PLATTEVILLE,
Wis. -- The University of Wisconsin-Platteville inducted five new
members into the university’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Former head
track and field coach Jim Nickasch, and former student-athletes
Kristin Haase (1993-1998), Brian Hagen (1994-99), Craig Kohn
(1990-94), and Keri (Wells) Meverden (1995-99) were honored during
a ceremony on Saturday.
Jim
Nickasch (Appleton, Wis.) was at the
helm of the men’s and women’s track
and field teams for 11 years (2001-12). Under Nickasch’s
guidance, the men’s team brought home third-place finishes at
the 2005 NCAA III Indoor Championships and the 2008 NCAA Indoor
Championships as well as a fourth-place finish at the 2007 NCAA
Outdoor Championships. He saw 17 individual or relay national
champions (8 men, 9 women) and guided a combined 33 women
individual/relay All-Americans and 54 men individual/relay
All-Americans. Under Nickasch’s tutelage, the Pioneers set
over 65 men’s and women’s school records. Prior
to taking over the track program, he was a volunteer coach for the
Pioneers from 1989-95 and coached seven different individuals to 15
All-American honors.
Kristin
Haase (Eden Prairie, Minn.) was a
three-time all-conference soccer selection and was named
player of the week five different times during her
career. She is still in the WIAC record book for her five-goal game
against Marian on Sept. 7, 1995. Haase ranks tied for third (14)
and fifth (11) in goals scored in a season in program history and
is also tied for the most assists in a year with seven. For her
career, Haase is tied for second in school history with 34 goals
and is second in points with 80.
Brian
Hagen (Racine, Wis.) was a four
time all-state soccer selection and was awarded the Captain’s
Council Award in 1999. In 1998, he tallied 22 goals and 53
points, which is fifth most in program history. Hagen ended his
stellar career in the Orange and Blue with the fourth most goals
(51), fifth most points (131) and sixth most assists (29) in school
history.
Craig
Kohn (West Bend, Wis.) was the
Pioneers’ first pole vaulter to earn All-American honors. He
finished sixth at the 1992 indoor national championships and eighth
at the 1994 outdoor championships. Kohn garnered first team
all-WSUC honors twice and second team honors once. He set the
school indoor record in 1991 at 15-feet-9-inches and then the
outdoor record in 1994 at the same height.
Keri (Wells)
Meverden (Waterloo, Wis.) was a
eight-time All-American on the track and qualified for the 1998
NCAA III Cross Country National Championships. Her fourth-place
finish in the 5,000-meter run in the 1997 indoor national track
championships marked the Pioneers’ first indoor All-American
honor. Meverden went on to finish national runner-up in the
5,000-meter run in the 1998 and 1999 indoor championships. She
earned all-conference honors four times in cross country and seven
times in track and field. Meverden was named UW-Platteville’s
Female Athlete of the year three times and was the
Pioneers’ nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year in
1999.
