2006-08), All-NCHA (2006-08) and All-American (2007, 2008) teams. He was a member of four WIAC conference championship teams (2005-08) and one NCHA conference championship team (2007) and was named to the WIAC Men’s Hockey All-Time Team in 2012. TJ graduated from UWRF in 2008 with a degree in business administration.
 
Marlene (Yaeger) Hull - Marlene was a three-sport athlete for the Falcons, competing in cross country (2001-03, 2005), track and field (2002, 2004-06) and women’s hockey (2002-05). In cross country, Marlene was named to the All-WIAC (2002, 2005) and All-Region (2002, 2003, 2005) teams and qualified for the NCAA Championships in 2005. In track and field, she was a member of the UWRF record-holding 4x800 relay team. In women’s hockey, Marlene was named to the All-NCHA (2002-05) and All-American (2003) teams. She was a member of the 2003 NCHA conference championship team and UWRF’s first women’s hockey final four team. She still holds UWRF goaltending records for single season saves, single season save percentage, career saves and career save percentage. Marlene graduated from UWRF in 2006 with degrees in business administration and computer science.
 
Vicki (Cooper) Janisch - Vicki was a member of the Falcon track and field team from 2006-08. During her career, Vicki won WIAC titles in indoor shot put (2008), outdoor javelin (2007) and outdoor shot put (2008). She was named All-American for indoor shot put (2008), outdoor shot put (2007, 2008) and outdoor discus (2008), and was also a member of the 2008 NCAA Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship team. She still holds UWRF records for indoor and outdoor shot put. Vicki graduated from UWRF in 2008 with degrees in art and marking communications.
 
Krista (Hasselquist) Oldenburg – Krista was a member of the Falcon track and field team from 2005-08. During her career, Krista won WIAC titles in outdoor shot put (2007) and outdoor discus (2008) and was named WIAC indoor scholar-athlete in 2008. She was named All-American for indoor shot put (2007, 2008) and outdoor shot put (2007, 2008), and was also a member of the 2008 NCAA Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship team. She still holds UWRF records for indoor weight throw and outdoor discus. Krista graduated from UWRF in 2009 with a degree in health and human performance.
 
Faye Perkins - Faye was the head softball coach at UWRF from 1989 to 2007 and 2012 to 2015. During her 22 years as head coach, Coach Perkins amassed 479 career wins with the Falcons, the most in program history. She led the Falcons to three conference championships and three NCAA tournament appearances. In 1996, she was named WIAC Coach of the Year, and she led the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Great Lakes Region Coaching Staff of the Year in 2012. In addition to serving as the head softball coach, Faye also served in several other capacities at UWRF including professor and department chair of the Health and Human Performance Department, Interim Dean of the College of Education and Professional Studies and Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. She was inducted into the Iowa State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004 and the new Falcon softball field was named in her honor in 2019.
 
Mike Piette - Mike was a member of the Falcon men’s hockey team from 1980-83. During his career, Mike was named to the All-WIAC (1983) and All-NCHA (1983) teams. He was a member of two WIAC conference championship teams (1982, 1983) and was also a member of the 1983 NAIA Championship team. He was named to the NAIA All-Tournament Team in 1983 and the WIAC Men’s Hockey All-Time Team in 2012. Mike graduated from UWRF in 1983 with degrees in finance and economics.
 
Jim Thies - Jim served as sports information director (SID) for 39 years (1976-2015). For most of his tenure he was also UWRF’s assistant public affairs director. He was a member of several UWRF committees including budget, public relations, academic staff council and Athletic Hall of Fame. The SI department employed hundreds of students who worked as writers, web designers, in-game statistic keepers, public address announcers, DJs, social media producers and several other duties. He credits those students with playing a major role in all of the success the SI department enjoyed.  Thies’ greatest joys came from observing, and hopefully helping in some cases, the students grow and mature into loving family members and positive contributors to their communities in their personal and professional lives. Thies wants to thank everyone who supported and helped him during his career at UWRF, especially his friends and all members of his family who stood by and with him through thick and thin.
 
Becca (Jordahl) Wingenbach - Becca was a member of the Falcon cross country team from 2006-08 and track and field team in 2008. In cross country, Becca was named to the All-WIAC (2006-08), All-Region (2006-08) and All-American (2006-08) teams. She won the WIAC title in 2008 and the Midwest Region title in 2007. She was named USTFCCA Midwest Region Athlete of the Year in 2007 and was named to the WIAC Women’s Cross Country All-Time Team in 2012. She still holds UWRF records for the 5,000 and 6,000 meters. In track and field, Becca won WIAC titles in 2008 in the indoor 3,000 and 5,000 meters and outdoor 5,000 and 10,000 meters. She won the NCAA title in the outdoor 5,000 meters and was named All-American in the indoor 5,000 meters and outdoor 5,000 and 10,000 meters. She was also a member of the 2008 NCAA Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship team. She still holds UWRF records for the indoor 3,000 and 5,000 meters and outdoor 3,000, 5,000 and 10,000 meters. Becca graduated from UWRF in 2010 with a degree in exercise and sport science.
 
1994 Men’s Hockey Team - Under the leadership of head coach Dean Talafous, the team finished the 1993-94 season with an overall record of 21-8-4. Sophomore forward Russ Johnson led the team with 12 goals, 32 assists and 44 points, and sophomore defenseman Aaron Arf was named to the American Hockey Coaches Association All-American team. In the NCAA playoffs, the Falcons defeated UW-Stevens Point, 4-2 and 4-3, in a quarterfinal series played in Stevens Point, and then the team defeated SUNY Fredonia 4-3 in the semifinal game played in Superior. The championship game was also played in Superior, where the Falcons defeated UW-Superior 6-4 to claim the NCAA title. This was the second NCAA title for the men’s hockey program and third overall national championship.