DSU names four individuals, three teams to Hall of Fame

By NICK HUNTIMER, DSU Sports Information

On Thursday, Dakota State University announced its 2010 athletic Hall of Fame inductees.

The newest Hall of Fame members include Gene Appelwick, Amy Crissinger, Connie Nyhaug, Al Weisbecker and the men's cross country teams from 1989-91.

Appelwick played basketball at General Beadle from 1957-62. He scored more than 1,300 points in his career and holds the record for a single game, scoring 45 points in February 1960. He continues to be an active participant in the Senior Games.

Crissinger is director of admissions at DSU and a 1992 graduate. She was a three-sport athlete at DSU and was named All-Conference in each sport from 1988-91.

Nyhaug is a 1978 graduate of DSU and an educator with the Viborg School District. She also served as volleyball coach for the Vikings and earned many honors, including being named to the South Dakota High School Volleyball Coaches Hall of Fame and National Coach of the Year by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association.

Weisbecker was a coach at DSU from 1968-85 and currently serves as the throwing coach for the track team. He is also chair of the Senior Games. Weisbecker was an assistant coach for the Hall of Fame Boot Hill Bowl team and was part of the 1977 undefeated Trojan football team under head coach Gary Buer.

The cross country teams being honored earned three straight SDIC Conference championships from 1989-91. The teams were coached by Buzz Stevenson. Members of the team received individual honors including All-Conference and All-District, and were national qualifiers.

The Hall of Fame Banquet will be held on June 5 at the Dakota Prairie Playhouse in Madison. The event is open to the public. For more information, call 256-5229.

©Madison Daily Leader 2010