Titans Dominant With 18 WIAC All-Centennial Members

Six major-league players are among the 18 UW-Oshkosh representatives on the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Baseball All-Time Team. The league selected its top two coaches and 27 players for the centennial anniversary celebration.

Former Titans who advanced to play professionally include Dorian Boyland (1974-76), Jim Gantner (1973-74), Terry Jorgensen (1985-87), Jack Taschner (1997-99), Gary Varsho (1980-82) and Jarrod Washburn (1994-95).

Gantner was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers and totaled 1,696 hits over 1,801 games. The second baseman also helped the Brewers to 1982 American League Championship. Another Titan to make a World Series appearance was Washburn, who went 18-6 as the Angels captured the 2002 title. Washburn finished fourth in the 2002 Cy Young Award voting and was the starting pitcher for 300 MLB games.

Varsho (OF) saw action in 571 big-league games, mostly with the Cubs and Pirates, from 1988-95. As a relief pitcher, Taschner entered 222 contests and posted a 10-5 record. Taschner played for four teams, including a four-year run with the Giants.

Both Boyland and Terry Jorgensen were picked in the second round of the MLB Draft. Boyland went 45th overall to the Pirates in 1976, while Jorgensen went 29th to the Twins in 1987. Jorgensen appeared in 91 professional games and Boyland 21.

Along with Washburn, Tim Jorgensen (1992-95) and Aaron Richartz (1991-94) helped UW-Oshkosh to the 1994 NCAA Division III Championship. Terry Jorgensen was the only all-time selection to play on the Titans' 1985 national title squad.

The WIAC chose UW-Oshkosh's Russ Tiedemann (1968-69, 71-88) and Tom Lechnir (1989-present) as its all-time coaches. Tiedemann attained a 501-168-2 record and 15 conference titles. Lechnir is approaching 700 coaching victories and owns 12 WIAC championships.

Pat McDonald (1986-89) was a three-time All-American, playing outfield in 1989, third base in 1988 and designated hitter during 1987. The remaining Titans on the all-time roster were Jeff Carl (1979-81), Chris Delarwelle (1987-90), Craig Henderson (1979-81), Tom Jaremko (1983-84), Jeremy Jirschele (2002-05), Andy Kimball (1995-97) and Vince Mancuso (1999-2001, 03).

While UW-Oshkosh boasted 16 of the 27 all-time players, UW-Whitewater owned six. The former Warhawks were Jeff Donovan (2007-08, 10-11), Brady Endl (2001-04), Greg Reinhard (2003-05), Jordan Stine (2006-08, 10), Pat Tobiasz (1995-98) and Bob Wickman (1988-90). Other honorees included Jerry Augustine (1971-74), Craig Kusick (1969-70) and Vinnie Rottino (1999-2002) of UW-La Crosse, Seth Maier (2003, 05-07) of UW-Stout and Jordan Zimmerman (2005-07) of UW-Stevens Point.

The WIAC is recognizing the outstanding individuals from the league's 100-year history. All-time teams are being selected in those men's and women's sports that have been classified as "championship" sports at some point since 1913. Additional teams will be released on a weekly basis throughout much of the 2011-12 academic year.

All-time team members will receive certificates from the conference and it is hoped that most, if not all, of the recipients will be in attendance or represented at the WIAC Centennial Banquet in Madison on Aug. 4, 2012.

More information on the activities and events associated with the WIAC Centennial is available at www.wiacsports.com.