St. Peter, Minn. – The Gustavus Adolphus College Athletics Department has selected nine individuals into its Athletics Hall of Fame. The 2012 class of inductees include Rhonda Gorseth Alberts `93 (Gymnastics), Brian Brekke `95 (Football), Kara Bloomquist Drekonja `96 (Cross Country), Brett Gross `96 (Track & Field), Brock Guettler `92 (Basketball), Mark Kruger `86 (Tennis), Jason Lesteberg `96 (Hockey), Scott Stoneking `96 (Soccer), and Donald Swanson `55 (Benefactor). This group will be honored at the Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet, which will be held in Alumni Hall at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 29, following the Hall of Fame football game between the Gusties and Hamline University, which is set to take place at 1:00 p.m. at Hollingsworth Field.
Individuals eligible for induction into the Gustavus Athletics Hall of Fame are athletes, coaches, and benefactors. Selection of athletes is based on athletic achievements while a student at Gustavus. Eight of the nine members of the Gustavus Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2012 will be inducted for their accomplishments on the playing field, while one will be inducted as a benefactor.
Rhonda Gorseth Alberts, a native of Billings, Montana, was a key member of the 1990 and 1991 National Champion Gustavus gymnastics teams. A four-time All-American over her three-year career, Alberts became the 1991 National Champion on the balance beam after scoring an 18.55.
Brian Brekke, a native of Ellendale, Minnesota, was a three-year starter at running back and kick returner for the Gustavus football team in the early 1990’s. A two-time All-Conference performer and two-time team MVP in 1992 and 1994, Brekke led the MIAC in rushing with 1,054 yards and became the first player in Gustie football history to surpass 2,000 all-purpose yards in a season during the 1994 campaign.
Kara Bloomquist Drekonja, a native of Cottage Grove, Minnesota, was the Gustavus women’s cross country program’s first runner to garner All-Conference honors four times, while also earning All-American marks at the NCAA Championships with a 32nd place finish in 1994 and a 19th place finish in 1995. A two-sport standout, Drekonja was also a five-time All-Conference performer in both outdoor and indoor track and field, winning the MIAC Championship in the 1,500-meter run in 1995.
Brett Gross, a native of Windom, Minnesota, was a standout shot putter who became a four-time All-Conference performer in outdoor track and field and a three-time All-Conference performer in indoor track and field. Gross earned All-America honors a total of four times over his career, twice at the NCAA Indoor Championships and twice at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Brock Guettler, a native of Chaska, Minnesota, was a two-time All-Conference performer at forward for the Gustavus men’s basketball team. Graduating as the program’s seventh leading scorer with 1,378 points, Guettler was voted the team’s MVP in 1992 and was a key starter on Gustavus’ 1991 and 1992 MIAC Championship teams.
Mark Kruger, a native of Minnetonka, Minnesota, was an All-Conference performer and staple in the lineup for the Gustavus men’s tennis team in the mid 1980’s. Kruger went on to become a three-time All-American in doubles, reaching the semifinals of the NAIA Tournament in 1983 and the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III Doubles Tournament in 1986.
Jason Lesteberg, a native of Burnsville, Minnesota, was a two-time All-Conference forward who, after tallying 26 goals and 37 assists for a school record 63 points during the 1995-1996 season, was named the Most Valuable Player of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and would later go on to earn First Team All-America honors. With 174 points on 71 goals and 103 assists, Lesteberg sits in a three-way tie for seventh on Gustavus’ all-time scoring list.
Scott Stoneking, a native of Eagan, Minnesota, was a four-year starting forward who played a major part in the Gustavus men’s soccer team’s MIAC Championship runs in 1993 and 1994. A two-time All-Conference performer and an NSCAA All-Region recipient his senior season, Stoneking tallied a career total of 80 points on 31 goals and 18 assists, ranking him fifth all-time at Gustavus.
Donald Swanson, a native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, who lettered all four years as an offensive lineman on the football team (1951-1955) went on to a very successful career as a coach and administrator in the Minneapolis Public Schools. Swanson was heavily involved in the Gusties football program after graduation helping organize fundraising events, recruiting student-athletes, and promoting the program for over 50 years. He was also a member of the Gustavus Alumni Board and the organizer and leader of Gustavus’ 50-year Football Club. Swanson will be inducted posthumously as he passed away in September of 2009 after a battle with cancer.
The selection of inductees to the Gustavus Athletics Hall of Fame is made by the Gustavus Hall of Fame Board which is a 10-member group consisting of current athletic administrators, and former coaches and alumni.