Academic and Athletic Hall of Fame to grow by seven

The Superior Academic and Athletic Hall of Fame will grow again this month with the induction of six individuals and the 1958 Central High School football team.

Academic Hall of Fame committee chairman Andy Lisak announced that Kathleen Monaghan and Kenneth A. Knudson will be awarded the Community/Employee/Volunteer Award and George Glonek will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Ray Mickolajak, chairman of the Athletic Hall of Fame, announced that Larry Hoff and Michael Pahlen will receive the Coaching Achievement Award, Sherri Odlevak will be the recipient of Individual Athletic Accomplishment and the 1958 Central High School football will be recognized for team accomplishment.

The Superior Athletic and Academic Hall of Fame banquet is Saturday, March 29 at Superior Middle School.

Doors open at 5 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6 p.m.

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will begin at 7 p.m.

Cash drawings will be held immediately following the induction ceremony.

To purchase tickets or for more information, call Ray Kosey, SHS Activities Director, at (715) 394-8720 (ext. 149).

Following are bios on the 2008 inductees:

Sheri Odlevak

Odlevak was serious about her athletic career from childhood through high school, working endlessly in the gym and on the track.

While at UW-Superior, she was named all-conference in volleyball and basketball three consecutive years, and in 1981 AIAW National Division III champion in the demanding seven event heptathlon, earning her all-American honors in track and field.

A master of ball-handling, she toured with World’s Greatest Ball-handling show, earned her master’s degree at New York University while working as assistant coach, served as associate head basketball coach at Furman University.

She now heads a Christian ministry, Dribble for Destiny, teaching “how you can use athletic talents to spread the word.”

Larry Hoff

Hoff, football coach at Superior High School from 1970-87 and again in 1993, led teams to an overall record of 117-53 in his 18 years as head coach.

A role model for youth and the community on and off the field, coach Hoff said, “Working with so many young men and hopefully making a positive influence on their lives was a privilege.”

Giving back to the community, Hoff biked around the United States to create awareness and raise funds to support a Spartan sports complex. He and his family have also created the SHS Ryan Hoff Scholarship Fund in remembrance of their son.

Michael Pahlen

Coach Pahlen’s career at SHS began in 1971. He spent 32 years as boy’s head swimming and diving coach, 24 years as girls head swimming and diving coach, 11 years as boys head tennis coach and 32 years as physical education teacher as well as being committed to developing the best student athletes.

His teams achieved numerous WIAA, dual meet and Lake Superior Conference championships.

Known for his empathy, encouragement and praise to every swimmer, regardless of individual achievement, Pahlen’s team members felt valuable as he asked only that they try their best.

“His excitement at seeing any one of us hit our ‘personal best’ time was as great as seeing one of us win,” said a former student. “He managed to take an individual sport and bind them as members together.”

1958 Central Football Team

Superior Central’s undefeated Wisconsin champion football team epitomized the golden decade of sports in the 1950’s.

The Vikings averaged 34 points per game while holding their opposition to nine points, finishing with an 18-game unbeaten string spanning three years.

The UPI press service voted them the state’s best high school team in 1958 over undefeated teams from Waukesha and Milwaukee.

The team capped its perfect local season finish with one of the most exciting and electrifying games ever played in Memorial Field.

They defeated the International Falls Broncos before 6,000 standing-room-only fans by making a spectacular 58-yard drive in the final 1:23 to win 22-20.

Members of the team were: Orville Clark, Orvin Clark, Gene Johnson, Ron Johnsted, Gerald Kettunen, Don Kruger, Karl Kunz, Jim McCarthy, Vince McGrath, Pete Nadolski, Paul Siciliano, John “Butch” Springer, Don Van Bibber, Tom Wright, Bob Brace, Chuck Crisp, Dennis Decker, Dick Driessen, Al Gagne, Tom Hill, Jim Keup, Tom Locken, Brad Nourala, Richard Sommers, AJ Wicklund, William White, Jerry Bloxham, Don Carrell, Harry Goldfine, Steve Jonlund, Wayne Kari, Jim Lawson, Mike Mahaffey, Richard Nelson, Rollie Runions and James Pederson.

The team’s coaches were Marv Crowley and Francis Paquette and the team managers were John Budd, Sam Popkins and Doug Saari.

Kathleen Monaghan

Monaghan graduated from Minnesota Duluth in 1965 and received her master’s degree at UWS in 1970. A business education teacher since 1970, Monaghan started the Business Occupations Program and the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter at SHS and was named Outstanding Advisor of the Year in 1992.

She retired in 1998, leaving a legacy of excellence, community service and civic responsibility to her students.

The Superior FBLA Chapter received first or second place honors in state competitions 26 of the 28 years she served as advisor.

Chapter students held 20 state offices, two national offices, and received numerous national awards. Superior High School was one of four chapters to receive a first place award from the March of Dimes for volunteer work.

Kenneth Knudson

Knudson, a senior shareholder in the law firm of Knudson, Gee & Torvinen, S.C., joined the firm in 1976. An experienced litigator in all facets of civil practice, school, employment and business law, he graduated from UW-Eau Claire in 1972 and received his law degree from William Mitchell College of Law in 1976.

With William Rehnstrand, Knudson developed a Mock Trial Law Day program in 1977 at SHS, which became the Wisconsin Bar Foundation State Mock Trial Program.

He worked as coach of the Superior team since the state team was established in 1983 and received the Law Related Education Attorney of the Year Award for his work with Mock Trial. He is an adjunct professor at UWS in legal studies, and regularly speaks at employment law and school law seminars in northern Wisconsin and Minnesota. Knudson has a tradition of community service, serving on local boards and being an advisor to the Superior Scholarship Foundation.

George Glonek

Judge Glonek, an outstanding student at SHS and at Marquette University and Marquette University Law School where he graduate cum laude, was a private practice attorney until 1989. Glonek became Douglas County Court commissioner in 1997 and Circuit Court judge in 2002.

He is a member of such organizations as Wisconsin Trial Judges, Criminal Justice and Drug Court Initiative, Peer Justice (Teen Court), Teen Community Service, UWS Paralegal Program Advisory Committee, Optimist Club Youth in Government Committees and as a SHS Mock Trial attorney coach.

Glonek has a clear commitment to the youth of his community. He was voted Jaycee’s Outstanding Young Superiorite in 2003 and received, among other awards, the Wisconsin Child Support Enforcement Agency Judiciary Award in 2000.

NOTES: The Community/Employee/Volunteer Award is presented to a person, company or organization that has made positive contributions that support the academic mission of the Superior community schools.

The Lifetime Achievement Award goes to an inductee who is a graduate of the Superior community schools and has met and demonstrated high academic standards, made substantial contributions to their community, achieved distinguished levels in a chosen profession or made exceptional contributions to mankind.

The Individual Athletic Accomplishment award recognizes and honors individuals who have displayed distinctive, unique or exceptional athletic accomplishment in Superior.

Team Accomplishment recognizes and honors teams that have displayed distinctive, unique or exceptional athletic accomplishment in Superior and the Coaching Achievement Award honors career achievement in coaching and recognizes individuals who have made positive contributions that support and promote Superior athletics.

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