Several Mayville State University alumni and friends will be honored during Mayville State University’s 2015 homecoming weekend festivities scheduled for Oct. 16 through 18 in Mayville, N.D. The theme for the weekend’s festivities is “A Salute to Our Heroes.” A highlight of the weekend will be the dedication of the Military Honor Garden on the grounds of the Edson and Margaret Larson Alumni and Leadership Center on the Mayville State campus.

Darin Everson, Holmen, Wisc., Mike Mahlen, Wadena, Minn., Kathy Maltrud, Cambridge, Minn., Robin (Brantl) Torkelson, Manhattan, Ill., and the 1959 baseball team will be inducted into the Mayville State University Athletic Hall of Fame. James Evanson, Mesa, Ariz., Lisa (Gylten) Strand, Thompson, N.D., and Tyrone Wacker, Hutchinson, Minn., will each be inducted into Mayville State Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame. These folks will all be honored during a banquet scheduled for Friday, Oct. 16, beginning at 6 p.m. in the MSU Campus Center Luckasen Room. A pre-dinner social will be held from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the MSU Larson Alumni and Leadership Center.

Mayville State established the Performing Arts Hall of Fame in 2013. The tradition continues during the MSU Music Department homecoming concert Sunday, Oct. 18. The recognition of this year’s inductees will take place between the performances of the concert choir and the concert band. Inductees are Beth (Bohnsack) Aufforth, Bowbells, N.D., C.T. Hanson, Fargo, N.D., Otto Muecke, Mayville, N.D., Kirk Overmoe, Athens, Texas, and Herb Thomson, Grand Forks, N.D.

Immediately following the concert, the Alumni Association board will host a social to honor the Performing Arts Hall of Fame inductees in the MSU Campus Center Luckasen Room. The public is invited to join in celebrating with the inductees and their families and friends.

The Mayville State University Alumni Association is sponsoring a number of additional events in celebration of Homecoming 2015. A special invitation is extended to all Mayville State alumni and friends.

Homecoming day, Saturday, Oct. 17, will begin with an alumni meet and greet at the newly opened Edson and Margaret Larson Alumni and Leadership Center, located at the corner of Third Avenue and Stan Dakken Drive. Alumni and friends are invited to stop by for socializing and refreshments from 8:30 to 10 a.m. This is also the gathering point for all former Mayville State cheerleaders and pom pon girls, who have been invited to come “home” to Mayville State for a reunion during the homecoming festivities.

The traditional homecoming parade will start at the east side of the MSU Campus Center, head west on Stan Dakken Drive, then turn south on Third Avenue. People are welcome to gather at the Edson and Margaret Larson Alumni and Leadership Center or anywhere else along the route to watch the parade, which will continue down Third Avenue, then head west on the corner of Third Avenue and Main Street and continue through downtown, ending on the north side of Island Park. The parade begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17. Those interested in entering a unit in the parade should contact Adam Edwards at 701-788-4822 or adam.edwards@mayvillestate.edu.

The Military Honor Garden, located on the grounds at MSU’s Edson and Margaret Larson Alumni and Leadership Center, will be dedicated during a program scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17. The program will include remarks by project co-chairs Lt. Gen. Emil “Buck” Bedard (ret. USMC) and former Marine Dr. Martin Johnson. Both are Mayville State graduates. There will also be patriotic music and a reading of the names of all who have been specifically honored by friends and family members through the project. The Mayville State alumni of Pembina County and Hoople, N.D. will sponsor an all-American lunch of hot dogs, chips, cookies, and beverages immediately following the program. All are welcome.

The public is invited to check out Mayville State’s Health, Physical Education, and Recreation facility expansion project during a tour that will begin at 1 p.m., just outside of the MSU Lewy Lee Fieldhouse. Those who take the tour will have an opportunity to see progress to date on the expansion project, as well as the new football locker room facility, which is currently under construction.

The Comets football team will face the University of Jamestown in the homecoming game which begins at 2 p.m. at Jerome Berg Field. All homecoming honorees will be recognized at half time of the game.

An all-alumni homecoming reunion will begin at 4 p.m. at the Mayville Golf Course. A picnic-style supper will be served from 4 to 7 p.m., or until the food is gone. Socializing will continue until 9 p.m. The public is invited to attend the reunion and visit with the 2015 homecoming honorees and all Mayville State alumni and friends. This is also a gathering site for reunions of the 1990 championship football team and all former Mayville State cheerleaders and pom pon girls. There is no charge for the supper, but freewill donations will be accepted to help defray costs.

Tickets for the Hall of Fame Awards Dinner are available by contacting the MSU Foundation at 701-788-4687 or alumni.mail@mayvillestate.edu. RSVP deadline is October 5. See all the details of Homecoming 2015 and purchase tickets online at www.mayvillestate.edu/homecoming

Inductee biographical data:


Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees:

Inductees to the Mayville State University Athletic Hall of Fame fall into the following categories: athlete, team, Mayville State coach, Mayville State athletic staff, or honorary member. In order to qualify for induction, athletes must have graduated from or left school at Mayville State at least ten years prior to induction, and have earned two letters in one sport or one letter in two or more sports. The Mayville State University Athletic Hall of Fame Selection Committee chooses inductees from a pool of nominations submitted throughout the year.

The Al Meyer-coached 1959 Comet baseball team consisted of stellar athletes, many of whom are in the MSU Athletic Hall of Fame as individuals. The team earned its way to the NAIA playoffs and was one step away from making it to the national finals. Members of the team were Jim Bisenius, Mike Bill, Darryl Gulbranson, Donald McIntyre, Alden Holte, Gary Bjerke, Dallas Kopp, Rex Haugen, Jim McChesney, Don Ostenson, Howard Strom, Donald Overbo, Dennis Fogelson, Willard “Red” Jacobson, Stanley Barta, Mike Strand, Graydon Rostberg, Kenneth Nessa, and Dennis Kiedrowski. Jerry Fleming was student manager.

Darin Everson, a two-time All-American as a Comet baseball player, also earned all-conference honors as a quarterback on the football team. He was on the 1993 baseball team that is in the MSU Athletic Hall of Fame.

Mike Mahlen earned honors as a football player for the Comets. He was named all-conference, and all-district, was the Comets’ leading tackler and was the team MVP his senior year.

Kathy Maltrud was a four-year letter winner in volleyball and a two-year letter winner in track for the Comets. A standout in volleyball, she was “all-everything” as a Comet player. 

Robin (Brantl) Torkelson was a four-year varsity starter for the Comets volleyball team. In addition to winning numerous awards for her skillful play, she was named an NAIA all-American scholar-athlete.


Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame Inductees:

The MSU Athletic Hall of Fame adopted the “Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame” in 2010. The purpose of this division of the Hall of Fame is to recognize Mayville State alumni who have excelled in their coaching careers. The Mayville State University Athletic Hall of Fame Selection Committee chooses the recipients of the award from a pool of nominations submitted throughout the year.

Portland, N.D., High School and Mayville-Portland High School football teams were a dominant force in the Red River Valley Conference under Jim Evanson’s leadership. His teams’ successes earned him coach of the year honors several times.

Tyrone Wacker’s solid record as a coach earned him numerous coach of the year awards in Minnesota. His football and baseball teams made many state appearances under his guidance.

“Coach of the year” honors have accrued to Lisa Strand many times as the Thompson (N.D.)  High School coach has produced impressive volleyball teams. Her 26 years at THS include coaching track, girls basketball, and junior varsity softball.


Performing Arts Hall of Fame Inductees:

The purpose of the Mayville State University Performing Arts Hall of Fame is to honor and preserve the memory of those who performed in band, choir, speech, or theater, the representative faculty, and others who have contributed in a very outstanding and positive way to the promotion of Mayville State University performing arts programs.

C.T. Hanson, Fargo, N.D., chair of the Mass Communications Department at Minnesota State University Moorhead and a former speech and debate coach and teacher at North Dakota State University, is noted for guiding college students to achieve excellence statewide and nationally as members of speech and debate teams.

Beth (Bohnsack) Aufforth, Bowbells, N.D., is recognized for her continued efforts in support of speech and drama activities at the Bowbells Public School, as well as throughout her region and the state.

The name Otto Muecke, Mayville, N.D., is synonymous with excellence. For decades he has delighted performers and audiences with his musical ability, both as an accompanist and as a soloist on the piano and organ. 

Kirk Overmoe, Athens, Texas, is a master pianist/educator who has taught music for more than 30 years. Highlights of his career include playing with famous artists on the American musical scene.  

Herb Thomson, Grand Forks, N.D., is noteworthy for his distinguished career as a music teacher and trumpet player. He is a familiar figure on the North Dakota band scene and has been honored nationally for his involvement and talent. 

 

Click here to see complete honoree biographies with photos.