Pioneer Athletics induct five new members to the Hall of Fame

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. -- The University of Wisconsin-Platteville inducted five new members into the university’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Former head track and field coach Jim Nickasch, and former student-athletes Kristin Haase (1993-1998), Brian Hagen (1994-99), Craig Kohn (1990-94), and Keri (Wells) Meverden (1995-99) were honored during a ceremony on Saturday. 

Jim Nickasch (Appleton, Wis.) was at the helm of the men’s and women’s track and field teams for 11 years (2001-12). Under Nickasch’s guidance, the men’s team brought home third-place finishes at the 2005 NCAA III Indoor Championships and the 2008 NCAA Indoor Championships as well as a fourth-place finish at the 2007 NCAA Outdoor Championships.  He saw 17 individual or relay national champions (8 men, 9 women) and guided a combined 33 women individual/relay All-Americans and 54 men individual/relay All-Americans. Under Nickasch’s tutelage, the Pioneers set over 65 men’s and women’s school records.  Prior to taking over the track program, he was a volunteer coach for the Pioneers from 1989-95 and coached seven different individuals to 15 All-American honors. 

Kristin Haase (Eden Prairie, Minn.) was a three-time all-conference soccer selection and was named player of the week five different times during her career. She is still in the WIAC record book for her five-goal game against Marian on Sept. 7, 1995. Haase ranks tied for third (14) and fifth (11) in goals scored in a season in program history and is also tied for the most assists in a year with seven. For her career, Haase is tied for second in school history with 34 goals and is second in points with 80. 

Brian Hagen (Racine, Wis.) was a four time all-state soccer selection and was awarded the Captain’s Council Award in 1999.  In 1998, he tallied 22 goals and 53 points, which is fifth most in program history. Hagen ended his stellar career in the Orange and Blue with the fourth most goals (51), fifth most points (131) and sixth most assists (29) in school history. 

Craig Kohn (West Bend, Wis.) was the Pioneers’ first pole vaulter to earn All-American honors. He finished sixth at the 1992 indoor national championships and eighth at the 1994 outdoor championships. Kohn garnered first team all-WSUC honors twice and second team honors once. He set the school indoor record in 1991 at 15-feet-9-inches and then the outdoor record in 1994 at the same height. 

Keri (Wells) Meverden (Waterloo, Wis.) was a eight-time All-American on the track and qualified for the 1998 NCAA III Cross Country National Championships. Her fourth-place finish in the 5,000-meter run in the 1997 indoor national track championships marked the Pioneers’ first indoor All-American honor. Meverden went on to finish national runner-up in the 5,000-meter run in the 1998 and 1999 indoor championships. She earned all-conference honors four times in cross country and seven times in track and field. Meverden was named UW-Platteville’s Female Athlete of the year three times and was the Pioneers’ nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year in 1999.