Hall Of Fame Inductee: Robin (Schmidt) Schunke
This is the eighth in a 14-part series that introduces the 14 members of the 2024 UW-Oshkosh Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Class. Their inductions will take place Friday, August 2 (3:30 p.m.) at the Culver Family Welcome Center (625 Pearl Avenue) on the UW-Oshkosh campus. Tickets ($45 each, aged five and older) for this event are open to the public and will be on sale through July 1. Tickets are required to attend and will not be available for purchase at the event. All purchased tickets will be available for pick up at the event. Click here to purchase tickets.
UW-Oshkosh then celebrates 50 years of inductions into its Athletics Hall of Fame during a special event held Saturday, August 3 (3:30 p.m.) at the Oshkosh Convention Center (2 North Main Street). Hall of fame members in attendance will be recognized and receive a variety of commemorative items. The keynote speaker is Iowa State University Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard, a 1999 UW-Oshkosh Hall of Fame inductee. Tickets ($45 each, aged five and older) for this event are open to the public and will be on sale through July 1. Tickets are required to attend and will not be available for purchase at the event. All purchased tickets will be available for pick up at the event. Click here to purchase tickets.
One of the most prolific performers in the history of the UW-Oshkosh softball program, Robin (Schmidt) Schunke achieved four all-conference and three all-region awards during her career as a Titan from 1997-2000.
Schunke started all 159 games that she played in and compiled a career .407 batting average with 52 doubles, 14 triples, 24 home runs, 113 runs scored and 88 runs batted in. The 1996 Hartford Union High School graduate currently ranks third in the WIAC career listings in doubles, eighth in slugging percentage at .726 and 11th in home runs.
Schunke received WIAC All-East Division and NCAA Division III All-Great Lakes Region First Team honors during each of the 1998, 1999 and 2000 seasons. She is one of only 14 players in UW-Oshkosh history to an earn three all-conference first team tributes and one of only nine players in program history to collect an all-region award on three occasions. Schunke additionally received WIAC All-East Division honorable mention recognition in 1997.
Schunke made an immediate impact during her first season at UW-Oshkosh in 1997. She compiled a .417 batting average with 10 doubles four triples, nine home runs, 28 runs scored and 26 runs batted in as UW-Oshkosh tallied a 23-16 record and qualified for the Division III postseason for the first time since 1988.
In 1998, Schunke was named WIAC East Division Player of the Year after hitting .470 with 19 doubles, four triples, eight home runs, 26 runs batted in and 26 runs scored. During UW-Oshkosh's 9-7 victory over UW-Superior on April 11, Schunke counted three hits, including two home runs, and four runs batted in.
Schunke registered a .397 batting average the following season with 15 doubles, five triples, one home run, 30 runs scored and 18 runs batted in. She hit safely in 27 of 39 games played, including four three-hit performances.
In 2000, her final season as a Titan, Schunke recorded a .353 batting average with eight doubles, one triple, six home runs, 29 runs scored and 18 runs batted in. She also was the owner of 15 multi-hit games.
Schunke graduated from UW-Oshkosh in 2000 and earned an associate degree from Madison Area Technical College in 2002. She was selected to the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll four times as an undergraduate while being named a National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America Scholar-Athlete on three occasions.
Schunke currently serves as a substitute teacher in the school districts of both Montello and Westfield and a WIAA official in the sports of softball and volleyball. She previously spent several years as a firefighter in Fitchburg and full-time teacher in the Montello and Westfield school districts.
Schunke and husband Eric live on a hobby farm in Wautoma with their rescue animals.
2024 UW-Oshkosh Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Announcements
Wednesday, April 24: Danielle (Rankin) Salm, Whitney (Tyriver) Stenbroten
Thursday, April 25: Leah (Rosenbaum) Cisler, Jordan Timm
Friday, April 26: Tammy (Milz) Baugnet-Heesacker, John LeRoy
Monday, April 29: David Hochtritt, Robin (Schmidt) Schunke
Tuesday, April 30: 10 a.m. • TBA, 2 p.m. • TBA
Wednesday, May 1: 10 a.m. • TBA, 2 p.m. • TBA
Thursday, May 2: 10 a.m. • TBA, 2 p.m. • TBA
The UW-Oshkosh Athletics Hall of Fame was established in 1974 to enhance school tradition and give lasting recognition to those student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and friends of the university who distinguished themself at an exemplary level.
Each hall of fame member represents greatness, with their accomplishments built on campus, after graduation or through meritorious efforts that benefit the UW-Oshkosh athletics program.
The first UW-Oshkosh Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony was held April 28, 1974, at The Pioneer Inn & Marina. The five inductees were Edward Boguski, Edward Hall, Burton Karges, Robert Kolf and Robert Williams.
Four venues have hosted the UW-Oshkosh Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony – The Pioneer Inn & Marina (1974-2001), Hilton Garden Inn Oshkosh (2002), UW-Oshkosh's Reeve Memorial Union (2003-13) and UW-Oshkosh's Culver Family Welcome Center (2014-19, 2021-Present).