Class 08-09

Hall of Fame Class of 2008-09

Fritz Brennecke, Football/Baseball, 1934
Brennecke was a two-sport athlete who played on the 1934 team that defeated the University of Colorado. He was also a standout catcher for the baseball team and won the regional Amateur Athletic Association Middleweight Boxing Championship in 1934-35. He went on to coach football at the Colorado School of Mines from 1947-69 and was the Orediggers Director of Athletics from 1947-76. He was also a member of the NCAA Football Rules Committee from 1961-67 and the Colorado State Athletic Commission from 1949-63. He was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 1980, the Colorado School of Mines Hall of Fame in 1996 and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Hall of Fame in 2004. In 2001, Brennecke was also honored with a Congressional Tribute after his service to the country during World War II after 50 combat flights as waist-gunner aboard a B-24. (deceased)

Jules Doubenmier, Faculty/Staff, 1925-61
Doubenmeier was the men's basketball coach from 1937 to 1940 and served on the University faculty from 1925 to 1961, holding several different positions including professor of health education, intramural sports director and swimming coach. As a basketball coach, he compiled a record of 33-24 and won one conference title. He was also elected to the National Basketball Officials Hall of Fame in 1957. (deceased)

Pat Haggerty, Baseball/Basketball, 1951
Haggerty was a two-sport athlete for the Bears, playing both baseball and basketball. Upon his graduation, he played professional baseball in the Detroit Tigers organization, then became a teacher and coach in the Denver Public Schools. He was also an official in the National Football League from 1965-92 and is currently listed as a nominee for the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a contributor. He refereed three Super Bowl games and after retiring, continued to work in the league as a monitor for officials. He was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 2005. (deceased)

Gary Harper, Baseball, 1961-63
Harper was a three-year starter for the Bears at third-base, helping lead the team to Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and Regional titles all three seasons, as well as College World Series berths in both 1961 and 1962. Under legendary coach and Hall of Fame member Pete Butler, Harper had a career .360 batting average, earning all-RMAC honors in 1961 after hitting .390. (deceased)

Dr. Robert Heiny, Faculty/Staff, 1967-present
Heiny has been a member of the faculty at Northern Colorado since 1967. He was the NCAA Faculty Athletic Representative from 1983 to 2006 and was also the interim Athletic Director in 2004. During his time as FAR he served on the NCAA Financial Aid and Amateurism Committee, was President of the North Central Conference in 1986 and 1996 and was chair of the UNC Board of Athletic Control. He is still a member of the faculty as a professor of mathematical sciences.

Jim Hruska, Basketball, 1956-60
Hruska was a three-time all-conference pick, twice earning honorable mention honors and getting chosen to the All-Rocky Mountain second-team after his junior season. As a senior, he averaged 16.7 points and 9.7 rebounds per game, shooting almost 44 percent from the field, finishing his career as the school's career leader in scoring with 1,330 points. He still ranks among the all-time leaders in scoring (1,330), rebounds (754), field goals made (479) and free throws made (420) in Northern Colorado history. In his last two seasons, he ranked among the top five in scoring in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference

Joe Lindahl, Faculty/Staff, 1954-82
Lindahl came to Northern Colorado in 1954 as the head football coach of the Bears, posting a career-record of 35-44-4 in nine seasons before moving into administration. He was an assistant athletic director under Hall of Famer John Hancock and served as the director of athletics from 1975-1982. Prior to joining UNC, Lindahl played professional football for the New York Giants in 1945. He is a member of the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame after playing for Wayne State (1937-40) where he earned All-America honors three times. (deceased)

Rick Petri, Golf, 1976-79
Petri was a two-time winner of individual stroke average in the Rocky Mountain Intercollege Golf Association (RMIGA), earning three all-conference awards. As a senior he was a member of the team that defeated Colorado and led the team to its first appearance in the NCAA Division II Championships, where he finished 17th overall after being tied for the lead at the conclusion of day one. He became the first-ever golfer to win First-Team All-American honors and set the school record for stroke average as a senior at 72.7.

Jeff Potts, Golf, 1977-81
As a freshman, Potts earned second-team all-conference honors and was a three-time first-team selection. He was an honorable mention All-American as a junior and a First-Team pick as a senior. In his final year he finished third at the NCAA Division II Championships and placed second at the North Central Conference Championship in both his junior and senior season. As a sophomore in 1978-79, he helped lead the team to a 12th place finish at the national championships.

Aaron Smith, Football, 1994-98
A member of the Pittsburgh Steelers for 10 seasons, Smith was a four-year letterwinner for the Bears in 1994-98, leading the team in sacks in each year. Against South Dakota State on Nov. 8, 1997, Smith established the school single-game record with 4.5 sacks and he is still the career leader with 44 sacks. He helped lead Northern Colorado to back-to-back National Championship titles in 1996 and 1997 and was drafted in the fourth round by the Steelers in 1998. Smith was selected to the NFL Pro Bowl in 2004 and was a member of the 2006 and 2009 Super Bowl Champions.

Andrea Wallace, Tennis, 1991-94
A three-time All-American for Northern Colorado, Wallace earned the honors in doubles in 1992 and singles in 1993 and 1994. She played number-one singles all four seasons, winning North Central Conference titles in both singles and doubles all four years. In 1992, she was the recipient of the ITA Arthur Ashe Collegiate Award for Leadership and Sportsmanship in NCAA Division II. In 1992 and 1993 she ranked among the top 10 in the nation in singles and she and Kim Ponis were ranked third in the country as doubles players in 1992.

Trish Williamson, Basketball, 1987-91
Williamson is the only first-team All-American in women's basketball history, earning the honor in 1991. She was the all-time leading scorer at and rebounder at the conclusion of her career and still holds the rebounds record. She also ranks second in scoring, third in steals and third in free throws made. She was a three-time NCC Player of the Week Selection as well as all-conference in 1989 and 1991. In 1991 she ranked 12th in the nation in scoring, averaging 21.9 points per game.

1992 Women's Tennis Team
Head Coach: Rosemary Fri

The 1992 team finished fourth in the nation at the NCAA Division II Championships, won the North Central Conference title and had four All-American selections. The NCC crown started a run of 11 straight league titles for the Bears. Andrea Wallace, Kim Ponis, Tia Frazier, IB Hur, Krisinda Ibarra and Amber Colglazier swept play at the conference championship, winning all singles and doubles positions. Wallace, Ponis, Frazier and Hur were also named All-Americans in doubles play after both teams finished fourth at the NCAA Championship.

Team Members: Vikki Bresnahan, Amber Colglazier, Christy Clouthier, IB Hur, Krisinda Ibarra (deceased), Tia Frazier, Kim Ponis, Lori Roglitz and Andrea Wallace.

1965-66 Men's Basketball Team
Head Coach: George Sage

The team posted a 21-5 overall record, including an 11-1 mark in Rocky Mountain Conference play en route to the title. The Bears received a berth to the NCAA Small College Regional Tournament, marking the third straight trip to the tournament. The team topped the 100-point scoring mark in six games and entered the NCAA Tournament on an 11-game winning streak. Both Dennis Colson and Don Meyer were named All-American after the conclusion of the season and six different players averaged in double figures in scoring. The 21 wins also set the program record for most wins, a number that still ranks second today.

Team Members: Daryl Brumley, Dennis Colson, Willie Cross, Mike Deutcher, Carlton Floyd, Del Japp, Jim Massick, Dennie Meinke, Don Meyer, Chuck Simms, Bob Smith and Don Zile.

1992 Women's Tennis team at 2009 Induction ceremony.

1965-66 Men's Basketball team at 2009 Induction ceremony.

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