MADISON, Wis. – University of Wisconsin Director of Athletics Chris McIntosh announced on Wednesday that 12 outstanding athletes, staff and supporters will be inducted into the UW Athletic Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2024.
The UW Athletic Hall of Fame will hold its induction ceremony on Friday, Sept. 6. All inductees will also be recognized during the Wisconsin home football game on Saturday, Sept. 7 in Camp Randall Stadium.
Contemporary-era athletes (after 1974) Adam Burish (Hockey, 2002-06); James Dunkleberger (Track & Field, 1994-97); Mark Laporte (Soccer, 1979-82); Gina Panighetti (Swimming, 1996-2000); Marija Neubauer (Tennis, 1990-94); Meaghan Reid (Hockey, 2004-07); Alex Rigsby Cavallini (Hockey, 2010-14); Tarek Saleh (Football, 1993-96); Donnel Thompson (Football, 1996-99); as well as heritage-era athlete John Jagger (Men’s Hockey, 1967-71). They will be joined by Pete Waite in the Coaches/Administration category and Herb Kohl for Special Service.
Contemporary Era
Adam Burish – Hockey (2002-06)
James Dunkleberger – Track & Field (1994-97)
Mark LaPorte – Soccer (1979-82)
Gina Panighetti – Swimming (1996-2000)
Marija Neubauer – Tennis (1990-94)
Meaghan Reid – Hockey (2004-07)
Alex Rigsby Cavallini – Hockey (2010-14)
Tarek Saleh – Football (1993-96)
Donnel Thompson – Football (1996-99)
Heritage Era
John Jagger – Hockey (1967-71)
Coaches/Administration
Pete Waite
Special Service
Herb Kohl
The UW Athletic Hall of Fame will hold its induction ceremony on Friday, Sept. 6. All inductees will also be recognized during the Wisconsin home football game on Saturday, Sept. 7 in Camp Randall Stadium.
Contemporary-era athletes (after 1974) Adam Burish (Hockey, 2002-06); James Dunkleberger (Track & Field, 1994-97); Mark Laporte (Soccer, 1979-82); Gina Panighetti (Swimming, 1996-2000); Marija Neubauer (Tennis, 1990-94); Meaghan Reid (Hockey, 2004-07); Alex Rigsby Cavallini (Hockey, 2010-14); Tarek Saleh (Football, 1993-96); Donnel Thompson (Football, 1996-99); as well as heritage-era athlete John Jagger (Men’s Hockey, 1967-71). They will be joined by Pete Waite in the Coaches/Administration category and Herb Kohl for Special Service.
Contemporary Era
Adam Burish – Hockey (2002-06)
- Captain of the Wisconsin men’s hockey 2006 NCAA Championship team
- Named to the 2006 NCAA All-Tournament Team
- Nine-year NHL career with Chicago, Dallas and San Jose
- 2010 Stanley Cup Champion with the Chicago Blackhawks
- First brother and sister duo (Nikki Burish) to win a NCAA national championship in the same sport and the same year (2006)
- A member of Team USA for the 2008 IIHF World Championships
- Two-time team captain
- Two-time Fenton Kelsey, Jr./Mike Richter Most Competitive Player Award winner
- Native of Madison, Wisconsin
James Dunkleberger – Track & Field (1994-97)
- 1997 NCAA Champion in the decathlon, scoring 7,924 points
- Won back-to-back Big Ten titles in the indoor heptathlon (1995 and 1996)
- Two-time NCAA All-American
- Two-time All-Big Ten Conference selection
- Academic All-Big Ten honoree
- Led the Badgers to a fourth-place team finish at the 1997 NCAA Championships
- Wisconsin also finished sixth at the 1996 NCAA outdoor meet
- Helped the Badgers to a sweep of the Big Ten indoor and outdoor titles in 1995, 1996 and 1997
- Currently ranks second all-time in UW history with a decathlon score of 7.924 points
- 1995 team captain
Mark LaPorte – Soccer (1979-82)
- Wisconsin men’s soccer, 1979 to 1982
- Two-time first-team All-Mideast goalkeeper (there was no Big Ten soccer at the time)
- In 1981, was the starting goalkeeper on Wisconsin’s first-ever NCAA tournament team and the number one ranked defense in the nation
- Team captain in 1982
- NCAA Coaches’ Player of the Week in 1981
- Four-year starter for the Badgers
- Three-time team most valuable player
- Selected to play in the 1982 College Senior Soccer Bowl All-Star Game
- Still holds the single-game record for saves (17 saves in a shutout vs. top-10 ranked St. Louis University in 1981)
- Member of the State of Wisconsin Soccer Hall of Fame
- W Club President from 2015-16
Gina Panighetti – Swimming (1996-2000)
- Twelve-time All-American
- First UW women’s swimmer to earn All-American honors in an individual event
- Set Big Ten records in the 100-yard butterfly and the 200-yard butterfly
- 1998 and 2000 Big Ten champion in the 100-yard butterfly
- 1998 Big Ten champion in the 200-yard butterfly
- Set school records in the 100-yard butterfly, 200-yard butterfly, 100-yard backstroke, 200-yard medley relay, and 400-yard medley relay
- Named the 1998 Big Ten Swimmer of the Year
- Three-time first-team All-Big Ten selection (1998-2000)
- 2000 Big Ten Medal of Honor recipient
- Two-time COSIDA Academic All-America selection (first-team in 2000 and second team in 1999)
- Three-time UW Athletic Board Scholar (1998-2000)
- Three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree (1998-2000)
- A member of Team USA for the 1999 World University Games
- 2000 Olympic trials semifinalist
- Two-year UW women’s team captain
Marija Neubauer – Tennis (1990-94)
- In 1992, teamed with doubles partner Amanda Gregory to become Wisconsin’s first tennis All-Americans
- Two-time NCAA doubles participant
- Four-time first-team All-Big Ten selection, the second of three Badgers to be a four-time first-team selection in program history
- Currently ranks in the top five for most doubles wins and in the top 10 in most singles wins in program history
- Named a three-time academic All-Big Ten honoree
Meaghan Reid – Hockey (2004-07)
- Three-time Olympian and two-time gold medalist (2010 and 2014)
- Eight-time IIHF Women’s World Championships medalist (gold in 2012, 2022, and silver in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2016 and 2017)
- NCAA champion in 2006 and 2007
- Named first-team All-American in 2007
- 2007 top-10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award, given to the best female college hockey player
- 2007 WCHA Defensive Player of the Year
- 2007 Frozen Four All-Tournament Team selection
- In 2006-07, led all NCAA defensemen in points with 49
- Started as a forward at Wisconsin before converting to defense in 2006
- Currently ranked No. 19 in points in program history with 115
Alex Rigsby Cavallini – Hockey (2010-14)
- Two-time Olympian, winning gold in 2018 and silver in 2022
- Five-time IIHF Women’s World Champion
- Led Wisconsin to the 2011 NCAA Championship
- Two-time All-American (first-team in 2014 and second-team in 2013)
- First goaltender to be named captain for UW
- Program’s career wins leader with 100
- UW school record holder for most saves with 3,126
- Drafted by the Chicago Steel in 2009, becoming the first female drafted into the USHL
Tarek Saleh – Football (1993-96)
- Named first-team All-American in 1996 and second-team in 1995, both by The Football News
- First-team All-Big Ten selection in 1995 and 1996
- The program’s career leader in tackles for loss (58), tackles for loss yardage (283), quarterback sacks (33) and quarterback sacks yardage (227); also ranks in the single-season top-10 in these categories
- Team captain in 1996
- Defensive MVP of the 1996 Copper Bowl with six tackles, one pass defended and a blocked field goal attempt
- Played in the 1994 Rose Bowl as a true freshman
- Played in the NFL for the Carolina Panthers and the Cleveland Browns
Donnel Thompson – Football (1996-99)
- Former walk-on
- Played in four consecutive bowl games, including the Rose Bowl victories in 1999 and 2000
- Team captain in 1998 and 1999
- Currently ranks 13th in all-time tackles with 347 and most tackles in a season with 141 (1997)
- Tied for second in most tackles in a bowl game with 13 (Outback Bowl vs. Georgia on Jan. 1, 1998)
- Participated in the 2000 Hula Bowl, a postseason all-star game
- Academic All-Big Ten selection in 1997
- Jay Seiler Coaches’ Appreciation Award honoree in 1999
- Played linebacker with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Indianapolis Colts from 2000-03
- Member of the All-Alvarez Team
Heritage Era
John Jagger – Hockey (1967-71)
- Named Team MVP in 1969
- Became Wisconsin’s first All-American in 1970; was a first-team selection during Wisconsin’s inaugural season in the WCHA
- An All-WCHA second-team pick in 1970 and 1971
- MVP at the 1970 Big Ten Tournament
- Named to the 1968 Big Ten and Great Lakes all-tournament teams
- MVP of the UW freshman team for the 1967-68 season
- Played alongside UW’s first NHL draftee (Jeff Rotsch) and also ten of the top-100 point scorers and a top-10 goaltender
- One of the first elite players from the UW men’s hockey program as it transitioned from an NCAA independent into a national power
- Twice finished with 35-plus points, a rarity of that time
- Inspired love of the game in thousands of children through his commitment to coaching youth hockey
- Returned to Sault Ste Marie to become an educator ford kids and young adults with special needs
Coaches/Administration
Pete Waite
- Wisconsin volleyball coach from 1999-2012
- Guided the Badgers to nine NCAA tournament appearances, including an NCAA runner-up finish in 2000 (19-9 record)
- Led the team to the 2000 and 2001 Big Ten championships
- Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2000, 2001 and 2006
- AVCA Mideast Region Coach of the Year in 2000 and 2001
- Coached 11 All-Americans, including two-time first-team All-American Sherisa Livingston
- Coached two Big Ten Players of the Year winners and 21 All-Big Ten first-team selections
- A total of 90 academic All-Big Ten awards were earned by student-athletes during his tenure
- Honored with the Don Shondell Lifetime Achievement Award by his alma mater Ball State in 2008 for “25 years of outstanding volleyball coaching”
- Madison Sports Hall of Fame inductee in 2015
- Northern Illinois Athletic Hall of Fame inductee in 2024
Special Service
Herb Kohl
- Received his bachelor’s degree in American Institutions from UW-Madison in 1956
- Served as CEO and president of Kohl’s, the family’s chain of department and grocery stores
- Helped bring an NBA franchise to Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Bought the Milwaukee Bucks in 1985 and stewarded the team as a community asset for 30 years
- Ran successfully to represent Wisconsin in the U.S. Senate in 1988 and was widely popular, winning reelection three times in his home state
- Created the Herb Kohl Education Foundation in 1990, which has provided nearly $38 million in grants and scholarships to Wisconsin students, educators and schools
- Donated a $25 million gift, the largest ever given to UW-Madison at the time, for the construction of the Kohl Center
- Contributed $100 million for a new arena when the Milwaukee Bucks were put up for sale in 2014, to ensure the team remained Milwaukee’s franchise
- Gave $1.5 million to the La Follette school to create the Herb Kohl Public Service Research Competition, which supports nonpartisan research that informs critical public policy and governance debates and advances evidence-based decision-making
- Funded UW-Madison’s Kohl Initiative through a $10 million gift, the largest in La Follette school history, which demonstrated his commitment to public service and policymaking
- Donated $6 million for the Kohl Center expansion
