MARSHALL, Minn. - The 15^th induction into the Southwest Minnesota State University Athletics Hall of Honor is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 5, inside the SMSU Upper Level Conference Center.
 
The festivities will begin at 10 a.m. with a half-hour social, followed by lunch and the induction ceremonies beginning at 10:30 a.m. 
 
Tickets for the lunch and ceremony are $25 per person with children $10. To reserve a ticket(s) for the banquet click HERE or call 507-537-7177.
 
The newest SMSU Athletics Hall of Honor members are former football and men's basketball player Steve Elzenga (1983-88); softball player Erin Dickhausen (2005-08); softball player Amanda (Johnson) Van Gerpen (2006-09); baseball player Colby Pack (2003-06); wheelchair basketball player Josh Turek (1997-2002); former head women's basketball coach Kelly Kruger (1991-2005); former assistant volleyball coach/community member Paul Soupir (2004-20) and community members and supporters of SMSU Athletics Bob and Sandy Fenske. Also inducted will be the 2008-09 men's basketball team that won the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and NCAA Central Region championship.
 
A 10-member committee chose the inductees from a group of nominations. The new inductees bring the membership in SMSU's Athletic Hall of Honor to 106 individuals/couples and 15 teams. The SMSU Athletics Hall of Honor, with special thanks to US Bank, is displayed in the lobby of the R/A Facility. To view the SMSU Athletics Hall of Honor, go to SMSUmustangs.com/hallofhonor.
 
The following are biographical sketches on each of the 2022 inductees:
 
Steve Elzenga • Football, 1983-87 ; Men's Basketball, 1983-88 •
A native of Westbrook, Minn. … 1983 graduate of Westbrook HS … NAIA All-America honorable mention (1987) … All-NIC first team (1987) and All-NIC honorable mention (1985) … member of program's first-ever NAIA football playoff team in 1987 … set NAIA single-season records for completions (313), passing yards (4,222) and touchdown passes (38) in 1987 … finished career ranking first in school history in passing yards (7,045), passing touchdowns (64), pass completion pct. (59.1) and second in completions (518) … played in 80 basketball games and scored 454 points.
 
Erin Dickhausen • Softball, 2005-08 •
A native of Watertown, Minn. … 2004 graduate of Watertown-Mayer HS … three-time NFCA All-Region (2006, 2007, 2008) … two-time Daktronics All-Region (2007, 2008) … two-time NSIC Player of the Year (2007, 2008) … four-time first team All-NSIC (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008) … member of three NSIC championship teams (2006, 2007, 2008) … member of NSIC Tournament championship team (2007) and three NCAA Tournament teams (2006, 2007, 2008) … finished career ranking first in school history in base hits (223), runs scored (157), triples (22), total bases (376), RBIs (127), home runs (26) and stolen bases (72)… finished career batting .355 in 198 games.
 
Amanda (Johnson) Van Gerpen • Softball, 2006-09 •
A native of Fremont, Neb. … 2005 graduate of Papillion-LaVista HS … four-time NFCA All-Region (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009) … two-time Daktronics Region Pitcher of the Year (2008, 2009) … four-time NSIC Pitcher of the Year (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009) … four-time first team All-NSIC (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009) … NSIC Newcomer of the Year (2006) … member of four NSIC championship teams (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009) and one NSIC Tournament championship team (2007) … member of four NCAA Tournament teams (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009) … selected to NCAA Regional All-Tournament team (2007) … finished career ranking first in school history in wins (98), saves (14), appearances (159), shutouts (34), innings pitched (909.1), strikeouts (1,087) and complete games (102).
 
Colby Pack • Baseball, 2003-06 •
A native of Lamberton, Minn. … 2002 graduate of Red Rock Central HS … ABCA All-America third team (2005) … NSIC Player of the Year (2005) … CoSIDA Academic All-District second team (2006) … three-time first team All-NSIC (2004, 2005, 2006) … led the 2005 team with a .414 batting average and school record 70 base hits … finished career ranking first in school history in games played (178), base hits (208), home runs (42) and total bases (374) … finished career ranking fifth in school history in RBIs (139) and doubles (36) … finished career batting .372 with 36 doubles, 42 home runs, 139 RBIs and 27 stolen bases.
 
Josh Turek • Wheelchair Basketball, 1997-2002 •
A native of Council Bluffs, Iowa … 1997 graduate of Council Bluffs Lincoln HS … four-time member of Team USA Paralympic team (2004, 2012, 2016, 2021) … member of two gold medal teams (2016, 2021) and bronze medal team (2012) … four-time NWBA All-America (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002) … finished career ranking first in school history with 4,024 points … set program single-season records in field goals made and points … set program single-game records for points, 3-pointers made and free throws made … three-time SMSU team captain … SMSU Male Athlete of the Year (2001-02) … played professional basketball for 16 years.
 
Kelly Kruger • Coach, 1987-2005 •
Served as head women's basketball coach for 14 seasons (1991-2005) … finished with career record of 234-164 … three-time NSIC Coach of the Year (1994, 2000, 2001) … SMSU won NSIC regular season championships in 2001 and 2002 and the NSIC Tournament championship in 2002 … SMSU advanced to NCAA Tournament in 2001 and 2002 … SMSU's 2001-02 team advanced to NCAA Region championship game … led SMSU to 10 winning seasons including four 20-plus win seasons … SMSU won school record 25 games in 2000-01 … coached three NCAA All-Americans and 19 All-NSIC first team honorees … also was assistant coach for SMSU men's basketball and football.
 
 
Paul Soupir • Coach, 2004-19 •
Served as volunteer assistant volleyball coach for 16 seasons … SMSU finished with a record of 410-115 during his tenure … SMSU appeared in 15 NCAA Tournaments with a national runner-up finish in 2014 … served as instructor during SMSU volleyball summer camps … coached volleyball and girls' basketball at Milroy and Tracy-Milroy High Schools for more than 25 years assisting the programs to multiple state championships.
 
Bob & Sandy Fenske • Community Members •
Avid supporters of SMSU and Mustang Athletics … witnessed the first-ever SMSU basketball and football games … active members of the SMSU Mustang Booster Club activities … involved in numerous civic organizations in the community … Bob taught and coached at the high school level for 12 years and served as Lyon County Commissioner for 20 years.
 
2008-09 Men's Basketball Team •
Finished with a record of 28-7, tying school record for victories … won the program's second-ever NSIC championship with a 17-3 record … captured the program's second-ever NCAA region championship advancing to NCAA Elite Eight in Springfield, Mass. … hosted the 2009 NCAA Region Tournament … won 15 straight games from Jan. 10 to Feb. 28 … no player averaged more than nine points or nine rebounds per game for the season … a total of 10 players averaged more than 14 minutes per game … SMSU led the NSIC in scoring defense, 3-point field goal defense, turnover margin and rebound margin … ranked as high as No. 9 in NABC Top 25 and finished the regular season ranked No. 12 … finished ninth in Division II average attendance … head coach Greg Stemen was named NSIC and NABC Region Coach of the Year.
 
The SMSU Athletics Hall of Honor was established in 1992 and inducts new members every two years. The 2021 induction ceremony was postponed due to COVID.
 
For more information on the event, log onto SMSUmustangs.com/hallofhonor.