SUPERIOR, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Superior and Yellowjacket Athletics announced the UW-Superior Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2026 on Wednesday. The six individuals will be inducted Saturday, July 18 in the Great Room of the Yellowjacket Union.

Individual Inductees
Jeff Bottem (Men's Hockey, 1973-77) – Bottem was a member of the Yellowjacket men's hockey team that claimed the 1976 NAIA National Championship in Wessman Arena. During that season, Bottem leaped atop the Yellowjacket record book as the all-time leader in assists, along with garnering the most assists in a single season.

Nate Engel (Men's Soccer, 2010-14) – Engel, a native of Maple Grove, Minn., captained the 2013 Yellowjacket men's soccer team that claimed the first conference championship in program history. He played in all 81 games and started 80 in his career, leading to three All-WIAC First Team selections and two All-Wisconsin First Team nods. 

Connie (Sinz) Urmanski (Women's Basketball, 2009-13) – Urmanski was a trailblazer for the transformation of the Yellowjacket women's basketball team. A four-year starter, she played in all 103 games and immediately made her mark, claiming three postseason awards from the WIAC and collecting a slew of regional and national recognition in her senior season.

Carl Vergamini Contributions to Yellowjacket Athletics
Jon Garver – Garver has dedicated nearly 30 years of service to Yellowjacket Athletics. A graduate of UW-Superior in 1998 and 2000, he assumed various roles following graduation and would later serve as sports information director for from 2010-25. Additionally, he has been the play-by-play announcer for the Yellowjacket men's hockey team on 91.3 KUWS, where he has claimed five broadcast awards from the Wisconsin Broadcaster's Association.

Lydia Thering Meritorious Service Award
Alice (Brecht) Loebsack – Loebsack attended UW-Superior and competed on the Yellowjacket cross country and track and field programs, graduating in 2004. She became a Nationally Certified Athletic Trainer on her first attempt and later furthered her studies at San Jose State University. While employed at Saint Martin's University in Lacey Washington, she spearheaded the efforts to smoothly implement all protocols related to COVID-19.

Mertz Mortorelli Coaching Achievement
Mark Thomas – A four-year member of the Yellowjacket football and baseball teams, Thomas went on to produce an illustrious coaching career. His 31 seasons leading the UW-Stout women's basketball team is the longest tenure of any sport in Blue Devils history, compiling an overall record of 472-346 which ranks third on the WIAC's all-time wins list. Taking over a program that won just two games in the last two seasons, Thomas converted the program into a national powerhouse, which featured a program-best 24 wins in 2005.

"On behalf of our Hall of Fame Committee, it is our honor to announce the induction of six outstanding individuals," UW-Superior Director of Athletics Nick Bursik said. "Receiving induction into our hall of fame is the highest honor we can bestow, and it is with great excitement they will be enshrined in our Hall of Fame. We look forward to celebrating their legacy as part of the rich history of Yellowjacket Athletics."

Feature stories of all inductees will be released leading up to this year's induction. For additional information on this year's induction ceremony, visit our Hall of Fame page or contact us at 715-395-4619, or by email at sports@uwsuper.edu.