Seawolf Hall of Fame Inducts Five to Class of 2003
ANCHORAGE (Oct. 19) - Featuring three former student-athletes, a longtime booster and a team physician, the third class of the Seawolf Hall of Fame was inducted Sunday in a ceremony at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex.
The 2003 inductees are Dr. Jay Caldwell (team physician, 1979-present), Wendy Hildman (women's basketball, 1988-92), Chuck Homan (hockey booster, 1977-present), Jennie Krupp (formerly Szczerbinski, volleyball, 1988-92), and Dean Larson (hockey, 1988-92).
“We are proud to honor five such outstanding individuals for the lasting impression they left on Seawolf Athletics,” Dr. Cobb said. “The Hall of Fame committee did an outstanding job of recognizing those who not only represented UAA well, but also have excelled in their communities since then.”
Nominations for the 2003 class were accepted through March 31. Former UAA student-athletes and teams are eligible for nomination 10 years following their last competition at UAA. Former UAA coaches and staff members are eligible five years following their university service. Volunteer contributors may be nominated at any time.
Here is a brief biographical look at each of the 2003 inductees:
The athletic department's team physician since 1979, Dr. Jay Caldwell joins Chuck Homan as the first Seawolf Hall of Fame inductees to be enshrined for “extraordinary contributions to UAA Athletics by someone other than a student-athlete, coach or staff member.” The founder and director of the Alaska Sports Medicine Clinic, Dr. Caldwell has volunteered his time and expertise for 24 years to help ensure the fitness and health of UAA's student-athletes. A graduate of Harvard University and the UCLA School of Medicine, he also holds masters degrees from UCLA (Public Health, 1978) and Alaska Pacific University (Literature, 2003) as well as a Fellowship from the University of Kuopio in Finland (1982). In addition to his duties at Alaska Sports Medicine, he is also currently the medical director for the Center for Drug Problems, a consultant for the Alaska Disability Determination Unit, and an affiliate professor of sports medicine at UAA. Dr. Caldwell's dedication to local sports has stretched beyond UAA, serving as the team physician for the Anchorage Glacier Pilots baseball team since 1971 and the team physician for the Anchorage Aces hockey club from 1991-99. He and his wife Diana are the parents of two adult daughters, Maile and Twila.
Longtime booster Chuck Homan gains induction in 2003 for his overall contribution to the UAA hockey program, including an instrumental role in helping the sport's move from club level to NCAA status. The father of two hockey-playing sons teamed with several other local hockey fans in the late 1970s to petition the Alaska State Legislature, the Board of Regents and the university's administration to complete an on-campus ice rink. Successful in his endeavor, Homan's efforts culminated in UAA's first NCAA team in 1979-80. His late son, Craig, was the MVP of that first squad, and the team captain in 1980-81. Another son, Chriss, played from 1983-86, winning the Mewhirter and Dean's Cup academic awards. Chuck Homan also pioneered the formation of the Blueliner Booster Club, writing the first set of by-laws, along with the goals and objectives. He was the Blueliner president for four years and continued on the Board of Directors in several capacities until 1989. In 1984, the local financial analyst was a founding member of the Benton Bay Athletic Lions Club, which has since supported Seawolf athletics through the 50/50 Split-the-Pot raffle and sponsorship of the Athlete of the Year banquet. In recognition of his many contributions to Seawolf hockey, he was honored with the Brush Christiansen Trailblazer Award in 1993. Homan is the father of three other children with his late wife Connie ? son Chuck, and daughters Cathie and Camie. He and his wife Terry now reside in Wasilla.
The most decorated volleyball player in UAA history, Jennie Krupp will become the second spiker in the Seawolf Hall of Fame. Playing from 1988-92 under her maiden name of Szczerbinski, she led the Seawolves to two conference championships, two NCAA Tournament berths and an overall record of 93-47. Among her three all-conference honors, she was the Continental Divide Conference Player of the Year in 1990 and won the same award in the Pac West Conference in 1992. A two-time all-region selection as well, she still holds 12 school records, including career kills (1,691), kills per game (3.42) and digs per game (4.26). Her 2,108 career digs still rank No. 7 on the all-time NCAA Division II list. Voted the Seawolves' Best Defensive Player by her teammates all four years, the Saukville, Wis., native also won the UAA Athlete of the Year award in 1992-93. Krupp earned her bachelors of science in nursing from UAA in 1993 and has since gone on to earn a masters in nursing from Marquette University in 1996. Today she is a full-time medical student at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. She and her husband Michael live in Port Washington, Wis., with their son Michael II (6) and daughter Hannah (4).
The leading scorer in UAA hockey history, Dean Larson takes his rightful place in the Seawolf Hall of Fame in 2003. At just 5-7 and 160 pounds, the speedster used his stick-handling and needle-threading passing ability to rack up 200 career points and 137 assists, both No. 1 all-time at UAA. His 63 goals are still tied for seventh-best in school history, while he also holds the school marks for assists (48 in 1989-90) and points (66 in 1989-90) in a season. In his four years (1988-92), Larson's squads combined for an 88-49-10 record, including a school-record 27 wins in 1991-92, and qualified for three straight NCAA Tournaments. He was voted team MVP in his sophomore and senior seasons. Larson was chosen in the NHL's 1991 supplemental draft by his hometown Calgary Flames before going on to a distinguished minor-league professional career. After two years playing in Germany, he returned to Alaska to play for the Anchorage Aces in 1995. Larson retired in 2003 after becoming the West Coast Hockey League's all-time leading scorer and earning the WCHL's 2003 Man of the Year award. He also received a 2003 State of Alaska Legislative Citation for career achievement and outstanding contribution to the State of Alaska. A 1995 UAA journalism and public communications graduate, Larson remains involved with the Anchorage community through visits to elementary schools, skate-a-thons and extensive work with charitable organizations.
One of the most tenacious players ever to suit up for the Seawolves, Wendy Sturgis (1988-92) becomes the second women's basketball player to earn induction to the Seawolf Hall of Fame. An undersized power forward at 5-10, the Tigard, Ore., native still stands as UAA's all-time leading rebounder (765) and No. 2 all-time scorer (1,767). A three-time all-conference selection, Sturgis was the second-leading scorer (17.4 ppg) and rebounder (7.0 rpg) on UAA's 1991-92 NCAA Tournament team, starting all 28 games her senior season. She also played on UAA's NCAA Tournament team in 1988-89, starting 23 games and averaging 12.6 ppg and 5.0 rpg as a freshman. In her four seasons, the Seawolves posted an overall record of 78-33. Sturgis was a three-time selection to the Northern Lights Invitational All-Tournament Team, including in 1990, when she helped UAA to three straight upsets of Division I teams and the tournament title. In the 88-87 championship win over South Alabama, she had 27 points, six assists and five rebounds. Sturgis, who was also an assistant coach for the Seawolf women from 1997-2000, graduated with a bachelors of health science in 1992. She currently resides in Nampa, Idaho, with her daughter McKenzie and son Logan.
Seawolf Hall of Fame Classses
2003
Dr. Jay Caldwell, team physician, 1979-04
Wendy Sturgis, women's basketball, 1988-92
Chuck Homan, hockey booster, 1977-present
Jennie (Szczerbinski) Krupp, volleyball, 1988-92
Dean Larson, hockey, 1988-92
2002
Brush Christiansen, hockey coach, 1979-96
Jesse Jackson, men's basketball, 1985-87
Britta Kjellstrand, women's skiing & cross country, 1978-82
Jon Pauole, swimming, 1989-92
Mike Peluso, hockey, 1985-89
2001
Tom Besh, ski coach, 1977-90
Teri Frankie-LaVallee, gymnastics, 1985-90
Hansi Gnad, men's basketball, 1983-87
Robin Graul, women's basketball, 1985-89
Dr. Lee Piccard, administrator, 1976-94
Dennis Sorenson, hockey, 1980-84
Tracy Zink, volleyball, 1987-90
