Morningside to induct four athletes into Hall of Fame
Posted: Thursday, October 09, 2008
Morningside College will induct former athletes Melissa (McWilliams) Hansen, the late Karl Kletschke, A.G. Kruger and Lerlean Johnson into the M-Club Athletic Hall of Fame as part of its Homecoming festivities on Saturday while John Vanderloo will be honored as the M-Club's 2008 Coach of the Year.
The induction ceremony will take place at the annual M-Club brunch on Saturday, starting at 10:30 a.m. in the Yockey Room of the Olsen Student Center, 3609 Peters Ave. Cost of the brunch is $12 and reservations can be made by calling (712) 274-5192. The reservation deadline is Friday and the cost at the door is $15.
Hansen, a 2000 Morningside graduate who now resides in Omaha, was a three-time first-team All-North Central Conference softball performer who had a .362 career hitter with 25 home runs, 46 doubles, 11 triples and 141 RBIs. As a senior in 1999, she was named a first-team Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association NCAA Division II All-American, batting .407 with 14 doubles, five triples, 11 home runs and 44 RBIs.
Johnson, a 1984 Morningside graduate who now resides in Decatur, Ga., was a women's basketball standout who ranks among the leading scorers (1,288 points) and rebounders (865 rebounds) in school history. As a sophomore in 1981-82, Johnson helped lead Morningside to the first of its record run of eight consecutive Io-Kota championships which included school-record 16-win seasons in 1981-82 (16-8 record) and 1983-84 (16-9).
Kletschke, a 1951 Morningside graduate, was a standout as a pitcher and a first baseman for the college's baseball team and is believed to be the recipient of the first baseball scholarship in school history. He led Morningside in pitching wins, batting average and home runs in each of his four seasons, highlighted by his senior year, when he went 4-2 on the mound, batted .383 and slugged seven home runs for a 10-4 squad.
The founder of Karlton's Clothiers and Tailors, which is still at its original location in Sioux City, Kletschke died in 2006. Following his death, the Karl Kletschke Memorial Baseball Scholarship was established at Morningside.
Kruger, a 2002 Morningside graduate who resides and trains in Ashland, Ohio, is the only Olympian in school history, having competed in the men's hammer throw at the 2004 Summer Games in Athens, Greece and the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, China.
While at Morningside, Kruger was a two-time NCAA Division II All-American in the hammer throw and won the event at the Division II national meet in 2001. He was also a two-time All-American in the weight throw, an All-American in the discus and also started at tight end for the Mustangs' football team.
Vanderloo, a 1991 Morningside graduate, has spent the last four seasons as Sioux City North's head boys basketball coach and has guided his last two teams to the Class 4A state tournament. Before arriving to North, Vanderloo was Woodbury Central's head boys basketball coach for four seasons. He has a 129-58 career record.
The induction ceremony will take place at the annual M-Club brunch on Saturday, starting at 10:30 a.m. in the Yockey Room of the Olsen Student Center, 3609 Peters Ave. Cost of the brunch is $12 and reservations can be made by calling (712) 274-5192. The reservation deadline is Friday and the cost at the door is $15.
Hansen, a 2000 Morningside graduate who now resides in Omaha, was a three-time first-team All-North Central Conference softball performer who had a .362 career hitter with 25 home runs, 46 doubles, 11 triples and 141 RBIs. As a senior in 1999, she was named a first-team Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association NCAA Division II All-American, batting .407 with 14 doubles, five triples, 11 home runs and 44 RBIs.
Johnson, a 1984 Morningside graduate who now resides in Decatur, Ga., was a women's basketball standout who ranks among the leading scorers (1,288 points) and rebounders (865 rebounds) in school history. As a sophomore in 1981-82, Johnson helped lead Morningside to the first of its record run of eight consecutive Io-Kota championships which included school-record 16-win seasons in 1981-82 (16-8 record) and 1983-84 (16-9).
Kletschke, a 1951 Morningside graduate, was a standout as a pitcher and a first baseman for the college's baseball team and is believed to be the recipient of the first baseball scholarship in school history. He led Morningside in pitching wins, batting average and home runs in each of his four seasons, highlighted by his senior year, when he went 4-2 on the mound, batted .383 and slugged seven home runs for a 10-4 squad.
The founder of Karlton's Clothiers and Tailors, which is still at its original location in Sioux City, Kletschke died in 2006. Following his death, the Karl Kletschke Memorial Baseball Scholarship was established at Morningside.
Kruger, a 2002 Morningside graduate who resides and trains in Ashland, Ohio, is the only Olympian in school history, having competed in the men's hammer throw at the 2004 Summer Games in Athens, Greece and the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, China.
While at Morningside, Kruger was a two-time NCAA Division II All-American in the hammer throw and won the event at the Division II national meet in 2001. He was also a two-time All-American in the weight throw, an All-American in the discus and also started at tight end for the Mustangs' football team.
Vanderloo, a 1991 Morningside graduate, has spent the last four seasons as Sioux City North's head boys basketball coach and has guided his last two teams to the Class 4A state tournament. Before arriving to North, Vanderloo was Woodbury Central's head boys basketball coach for four seasons. He has a 129-58 career record.
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