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. She 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.
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.
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.
Betsy Bartles Tupper
Athlete 1900-1996
Inducted 2010-11
Betsy Bartles Tupper was a two-sport standout for Dakota Wesleyan University in her time at the university. She was a four-year starter for the Tiger volleyball and softball teams, and excelled at both sports. On the volleyball court, Tupper earned All-Conference honors in each of her four years with the Tigers, and she eared NAIA All-District 12 honors in 1992 and 1993. Tupper is the school’s all–time leader in assists with 6,220-more than 1,000 more than anyone else in school history. She averaged 11.9 assists per game in her career, and also set a career records for serves in a career (2,899). Tupper also holds two single-season volleyball records for assists (2,235) and assists per game (13.51). Her 2,235 assists in 1993 are fourth in the NAIA record books in assists in a season and her career total is also 10th best in the NAIA. Tupper was a part of the 1990 volleyball team that participated in the NAIA National Tournament for the first and only time in DWU history. The 1990 team went 47-10 and started the season touring and playing in Japan and ended the season at the national tournament in Hawaii. She was a part of the most successful era in volleyball history, including the 1993 season, when the team won 114 individual game, the best in DWU history. On the softball field, Tupper was a four-year starter and holds three school records. She holds the single season record for batting average (.591), on-base percentage (.818) and slugging percentage (.818).
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.