Hall of Famers all: Northern Michigan University to induct 5 individuals, ‘81 football team into sports hall
Northern Michigan University head hockey coach Walt Kyle talks to his team during a timeout in a game played during the 2013-14 season. (Photo coutesy NMU Sports Information)
Coming up: NMU Sports Hall of Fame inductees to be celebrated during Homecoming weekend, Oct. 1-2, on campus
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MARQUETTE — The Athletics Department at Northern Michigan University has named its NMU Sports Hall of Fame class for 2021.
Five athletes in five sports, one who went onto a long coaching tenure for the Wildcats, plus a team in a sixth sports will be celebrated on Homecoming weekend at the start of October, according to a recent NMU Sports Information press release.
These inductees will be featured on Friday, Oct. 1, at the Forest Roberts Theatre on campus along with Alumni Award winners, along with being prominent in the following day’s Homecoming parade in Marquette and at the Wildcats’ football game at 4 p.m. against Wayne State in the Superior Dome.
Northern Michigan University head hockey coach Walt Kyle speaks to his team in a game against Alaska-Anchorage game played at the Berry Event Center on Jan. 30, 2015. (Journal file photo)
The inductees are men’s basketball player Frank Hamilla, hockey player and NMU coach Walt Kyle, gymnast Marie (Phillips) Sikkema, wrestler Glen Sartorelli, Alpine skier Lori Miller Thurlow and the 1981 football team.
Here is a brief biographical sketch of each inductee:
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Frank Hamilla — He was a two-time captain for the NMU men’s basketball team. Accumulating 587 career points, Hamilla led the team in scoring both in 1958 and 1959.
He carried his team to two NAIA district titles and was 31-11 in two seasons at NMU.
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Walt Kyle — A member of the class of 1981, he was with the NMU hockey team for its first Frozen Four run, captaining the team in both 1980 and 1981. Following his transfer from Boston College, in two seasons at NMU Kyle boasted 90 points on 31 goals and 59 assists, while skating in 85 games. He was selected to the 1981 American Hockey Coaches Association Senior All-Star Game.
After serving as an NMU assistant coach for about a decade after graduating, Kyle moved onto the professional level before returning to his alma mater and becoming the second head coach in program history, succeeding Rick Comley in 2002. In 15 years at the helm of Wildcat hockey, he had a record of 265-263-68.
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Marie (Phillips) Sikkema — A member of the class of 1989, she competed for the NMU gymnastics team in 1986 and 1987, when she was a two-time national qualifier. She earned All-America honors four times in the 1986 season in what’s the best all-around performance in NMU gymnastics history.
She also set records in every event — balance beam, uneven bars, vault, floor exercise and all-around. In 1987 she won the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championship and broke her own all-around record with a score of 37.25.
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Glen Sartorelli — A member of the class of 1985, he was a two-time NCAA Division II national qualifier as a member of the NMU wrestling team. He earned All-American honors in 1984 when he finished seventh at the national tournament.
He continued as a high school wrestling coach in the Upper Peninsula, serving as head coach at Menominee High School for 11 years.
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Lori Miller Thurlow — A member of the class of 1981, she competed for the NMU Alpine ski team, where she finished first in both the slalom and giant slalom eight times as a freshman. She went on to place eighth at the National Ski Championship in 1979.
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- Northern Michigan University head hockey coach Walt Kyle talks to his team during a timeout in a game played during the 2013-14 season. (Photo coutesy NMU Sports Information)
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- Northern Michigan University head hockey coach Walt Kyle speaks to his team in a game against Alaska-Anchorage game played at the Berry Event Center on Jan. 30, 2015. (Journal file photo)
In the first round of the NCAA tournament, the Wildcats defeated Elizabeth City 55-6 before having their season ended in the NCAA semifinals to Southwest Texas.
The team’s head coach was Bill Rademacher and assistants were Herb Grenke, Jim Driscoll, Al Sandona and Mike Soukup.
Players included Eric Baty, Tom Bertoldi, Steve Bodnar, Greg Brownson, Mercer Bryson, Joe Buelt, Rick Callies, John Casanova, Tim Chapman, John Chappelle, Bill Coon, Cary Crabill, Todd DeVillers, Glenn Dobson, Gary Dravecky, Bill Foster, Steve Gjerde, George Goldasich, Chris Heller, Jeff Herman, Steve Hermsen, Mike Howe, Dave Iverson, Mike Karkkainen, Tom Kell, Larry Koreen, Dan Leveille, Greg McClain, Jerry McCune, Rob McIntyre, Craig Medinis, Brian Mellon, John Moore, Wayne Naatz, Andre Nelson, Reggie Oliver, John Ostermann, Matt Paupore, Tod Pentecost, Barry Petersen, Bryan Piester, Steve Preston, Pat Prichard, Peter Raeford, Todd Schweigert, Scott Sible, Jeff Sindelar, Bob Stefanski, Mark Storm, Jim Szczepaniuk, Brain Tabin, Tom Taylor, Rich Tegge, Bill Thornton, Gerard Valesano, Dennis Ware, Dale Warren, James Whiteside, Scott Weber, Billy West, Scott Weston, Dave Willman, Curt Wojan, George Works, Dan Wyers, Bob Yauck and Gary Zweifel.
Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.
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