DULUTH, Minn. (csssaints.com) – The College of St. Scholastica will induct its third class into its Athletics Hall of Fame on September 27th as part of Homecoming at the College.
Being inducted this September will be former men's soccer and hockey player Dan Seeler, former men's and women's soccer coach Greg Cane, former women's soccer player Jill Tribble, former baseball player Leland Swenson and 1999 baseball team.
For the first time, men's and women's soccer will be recognized in the Hall of Fame as the men's program started in 1978 and women's program started in 1990. Cane will become the second coach inducted into the CSS Athletics Hall of Fame (John Baggs, '11), while Swenson will be the second baseball player (Ben Sickler, '11). The 1999 baseball team is the third team in as many years to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
The 2013 CSS Athletics Hall of Fame Ceremony will take place on Friday, September 27th in the Reif Gymnasium.
Dan Seeler – Men's Soccer/Men's Hockey – 1978-1982
Seeler initially came to St. Scholastica because of the hockey program, but decided to also play soccer when the team was introduced in 1978. He still holds the men's soccer program record for most goals scored in a game when he netted five against UMD in 1979. Seeler is only one of four players to record 10 points in a game in program history. He ranks second all-time in career goals (56) and third in points (130). He recorded the first hat trick in program history, scoring three against Mount Senario College (Wis.) in 1978. He ranks fourth on the program list with 19 goals during the 1981 season. While he was scoring goals for the soccer team, he was preventing goals for the hockey team as a goaltender. Seeler was named the team's MVP for the 1981-82 season.
Greg Cane – Men's & Women's Soccer Coach – 1985-1993
Cane was part of the St. Scholastica men's and women's soccer programs for 15 years, coaching both programs and also as a player. He played for the men's team from 1979-82 and was a three-year starter as a defender. He was a captain his senior season. Cane then stepped in the coaching box as an assistant from 1983-84 before becoming head coach of the men's team for nine years from 1985-1993. Cane accumulated a record of 104-55-12 in nine seasons and led the Saints to the 1988 and 1989 National Small College Athletic Association (NSCAA) National Championships. He was named the NSCAA Coach of the Year in 1988. He had just one losing season in his nine years as the men's coach. In 1990, Cane became the first-ever coach of the CSS Women's Soccer program. He coached both the men's and women's programs from 1990-1993 before becoming the first head coach of the University of Minnesota-Duluth women's soccer program in 1994.
Jill Tribble Koszarek – Women's Soccer – 1992-95
Tribble was recruited to St. Scholastica by fellow Hall of Fame inductee Greg Cane in 1992. Tribble finished her soccer career third on the scoring list with 146 points. She ranks third all-time in goals scored (55) and fourth in assists (36). Tribble had an historic 1995 season for the Saints, setting program records for points (73), goals (26) and assists (21) in a season. She was named the team's Most Valuable Player that season in leading the Saints to the program's first winning season and first NAIA Regional appearance. Tribble is just one of two players in program history to record at least 10 points in a contest when she recorded 10 against Viterbo University (Wis.) in 1995. She is also tied for the program record for assists in a game as she recorded four assists in back-to-back games during the 1995 season. Tribble earned the NAIA Scholar-Athlete Award in 1994.
Leland Swenson – Baseball – 1997-2000
Swenson was the first CSS baseball player to a sign a professional contract with a Major League Baseball organization when he signed with the Texas Rangers. Swenson is dubbed "the greatest shortstop" in the baseball program's history. He was named the team's Rookie of the Year in 1997 and was a four-time first team All-UMAC selection. In 1999, he was named a NCAA Division III All-American and a first team All-Midwest Region choice. In 2000, Swenson was named the NAIA Region 3 Player of the Year and a second team NAIA All-American. Swenson was also named the UMAC Player of the Year in 2000. The two-time team gold glove recipient is tied for the program record for most hits (83) and holds the program record for RBIs (77) in a season, doing so in 2000. Swenson ranks fourth in program history in career hits (225) and fifth in runs scored (173). Swenson was part of the 1999 NCAA Division III Tournament squad and 2000 NAIA Super Regional Tournament team.
The 1999 CSS baseball team put the program on the map. Led by late head coach John Baggs, the Saints qualified for its first NCAA Division III baseball tournament. CSS would play three extra inning games at the regional, two with top-ranked and host University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and another with 13th-ranked UW-Stevens Point. The Saints would fall twice to the No.1-ranked Titans, both in 11 innings, but defeated the Pointers for the program's first NCAA Regional Tournament victory on a Justin Harriman walk-off home run in the 10th. The squad featured eight All-UMAC first team selections. Kevin Kuklinski was named the UMAC Player of the Year and Dave Schlangen was the UMAC Pitcher of the Year. Schlangen, Harriman and Leland Swenson were first team All-Midwest Region choices, while Swenson was also named an All-American. The pitching staff set a single season program record with a 1.97 earned run average, which ranked third in the nation. The staff also tied a then-NCAA record with 13 shutouts. The team's .965 fielding percentage ranked second in the country.
