UMC Names 2002 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees
The Fourth Annual UMC Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies will be held Friday, September 20, at the Crookston Eagles Club. The evening’s schedule includes a 6 p.m. social, 7 p.m. dinner, and 8 p.m. program. Tickets are $10 per person and are available at Crookston National Bank, Bremer Bank of Crookston, Eagle Rexall Drug, and Crookston Eagles Club. Tickets can also be reserved by contacting UMC University Relations at 218-281-8439.
The 2002 inductees are Jim Sims, Thief River Falls; Mark Bagaason, Jamestown, ND; Jeff Perreault, Crookston; Natalie Ueland, East Bethel; Jay Gunderson, Gary; and the 1986-87 UMC Women’s Basketball Team.
Jim Sims served as head football coach at UMC from 1976-1995. His teams compiled an impressive overall record of 93-66-1 during his 19-year tenure and won three division team championships, finishing with three Minnesota State runner-up titles. His teams were ranked in the top 15 teams in the nation on three separate occasions. Sims was also head track coach for seven years, winning two division championships.
Other accomplishments include his 1982 football team playing in the Midwest Bowl in Illinois. Sims also received Northern Division Coach of the Year honors twice, and seven of his players were named NJCAA All-Americans.
Sims built a very impressive high school coaching career prior to joining the staff at UMC. He is a Mahnomen native and a graduate of Minnesota State University-Moorhead. Sims is currently Director of Student Activities at Thief River Falls Lincoln High School and was inducted into the “Prowler” Hall of Fame in 1996.
Mark Bagaason, a native of Clearbrook, MN, enrolled at UMC in 1982. He was a member of the men's basketball team that finished with a 12-9 record. He led UMC’s 1983 basketball team to a successful season as a co-captain. Mark was named UMC’s Defensive Player of the Week several times during the 1983 season and still managed to shine offensively. He was named UMC Male Athlete of the Year in 1983.
Basketball Coach Gary Senske said, “When Mark stepped out onto the floor, he was ready to play at both ends of the court.”
After having a successful high school career with the Crookston Pirates, Jeff Perreault chose to stay in his hometown and play hockey for UMC. Perreault was a member of the UMC hockey team for two years, and in 1990 he was named to the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association All America First Team. Perreault led the nation in scoring with 32 goals and 46 assists for a total of 78 points. There were only seven junior college players in the nation who made first team All American, exemplifying the talent he displayed.
Former UMC Head Hockey Coach Scott Oliver summed up Jeff's honor by saying, “Not too many become All Americans. It is a result of an accumulation of who you are and what you have done.” Perreault is currently the head hockey coach at Crookston High School. He is a graduate of UND.
Natalie Ueland, a native of Newfolden, came to UMC from Marshall County Central High School in the fall of 1988. In her second year at UMC, she became an outstanding basketball player. She was consistent at both ends of the court. She was the team’s leading rebounder in 1990 and also led the team in scoring. Ueland was named Team Player of the Week numerous times. Her efforts proved her worthy of being named to the Northern Division First Team, All State Minnesota National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association First Team, and finally All Region 13 First Team. She also led the team to a third place finish in the NJCAA Region 13 Tournament. In doing so she set a single game rebounding record of 26 rebounds.
Jay Gunderson, a Twin Valley native, was named a National Junior College Athletic Association All American in 1982 as a sophomore football player at UMC. A defensive end, he was a three-time winner of the Player of the Week Award. He led UMC to a regular season record of 7-1, winning the Northern Division of the State’s Junior College Conference. The team lost the championship game in the state, but went on to play in the Midwest Bowl against Illinois Valley Community College.
The 1986-87 Women’s Basketball Team was a team for the record books. Under the coaching of Lori Ulferts, the squad brought the first ever women’s state title home to UMC and, in the process, broke 45 team and individual records. The team finished third in the Region 13 National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association tournament, and this group claimed the most victories of any women's team to date--with 19 wins on the season.
The team also set marks in most points in a season, most field goals, most free throws, most rebounds, most assists, and a host of other records. In addition they scored 118 points in one game and claimed a record high 59-point margin of victory in another game that season.
Numerous individual records were set. UMC Hall of Famer LeeAnn (Langenbau) Stange and Pam Overbeek set six records each. Kim Vesey entered the record book in four categories. Others setting records were DeDe Vonesh, and Michelle Johnson.
Members of the team included Deb Klein currently of Anchorage, AK; Kelli O'Riley; Michelle Johnson of Stephen, MN; June Forde of Fargo, ND; Kelley Pierce of Milaca, MN; Shelly (Hegg) Kinn of Bismarck, ND; Becky (Jagelski) Bakke of Fargo, ND; Pam Overbeek of Bismarck, ND; Kim Vesey of Detroit Lakes, MN; DeDe (Vonesh) Nelson of Moorhead, MN; LeeAnn (Langenbau) Stange of Buena Vista, CO; Lynn Johnson; and Nancy (Rolsczynski) Piga of Minneapolis, MN. Lori Ulferts of Saint Cloud, MN, was the head coach and Deanna (Broden) Nyegaard of Bemidji, MN, served as student coach.
For more information about the UMC Athletic Hall of Fame, visit www.umcrookston.edu/people/athletics/HallofFame.
Posted 09/13/2002
Contact: Andrew Svec,
218-281-8435