Jennie (Long) Barlage
Volleyball | Class of 1996
A two-time national champion in 1993 and 1994, Jennie (Long) Barlage stands among the most dominant two-way players in NMU volleyball history. At the time of her induction, she was one of only seven Wildcats to surpass both 1,000 career kills and digs. Barlage ranks third in career digs (1,556) and service aces (183), while sitting eighth in career kills (1,237). She appeared in all 149 matches throughout her career—tied for the most in program history—and holds the NMU record for sets played (495) over her stellar four-year career. In 1994, Barlage was named an AVCA Second Team All-American and earned a spot on the NCAA Division II Elite Eight All-Tournament Team. That season, she totaled 392 kills, 360 digs, and 55 aces. She was an All-GLIAC First Team selection in 1993 and made the AVCA All-Great Lakes Regional Team in both 1993 and 1994. Barlage became the 13th volleyball inductee in the NMU Sports Hall of Fame.
Dean Ellis
Men’s Basketball & Golf | Head COACH
Dean Ellis served as a dual-sport coach in men’s basketball and golf and is the winningest coach in NMU men’s basketball history. Over his 24-year career (1986–2010), Ellis compiled a 369–303 (.554) record, with 18 seasons at .500 or better. The 1993 season was a standout campaign, as Ellis guided the Wildcats to the GLIAC regular season title and earned GLIAC Coach of the Year honors after finishing 22-8 (.733). In 2000, Northern won the GLIAC Tournament and posted a 24-6 (.800) record—the second-best winning season in program history. Under his direction, NMU made three NCAA Tournament appearances (1993, 1999, 2000), advancing twice, and notched four 20-win seasons. Ellis also led NMU men’s and women’s golf from 1993-2013, providing the university with 44 years of coaching service overall. During his time with the golf programs, he guided the Wildcats to the 1999 NCAA Tournament and a 14th-place finish at the 2014 NCAA Regionals. He is the 22nd coach to be inducted into the NMU Sports Hall of Fame.
Troy Mattson
Women’s Basketball, Tennis, and Golf | Head Coach
A former Wildcat basketball player and five-sport coach, Troy Mattson dedicated over 40 years to NMU Athletics, coaching men’s and women’s basketball, tennis, and men’s and women’s golf. He is the 23rd coach to be inducted into the NMU Sports Hall of Fame. Mattson served as NMU Women’s Basketball head coach from 2005-22, compiling a 240-231 (.510) record. Under his leadership, the Wildcats captured the 2013-14 GLIAC Tournament Championship and made three NCAA Tournament appearances (2010, 2014, 2018), advancing to the Round of 32 twice. Before that, Mattson was part of Dean Ellis’s men’s basketball staff from 1988-2005, helping the Wildcats reach the NCAA Tournament three times (1993, 1999, 2000). As a player from 1982-85, he scored 1,018 career points—one of only 34 Wildcats to surpass the 1,000-point mark—and helped NMU to NCAA Tournament appearances in 1984 and 1985. Mattson also coached NMU Tennis from 1994-2003, earning GLIAC Coach of the Year honors in 2000 and 2002 and Midwest Region Coach of the Year in 2002.
Berndt Rognstad
Nordic Skiing & Football | Class of 1976
A talented dual-sport athlete, Berndt Rognstad excelled in both Nordic skiing and football at NMU. In skiing, Rognstad placed third at the national championships in 1973, second in 1974, and fifth in 1975. He also joined the NMU football team as a kicker, serving primarily as a kickoff specialist and contributing to the Wildcats’ 1975 National Championship team. Known for his humor, he wore the unique “00” jersey and was a perfect 18-for-18 on PATs throughout his career. After college, Rognstad signed an NFL contract with the Atlanta Falcons, but tragically lost his life in an automobile accident in 1976. Rognstad became the sixth male Nordic skier and 115th football player to be inducted into the NMU Sports Hall of Fame.
Renee LeBlanc
Women’s Soccer | Class of 2008
The most decorated attacker in NMU women’s soccer history, Renee LeBlanc holds several program records. She ranks first all-time in career goals (44) and points (99), achieved in just 70 career games. In 2005, LeBlanc set a single-season program record with 16 goals—six of them game-winners. Her 37 points that season remain tied for the NMU record. The following year, she added 14 goals and 30 points, including eight game-winning goals, which still stand as the NMU single-season record. Her 15 career game-winners are also the most in program history. LeBlanc finished her career with 233 shots and 117 shots on goal and was named to the All-GLIAC Second Team in both 2006 and 2007. Following her collegiate career, she earned tryout invitations from several U.S. Women’s Professional Soccer and National Women’s Soccer League teams. LeBlanc made history as the first women’s soccer player to be inducted into the NMU Sports Hall of Fame.
1990–91 & 1991–92 Women’s Swim & Dive Team
The 1990-91 and 1991-92 NMU Women’s Swim & Dive teams were inducted together as two of the most historic squads in program history. The 1991-92 team placed second at the NCAA National Championships—the program’s best-ever finish—while the 1990-91 team placed third nationally. Combined, the teams captured 16 NCAA Championship titles over two seasons, with nine in 1991 and seven in 1992. Star swimmer Kirsten Silvester was a four-time national champion in each of those seasons and was named NCAA Division II Swimmer of the Year in both 1990 and 1991. She became the first DII swimmer to win four NCAA titles in a single season, capturing championships in the 200, 500, and 1650 freestyle events, as well as the 200 butterfly. The 1992 team also claimed NMU’s first-ever GLIAC Championship. Both teams were led by head coach Anne Goodman James, who earned 1991 CSCAA NCAA Division II Coach of the Year honors, along with GLIAC Coach of the Year recognition in 1991 and 1992.
Anne Blasen
Kara Borlace (Kochert)
Michelle Brassard
Tea Cerkvenik
Heather Dermyer
Christine Emery
Brooke Engstrom
Sonja Gerkens
Anneli Hagglund (Larsson)
Carrie Hane
Kathy Heager (Peterson)
Janette Heaton (Dombrowski)
Jill Helgren (Aumais)
Vicky Honeywell
Anne Goodman James
Rachel Johnson (Skogg)
Amanda Klotz (Hammond)
Jennifer Kleemann
Susan Krochalk (Binczak)
Laurie Kunz (Lett)
Robert Laughna
Lijian Lee
Sarah Maki (Hynnek)
Jodie Marvin (Kley)
Parnee Paras
Sherrie Ramsden (Nagelkirk)
Dorsi Raynold
Annette Rybicki (Voros)
Catherine Salvino
Joe Sergest
Hong Shao
Kirsten Silvester
May Tan
Nina Rae Van den Ende (Hanford)
Kim Wilkins
Lynne Zielinksi
Wendy Zuzelski
