Saturday, February 02, 2013

BEMIDJI, Minn. – Bemidji State University inducted seven individuals and three outstanding teams into its Athletics Hall of Fame Saturday, as part of the university’s B-Club/Athletic Hall of Fame Weekend. This year's inductions included four former student-athletes, a graduate who has gone on to achieve a tremendous amount as a coach, two outstanding members of the BSU community and three teams that reached the pinnacle of their sport.

BSU’s 2013 honorees include: Brian Carleton, Laurie (Peterson) Gross, David Lee and Elizabeth Mulvihill, who will be inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame; the newest member of the Alumni Coaching Achievement Award Joan (Campbell) Anderson and the 2013 John S. Glas Honorary Letter Winners, Jim and Nancy Bensen. In addition, Bemidji State’s 1973, 1979 and 1980 national champion men’s ice hockey teams will be enshrined into BSU’s Team Hall of Fame.

“On behalf of the Alumni B-Club, I would like to extend our congratulations to the 2013 Bemidji State Athletic Hall of Fame inductees,” said current B-Club President Joan Anderson. “We are proud to honor former student-athletes and teams that exemplify the highest level in athletic achievement while proudly wearing the green and white and representing BSU.  As a former inductee myself as coach of one of the finest women's basketball teams assembled at BSU it gives me great pride to share this award with all the other inductees, fans, friends and family of BSU Athletics. With so many people and teams considered it is indeed an honor to be selected for the 2013 Hall of Fame.”

BSU’s 21st Hall of Fame class was officially inducted at the Bemidji State University Hall of Fame Brunch and Induction Ceremony Saturday, Saturday in Sanford Center’s Main Ballroom. 

In addition, the 2013 honorees were recognized at the Beaver Pride Luncheon Friday, again during the first intermission of BSU’s men’s ice hockey game versus St. Cloud State University and in part prior to the men's baskteball game versus University of Sioux Falls Saturday.

For more information and a complete rundown of the events of the weekend visit http://www.bsualumni.org/alumni/awards/athletic_hall_of_fame/.

Established in 1978, the BSU Athletic Hall of Fame includes 173 individuals, 22 coaches, and 16 teams.

Bemidji State University recognizes alumni, former coaches, administrators and others who have excelled at their sports and brought acclaim to the University through their accomplishments and championships. Inductees are selected by a committee of elected B-Club members. Nominations are accepted from all interested persons.

2013 BSU Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees

Brian Carleton

Athletic Accomplishments while at BSU:
Played men’s ice hockey at Bemidji State from 1976-80 where he helped his teams to an overall record of 100-19-4 and captained the 1979-80 team. Was a member of two national championship teams (1978-79 and 1979-80). In 1977-78, Carleton led the Beavers with 41 assists—a mark that still stands sixth on BSU’s single-season assists list. Finished his career with 42 goals, 111 assists and 153 total points in 114 games played and remains 15th on BSU’s all-time scoring list and fifth on BSU’s all-time assists list. In 2006, Carleton was selected as a member of BSU’s “50 Legends for 50 years.”

Postseason Honors:
Two-time national champion (1978-79 and 1979-80).

David Lee

Athletic Accomplishments while at BSU:
Team Captain. Left the BSU basketball program in 1989 as it’s all-time leading scorer with 2,034 points--a mark that still stands today.  He recorded two of the top 10 single-season scoring totals at BSU with 596 in 1987-88 (4^th) and 535 in 1985-86 (8^th). Lee still holds several career records.  His 807 field goals made still ranks atop the BSU all-time annals. No other BSU player has made more free throws (364). Lee also ranks second on BSU’s career assists list (314). In addition his career free throw shooting percentage of 77.3 percent is tops among BSU players with at least 250 made. Lee also holds the single-season record for three-point percentage hitting 54.0 percent clip (42-of-78) in 1987-88. Lee was also a member of two national tournament participant teams, which included a 1984-85 squad that earned the program’s first playoff victory.

Postseason Honors:
Four-time All-NIC selection: First-team (1987-88, 1986-87 and 1985-86), Honorable Mention (1984-85). All-District 13 (1985-86), NIC All-Tournament Team (1985-86), NIC Tournament MVP (1985-86).

Elizabeth Mulvihill

Athletic Accomplishments while at BSU:
Basketball: A co-captain in 1986-87 and 1987-88, Mulvihill helped the BSU women’s basketball team to an 83-30 overall record, two NSC championships, three trips to the NAIA District 13 playoffs and a 1987 NAIA national tournament appearance. A four-year starting post player, was BSU’s leading rebounder in 1983-84 (229), 1984-85 (189) and 1985-86 (216). Ranked amongst the NAIA’s best in field goal percentage (.579) during the 1985-86 season. Still ranks third at BSU in career steals (238), third in rebounds (836) and sixth in scoring (1,276), while no player in BSU women’s basketball history has played in more games than Mulvihill’s 112. In addition, her career-high 33-point performance versus Moorhead State University Feb. 27, 1985 continues to stand sixth on the program’s single-game scoring list.

Track and Field: Four-year letterwinner and two-time team captain (1986-87 and 1987-88) Mulvihill was a three-time All-NSC (1985-86, 1986-87 and 1987-88) pick and was a national qualifier in the shot put in 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988, while qualifying for the national meet in the javelin in 1986 and 1987. Placed sixth in 1986, fourth in 1987 and was NAIA and NCAA Division II National Champion in the shot put in 1988 after setting indoor records at both the NAIA and NCAA Division II meets—a mark of 51-9 ¼ that still ranks among the top 15 Division II throws of all time. Following her senior season, Mulvihill participated in the 1988 Olympic trials.

Postseason Honors:
Basketball: All-NSC (1985-86 and 1986-87), All-District 13 (1985-86), All-NSC Academic (1986-87 and 1987-88)

Track and Field: All-NSC (1986, 1987 and 1988), NAIA All-America (1986, 1987 and 1988), NCAA Division II All-America award winner (1988), Academic All-America selection (1987).

Laurie (Peterson) Gross

Athletic Accomplishments while at BSU:
A four-year starter and captain, she led BSU to a 70-43 overall record and an NSC title, two NAIA District 13 appearances and a trip to the NAIA National Tournament.  She holds BSU records for career field goals made (740) and field goals attempted (1,591).  Her 469 field goals attempted during the 1982-83 season ranks atop BSU’s single-season list.  She also holds BSU’s single-game record for field goals attempted hoisting 29 shots versus Moorhead State University in 1982-83. Ranking second on BSU’s all-time leading scorers list with 1,707 points, she posted three of BSU’s top 10 single-season scoring totals with 460 (6^th) in 1982-83, 455 (7^th) in 1984-85 and 451 (9^th) in 1985-86 and led the Beavers in scoring during each of her four years on the team. She also ranks sixth on BSU’s all-time rebounding list (696), sixth on the program’s career assists list (291), seventh in career steals (158) and eighth in blocks (48).

Postseason Honors:
Four-time All-NSC (1982-83, 1983-84, 1984-85 and 1985-86), Three-time All-District 13 (1982-83, 1984-85 and 1985-86), Three-time All-America Honorable Mention (1983-84, 1984-85, 1985-86), Kodak/WBCA All-District (1985-86).

Alumni Coaching Achievement Award

Joan (Campbell) Anderson

Coaching Accomplishments:
A 1976 graduate of Bemidji State with a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education and health with a coaching certificate, Anderson got her first coaching job at Big Lake High School, where she served as head girl’s basketball coach from 1977-81.  At Big Lake, she mentored three all-conference student-athletes, a Miss Minnesota Basketball Finalist, and guided her teams to a Sub-District Championship in 1978 and a District 19 consolation title in 1979 and compiled the most wins in Big Lake girl’s basketball history. She made her first of two stints as an assistant coach with the University of Minnesota women’s basketball team in 1981-82.  That season, the Golden Gophers were Region 6 Champions and earned a spot in the quarterfinals of the AIWA National Tournament. From 1982-86, Anderson returned to Bemidji State. As head coach, she led BSU to its first conference title (1986), its first 20-win season, a program record for wins in a season, it’s first appearances in the national polls and to three consecutive NAIA State Championships (1984, 1985, 1986). In addition, her teams established a Northern Sun Conference mark for consecutive wins (28) and a single-season conference record for blocks (139). Anderson also made stops at Weber State University as head coach from 1986-88 and again as an assistant at Minnesota in 1988-89 before settling in at Minnesota State University, Mankato’s head women’s basketball coach from 1989-97.         

Since completing her coaching career Anderson has continued to work as an educator within the Eden Prairie School District. 

Postseason Honors:
NAIA State of Minnesota Coach of the Year (1985), 1986 Division II Kodak Coach of the Year nominee.

BSU Athlete Team Inductees

Bemidji State’s 1972-1973 men’s hockey team
Under the direction of legendary head coach R.H. “Bob” Peters, the Bemidji State men’s hockey team posted a 23-6-1 overall record en route to an ICHA co-championship and BSU’s fifth NAIA national title.  Captained by Lynn Smith, Scott Preston and John Birrenkott, the Beavers rolled up an 11-game unbeaten streak (10-0-1) during the season and after BSU upended Gustavus Adolphus College 6-3 in the national tournament semifinals in Thunder Bay, Ontario, BSU defeated Lakehead 3-2 in overtime.

Bemidji State’s 1978-1979 men’s hockey team
The Bemidji State 1978-79 hockey team captured its sixth NAIA national title to cap a 27-2-0 season.  Captained by Mike Gibbons, Tom Heaviland and Scott Currie, the team set a program record for assists in a season (351) that still stands today.  After three consecutive national semifinal appearances without a title, BSU emerged victorious again in 1979 defeating Concordia College (Minn.) 5-1 in the championship game held in St. Paul, Minn.

Bemidji State’s 1979-1980 men’s hockey team
In 1980, the Bemidji State men’s hockey team captured its seventh NAIA national championship in St. Paul, Minn. with a 4-3 victory over Michigan-Dearborn. The team’s second consecutive national title capped a 24-8-0 season led by captain Dale Baldwin, who set the program’s all-time record for goals in a season with 43 that winter. Baldwin was joined by Carleton and Gary Krawchuck as captains.

John S. Glas Honorary Letter Winners

Jim and Nancy Bensen
Former BSU President M. James “Jim” Bensen and his wife Nancy Bensen have been named the 2013 John S. Glas Honorary Letter Winners. The John S. Glas Honorary Letter Winner Award was created in 2011 and is intended to recognize an individual or individuals who were not student-athletes at BSU, but who have had a major impact on BSU athletics, much like the late John Glas did during his 34-year tenure at BSU.  This included roles as Vice President for Finance and briefly as acting president.  His strong support of athletics earned him the honor of having the Fieldhouse named after him upon his retirement in 1975.

Jim Bensen was BSU’s eighth president, serving the institution from 1994-2001, and is the only BSU alumnus to serve as president. Nancy has been by his side at all Beaver Pride luncheons, athletics events, while serving as co-pilot in the many road trips the two have taken supporting the Beavers. While BSU’s fan base is strong, the commitment of Jim and Nancy to Beaver Athletics is without equal.

For more information on the Bemidji State athletic programs, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@BSUBeavers), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers) or sign up for the TXTUpdates from BSUBeavers.com text-messaging system through the "Multimedia" pull down menu on the main page of BSUBeavers.com.

Nestled in Northern Minnesota’s wooded region and located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men’s and women’s hockey membership in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).

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