UNIVERSITY CENTER -- Saginaw Valley State University Athletics has officially announced the Cardinal Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2019. This year's class, the 10th in the history of the inception of the program, consists of five individuals and one team.
Former student-athletes Brian Dolph, Herb Schoepke, Kelly Vasold and Brian Waliczek will join in the student-athlete category. Former baseball head coach Walt Head will be inducted in the coaching sector while the 1979-80 Men's Basketball GLIAC Championship Team will also be enshrined in this year's class under the team category.
Below are this year's inductees, who will be officially enshrined in the annual Hall of Fame Banquet on Saturday, November 16...
Brian Dolph - Football
Brian Dolph played for the Cardinals from 1997-2000, racking-up 2,919 receiving yards and 39 touchdowns for SVSU on 160 career receptions. He had a breakout 2000 season in helping lead the Cards to a GLIAC Championship and the program's first appearance in the NCAA Division II Playoffs. His 2000 season was a monster one, as he hauled-in a program and GLIAC record 20 touchdown receptions and 1,141 yards. Dolph was named the 2000 GLIAC Player of the Year and named an AFCA Division II First Team All-American. Brian was a two-time All-GLIAC First Team performer and held 13 school and league records at the end of his collegiate career.
Walt Head - Head Baseball Coach
Head began coaching for the Cardinals in the 1982-83 season and racked-up 864 victories in his career, spanning until the 2013-14 season. Saginaw Valley claimed four GLIAC Championships in that time, winning the title in 1995, 2000, 2001 and 2003. He led the team to three NCAA Division II Midwest Regional appearances (2000, 2002, 2007) and the team won a pair of NAIA District 23 titles under his watch. The Cardinals claimed a pair of GLIAC Tournament titles as well, winning the 1996 and 2003 tournaments. Walt was twice named the GLIAC "Coach of the Year" as well, earning the honor in 1995 and 2001. Three Cardinals were named GLIAC "Player of the Year" and four "Pitcher of the Year" under his tutelage as well.
Herb Schoepke - Men's Basketball
Schoepke was a standout member of the Cardinal Men's Basketball program from 1986-89. He was named an NAIA All-American in the 1989 season . Herb is third all-time in scoring at Saginaw Valley State, 5th in career rebounds and holds the program records for career free throws, single season free throws and free throw attempts. He earned All-GLIAC honors three times during his career and was twice named Academic All-GLIAC. Schoepke was the Saginaw Valley State University Team MVP his last three seasons in addition to being the team's Most Improved Player in his freshman campaign. He scored in double figures 92 times in his 111 career games played.
Kelly Vasold - Women's Track & Field
Vasold, a member of the inaugural Women's Track & Field team at Saginaw Valley, was a seven-time All-American for the Cardinals. She competed in four NAIA National Championship events in her career, highlighted by a national championship in the 3,200 meter relay in the 1984 NAIA Indoor Championships. Vasold was named an Academic All-American in 1983 and still holds four program records for the Cardinals.
Brian Waliczek - Bowling
Waliczek led the Cardinals to the 1996 National Championship and was named the National Collegiate Rookie of the Year for his performance. He earned three First Team All-American honors and was the 1998-99 National Bowler of the Year. Brian was named the 1998-99 SVSU Male Ryder Athlete of the Year and was an Academic All-American in the 1999-2000 season. Bowling on the PBA circuit, Waliczek has claimed seven regional titles and is a two-time Central Region Player of the Year. He is a three-time USBC Eagle Award Winner, including two team championships and one team all-events championship.
1979-80 Men's Basketball GLIAC Championship Team
1979-80 Men's Basketball Team was the first men's basketball squad to win the GLIAC Championship. The squad, led by head coach Robert Pratt, posted an overall record of 24-7 and went 11-3 in the GLIAC. The Cardinals claimed the NAIA District 23 Championship and advanced to the NAIA National Tournament as well. The 1979-80 GLIAC Championship was the first of four total that the Cards have won in program history.
The 2019 Cardinal Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet will take place on Saturday, November 16 at 6:00 p.m. at the Curtiss Banquet Halls on the campus of SVSU. It will be held in conjunction with the SVSU Football game versus Davenport University that afternoon at 1:00 p.m. Tickets for the banquet are $35 for an individual and $65 per couple. A table of eight can be purchased for $240. All current SVSU employees, students, Athletic Hall of Fame members and SVSU alumni can purchase a ticket for $25.