SUPERIOR, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Superior and Yellowjacket Athletics have announced the UW-Superior Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2024. The class of 2024, which includes seven individuals, will be inducted Saturday, July 20.
 
"On behalf of our Hall of Fame Committee, it is with great excitement to announce the induction of six outstanding individuals. Being inducted into our hall of fame is the highest honor we can bestow to an individual or team," UW-Superior Director of Athletics Nick Bursik said. "It is our honor to enshrine them in our Hall of Fame and celebrate their legacy in the history of Yellowjacket Athletics."
 
Individual Inductees
 
Braden Desmet: A native of Strathmore, Alberta, Desmet was a member of the Yellowjacket men's hockey team from 2006 until his graduation in 2010. Desmet led the Yellowjackets in scoring during his freshman and junior seasons, and in 2009 was an AHCA First Team West All-American. He is one of just 39 players in program history to record at least 100 points and averaged more than a point per game in his career.
 
Cody Kastern: A four-year member of the Yellowjacket men's basketball team (2001-04), Cody Kastern was a two-time All-WIAC First Team selection (2003, 2004). In 2002-03, he ranked in the top five in the WIAC in both points and rebounds per game. The following year he led the WIAC in rebounds per game. Named a pre-season All-American by Street and Smith's College Basketball Preview, Kastern ranks in the top-ten all-time at UW-Superior in games played, points, rebounds, assists and steals.
 
Sarah Moravchik: a two-sport athlete at UW-Superior who excelled in both volleyball and track and field. Received All-WIAC honorable mention as a senior after leading the volleyball team in kills, blocks and digs. On two occasions she made an all-tournament team. In track and field Moravchik was named All-WIAC First Team multiple times, winning conference championships in the long jump. In 2002 Moravchik was named an All-American after finishing second in the nation in the long jump at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships. She was a six-time national qualifier in her career.
 
Dan Stauber: Stauber played four seasons for the Yellowjacket men's hockey team where he scored more than 100 points in just 88 games. After several years coaching at the high school level, Stauber joined Steve Nelson's staff as an assistant coach in 1998 before taking over as head coach in 2000. In his first season he led the Yellowjackets to a school record 30 wins, and in 2002 guided the program to its second national championship. He holds the all-time record for wins by a men's hockey coach with 258.
 
Mertz Mortorelli Coaching Achievement Recipient
 
Rod Daniels: Daniels was a three-year starter on the Yellowjacket football team, graduating in 1962 with All-WSUC honors. From there Daniels embarked on a coaching career that spanned 37 years. During that time, Daniels coached 96 teams across five different sports – football, track and field, gymnastics, baseball and soccer. Daniels had coaching stops in Superior (1964-70), and Bloomington, Minn. (1970-2000). He was inducted to the Bloomington Jefferson Hall of Fame in 2023.
 
Dr. Lydia Thering Meritorious Service Award Recipient
 
Jim Rakow: A 1987 graduate of UW-Superior with a degree in corporate community health, Rakow was one of the first UW-Superior students to complete the requirements to sit for the NATA Certification Exam. He spent four years at Augsburg College before moving on to serve as the sports medicine resource coordinator at the Minnesota Sports Medicine Center. Most recently, Rakow completed his 11th year as the head athletic trainer at the University of St. Thomas, where he was instrumental in helping the program move from NCAA Division III to NCAA Division I status.
 
Detailed stories of all inductees will be released in the weeks leading up to the induction.
 
If You Go
What: 2024 UW-Superior Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
When: Saturday, July 20
Where: Yellowjacket Union Great Room
Time: Social at 5:30 p.m., Meal and Program at 6 p.m.
Cost: $40 Adults, $20 Children
*Individual inductees receive complimentary admission for themselves and a guest
*Team inductees receive complimentary admission - guests of team inductees need to purchase admission
 
Register online here.
 
For more information on this and other UW-Superior Athletics events, contact us at 715-395-4619 or by email at sports@uwsuper.edu.