Badger of Honor
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Wisconsin Badgers Add to its Hall of Fame

By Noah Seligman

1 JAN 1994: WISCONSIN QUARTERBACK DARRELL BEVELL CELEBRATES AFTER SCORING A CRITICAL TOUCHDOWN DURING THE BADGERS 21-16 VICTORY OVER THE UCLA BRUINS IN THE 1994 ROSE BOWL. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello/ALLSPORT
1 JAN 1994: WISCONSIN QUARTERBACK DARRELL BEVELL CELEBRATES AFTER SCORING A CRITICAL TOUCHDOWN DURING THE BADGERS 21-16 VICTORY OVER THE UCLA BRUINS IN THE 1994 ROSE BOWL. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello/ALLSPORT /
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The Wisconsin Badgers are adding on to its Hall of Fame with a 2017 class of 11 new inductees

A news release from the UW Athletic Department indicates that a new crop of ex-Wisconsin Badger athletes will be added to the Hall of Fame.  The induction ceremony will take place at a ceremony at the end of September.

The UW website says there are over 220 member of the Wisconsin Badger Hall of Fame since its establishment in 1991.

The Hall inductees are athletes “honored for their exemplary athletic achievement and contributions” to UW.

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A total six different Wisconsin Badger sports are represented in the Hall of Fame class of 2017 along with one coach and one nominee from the “special services category.”

"Inductees are Sara Bauer, women’s hockey; Darrell Bevell, football; Brooks Bollinger, football; Brian Elliott, men’s hockey; Tamara Moore, women’s basketball; Arlie Schardt, men’s cross country and track and field; Chris Solinsky, men’s cross country and track and field; Bob Suter, men’s hockey; and Tracy Webster, men’s basketball. Former baseball coach Guy Lowman was selected in the coach/staff category while UW Marching Band Director Mike Leckrone was honored in the special service category."

Obviously every name is significant or they wouldn’t be on that list.  But a few stand out as perhaps more household names for Wisconsin Badger fans.

For example, Bob Suter was a Wisconsin hockey legend and teammate of Wisconsin women’s hockey coach Mark Johnson on the 1980 Miracle on Ice team.  Suter died in 2014 from an apparent heart attack.

Sticking on the ice, Sara Bauer is one of the greatest skaters in Wisconsin women’s hockey history.  I didn’t get John McEnroe’s thoughts on her historical ranking but it’s very impressive.

Next: Wisconsin Badgers Finish 16th in Directors' Cup

Of course Badger fans remember Darrell Bevell leading Wisconsin to Rose Bowl glory in the 1994 game.  The victory of course a major milestone for Barry Alvarez early in his tenure.  Bevell may someday get his shot as an NFL head coach doing a pretty respectable job in Seattle harnessing some Russell Wilson magic with the offensive lines and receiving targets given.

On a personal note, I graduated high school the same year as runner Chris Solinsky.  We had our duel at the 2002 Wisconsin Prep Cross Country meet.  He bested me that day, edging me out by a little over two minutes.  During spring track season at the Monona Grove Invitational he beat me in the 3200 by less than a minute.  He definitely heard footsteps.

Nice sort of lifetime achievement award for Band Director Michael Leckrone.  It has not always been a smooth operation given some very troubling hazing accusations, but he’s certainly left quite a mark on Wisconsin sports.