Five New Members selected for UW-Platteville Athletic Hall of Fame

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. -- The University of Wisconsin-Platteville announced five new members will be inducted into the university’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Current head cross country coach Tom Antczak, and former student-athletes Bryan Cunningham (1994-98), Ben Hoffmann (1994-1998), Heather (Kehl) Breunig (1993-96), and Chip Schneider (1992-95) will be inducted in a December 7th ceremony. 

Tom Antczak is currently in his 22nd season at helm the of the Pioneer men’s and women’s cross country programs and was head men’s and women’s track and field coach from 1993 to 1996 before becoming assistant middle distance/distance coach. In cross country, Antczak has led the men’s team to the NCAA Division III national meet seven times since 2000, with the best finish of fourth-place coming in 2010. He guided the women’s team to a 12th place finish at the 2007 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships. Individually, Antczak has coached 19 cross country All-Americans, highlighted by Tyler Sigl’s individual national championship in 2007. On the track, Antczak has coached 71 All-Americans since 2000 including 16 NCAA Division III individual national champions. 

Bryan Cunningham was a two-time indoor and outdoor track and field All-American. He finished third in the weight throw at the 1996 and 1998 NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships. Cunningham took home national runner up in the hammer throw in 1997 at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships and fourth-place in 1996. To go with these honors, Cunningham was a WSUC champion three times, and a two-time CoSIDA first-team Academic All-American.  During his time in the Orange and Blue, Cunningham set 14 school records. 

Ben Hoffmann is the only player in NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball history to be a part of two undefeated national championship teams. He was a member of 1994-95, 31-0, championship team and the 1997-98, 30-0, title team; and cumulated a 108-6 record, including 61-3 in conference play during his four years in the Orange and Blue.  Hoffmann garnered first-team All-American honors in 1998 and second-team All-American in 1997. He was named 1998 NCAA Division III Final Four Most Outstanding Player and WIAC Most Valuable Player. Hoffmann was a three-time all-WIAC selection and a two-time all-Midwest Region honoree. He finished his career with 1,256 points ranked 15th all-time in Pioneer history. 

Heather (Kehl) Breunig was a four-year letter winner in track and field and set 19 school records during her collegiate career. She earned All-American honors in the 400-meter dash at the 1996 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships and also qualified for the 1996 indoor national meet in the 400-meter dash. Breunig claimed the WWIAC 600-meter dash title in a 1:37.03 school record-breaking effort. She also earned four second-team all-conference honors. 

Chip Schneider still holds five Pioneer track and field records. He was one of the best track and field athletes in school history. as he was an eight-time All-American and a two-time national champion, in the long jump at the 1995 NCAA Division III Indoor Championships and in the 400-meter hurdles at the 1995 NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships. Schneider was a five-time WSUC Outdoor champion and a four-time WSUC Indoor champion. He was a four-time team most valuable athlete and a three-time team captain. Schneider was named UW-Platteville Student-Athlete of the Year in 1994. 

The Hall of Fame ceremony will take place at Velzy Commons in Ullsvik Hall on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 9 a.m. 

For more information on the event, please contact the UW-Platteville Alumni Association at 608-342-1181