1987 UW-Oshkosh Hall of Fame
OSHKOSH, Wis. (5/3/1987) – Six former standouts were enshrined into the UW-Oshkosh Athletic Hall of Fame. The new additions increased membership in the UW-Oshkosh Athletic Hall of Fame to 61 members.
The 1987 inductees were Milt Blake, Dorian Boyland, Alison “Candy” Christenson, Fred Hakbarth, Pete Koupal and Jean Schultz. Hakbarth and Blake were honored posthumously.
The UW-Oshkosh Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 1974 to give tribute and deserved recognition to former athletes, coaches and friends of the University. It is also intended to enhance school tradition by honoring those people who have shown exceptional ability while on the campus and since graduation.
A native of Omro, Milt Blake received All-Conference recognition in both football and basketball three times while attending Oshkosh State Teachers College from 1932-36.
As a junior, Blake helped lead the Titans to a football conference championship.
In addition to his talents in football and basketball, Blake also excelled in track, earning three varsity letters.
Athletics had to be in Blake’s blood as he played basketball, softball, and track while competing on varsity teams at the high school and college level. His interest in athletics also extended to the high school coaching ranks where he guided football, basketball and track teams in three schools in Wisconsin-Brodhead (1936-39), New Holstein (1939-40) and Reedsburg (1940-43).
Following four years of service in the United States Navy, Blake returned to Wisconsin to coach football, basketball, and track at Menomonee Falls High School from 1946-66. He relinquished his coaching duties in 1966 to become full-time athletic director, a position he held until his retirement in 1974.
Dorian Boyland began his athletic career and South Shore High School in Chicago, Ill., where he earned three letters in baseball and one in basketball.
Following graduation from high school in 1972, Boyland enrolled at UW-Oshkosh where he earned two letters in basketball and three in baseball.
Boyland's best sport was baseball where he played both the outfield and pitching positions. During his career UW-Oshkosh teams posted a 62-27-1 record, won two WSUC titles and competed in one NAIA World Series (1974).
Boyland posted his best pitching statistics in 1974 when he compiled at 6-2 record and a 1.45 earned run average in 62.0 innings. His best hitting year was in 1976 when he earned All-WSUC honors after compiling a .305 batting average, 26 runs batted in and six home runs. He concluded his career with a .308 batting average, 38 runs batted in, 13-7 pitching record and a 3.02 earned run average in 134.0 innings of work.
Boyland’s performance at UW-Oshkosh brought him to the attention of several major league baseball teams, including the Pittsburgh Pirates who made him their second round selection in 1976 amateur draft. He signed with the Pirates and played in their minor league organization for three years before reaching the major league level for six games during the 1978 season.
In all, Boyland played in 21 major league games with the Pirates before being traded to the San Francisco Giants during the 1981 season.
Boyland retired from baseball in 1982. Presently, he is owner and general manager of Ron Tonkin Dodge in Gladstone, Ore.
Alison Christenson was known as “Candy” Neuman during a brilliant athletic career at UW-Oshkosh, which spanned from 1965-69. Her collegiate career included one season as a member of the tennis and track & field teams, and four years as a member of the swimming, synchronized swimming and sailing teams.
Christenson, who still holds the UW-Oshkosh record in the 100-meter breaststroke.
The Appleton native received All-America honors at the meet after finishing second to Olympic champion Cynthia Goyette in the 100-meter breaststroke.
Last month at the YMCA National Masters Meet, she established a national record by finishing the 100-meter breaststroke in a time of 1:22.
Christenson, wife of UW-Oshkosh graduate and Waukesha South boys basketball coach Mark Christenson, has taught and coached at schools in Fairfield (Calif.), Sheboygan, Cedarburg and Oshkosh since graduating from UW-Oshkosh in 1969.
Fred Hakbarth displayed his athletic potential at Oshkosh High School, where he earned letters in football, baseball and basketball.
At UW-Oshkosh, which was then called Oshkosh Normal School, Hakbarth played basketball for three seasons (1923-25) and baseball for two (1924-25).
In basketball, Hakbarth captained the team for two years, including a state championship squad in 1925. He also played and captained the first Oshkosh All-Stars basketball team.
In baseball, Oshkosh Normal School won state titles both years he played, including an undefeated season in 1925. His baseball talents attracted the attention of several professional teams, including the New York Giants and manager John McGraw who signed him to a free agent contract in 1926. His dreams of reaching the major leagues ended in 1927 when a knee injury forced him to retire from the professional level.
Pete Koupal enrolled at UW-Oshkosh in 1970 after earning three varsity letters in football, basketball and baseball at Regis High School in Eau Claire.
At UW-Oshkosh, Koupal concentrated his efforts in football and baseball. A three-year letter-winner in football, Koupal quarterbacked the 1972 UW-Oshkosh squad to an 8-2 record and a WSUC championship. In that title season he completed 64 of 154 passes for 853 yards and four touchdowns.
The following season as a senior, Koupal completed 94 of 205 passes for 1,193 yards, the fifth highest single-season total in UW-Oshkosh history. His 2,304 career passing yards ranks fourth in UW-Oshkosh history.
Koupal also shined in baseball, earning four varsity letters as a catcher and second baseman. During his four-year baseball career, UW-Oshkosh teams complied a 99-46 record, won two WSUC titles and competed in three NAIA World Series. In 1973, Koupal and current Milwaukee Brewer Jim Gantner helped lead UW-Oshkosh to a third-place finish at the NAIA World Series. That season Koupal earned All-WSUC honors by compiling a career-high .364 batting average and 34 runs batted in. He concluded his career with a .316 batting average, 101 runs batted in, 26 doubles and six home runs.
Following graduation in 1974, Koupal returned to Regis High School to coach football and baseball. Since 1978 he has been an agent with American Family Insurance.
Jean Schultz enrolled at UW-Oshkosh after graduating from Waukesha South High School in 1968.
At UW-Oshkosh Schultz excelled in three sports, earning four varsity letters in basketball and volleyball and three in softball. To exemplify her leadership qualities, Schultz was elected team captain during the 1971-72 sporting season in all three sports.
Following graduation from UW-Oshkosh in 1972, Schultz has been employed as a part-time teacher and part-time curriculum support teacher in the Green Bay Area Public School System. During that time she also spent time coaching swimming, track and basketball.
Recognizing the importance of responsible officiating for the success of competition, Schultz has also officiated several intercollegiate and high school volleyball events, including the WIAA high school state finals.
Schultz is the author of a booklet on human growth and development for fifth grade boys that is used in the Green Bay Area Public School System. Schultz has given generously of her time as a presenter at conferences, member of committees and director of basketball clinics and camps.
Schultz, who received a master's degree from UW-Oshkosh in 1980, continues to participate in local park and recreation activities as well as seeking backpacking, canoeing and biking experience each summer.