HALL OF FAME
Concordia Athletic Hall of Fame - In 2009, Concordia University-Ann Arbor proudly began its Athletic Hall of Fame. Its purpose is to not only recognize outstanding achievements in and contributions to Concordia athletics, but to have those iconic people serve as beacons for the current and future growth of sports at our school.

The 2011 Concordia University Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees

Jeremy Harrison Class of 1998

Jeremy Harrison's accomplishments on the pitch represent a high point in Concordia's soccer history. His scintillating individual play, combined with his accolades as a student/athlete, make him a fitting choice to become the first soccer athlete in the CUAA Hall-of-Fame.

Over his four-year career (1994-97), Jeremy was named All-Conference three times (1995-97) and received 1st-team All-Region honors twice (1996-97). He was a four-time selection as CUAA's Offensive Player-of-the-Year, and was named Concordia's Most Valuable Player each of his final three years.

Jeremy was named the WHAC Conference Player of the Year after his junior season; and on three separate occasions during his career he earned conference Player-of-the-Week honors. In the Concordia Invitational Tournament (CIT) play, he was accorded All-Tournament recognition as a freshman and was the tournament's MVP as a senior. Jeremy capped his final season with All-Academic recognition, and he left Concordia University as the school's all-time leading scorer for both a single-season and for a career.

Athletic Director Andrea Gorski: "Jeremy Harrison clearly is a standout in our athletic history. The standard he set by his play, his commitment to his sport, and his legacy as a student/athlete exists not only for our soccer teams, but for all Concordia athletes."
 
Susan (Topolosky) Schotte Class of 2001
 
Susan (Topolosky) Schotte ran fast - both in cross-country and track - during her four-year varsity career, and thus becomes the first female athlete from those sports to be inducted into our Hall of Fame. Holder of twelve Concordia University records upon graduation, her track record as a student/athlete is truly one of distinction.
 
A list of Susan's accomplishments during her career:
  • Outdoor Track Records: 1500M (5:04.08); 3000M (10:53.54); 5000M (18:25.24); 10,000M (39:12.36); 4x100M Relay (58.04); and 4x400M Relay (4:36.68).
  • Indoor Track Records: 3000M (11:04.64); 5000M (18:46.81); 4x200M Relay (2:02.24); 4x400M Relay (4:40.84); Distance Medley Relay (14:01.25).
  • Cross-Country Record: 18:57.4, three-mile course
  • Honors: Cross-Country All-Conference (1999, 2000); Cross-Country All-Academic (WHAC, 1999-2000); Cross-Country - In 1999 Susan ran in the NAIA National Championships and placed in the Top 50 taking 44th; Indoor/Outdoor Track All-Academic (WHAC, 2000),

Athletic Director Andrea Gorski: "Since her years here at Concordia, Susan's academic and achievements have always served as an example for our track and cross-country athletes. As these programs continue to grow, her legacy points the way - she is a deserving member of our Hall-of-Fame."

The 2010 Concordia University Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees
Dave Behnke Class of 2001

 
Dave Behnke WAS Concordia basketball in the late 90's and early 2000's. It is impossible to talk about Concordia Cardinal Basketball without mentioning the name Dave Behnke. Behnke was dominating on the hardwood. He was a prolific scorer, and led his team to a playoff appearance in the 2000-2001 season. He currently holds the Cardinal record for most points scored in a season at 968 during the 2000-2001 campaign, and most career points with 2701.  

Behnke was not just a scoring machine however, there was much more to his game. He also holds records in rebounding and steals which proves that Dave was a complete player. Currently he holds two Cardinal records for steals, the most steals in a season with 91 in the 2000-2001 season and most career steals with 217.

Proving that he was not afraid to crash the boards however, Behnke also accumulated the most rebounds in a season during the 2000-2001 season with 337. He currently stands second all-time on the career rebounding list with 762.

It is not difficult to see how Dave Behnke has impacted Cardinal Basketball history, as well as helping to advance the winning attitude at Concordia. He is currently serving as an Executive Pastor at Elevate Church in Monroe, MI.
 
Kristy (Bilbie) Bekius-Class of 2001
 
If one were to look through the Women's Basketball records at Concordia University there is one name that is at the top of nearly every category, Kristy Bilbie-Bekius. Kristy was an outstanding player for Concordia University. In her first season as a Cardinal she averaged 23.5 points per game and 21.3 points per game in the WHAC. It didn't take long for the opponents to realize her talent.

Kristy was an outstanding scorer for the Cardinals. She still holds records for the most points scored in a season during the 1997-1998 campaign with 646. She also holds the career record for most points scored with an impressive 2032 points.

Kristy was also an outstanding rebounder and shot blocker for Concordia. She currently holds records for most rebounds in a career with 1071. It is not very often that a player can accumulate over 2000 points and 1000 rebounds in a career, but that is exactly what Kristy was able to accomplish in her time at CUAA.

She was also a force in the paint for the Cardinals. She holds to records for shot blocks and was not afraid to strike fear in the hearts of opponents as they drove the lane. She accumulated 87 shot blocks in the 1997-1998 season, and still holds the record for most shots blocked in her career with 327.

Kristy Graduated in the CUAA class of 2001 w/ B.S. in Elementary Education. She went on to Earn Masters in School Counseling from Eastern Michigan University - 2007

Currently Kristy serves as the School Counselor at Meads Mill Middle School in Northville, MI
 
1995 Volleyball Team

The Cardinal Volleyball Team of 1995 was a force to be reckoned with in the Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference. The Lady Cardinals swept their way through the competition and finished the WHAC schedule with a perfect 10-0 record on their way to capturing the 1995 WHAC Championship crown.

Many individual records were set during the 1995 season by many of the players on the roster. Records for most kills (Chaffee), most assists (Keskey), solo blocks (Riske), block assists (Riske) and digs (Wilson).

Overall, the Cardinals amassed 33 wins to only 14 losses on the season under the leadership of Coach Kim Berrington who now coaches the Eastern Michigan Eagles Volleyball team, and took their talents all the way to the National Christian College Athletic Association National Championship game where they brought home the Runner-Up trophy. 

Members of the 1995 Concordia University Volleyball Team
 
- Audra Block
- Kathleen Baran
- Joy Brakenhoff
- Kim Chaffee
- Jamie Collins
- Karen Keskey
- Sarah Koester
- Catherine Minto
- Sarah Riske
- Kathy Schulenburg
- Darci Smith
- Theresa Walker
- Kori White
- Amy Wilson
 
- Head Coach Kim Berrington
- Assistant Coach Karen Simpson
- Student Assistant Betsy Stump

The 2009 Concordia University Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees

Walt Harting
Walt Harting was the consummate coach at Concordia University as he oversaw five different programs during his tenure at the school.
Coach Harting not only served as a head coach at Concordia for five different varsity teams, but he also was the school's Athletic Director. Her oversaw the Cardinal men's and women's track program for all 23 years at Concordia, beginning in 1963 and ending with his retirement in 1986 and was blessed with a national title in men's track when the Cardinals were members of the National Little College Association as well as three national championships (men's 100-meter, men's 200-meter and women's 400-hurdles) as a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association. During his two-plus decades, he also saw the creation of the men's and women's cross country program, which he coached for 17 years.
He was on the bench for the men's basketball team for 8 seasons, amassing a school record 92 wins and followed that with a 7-year stretch as the head coach of the women's basketball team, finishing with a school record 96 wins and five league championships. Fittingly, Coach Harting was the Conference Coach of the Year in 1985. Coach Harting and his dedication to this university made him the clear choice to be the first coach to be inducted into the Concordia University Athletic Hall of Fame.
 
Robert Monroe

Few male athletes have come close to mirroring the success of Robert ‘Bob' Monroe, who not only excelled on the baseball field but did likewise on the basketball court. Due to his tremendous skill in two sports, Monroe was a definitive choice to be the first male athlete inducted into the Concordia University Athletic Hall of Fame.

Monroe finished his career on the basketball court with 1,789 points and upon his induction held the school record for three-pointing shooting percentage of 51.7 in 1989-90, a season where he scored 728 points, which is third all-time for points in a season. Monroe made 124 three-pointers in 1989-90 improving upon his 117 in the '88-89 season - which were school records at the time and now rank third and fifth all-time for three-point baskets made in a season.

Monroe showed even more athletic diversity as his success on the baseball field wasn't limited to one area as well as he was both an accomplished hitter and pitcher. At the time Monroe entered the Hall of Fame, he held the school record for batting average in a career with a .408 mark. For his career, had set four other offensive career school records upon his graduation, which all still remain in the top ten in Cardinal lore. Monroe had 192 hits, and currently third all-time; 90 runs batted in, fourth all-time; 30 doubles which is fifth all-time; 9 home runs, fifth all-time. On the mound, Monroe still holds the school record for strikeouts in a career with 177.

Monroe hit over .400 twice in his career as he followed up his school-record .474 average in 1989 with a .431 mark in 1990, which is third all-time while his 73 hits in 1989 remains the best ever for a year.

As a pitcher, Monroe's 74 strikeouts in the '89 season was a school record for one season and remains second all-time.

Bob currently serves as the Executive Administrator of Schools for the Utica Community Schools.
 
Amy Wilson

At the time of her induction into the Concordia University Athletic Hall of Fame, no athlete had put together the vast and storied career that Amy Wilson enjoyed until her graduation in 1998. Wilson was a three-sport star as she excelled in volleyball, women's basketball and softball during her time at Concordia University. It is no surprise that Wilson was chosen as the first female to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

On the diamond, Wilson played in 179 games, which is 10th all-time for a career, finishing with a lifetime batting average of .340 - third all-time. Wilson had 588 at-bats, which was a school record at the end of her career, and his now third all-time. Other career records set be Wilson, but later broken include runs scored with 137, now second all-time; hits with 200, now second all-time; and home runs with three, now sixth; walks with 59, now fifth. Wilson also had eight career triples, which is seventh all-time; an on-base percentage of .405, which is fifth and still holds the school record for career stolen bases with 54.

Her 168 at-bats in the 1995 season is 10th all-time while her .407 average in 1998 is seventh all-time. Wilson reached base via a hit 56 times in the '97 campaign, which is ninth all-time.

Wilson still holds the school record for runs scored when she crossed the plate 50 times in the '95 season as well as holding the top spot for stolen bases with 23 in 1997. Wilson also ranks fourth on the list when she swiped 15 bases in 1995.

Defensively, Wilson was no slouch either as she set a school record in 1996 with a .988 fielding percentage, which now ranks third all-time.

Wilson was named both WHAC All-Conference in all four years as a Cardinal softball player and NAIA All-Region in 1997 and 1998.

Her basketball skills produced a sterling career on the hardwood as well as Wilson enters the Hall of Fame as the record holder in five different categories. Wilson's 37 points against Goshen College on Jan. 20, 1997 remains the most ever for a Cardinal. Wilson was a skilled free throw shooter as her 260 attempts in the '96-97 remain the most in a season and her 193 makes that year is also the school record. For her career, Wilson finished with school records in assists with 464 and steals with 254.

Wilson twiced swiped eight steals in a game, which rank her third all-time in that category.

Wilson finished with 1,875 points (then a school record and currently second), scoring 532 in the '96-97 season, which is fourth all-time.  Wilson set the school record as she shot 50 percent from the field in '95-96, which is currently fourth all-time. Wilson's name appears in the top five three times in both free throw attempts and free throws made for a season, while her 103 assists in the '97-98 season is fifth all-time. Wilson finished her career with 813 rebounds, which is second all-time, and 44 blocks, which is fourth all-time.

Not content to be dominant in two sports, Wilson pulled off the trifecta with a remarkable career in volleyball as well. Entering the Hall of Fame in 2009, Wilson still held the school record for career kills with 1,361. For her career, Wilson had 119 career aces, sixth all-time; and 1,517 career digs, which is fourth all-time.

Wilson finished the '95 season with 439 kills, which remains the third highest ever for a Cardinal while her 581 digs that season was the school record for a decade and currently ranks fourth all-time.

Amy Schrader is currently a Teacher at Bedford Open Door Alternative High School in Temperance and prior to becoming a mom of four, Schrader coached basketball, volleyball and softball at Bedford. 
 
1999 Concordia University Softball Team

The Cardinals set a school record with 42 victories, 21 of them within the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference. The team earned the program's third WHAC Championship, the second-ever appearance in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Regional and the second National Christian College Athletic Association National Championship.

The team was coached by Kori Kennedy, who skippered the team for five seasons, and remains the all-time leader for victories with 154 - an average of nearly 31 wins a season.

The '99 Cardinals remain the school record-holder for two offensive categories: at-bats in a season with 1,648 and hits with 446. Their pitching staff set records for strikeouts with 384 and saves with four. Defensively, the team holds the school record with 1,185 putouts that year.

Individually, many records were set that season as well as Laura Starnes, Stephanie Malik, Kristy Kennedy and Erin Burdis all played in a record 62 games that year. Hollie Nagel had 207 at-bats, Carrie Knight (who transferred in from Eastern Michigan for her senior season) had a .717 winning percentage as a pitcher with a school record 33 wins as well as three saves, 351 strikeouts, 40 starts and 317.1 innings pitched, and 51 appearances- all records.

Jenny Knight, Erin Burdis, Carrie Knight, and Kristy Kennedy were all named to the WHAC All-Conference team. Kristy Kennedy added to that a selection to the WHAC All-Conference Academic team. Carrie Knight finished the season as a member of the NAIA All-Region team as well.

Members of the 1999 Concordia University Softball Team

·        #1 - Laura Starnes

·        #3 - Stephanie Malik

·        #5 - Melissa Hester

·        #7 - Hollie Nagel

·        #8 - Kelly Reband

·        #11 - Angie Olrich

·        #12 - Trisha Spry

·        #14 - Jenny Knight

·        #15 - Carrie Knight

·        #16 - Deanna Coleman

·        #17 - Stacey Stowe

·        #22 - Erin Burdis

·        #30 - Jamie Miller

·        #32 - Danielle Lahner

·        #33 - Kristy Kennedy

·        ASSISTANT COACHES: Erin Cicero, George Kennedy
·        HEAD COACH: Kori Kennedy