Dakota Wesleyan University Hall of Fame Women's Basketball Inductees

Debra McKelvey Cheeseman ‘89

Athlete 1985-89

Inducted 2007

Debra McKelvey Cheeseman came to Dakota Wesleyan University in the fall of 1985, and she left as one of the most decorated female athletes in school history. Deb’s outstanding career covered three sports: volleyball, basketball, and track and field. She earned 12 varsity letters as a DWU student-athlete. Deb was four-year starter in volleyball, earning All-SDIC honors for three seasons. She was voted the team MVP her final three years after leading the team in kills. Deb also earned All-District honors in 1987. Deb was a three-year starter in basketball, earning All-Conference honors in 1989. She averaged 17 points and 9.5 rebounds as a senior. She also was a starter on the 1987-88 district playoff team. Her track career was capped by earning All-Conference honors in the javelin and the discus. Deb set a new school record for the javelin and still ranks in the DWU top 10 for the javelin.

 

Candace Crabtree ‘88

Athlete 1984-88

Inducted 2001

Candace Crabtree excelled in three sports while attending Dakota Wesleyan University. In volleyball she was a two-time all-conference selection and was voted the team’s most valuable player her senior year. During her basketball career, Crabtree was named South Dakota Intercollegiate All-Conference in both her junior and senior year. She helped lead the Lady Tigers to two SDIC conference championships and was voted the team’s co-captain and most valuable player her senior year. In the spring, Crabtree’s attentions turned to track, and by the time she completed her career Crabtree had set four school records: the 200-meter dash and the 400, 800 and 1,500-meter relays. Crabtree also ranked in the school’s top 10 in two other running events. Crabtree’s post college accomplishments have a special significance for her alum mater and state. In the fall of 2000, Crabtree accepted the women’s basketball head coaching position at Drexel University, A National College Athletic Association Division I school. Crabtree then became the first graduate in DWU history and the first women in South Dakota history to become a Division I coach.

 

Victoria Drefs

Athlete 2000-2004

Inducted 2010-11

Victoria Drefs was a star for the Dakota Wesleyan University women’s basketball team during its most successful stretch in school history. She made her mark on the Tiger women’s basketball program, becoming one of just for players in DWU women’s basketball history to earn All-American honors when she was named to the NAIA All-American Second Team in 2004. Drefs scored 1,770 career points, good for third on the all-time scoring list, and her career average of 12.6 points per game is 12th in Tiger women’s basketball history. She was a three-time All-GPAC First Team selection and was named the league’s Defensive Player-of-the-Year in 2004. Drefs still holds the school record for field goal accuracy in a career (56.3). She was part of a team that went 100-41 in four seasons, and took part in the only three national tournament appearances in DWU women’s basketball history. Drefs helped the Tigers to a GPAC championship in the 200-02 season, as well as a second-place finish at the national tournament during the 2002-03 season. After graduating from Dakota Wesleyan, Drefs joined the Air Force, where she represented the U.S. Air Force at a basketball tournament in Europe. Since then, she has continued her playing career in Italy.

 

Randi Morgan Haines

Athlete 2000-2004

Inducted 2009-10

Randi Morgan Haines’ induction to the Dakota Wesleyan University Hall of Fame has been inevitable since her incredible playing career ended in 2004. Haines is not just the most prolific women’s basketball player in Tiger history, but also one of the best women’s collegiate players in the history of South Dakota. Her 2,557 career points are by far the most in DWU history, and the second-most points ever scored by a South Dakota women’s basketball player. She is also the state and school leader in career rebounds with 1,544. Haines is the only three-time NAIA All-American (First-Team twice, Third-Team once) and four-time All-GPAC-First-Team selection in school history, highlighted by her NAIA Player-of-the-Year and scoring and rebounding records, the 6-2 center also set DWU records in scoring average (18.9ppg), field goals (932), shots (230), and she holds 14 Tiger single-game and single-season records and three NAIA Division II National Tournament rebounding records. Haines led DWU to the most successful stretch in school history- a 100-41 record, the 2002 GPAC title, a No. 1 National Ranking and three NAIA Division II National Tournament appearances featuring three trips to the Elite Eight, two Final Fours and one run to the Championship game.

 

Christi Harter ‘92

Athlete 1988-92

Inducted 2012

Christi Harter had a solid four-year career with the Dakota Wesleyan University women’s basketball team. The 1992 DWU graduate and Colome, S.D., native was a four-year starter and helped the Tigers to the co-SDIC title with South Dakota Tech in the 1990-91 season. That team is one of just seven DWU women’s basketball teams to win at least a share of the conference title. That same squad also set the school’s team record for point average in a season at 79.1. Harter earned All-SDIC-First-Team honors as a junior and senior in 1991 and 1992 and Second-Team accolades as a sophomore in 1990. Harter held the school record for career assists (415) for many years. Harter, who was a four-year Randall Scholar at Dakota Wesleyan, entered the Peace Corps right after graduation, and since leaving DWU she has taught and coached in five different states and two other countries.

 
 

Lori Kalenda ‘91

Athlete 1987-91

Inducted 1999

Lori Kalenda was destined for greatness the first time she stepped onto Dakota Wesleyan University’s basketball court, and, by the time her career ended, she had accomplished more than any other DWU woman basketball player. Kalenda led the Lady Tigers to two South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference championships and set 11 women’s basketball records, most notably 42 points and 16 free throws in one game, 982 season rebounds and 1,662 career points. Kalenda became the first DWU woman athlete to become a four-time SDIC-First-Team-All-Conference selection. She was also the university’s first woman to be named the SDIC Women’s Basketball Player of the Year. Kalenda was twice named National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics All-District 12, and she also ranked in the top five in six SDIC women’s basketball categories. Perhaps more importantly, Kalenda’s commitment, attitude and example raised the mark for future DWU players and ushered DWU’s women’s basketball program to a new level for a new decade.  

 

Ronda Morgan Koepsell ‘95

Athlete 1991-95

Inducted 2003

After an outstanding basketball career at Mitchell High School, Ronda Morgan Koepsell entered Dakota Wesleyan University the fall of 1991. It did not take long for her to begin making her mark as one of the college’s greatest women basketball players. She became the starting center as a freshman never relinquishing the position her entire career. By the end of her senior year, Ronda had set ten school records including 17 field goals and 85% field goal accuracy for a game; season 17.9 scoring average, 188 field goals and 78 steals; career 17.9 scoring average, 725 field goals, 1,156 rebounds, 269 steals and 1,843 points. She was a four time first team South Dakota Intercollegiate All-Conference selection and was named conference Player-of-the-Year in 1993 and 1994. She ended her career as first in conference career field goals and rebounds, second in career free throws and game, season and career blocked shots, third in season rebounds and fourth in season and career field goals. Ronda became the first DWU woman basketball player to be named NAIA All-American a feat she accomplished in 1994 and 1995. She helped lead the Lady Tigers to SDIC championships in 1993 and 1994 and four-year total of 65 victories.  

 

Abbey DeWolf Mikkelsen

Athlete 2001-2005

Inducted 2010-11

Abbey DeWolf Mikkelsen was instrumental in beginning of the Dakota Wesleyan University women’s golf team, and she helped pave the way for a very successful future for the program. The 2005 DWU graduate was an All-GPAC-First-Team selection in each of her four seasons with the Tiger golf team, and led the Tigers to three straight GPAC titles in 2003, 2004, and 2005. Mikkelsen was a part of two NAIA Women’s Golf National Championship qualifying team, including the 2003-04 team that finished 10th at the national meet- the highest finish in school history and also the first-ever national tournament appearance for DWU in women’s golf. She was also a part of a team that still holds the school record for 18-hole team score (311). Mikkelsen was also a four-year member of the DWU women’s basketball team and was a four-time All-GPAC selection for basketball. Mikkelsen still holds four women’s basketball records: three-pointers in a game (8), three-point accuracy in a season (.452), games played in a career (141) and three-pointers in a career (230). Mikkelsen was a part of the only three national tournament appearances in Tiger women’s basketball history.

 
 

Robin Morgan Moody ‘97

Athletics 1993-97

Inducted 2007

Robin Morgan Moody launched her Dakota Wesleyan basketball career during the 1993-94 season continuing the Morgan family tradition of success in a Tiger basketball uniform. She was selected as an All-SDIC performer for three seasons, earning All-SDIC-Second-Team honors in 1995 and All-SDIC-First-Team honors in 1996 and 1997. Robin finished her basketball career as the sixth all-time scorer in DWU women’s basketball history with 1,511 career points, averaging 13.3 points per game, which is fourth on the DWU all-time list. As a senior in 1997, Robin led the Tigers in both scoring and rebounding. She was also a key part of guiding the Tigers to the 1994 conference championship. Off the court, Robin was also successful, earning All-American-Scholar-Athlete honors as a senior in 1996-97. She becomes the fourth member of the Morgan family to be inducted into the DWU Athletic Hall of Fame. Robin did her part in helping the family score more than 11,000 career points for DWU basketball, making them the most successful basketball family in college basketball history.

 

Jolene Bush Paulsen ‘81

Athlete 1977-81

Inducted 1995

Jolene Bush Paulsen played only two years of high school basketball before coming to Dakota Wesleyan University. Nevertheless, Paulsen had the talent and skills to become an immediate starter for the Lady Tigers, and she left her mark as one of DWU’s leading scorers. Paulsen was also a team leader, twice being voted team co-captain and named the team’s most valuable player in 1980. Paulsen set three school records and was the school’s second leading career scorer with 1,704 points. Paulsen helped lead the Lady Tigers to a South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference championship in 1981. Paulsen was a three-time All-Conference selection, twice on the first team. She also participated in volleyball and softball. Paulsen was DWU’s second women athlete to be inducted into the athletic hall of fame.

 

Emily Janssen Petoske ‘02

Athlete 1998-2002

Inducted 2014

Emily Janssen Petoske graduated after four seasons with the DWU women’s basketball team. She was a four-year starter and played a large role in starting a dynasty for the Tiger women, including the best season in DWU women’s basketball history in 2001-02. The Emery, S.D., native earned All-Conference-Second-Team honors as a sophomore in 2000, and she was named to the league’s First-Team as a junior and senior in 2001 and 2002. She also earned All-American Honorable Mention honors in 2002. Janssen Petoski scored 1,536 career points, and she still holds the school record for points (44) and field goals (20) in a game. She currently lives in Sioux Falls, S.D., and works for the Sioux Falls Area CASA Program.

 

Jeanene McKelvey Sampson ’96

Athlete 1992-96

Inducted 2005

Jeanene McKelvey arrived on the Dakota Wesleyan University campus the fall of 1992 prepared to begin her athletic career. She became an immediate star performer on the Tiger volleyball team and continued that excellence for her four years of competition. She was not only a four-year starter but also set eight school records on her way to becoming a four-time South Dakota Intercollegiate All-Conference selection. She was also named to the NAIA All-District 12 team in 1993. Jeanene helped lead her team to conference championships in 1992 and 1993. The 1993 team holds the school record of 114 wins for individual games. She is the only DWU volleyball player to have over 2,500 kills with a total of 2,602. Jeanene’s basketball skills are equally impressive being a four-year starter and a two-time All-Conference selection. Her 1,291 ranks eighth on the all-time scoring list and her 11.4 points per game ranks ninth. She also was instrumental in helping the Lady Tigers win two South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference championships. Jeanene who participated in track as a four-year performance in the high jump and is still tied for third on the school’s all-time list.

 

Joanne Herber Sarringar ‘87

Athlete 1983-87

Inducted 1998

Joanne Herber Sarringar began an athletic career at Dakota Wesleyan University in the fall of 1983 that few Lady Tigers have experienced. Sarringar participated for four years in basketball and track and for three years in volleyball. She was a four-year basketball starter and received South Dakota Intercollegiate All-Conference honors in 1986 and 1987. Sarringar was instrumental in helping the Lady Tigers win the 1986-87 conference championship; therefore, she was selected National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Academic All-American. During her senior year, Sarringar was voted by her teammates as the most valuable player on the volleyball team. In track, Sarringar set four school records; the 800, 1,500 and 5,000-meter runs, as well as the 1,600-meter relay. These records stood for over 15 years. Sarringar also ranks in the top 10 in the 200 and 400-meter dashes. Sarringar was named the Outstanding Female Athlete in both the 1986 and 1987 SDIC conference track meets and qualified for the 1986 NAIA national track meet in the 800 and 1,500 meter runs. Capping off her senior year, Sarringar was selected DWU’s most valuable female track performer and was again selected NAIA-Academic-All-American, this time for track.

 

Bonnie Bartscher Schmidt ‘94

Athlete 1990-94

Inducted 2000

Bonnie Bartscher Schmidt was a three-sport athlete during her Dakota Wesleyan University career, participating in cross-country, basketball, and track. In cross-country Schmidt attained South Dakota Intercollegiate All-Conference regonition all four years of competition and was named the league’s most valuable runner three times. During Schmidt’s four years as a starter for the Lady Tiger basketball team, she helped lead them to three SDIC conference championships. Schmidt was a great scorer and finished her career with 1,284 points, making her the second leading women’s scorer in school history at that time. Schmidt set school records in three-point field goals for a season with 55 and three-point field goals for a career with 185. Schmidt excelled in track and ran distance. After four years Schmidt ranked in the school’s top 10 in the 800, 1,500, 3,000 and 5,000 meter runs. Schmidt also was a member of the record breaking 3,200 –meter relay team.

 

Sonnie Waln-Jenssen ‘89

Athlete 1985-89

Inducted 2008

In the late 1980’s, four-year starter Sonnie Waln-Jenssen helped the Dakota Wesleyan University women’s basketball team win back-to-back SDIC Championships. The Tigers, with Waln-Jenssen directing the offense in the backcourt, captured conference titles in 1986-87, and again in 1987-88, with an overall record of 30-21 over those two seasons. Waln-Jenssen earned All-SDIC honors as a sophomore and a junior, and was headed for another great season before an injury that cut her senior season short. At the time of her induction, she still shared the DWU record for assists in a game with 16, and at the time her career ended, she also held the Tiger record for assists in a season with 166 and assists in a career with 375. She averaged 12.0 points per game during her DWU career.  

 
 

Roxie Wells Stoebner ‘80

Athlete 1976-80

Inducted 1997

Roxie Wells Stoebner entered Dakota Wesleyan University in 1976 when women’s intercollegiate athletics was in its infancy. Stoebner participated in four sports and became an instant success and team leader in each one during her athletic career. Stoebner set three school records: game rebounds, season rebounds and career rebounds. Stoebner’s 23 rebounds in one game has been the longest school record for any DWU women’s athletic event. Although powerful on the basketball court, track was possibly Steobner’s strongest sport, as she has held six school records, including the 100-meter dash, the 200-meter dash, the long jump, the javelin and two relays. Stoebner was selected most valuable in volleyball her senior year, and she continually won the hustler award in softball and basketball. With Stoebner’s talent, commitment, dedication and leadership, she truly helped pave the way for the high level of success the Tiger women experience today.

 

Julie Gustafson Wickett ‘91

Athlete 1989-91

Inducted 2000

Julie Gustafson Wickett transferred to Dakota Wesleyan University in 1989 from Casper College where she was named a National Junior College Volleyball All-American. At DWU, Wickett participated in both volleyball and basketball, but it was on the volleyball court where she gained her fame. Wickett helped give volleyball a new meaning at DWU by leading the Lady Tigers to undefeated conference seasons and championships in 1989 and 1990. In 1989 the team was named the South Dakota Women’s Athletic Team of the Year. During Wickett’s senior year, the team won the opportunity to participate in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics national volleyball tournament. When Wickett graduated, she left behind a legacy for future volleyball athletes by compiling a host of individual honors, including South Dakota Intercollegiate All-Conference selections and Player of the Year awards for 1989 and 1990. Wickett was also named NAIA All-District and All-Region for both years. Furthermore, Wickett was named 1989 and 1990 NAIA All-American, becoming the first DWU women athlete to ever achieve All-American selection.