University of St. Thomas Athletics
St. Thomas Athletics announces 2023 inductees to Hall of Fame
8/23/2023 9:30:00 AM | Baseball, Football, Athletics, Men's Golf, Women's Cross Country, Women's Swimming & Diving, Women's Track & Field
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The University of St. Thomas athletics department has announced its 2023 Hall of Fame class, which includes four individuals and two teams that will be inducted during an on-campus ceremony on Oct. 27, 2023.
The 2023 class spans from the late 1940s through 2017 and represents six different Tommie sports programs:
- Aaron Benner (Football, 1987-90)
- Alex Kapraun (Men's Golf, 2011-15)
- Emma Paulson (Swim & Dive, 2014-17)
- Katie Theisen Anderson (Cross Country/Track & Field, 2005-09)
- Team: 1948 Football (75th Anniversary of Cigar Bowl Team)
- Team: 2001 Baseball (NCAA Champions)
St. Thomas has inducted Hall of Fame members every three years since its first induction class in 1974. The inductions and ceremonies shifted to an annual selection process last year with the 2022 class. This year is a special class with the induction of two accomplished St. Thomas teams.
The overall Tommie Athletics Hall of Fame now includes 224 individuals and four teams.
Ceremonies
The 2023 Hall of Fame event will take place Friday, Oct. 27 on campus at the James B. Woulfe Alumni Hall.
Ticket information will follow in the coming days on TommieSports.com.
On Saturday, Oct. 28, the Hall of Fame inductees will be introduced at halftime of the 1 p.m. St. Thomas versus Marist football game at O'Shaughnessy Stadium.
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2023 St. Thomas Athletics Hall of Fame Inductees
Aaron Benner, Football (Class of 1990)
Helped Tommie Football win 1990 MIAC Championship and reach quarterfinal round of NCAA Division III Football Championship… finished career among top five in program history in receptions, receiving yards, all-purpose yards, and punt return yards… tallied 1,014 receiving yards as a senior… recorded three touchdown receptions in one quarter during a conference game… totaled 180 receiving yards during second half of 1990 NCAA postseason quarterfinal game at Central.
Alex Kapraun, Men's Golf (Class of 2015)
A four-time PING Golf Coaches Association of America All-America honoree, including three selections to the second team and one to honorable mention… a two-time Division III Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-American Scholar… a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American… the 2014-15 NCAA Elite 89 Winner… a two-time MIAC Elite 22 recipient… co-champion of the 2011-12 MIAC Conference Meet as a freshman to earn MIAC Rookie of the Year honors… named the 2014-15 MIAC Player of the Year… tied for 13th at 2015 NCAA Championships and led Tommies team to finish 12th in the nation… finished 14th at 2012 NCAA Championships and 27th at 2013 NCAA Championships… helped Tommies to 2011-12 MIAC Championship, the program's first conference title in 31 years… a four-time all-conference honoree… finished second at the conference meet during 2012-13, and sixth in 2013-14 and 2014-15… led the conference in stroke average as a junior and senior… ranked among the top three in the conference in stroke average all four seasons… a six-time MIAC Player of the Week… career scoring average of 74.3 held as the top mark in program history.
Emma Paulsen, Swim & Dive (Class of 2017)
Won three NCAA Division III individual titles (500 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 200 backstroke) as a junior in 2016… three individual titles in one championship meet tied for the fifth most by a Division III female swimmer… named the Honda Division III Swimmer of the Year and the Most Outstanding Women's Swimmer at the national meet… a nine-time All-America and eight-time relay All-America Honorable Mention honoree… a national runner-up in the 200 backstroke and placed in the top four during two other events… twice voted a CoSIDA Academic All-America… an 18-time MIAC champion… two-time MIAC Swimmer of the Year… broke three MIAC all-time records during the 2016 nationals in the 50 freestyle (22.77), 100 backstroke (54.43), and the 200 backstroke (1:56.33)… helped the 2016 Tommies win their program's first conference team championship… held 10 St. Thomas individual and relay records at the time of graduating… a 2012 Olympic Trials qualifier in the 100-yard backstroke... a National Interscholastic Coaches Award All-America honoree.
Katie Theisen Anderson, Cross Country/Track & Field (Class of 2009)
Six-time All-American in cross country and track & field… two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American First Team… 2009 NCAA runner-up in steeplechase with conference record time of 10:27.58… anchored the St. Thomas distance medley relay to runner-up NCAA indoor finishes in 2008 and 2009… anchored distance medley relay to first at 2009 Drake Relays, the conference's first relay win at Drake in 77 years… competed at four NCAA Cross Country Championships, finishing 13th in 2008, 20th in 2007, 36th in 2006, and 71st in 2005… helped cross country and indoor/outdoor track & field teams to 11 of possible 12 MIAC Championships… contributed to 263 team points in eight career conference track & field meets… a four-time All-MIAC honoree in cross country… a nine-time MIAC Athlete of the Week… among 30 national finalists for the NCAA Woman of the Year award… named the 2008-09 MIAC Female Student-Athlete of the Year by College Sporting News… awarded Goldwater Scholarship as an undergrad… lone female recipient of NCAA's prestigious Walter Byers Award and $24,000 postgraduate scholarship… received $7,500 NCAA postgraduate scholarship.
1948 Tommie Football Team
Tommie Football celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Cigar Bowl hosted in Tampa, Fla., the program's first New Year's Day bowl game… the Toms rallied from a 13-0 halftime deficit to end the game in a 13-13 tie against Missouri Valley Teachers College… Head Coach Frank Deig led the team to a 7-1-1 record and the 1948 MIAC Championship, its eighth conference championship in program history… four student-athletes were named to the all-state team including Ed Krowka, Jack O'Brien, Jack Salscheider, and Don Simonson… Salscheider was awarded Little All-American honors… a second-half rally and 27-26 win over St. Norbert's began seven straight wins to start the 1948 season… the Tommies outscored their opponents 244-84 on the season, which included four shutouts… St. Thomas trounced St. Mary's, 46-0, to claim its Homecoming win.
2001 Tommie Baseball Team
The third time was the charm as Tommie Baseball followed up back-to-back runner-up finishes at the College World Series with the 2001 NCAA Division III National Championship tile… the Toms went 4-1 through the NCAA Tournament to secure the first national title in program and conference history… St. Thomas avenged a semifinals loss to beat Marietta College 8-4 in the national title game and outscored its opponents 46-20 during the postseason tournament… Head Coach Dennis Denning, in his seventh season, was named the 2001 Division III National Coach of the Year… the Denning-era continued its success with a 255-69 record, the third-best win-loss record in Division III at the time… Brad Bonine was named the College World Series Most Valuable Player… five Tommies were named to the CWS All-Tournament Team including Bonine, Tom Carroll, Jake Mauer, Brian Whinnery, and Tony Wolverton… the Purple led all of NCAA Division III with a .372 batting average in 2001… St. Thomas was ranked No. 1 in the nation and entered May with a 27-4 record before finishing with marks of 15-5 in the MIAC and 39-10 overall… after finishing the regular season third in the MIAC standings, the Tommies opened the MIAC Playoffs with wins of 10-2 and 13-3 before taking the conference title with a 9-2 victory over St. Olaf… Mauer was named the Co-Player of the Year and second team All-American, and was one of four Tommies to earn all-conference honors including Wolverton, Matt Buzzell, Bryan Edstrom… Mauer set program records in hits (243), runs (181), and games played (181), and had a 30-game hitting streak in 2001, in addition to being named MIAC Player of the Week once… Buzzell led the MIAC in triples (4), Wolverton led in stolen bases (9), and Nick Beissel led in home runs (10)… as a team, the Purple led the MIAC in runs (206), triples (14), home runs (32), walks (68), and batting average (.377)… the Tommies offensive marks were some of the best in conference history, ranking third all-time in runs scored, fourth in triples, fifth in RBI (174), and also recorded the second-fewest walks allowed (32), at the time… Mark Fenstad tied an NCAA single-game record with two triples in one inning on April 24 against Wisconsin-Stout.
St. Thomas Athletics Hall of Fame
Click HERE to view the 2023 St. Thomas Athletics Hall of Fame page
Click HERE to view more information about the St. Thomas Athletics Hall of Fame selection process
Click HERE to view the St. Thomas Athletics Hall of Fame
Follow Along
For more information on St. Thomas Athletics, follow along on Twitter, Instagram and Threads at @TommieAthletics
-- St. Thomas Athletics --
The 2023 class spans from the late 1940s through 2017 and represents six different Tommie sports programs:
- Aaron Benner (Football, 1987-90)
- Alex Kapraun (Men's Golf, 2011-15)
- Emma Paulson (Swim & Dive, 2014-17)
- Katie Theisen Anderson (Cross Country/Track & Field, 2005-09)
- Team: 1948 Football (75th Anniversary of Cigar Bowl Team)
- Team: 2001 Baseball (NCAA Champions)
St. Thomas has inducted Hall of Fame members every three years since its first induction class in 1974. The inductions and ceremonies shifted to an annual selection process last year with the 2022 class. This year is a special class with the induction of two accomplished St. Thomas teams.
The overall Tommie Athletics Hall of Fame now includes 224 individuals and four teams.
Ceremonies
The 2023 Hall of Fame event will take place Friday, Oct. 27 on campus at the James B. Woulfe Alumni Hall.
Ticket information will follow in the coming days on TommieSports.com.
On Saturday, Oct. 28, the Hall of Fame inductees will be introduced at halftime of the 1 p.m. St. Thomas versus Marist football game at O'Shaughnessy Stadium.
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2023 St. Thomas Athletics Hall of Fame Inductees
Aaron Benner, Football (Class of 1990)
Helped Tommie Football win 1990 MIAC Championship and reach quarterfinal round of NCAA Division III Football Championship… finished career among top five in program history in receptions, receiving yards, all-purpose yards, and punt return yards… tallied 1,014 receiving yards as a senior… recorded three touchdown receptions in one quarter during a conference game… totaled 180 receiving yards during second half of 1990 NCAA postseason quarterfinal game at Central.
Alex Kapraun, Men's Golf (Class of 2015)
A four-time PING Golf Coaches Association of America All-America honoree, including three selections to the second team and one to honorable mention… a two-time Division III Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-American Scholar… a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American… the 2014-15 NCAA Elite 89 Winner… a two-time MIAC Elite 22 recipient… co-champion of the 2011-12 MIAC Conference Meet as a freshman to earn MIAC Rookie of the Year honors… named the 2014-15 MIAC Player of the Year… tied for 13th at 2015 NCAA Championships and led Tommies team to finish 12th in the nation… finished 14th at 2012 NCAA Championships and 27th at 2013 NCAA Championships… helped Tommies to 2011-12 MIAC Championship, the program's first conference title in 31 years… a four-time all-conference honoree… finished second at the conference meet during 2012-13, and sixth in 2013-14 and 2014-15… led the conference in stroke average as a junior and senior… ranked among the top three in the conference in stroke average all four seasons… a six-time MIAC Player of the Week… career scoring average of 74.3 held as the top mark in program history.
Emma Paulsen, Swim & Dive (Class of 2017)
Won three NCAA Division III individual titles (500 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 200 backstroke) as a junior in 2016… three individual titles in one championship meet tied for the fifth most by a Division III female swimmer… named the Honda Division III Swimmer of the Year and the Most Outstanding Women's Swimmer at the national meet… a nine-time All-America and eight-time relay All-America Honorable Mention honoree… a national runner-up in the 200 backstroke and placed in the top four during two other events… twice voted a CoSIDA Academic All-America… an 18-time MIAC champion… two-time MIAC Swimmer of the Year… broke three MIAC all-time records during the 2016 nationals in the 50 freestyle (22.77), 100 backstroke (54.43), and the 200 backstroke (1:56.33)… helped the 2016 Tommies win their program's first conference team championship… held 10 St. Thomas individual and relay records at the time of graduating… a 2012 Olympic Trials qualifier in the 100-yard backstroke... a National Interscholastic Coaches Award All-America honoree.
Katie Theisen Anderson, Cross Country/Track & Field (Class of 2009)
Six-time All-American in cross country and track & field… two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American First Team… 2009 NCAA runner-up in steeplechase with conference record time of 10:27.58… anchored the St. Thomas distance medley relay to runner-up NCAA indoor finishes in 2008 and 2009… anchored distance medley relay to first at 2009 Drake Relays, the conference's first relay win at Drake in 77 years… competed at four NCAA Cross Country Championships, finishing 13th in 2008, 20th in 2007, 36th in 2006, and 71st in 2005… helped cross country and indoor/outdoor track & field teams to 11 of possible 12 MIAC Championships… contributed to 263 team points in eight career conference track & field meets… a four-time All-MIAC honoree in cross country… a nine-time MIAC Athlete of the Week… among 30 national finalists for the NCAA Woman of the Year award… named the 2008-09 MIAC Female Student-Athlete of the Year by College Sporting News… awarded Goldwater Scholarship as an undergrad… lone female recipient of NCAA's prestigious Walter Byers Award and $24,000 postgraduate scholarship… received $7,500 NCAA postgraduate scholarship.
1948 Tommie Football Team
Tommie Football celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Cigar Bowl hosted in Tampa, Fla., the program's first New Year's Day bowl game… the Toms rallied from a 13-0 halftime deficit to end the game in a 13-13 tie against Missouri Valley Teachers College… Head Coach Frank Deig led the team to a 7-1-1 record and the 1948 MIAC Championship, its eighth conference championship in program history… four student-athletes were named to the all-state team including Ed Krowka, Jack O'Brien, Jack Salscheider, and Don Simonson… Salscheider was awarded Little All-American honors… a second-half rally and 27-26 win over St. Norbert's began seven straight wins to start the 1948 season… the Tommies outscored their opponents 244-84 on the season, which included four shutouts… St. Thomas trounced St. Mary's, 46-0, to claim its Homecoming win.
2001 Tommie Baseball Team
The third time was the charm as Tommie Baseball followed up back-to-back runner-up finishes at the College World Series with the 2001 NCAA Division III National Championship tile… the Toms went 4-1 through the NCAA Tournament to secure the first national title in program and conference history… St. Thomas avenged a semifinals loss to beat Marietta College 8-4 in the national title game and outscored its opponents 46-20 during the postseason tournament… Head Coach Dennis Denning, in his seventh season, was named the 2001 Division III National Coach of the Year… the Denning-era continued its success with a 255-69 record, the third-best win-loss record in Division III at the time… Brad Bonine was named the College World Series Most Valuable Player… five Tommies were named to the CWS All-Tournament Team including Bonine, Tom Carroll, Jake Mauer, Brian Whinnery, and Tony Wolverton… the Purple led all of NCAA Division III with a .372 batting average in 2001… St. Thomas was ranked No. 1 in the nation and entered May with a 27-4 record before finishing with marks of 15-5 in the MIAC and 39-10 overall… after finishing the regular season third in the MIAC standings, the Tommies opened the MIAC Playoffs with wins of 10-2 and 13-3 before taking the conference title with a 9-2 victory over St. Olaf… Mauer was named the Co-Player of the Year and second team All-American, and was one of four Tommies to earn all-conference honors including Wolverton, Matt Buzzell, Bryan Edstrom… Mauer set program records in hits (243), runs (181), and games played (181), and had a 30-game hitting streak in 2001, in addition to being named MIAC Player of the Week once… Buzzell led the MIAC in triples (4), Wolverton led in stolen bases (9), and Nick Beissel led in home runs (10)… as a team, the Purple led the MIAC in runs (206), triples (14), home runs (32), walks (68), and batting average (.377)… the Tommies offensive marks were some of the best in conference history, ranking third all-time in runs scored, fourth in triples, fifth in RBI (174), and also recorded the second-fewest walks allowed (32), at the time… Mark Fenstad tied an NCAA single-game record with two triples in one inning on April 24 against Wisconsin-Stout.
St. Thomas Athletics Hall of Fame
Click HERE to view the 2023 St. Thomas Athletics Hall of Fame page
Click HERE to view more information about the St. Thomas Athletics Hall of Fame selection process
Click HERE to view the St. Thomas Athletics Hall of Fame
Follow Along
For more information on St. Thomas Athletics, follow along on Twitter, Instagram and Threads at @TommieAthletics
-- St. Thomas Athletics --
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