The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has announced its 54th Hall of Fame Class.
Former student-athletes Megan (Kay) Bergholz ‘05, Randy Blasczyk ‘88, Megan (Koeller) Rojemann ’03, Matt Larsen ’98, Joe Shere ’02 and Chad Wurth ‘04 will be inducted. Former coach and longtime Warhawk supporter Irv Madsen will also be inducted as the Distinguished Service Award recipient.
All seven 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, Oct. 20, at 2 p.m. Inductees will be part of the Homecoming Parade, which begins at 10 a.m., and be honored at halftime of the football game and at the annual Hall of Fame banquet, which begins following the contest at 5:30 p.m. at the University Center’s Hamilton Room.
To purchase tickets for the game and/or Hall of Fame Banquet, visit the Hall of Fame Registration Web Page.
For more information regarding the banquet, contact Joyce Follis at 262-473-2360 or follisj@charter.net.
Megan (Kay) Bergholz competed for the UW-Whitewater volleyball team from 2000-03. The Dickeyville, Wis., native was a member of the 2002 national championship team and was selected first team All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, all-region and honorable mention All-America in 2003 after leading the Warhawks to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Bergholz was also a part of three WIAC regular season and tournament championship teams (2000, 2001, 2002) and two national runner-up teams (2000, 2001). A middle blocker, Bergholz ranks among the top five in the program record book in career blocks (484) and career matches with 10 or more blocks (3), and is among the top 20 in career hitting percentage (.295), kills (962) and attacks (2,349). Bergholz graduated with a bachelor’s in elementary education.
Randy Blasczyk was a member of the UW-Whitewater men’s track and field program in 1985 and from 1987-88. During his standout career, he was a three-time All-American in the pole vault, finishing as national runner-up at the indoor meet in 1988, fourth at the outdoor meet in 1987 and sixth at the indoor championships in 1987. The three-year letter winner helped the Warhawks place seventh in the nation at the 1988 NCAA Indoor Championships and 17th at the 1987 indoor meet. A Green Bay, Wis., native, Blasczyk graduated from UW-Whitewater with a degree in production operations management.
Megan (Koeller) Rojemann was a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American and three-time first team All-WIAC honoree for the UW-Whitewater softball team from 2000-03. The outfielder/catcher helped the Warhawks claim the 2003 WIAC Tournament championship and reach the NCAA Tournament in 2000 and 2003. A two-time all-region selection, Koeller earned the 2003 WIAC Softball Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete Award for her accomplishments in athletics, academics and community engagement. The Potosi, Wis., native is the WIAC’s all-time leader in career doubles (60) and ranks among the league’s top 15 in career hits (206). Her career batting average of .368 ranks 11th in program history. Koeller graduated with a degree in elementary education.
Matt Larsen was a four-year standout for the men’s cross country and track and field programs from 1993-95 and in 1997. He was a two-time All-American and three-time national qualifier in cross country, helping the team place among the top 20 at the NCAA Championships three times during his career (1994, 1995, 1997). A three-time All-WIAC and All-Region runner, Larsen owns the No. 11 personal record time in the 8-kilometer race in program history (24:49) and holds the eighth-fastest Warhawk time on the UW-Whitewater course in the school record book (26:06). He was also the team’s Most Valuable Runner twice during his career. In track and field, Larsen was an outdoor All-American in the 5,000-meter run, placing third at the national championship meet in 1997. He was a WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll member in 1997-98. A Racine, Wis., native, Larsen graduated with a degree in special education.
Joe Shere was named all-conference and all-region three times as an infielder and pitcher during his four-year career with the UW-Whitewater baseball team from 1999-2002. The Janesville, Wis., native was also a part of back-to-back WIAC championship and NCAA Tournament teams in 2000 and 2001, earning the team’s Most Valuable Player award in 2000. A four-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll and two-time WIAC Player of the Week selection, Shere ranks among the top 10 in program history in career doubles (40), stolen bases (51) and hits (187). He graduated with a bachelor’s in finance.
Chad Wurth was a two-time All-American as a kicker who also enjoyed a strong career as a running back for the Warhawk football team. During his career, which spanned from 2000-03, Wurth was selected All-WIAC four times, was named a WIAC Player of the Week five times and was a captain and the team’s Most Valuable Player as a senior in 2003. He currently ranks among the conference’s all-time top 15 in rushing attempts (967), points scored (366), rushing yards (4,301), field goals made (27) and field goals attempted (42). His 37 rushing touchdowns rank fourth in program history and his 61 made PATs rank 10th. Wurth rushed for 1,000 yards or more in three straight seasons, tied for the most by one player in program history. A Monona, Wis., native, Wurth graduated with a degree in history.
Irv Madsen has been an avid supporter of the UW-Whitewater athletic department and its teams for more than 50 years. During that time, he served as public address announcer at football games, becoming the main voice associated with attending a game at Perkins Stadium. Madsen was also public address announcer for the men’s and women’s basketball programs for more than 20 years, and was a member of the Quarterback Club (football) and Tip Off Club (men’s basketball) booster groups for more than 35 years. Madsen was previously inducted into the Warhawk Athletics Hall of Fame under the category of coach/administrator in 2004 after amassing a 264-106-2 record and leading UW-Whitewater to two conference championships and eight national tournament appearances in his 10 seasons as head softball coach (1982-86, 1994-98). His career winning percentage of .712 ranks 27th all time among NCAA Division III coaches with at least 10 years as a Division III head coach.
